Topics

26

Nintendo Gaming / The Switch Dilemma: What becomes of handheld gaming?

« on: January 11, 2017, 03:57:14 PM »

On Switchmas Eve, the night before the Switch reveal, I offer you all a thought.

While few would argue that the DS and even the 3DS aren't capable of offering full-fledged, "console-sized" experiences on their screens, they have always relied on the wow factor of having an "enhanced port" of a past console game in their library- renowned titles that are finally able to be experienced on the go. However, the Switch changes this. While it's battery life and large size won't facilitate a role as a dedicated handheld machine (indeed, it's disappointing 3-hour battery life is likely the reason Nintendo touts the Switch as a home console first), the truth is, we'll soon be playing current-gen home console games on a handheld device.

Where does a rumored 3DS successor fit into this equation? Is having a second screen or some other gimmick give Nintendo the excuse to develop a cheaper handheld device for youngsters? Well, probably. The other truth is that, when console-sized games start popping up on a "Handheld," it has the potential to damage the perception of handheld-budgeted and designed titles should they appear on the same system. This is why I feel it is unlikely that handheld developers will want to jump to Switch. Likewise, does having an admittedly-limited handheld/console thing damage the sales potential of a device designed specifically for handheld play? Sure, parents might want to get their kids the newest Nintendo handheld, but will Switch cause confusion because of its dual role? Will kids want a system where they can't play the prettiest or more popular titles because they exist on Switch?

This is the dilemma of the Switch, and while variable pricing for handheld developers might allow their games to sell better on Switch, it seems highly unlikely. At the same time, you can't sell a handheld device where the biggest titles cost 60 bucks. To me, unless Nintendo gets extremely flexible in how they price games and also in how they market Switch to a larger audience (not just the post-college, unaffordable-apartment-living creatures they highlighted in the Switch reveal), this thing is simply not going to pull 3DS numbers, or even PS4 numbers. It could also end up damaging the handheld industry, which has been the lifeblood of he company during this era of Wii U suckage.

But that's my opinion. I wanted to ask y'all. What do you think of this Switch dilemma?

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Reader Reviews / Skipmore Retrospective

« on: December 25, 2016, 02:06:28 AM »

I've had death on the mind quite a bit, lately. Apologies for the morbid subject matter, but I'd rather get it out of the way first. Death in video games is tricky- it usually serves as a punishment for not playing the game "correctly," although it is more often used as a save-state reload. Essentially, if you are doing something wrong, death is a way of resetting your crappy play and allowing you the chance to approach from another angle.


How does this factor into Fairune and Fairune 2, two Circle-published action-RPGs on the 3DS eShop? The better question to ask is, "how does Fairune approach death differently from other games?"


Fairune: Overview of Fundamentals
The first Fairune is a fascinating (and cheap!) love-letter to the classic "bump-and-grind" combat style of old RPGs like Ys Book I and II, featuring a suitably cute version of the ornate golden border around the screen, as well as the angels holding the health and EXP bar. While Fairune's combat and presentation are meant to evoke the classic, its locale does a similar job- there's a big old tower out there, and someone's gotta climb it! However, Fairune takes a turn when it comes to core gameplay, focusing instead on environmental puzzles and chaining together key items for use.


Fairune exhibits its progression in simplistic terms- the top screen displays experience, level, health points, and most importantly, the map of the overworld, a tool that helps guide the player and reveal both where they have and have not reached. The map is thorough despite its small size- rivers and forests are displayed, as well as distinct pathways and landmarks of interest. These visual cues can help the player gain their bearings as they attempt to plot their next route, which will happen frequently.


Death in Fairune: Restarting the Adventure
The most interesting core mechanic of Fairune requires its own discussion, and that is how the game handles death, of course. See, there's very few places to heal in Fairune, and in order to keep one step ahead of (or even in step with) the dense enemy placements spawning around the world, you'll have to bash into them in order to gain experience. Enemies that are stronger might go down, but they'll also take a larger chunk out of your own hit points, as well. This also presents an interesting method of increasing the speed of your playthrough, however- when your hit points run out in Fairune, you are transferred to a sort of "underworld" filled with static, and forced to run a short, spiraling path in order to re-emerge next to the starting cave of the game.


Why is this important? Well, for a cheap and relatively straightforward game, Fairune's replayability and mastery become its greatest strength upon unlocking its achievements screen. While the initial adventure is amusing enough, presenting interesting and logical puzzles that rely heavily on environmental cues, Fairune is designed with speed-running in mind, as evidenced by its speed-running achievements, in addition to some other exploratory unlockables. The delicate balance of healing spots and its death mechanic can allow players a method of subverting backtracking in order to restart at the center of the map, offering speed-runners a chance to plan their routes of exploration in a highly economic fashion. However, one can only "die" successfully if they are in an area with monsters that are stronger than them, which means the player must balance their experience effectively in order to take advantage of this fast-traveling system. Do you avoid battles by waiting in a certain spot, allowing the seconds to pass by as you wait for an optimal path to reveal itself? Or, do you take the time to gain experience needed to cut through a particularly dense segment, watching your health closely all the while? It is an interesting usage of a death state within a game because it gives death a purpose, using it as an obstacle and and asset.


Arise, Fairune 2: Not just twice the Fairune
Unfortunately, the beautiful world of Fairune speed-runs is admittedly small, but the cute Ys-alike managed to sell well enough to warrant a sequel. While Fairune 2 retains the same gameplay as its predecessor, its length is essentially quadrupled. Where the first title excelled in its relatively basic presentation of environmental cues and simplistic puzzle-solving, Fairune 2 is more complex, and the first playthrough might prove challenging even to a keen eye. With the sequel, there are far more interactive elements at play, and specific environmental cues are hinted and then executed much further apart because of the much larger world size. While Fairune 2 adds more to the "lore" of the series, it is very much more of the same, with a few additions for ease of access- while the death mechanic returns, the ability to drop healing spots more frequently in different locales becomes a method of prolonging your life so that you do not have to fast travel. Equipment that allows for easier traversal is a central mechanic in the sequel, and although it contributes to the puzzle design at first, it is rare that the player must reverse a puzzle mechanic in order to backtrack.


The main difference in Fairune 2 (apart from the numerous "complications" introduced as loot/puzzle cycles) is that the maps "stack" upon one another. Whereas Fairune features a comprehensive world map that serves as a progress indicator for the player, Fairune 2 takes it to the extreme with four times the amount of maps, though the player only starts with one and gradually adds each new "layer" as they climb the central tower. Interestingly enough, death returns the player to the static "underworld," but this place is located on the "base" map of the game. The ability to warp from the center of each map to the next is possible, but it does add a significant amount of backtracking time to the playthrough, which can be a challenge for speed-running. Players must be very conscientious of the routes in Fairune 2, which can be twisting if certain terrain-equipment has not-yet been obtained. In many ways, Fairune 2 seeks to challenge and punish the player a bit more with its death mechanic- however, the simultaneous saving grace and greatest challenge of Fairune 2 is that its four maps serve as a comprehensive progress tracker- it is not necessary or even possible to completely fill a map before moving on to the next one. This provides a reason, once again, for death fast-travel at times, as well as an important and extremely difficult challenge for optimal routes in terms of speed-runs.


Conclusions: Is is all that important...?
What was an interesting and fascinating aspect of the first Fairune is somewhat downplayed in its sequel- the ability to fast travel between the different maps without dying is also present, and healing is much more prevalent. This doesn't diminish the effectiveness of dying as a tool, however, and treating the mechanic as such offers a completely different perspective towards the game. During the first playthrough of Fairune, it is likely that you will not hit the target speed-running achievement times- that is okay, though, because Fairune and Fairune 2 are both very interesting games with a lot of neat tricks and ideas hidden in their environments.


One of the reasons a similarly cheap game, Gunman Clive, surpassed its original potential as a somewhat-decent Mega Man clone was because of its unlockable, post-game mode. If you do not yet have Gunman Clive, don't read the spoiler: the surprise and joy of replaying Gunman Clive in Duck Mode offers the player something completely different from their first and maybe even second run, and it's a surprise worth not-knowing. In the same way, both Fairune titles unlock their achievement screens after the player has completed the game, offering new approaches to how their second runthrough should play out. However, while Gunman Clive offers a silly alternative to the core gameplay that is still easily accessible, Fairune demands much more of the player should they attempt a speed-run, or even a hunt for secret items and enemies. First, you must understand how the mechanics of the game function, and then use them to your advantage. In some ways, this appeals to a very niche set of gamers who aim for completion- in other ways, I imagine Fairune would be a very interesting game to develop a speed-running community. However, as it stands, Fairune does not have a large- or dedicated-enough fanbase to justify such a community, and I am not sure it ever will. It has one mechanic that makes it very much different from other games and sets it in a strange position as an action-RPG, but it is more likely to be treated as a decent Zelda/Ys crossover with two spectacularly odd final boss sequences.


However, I think Fairune's success is that it presents the player with a variety of objectives that they can choose to achieve, something that many games with console-based achievements fail to do. To me, that is worth noting.

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NWR Forums Discord / Stopping in to remind you I hate you.

« on: July 30, 2016, 04:26:13 AM »

What's up, dog?


<3

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NWR Forums Discord / The IAN SANE is officially no more.

« on: May 25, 2016, 02:25:03 PM »

Okay folks.

I know you've all been curious. His oblivious, repetitive, and obnoxious posts have always seemed a BIT like a persona, haven't they...? And not a sexy Persona like the ones them kids are always talking about- you know, the ones that shoot themselves in the head to summon demons or whatever. Those were the days of 3, sorry. I am sort of living in the past.

SPEAKING of living in the past! Starting today, I've decided to finish using my duplicate account, Ian Sane. Come on, don't tell me you never saw the signs- the three-syllable username, the huge gap between reasonable discussion and nonsensical rambling between the two of us? Don't comment on that last one, I know you know which is which. Maybe the biggest giveaway was my recent thread, the Airing of Grievances, in which I knowingly announced "I have become Ian Sane." "He" even posted in that thread, and made no mention of the reference! But in reality, I have always been Ian Sane. And I think, with all the retiring going on lately, it's time I hung up my trolling dupe for good. At least, I want to do it before Khush gives up his Lucario dupe. I'd like to be able to one-up him somehow.

It's been fun, everyone. God, it has been so fun. But all Ian sanity has to come to a close sometime. Farewell, from Evan_B, AKA formerly the Ian Sane.

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Nintendo Gaming / The Airing of Grievances.

« on: April 27, 2016, 02:30:27 PM »

I had jokingly mentioned Zelda Wii U being the last game I would play several times previously, but after last night's news, and several realizations about this hobby and fan base in general, I have decided to post an airing of grievances, as well as my final stance on Wii U and NX.

For the longest time, I thought being a fan of Nintendo was something special- I loved their games, the whimsical aesthetics and absurd concepts they enforced. I enjoyed the variety in their software lineup, even if it wasn't all suited to my tastes. I loved their controllers, the pace at which they introduced new features, all of it. I used to think being a fan of Nintendo was worthwhile.

Now, I firmly believe being a Nintendo fan is suffering.

Either you staunchly defend their decisions or accept them as reality, or you hate the sluggish, irrelevant business they have become. No matter what, you are suffering through mediocrity. I have seen my favorite franchises decay, the third party support dry up, and worst of all, I have seen the Wii U. Now, I have also gone on the record saying that I love the Wii U- and I do. It has given me my favorite Mario, Donkey Kong, Pikmin, and Smash Bros. It has expanded my love of independent games as well as third party titles. But it is the ultimate representation of irrelevance among my friends and within the industry. I can't make a room with my friends in Splatoon because not enough of them own the system. I can't compete in the Smash 4 scene because no one owns the system. I can barely get a decent discussion going on Miiverse because no one takes the service seriously.

But that's beside the point. I'm tired of coming to these forums and seeing the ridiculous state of the company and its dwindling fan base. And now, seeing that Nintendo couldn't even pull the Wii U together, instead jumping ship to NX and holding the game I have been waiting for back because they have to ready it for NX launch- I'll admit, I'm disheartened. I'm tired of giving so much of a **** about video games and my favorite developer/publisher. I think it's time to take a step away from the medium.

I will not purchase whatever the NX is until the next Nintendo console us announced- and even then, I might not do so unless the library is damn good. I don't care if I miss out on the Monster Hunter community, or the initial feedback on the next Monolith Soft title, or the hype of Intelligent Systems suddenly becoming a good developer again. I have come to care too much about how Nibtendo sucks, and about supporting them in whatever way I can. Because they don't really seem to care about my preferences- and that's understandable. They're a business, and they probably want to make money on a larger audience. But I have decided to detach myself from this unhealthy obsession with a medium that I used to actually ENJOY. Maybe, in doing so, I can learn to love it again.

So yes, Zelda Wii U will be the last game I buy for a long time, maybe ever. I'm kinda tired of video games. I'm definitely tired of Nintendo.

The transformation is complete. I am now Ian Sane.

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NWR Forums Discord / The Ten: It's on like Donkey Kong!

« on: February 27, 2016, 05:59:53 PM »

Well, I have too much free time on my hands. I guess it's time to make something weird.


The Ten:
If you thought that Nintendo made little sense before, we won't try to convince you otherwise. Meet the Ten, a group of fiercely loyal oddballs struggling to gain relevance in a multiverse of licensed properties. Will their adherence to tradition enable their survival? Can they rediscover the great truths of the past? Or will they have to forge a new way in order to keep up with the current era? No matter what each individual member chooses, they'll rarely agree, which might lead to hilarity, tragedy, or simply bizarre results.


Episode 1: Out with the Old
The Ten attempt a daring rescue from two odd goons. It goes pretty well, except one of them bashes Kid Icarus. Truly a monster.
Episode 2: Rules of Engagement
The Ten have to sneak by a group of scary mecha. Why is Lucina so on-edge?
Episode 3: It's A-Mii, Bro!
The Ten are being watched! Their observers decide to put them to the ultimate test- to see if they can resist the temptations of collectible figurines.
Episode 4: Obligatory Media Tie-In
The Ten find assistance from one of the many intellectual properties blessed with a video game adaptation. Also, where yo' curly mustache at?
Episode 5: The Daily Grind
Everyone has morning troubles.
Episode 6: It runs in the Family
The Ten encounter another ally to join the ranks- but he's less accountable then they would hope.
Episode 7: Don't Worry about the Future, it's alright
Backed into a corner, the Ten experience crushing defeat. Deus Ex Machina, activate!
Episode 8: The Hunter
Don't **** with Samus.
Episode 9: Nintendoom
Faced with irrelevance, the Ten bid a teary goodbye to one of their own.
Episode 10: The Ten
The epic finale!

-Page 1-


-Page 2-


Well, these first 600 views certainly haven't all been me, so I'm guessing people are interested. Stay tuned.

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General Gaming / What's YOUR favorite game?

« on: February 04, 2016, 12:52:32 PM »

I will not rest until the entire first page of this forum is threads started by myself.


I also decided to revamp this thread for longevity's sake. What is your favorite game? We might gain some insight into YOU depending on what it is.

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General Gaming / The Sixth Generation General

« on: February 01, 2016, 11:22:10 PM »

I have been craving some discussion of the sixth generation of video games as of late. I know I could put this topic in the console forum but I figured I'd open up the discussion to a wider audience.


To me, the sixth generation was a time when developers were finally getting the hang of 3D graphics, which was also bolstered by the addition of a second camera stick. We experimented with online, received more polished and better looking products, and skateboarding games were still cool.


If you would like to share, please discuss some of your favorite sixth generation games here. There's a massive catalog and I think many people had the chance to play some underrated or unknown titles, as well as some classics that changed the way they thought about gaming.


If nobody steps up to the plate, I'll go first.

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Nintendo Gaming / Is 3DS Nintendo's best handheld?

« on: February 01, 2016, 11:15:37 PM »

Sorry to reuse such a title, but damn, I think it's time we talked about how great the Nintendo 3DS is.


This system had the potential to fail pretty hard at its inception. The very gimmicky draw of the system and its dangerously high price were a recipe for disaster- and that's not even considering the quick price drop and gift of the Ambassador system to the people who did buy it. Even the first year of the 3DS wasn't particularly stellar, with only a handful of titles.


But, things rallied. Mario Kart, Super Mario 3D Land (regardless of its quality), and more helped the system gain momentum, and Fire Emblem Awakening of all things showed us the reach and potential of the system before Pokemon X and Y absolutely smashed the ball out of the park. That's enough about sales, though.


The Nintendo 3DS has a great, if not somewhat iterative version of Mario Kart.
It has a sequel to Luigi's Mansion that is pretty darn good.
It has a library of original RPGs that, though not matching the quantity of the DS' own, rivals it in quality and playtime.
It has a successful online shop that has been lucrative for both Nintendo and independent developers alike, bringing us smaller but still very high quality titles at a lower price.
It has platformers, both ports and originals, that are fun and weird and different.
It has a SUPER SMASH BROS. on it with more content and fighters than any previous iteration, which were on home consoles.
It has a grand total of NINE Zelda titles on it. NINE!!! Ten, if you're an ambassador.


The 3DS may not have enjoyed the same success as the DS, and it may not even have the library of that system- although it technically does, but we won't factor that into the equation. The 3DS trumps the DS in functionality and presentation. So I ask you- what handheld could possibly rival the 3DS?


I'm waiting.

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Nintendo Gaming / Pokken Tournament: Gotta Smash Em All!

« on: January 14, 2016, 09:26:07 PM »

So with recent reveals, I figured it was high time we made a thread about this game. Pokken Tournament is the collaboration between Bandai Namco and The Pokemon Company to turn it's beloved franchise into a technical fighting game. Superior limb-based combat? Eh, maybe not. But Pokken does possess many aspects of 2D fighting franchises that you'll either love or hate.

In Japan, the game is receiving a bundle with a Arcade Style Controller, which is a lot less arcade-y than you would think (Wii U Pro sans joysticks). First run copies in all(?) regions will receive a Dark Mewtwo Amiibo card, which will enable you to play as the original character right away- don't worry, he's still unlockable should you go digital or hate Amiibo. The game will have online capabilities (surprisingly decent online matching was a feature of the arcade title, which I can only assume had modified Wii Us within the cabinet) as well as local 1v1, with a player using the Gamepad because of the title's unique combat field, which evokes the classic Pokemon positioning.

As of this date, the revealed fighters are-
Charizard
Pikachu
Pikachu Libre
Gengar
Machamp
Mewtwo
Dark Mewtwo
Suicune
Combusken
Sceptile
Gardevoir
Lucario
Weavile
Garchomp
Chandelure
Braixen

With one more reveal planned for tomorrow (and maybe more in the future? EDIT: yeah it's Chandelure) the game is shaping up to have a much more decent roster than the original arcade title. Of course, there are support Pokemon, which can be summoned mid battle, that greatly increase the representation from the series, and alter play strategy quite a bit.

So, that being said, what would you like to see from Pokken Tournament? Any personal favorites you're hoping to play as? Curious about the fighting mechanics (I and several others could enlighten you). Anticipating the Heihachi reveal? Discuss here!

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Nintendo Gaming / The 3DS eShop thread- This one actually does have variety!

« on: January 08, 2016, 01:13:17 PM »

I'm surprised we don't have a thread for this, considering it has much more variety, more frequent releases, and arguably higher quality. Sure, we have to deal with the occasional botched localization and random DSiWare release, but it's generally a nicer place than the Wii U eShop.

I've listed a number of eShop games in the past that I'm quite fond of, some that have delightfully exceeded expectations and others that I think are pretty garbage. So let's share our favorite eShop games, shall we?

Personal essentials-
This is stuff that is pretty much exclusive to the system and fantastic.
Pushmo/Crashmo: Two of the best puzzle platformers on the system, if you have to get only one, don't. Buy both. Okay, go for Crashmo.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse: One of the most expensive 3DS games or a damn good reason. This is a high quality title and one of the best Zelda-esque titles on the system.
SteamWorld Heist: Amazing strategy game with high replay value and addicting gameplay. Great atmosphere, too.
BoxBoy!: Speaking of great atmosphere, this game has nice, simple graphics and great isolated level mechanics.
Crimson Shroud: THE 3DS RPG, with lovely music, combat, and story. Fairly cheap!
The Keep: The SECOND 3DS RPG, with a high price but great challenge, production values, and combat.
The Starship Damrey: The best adventure game on 3DS, only playable once but truly amazing.
Pokemon Rumble World: nice, simple dungeon crawler with good progression. If you're looking for a slow Streetpass burn, this won't cost you a dime. Full price is 30 dollars, if you're a madman.
Mario and DK: Minis on the Move: hefty lemmings title with a TON of content.

"Might be your Cup of Tea"- these range from absolute personal favorites to satisfying experiences that you should only get if they sound really appealing to you OR if this is the only place you can get them.
Mutant Mudds: No longer exclusive, and still a bit pricey. But the 3D effect on this game is great and it's quite a bang for your buck. One of my favorite platformers.
Mighty Switch Force 1/2: While not exclusive per se, the graphics and switch effect look best on 3DS. MSF2 is absolutely masterful in level design.
Xeodrifter: A quite small, but satisfying Metroid-like. The price for entry is a bit high but it's replayable enough to deserve a spot.
VVVVVV: You can get it cheaper, but it's great on handhelds.
Attack of the Friday Monsters!: Adventure game with card battling mini game, it's chock-full of atmosphere, charm, and a wacky story. You really need to like this genre and Japan to get it.
Liberation Maiden: Crazy mech combat with Kid Icarus: Uprising style controls. Short, but sweet, and an achievement hunting style game.
Iron Combat: War in the Air: Longer and more Japanese than Liberation Maiden, and that's saying something. Mech combat with jet transformations and stat alterations. Come for gameplay, not story.
Gunman Clive 1/2: short, sweet Mega Man-ish action platformers. Dirt cheap, with second game having more problems than the first. However, the unlockable character in both games is amazing.
Fairune: You like Ys Book I and II? Have Ys lite, but with achievement hunting and a badass final boss.
Excave 1/2: Nice loot-based action RPGs, the first being a bit light on content but the second having an absurd postgame.
Moon Chronicles: don't have the original? Now is your chance to enjoy this solid and satisfying portable FPS.
Sakura Samurai: Punch-Out from hell, features money grinding, deteriorating weapons, and movement mechanics. If you enjoy punishing yourself, go for it.
HarmoKnight: The rhythm game on 3DS, featuring a bit of repetitive music but exploration of specific styles. Long campaign, which can be effectively doubled by mastering all 40 levels. Fair warning, mastering this game is really really really hard.

WARNING! These are games I have purchased and haven't found satisfying, or lack in some way. You may still enjoy them.
Azure Striker Gunvolt: Mega Man ripoff from the guys that made Megq Man Zero. Mechanically, it does some interesting things, but it's marred by some poorly-implemented systems. Nothing except the combat stands out.
Mighty Gunvolt: WAS a pack-in with Azure Striker, now a stand alone purchase with DLC. Behold Inafune's Kickstarter abomination in his first appearance as one of three boring characters in a buzz are 8-Bit homage. Again, nothing really stands out.
Kokuga: Remember those guys that made that great shmup Ikaruga? They made this, too! Except it's boring and broken.
Weapon Shop de Omasse: A rhythm game where you make weapons for various archetypes. Dialogue is great, but the gameplay is really dull.
Ironfall: Invasion: Technically impressive and solidly crafted, but a steep price for two halves that are flawed in their own rights. If you want online TPS, get the multiplayer pack and call it a day.
Witch and Hero: Transparently grind-based tower defense game that isn't even worth it's cheap price.
Ninja Battle Heroes: Action platformer with a decent challenge system but lacking really interesting level design and presentation.
Demon King Box: Strategy... tower defense... RPG thing that has really boring mechanics and a terrible localization.
Glory of Generals: Expansive strategy title with a metric ton of content, but a spotty localization that de-emphasizes mission objectives.
PicDun 2: it's a dungeon crawling first person RPG with awful localization. That's important, since there's a text-based puzzle on each floor.

37

Nintendo Gaming / Twilight Princess HD: Now with 100% more Amiibo!

« on: October 15, 2015, 12:57:55 PM »

With the recent reveal (and even more disappointing reality that Zelda U might become Zelda NX or be moved to 2017) of Twilight Princess HD, it's got me wondering what can be done with the game to make this new version more definitive than the original and Wii versions. I was also wondering what changes could be made to make the game okay or progress more smoothly. We've seen from Wind Waker HD that nothing is sacred- ship sailing and Triforce hunting as well as Miiverse integration and twin stick aiming were integrated. So, what improvements can be made to Twilight Princess, an already very polished and tight experience?

-Twin stick and gyro aiming on foot, and especially on horseback would be a nice preview of what to expect in Zelda U.
-The ability to switch between GameCube and Wii controls would be cool.
-Some sort of counter or marker system for Poes would be nice.
-Honestly, the improved skyboxes of Wind Waker make some hope they improve the ground textures of Hyrule field.
-I don't know if it would be possible, but I'd add more chests and things to find in Hyrule Field. Maybe this could be combined with refining the Dominion Rod quest in the end.

Other than that, I don't have man qualms with the game. It's one of the Zelda experiences I've enjoyed more than others. So I open up the question to you- what should be added/altered?

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Nintendo Gaming / The DEEPEST. STRANGEST. TENSEST. (Official Shin Megami Tensei Thread)

« on: October 08, 2015, 02:29:46 AM »

As I'm sure some of you are already aware, Shin Megami Tensei IV Final was announced this week and is quite different from what happens traditionally with the "Final" entries in the series. Rather than being a definitive version of the original SMTIV with added content, Atlus has decided to make a completely new story set within- or should I say, close to- the timeline and events of SMTIV. Judging by how they have been talking about this narrative, it's a little unclear whether or not Flynn's actions from the original game have occurred. There's much talk about factions rising up led by demons during the wars under Tokyo Dome, but also that those events have ended and a new faction never discussed in the original narrative is making an appearance.

The character design of the game looks a bit less reserved than that of IV, which I see as a welcome change. There are also characters returning from IV's narrative (see the green ghost from the initial reveal [warning: spoilers are big if you have not played the original!]). Gameplay tweaks seem to be important in this title as well, such as a refinement of the ally system from the original game, where the player can choose one member from a party of non-demons to assist them in battle, with each member acting as a specific role (one focuses on healing, another on using purchaseable items in battle), and a skill learning system for those characters, too.

If you have nothing to look forward to over the next few months until Atlus announces a localization, you might want to check out the original SMTIV, which is a massive RPG for the 3DS and one of the handheld's best titles. While it has a few flaws (none of which are fatal), it's a long and very impressive game with great scope and scale. Whether you enjoy the narrative of the game or not, you will certainly get your money's worth (even more now that the game is being discounted on the eShop!). I made his thread, of course, to talk about the Final version but I thought it might be a good way to spark up some conversation on the original title as well, which I feel I missed out on a bit after it released.

I'll post some of my impressions of the game shortly.

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NWR Forums Discord / Birthday Wishes

« on: August 28, 2015, 01:29:32 AM »

1) Environmental stability
2) World Peace
3) US gun regulations

Now that we've got that out of the way, time for the important stuff:

1) To get my addictive habits under control
2) To become an NWR staff member
3) For Nintendo to release a good Paper Mario RPG
4) To see more Zelda Wii U before E3 2016
5) Another Nintendo Direct
6) For the NX to be actually good.
NostraDOOMus has spoken. Keep in mind, these are wishes, not predictions, and since I have revealed them, try will likely not come true.

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Reader Reviews / Evan_B Presents: The Contrarian Corner

« on: August 27, 2015, 01:45:18 AM »

I've grown tired with the continuous praise of a number of massively overrated titles, and I believe it is time to take a stand. Within this topic, I will enlighten those who dare speak positively about such titles as-
-Super Mario Galaxy
-A Boy and His Blob
-Final Fantasy XIII
-Super Mario 3D Land
-Bravely Default
-Azure Striker Gunvolt
-Shovel Knight
-Fire Emblem: Awakening

And possibly more if I discover any more ridiculous praise! So, join us next time when I verbally abuse Yacht Club Games.

41

Nintendo Gaming / Final Fantasy Explorers- also known as "Summon Hunter"

« on: August 26, 2015, 01:53:17 AM »

Hey all. As I've mentioned numerous times on the forums, my podcast, and elsewhere, I'm a huge fan of the Crystal Chronicles series.  I've played all of the co-operative entries and had great fun with friends, even in spite of the wonky controller issues and mediocre internet functions of the DS entries.

While Final Fantasy Explorers is not the perfect replacement for Crystal Chronicles co-op dungeoning, it is serviceable enough for me, especially because of the 3DS' improved online capabilities and the neat new job system. It seems to be taking more cues from Monster Hunter but the Devs affirmed it was more like a "FFXIV Lite" experience which has me pumped. My friend and I have already agreed to preorder the game and I fully anticipate sinking an obscene amoun of time into it. Since it is four player, I was wondering if any of you are interested in joining up for the ride. I have sunk time into Monster Hunter but with Explorers my friend and unduly expect to goof around and enjoy the game without becoming too consumed by the grind.

What we know so far:
-Story seems light. You have discovered a new land ripe with Crystals for harvesting, and carry out the will of some empire as explorers of the unpopulated land.

-The game is, more or less, a "segmented" world. You will have to traverse large swaths of terrain to get where you need to be.

-One central city.

-Emphasis on quest completion.

-The job system of other Final Fantasy games makes an appearance, with equipment being suited for specific jobs.

-Skills are gained via job experience, but are not limited to a single class- for example, white mages can share the skills of a Black Mage if you should choose to switch your job, with the developers emphasizing the goal of making job transitions as painless as possible.

-If you aren't playing online, you can obtain the eggs of field enemies and turn them into allies, which can grow and become valuable assets.

-One of the more bizarre aspects of the combat system is the ability to go into a trance mode in which you transform into a famous character from the mainline series.

-Summons feature as boss characters this time around and are the most challenging enemies in the game.

-The original Japanese release have buyers a 3DS remastered version of the original Final Fantasy, but it's doubtful we'll get the same treatment.

Discuss! Job mains? Player names?

42

General Gaming / Evan_B's Recommended RPGs

« on: July 08, 2015, 02:51:42 AM »

I've been contemplating redoing my blog to pretty much exclusively cover RPGs lately, but I play too many other genres for that to be my sole focus. So I figured, why not share some of the fun with you guys? I'd like to talk about some of my favorite RPGs in recent memory so I don't clog the reviews section with this stuff.

As you may know, I play a lot of 3DS/Wii U, but since one of those things doesn't have jack **** in terms of RPGs I'll also draw upon my PS Classics, VC, and PC stuff. Let's talk about great, underrated, or unknown RPGs!

Recent Favorites:

The Keep:
I gave this title a whole lot of love on my podcast, and I am a huge sucker for First-Person-Western RPGs. Despite it's higher-end price point, the Keep has great presentation values and a surprisingly good combat system for a 3DS real time RPG. Add in multiple difficulty levels, decent puzzling, and growth based- equipment rewarding dedicated player choice, and you have a 3DS eShop title that is well-worth the price.

Phantasy Star:
Yeah, I have been pining for a retro feel after the bitter taste Bravely Default left in my mouth so I started playing Phantasy Star again on VC. It's crazy to think that this game came out before Final Fantasy and features a female protagonist, but it's a pretty traditional dungeon-crawling sci-fi JRPG. However, the music is great and the character builds are interesting and satisfying. Excited to play the rest of the series.

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter:
Proof that JRPGs don't need to beat your head against the wall with difficulty spikes or even really in-depth combat systems, Solatorobo is a totally underrated action RPG with cool customization, repetitive combat, but stellar presentation values and a very engaging and lovable story. I'd be lying if I said I didn't roll my eyes pretty hard when I first started playing but gradually became very immersed in the world and characters of the story. There's also plenty to do and collect in the game so it feels especially full.

Will post more soon!

43

NWR Forums Discord / HOLY ****! I am so humbled.

« on: June 29, 2015, 12:50:02 PM »

To whomever it may concern...

I have just recently received my very first NWR forum title thanks to the powers that be. As a member of this site for about three-ish years (nearing on four), I am very pleased to finally join the ranks of those that are deemed worthy. Even if my title doesn't necessarily make sense to me. Whatever!

I've come to realize, after browsing the cesspool that is 4chan's /v/, that it's not the discussion of video games that I enjoy (although, I do like talking about video games, specifically certain genres, very, very, very, VERY much), it's the community that forms around them, and not being able to identify those specific personalities, whether they are positive or negative. I've kicked the /v/ habit, I don't go there anymore, mostly because I found it was a pit of despair and ultimately very transient, and it led me to take refuge here. I have grown as a person at NWR, realized my own style of writing (which is pretty damn important, since that's what I'd like to do in the future), and tackled my personal demons as well as those I consider important within the realm of video games. To be bestowed with a title, no matter what it may be, is an accomplishment in my eyes. It means, I am here. I belong to this community. And I'm happy to say that.

Thanks, NWR!

44

Nintendo Gaming / Paper Mario for Wii U: Time for Evan_B to RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE

« on: June 26, 2015, 12:33:32 AM »

Oh, hey. You may remember this topic being about how I hate that Paper Mario has no personality anymore. But now that there's a new game being announced, maybe Intelligent Systems can figure their **** out and make a proper successor to The Thousand Year Door! You can discuss that here, or read up on the original discussion:

With the recent news of Paper Mario being a guest character in the latest AlphaDream title, I'm just about fed up with how Nintendo has been treating this franchise. I guess I'm in the minority of people who think that, when this series actually WAS an RPG, it was superior to the Mario and Luigi series in just about every way. Overworld traversal is easier and not convoluted, the battle mechanics were more streamlined and engaging, and the dialogue was more charming and not deliberately trying to make you laugh. It was just funny.

What's worse, though, is that from what is being featured in Paper Jam and as evidenced by Super Paper Mario and Sticker Star, it's clear Nintendo doesn't know what to do with the character anymore. His gimmick is obviously being made of paper, but each title since The Thousand Year Door has focused less on the simple mechanics of a decent RPG and more on paper shenanigans. While I would say that Sticker Star's aesthetics were by far one of its best qualities, the over-reliance on Stickers was not a good turn for the series. Paper Jam is supposed to incorporate elements "from the Paper Mario series", but let's be honest- Paper Mario never had ridiculous paper mechs and few of his special moves had to do with what was shown off in the demo. Nintendo seems to think that Mario and Luigi makes Paper Mario defunct as an RPG series when a fan of that series couldn't disagree more.

Some might argue- "hey, at least they're still MAKING Paper Mario games." But I think a franchise that has continued iterations that suck or miss the point of the original are still being neglected. Why stop at Paper Mario? I'm sure people have a list of franchises they would like to list grievances about! Sometimes, it's better to just let it all out. I could say a whole bunch of stuff abou Intelligent Systems and AlphaDream, but what are some of your thoughts on franchises?

45

Nintendo Gaming / Don't mind me, I'm just THE LEGEND OF LEGACY FOR NORTH AMERICA!

« on: June 11, 2015, 02:24:34 PM »

http://nintendoeverything.com/atlus-confirms-the-legend-of-legacy-for-north-american-release-this-fall/#disqus_thread
Sorry about the link, but WHOOO!

This was one of the final games I was really looking forward to having localized for NA. The concept is really neat (choose your party, they have flexible roles, their stories are told, replay with different characters for different story paths), the art style is cute, the graphics are unique, the music is fantastic, and the pedigree is wonderful. I trust Atlus to play it close to the original script too and not get too hokey like they do with their own games.

Also interested to see the "balance" mentioned. I don't remember what was said about the game upon release but it scored well and I didn't hear too much negative stuff.

If this gets a collectors edition (which, knowing Atlus, is a lock) I will be a happy man.

46

General Chat / A formal apology

« on: June 02, 2015, 11:39:26 PM »

So I didn't want to put this in the funhouse because I thought people wouldn't take it seriously. I wanted to apologize to the board for how erratic and bizarre I have been acting as of late- my posts have been poorly constructed, confrontational, and pessimistic, and I don't like that part of me. I have been avoiding threads I've posted in because I don't want to see how people react to the way I've been writing.

As you can probably tell, I've been quite joyless over the past few months. I have also been hitting the bottle pretty hard. I'm not asking for sympathy here, but I did want to get these things out there so that I could have peace of mind. I thought that suffering through it was a sign of strength, but it's been tearing me apart mentally and physically to the point where I can't even talk about the things I enjoy without sounding bitter.

So I wanted to extend the topic to all of you, mostly because I'm through with being anonymous and through with being unconcerned with something that is most definitely a problem. Have any of you struggled with depression or alcohol abuse? I know this is really heavy, and I'm sorry for that. I'm also living in Japan right now and I'm kind of struggling with the language barrier so seeking professional help isn't much of an option right now.

Anyway, I only ask because I feel that this is a community of good, honest people who like what I like and I would very much like to contribute positively to this board. Thanks for hearing me out. Also, since I need to put it in writing: I will not be drinking for the next year, and I'll re-evaluate my options when that time comes.

47

NWR Forums Discord / I hereby declare a new forum rule!

« on: May 28, 2015, 01:27:38 AM »

After reading Neal's ridiculously safe* "rating pending" review on Splatoon (which is probably only score-less so they can take time to average the review scores of every other site so they can avoid another Mario Kart 8 fiasco), I realized the potential of utilizing absurd qualifiers to invalidate* our most opinionated viewpoints.

So I figured, "who better to start a trend than our beloved* site director?" So I hereby decree we obey his decree* and join in on the fun! Who's with me? I think this could be a rewarding experiment.*


*Unless our pants fly off simultaneously.

48

Reader Reviews / Video Games: A Review

« on: May 23, 2015, 03:09:28 PM »

Evan_B finally tackles this pop-culture classic, but what are his thoughts? Can people really grow by finally experiencing this medium? Let's take a look behind the curtain.

So for those of you who haven't been on the up-and-up since around the middle of the last century, this whole technology thing had given rise to a number of ridiculously stupid hobbies. Hobbies, of course, as defined by Merriam-Webster: "a small Old World falcon (Falco subbuteo) that is dark blue above and white below with dark streaking on the breast" means something that has little function to the productivity of a human being. Hobbies come in all shaped and sizes, but more recently, they tend to rely on staring at television displays and receiving audio via speakers. One such example of this sort of activity is, of course, the video games.

Video games. Who would have thunk that, way back in the 1940's when Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. created the now-famous and instantly recognizable Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, he would be remembered in a Wikipedia article as creating the first in a long line of video games designed to waste our time? Others would soon follow, and then create so many fucking versions of Pong it would cause the fledgling video games industry to crash. They could have ended it right there, realizing “this fake tennis stuff isn't really all it's cracked up to be. But, from the ashes, the video games rose, and like all Phoenixes, it carried on its back the true savior of mankind: aliens. Space Invaders caused arcade cabinets to become commonplace in places like malls and restaurants, where people enjoyed rubbing their greasy fingers on things other people touched. This was, perhaps, the best time for video games, when having to participate meant leaving the comfort of one's solitary confinement, and score chasing created bitter rivalries and sharing of technique. But who can say- I wasn't alive then, so that part of the universe doesn't exist.

Of course, it is in human nature to not let a good thing last. As the strength of the industry improved, the world thought it would be neat to try that whole “Pong” thing again and bring games into people's homes. But this didn't turn out so well, and a great deal of market saturation of both consoles and video games that were absolute **** caused a second crash. Video games was not happy, and so they turned to the only people that could beat a Phoenix senseless enough to cause it to rise once more- the Japanese. Well, North America did, anyway. And the rest, as they will say in 300 years, is history.

But an abridged history of video games is not what I came here to talk about, dear reader, instead, I came here to tell you about playing them. What is it that brings satisfaction from these devices? Is it the ability to see another object visually react in response to our input? If we cared that much, we would never stop masturbating. No, it is the combination of many artistic talents that come together to create something uniquely lacking any sort of artistic quality. Games satisfy us on visual levels, maybe also assisting our immediate sense of satisfaction, and sometimes physical memory becomes ingrained in us, as well- the memories of sitting in our basement until four in the morning chomping on Cheetos yet also delicately wiping our hands clean so that we don't “gunk-up” the controller. But games do not challenge us intellectually. They hand the answers to us with such ease because if they didn't, they wouldn't sell. You don't buy a game to not understand it, you buy a game to master it. To defeat it. And that is a pretty human nature, to want to defeat things. Just ask Lu Bu. He's been in a few video games, himself. Keep on conquering, buddy.

So as any dejected, listless teenager with a penchant for writing **** would do, I set out on a journey many years ago to do the unthinkable- I wanted to play video games. Not just any one video games- ALL video games. This was a bit ambitious, I admit, but I was going to be the next Shakespeare. I had to start somewhere.Of course, video games had been present in my life before my teenage years. I had played them in my childhood, and they took me to magical places that my underdeveloped mind had no concept of understanding or caring about as long as my guy beat the next guy in my guy's way when I pressed a button. However, it was during my teenage years that I became quite enamored with video games, and like a mad titan from one of Jupiter's moons, I became obsessed with trying to impress video games. My quest was clear. Play video games. Write about them. Help other people understand them.

It's been about seven years since I started that journey. Seven years, and I have played around 300 video games or so in that time- eh, probably less, but I haven't been counting. However, what I have been doing is understanding the nature of the medium, and ultimately deciding that this **** is fucking crazy.How many moments of my life have I spent playing video games when I could have done something more productive? More artistic? A lot. Maybe it was because I gravitated towards role playing games more than other genres- fun fact, a wonderful thing about video games is that they appeal to many different types, although not all of them are good or smart people (case in point, people who like Mega Man. That's a story for another time!). But I have dabbled in puzzle games, platformers, action titles, first-and-third person shooters, strategy games, simulations, and more genres that I don't feel particularly inclined to detail. I have played the **** out of video games, and whether the old gal has finally been worn out from having her nipples tweaked too much and for too long, or because I realized how much time I actually wasted on this media, I decided that it was time to conclude this bizarre love affair.

But not before I posted all the dirty pictures she had sent me on the web.

There are talented and dedicated artists in the world of video games. There are probably some people that work in the video games industry who wish that video games would grow the **** up and try to be a bit artistic, but that does not really seem like a foreseeable future. Video games, like with most hobbies, are a method of killing time, of occupying oneself mentally so that they believe they are accomplishing something. Gaining new meaning. Defeating bad guys. Growing. But what growing do we do in front of our screens? What are we contributing? Maybe a gif-worthy animation error or “epic kill” as I have often heard spoken of. We are not doing what is good for the world, we are hiding behind a false, immediate, and satisfyingly addicting form of entertainment. We play for what we take away, not what we give to anyone else. At this point, I would like to apologize to any video game streamers- sorry, but you're not giving anyone else anything special by doing so.

Video games utilizes its many artistic elements to create a comfortable and secure environment for us to waste time within. In a sense, the people who help create them are very talented, because this is hard to do. But its exploited for commercial gain so much that the concept of leaving video games unfinished and releasing them at full price is considered okay. I mean, come on. I did not go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa eyebrows down!

But, gamers remain satisfied. With the industry, with its lack of artistic expression, and with the satisfaction they think they get when they complete video games. Because it is human nature to not let a good thing last. And in the end, video games will not survive as a medium if they continue down this path, and there will be a third crash of epic proportions, and hopefully, they can rise as something completely new and neato. Maybe even something worthy of being called art. Or feeling truly accomplished with.

In any case, I gave it a 3/10. Lacks the finality of a novel or movie, the depth of visual arts and storytelling, and it's definitely not as engaging as athletic activity. I would recommend NOT trying before you buy, lest you are sucked into the abyss that is her cold, hard gaze.

You can catch a collection of my previous works at Nerd Rage my former review site and now-desolate wasteland.

49

Nintendo Gaming / The Mo/Blox series: The best IP to come from the eShop

« on: May 18, 2015, 01:11:10 AM »

So having downloaded Stretchmo or whatever they're calling it in Europe, I was genuinely surprised and delighted to see that the Mo/Blox series hasn't grown stale in terms of new mechanics and originality. I haven't made a solid purchase for Stretchmo yet, but the new mechanics are so novel I am seriously considering slapping down the full price for it.

In terms of each individual game, I was wondering what everyone thought about the series. The only entry I've missed out on has been Pushmo World, because it seemed like too lazy a rehash of ideas, but Stretchmo has shown me this block puzzle platformer still has life in it. I'll post my own opinions, of course, but if like to open the subject to anyone.

I'll also say that I'm baffled by the remarks of over-tutorialized material in these games, because while the beginning does have a bit I dialogue it's never so aggravating that it ruins the games for me. Maybe I'm just a patient gamer.

50

Nintendo Gaming / The OFFICIAL E3 2015 Predictions Thread: Reel in those expectations!

« on: May 02, 2015, 07:37:26 AM »

So since NWR has deemed the current time period worthy of hyping up the oncoming 2015 Electronics Entertainment Expo, I figured it was time we enjoyed our own thread for E3 discussion, with the first major subject, of course, being predictions.

I thought I'd do the honors since my predictions are bleak and most likely a good ballpark of want we'll be seeing this year, so let's get the ball rolling, shall we?

Wii U--

-More information and perhaps a Mother 3 appearance on Wii U virtual console in order to promote the character. Potential Wolf reveal.
-Starfox is revealed as an episodic series with a season pass, with each episode featuring one of Miyamoto's crazy Wii U ideas both in the episode and as a separated mini game. This is the Holiday release.
-Fatal Frame is given an October release date because reasons.
-Devil's Third occupies a late summer release date.
-Xenoblade Chronicles X is given a bizarre holiday release date because Starfox is episodic/Zelda U didn't make it OR is delayed until next year.
-Mario Maker is given an absurd amount of coverage despite its light amount of content.
-Animal Crossing Wii U is announced, releases early 2016
-A new and entirely bullshit Amiibo App launches.

3DS--

-Nintendo laughs in the face of those who want first party support on 3DS. Something boring and easy is announced for the system and Nintendo gives no effort to justify the existence of the New 3DS.
-Okay, that's not entirely true. Nintendo announces an Amiibo Tap type program for N3DS and gives us a new Pokemon title.