It's a small wonder Great Fox doesn't transform into a robot, a tank, or some kind of robot-tank hybrid.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/42654/episode-475-super-dimensional-fortress-great-fox
After a somber episode last week, the full RFN cast digs deep and finds a way to reunite to get the show back on the road. The Spirit of Unity pervades New Business, which Jon starts with Free-to-Play Wii U game Lost Reavers. Where else but on Radio Free Nintendo will discussion of a generic loot shooter turn into a deep philosophical exploration of mankind's unending urge to consume? James tries yet again to give a good report on Bravely Second; he likes it, honest. He and Greg then attempt to double-team impressions of Star Fox Zero, and this combined effort shatters the show's harmony. Greg is a fan of the indefensible walkers, the crippling over-reliance on All Range Mode, and an unrelenting series of baffling gameplay decisions. James, to say the least, isn't. He also writes this article, and as such casts the final verdict. Guillaume tries to bring the show back together with thoughts on "free" eShop titles My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge. He worries about his Picross chops and, unless Jon is willing to share his expansive amiibo collection, that he'll never see all of the Challenge.
After the break it's time for Listener Mail. We feature an assortment of your reactions to the NX news, Nintendo's E3 plans, Zelda's delay, and all the recent news, such as future President Trump's plan to rid the United States of the Lindemann Menace. You can send your insights on the currents roiling the politics of both US and the EU to our inbox.
Our Castlevania: Rondo of Blood RetroActive is a few weeks away. Get started playing, and you can leave your thoughts in the RetroActive talkback thread.
Hear ye, hear ye, and listen to the sage critique of James Jones- a man that hates Zelda and Star Fox games for not being what he wants, yet willingly puts himself through the tedium of titles like Bravely Second and Project X Zone because someone needs to appreciate such bloated, grueling affairs. Is it that he can only enjoy things that are inherently mediocre? Or perhaps that his standards for classic franchises are too clouded by nostalgia...?
Jokes aside, I think I've claimed by stake as the most apologetic gamer in existence regarding Lost Reavers- but something about Jon's analysis doesn't sit right with me. In what way is the game a first person shooter? I could see a third person shooter, maybe, but that doesn't take into account the huge amount of melee combat that exists. Maybe I'm the one playing the game wrong, but even the "all-ranged" characters have melee attacks, and I've found that its much more of a factor in controlling the undead hordes.
Again, it is a shameless pay-to-win, but the collectible screen (which shows you how many of a certain special item from each mission you've obtained) has rewards, such as bundles of data chips, that can make the loot cycle far more forgiving. But as far as loot-cycle-based titles go, I don't think Lost Reavers is too atrocious- generic, maybe- but not lazily designed. Seasoned players (i.e. those in the level 20 range) rarely "troll" by standing outside the spawn boundaries, likely because they understand those enemies don't grant experience. The customization, role-based gameplay balanced with the equipment systems also has plenty of interesting depth, which feels far from lazy.
Though again jarring when he’s talking bad about a good game yet making excuses for a bad game.
Hey whoa, I was just joking. James Jones is entitled to his opinion, just like how I'm entitled to my opinion that Galaxy and 3D Land are a hot mess. We all have games that we love despite negative reception, James Jones just hosts a podcast.Though again jarring when he’s talking bad about a good game yet making excuses for a bad game.
Counterpoint: James Jones is speaking the truth.
Bravely Second - 81 Metacritic score.
Star Fox Zero - 69 Metascritic score.
Also, bad games can be enjoyed. Case in point: me playing SF0 to completion and wanting to go back to it even though it's an ungodly mess.
I'm 33 now so excuse me if I'm out of touch with the lingo kids use now a days. Hot mess means bad ass now? :)Hey whoa, I was just joking. James Jones is entitled to his opinion, just like how I'm entitled to my opinion that Galaxy and 3D Land are a hot mess. We all have games that we love despite negative reception, James Jones just hosts a podcast.Though again jarring when he’s talking bad about a good game yet making excuses for a bad game.
Counterpoint: James Jones is speaking the truth.
Bravely Second - 81 Metacritic score.
Star Fox Zero - 69 Metascritic score.
Also, bad games can be enjoyed. Case in point: me playing SF0 to completion and wanting to go back to it even though it's an ungodly mess.
James Jones just hosts a podcast.
It's just a shame that Radiant Dawn is a dumpster fire of a game that somehow frustrated me more than Thracia 776 with how uneven the game is.
It's just a shame that Radiant Dawn is a dumpster fire of a game that somehow frustrated me more than Thracia 776 with how uneven the game is.
I swear I think I played that game wrong. Micaiah was so underpowered and died so easily it made for a frustrating playthrough.
I have very specific complaints with Link Between Worlds - complaints that I don't think anyone can easily refute.Also it looks a bit like butt.
- The non-linear system that required a single item meant the game never let you get experienced with items and could not make puzzles that required you combine multiple items
- As a result, the puzzles remained variants on a theme, especially within a dungeon
- The game's combat is especially non-threatening, even by modern Zelda standards
- Thusly, the game itself is quite easy.
FUNNILY ENOUGH my issues with Star Fox Zero are also structural. They created this control scheme, I'll say is questionable, (although I didn't dog on it during the show, because it's fairly low on my list of concerns) that does not really show itself off in traditional Star Fox gameplay. Therefore - this design conceit (like the non-linear dungeons) - drove the game down a path where it spends a lot of time doing other things that do show off the controls more centrally. This results in a Star Fox experience that does not feel very Star Foxy, and rather has you tank controlling one ROB-inspired proxy while another barks tutorials at you.
I was excited for this game; I was eager for new Star Fox. I'm hugely disappointed. In that way, it shares a lot with Link Between Worlds. I think they both looked at core mechanics of their series, and missed the boat on what makes them fun.
I just show up, read the script, and check my email for Neal firing me.
Most of them are facts. The dungeons did only know you had a single item. They did craft dungeons in a way that meant once it was done you never needed an item again. It was made simpler by a lack of direct progression. It didn't ask you to combine skills.
Some might argue it allowed them to be more creative with the uses for an item. Either way, dungeons in Zelda rarely ever have you combining skills and often it's in the worst way possible (like Twilight Princess' mixture of iron boots and claw shots). But that's just my opinion.
Just be thankful you put your opinions on a podcast that isn't treated like the word of God- you avoid death threats, as opposed to the content on the site.
IT'S MY SHOW, DAMN IT!