Messages

126

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive #23: Wario Land 4 (Official Discussion)

« on: July 16, 2012, 07:55:13 AM »

This is why Mario Golden Showers got the backlash that it has, it isn't Mario.

I dunno, it looks at LOT like NSMB to me.


So far I'm not crazy about Wario Land 4, I've played it a bit but the system of exploring the levels that has been described here hasn't clicked with me yet. To the point where I've had to consult an FAQ ("Oh, I have to jump off a platform and do a SUPER butt stomp - I didn't know those existed").


The game design coupled with the current restrictions of GBA games on the 3DS don't suit my life style. Since this started I have rarely had the time to sit down and play through a whole level, short as they are. Not being able to enter sleep mode or use a quick save function means restarting the level from scratch every time I need to stop playing. This puts me off picking the game up when I do have some time of play games.


Hopefully I'll get a few more uninterrupted gaming sessions with it this week.

127

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Vita > 3DS ad dis. Honest opinions?

« on: July 13, 2012, 10:52:31 AM »

Our posts were so long I literally forgot what we were talking about in this thread :p

I think it was something to do with the Atari Lynx.

128

Nintendo Gaming / Re: 3DS XL "Not big enough..."

« on: July 13, 2012, 10:49:42 AM »

Please internet... let it lie!

129

General Gaming / Re: Ouya

« on: July 13, 2012, 08:19:07 AM »

Okay, despite their kick starter success I  now have nothing but scorn for the people behind Ouya.
[/size]My reason? The offical list of top 20 "games you want to see on OUYA!"?:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ouyatop20


So you can vote for Time Splitters, Battle Toads and Skyrim.....


Skyrim on a Tegra 3.
Time Splitters for you $99 open source console when nobody could get their act together to bring it to a current gen system for the big 3.
Freakin' Battle Toads???


Hey internet, stop giving these trolls money!


PS seriously Ouya, why no Mario Kart?

130

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive #23 Poll: Second Chance Edition!

« on: July 13, 2012, 07:25:46 AM »

I'm ready to start spitting some feather about this game but I can't find the forum thread. Is it up yet or am I looking in the wrong place?


I apologize in advance for being an ungrateful and demanding fan boy.

131

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 297: Hippy Shows

« on: July 13, 2012, 07:23:04 AM »

I may be mistaken, but I would expect Nintendo to release Gamecube games as downloadable for Wii U as direct ports, nothing more, nothing less.
...

So F-Zero will restart for no reason and Metroid Prime will go all weird artifacty for that authentic GCN feel?

Metroid Prime isn't something I can comment on, as i've never played anything from that series, but I can say that I've logged dozens of hours in F-Zero GX and have never had that issue with it.

On My Cube it was so bad that I rarely ever completed a full race.  Though Mine also had a problem with Battalion Wars at times.

F-Zero doesn't play nice with non-nintendo controllers or memory cards; I think Battalion Wars had the same problem.

My Wavebirds and Stock Nintendo Memcard would like a word with you.

Ditto.

132

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 297: Hippy Shows

« on: July 13, 2012, 07:20:49 AM »

Recently a friend of mine was tickled pink that NiGHTS into Dreams was getting an HD remake.  Now, I looooove that franchise.  But, when I heard that news it was met with an overwhelming *yaaawn*.  I don't want SEGA to spend time making HD assets for a game that is still perfectly enjoyable on the flippin' Sega Saturn.

Sorry, the following is a bit ranty.


I love NiGHTS and I still have it on my Saturn. What is not perfectly enjoyable is how Saturn games look on a new telly. What is even less enjoyable is setting up my Saturn and untangling all those cables as I don't have the space to keep more then 2 consoles set up at a time. So I would love a PSN HD remake of NiGHTS. Sadly I only play portable games these days so I won't be getting it. I wish it was coming to the 3DS.


Which is why I love portable remakes! This is the only way I will replay many of my favourite old games or play classics I missed.


AND FINALLY IN DEFENSE OF REMAKES:
Remakes make money for devs and publishers (or at least that is the idea). These companies need profits to survive and continue to make games, which I want them to do. There are plenty of new games if you don't want to buy a remake (unless it's a console launch of course, and even then you can always wait a few months).
It always bugs me in any industry when people expect main stream house hold names to operate like artistic, experimental indies. Successful indies are hugely influential on mainstream brands, they all have their place.
All I ask is that the products I pay for do not suck.

133

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Vita > 3DS ad dis. Honest opinions?

« on: July 13, 2012, 06:57:30 AM »

Thanks for your perspective Unky_Ops.
I've been a big portable gamer since I got Mario Bros Cement Factory for my 11th birthday precisely because I could play it in bed! Looking back that was one boring game 


What really matters is of course whether a game is good or not.
My life style means that all of my gaming is now portable but some of my favourite games of this generation have been Arkham Asylum, Mario Galaxy, Modern Warfare & Dead Space (this is not meant to be a' best of' list as I have played comparatively few home games this gen). Of those I think Dead Space is the only one with a comparable portable game.


In the early days I played plenty of portable games that were as good or just the same as the home version.
The Gameboy had Tetris (of course) , Duck Hunt and the Mega Man games. The Game Gear had the master system versions of several games & an MS adapter. It frustrates me some times when there are home games that I want to play and can't or when I try the portable version of a popular title I find it a shoddy cut down experience. But I realize I am asking for a lot when you compare the specs on a portable system and a home console.


I'm hoping that the Wii U will mean I can play Arkham City and the next Mario Galaxy in bed. But obviously it's not a portable system. What I am really waiting for is the day when I can take my whole games collection any where and play the same games on a big or small screen. The nearest thing I've seen so far was the Gameboy player!

134

General Gaming / Re: Ouya

« on: July 13, 2012, 05:12:06 AM »

This from their Kick Stater page:
" Let’s make the games less expensive to make, and less expensive to buy. With all our technological advancements, shouldn't costs be going down? Gaming could be cheaper!
We're handing the reins over to the developer with only one condition: at least some gameplay has to be free. We borrowed the free-to-play model from games like League of Legends, Team Fortress 2, Triple Town, and many others. Developers can offer a free demo with a full-game upgrade, in-game items or powers, or ask you to subscribe."

Which leaves me with very mixed feelings.
I like the idea of a lower barrier to development. But....
I hate Free to play because (duh duh DUH) it's not freakin free! I don't like adverts and I don't like having to choose between grinding or buying stuff from an in item shop. I'd much rather pay £40 for a complete video game, or better still waiting for a sale. Free to Play can actually have the potential to cost MORE then a retail game over it's life time (ask those parents with Smurf addicted kids). So this revolution isn't for me.

But that second paragraph about devs only having to offer SOME content for free.... like a demo for instance? Hardly a  revolutionary concept.

I am genuinely amazed at the level of support this is getting. I really thought it would only appeal to Home Brew devs so good for Ouya.  But I would be even more amazed if this turns out to be a product that offers the kind of games I want to play. The reason I like Nintendo games is because of the quality of the experience, which I am happy to pay for.

For me the bottom line is this: I have an Android phone and I NEVER game on it because there is so much dross on Google Play.
I can't see it being more appealing on a big screen. I concede that Android as a platform is going to keep developing and improving but it has a long way to go before it can compete with the content on the App store, let alone what I can play on a current home console.


So yeah, I'm not pledging but good luck to them.

135

General Gaming / Re: Any Vita owners here?

« on: July 10, 2012, 09:39:44 AM »

I forget where I saw it (Kotaku perhaps?) but I read that the Vita PS1 classics compatibility will not be 100% but will broaden over time in the same way as PSP titles. I hope this isn't true though.

136

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Vita > 3DS ad dis. Honest opinions?

« on: July 10, 2012, 08:03:55 AM »

As for the commercial, it's just marketing: it is the adverts job to say the game is the best thing since ever

Yes. That is it's job.
But as I'd played the game and found it very unlike a "home console experience" it got me thinking about what makes a portable game more like a console experience and where I have seen it work.


By contrast Super Stardust Delta is a great portable take on the PS3 game, once you turn off all the touch screen crap (moving my hand from the stick to the screen to complete a task is suicide in an arcade game of this type).

137

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 297: Hippy Shows

« on: July 09, 2012, 11:59:10 AM »

It's an enjoyable game with good music and cute art. I've said as much on the show. And the fact that it's easy and exploitable becomes a plus when you're trying to figure out what game to play with someone who hasn't played as many games as you have.

Plus, I knew we were going to play games together, but I hadn't really planned anything in advance. I figured I'd watch her play Wind Waker but she didn't really want to, so I went "let me look at what I have".

Cheers for responding. I usually bust out Beatles Rock band or Wario Ware in the same situation. Been meanign to try to twist a few arms to try the multi player on ios Chu Chu Rocket too.

138

Nintendo Gaming / Vita > 3DS ad dis. Honest opinions?

« on: July 09, 2012, 11:01:21 AM »

Just saw this advert in which Sony explains that Resistance Burning Skies is twice as awesome as any other portable FPS in the history of ever because of the miracle that is dual thumb sticks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNgI7gwiaiA&feature=player_embedded


Now, I'm not interested in a flame war or baiting some Nintendo apologists. But as Resistance BS was the last game I completed it got me thinking.


I like my Vita. I like it a lot. But I didn't like R:BS. It's dull, buggy (try the melee attacks!), the touch screen controls are iffy, it's too short, the graphics on the human characters was laughable, the story was extremely poor, the difficulty spikes were very badly paced and the whole game is one long corridor punctuated by kill rooms. I played it for 2 weeks and sold it. The first Medal of Honour Heroes game on the PSP was actually more fun.


It got me thinking and I reckon that Resi Revelations with the CPP plays a lot more like a home console game (and is a much better game, although obviously not an FPS).


My conclusion: twin triggers are just as important as twin sticks.


I really hope (but strongly doubt) we see more CPP games, especially a decent FPS.
I have been waiting for a decent portable FPS since the DS was announced and I'm still waiting. ho hum.
Thoughts?

139

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 297: Hippy Shows

« on: July 09, 2012, 10:03:49 AM »

I've waited for a long time for a soapbox to say it. PvsZ is neat, but good lord, there were so many quick fun games that came out at the same time as the XLBA version, and then the iPad version...

I mean no disrespect to you, but I am confused as to why you put the time into playing the co op when it's a game you don't much care for. When you finished discussing it I couldn't help thinking
"So... why did Gui want his girl friend to play this?"
Or is this one of those games like inFamous 2 where you did actually enjoy playing it but had a lot of criticisms?
Goodness knows I have played my fair share of games where I felt like that.


I for one loved ios PvsZ. The solo campaign is slight but as I recall it rewards a second play through and the bonus content was a lot of fun that's been added to since. It had me hooked for a good while.
Although I think I must have enjoyed it a lot more than you did I have never wanted to buy it on another system.

140

Nintendo Gaming / Re: What are your three favorite 3DS games and why?

« on: July 06, 2012, 06:45:33 AM »

If I included ports Zelda, Starfox & Ace Combat would take it in that order. All are brilliant, Ace Combat is slightly frustrating at times  but still a lot of fun.

I'm going to restrict myself to original 3DS games & they are:

1) Mario Tennis Open: My first Mario Tennis game and it took a while to click with me. I decided to blow through the main mode and then sell it on. Only now I am hooked and really love having this title to come back to again and again. I wish it was available as a download so I could dip into it when ever the mood takes regardless of what is in the cartridge slot.

2) Mario 3D Kart: Yes, I really do like Mario Tennis Open more then Mario 3D Kart. I was surprised too! Just goes to show that personal taste is more important then review scores. This is another great Mario Kart, not much else to say really.

3) Resident Evil Revelations: I don't think I enjoyed this as much as the rest of you who've commented. For me it's good but not great. If it had been a home console release I think it would have been criticized a lot more.
I thought the first quarter of it was pretty weak, the swimming chapters are just bad, the plot is terrible, it lacks classic boss battles and the last boss is far too tedious.
BUT I did enjoy it, it does have some excellent moments, it's VERY Resident Evil and the circle pad pro is a lot closer to the feel of proper twin stick controls then the Vita manages & more comfortable to hold for long play sessions then the regular 3DS.  I hope we get a sequel that builds on what worked but is more even to play through.

141

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Which Historical Eras Will Future Assassin's Creed Games Take Place?

« on: July 06, 2012, 05:32:04 AM »

What happened in Hill Valley in 1985? Please tell me because for some reason I'm envisioning a Boogie Nights setting for an AC game...

There were clocks, bowling balls, men carrying plate glass across the street.
It was HEAVY.

http://cinemassacre.com/2006/07/29/back-to-the-future/

142

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Nintendo 3DS Discussion

« on: July 06, 2012, 05:24:13 AM »

I have very fond memories of the original WaveRace on 64. Would love it if Nintendo made a 3ds (or HD!) version, even if it was just an enhanced port ala Ocarina and Starfox.

I too love both home versions of Wave Race and a portable remake or sequel would be a day 1 purchase for me. Oh please Nintendo, pretty please!


I too would rather play another Advance Wars game then Fire Emblem.

143

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive #23 Poll: Second Chance Edition!

« on: July 06, 2012, 05:13:13 AM »

I really don't want to play Wario Land 4. I usually love those games, but this one just seems tedious and weird...

The poll was all over as soon as this comment was posted.

144

General Gaming / Re: Any Vita owners here?

« on: July 05, 2012, 12:18:42 PM »

I opened Wipeout yesterday. I've had it for a week. My Vita time has been spent playing Gravity Rush and Power Stone Collection (which was $5 as part of a sale last week).

Wish we'd had that same sale in the UK as Power Stone is one I really want to pick up. But the sales we have had have been pretty decent. This weeks is all FF games, not sure whether to believe the Sony promise of PS1 compatibility by the end of the summer or not as FFVI & VII are both featured. But I know I'll never get round to playing them on the PS3 and suspect that PS1 compatibility will be as botched and drip fed as PSP game have been.


But saying that, does anybody else find that they are a lot more interested in the PSP back catalog on the Vita then they ever where before. I've had 2 PSPs and I'm suddenly eyeing up titles I would never had bothered with.

145

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive #23 Poll: Second Chance Edition!

« on: July 05, 2012, 12:02:09 PM »

Even though I have never played Custom Robo.  It has little machines that you can customize by my understanding.  Do you need more?

Yeah, I was on board enough with the concept to buy it but sadly in the truest Linddy style, not on board enough to play it. Not yet anyway.


When do the results get announced? During the podcast? Just finished a game and I'm holding off on starting anything new. I am ridiculously excited to play the same game as you fine fine people (who I've never met).

146

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Which Historical Eras Will Future Assassin's Creed Games Take Place?

« on: July 03, 2012, 09:26:09 AM »

Hey Ubisoft,
set AC 4 in Hill Valley cica 1985.
You can take my money!

147

TalkBack / Re: The DS RPG Diet

« on: June 29, 2012, 11:46:10 AM »

Just realised that the only RPG I played on the DS was Pokemon Soul Silver so here goes:


Initial thoughts: Grinding while I walk!


Closing thoughts: What was I doing?


I made the fatal RPG error, I left it for 6 months and when I tried to pick up where I left off I had no idea what to do.
Something about training monsters to fight I think...

148

General Gaming / Re: Any Vita owners here?

« on: June 29, 2012, 05:30:18 AM »

Rayman is arguably the best game on the system right now. Uncharted was good, but it was over pretty quickly. Gravity Rush is fun but pretty uneven.

I'll have to check that out at some point. The only Rayman game I've played was the 3DS remake of Rayman2 which I hated, but I can be very forgiving 


So far my favourite Vita game is Stardust Delta. When you turn off the touch screen nonsense the game is a first rate arcade rush. I also really enjoyed Uncharted. It got off to a slow start for me with a few too many charcoal rubbings and tutorials in the first couple of chapters, but it hooked me and I enjoyed playing it through twice.


Right now I'm playing Resistance Burning Skies and it's not good. The graphics & animation on the human models is dreadful, PSP stuff at best. The sound design is dire, the weapons sound like pop guns. The check points are frustrating. The levels are all linear corridors. After Uncharted's shooting action it's a huge let down. I hope CODBLOPS does a better job.


I'm keen to try Gravity Rush.


Did anybody else pick up any bargains in the PSN Vita sale?
I picked up Everybodies Golf & Tales from Space for my Linderman pile.

149

Podcast Discussion / Re: RetroActive #23 Poll: Second Chance Edition!

« on: June 29, 2012, 05:11:06 AM »

I vote Warioland. I have it and it's portable, Yay!
I've got Custom Robo too but some how it appeals less to me. Come on Robo fans, give me some reasons to change my vote!!!

Rogue Squadron and Rogue Leader never did click with me. Give me Starfox & Ace Combat over those games any day.

150

TalkBack / Re: 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro Coming 2012

« on: June 29, 2012, 05:04:52 AM »

I disagree, because there is a need for it and that need is not going to fade away. Other peripherals are not necessary or are based on a gimmick, but dual analog is not a gimmick, it is an industry standard. It will never fade away. Its not as though we're talking about R.O.B. or the Super Scope or the Wii Balance Board here.

Nintendo made more games for R.O.B. then they have made/announced for the CPP - 2!
The balance board had more 3rd party support.


I disagree that dual analog sticks will never fade away. Everything changes.
Also, as another comment has mentioned, my favourite thing about playing Revelations with the CPP was the triggers and not the second circle stick. I don't think anybody seriously expects a portable device with extra triggers, which is a shame. I'm playing Resistance Burning Skies at the moment and it's a big let down, partly because the grenade throwing etc is a mess without out the extra triggers. I would love a COD title for CPP but I'm not holding my breath.