Topic: Episode 323: Bad Moon on the Rise

[Pandareus]

We discuss new game announcements from Nintendo Direct. Also, this episode contains a recording of RetroActive Live: Majora's Mask!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/33152

After months of build-up, it's finally time to dig into The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask in the live version of our RetroActive feature. But first, we attend to some podcast business (the fourth annual PAX East panel and a sale on RFN/Connectivity t-shirts). Then we spend the remainder of this pre-recorded opening segment on analysis of the recent Nintendo Direct. You know, the one about Wii U sequels for Mario, Smash Bros, Zelda, Yoshi, and Xenowhatever, not to mention the latest WTF crossover game out of Japan, Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem. James is understandably over the moon about a couple of these announcements, while the rest of us are perhaps a bit more skeptical overall, considering how little was actually shown. Still, it was a good day to be a Nintendo fan, and we headed into the live show with a positive attitude.

The rest of this episode is a recording of our live RetroActive show. It was a great chance to discuss this complex, controversial Zelda game with several callers from the audience. We were also very fortunate to have our old buddy and editor Greg Leahy on the call. There's no shortage of things to say (or argue) about Majora's Mask, and it's no surprise that these two hours turned out to be one of the best RetroActive features in all the years we've done them.

It's well past time to catch up on Listener Mail next week, so please get in your questions and comments for the podcast!

[lolmonade]

Nice!  Just want to thank you guys for going through the trouble of recording the live retroactive.  I don't have the kind of free time to schedule a dedicated block off of my day to listen-in, so it's greatly appreciated on my end.

I still haven't gotten too far in Majora's Mask, although I have played farther than I ever have in the run-up to this feature, and will probably force myself to finish it this time.  I've always been intrigued with the darker tone of the story, and would love to experience it on a first-hand basis.

[azeke]

Haven't actually listened to it yet.

When i went to bed this night (just an hour before Retroactive started, it was 1AM here), i looked at the window and the moon was full.

Did you do that on purpose or just a coincidence?

Edit: see for yourself, it's full moon today

[Fjurbanski]

Yeah "X" is definitely gonna get a european and american release without any hassle. It was shown in all regions at the same time, and it was the finale of the Nintendo Direct. It was the big hitter and they knew it. So they're clearly gonna make a big deal about this game.


As they should.

[NWR_Neal]

We have known about the Monolith Wii U project in rumors for like a year and for damn sure since September. So the Xenoblade sequel was a pleasant surprise but the game's existence has been pretty solid since Xenoblade hit North Amerca

Also, Smash Bros. 4 has been in development for, as of today, less than a year. Remember when the game's director released a game last March?

[pookyrune]

You guys mentioned Retro studios didn't have a game to announce. Nintendo renewed the trademark for Eternal Darkness...     A man's gotta dream.

[Shaymin]

I want Secret Retro Game to be Mario Kart 8, simply for the meltdowns.

[lukas85]

monolith soft game looks gorgeous, is my most anticipated game of the year, guys why don't you love majoras mask? i cannot understand how can you be a nintendo fan and not like that game for me is a 10.

[TJ Spyke]

MM is polarizing, you either love it or hate it. I hate it, to me it is easily the worst 3D Zelda game. It's main gimmick is the time stuff, and that is not good.

[NWR_Lindy]

Silicon Knights was supposedly working on a pitchworthy prototype of Eternal Darkness 2 while they were working on that X-Men game a few years ago.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-10-26-silicon-knights-staff-now-fewer-than-5-report
Apparently it never panned out.

[MASB]

Loved the Jon-James discussion at the end. It's always entertaining when they talk about non-gamning subjects. It makes me wish that Gui would ask Greg for the relevant files, so that during a week when RFN is off, a special MMOcast with Jon's deleted segments could be released. Maybe Jon could record a few minutes of commentary to say if he still plays certain games, etc.
 
As for the Falcons game, I was with Jon. At 17-0 I wasn't celebrating given their history. They would've needed a 35-0 lead for me to relax.

[AnGer]

MM is polarizing, you either love it or hate it.

This. I love it btw, it is my favourite Zelda game next to ALttP.

@NinDirect: Well, this show was really something. I think Nintendo's gearing up now that the shadows of Orbis and Durango are creeping up on the horizon. I do hope though that we won't be disappointed concerning the next two Directs about 3rd parties and the 3DS. Any dates on these yet?

[Ceric]

I want Secret Retro Game to be Mario Kart 8, simply for the meltdowns.

I swear sometimes you just want to watch the world burn

[Pandareus]

@MASB

I really, really doubt such an archive exists!

[Shaymin]

I want Secret Retro Game to be Mario Kart 8, simply for the meltdowns.

I swear sometimes you just want to watch the world burn :

No, then there might be a *balanced* Mario Kart for once.

[geo]

I can only hope that the extent of multiplayer for zelda is something along the lines of dark souls (leaving hints, warping in to help), or miiverse use, or at the most something like a tingle tuner.   I guess I wouldnt be opposed to a Link/Zelda(sheik) co-op adventure, but it would have to be done well, and allow for single player play that wouldnt be impeded by AI.

[Pixelated Pixies]

Nintendo have to unveil what Retro has been up to at E3 this year, right? Right?!
 
DKCR and Mario Kart 7 are great and all, but I seriously doubt that has been all they've been doing since MP3. I wonder if they've been given free reign to create a new IP.

[NWR_Lindy]

@MASB Guillaume is correct; no such archive exists.  He kills any and all discussion with fire.  "NOBODY CARES ABOUT MMOS PLEASE MOVE ON VIVE LE QUEBEC" etc.

[Sundoulos]

I'm still listening to this one at work (as I can), and I hadn't realized (or had forgotten) that Link was wearing masks of other dead beings.  It is macabre and creepy!   I suppose it was intentional, given that one of the purposes of masks in ancient Japan was quite possibly to cover the faces of the dead.  In other cases, they may have been used as talismans to ward off evil spirits.  (I don't know if this was mentioned yet, since I haven't finished listening.)


Also, when I played through the game the first time, the Mask Salesman always made my skin crawl.  So odd, off-putting, and creepy.

Anyway, it's been a great discussion thus far.

[Jabs]

While you guys are complaining about the size of the Wii U OS do realise that most of that 5GB size is merely reserved space for future possible updates to expand into. The sluggishness of the system however is probably more down to a rushed release for the software, at least it works at the moment.

[Pixelated Pixies]

at least it works at the moment.

That should be Nintendo's marketing slogan for the Wii U.
 
'Wii U. At least it works!'

[Shaymin]

After the last generation, that may be a better selling point than you realize.

[broodwars]

The sluggishness of the system however is probably more down to a rushed release for the software, at least it works at the moment.

The number of crash bugs I've run into on my Wii U would beg to differ on that.

[Uncle_Optimus]

While you guys are complaining about the size of the Wii U OS do realise that most of that 5GB size is merely reserved space for future possible updates to expand into. The sluggishness of the system however is probably more down to a rushed release for the software, at least it works at the moment.

I think its 2 GB total, 1 GB reserved for the OS. A big reason why they reserve so much is because they need to account for the user accessing the built-in always-on apps like Mii-verse and the browser. Even with that, it is still sorta bloated considering its functionality so it could very well be they expect to add more swt appz this year.
The sluggishness tho is understandable...one does not simply walk into OS-land and expect to offer a smooth product right out the gate. They will improve, but as Iwata himself mentioned the criticism is justified. Especially with customers conditioned to far smoother experiences on other devices.

Most importantly however...OMG AVATAR UNAMUSED KITTY IS NOT AMUSED