Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 15, 2009, 07:39:00 PM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/podcastArt.cfm?artid=17974
May the slugs dissolve your eyes!
Episode 137: The Darkness Comes
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Mr. Lindemann is still swamped with work, but your old RFN host, Karl Castaneda, was happy to fill in this week. In addition to having some interesting perspective on Eternal Darkness (no Suda, no buy), he gives us first impressions on Mad World. Also in New Business: Jonny vigorously defends Galactrix, and Greg less vigorously defends Link's Crossbow Training.
The large second segment is devoted entirely to Eternal Darkness, the third game in our RetroActive feature. The regulars all love it, with some caveats, and we cover everything from Resident Evil comparisons to our favorite insanity effects. Is the dynamic camera really that good? Can you enjoy a game where the characters keep dying? The listeners share their own thoughts on these questions and many more.
The closing Listener Mail segment leads the gang into a few thoughts on the Resident Evil news, WiiWare demos, our moral gaming qualms, and a follow-up on whether games can seriously deal with death. It's a great batch of questions, and we'll have even more next week, along with the conclusion of our Eternal Darkness revisit.
Credits:
This podcast was edited by Greg Leahy.
Music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is used with permission from Jason Ricci & New Blood. You can purchase their new album, Rocket Number 9, directly from the record label, or download it from iTunes, or call your local record store and ask for it!
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 15, 2009, 09:10:52 PM
Post by: broodwars on March 15, 2009, 11:13:37 PM
I am listening to the episode now. I don't remember Karl, maybe because I just started listening about a month ago.
Go listen to episode 103, as that's the last episode I remember him being in. Hell, listening to episode 103 is mandatory in any case.
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 15, 2009, 11:24:35 PM
Post by: Stratos on March 16, 2009, 05:24:08 AM
I enjoyed the podcast, great once as per usual. And YAY! for getting a comment read on RetroActie again! Though I was a bit sad that it got cut off, but I'm not offended, I know that one was a bit long winded. I was just happy that you touched on the hero death matter at all whether or not you even mentioned my comment.
Also, thanks for the sensitivity that you dealt with the matter of suicide. I have had that matter hit close to home a few years ago in regards to a friend and only recently can I say I am able to deal with the general matter of suicide.
I am listening to the episode now. I don't remember Karl, maybe because I just started listening about a month ago.
Go listen to episode 103, as that's the last episode I remember him being in. Hell, listening to episode 103 is mandatory in any case.
Was that the Imfamous one where Jonny was absent, Greg hosted and everything went to Hell? I LOVED that one.
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 16, 2009, 05:35:44 AM
Another great episode. You're on a roll!
Post by: Yoshidious on March 16, 2009, 07:34:55 AM
Go listen to episode 103, as that's the last episode I remember him being in. Hell, listening to episode 103 is mandatory in any case.
Was that the infamous one where Jonny was absent, James hosted and everything went to Hell, and he never hosted the show again? I LOVED that one.
Fixed in the interest of accountability :)
Karl last joined us on Episode 120 for a feature discussion on hype and expectations in gaming - it's not 103 (what is?) but it's still well worth a listen.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 16, 2009, 11:16:28 AM
Post by: ShyGuy on March 16, 2009, 11:53:14 AM
Post by: broodwars on March 16, 2009, 01:30:07 PM
Post by: Stratos on March 16, 2009, 07:17:18 PM
Go listen to episode 103, as that's the last episode I remember him being in. Hell, listening to episode 103 is mandatory in any case.
Was that the infamous one where Jonny was absent, James hosted and everything went to Hell, and he never hosted the show again? I LOVED that one.
Fixed in the interest of accountability :)
Karl last joined us on Episode 120 for a feature discussion on hype and expectations in gaming - it's not 103 (what is?) but it's still well worth a listen.
Oops, I think I just remembered you incorrectly as host because there were a recent couple where you hosted during the holidays. I'm going to listen to that episode again for fun.
My big problem with Eternal Darkness is the Sanity Meter, as it allows you to know instantly if anything you see on-screen is a Sanity effect. That takes any surprise out of anything the game can do to you the entire game, and completely nullifies the point of the Sanity effects. Also, let's say you play through the game with the Sanity Meter intentionally left empty (the most enjoyable way to play the game). Then you have to deal with an endless barrage of women and babies crying, which is just too obnoxious to deal with the entire game.
I actually didn't have that issue with the meter. I typically was so engrossed with the games events that I didn't know where my meter was. Now I'm too good and rarely does my sanity go too far down so I have to purposely not finish zombies to see more effects.
Post by: Plugabugz on March 16, 2009, 08:31:12 PM
I hope y'all don't get upset when we trim down letters and forum posts to be read on the show. There's an inherent awkwardness to reading someone else's words out loud, and I try to make things flow better by making the quotes concise. There's also the issue of time; we're just not going to read a 1000-word email on the show.
I sent in a question that kinda fits that "1000 word" description. It's just hard to explain!
*hopes it gets read out*
Post by: Stratos on March 16, 2009, 10:09:57 PM
I hope y'all don't get upset when we trim down letters and forum posts to be read on the show. There's an inherent awkwardness to reading someone else's words out loud, and I try to make things flow better by making the quotes concise. There's also the issue of time; we're just not going to read a 1000-word email on the show.
I do understand. Doesn't mean I can't wish that you did read the whole thing, but I trust you to convey the points accurately.
Post by: TofuFury on March 17, 2009, 01:52:28 AM
Also, wasn't Karl in 120: Hype Man? I've recommended that one to a few of my friends.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 17, 2009, 01:56:42 AM
Post by: Stratos on March 17, 2009, 04:28:34 AM
I really love the sanity effects on this episode. I was listening to it on my iPod in my car and I have to use one of those radio receiver/transmitters and pick it up on my cars radio (heh, Radio Free Nintendo on the radio). Since I was making a 160+ mile trip the open bands I can listen to it on changes over the course of the trip. I know when I have to change the transmitting band when another station starts to walk over your show and I hear bits of both at the same time. The effects occured and I kept switching bands thinking it was such an issue. It wasn't until around the third time you did it that I realized what you were doing. I literally yelled in my car "THIS...ISN'T...REALLY...HAPPENING!"
Good job and good show.
Post by: Plugabugz on March 17, 2009, 06:03:46 AM
When i heard the sanity effects i was thinking each time if my hearing was packing up again (i got fluid in my left ear hence the concern) and took my headphones out to see if everything else sounded the same.
Post by: Stratos on March 17, 2009, 07:29:41 AM
Greg automatically wins for "Karl sucks" :D
When i heard the sanity effects i was thinking each time if my hearing was packing up again (i got fluid in my left ear hence the concern) and took my headphones out to see if everything else sounded the same.
But did you think "THIS...ISN'T...REALLY...HAPPENING!"?
Post by: Sarail on March 17, 2009, 11:55:30 AM
But, oh well! I own a PS3, too, and I still rock out more with the Wii... the games are just a whole lot more fun. :)
Post by: NWR_Karl on March 17, 2009, 12:19:26 PM
Post by: NovaQ on March 17, 2009, 01:34:20 PM
I hope y'all don't get upset when we trim down letters and forum posts to be read on the show. There's an inherent awkwardness to reading someone else's words out loud, and I try to make things flow better by making the quotes concise. There's also the issue of time; we're just not going to read a 1000-word email on the show.
Nuts. I sent in a longer one a week or two ago. I'll try to trim it down and send it again. Thanks for the heads-up!
Post by: Plugabugz on March 17, 2009, 02:46:27 PM
Nuts. I sent in a longer one a week or two ago. I'll try to trim it down and send it again. Thanks for the heads-up!
Me too! I tried to make mine more "palatable".
Post by: Stratos on March 17, 2009, 03:29:46 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 17, 2009, 09:26:50 PM
Could you guys maybe talk about what you think of the New Play Control! games? Ones that you have played of coarse.
Post by: NWR_Karl on March 18, 2009, 12:28:49 AM
Still, I'd like to think that I'm not centered on pointing out flaws. Even as I slighted Eternal Darkness for not being what I was looking for, I pointed out that I knew exactly why people enjoyed it so much, and that I still respected the effort.
So yeah, in closing, I do like Nintendo. There are just things about the way they operate that I disagree with, is all.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 18, 2009, 01:07:15 AM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 18, 2009, 01:31:57 AM
So yeah, in closing, I do like Nintendo. There are just things about the way they operate that I disagree with, is all.This....isn't....HAPPENING!....
**FLASH**
...in closing, Nintendo sucks. (*Head and arms fall off*)
Post by: Stratos on March 18, 2009, 02:16:06 AM
Without turning this into a completely different discussion, I'll just say that I don't mean to be completely negative - I'm just of the opinion that Nintendo could be doing more in certain areas without compromising their new market. It's something that often came up during my stint on the show. I'm just naturally critical of things I like (in this case, the Big N). If this was Radio Free Microsoft, I'd have an entirely different basket of complaints.
Still, I'd like to think that I'm not centered on pointing out flaws. Even as I slighted Eternal Darkness for not being what I was looking for, I pointed out that I knew exactly why people enjoyed it so much, and that I still respected the effort.
So yeah, in closing, I do like Nintendo. There are just things about the way they operate that I disagree with, is all.
I understand where you are coming from. You care about Nintendo enough to point out their flaws. I would be rather disappointed if those I valued as true friends never pointed out my flaws and offered ways I could improve for the better. How does the quote go; 'beware the compliments of an enemy, but you can trust a wound from a friend' ? I think a similar thing applies to you in this regard, Karl. You are a friend of Nintendo so criticisms from you can be trusted as you desire the company to succeed. Not everything Nintendo does is a bed of roses. They make a number of mistakes as well, as they have admitted on numerous occasions.
Post by: Mop it up on March 18, 2009, 03:33:21 AM
They make a number of mistakes as well, as they have admitted on numerous occasions.Really? They have? Where? I don’t recall ever hearing them say “Yeah, sorry about using cartridges with the Nintendo 64, that was a mistake. Boy, were we wrong on that one OMGLOLBBQ!!!”
Anyways, I myself have been fairly critical of Nintendo lately because they’ve made some decisions which I don’t agree with. However, I’ve been trying to change this about myself because all of this negatively towards Nintendo is destroying my enjoyment of their games.
It's too bad I don't have the time to listen to these podcasts because they seem like they would be very interesting.
Post by: Stratos on March 18, 2009, 05:24:43 AM
E3 2008, nuff said.They make a number of mistakes as well, as they have admitted on numerous occasions.Really? They have? Where? I don’t recall ever hearing them say “Yeah, sorry about using cartridges with the Nintendo 64, that was a mistake. Boy, were we wrong on that one OMGLOLBBQ!!!”
Post by: NWR_DrewMG on March 18, 2009, 08:21:58 AM
It's too bad I don't have the time to listen to these podcasts because they seem like they would be very interesting.
You could always burn them to CD and listen to them to the car in your morning commute. Granted, it might take you a few days to get through one, but that's probably my favorite place to listen to podcasts.
Post by: Mop it up on March 18, 2009, 05:52:58 PM
You could always burn them to CD and listen to them to the car in your morning commute.Would that I could, but unfortunately I have neither a CD-burner nor a CD-player in my car.
Perhaps I could figure something else out though, involving multi-tasking at my PC...
Post by: Stratos on March 18, 2009, 05:56:59 PM
Post by: Mop it up on March 18, 2009, 06:14:42 PM
Post by: Stratos on March 18, 2009, 06:26:24 PM
Hm. I don't have a CD-burner or a CD player in my car, do you honestly expect me to own something like an MP3 player? Next you've going to ask me if I have one of them new-fangled shiny disc movie players...
You can get a cheap MP3 player at Wal-Mart. I don't own a DVD player either, unless you count my computer and my PS2 Slim.
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 18, 2009, 06:27:35 PM
Johnny, I agree for most of the games. Of the currently announced NPC games, I am interested in the Pikmin games and the first Metroid Prime and might get those.
Post by: Mop it up on March 18, 2009, 06:35:32 PM
Also I don't shop at Wal*Mart for various reasons, mostly their prices aren't as low as they say.
Post by: Stratos on March 18, 2009, 06:38:34 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 18, 2009, 09:26:08 PM
Post by: NWR_DrewMG on March 19, 2009, 11:11:51 AM
Hm. I don't have a CD-burner or a CD player in my car, do you honestly expect me to own something like an MP3 player? Next you've going to ask me if I have one of them new-fangled shiny disc movie players...
No CD Player in your car? Wowsers.
Well, do you have a tape deck? If you have that, you can pick up one of those "tape adapters" (like such (http://www.optimization-world.com/details/prodid/209.html)) to go along with your cheap MP3 player. They work far better than FM Transmitters, in my opinion.
Post by: Plugabugz on March 19, 2009, 05:07:20 PM
Post by: NovaQ on April 05, 2009, 06:44:37 PM
Eternal Darkness' environments made up one of my favorite parts of the game. Seeing how the recurring locales changed was really neat. It would be cool to see that worked into another game.
I agree with Jonny and co. about the game being on a "true" adult level. I'd love more "grown-up" games with stories and content that only an adult could appreciate. I used to enjoy gratuitous violence and gore in my games, but now it's almost a turn-off.
I didn't replay ED for this edition of RetroActive, but listening to the podcast has reminded me how much great stuff was in the game. (No wonder I bothered to play through it all three times when it came out...)
Oh, and the added insanity effects were an awesome touch - they really had me for a minute, there!
P.S. Holy shiz I remember Hercules in NY. I think it was on TV or something years ago. Terrible.
Post by: Halbred on November 13, 2009, 04:28:17 PM
