Messages

151

Movies & TV / Re: Disney buying Lucasfilm, Star Wars 7 in 2015

« on: February 01, 2013, 07:51:17 AM »

I like the Abrams pick, and even though I grew up watching Star Trek (and was a fan), I still loved his treatment of the reboot.  I recently watched several of the movies, including the 2009 reboot, and the reboot remains one of the more entertaining entries.

I remain cautiously optimistic about the new Star Wars trilogy, and I'm beyond thrilled that I'm going to get the chance to take my kids to see Star Wars movies in the theaters.  Whether they're good or bad, there's just something exciting about that.

152

Movies & TV / Re: Rate the last TV show you've seen

« on: January 23, 2013, 08:48:51 AM »

I just finished re-watching all of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

I just want to give a big **** you to every single one of you who didn't support this show enough for it to continue.

But it's not canonical. So who cares?

I liked TtSCC a lot and watched it every week.  The first season was awesome, and the second season started out that way...but I think that Josh Friedman and company made a lot of missteps around the middle of the season 2.  The plot started meandering, they spent more time talking and retreading the same plot points (the three-dot symbol), dragged out and Riley and Jesse story out way too long before the big reveal, and they especially spent too much time (seemingly) focused on Sarah losing her mind.  The ratings dropped precipitously on the back 10. 

They also had the misfortune of being broadcast on Fox, who doesn't have a history of being patient with sci-fi shows that aren't doing very well.  It's probably a show that would have benefited greatly from a shortened season, similar to what it had in it's first season.   Unfortunately, it got cancelled as soon as it started moving forward and getting interesting again.

153

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 114: Peanut Butter Martini

« on: January 10, 2013, 10:33:18 PM »

I absolutely love game 5, and I only gave the game a chance because it was discussed at length on RFN a couple of times.  Fortunately, they also had a demo of it available on iOS, and I was able to try it out before getting it on the DS.  Back when I downloaded it, it allowed you to play through the first two major areas of the game.   I thought the implementation of the game worked really well (and looked more beautiful on my iPod/iPad.  I'd recommend downloading the demo if you've ever been curious about it, but haven't wanted to pay money for it outright before trying.  I did actually end up asking for the game on DS in a Christmas in the past.  Loved every minute of it.

I'm glad to hear it's on iOS, because it is probably hard to track down in the DS format. I see the first chapters are still free on iOS, and you can buy all of the chapters for $8. Not shabby at all.

Incidentally, I also (finally) first played Phoenix Wright by Capcom on iOS.  I believe that it's only $5, and it also works very well on the platform.  I only wish the other titles in the series were also available, if only because they are getting more rare and expensive as DS titles now. 

154

TalkBack / Re: The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct Coming to Wii U this March

« on: January 10, 2013, 08:00:27 PM »

Shouldn't that be Merle (rather than Meryl) Dixon?

155

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 114: Peanut Butter Martini

« on: January 05, 2013, 08:46:55 AM »

I owned game 3 for a while, and the gameplay was mostly serviceable, but describing it as anything more than that would be too generous.  I was a little surprised to hear reaction to the game's music, because the music was my favorite part of that game as well as it's parent.      The Final Fantasy XII music is also one of my favorite parts of Theatrhythym.




I absolutely love game 5, and I only gave the game a chance because it was discussed at length on RFN a couple of times.  Fortunately, they also had a demo of it available on iOS, and I was able to try it out before getting it on the DS.  Back when I downloaded it, it allowed you to play through the first two major areas of the game.   I thought the implementation of the game worked really well (and looked more beautiful on my iPod/iPad.  I'd recommend downloading the demo if you've ever been curious about it, but haven't wanted to pay money for it outright before trying.  I did actually end up asking for the game on DS in a Christmas in the past.  Loved every minute of it.

156

TalkBack / Re: Crimson Shroud Review

« on: January 05, 2013, 08:36:00 AM »

I figured out the waterway but now I'm stuck with a boss in the game...very frustrating.

...aaaaaand I'm also stuck again.  This game would really benefit from even the most rudimentary of hint systems. 

157

NWR Forums Discord / Re: I'm guessing I'm the only one who doesn't listen to the podcast?

« on: January 04, 2013, 05:31:24 PM »

I'm the opposite. I often worry that I listen to too many podcasts. When I'm out running, walking to work, cleaning the house, playing games that don't require my full attention, when I want something to send me off to blissful sleep.

Same here, mostly because I can listen while multitasking.  The realities of parenthood have ensured that I spend far more time listening to podcasts about gaming than I spend actually playing video games.

158

TalkBack / Re: Crimson Shroud Review

« on: January 02, 2013, 12:33:38 AM »

I checked this game out on the basis of this review, and I was thankful for the heads-up on the trouble in the Geyserm Waterway section.   Even with the advice provided in the review, it took a long while before I got the correct item drop.  It was a completely unnecessary and frustrating section of the game, but I agree that it's a great game, otherwise.

159

TalkBack / Re: 3DS Remake of Dragon Quest VII Announced and Dated

« on: October 31, 2012, 08:28:29 AM »

I do wonder why the original version of the game has never shown up on PSN.  I'm excited that it's going to come out on a Nintendo system.  I hope it gets localized!

It would also be nice if the DQ 1-3 remakes would make an appearance on the eshop.

DQ8 is still my favorite in the series; everything about that game is wonderful.  I'll keep my hopes up for an eventual release.

160

TalkBack / Re: Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Review

« on: October 26, 2012, 01:57:07 AM »

Insanolord:  I don't think you'd be lost.  Each of the Layton games is fairly self-contained.  There are recurring characters at times, but they aren't really integral to the story or theme of the game.

161

NWR Forums Discord / Re: Since when has MSNBC had any desire to do real journalism?

« on: October 20, 2012, 09:57:26 AM »

NBC News is the polite face of the real force, MSNBC. NBC News is simply MSNBC with its shirt tucked in. MSNBC is the revealed id.

162

General Gaming / Re: IGN up for sale

« on: October 20, 2012, 09:54:51 AM »

But isn't every news outlet somewhat biased. I mean when i watch fox news or read the WSJ i already know its going to have a conserative slate. The same goes for the times and msnbc having a liberal one.

Totally this.  It's pretty obvious that the majority of the major news outlets are partisan.  It's no wonder that Gallup polls found that trust in the media is at a record low.  https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/09/21-6

Gallup found that Republicans are the least trustful of the news, followed by those who consider themselves independents. Democrats exhibit the most confidence in the media, but even their level of trust topped out at less than 60%.

Especially taking into consideration the things that have been happening in the recent debates, it's pretty difficult to argue that the other news outlets are not partisan.  Some news personalities are worse than others, however.

163

TalkBack / Re: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Impressions

« on: October 18, 2012, 08:06:08 AM »

This just might convince me to get back into Monster Hunter.   I thoroughly enjoyed Tri, but I had to give it up due to the amount of time that I was spending with it.

164

TalkBack / Re: 3rd Annual NWR Live Podcast Telethon for Child's Play

« on: October 18, 2012, 07:49:38 AM »

Very happy to hear that you're doing this again!  I've always enjoyed these; it's also near-perfect timing for some nerdy Wii U hype.

165

Podcast Discussion / Re: Best of the Wii: Super Mario Galaxy 2

« on: October 11, 2012, 07:56:53 AM »

I finally got around to listening to a few more of these.  Galaxy 2 is still my favorite game on the Wii.  It outshines the original Galaxy since the boss battles tend to lean a bit harder, but I sort of enjoy the atmosphere and music from the first game a little more.  I still like to hum the themes from Battlerock and Buoy Base quite a bit; while the music from Galaxy 2 is also superb, I have a more difficult time remembering it.

As for future installments, I've wondered a lot about where the series might go from here.  Will continue to focus on a smaller setting, such as Super Mario 3D Land or a setting more like Super Mario 64?  I know it won't happen, but now would be an excellent time for them to bring Mario back to a setting like the Dream World subcon (like in Super Mario USA or the western version of SMB2).  I think that a dream world setting could be sufficiently varied and abstract enough to continue the crazy world design that the Super Mario Galaxy series sports.  Plus, re-exploring other villains such as Wart, Birdo, and Mouser would hit the nostalgia button for many of us older Mario fans who grew up playing and loving SMB2.  (When it was released, I knew nothing of the game's true origins.)  Getting away from the Bowser and Bowser Jr. as the main villains would help the game seem a little more fresh and interesting.  I think the western markets would eat it up, but that's just IMHO.

166

Podcast Discussion / Re: Best of the Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

« on: October 08, 2012, 07:41:56 AM »

I need to go back and finish this as well.   I kind of gave up around the Water Dragon segment, but that's partially because it's just more difficult for me to find time these days to game via console than it is on a handheld. 

That being said, I think the fetch-quest nature of the tasks prior to the dungeons served to turn me off just a little.  I appreciate what they tried to do with the dense areas on the ground, but I also wish the sky areas felt a little more "alive."  I didn't feel that there were enough different things to explore around up there.  I would have liked to see more ancient buildings/temples or crashed, ancient aircraft in the skies. 

167

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 308: Bathe in the Spicy RPG Sauce

« on: October 02, 2012, 08:49:11 AM »

I don't know how I missed it before, but I recently read that Freebird Games has started work on a sequel To The Moon.  I'm excited to see where it goes since they dropped a few hints in the first game that there that there are larger things at work than the game's plot explicitly indicate.

I agree that it's very well done, especially in the areas of the sprite work and music.  There's one area in the game where the music and setting definitely evoke memories of Chrono Trigger.

My only minor criticism of the game would be that I would have liked to have seen some different types of puzzles, if they were going to include puzzles at all.  The picture puzzles weren't terribly challenging, but they did kind of start to drag things down toward the middle of the game.  Playing the games in shorter sittings would probably help mitigate that feeling. 

168

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 52: Nintendo Indirect

« on: September 28, 2012, 05:49:11 AM »

Yes, I think that it's implied that the Doctor, Amy and Rory have gone on many more adventures than we've actually seen as episodes as well.  So, I imagine that the time away from home along with the added stresses of being companions have taken their toll on their ages.

169

TalkBack / Re: Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney Reaching Final Stages of Development

« on: August 22, 2012, 08:44:41 AM »

I just wish that Capcom (or Nintendo) would start releasing the original Ace Attorney series on the eshop in some form.  After years of avoiding the series, I finally gave the iOS demo version a try a few months ago.  I loved it!   (See Nintendo, this is what game demos can do for you!)

I know that the sequels are available on WiiWare, but I would prefer to have them in a portable format, honestly.  Trials and Tribulations is still affordable, but the going rates for Justice For All are fairly astronomical.

When this was originally announced, I was interested in it mainly for the Layton name.  Now I want to play it even more.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for a localization.

170

TalkBack / Re: Nintendo Power Set to Stop Publication

« on: August 22, 2012, 08:31:45 AM »

I probably haven't subscribed since the mid 90s, but I'm sad to hear that the magazine is going.  I always loved the SNES-era Mario, Zelda, Metroid and Starfox manga that were included at the time.  Howard and Nester were fun, too, at least when I was a kid. 

171

TalkBack / Re: New Super Mario Bros. 2 Is Live in North American eShop

« on: August 22, 2012, 08:23:36 AM »

As much as I would prefer to download this game, Nintendo isn't offering enough incentive for me to go that route.   I rarely resell Mario games, but I would prefer to have the option to recoup a little of my money back if I decide I don't want to keep it.   I do wonder if the plans to release the game online will cause them to publish physical copies of them game in more limited numbers initially.

Of course, I have such a huge backlog going at the moment, I don't have a particular reason to rush out and buy this.

172

TalkBack / Re: Of Nerds and Men: When Worlds Collide

« on: August 17, 2012, 09:57:35 PM »

I'm glad to hear that you guys had such a great time.   I love long weekends with friends like that, but it seems like it's such a rarity these days...

173

TalkBack / Re: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Pushed to 2013

« on: August 14, 2012, 08:29:47 AM »

Awww...this has been my most-anticipated 3DS game since it was announced.  I'm surprised.  I thought it would make a great October release.  Based on the impressions from E3, the game seemed as if it were in a very polished state, but I know that this may not be the case. 

It makes me wonder if Nintendo just doesn't have that many first-party irons in the fire on the 3DS side of things they're pushing this back until next year.

174

General Gaming / Re: What is your most recent gaming purchase?

« on: August 10, 2012, 08:04:19 AM »

I bought a bunch of stuff in the Steam Summer Sale in July.  I won't list them all, but I've finally been able to play Alan Wake...a game that I've wanted to play for years.  I did, learn, however, that it's better not to play that game right before a late night jog...if you happen to run in an area where streetlights can be somewhat sparse.

175

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 300: SPARTAAA!!!

« on: August 10, 2012, 07:42:08 AM »

He also called NWR "some Nintendo fan site".

To be fair, it would be a waste of breath to explain the greatness of NWR to the likes of Greg Miller. Those guys over at IGN seem like nice guys and all, but they don't have a F***ing clue what they're talking about when it comes to Nintendo (especially the Gamescoop guys).
 
Back in the day you could rely on Craig, Cass and Boz. IGN is not what it once was for Nintendo fans though. Sam Claiborn from NVC seems genuinely informed and interested, but he's perhaps the only one.

This is very true.  I like the current crew of podcasters on NVC, generally, but I'm frequently amazed at the incorrect assumptions that they make about Nintendo history or older games sometimes.  These are often games that really weren't released all that long ago.  I haven't been able to stand Podcast Beyond or Gamescoop for a long, long time.

It was nice to hear from Craig, though.  I don't listen to Podcast Beyond.  If he really stated he got in trouble, I wonder if he failed to inform his superiors that he would be appearing on a Nintendo podcast.  Was it the fact that he appeared on the podcast or was it something he said?