Messages

451

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Wii

« on: November 24, 2010, 02:02:49 PM »

You'd be surprised how rarely people look at ladders. Most of the time you can use that long ladder on Outpost without getting shot.

Maybe you're thinking too CoD-y, GoldenEye is more about running and gunning than hiding and sniping. The game mechanics may be fundamentally similar but the actual gameplay of Golden Eye is very different from what CoD offers.

Despite owning COD: RE, I have yet to play a COD game, yet hiding and sniping is how I found my legs in Goldeneye's multiplayer mode. For someone like me, there is a huge risk/reward factor for scampering up one of the guard tower ladders in the Outpost level -- if I make it, I could easily take the round because I have become so adept at quickly positioning my aim with a sniper rifle using the Wii remote.

Keep in mind that the sniper rifle is much slower to control when aiming down the sights than any other gun. It took me far longer to master aiming by "snapping to" with all of the other guns (and here I use the term "master" very loosely).

452

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Donkey Kong Country Wii

« on: November 23, 2010, 01:53:01 AM »

So I just played the most impressive level yet (and when talking about this game's level design, that's really saying something): a mine cart stage in World 4 called "Bombs Away." I have to hand it to Retro Studios. Sure, I expected awesomeness, but I did not expect awesomeness of this magnitude.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 220: Not That Kind of Doctor

« on: November 23, 2010, 01:12:22 AM »

Mr. Jones, will you by any chance be playing Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals? I am interested in the game and would love to hear your take on it.

454

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Donkey Kong Country Wii

« on: November 22, 2010, 01:02:47 AM »

Well Mop, you will be happy to hear that within the first two worlds, I only found one bonus room whose location wasn't clearly hinted at. (Yes, it was in a pit) Everything else has been identifiable. Of course, you have to be paying attention, and actively looking for these secrets.

455

TalkBack / Re: Donkey Kong Country Returns Review

« on: November 21, 2010, 07:59:05 PM »

There are tons of bonus levels as well... mostly they're like the "collect all of the bananas in X seconds using blast barrels."

Don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but you still must seek out these hidden areas if you want to 100% the game, because you have to complete the challenges in order to receive puzzle pieces. There are about two hidden areas per level.

Aren't GT games mind-numbingly boring?

I've never played one, but that's always been my perception, too. I've never felt the least bit enticed to play one. Is it an acquired taste? I always thought instead of playing a driving sim you could, you know, go for a drive. I suppose the illusion of speed has something to do with it.

456

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 220: Not That Kind of Doctor

« on: November 21, 2010, 07:04:34 PM »

Congrats on the Ph. D., Dr. Metts.

457

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Donkey Kong Country Wii

« on: November 21, 2010, 06:57:22 PM »

I think I am at about the same point as broodwars (at least at the time of his last post). I just finished the first world. I have to agree with the bonus level -- it is a sadistic design, but it is fun works very well.

Speaking of which, there is definitely a much greater emphasis on bouncing off the enemies in order to reach different things than any other DKC game. I vaguely recall a couple of instances in the original when you had to bounce off one or two in order to reach bonus barrels, but never eight!

I am playing NES style, which I very much prefer for 2-D games. I have yet to master the controls, though I have just finished World 1 which doesn't require a whole lot of twitch-rolling. To me, it feels like the roll is slightly delayed -- as in it seems to begin at the tail end of a shake -- so I haven't adjusted to it yet. It also seems like I have to shake the controller a lot harder than I have had to in the past. (My batteries are low, which could account for both of these problems, but I don't think that's the issue).

Ground Pound and Blow work perfectly, and I was hoping that at least Ground Pound would be mapped to shake. After playing it, I would agree that roll, however, ought to be mapped to the run button. I do expect the controls to become more responsive as I get the timing down, though.

The oddest thing about the game would have to be the inability to switch between Kongs and play as Diddy in single player.

458

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Wii

« on: November 16, 2010, 12:31:49 PM »

After spending a week exclusively playing Golden Gun mode online, I finally won a match. A few short minutes after that, my Wii made a bunch of clicking sounds and went black . Now whenever I try putting in any of my Wii games, I get the infamous "error has occurred" message....sigh.

Sorry to hear that, Mr. Chopkins. The game has frozen on me twice while playing online. I recently input your friend code, but I guess I won't expect to see you online for a little while.

There's a range of designs. There are some indoor, some outdoor, and then some with both. Definately not as corridor-y as The Conduit. There is a jungle, there is a facility type building with multiple levels, there is a monument park. One level takes place in a construction area. Maps are voted so I'm sure I haven't played every map.

There aren't a whole lot of maps, but I think the variety is pretty good. You have the Facility and Archives, which are exclusively indoors and should conjure a certain image in your mind; you have a Nightclub which is also completely indoors; you have an old Industrial building, mostly indoors. There is a dimly lit Sewer level, an indoor/outdoor level on the Docks, a train Station under construction, the old Severnaya outpost, the Jungle, and the Memorial (aka Statue Park). The last four take place outside and offer some excellent sniping opportunities, although all stages have their sweet spots (but still leave you just vulnerable enough to others).

That's 10 stages in all, unless I am forgetting some. There actually turned out to be more than I thought as I sat here listing them. I really like their designs and layouts. I've come to love stages I used to hate as I've gotten better at them.

459

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 30: Speaking of Shaking Babies

« on: November 12, 2010, 01:05:09 PM »

Just wanted to let you guys know that the audio quality for this episode is great. The volume levels seem to be much improved too. Well done.

460

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Meet-Up Thread

« on: November 11, 2010, 01:04:04 PM »

Oops, my mistake. Wrong thread.

461

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Meet-Up Thread

« on: November 10, 2010, 11:27:22 PM »

Some numbers:

Wii System Friend Code: 7289 2769 0861 7639

Goldeneye Friend Code:164840803960

462

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Classic Controls Vs Pointer/Motion Controls for FPS's - let battle commence!

« on: November 10, 2010, 11:18:26 AM »

I picked up a CC Pro when I purchased Goldeneye. It's been several years since I've used a controller for an FPS (the last time was probably for Timesplitters 3). I was actually surprised to learn that I have to acclimatize myself with the CC Pro -- it didn't exactly feel completely natural to use when I briefly tested it. I've been playing the online mode in Goldeneye using the pointer controls exclusively, and it sure does help to make it quick to aim and therefore get the drop on others.

463

TalkBack / Re: GoldenEye 007 Impressions

« on: November 09, 2010, 01:25:23 AM »

Despite owning Modern Warfare: Reflex Edition, I hadn't played a Call of Duty game online prior to logging on with Goldeneye. It is damn addictive. I bought the game last Tuesday, and I've already put in about 26 hours into the online mode. Sure, that number could be higher, but I rarely play games online.

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Meet-Up Thread

« on: November 07, 2010, 10:03:26 PM »

I will be online tonight, but probably not until around 10 PM, and I'm on Pacific Standard Time.

Neal, I would also be interested in the Wi-Fi night.

465

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Wii

« on: November 07, 2010, 02:01:32 AM »

The leveling-up and unlocking gadgets and new weapons and achievements is lifted directly from Modern Warfare. I'm really loving the online, except the few times where I've been doing really well and the jerk host (who is losing) quits out, thus negating all the experience I gained during the round!

Really? That's lame. In Call of Duty, you still get to keep any XP you gained.

I have yet to join a game like that... Ugh thats bad if that happens often.

It's happened to me occasionally too, and on the few matches where I was actually dominating. Grumble Grumble...

466

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Wii

« on: November 06, 2010, 02:32:18 PM »

I should add that there are is a lot of stat tracking and cool accolades and rewards that are also tallied on your profile. You also get rewards for using different weapons, so there is incentive to play in different ways. You get experience points, which allow you access to using different weapons and gadgets. (I haven't yet played MW, but I think a lot of it is lifted from that series) I am gunning for that silencer for my sniper rifle.

One disappointing aspect is that I don't seem to be able to customize my character. Whoever you play as is always random. I know it doesn't make much difference being that it is an FPS and you can't see your character, but without it it lacks that little extra touch of personality. If you want to play as the Siberian Commando or whomever, you should have that option.

467

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Wii

« on: November 06, 2010, 02:15:12 PM »

My experience with online has been great thus far, but I should disclose that I rarely/never play games online, and I do not own an 360 or PS3, so I can't make the sort of comparisons that likely matter to those who are used to consoles that pump out smooth online experiences.

I've put in about 15 hours of online play so far. The frame rate does take hits every now and then (I particularly noticed this on the Industrial stage), but I've found it to be more than playable. If you are some hardcore nut to whom every kill and death counts, it's possible that this could be a cause of some frustration, especially when your aim at an enemy that magically jumps from one spot to another two feet ahead of them ends up being the difference between a win and a loss. There have been instances of this happening, but where my shot still registered. It's not perfect, but it's thus far been very fun to play.

There was one game that went haywire, where every time I started on the map, I was instantly killed by the same person, no matter where I was. This seemed to be happening to other players in the match as well, as people kept joining the match, and then leaving it. Bizzare.

I've also been playing using the Wii remote and nunchuck setup because I have not yet adjusted to the classic controller. The maps are great, if not just a touch too small. But it keeps the matches moving along at a brisk pace.

468

TalkBack / Re: A Recommendation of Lordly Caliber

« on: November 06, 2010, 10:59:30 AM »

I think that both MM4 and OB64 probably have the potential to make fans out of those who are completely new to the series, and in that case it may not be a such a stretch to recommend them for everyone. broodwars implies that OB64 is one of, if not the easiest, game in the series to get in to, and that may be the same with Mega Man 4 (but of course with the Mega Man games, all present a decent challenge and are similar in many ways).

I haven't yet played OB64 -- I was hoping it would win the N64 Retroactive poll so I could justify taking the time to download and play it -- but I will certainly pick it up and give it a try some time.

469

TalkBack / Re: GoldenEye 007 Review

« on: November 04, 2010, 11:54:07 AM »

I'll be rockin' the online tonight. Can't wait. I'm making a Goldeneye Friend Code thread if there isn't one already.

Any news on this thread yet? I'd like to play with other NWR patrons!

470

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Goldeneye Wii

« on: November 04, 2010, 01:44:17 AM »

The more I play the multiplayer, the more I like the maps. I am still getting lost on them, but that's my own fault. They are quite well designed.

471

TalkBack / Re: EA Posts Lower Quarterly Loss Than Predicted

« on: November 04, 2010, 01:39:39 AM »

If people were wondering why NBA JAM was ported from the Wii to the HD consoles as suddenly and majorly as it was, that 82% drop in Wii sales probably played a large role (along with the utter failure that was NBA Elite 11, of course).

It's very possible. Although keeping it a Wii exclusive could have helped to close that gaping gap quite a bit. Perhaps this is happening in some parallel universe.

472

TalkBack / Re: GoldenEye 007 Review

« on: November 03, 2010, 11:10:18 AM »

If anyone played Call of Duty MW Reflex, the pointer controls are practically the same in Goldeneye. In other words, the pointer controls are great.

I was wondering if this was the case. I own COD:MW RE, but I've only played it briefly (I don't think I've gone any further than the training stage). At least I will have that to play through when I finish with Goldeneye.

From my time with the multiplayer, I thought places like the Facility weren't close to the originals at all. Sure, they're inspired by, but it's a different, kinda crappy map. Though that is definitely my nostalgic expectation getting annoyed.

I really like the Outpost map (Severnaya). But then again, I love sniping, and the guard towers in that stage are fantastic.

473

TalkBack / Re: GoldenEye 007 Review

« on: November 03, 2010, 02:14:39 AM »

The online mode in Goldeneye only specifies whether you are using the Wii Wheel or not.

Hahaha. The Man with the Golden Wheel.

474

TalkBack / Re: Donkey Kong Country Returns Impressions

« on: November 03, 2010, 01:53:39 AM »

Sorry, but I don't bother to 100% games with poor design. Randomly jumping into pits with the hopes of finding useless bonus rooms is not my idea of a good time.

useless bonus rooms = true

rest = fail

475

TalkBack / Re: GoldenEye 007 Review

« on: November 02, 2010, 08:22:51 PM »

I just spent an hour and a half with it online, and there was only the occasional framerate hiccup. And it was damn fun too.