Messages

1251

NWR Forums Discord / Re: Group Therapy

« on: June 12, 2015, 01:05:18 AM »

Maaaaaan, that phrase is tired and played out, dawg.

1252

Reader Reviews / Adventures of Pip

« on: June 11, 2015, 02:28:28 PM »

A game I love to bits

Check out my review on my blog-- with pictures!

The Wii U is in no shortage of 2D platformers, whether they come from Nintendo (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and New Super Mario Bros. U), third-parties (Ubisoft's Rayman Legends), or independent developers on the eShop (Shovel Knight, Stealth Inc. 2). It takes something special to differentiate your 2D platformer from the crowd, and it's usually through creating a unique hook in the gameplay. Tic Toc Games's Adventures of Pip has this hook, and it isn't just there as a gimmick either. It hugely impacts the gameplay, creating one of the better platformers on the eShop and one of the better game on the Wii U in general.

The main gameplay mechanic of Adventures of Pip that sets it apart from other 2D platformers is Pip's ability to switch between forms. A total of three forms are available, having Pip switch between a mere pixel, an ultra lightweight form that allows him to glide in the air and slowly drift to the ground, as well as ride on wind tunnels; an 8-bit form that grants Pip the ability to run fast, wall jump, and even plant himself on walls; and a 16-bit form, which is slower and heavier than the other forms, but can unleash a sword strike to destroy certain blocks.

In order to switch between forms, Pip needs to defeat special crystallized enemies. Each enemy defeated will "evolve" Pip to a higher bit form. Meanwhile, switching to a lower bit form has you holding a button and unleashing a special aura that can destroy enemies as well as pink blocks.

On many occasions, especially later in the game, you'll be switching between these three forms one after another to perform feats of platforming awesomeness. Those crystallized enemies I was talking about are placed in apt locations to keep the flow of switching between pixel and bit forms feeling natural and nary requiring annoying backtracking.

There are 36 levels within Adventures of Pip, spanning five worlds. Each level consists of its own platforming challenges, whether it's riding stone blocks across rows of spikes, wall jumping to avoid rising lava, or riding along lifts over hazardous bottomless pits. Thankfully, checkpoints are fairly well distributed, so dying doesn't present too much of a punishment to the player.

Every level in the game houses three hidden villagers to find and collect. This is completely optional, but it stretches the longevity of Adventures of Pip greatly. There are some that will take lots of experimenting to find, as the game loves hidden alcoves and fake walls. Usually these have environmental hints to their locations, but others require pushing up against every wall in hopes of that being the one housing the hidden villager.

Each final level in the game's five worlds consists of a boss battle. These require Pip to change between forms to attack bosses when their guard is down and defend against boss attacks. These are mostly three hit affairs, and while that's the cliche, the bosses themselves are anything but. Some really creative designs and patterns are implemented to keep the battles engaging no matter if it's your first time fighting them or the seventh.

Bosses drop extra hearts to add to Pip's health, similar to The Legend of Zelda's heart containers. You can also return to the town at the start of the world map to purchase extra hearts, helpful items, and bonus abilities from the two shopkeepers there. The currency of Adventures of Pip is that of pixels, which are dropped by defeated enemies and found within countless treasure chests sprinkled throughout the game's levels. Thus, your journey can be a much less hazarouds one-- after all, it is dangerous to go alone.

Adventures of Pip's story has an evil queen turning the kingdom's king and queen from 16-bit form into low-res pixels. It's up to Pip, albeit in modest pixel form as well, to travel the kingdom to defeat the queen in addition to rescuing the princess that the evil queen princess-napped.

The game itself runs relatively well, but there are sporadic but quick instances of slowdown here and there. The visuals creatively blend multiple eras of gaming graphics together, with 8-bit backgrounds and 16-bit enemies and boss characters. Pip himself animates wonderfully, correctly displaying the characteristics of the eras of bits (8-bit, 16-bit, etc.) his various forms represent. The music by Jake "Virt" Kaufman is a collection of adventurous themes and songs that perfectly fit the areas and environments they are played in. It's a superb soundtrack, overall.

Adventures of Pip's success comes from excellent level design that constantly throws new challenges in the way, slowly getting you comfortable to more difficult trials, and a creative evolution and devolution bit transformation gameplay mechanic. For those who want to go for all 108 villagers, the amount of time you'll spend with the game is well worth the asking price of $15.00. For everyone else, there is still a rewarding game that is worth playing over and over again much like the classics that gamers like myself grew up on.

1253

TalkBack / Re: Hyrule Warriors 3DS Announced In Japan

« on: June 10, 2015, 08:10:23 PM »

Is this a new game, or the same as the Wii U game?

It's a port with some new content from what I could tell from the leaked trailer.

1254

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Screw it, I'm making a Devil's Third Topic

« on: June 10, 2015, 08:09:24 PM »

GameFly is listing the release for August 28, which would work since it's a Friday.

https://www.gamefly.com/#!/game/Devil%27s-Third/5008483

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TalkBack / Re: Hyrule Warriors 3DS Announced In Japan

« on: June 10, 2015, 04:09:09 PM »

Laughed uncontrollably when the out of place Wave Race music played.

1256

TalkBack / Re: Mega Man Legacy Collection Announced For 3DS

« on: June 08, 2015, 03:05:06 PM »

If anyone's wondering why it's not on WiiU, it would cut into VC game sales.  MM1-6 are all out on VC, so it makes no sense for them to compete with themselves. 

Aside from that, who the hell wants to buy this anyway?  "HD" graphics?  Give me a break.  They could have EASILY done both - updated all 6 games into high color, HD tiles with identical gameplay AND give us the original versions.  They did it with Super Turbo, why couldn't Megaman have gotten the same treatment?

Aren't they all available on the 3DS, though? And PSN?

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General Chat / Re: Original song compositions

« on: June 08, 2015, 01:48:23 PM »

Hey all. Sorry for bumping up an old topic, but I have my first composition for my new game I'm working on:

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/x69igz5yx968occ/The_Grass_Is_Always_Greener.wav

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TalkBack / Re: Splatoon's Accessibility is it's Greatest Asset

« on: June 04, 2015, 07:15:48 PM »

Its 


And great read.

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: What COULD (have) save(d) the Wii U?

« on: June 04, 2015, 05:06:08 PM »

Save the Wii U, you say? It needs a streetwise Hercules... It needs... a hero!

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TalkBack / Re: Skylanders SuperChargers (Wii U) Preview

« on: June 03, 2015, 06:34:19 PM »

It's a fun series that has had enjoyable and well made games. I can understand if it's not for you or you don't like the business model, but others like it. Though with LEGO Dimensions and more Disney Infinity coming this year, Skylanders might be hurting just a tad this time.

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General Chat / Re: A formal apology

« on: June 03, 2015, 04:51:44 PM »

And Evan, since I know how it is to get down and post on message boards and have a history, feel free to PM me any time you want to chat or vent.

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General Chat / Re: A formal apology

« on: June 03, 2015, 12:02:48 AM »

Aw, man. I'm sorry for my post in the Splatoon topic. Sometimes things get so negative on a forum that when you're posting on it, you get some of that vitriol and unleash it on the wrong person. That and sometimes we forget that there are people on the other side of the Internet with emotions like ourselves.

Anyway, I've suffered from bipolar depression for about nine years now. It's made me check myself into a hospital for suicidal thoughts on multiple occasions, made me lose all interest in things I loved (this has since improved due to meds), have it where I'm still in college despite starting in 2004, and other "fun" things. I can definitely understand and sympathize with you.

Also, I'd definitely look into what counseling/therapy/psychiatrist options are available for an English-speaking person, if any. There has to be someone who can help.

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TalkBack / Re: Could Nintendo Bring Wii Sports Back This E3?

« on: June 02, 2015, 10:56:11 PM »

I'd prefer more fleshed out sports games with motion controls. A whole game of golf, doesn't need to be Mario-related even, with MotionPlus controls would be nice from Nintendo.


At the same time, you get something for everybody with a Wii Sports game with multiple sports. Then again, I'm selfish, so...

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General Chat / Re: Looking for bloggers, YouTubers, and more to review my game.

« on: June 02, 2015, 10:39:58 PM »

Why, you...! 

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General Chat / Looking for bloggers, YouTubers, and more to review my game.

« on: June 02, 2015, 09:06:30 PM »

Hey everybody. Phil here. Well, actually, it's just the typed text written by Phil. *clears throat as room is silent*

I'm looking for small to medium-sized gaming sites, blogs, or YouTubers that might consider reviewing Super Push Adventure to help spread coverage of the game.

Does anyone know of any places or people who would be interested? I'm doing my own search, so no worries if you're thinking I'm not doing some of the investigative work on my own!

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TalkBack / Re: Humble Nindie Bundle Adds New Games

« on: June 02, 2015, 08:57:17 PM »

I did so on Facebook to some of my friends.

I wish that rumor about Shantae and the Pirate's Curse being one of the bonus games included was true. :<
That said, I did get to try out and enjoy Moon Chronicles!

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Splatoon!! WELCOME - TO DYE!

« on: June 02, 2015, 05:04:31 PM »

That is true if you are a fan of 2D platformers and Nintendo games, which, judging by sales,
is a ridiculously small portion of the consumer market.

Hell, I own a Wii U and I'm not happy with it.

The Nintendo DS, Wii, and 3DS would say differently, if we're going by the sales argument. I don't think sales = quality. If anything, it says how badly Nintendo got the message out about the Wii U's worth and how badly the marketing was done, which I thought was common knowledge.


At least, it didn't matter when the Wii was winning the console war. It was a fad or whatever, despite the attach rate being competitive with the competition. Instead, people jumped through hoops to explain why the Wii's sales didn't mean anything. It only matters now that the Wii U is not selling well, and that's pretty lame.

I like action games, I like indie games (which isn't a genre), I like Nintendo games (which also isn't a genre, as there are a variety of franchises for a variety of people, so putting a blanket "Nintendo games" description is very disingenuous), I like platformers, I like puzzle games, and the Wii U has given me all of that.

You're free to not be happy with the Wii U. That's more than fine and it's understandable. But saying the system is just platformers and Nintendo games is again, disingenuous.

So you essentially say that you enjoy the least variable and accessible products in the market, and you're trying to prove that the Wii U has the best library with that statement? 2D platformers ultimately boil down to "story" or gameplay choices, otherwise they perform similar to games that already exist. The most excited I was about a Wii U 2D platformer was Scram Kitty and His Buddy on Rails, which is an amazing and underrated game... that is also on other consoles. Nintendo's exclusive platformers are honestly nothing to get excited about, either.

Also, I religiously follow the Wii U eShop updates and I have no idea what you're referring to in the vein of "puzzle games".

One, I don't know if you're trying to downplay my tastes in games, but if you are, please do not do that.

Two, no, I'm simply disagreeing with you that the Wii U is nothing but "platformers and Nintendo games". Nothing more, nothing less. You drew your own conclusion and it was incorrect. I'd continue, but it seems you would simply write off any other game I would name with some generic "honestly nothing to get excited about, either" line like you did with all of Nintendo's platformers. We get your routine and your stance on the Wii U already. You don't have to reiterate it to the point of parody. There's a difference between being overly negative with a stick up your ass, repeating the same talking points only in different topics, and being overly negative and having something new to say once in a blue moon.

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Splatoon!! WELCOME - TO DYE!

« on: June 02, 2015, 01:02:12 PM »

Wii U, they have hit their market solidly because the library is utter ****

Wii U has the best console library out of all on the market and it's not even close.

Obviously, PC is the way to go for multiplatform ****. But outside of that no other console can justify it's existance.

Agreed.

That is true if you are a fan of 2D platformers and Nintendo games, which, judging by sales,
is a ridiculously small portion of the consumer market.

Hell, I own a Wii U and I'm not happy with it.

The Nintendo DS, Wii, and 3DS would say differently, if we're going by the sales argument. I don't think sales = quality. If anything, it says how badly Nintendo got the message out about the Wii U's worth and how badly the marketing was done, which I thought was common knowledge.


At least, it didn't matter when the Wii was winning the console war. It was a fad or whatever, despite the attach rate being competitive with the competition. Instead, people jumped through hoops to explain why the Wii's sales didn't mean anything. It only matters now that the Wii U is not selling well, and that's pretty lame.

I like action games, I like indie games (which isn't a genre), I like Nintendo games (which also isn't a genre, as there are a variety of franchises for a variety of people, so putting a blanket "Nintendo games" description is very disingenuous), I like platformers, I like puzzle games, and the Wii U has given me all of that.

You're free to not be happy with the Wii U. That's more than fine and it's understandable. But saying the system is just platformers and Nintendo games is again, disingenuous.

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Splatoon!! WELCOME - TO DYE!

« on: June 01, 2015, 10:46:32 PM »

I was hoping it was something like that and not you getting bored of me! 

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Splatoon!! WELCOME - TO DYE!

« on: June 01, 2015, 09:40:08 PM »

The first night I won 9 games in a row. Now I'm lucky to win 2 in a row! lol

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Splatoon!! WELCOME - TO DYE!

« on: June 01, 2015, 08:33:29 PM »

I will be there!

Played a handful of games with you. I just got a communications error at the start of this new match, though.

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General Gaming / Re: What are you playing?

« on: June 01, 2015, 06:09:12 PM »

I'm trying to balance my time between the single player and multiplayer pieces of Splatoon. It's hard to shy away from multiplayer because I want to keep ranking up and earning money.

I'm also playing Puzzles & Dragons, both games in the double pack, and trying hard to up my ability to pull off at least 3+ combos more effectively and often.

Fossil Fighters: Frontier I'm about 24 hours into, and I'm enjoying it. Digging can become repetitive, so I'm trying to pace myself to not wear myself out on the game. However, I want to see the ending since I've come so far.

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TalkBack / Re: Splatoon Getting New Weapon, Map, Mode Tonight

« on: June 01, 2015, 06:03:19 PM »

Excited for the new mode and map. I'm only at level 10, but I'm still having fun.

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NWR Forums Discord / Re: The Destroy Insanolord's Legacy Thread.

« on: June 01, 2015, 06:02:33 PM »

When does the Group Therapy thread finally get funny? It keeps having moments where it seems like something hilarious may finally grow from it but then it deflates and changes direction again.

I'm sorry! I am not doing well in it.

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Let's Talk Amiibo!

« on: June 01, 2015, 06:01:58 PM »

I was able to get Wario, Pac-Man, Silver Mario, and both Inklings last Friday. It was a good day. I'm leaving my Silver Mario in the packaging for now, a first for me!