Topic: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 189

[Jonnyboy117]

It's back to normal for the podcast gang.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/podcastArt.cfm?artid=22844

 Episode 189: Our Triumphant Return    

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We're back from PAX and ready to talk about more video games. Greg kicks it off with last year's (or in Europe, this year's) Silent Hill reboot, while James finally explains what the hell is going on with Infinite Space. Jon busts out Cho Aniki Zero, and the jokes flow like... you know. New Business wraps with Jonny's thoughts on WarioWare DIY Showcase and the first few hours of Final Fantasy XIII.    

After the break, we clean out the closet with some final (and I mean final) thoughts on PAX East, including Greg's perspective from across the pond. Then it's on to Listener Mail, with an extensive discussion of the Nintendo 3DS. How will 3D affect game design? What other features will the hardware include? What should we expect for online support? We don't have any answers, but that's no hindrance at all!    

Be sure to vote in our latest RetroActive poll, Game Boy Edition! The winning game will be discussed on an upcoming episode (maybe two) of RFN, and as always, we'd like listeners to help develop the discussion. This may be our best line-up of nominees yet, so vote now and play along later!    

We're always looking for great Listener Mail to read and discuss on the show, so please send your questions or comments! (We really love seeing your praise and feedback regarding the show itself; however, in the interest of time, we may edit your letter to be read on the podcast.)      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 newest album, Done with the Devil, directly from the record label, Amazon.com, or iTunes, or call your local record store and ask for it!    

Additional music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is copyrighted to Nintendo, and is included under fair use protection.  

[Shaymin]

It still amazes me that Cho Aniki games end up with T ratings. Based on what Jon's describing I'd expect at least a hard M (phnaar phnaar).

[Crimm]

The Cho Aniki games are only as sexual as you want them to be. The fact Jon sees phalluses is something he needs to find peace with...

[happyastoria]

God! I really dread the day this podcast is over. I hope it goes on forever because you guys are so good, but it's stupid for me to even be thinking about things like that. It's strange, I feel like I know you guys. Anyway, Great podcast (as usual).

[greybrick]

God! I really dread the day this podcast is over. I hope it goes on forever because you guys are so good, but it's stupid for me to even be thinking about things like that. It's strange, I feel like I know you guys. Anyway, Great podcast (as usual).

As completely silly as it sounds, I shed a tear on Garnett Lee's last episode of ListenUp/1up Yours. I would not do that for something like a television show or movie, but podcasts are such a personal extension of the regular hosts that seeing it go is almost like losing a friend. NWR is what I started listening to after Garnett's show ended, and as a whole I look forward to and enjoy it more. Site users that talk about feeling like they know the hosts of a podcast always come off as creepy or stalker-like, but you guys do feel like the Nintendo loving friends that I have never really had (mine are Sony and now Microsoft lovers the lot of them). It is such a comfort to listen to someone talking about Wind Waker and not have them dismiss it out of hand in favor of God Of War. Not to say that games on other consoles can't be great, because I enjoy my other systems, but I don't like that other podcasts will write Nintendo off every time.

 I really wish that I had been able to make it to PAX East, maybe we will run into each other at E3!

[NWR_Lindy]

It is such a comfort to listen to someone talking about Wind Waker and not have them dismiss it out of hand in favor of God Of War.

As the official "Sony fanboy" on the podcast, I love God of War III.  But I think comparing it to, say, Wind Waker, is like comparing apples to oranges.  They're two totally different games trying to accomplish different things.  Saying one is better than the other is like saying a Ferrari is better than an F1 car...it's not an apt comparison.  I feel this way about most Nintendo games vs. Sony/Microsoft offerings.

[Halbred]

Great episode as always, gents. I'm very much on the fence about Cho Aniki. Maybe if it sees a sale price, I'll pick it up, but for $20...I can make my own homoerotic joke drawings.

[NWR_Lindy]

I'd wait for a sale if you're on the fence, Zach.  I realize that not everybody has the Balzac to be a Cho Aniki early adopter.

[KisakiProject]

Cho Anki is something was something I would get at $10.  However $20 feels a bit steep.

[Yoshidious]

I'd wait for a sale if you're on the fence, Zach.  I realize that not everybody has the Balzac to be a Cho Aniki early adopter.

Jon's behaviour recently has reminded me of John Cleese's three rules for writing comedy: "One, no puns. Two, no puns. Three, no puns!"

[Halbred]

Yes, I think I heard you tightening up a hangman's knot in the background during that section, Greg. I love puns, myself, but it sounded like you were being slowly tortured. :-D

[NWR_Karl]

I'd wait for a sale if you're on the fence, Zach.  I realize that not everybody has the Balzac to be a Cho Aniki early adopter.

Jon's behaviour recently has reminded me of John Cleese's three rules for writing comedy: "One, no puns. Two, no puns. Three, no puns!"

I guess you could say Lindy's always been more of a pun-dit.

Booyah.

[Derekkrawr]

Site users that talk about feeling like they know the hosts of a podcast always come off as creepy or stalker-like, but you guys do feel like the Nintendo loving friends that I have never really had.

Seriously guys this podcast is definitely what I look forward to every week.  The fact that I can relate to all of you and see you as my friends is truly an extension to the enjoyment I get out of my weekly video game related news.  The homo-eroticism aside, the epic wizard like event ending of PAX East was really interesting to hear about and also James' frustrating progress of completion Infinite Space was hilarious.  (not saying I could tackle a game of that caliber any better) 

[greybrick]

I'd wait for a sale if you're on the fence, Zach.  I realize that not everybody has the Balzac to be a Cho Aniki early adopter.

Jon's behaviour recently has reminded me of John Cleese's three rules for writing comedy: "One, no puns. Two, no puns. Three, no puns!"

With regards to Cho Aniki. I am really concerned with the length of the package, does it justify twenty dollars?

[SouthFork]

Great Cast Guys.
Good to have Greg back in the mix.




Johnny I'm not trying to burst your bubble but I quit FF13 after hour 16 where I was still running down corridors into the same ol' battles. The battle system is good but after getting all of it around hour 6 then tacking on 10 more hours of these battles I just let it go. Don't get me wrong, I liked the story and would love to hear a spoiler on what happens to Pulse but I just got fed up.
Just my opinion and if you are the patient type maybe you will love the game.
Has anyone beat the game? And how long does it take to "open up" as some have said. I've heard anwhere from 20 - 40 hours.
And what does "open up" actually mean?
*No spoilers here please*


Rob.

[broodwars]

Has anyone beat the game? And how long does it take to "open up" as some have said. I've heard anwhere from 20 - 40 hours.
And what does "open up" actually mean?

I haven't beaten the game, but I have reached the point where the game "opens up" (as everyone likes to say) and it is around 40 hours or so depending on how much grinding you did in the various chapters (and I did a fair amount).  Basically what people mean by "opens up" is that around 40 hours or so you reach Chapter 11, which takes you to a brand new location that is very similar to the Calm Lands in FF X: it's just a big open field with locations branching in various directions and a lot of enemies you aren't meant to fight right now (and if you do, they'll slaughter you).  From here on out, although enemy difficulty really bars you from entering most of the locations available, you can just wander around and do your own thing.  There are also sidequests here in the form of optional hunts (which are much like FF XII's).  Personally, I hate this chapter because I despise the whole "open world" phenomenon and although the location is beautiful, there's not a whole lot to do there except fight.  I didn't have any problem with the "scripted encounter" design they were using before, though I will admit that battle after battle after battle does get tiring (and as a result I haven't played the game in a few weeks while I've gone on to God of War III, Resonance of Fate, and now Sakura Wars 5).
 
Right now, FF XIII is probably in the running for my favorite in the series, right up there with FF X (which I probably like a little more due to better defined characters and a more interesting world).

[Shaymin]

I guess you could say Lindy's always been more of a pun-dit.

Booyah.

I think we need to stop it here. If not, there's going to be quite a bit of...
*sunglasses*
... punishment.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Crimm]

I guess you could say Lindy's always been more of a pun-dit.

Booyah.

I think we need to stop it here. If not, there's going to be quite a bit of...
*sunglasses*
... punishment.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[Halbred]

Jon Lindemann: Senior Cho Aniki Pundit
 
BIFF POW

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Chris Kohler really despises FFXIII, and I had a chance to talk about it with him a few weeks ago when he was in town. He had talked me out of purchasing the game, but Jonny's description makes it sound fairly compelling. I'll probably wait until I have more time, though, since I expect it to be a real time sink.

[NWR_Lindy]

With regards to Cho Aniki. I am really concerned with the length of the package, does it justify twenty dollars?

In terms of length, I believe it's 5.  I wish it were 6 or 7...at that length it would feel just right.

[Crimm]

With regards to Cho Aniki. I am really concerned with the length of the package, does it justify twenty dollars?

In terms of length, I believe it's 5.  I wish it were 6 or 7...at that length it would feel just right.

I'm going to have to issue a warning for that.

[greybrick]

With regards to Cho Aniki. I am really concerned with the length of the package, does it justify twenty dollars?

In terms of length, I believe it's 5.  I wish it were 6 or 7...at that length it would feel just right.

Only 5? I think I will invest elsewhere. Although at some point if a game becomes too long people just can't fit it in, that appears to be why TYP is avoiding FFXIII.

In all seriousness, TYP, I have found that FFXIII is great for sinking a small amount of time into each or every other day. With each boot-up the game explains what has happened in previous sessions in detail. Save points are frequent enough to support the quicker play sessions, and the game will even allow you to save in the middle of some of the longer cutscenes.

[Jonnyboy117]

So far, FF13 is one of my favorites in the series. It feels just like FF10, but with a far more interesting story and much better characters. (FF10 would have worked a lot better if not for the terrible voice acting.) I am about fifteen hours into it right now and just got a new playable character, which was a nice little surprise after using the same five people up to this point.

[greybrick]

So far, FF13 is one of my favorites in the series. It feels just like FF10, but with a far more interesting story and much better characters. (FF10 would have worked a lot better if not for the terrible voice acting.) I am about fifteen hours into it right now and just got a new playable character, which was a nice little surprise after using the same five people up to this point.

After you get that character, you are much closer to being able to pick your party lineup- which is where I just reached. I agree that it is one of my favorite Final Fantasies, and if Tactics is taken out of the lineup I would be inclined to say that it is my very favorite. I feel that this is the best incarnation of active time battle; things happen quickly enough to where I am not impatiently waiting for my bar to fill and if I simply can't wait I can just press Y to execute.

I still have to play 12 and 10, I have gotten the games off of Goozex and am now impatiently waiting on trying to buy a PS2 off of a friend.