Messages

2276

Gaming / Re: The Mario Kart Thread

« on: June 19, 2010, 07:08:29 AM »

I must disagree with you on that one, PB.  I loved the signature items.  It sucked when previously universal items went signature, this is true, but Koopa Troopa and Toad are the (very unfortunate for you) exceptions, not the rule.  While their particular items blew, the rest of the cast got some overall strong stuff.

And you can't blame the signature mechanic for how the game handles triple ANYTHING.  No getting around that.

However, I will say this: Signatures have better impact when you're building teams.  I'm not sure how I'd feel about them in your traditional single-racer Mario Kart.  In a double kart, you can pick one character you just love and one who has an awesome signature, creating a balanced duo.  In a single kart it would be all-or-nothing, which would make balance concerns more severe.

2277

Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)

« on: June 19, 2010, 07:01:05 AM »

Frankly, I CANNOT imagine STH4 with an 80's metal soundtrack. It would be horrid, the way they're trying to make a classic kind of tune sounds much better.

A lot of people say the same thing about NSMBWii and orchestras.  Doesn't stop the bitching.

I'm not saying EVERY track needs to be 80's metal.  But seriously, Super Sonic.  Nothing more needs be said there.

2278

Gaming / Re: The Official E3 2010 Discussion Thread & Lounge (Jun 13, 2010 - June 19, 2010)

« on: June 19, 2010, 06:58:22 AM »

Not THAT convenient.  I'm in Pennsylvania; haven't been to Nintendo World yet.  I'm just saying, I need to correct that sometime.

2279

X / Re: why is x the weakest character in the game

« on: June 19, 2010, 06:50:42 AM »

Chain, by what logic do you assume that I am addressing you personally when countering a point which you clearly stated is second-hand?  Chill out, eat some chocolate, and enjoy life.

2280

Zero / Re: Most Useful Gimmick Weapon?

« on: June 19, 2010, 06:46:55 AM »

The point of Chain Rod is less to damage enemies and more to pull them over in order to deliver a Z-Saber to the face in style (or, stage permitting, just drop their ass into a spike pit).  It works better in Zero Collection, extra buttons and all.

2281

Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)

« on: June 19, 2010, 06:45:04 AM »

Hey, nothing wrong with tastes. I do admit I am a huge music nazi when it comes to tastes.

At least you admit it.  The gaming journalism community loves to wrap "80's rock sucks" together with their Sonic bandwagoning and somehow claim that's a matter of objective quality.

The occasional Sonic game taking a different route is okay, I suppose, but it does kinda bug me that both this and STH4 abandoned it at the same time.  Sonic on Wii, WiiWare, and DS, and no Crush40 among all three?  It's just not right.

2282

Gaming / Re: Legend of Zelda - The official Zelda thread

« on: June 19, 2010, 06:41:41 AM »

I already posted my thoughts elsewhere but I'll do the same here:  I'm on the fence with Skyward Sword's visuals (FYI I still don't care for the Wind Waker style to this day).  I really liked Twilight Princess.  I think the serious tone is fitting for adult Link stories.  That said, he IS living in clouds in this game, so I can see how this is supposed to work.  But I'm really not sure.  Is the world below going to look as pastel-colored?  Should it?  How seriously should we be taking a game where you bowl with bombs?  I need to get the game in my hands and get a feel for its overall atmosphere before I pass final judgment.

Another thing I loved about Twilight Princess, which I hope returns, is the outstanding body language during cutscenes.  Character movements were amazingly lifelike in that game.  And after the Master Sword, when Midna starts hovering around Link...  Oh God, I'm going to miss Midna.

Gaming holds a lot of potential for storytelling, that is why I am here.

You had DAMN WELL BETTER be equipped with MegaMan Legends 2, is all I can say.

2283

Gaming / Re: The Mario Kart Thread

« on: June 19, 2010, 06:30:05 AM »

Double Dash had a few good ones (including my personal favorite Rainbow Road), but yeah, the track design has been a bit boring.  I especially feel this was the case in DS, and the few awesome tracks (Bowser Castle, Airship Fortress) were generally not permitted in online play.

And I will *NEVER* understand why in 2 games of retro titles, Wario Stadium and Royal Raceway have not reappeared.

2284

Gaming / Re: The Official E3 2010 Discussion Thread & Lounge (Jun 13, 2010 - June 19, 2010)

« on: June 19, 2010, 06:26:56 AM »

A bit more happy things:

New York Nintendo World reactions~ x3

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvlAo6jQ_fQ[/youtube]

And a video before that one, outside and inside Nintendo World. Along with Mega Man 9 and 10 Mother 3 music~ ^^;

The following describe me:
"It's Kid Icarus!  It's Kid Icarus!  It's Kid Icarus!!!"
"That's not even with the 3D, oh my gosh!"

Man, one of these days I need to make a trip to Nintendo World....

2285

Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:54:26 PM »

DAMN STRAIGHT!
(for some reason I imagine a 3D Hydro City every time I hear that song)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There is no consensus in the Sonic fanbase.

Secret Rings soundtrack as a whole is awesome but repetitive.  It basically shines a spot-light on who does and doesn't believe that good music needs to be complicated.

And Jun Senoue rules all.
(though he's a hell of a lot better doing originals than remixes)

2286

X / Re: why is x the weakest character in the game

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:49:24 PM »

They're not terribly difficult, they're just tedious.  It's fine in Gate's Lab where there's more to the stage than that, but in Metal Shark's, the whole damn stage is that and a miniboss.

However, the X-series has seen worse 2D level design than even that.  Tornado Tonion made an entire damn stage out of the X4/X5 winding staircase gimmick.

2287

X / Re: why is x the weakest character in the game

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:45:37 PM »

If by "easy" you're referring to Sigma, and by "terribad" you're referring to garbage compressors.  Both are in no way indicative of the game as a whole.

And seriously, what X game is more challenging than X6?  Anyone?  Because I've played them all to absolutely 100% (and after months of trying, even got THAT [tornado fang]ing NO DAMAGE CLEAR ON YETI'S STAGE!!!), and the only way I see any MegaMan game harder than X6 is by looking to the Classic series.

2288

Gaming / Re: Legend of Zelda - The official Zelda thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:38:41 PM »

FSA presents the trident as part of the origin of their Ganon.  The trident itself is just there, as the Master Sword is in other games. 

2289

Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:36:15 PM »

Blasphemy.

"Not memorable, but listenable", that I agree with.  The problem is, to me (and a fair share of Sonic fans), taking that as an accurate descriptor means it is the one thing Unleashed managed to do that was utterly inferior to every other 3D Sonic.

2290

Gaming / Re: The Mario Kart Thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:29:36 PM »

Frankly I don't think the POW block even belongs in Mario Kart...

I'd go with the Starman for knocking items off.  You're invincible, supreme, and you attack only one player at a time.  If that mechanic is to be preserved it should be limited there.  Item knock-off should *NEVER* be a blanket effect.

2291

Gaming / Re: Legend of Zelda - The official Zelda thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:27:18 PM »

Not to mention Zelda's continuity is constantly rewritten.

Ganon, I think he's been proven to always be the same guy going through time and dimensions and causing crap to happen.

More like the same two guys.  FSA provides another origin to "Ganondorf" separate from that of OoT, which centers around his trident rather than the Triforce of Power.

2292

Gaming / Re: The Mario Kart Thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 10:15:09 PM »

I have to agree.  Mega Mushroom is nice, but lightning shrinkage should always allow flattening.

More and more I'm seeing the point of your item gimping discussions.  The time that any given item takes away from you has been largely scaled back.  Thus shrinking is no longer permissible as it'd be overpowered, and knocking someone off the track *IS* very overpowered.

This was my main problem with the Double Dash and onward games.  They made a system where 2nd place has literally a 5% chance of catching up with 1st place without the help of the 5th-8th (now 12th) place racers.

In Double Dash, I hadn't noticed, probably because of my constant use of Yoshi (eggs are basically red shells that spawn items, and they're plenty available in 2nd).  In DS there is the slightest chance in hell of getting something good in 2nd, but nevertheless I believe your point stands.  99% of the time, you get crap.

2293

Gaming / Re: The Light Myth: Palutena's Mirror / Kid Icarus Thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 09:52:06 PM »

I'm fairly confident that it does in processing muscle, even if not in end results.  You have to bear in mind that the 3DS is effectively rendering three screens at all time: The touch screen plus two different screen angles for the 3D effect.

And remember, after all, that we are looking at launch titles.

I'm sure the 3D screen has a higher resolution too, otherwise those screenshots would be a lot more jaggedy.

It does.  Vix's screenshots are actually the native resolution of the 3DS images, according to Nintendo's specs.  400x240, up from the previous DS's 256x192.

(that said, it's a common practice to show preview screen renders that do not match the actual hardware's output resolution; so wrong reason, right result)

2294

Gaming / Re: Sonic Colors (Wii, DS)

« on: June 18, 2010, 09:43:31 PM »

I honestly think, that although the Adventure games have their fair share of trouble, they still remain the best way to play Sonic in 3D. Make it about platforming, not about speed.

1st Adventure had without a doubt the best general character/stage setup.  Sonic was the obvious focus, by far the longest quest, and at the same time Tails and Amy played reasonably similarly (not to mention Tails, you know, WAS PLAYABLE).  The gimmick character quests were kept short.  Problem was, the game engine was buggy as hell.

Sonic Adventure 2 was most definitely better polished, but made the action an even split between Sonic, Knuckles, and the sick Gamma-derivative that they decided to make Tails into.  Nevetheless, it is definitely my most replayed 3D Sonic, and IMHO features some of the best stages I've seen in 3D platforming (Final Rush is simply epic).

2295

Gaming / Re: The Mario Kart Thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 09:35:58 PM »

Try playing NDS Delfino Plaza or NDS Yoshi Valley with a kart on wi-fi.  The earlier especially is rather shamelessly spammed (though thankfully not as badly as Final Destination in Brawl).

• Missing characters: E. Gadd, Toadsworth, Petey Pirahna, Dixie Kong, the Paratroopa, and the Hammer Bro.

Okay, I need to draw the line here.  Mario Kart Wii blew all kinds of chunks, and even though I would *NEVER* argue with a Hammer Bro., I can't fathom criticizing the cast selection.  Dry Bowser ALONE outweighs most any suggestions that come to mind, nevermind the insane cuteness that is Baby Daisy.

• And finally, off-topic: Toadette needs to make an appearance OUTSIDE of Mario Kart, Mario Party, etc.

Well, there is DDR Mario Mix.  I'd have appreciated an NSMB appearance myself, but oh well.

Seriously, though, the Blue/Yellow Toad stunt was not only cheap but was also completely unnecessary.  They could have just had "the" Toad and Toadette, with Toadsworth playing the support role.  And what the heck would be wrong with that?

Actually, the Fake Item Box was improved, IMO.  In previous games, it use to act like a shield, just like banana peels & dragging shells.  With all the incredible unbalanced item issues, it's actually good that it can't do that anymore.

I know for a fact there were previous games where the fake item did not function as a shield.  You COULD drag it behind you to nail somebody on your tail, but you couldn't block other items with it.

Why is that a bad thing?
I will admit, though, that the items we currently have need to be improved first. Bananas and fake item boxes, anyone?

As I see it the main issue with items as they currently stand is that there are too many "hit everybody" things (lightning, blooper, and POW), coupled with items which specifically target the leaders (cloud, blue shell), and 12 racers meaning more crap is always flying around.  It basically means that if you're any good at racing you WILL get the kitchen sink thrown at you, at all times.

What made this even worse in Wii, though, was the bump physics.  Running into a stopped kart typically causes you yourself to lose speed and direction, unless you're a heavyweight.  Not so in Wii, which means that every time you're struck by an item, EVERYBODY is free to knock you off the track.  And that's how we get 1st-to-9th drops.

2296

Gaming / Re: Legend of Zelda - The official Zelda thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 09:20:17 PM »

It's an OoT prequel because it explains the origins of the Master Sword.

Ganon's always possible, though.  It is well established by FSA that there is more than one Ganon.  There are simply fewer Ganons than there are Links and Zeldas.  In particular, if they were to go the evil trident route, the significance which FSA places on the trident would in turn distance the game's villain from OoT's Ganon.

Obviously, that was complete speculation.  Nothing says it will happen, I'm just saying, it could.

2297

Gaming / Re: The Official E3 2010 Discussion Thread & Lounge (Jun 13, 2010 - June 19, 2010)

« on: June 18, 2010, 03:54:34 AM »

I think it's more about the MegaMan site invites coupled with the still unknown MegaMan Universe trademark.  People saw that as signs of a reveal coming, not that Capcom traditionally gives away big MegaMan news at E3.

2298

X / Re: why is x the weakest character in the game

« on: June 18, 2010, 03:49:49 AM »

You people need to suck less.

"Cheap difficulty"?  Excuse me, but "cheap difficulty" is when you are killed by some completely off-screen obstacle grabbing you at light-speed (looking at you, MM9).

2299

ZX / Re: Is Ciel the first commander? And other related questions.

« on: June 18, 2010, 03:45:21 AM »

It is.  One of the Gigamix drama tracks has Aile and Prairie going shopping after Aile comes back from a battle with PnP.  Prairie was scoping out that dress.

2300

Gaming / Re: The Official Pokémon Black & White Discussion Thread

« on: June 18, 2010, 03:40:20 AM »

Therefore, Zekrom - Dragon/Electric, Reshiram - Dragon/Fire.

Likely, but not certain.  Recall, Lugia uses water powers, yet is Flying/Psychic.  Groudon uses fire/solar powers, yet is Ground.

I sure would like those type combinations, though.   Could stand to Levitate since Ground is already a major staple in offense, but I guess that'd be asking too much.