Good game. The controls themselves are a bit of a learning curve but nothing completely frusturating or poorly developed. The music is a bit annoying at times, but there are a couple good tracks in the mix. Good graphics, fun platforming, co-op is a blast (and shared lives keeps it so both of you must master the controls and not screw each other's moves up; it's all too easy to accidentally jump into your opponent and send him to his death, at times) gets challenging quickly... A good game, especially at a measly $5.
I may pick this title up one day when I need another Wonder Boy fix (I've played through the Genesis title a couple times in its entirety, so the urge is bound to strike sooner or later), but for now I'll stick with the superior-looking WiiWare title. If the WiiWare-World review and videos are any indication, Rock 'n' Ball is a unique little platformer that's right up my alley. Very much looking forward to it, especially at the cheap price of 500 points!
Castlevania III wins this round, but I'm looking forward to seeing it Planet Pachinko turns out to be any good or not. It has some potential from what I've seen of the trailer, but it could be a complete dud, so I'll be waiting for the review on that one.
Many thanks for this release, Nintendo! Glad to finally see it arrive on our shores and I cannot wait to pick it up later today. An absolutely fine, fine game.
@ShivanDrgn: Considering a superior port of Chrono Trigger just came out on the DS, the chances of that game ever seeing the light of day on the VC are slim to none. Get a DS and grab this new port of Chrono Trigger; you won't be disappointed.
There's a reason it costs $30: Capcom isn't translating the liner notes for a brand new American release of the soundtrack. It's a direct import of the already-existing MM9 Japanese soundtrack. Thus, the high price point. I've paid far more than $30 for some Japanese video game soundtracks, including one-discers. It's not uncommon, people.
I'd love to see Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma and Lufia II on the VC as well. Definitely want to see Yoshi's Island as it's one of the greatest platformers of all time! The rest of the Mega Man games and maybe the first three Mega Man X games would be terrific. All sorts of terrific games Nintendo could take advantage of money-wise. Don't skimp on us, NoA!
@Betagam7: Of all the 360 games you listed, the only exclusive I remotely care to play is Braid. I can play Fallout 3 and Bioshock on my soon-to-be-acquired PS3. I don't care for Katamari, Dead Rising or any of the others... least of all GTA IV. I absolutely despise that entire series and nothing about the fourth entry in the series looks remotely more engaging than its predecessors. So, I'll still take a big pass on the 360 and stick with the far superior Wii, DS and PS3, thanks.
I really hope Hudson doesn't abandon the VC. There are still some great, great games they could release. And if they do in fact abandon it, I hope the quality of their WiiWare games takes a serious curve upward. They have no excuse for it to do otherwise. Still hoping for some more Bomberman titles on the VC, as well as Rondo of Blood. Don't leave us, Hudson!
@Terranigma: Kirby's Dream Land 3 is nowhere near as mediocre as Drake makes it out to be. He's just being a hater. ^_~ He admitted to me earlier that it is his least favorite Kirby game, right alongside Kirby 64... so, I think that certainly needs to be taken into consideration regarding his thoughts on the game.
@All Wii Doomsayers: Have you seen the '09 releases list? All kinds of great stuff coming out and we've even got Dragon Quest X, a new Mario and a new Zelda on the horizon, all of which are extremely exciting. Add to that the additional 50 weeks of VC/WiiWare games to look forward to; at 2-3 games a week (if not one or two more, should we get so lucky), that's right around 150+ games. Nothing to cough at, considering the comparably fewer amount of downloadable titles the 360 and PS3 receive.
I honestly don't care to ever own a 360, as there are only a handful of games on the system that even remotely interest me; a far cry from all the games on Wii I already own and love. I see some great things for 2009 and 2010 on the Wii, albeit even I do hope Nintendo steps up the VC love a little more with each passing week. Let's keep our chins up; this IS the beginning of the year, after all. Just as with the movie season, nothing much of import is supposed to happen in the gaming world around this time of year as the major consoles won't see headline titles start to arrive until the second and third quarters of the year.
Can't wait to give MaBoShi a whirl with my gaming buddies, as well as by myself via the downloadable DS game. Very cool addition to what appears to be a very unique and enjoyable little game. Look forward to downloading it soon.
Ugh. The original is at least enjoyable in a quirky, oddball kinda' way. StarTropics II, however, features a joke for a story (Cleopatra stuffing down that entire pizza still makes me cringe and Sherlock Holmes' "deductions" regarding Zoda are laugh-out-loud dopey), gameplay made worse by the addition of more freedom of movement (feels too constrictive with Mike's stilted jumping and herky-jerky walking), and simply some of the most awkward moments in NES adventure history. It does feature some enjoyable dungeons, at least, and the game does become a challenge in the latter chapters, but I have honestly never been able to stomach the idiocy of the script to even remotely enjoy anything that might be good about the game.
@tim2g: I much prefer Brawl above either Melee or the original Smash. The original is a fine game but lacks the full-featured aspects of Melee and Brawl which make both of said sequels far more engaging and deep. Brawl is, for me, the most fun I've had with a multiplayer game since Melee, albeit the Gamecube title doesn't quite have the chops to edge out Brawl's vast array of great characters and levels, ability to make your own stages, fun single-player/co-op campaign, and seemingly endless supply of excellent musical score.
Excellent to see we're finally getting the original Smash Bros., even if it is the "weakest" of the three; still a fine game and I look forward to grabbing it.
@chunky_droid: Damn, chunky!!! Where's your little $5 bill?! I mean, seriously? Give up that next trip to Wendy's and pick up Tiki Towers, for crying out loud. Yeeeeesh. No need to be a cheapskate just because you missed out on a promotional offer.
Looks quite good, although I am disappointed that this particular title lacks online multiplayer support. Looking forward to playing it early next year.
After going back and forth over deciding whether or not to buy this game (after all, the reviews have certainly been anything but uniform), I finally decided to go ahead and splurge $8, discarding everything else I'd heard up to that point, trying to go into it with a fresh set of eyes.
It's not the greatest puzzler ever made and the game doesn't really suck you in except for short spurts. However, I would argue it is that latter quality, which is to the game's particular benefit. What MadStone does so incredibly well can be found in its ability to mimic the kind addictive puzzler action elements which have made games like Kirby's Avalanche, Yoshi, Yoshi's Cookie, and Wario's Woods so compulsively playable in those short single-player arcade spurts or two-player, gamer ego showdowns.
I'm also quite enamored with the art style of this game; the artists at RiverMan Media created some spectacular, colorful canvasses that are incredibly appealing to look at and admire. The gameplay structure is simple, fun, rewarding (the Quake sections are especially enjoyable in all their mayhem), the music isn't anything particularly memorable but works efficicently in a classic, 16-bit era mold, and the sounds also harken back to that bygone era of gaming and do their job well enough. My primary complaint would be that the "story" seems just a bit more than half-hearted and really isn't entirely necessary for a game like this, although, in its defense, it does at least give the game and its level structure a bit of makeshift "history" and/or mythos, if that makes any sense. My overall impression of MadStone is a simple one: the sum of its parts is better than the whole; just as can be said about any of the four puzzlers I mentioned earlier in this mini-review. If that's your cup of tea, you're going to get a real kick out of this title. If you like more depth in your puzzlers, then just skip on by to something like Toki Tori or Orbient. This is an old-school puzzler made for fans of old-school puzzlers and it hits that particular nail right on the head perfectly.
While it may have been a more desirable title at a mere 500 points, I'm willing to fork out the extra few dollars to help support such a promising up-and-coming development crew. Thumbs up, RiverMan! I, for one, really enjoy MadStone in all its entertaining, block-busting simplicity and can't wait to see what you have in store for WiiWare next.
It's looking more and more like a solid game and I too am sick and tired of the hate leveled at Gyrostarr, which is good game. One player can get old after a bit, but with two-four players, it's a real blast. On the topic of Evasive Space, I love the IR mechanic of having to use realtime snappy reflexes to survive traps and collect necessities. I don't have to shoot stuff to have a good time and this type of game has existed for a long time, but with the intuitiveness of IR combined with the hair-trigger button reflexes needed for speeding up and slowing down, this could be a very fun little title. Online leaderboards are a great addition, too, especially for a game so focused on time-based completion.
Great to see Jason Hughes posting in these comments. I love it when developers take a serious, hands-on approach to their gaming market and get involved with the players themselves in these kinds of discussion threads.
@KnucklesSonic8: At least the two of us appear to have good taste in this ongoing Bruiser & Scratch discussion. ^_~
Couldn't disagree more with the negative sentiment being leveled at this game. I'm quite enjoying it and the difficulty is the fun part for me; having my brain bent on some of these puzzles and just having to sit back and figure them out mentally is a real treat. Anyone who can't get past level one... really shouldn't be playing a game like this. You're destined to hate it. I simply fail to see how a game being difficult somehow equates it as being "bad." Riven is a hard, hard, hard game... yet it is by no means bad. Quite the opposite.
For those who love having their brain bent by solving intricate puzzles and figuring out how to do them efficiently will have a terrific time with this game. You want music? Supply your own! Games like these don't really require in-game music; it usually only serves to get repetitive and irritating at a certain point. I will, however, agree that the sound design could've used a bit more focus. My primary complaint, however, is that the 1000 price point is a bit much. I'd warrant it would be a much more desirable title at 800 or even 500.
From the IGN videos, I am left quite impressed and am looking forward to how this game shapes out next month. Looks like it uses the Wii IR controls quite intuitively and challenges reflexes very well. And with Asteroids-like ship control, what's not to like about the controls as they appear on the surface? IGN seemed to be quite pleased with what they experienced, thus I'm certainly just as enthused to see this game turn out well for High Voltage. I have incredible hopes for The Conduit as well.
I downloaded Bruiser & Scratch and am enjoying it very much, but I'm getting reeeeeeeaaaaaaally tired of this recent string of one-game VC releases. They haven't been atrocious games but the problem is that last week's Metal Slug 2 is available by other means, aka Metal Slug Anthology, which gives you a lot more bang (no pun intended) for your buck. This week's Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 isn't a bad game, but it's really only for the hardcore Sonic devotees. Where on earth are the 2-3 game weeks where we get a diverse string of titles like Dracula's Curse, Kirby's Dream Land 3, Earthworm Jim 2, Earthbound, A Boy and his Blob, Pilotwings, or Uncharted Waters? Not to mention the surprise treat titles Nintendo releases occasionally. I hope you have something really grand in mind for Christmas time, NoA, because this one-mediocre-game-per-week treatment is getting old.
So far, I'm really enjoying this game. A simple puzzle mechanic which works well and allows for a great increase in depth much later down the road. It looks like the game is bound to get wickedly challenging down the road as I sneaked a few peeks at some of the much later Challenge levels and they look downright brain-busting.
Your accuracy in completing levels is also tested, unforgivingly. Didn't think a level through correctly that first time around? You're 0 / 1... permanently. If you manage to get it the second time around, your trophy level only gives you a rating of 50%. You can beat it again and again and again to up that percentage if you wish, but the game is quite insistent on you seriously thinking levels through beforehand if you want to show off a 100% clear rating. Plus, there's always incentive to go back and try and beat levels in less time and with fewer steps taken while STILL managing to complete it correctly and not letting your trophy percentage take a hit.
The dialogue in story mode so far actually brings one back to the rather quirky, odd sense of humor Naughty Dog themselves are known for and I would surmise the title will get a 7 / 10 from the review crew here. It's a game for puzzler fans only, but for that particular crowd, it is quite the intellectually engaging treat.
A one game week would be acceptable if it weren't a game that's already available on the Metal Slug Anthology, a title that features SEVEN Metal Slug titles for 75% (or less) of the cost of buying all seven titles on the VC, should all seven titles ever be released.
Fail, Nintendo. Faaaaaaiiiiiiiiiil. I'm still tapping my feet in waiting for Castlevania III, Castlevania Dracula X, Earthbound, Life Force, and Kirby's Dream Land 3. Make 'em happen, Nintendo.
The newly updated look (albeit what a slight, unintrusive one it is) appears quite nice. Amazing what difference just a few more pixels can make and how much more life they can bring to the characters. I particularly love Quote's new, improved look. Can't wait to play through this gem again once it hits WiiWare.
Another side note regarding the VC release of Mega Man games versus the Anniversary Collection is the authenticity of the original emulation of games, including continuously looping music, which is something the Gamecube/PS2 versions obviously lack, being CD-based. There's also the issue of playing the games at a considerably lower resolution for a much more authentic old school look; playing them upscaled on a PS3 gives them a much glossier and exaggerated look. The Wii's low resolution output keeps them looking true to their 8-bit roots. Minor quibbles? Perhaps. But pretty important stuff to an old-school gamer like myself. I love the Anniversary Collection but if I can have the games emulated the way they were intended to run, I'll take that method of play any day.
I know this is regarding comments long ago in this thread, but the only problem with owning the Anniversary Collection is not having a PS3 to play it upscaled on my high-def, widescreen television. Since neither the PS2 nor Gamecube Anniversary Collections support progressive scan, the Virtual Console is the best thing guys like me have... at least until I feel like dropping $400 on a PS3.
@Tony: And Kirby's Dream Land 3. I'm getting really itchy about them releasing that and Dracula's Curse. Mega Man 3 should tide me over for a week, though.
@Dbc: Keep the freakin' politics out of this discussion. We're here to talk games, not elections.
To hear that Nifflas is working on an upcoming WiiWare title has my brain in happy-happy mode! Can't wait to see what his next freeware project turns out to be, much less how this mysterious WiiWare title he's working on shapes out.
Space Harrier isn't a terrible game, but it's only decent at best. Entertaining for a bit and impressive for its time, albeit not nearly so impressive as its original arcade counterpart. A shame it's the only VC release for the week... especially since neither of the WiiWare releases interest me in the least. Alas. Good thing I have a massive backlog of games that desperately need completed.
After all, we don't really have too much to complain about considering the outpouring of truly terrific games we've received in the past five-six weeks. On top of that, [Old Man Mode]back in my day, we had to wait months for anticipated (and even non-anticipated) games to come out. We certainly didn't have the luxury of having a few games released for convenient, home-based, online download every seven days.[/Old Man Mode]
From what I played of Ogre Battle as a young teen, I was never completely blown away by it, but I'm certainly willing to give it a second look upon its VC release. Hurrah for Mega Man 3 though! Can't wait for its stateside release!
Why is My Aquarium anywhere in the Top 10? WWWHHHHYYYY?!
Good to see Cubello just barely squeak in the Top 10. Three of the best games currently available on WiiWare are rightly in their proper trifecta of ownage: 1, 2, 3.
I actually think Hero and Superhero modes are the second and third best DLC options for Mega Man 9. First would definitely have to go to Proto Man; it's a blessing and a curse being able to play as him. Double damage and double knockback are highly problematic; charge shot, slide and reflector shield are highly helpful in a clutch.
The Special Stage was great fun, but certainly didn't do enough for me to warrant it as being near-perfect; I get a lot more enjoyment trying to see how far I can get in the Endless stage, to be honest. Playing through Hero and Superhero has been a blast, though. Gradually building up the difficulty is a great test of platforming skills and provides just the right run-n-gun challenge curve to get the player up to snuff for finally being competent at Superhero. I'm a much bigger fan of the core game, I guess, which is why those two modes are my cup of tea. Not to say the Special and Endless stages aren't fun (they certainly are); they're just not as solid as the original game itself.
Co-op and competitive play? Sign me up twice over for this game! One thing I do wish Orbient and Cubello featured was at least one two-player mode, so it's great to see Rotohex is getting not just one but two dual-play modes. Can't wait to download this game later today.
Earthworm Jim is a solid, well-developed game. But, as far as platformers go, EJ isn't my particular cup of tea; particularly not the inferior Genesis version that Nintendo decided to release on the VC. If we ever get the SNES one, I'd definitely download it eventually.
Art Style: Rotohex for me, all the way! Can't freakin' wait to download that one.
I'm gonna' keep in lock-step with IGN's review and give this game a solid 9/10. This is an absolutely stellar Tetris update with all kinds of modes to enjoy, online leaderboards, solid online play, wide-open multiplayer with plenty of options, items that are fun rather than a pain, and the same rock-solid single player experience Tetris has always been known for. Great game, all-around.
I'm sure it won't last long, but I'm #28 in the Top 30 'Stage Racer Route J (Advanced)' (under the name "Joosh") at the moment. Kind of a good feeling while it lasts... not gonna' lie.
One particular platformer whose lack of presence on the VC still bamboozles me is Blaster Master. Come to think of it, I don't know of any Sunsoft games currently on the VC, although I'm not sure what definite reason there is for that, if any. Blaster Master is a game that certainly demands a new mass-market release on a system like the Virtual Console and is certainly one that I think most of us would agree qualifies as an instant download. Heck, if Earthbound is finally getting VC love, I suppose anything is still possible.
The two new difficulty modes are brutal, to say the very least. Superhero mode is... beyond terrifying. Ironically, the stage I had the most difficulty with on regular difficulty, Tornado Man, is definitely the easiest stage to get through now. The stage I had the least difficulty getting through, Concrete Man, is now absolutely insane. Holy crap, beating the game on these two difficulties is going to be taxing.
@Stuffgamer1: Does your Mii have a beard and glasses? Did you play a Mii with facial hair and glasses? I also quit playing the same guy and when I went back online to play somebody else, the same guy popped up, so I lost to him a few more times. ^_~ If that was you, I am quite humbled.
Holy crap, I really suck at Tetris. I've played close to twenty online matches and haven't won a single one yet... Wow. I've even ran across a few players who are either A) Waaaaaaay too good at Tetris or B) Cheating. Seriously, I've never seen blocks form together that fast before. Before I know it, they've got two Tetrises and I'm out of the game.
I need to brush up in Single Player for a long time before I even think about online play, it would appear. Thankfully there are a bazillion modes to play, so I should be good.
@KnucklesSonic8: As though the DS doesn't have enough Sudoku games? Sheesh... my book of four hundred Sudoku is plenty more than I'll ever accomplish in decades. I certainly don't need a television version of it.
I also love the voice of the computer in Cubello. It's amazing that it never gets annoying; it's rather soothing, to be honest, and really helps envelope the player further into the puzzler. Much like the music building as you collect satellites in Orbient manages to suck you into that particular game more and more.
@wesleyh: Woof. That looks fuuuuuugly. I'm not even sure I could stomach it if it does in fact play better than it looks. Seriously, DL? That's the best you could do? Barf. I'll stick with Mercury Meltdown Revolution; considerably prettier and plays like a dream.
Comments 314
Re: Niki - Rock 'n' Ball
Good game. The controls themselves are a bit of a learning curve but nothing completely frusturating or poorly developed. The music is a bit annoying at times, but there are a couple good tracks in the mix. Good graphics, fun platforming, co-op is a blast (and shared lives keeps it so both of you must master the controls and not screw each other's moves up; it's all too easy to accidentally jump into your opponent and send him to his death, at times) gets challenging quickly... A good game, especially at a measly $5.
Re: USA VC Update: Wonder Boy in Monster Land
I may pick this title up one day when I need another Wonder Boy fix (I've played through the Genesis title a couple times in its entirety, so the urge is bound to strike sooner or later), but for now I'll stick with the superior-looking WiiWare title. If the WiiWare-World review and videos are any indication, Rock 'n' Ball is a unique little platformer that's right up my alley. Very much looking forward to it, especially at the cheap price of 500 points!
Re: USA WiiWare Update: Planet Pachinko and Jungle Speed
Castlevania III wins this round, but I'm looking forward to seeing it Planet Pachinko turns out to be any good or not. It has some potential from what I've seen of the trailer, but it could be a complete dud, so I'll be waiting for the review on that one.
Re: USA VC Update: Castlevania III
Many thanks for this release, Nintendo! Glad to finally see it arrive on our shores and I cannot wait to pick it up later today. An absolutely fine, fine game.
Re: Ten Games We'd Like To See On The Virtual Console In 2009
@ShivanDrgn: Considering a superior port of Chrono Trigger just came out on the DS, the chances of that game ever seeing the light of day on the VC are slim to none. Get a DS and grab this new port of Chrono Trigger; you won't be disappointed.
Re: Capcom To Release Mega Man 9 Soundtrack
There's a reason it costs $30: Capcom isn't translating the liner notes for a brand new American release of the soundtrack. It's a direct import of the already-existing MM9 Japanese soundtrack. Thus, the high price point. I've paid far more than $30 for some Japanese video game soundtracks, including one-discers. It's not uncommon, people.
Re: Ten Games We'd Like To See On The Virtual Console In 2009
I'd love to see Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma and Lufia II on the VC as well. Definitely want to see Yoshi's Island as it's one of the greatest platformers of all time! The rest of the Mega Man games and maybe the first three Mega Man X games would be terrific. All sorts of terrific games Nintendo could take advantage of money-wise. Don't skimp on us, NoA!
Re: Review: Sandy Beach (WiiWare)
Not surprised. The game didn't look particularly enticing to begin with.
Re: USA VC Update: Kirby's Dream Land 3
@Betagam7: Of all the 360 games you listed, the only exclusive I remotely care to play is Braid. I can play Fallout 3 and Bioshock on my soon-to-be-acquired PS3. I don't care for Katamari, Dead Rising or any of the others... least of all GTA IV. I absolutely despise that entire series and nothing about the fourth entry in the series looks remotely more engaging than its predecessors. So, I'll still take a big pass on the 360 and stick with the far superior Wii, DS and PS3, thanks.
I really hope Hudson doesn't abandon the VC. There are still some great, great games they could release. And if they do in fact abandon it, I hope the quality of their WiiWare games takes a serious curve upward. They have no excuse for it to do otherwise. Still hoping for some more Bomberman titles on the VC, as well as Rondo of Blood. Don't leave us, Hudson!
Re: USA VC Update: Kirby's Dream Land 3
@Terranigma: Kirby's Dream Land 3 is nowhere near as mediocre as Drake makes it out to be. He's just being a hater. ^_~ He admitted to me earlier that it is his least favorite Kirby game, right alongside Kirby 64... so, I think that certainly needs to be taken into consideration regarding his thoughts on the game.
@All Wii Doomsayers: Have you seen the '09 releases list? All kinds of great stuff coming out and we've even got Dragon Quest X, a new Mario and a new Zelda on the horizon, all of which are extremely exciting. Add to that the additional 50 weeks of VC/WiiWare games to look forward to; at 2-3 games a week (if not one or two more, should we get so lucky), that's right around 150+ games. Nothing to cough at, considering the comparably fewer amount of downloadable titles the 360 and PS3 receive.
I honestly don't care to ever own a 360, as there are only a handful of games on the system that even remotely interest me; a far cry from all the games on Wii I already own and love. I see some great things for 2009 and 2010 on the Wii, albeit even I do hope Nintendo steps up the VC love a little more with each passing week. Let's keep our chins up; this IS the beginning of the year, after all. Just as with the movie season, nothing much of import is supposed to happen in the gaming world around this time of year as the major consoles won't see headline titles start to arrive until the second and third quarters of the year.
Re: USA WiiWare Update: Maboshi's Arcade and Pool Revolution: Cue Sports
Can't wait to give MaBoShi a whirl with my gaming buddies, as well as by myself via the downloadable DS game. Very cool addition to what appears to be a very unique and enjoyable little game. Look forward to downloading it soon.
Re: USA VC Update: StarTropics II
Ugh. The original is at least enjoyable in a quirky, oddball kinda' way. StarTropics II, however, features a joke for a story (Cleopatra stuffing down that entire pizza still makes me cringe and Sherlock Holmes' "deductions" regarding Zoda are laugh-out-loud dopey), gameplay made worse by the addition of more freedom of movement (feels too constrictive with Mike's stilted jumping and herky-jerky walking), and simply some of the most awkward moments in NES adventure history. It does feature some enjoyable dungeons, at least, and the game does become a challenge in the latter chapters, but I have honestly never been able to stomach the idiocy of the script to even remotely enjoy anything that might be good about the game.
Re: Luc Bernard Talks About Upcoming WiiWare Projects
Looney Tunes on crack done as a Metroidvania style game?
Sign. Me. Up.
Re: Japanese Virtual Console list - January 2009
@tim2g: I much prefer Brawl above either Melee or the original Smash. The original is a fine game but lacks the full-featured aspects of Melee and Brawl which make both of said sequels far more engaging and deep. Brawl is, for me, the most fun I've had with a multiplayer game since Melee, albeit the Gamecube title doesn't quite have the chops to edge out Brawl's vast array of great characters and levels, ability to make your own stages, fun single-player/co-op campaign, and seemingly endless supply of excellent musical score.
Re: Japanese Virtual Console list - January 2009
Excellent to see we're finally getting the original Smash Bros., even if it is the "weakest" of the three; still a fine game and I look forward to grabbing it.
Re: Review: Tiki Towers (WiiWare)
@chunky_droid: Damn, chunky!!! Where's your little $5 bill?! I mean, seriously? Give up that next trip to Wendy's and pick up Tiki Towers, for crying out loud. Yeeeeesh. No need to be a cheapskate just because you missed out on a promotional offer.
Re: Behold The All New Swords & Soldiers Trailer
Looks quite good, although I am disappointed that this particular title lacks online multiplayer support. Looking forward to playing it early next year.
Re: Review: MadStone (WiiWare)
After going back and forth over deciding whether or not to buy this game (after all, the reviews have certainly been anything but uniform), I finally decided to go ahead and splurge $8, discarding everything else I'd heard up to that point, trying to go into it with a fresh set of eyes.
It's not the greatest puzzler ever made and the game doesn't really suck you in except for short spurts. However, I would argue it is that latter quality, which is to the game's particular benefit. What MadStone does so incredibly well can be found in its ability to mimic the kind addictive puzzler action elements which have made games like Kirby's Avalanche, Yoshi, Yoshi's Cookie, and Wario's Woods so compulsively playable in those short single-player arcade spurts or two-player, gamer ego showdowns.
I'm also quite enamored with the art style of this game; the artists at RiverMan Media created some spectacular, colorful canvasses that are incredibly appealing to look at and admire. The gameplay structure is simple, fun, rewarding (the Quake sections are especially enjoyable in all their mayhem), the music isn't anything particularly memorable but works efficicently in a classic, 16-bit era mold, and the sounds also harken back to that bygone era of gaming and do their job well enough. My primary complaint would be that the "story" seems just a bit more than half-hearted and really isn't entirely necessary for a game like this, although, in its defense, it does at least give the game and its level structure a bit of makeshift "history" and/or mythos, if that makes any sense. My overall impression of MadStone is a simple one: the sum of its parts is better than the whole; just as can be said about any of the four puzzlers I mentioned earlier in this mini-review. If that's your cup of tea, you're going to get a real kick out of this title. If you like more depth in your puzzlers, then just skip on by to something like Toki Tori or Orbient. This is an old-school puzzler made for fans of old-school puzzlers and it hits that particular nail right on the head perfectly.
While it may have been a more desirable title at a mere 500 points, I'm willing to fork out the extra few dollars to help support such a promising up-and-coming development crew. Thumbs up, RiverMan! I, for one, really enjoy MadStone in all its entertaining, block-busting simplicity and can't wait to see what you have in store for WiiWare next.
Re: Evasive Space Website Launched Today With New Trailer
It's looking more and more like a solid game and I too am sick and tired of the hate leveled at Gyrostarr, which is good game. One player can get old after a bit, but with two-four players, it's a real blast. On the topic of Evasive Space, I love the IR mechanic of having to use realtime snappy reflexes to survive traps and collect necessities. I don't have to shoot stuff to have a good time and this type of game has existed for a long time, but with the intuitiveness of IR combined with the hair-trigger button reflexes needed for speeding up and slowing down, this could be a very fun little title. Online leaderboards are a great addition, too, especially for a game so focused on time-based completion.
Re: Review: Bruiser & Scratch (WiiWare)
Great to see Jason Hughes posting in these comments. I love it when developers take a serious, hands-on approach to their gaming market and get involved with the players themselves in these kinds of discussion threads.
@KnucklesSonic8: At least the two of us appear to have good taste in this ongoing Bruiser & Scratch discussion. ^_~
Re: Review: Bruiser & Scratch (WiiWare)
Couldn't disagree more with the negative sentiment being leveled at this game. I'm quite enjoying it and the difficulty is the fun part for me; having my brain bent on some of these puzzles and just having to sit back and figure them out mentally is a real treat. Anyone who can't get past level one... really shouldn't be playing a game like this. You're destined to hate it. I simply fail to see how a game being difficult somehow equates it as being "bad." Riven is a hard, hard, hard game... yet it is by no means bad. Quite the opposite.
For those who love having their brain bent by solving intricate puzzles and figuring out how to do them efficiently will have a terrific time with this game. You want music? Supply your own! Games like these don't really require in-game music; it usually only serves to get repetitive and irritating at a certain point. I will, however, agree that the sound design could've used a bit more focus. My primary complaint, however, is that the 1000 price point is a bit much. I'd warrant it would be a much more desirable title at 800 or even 500.
7 / 10 for me.
Re: Evasive Space - New Screens & Trailer
From the IGN videos, I am left quite impressed and am looking forward to how this game shapes out next month. Looks like it uses the Wii IR controls quite intuitively and challenges reflexes very well. And with Asteroids-like ship control, what's not to like about the controls as they appear on the surface? IGN seemed to be quite pleased with what they experienced, thus I'm certainly just as enthused to see this game turn out well for High Voltage. I have incredible hopes for The Conduit as well.
Re: USA VC Update: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System)
I downloaded Bruiser & Scratch and am enjoying it very much, but I'm getting reeeeeeeaaaaaaally tired of this recent string of one-game VC releases. They haven't been atrocious games but the problem is that last week's Metal Slug 2 is available by other means, aka Metal Slug Anthology, which gives you a lot more bang (no pun intended) for your buck. This week's Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 isn't a bad game, but it's really only for the hardcore Sonic devotees. Where on earth are the 2-3 game weeks where we get a diverse string of titles like Dracula's Curse, Kirby's Dream Land 3, Earthworm Jim 2, Earthbound, A Boy and his Blob, Pilotwings, or Uncharted Waters? Not to mention the surprise treat titles Nintendo releases occasionally. I hope you have something really grand in mind for Christmas time, NoA, because this one-mediocre-game-per-week treatment is getting old.
Re: Bruiser & Scratch
So far, I'm really enjoying this game. A simple puzzle mechanic which works well and allows for a great increase in depth much later down the road. It looks like the game is bound to get wickedly challenging down the road as I sneaked a few peeks at some of the much later Challenge levels and they look downright brain-busting.
Your accuracy in completing levels is also tested, unforgivingly. Didn't think a level through correctly that first time around? You're 0 / 1... permanently. If you manage to get it the second time around, your trophy level only gives you a rating of 50%. You can beat it again and again and again to up that percentage if you wish, but the game is quite insistent on you seriously thinking levels through beforehand if you want to show off a 100% clear rating. Plus, there's always incentive to go back and try and beat levels in less time and with fewer steps taken while STILL managing to complete it correctly and not letting your trophy percentage take a hit.
The dialogue in story mode so far actually brings one back to the rather quirky, odd sense of humor Naughty Dog themselves are known for and I would surmise the title will get a 7 / 10 from the review crew here. It's a game for puzzler fans only, but for that particular crowd, it is quite the intellectually engaging treat.
Re: USA VC Update: Metal Slug 2
A one game week would be acceptable if it weren't a game that's already available on the Metal Slug Anthology, a title that features SEVEN Metal Slug titles for 75% (or less) of the cost of buying all seven titles on the VC, should all seven titles ever be released.
Fail, Nintendo. Faaaaaaiiiiiiiiiil. I'm still tapping my feet in waiting for Castlevania III, Castlevania Dracula X, Earthbound, Life Force, and Kirby's Dream Land 3. Make 'em happen, Nintendo.
Re: Wii Firmware Update Makes Transferring to SD Faster
Fantastic firmware update. Many thanks, Nintendo! I love the improved transfer times.
Re: Exclusive WiiWare Cave Story Screenshot!
The newly updated look (albeit what a slight, unintrusive one it is) appears quite nice. Amazing what difference just a few more pixels can make and how much more life they can bring to the characters. I particularly love Quote's new, improved look. Can't wait to play through this gem again once it hits WiiWare.
Re: Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam
Yeek. Shooooooovelwaaaaaaaaare.
Re: USA VC Update: Mega Man 3
Another side note regarding the VC release of Mega Man games versus the Anniversary Collection is the authenticity of the original emulation of games, including continuously looping music, which is something the Gamecube/PS2 versions obviously lack, being CD-based. There's also the issue of playing the games at a considerably lower resolution for a much more authentic old school look; playing them upscaled on a PS3 gives them a much glossier and exaggerated look. The Wii's low resolution output keeps them looking true to their 8-bit roots. Minor quibbles? Perhaps. But pretty important stuff to an old-school gamer like myself. I love the Anniversary Collection but if I can have the games emulated the way they were intended to run, I'll take that method of play any day.
Re: USA VC Update: Mega Man 3
I know this is regarding comments long ago in this thread, but the only problem with owning the Anniversary Collection is not having a PS3 to play it upscaled on my high-def, widescreen television. Since neither the PS2 nor Gamecube Anniversary Collections support progressive scan, the Virtual Console is the best thing guys like me have... at least until I feel like dropping $400 on a PS3.
Re: USA VC Update: Mega Man 3
@Tony: And Kirby's Dream Land 3. I'm getting really itchy about them releasing that and Dracula's Curse. Mega Man 3 should tide me over for a week, though.
Re: USA VC Update: Mega Man 3
Whoa. Mega Man 3 outta' freakin' nowhere? Sign me up! This is a must-download... as if everyone didn't know that already.
Re: Top 20 WiiWare Games in USA (5th Nov)
Why is 'My Aquarium' selling better than Mega Man 9... ever?! Why is it in the Top 10 at all?!
WWWWHHHHHHYYYYY?!?!
Re: Nicalis Interview: Cave Story
@Dbc: Keep the freakin' politics out of this discussion. We're here to talk games, not elections.
To hear that Nifflas is working on an upcoming WiiWare title has my brain in happy-happy mode! Can't wait to see what his next freeware project turns out to be, much less how this mysterious WiiWare title he's working on shapes out.
Re: USA VC Update: Space Harrier
Space Harrier isn't a terrible game, but it's only decent at best. Entertaining for a bit and impressive for its time, albeit not nearly so impressive as its original arcade counterpart. A shame it's the only VC release for the week... especially since neither of the WiiWare releases interest me in the least. Alas. Good thing I have a massive backlog of games that desperately need completed.
After all, we don't really have too much to complain about considering the outpouring of truly terrific games we've received in the past five-six weeks. On top of that, [Old Man Mode]back in my day, we had to wait months for anticipated (and even non-anticipated) games to come out. We certainly didn't have the luxury of having a few games released for convenient, home-based, online download every seven days.[/Old Man Mode]
Re: Gradius Rebirth Gets ESRB Rated
Very excited to play 'Gradius Rebirth'! Here's hoping for a release soon so I can get to blasting away alien scum and shooting the core.
Re: Japanese Virtual Console list - November 2008
From what I played of Ogre Battle as a young teen, I was never completely blown away by it, but I'm certainly willing to give it a second look upon its VC release. Hurrah for Mega Man 3 though! Can't wait for its stateside release!
Re: Top 20 WiiWare Games in USA (29th Oct)
Why is My Aquarium anywhere in the Top 10? WWWHHHHYYYY?!
Good to see Cubello just barely squeak in the Top 10. Three of the best games currently available on WiiWare are rightly in their proper trifecta of ownage: 1, 2, 3.
Re: Mega Man 9 DLC Round-up
I actually think Hero and Superhero modes are the second and third best DLC options for Mega Man 9. First would definitely have to go to Proto Man; it's a blessing and a curse being able to play as him. Double damage and double knockback are highly problematic; charge shot, slide and reflector shield are highly helpful in a clutch.
The Special Stage was great fun, but certainly didn't do enough for me to warrant it as being near-perfect; I get a lot more enjoyment trying to see how far I can get in the Endless stage, to be honest. Playing through Hero and Superhero has been a blast, though. Gradually building up the difficulty is a great test of platforming skills and provides just the right run-n-gun challenge curve to get the player up to snuff for finally being competent at Superhero. I'm a much bigger fan of the core game, I guess, which is why those two modes are my cup of tea. Not to say the Special and Endless stages aren't fun (they certainly are); they're just not as solid as the original game itself.
Re: Art Style: Rotohex
Co-op and competitive play? Sign me up twice over for this game! One thing I do wish Orbient and Cubello featured was at least one two-player mode, so it's great to see Rotohex is getting not just one but two dual-play modes. Can't wait to download this game later today.
Re: USA VC Release - Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim is a solid, well-developed game. But, as far as platformers go, EJ isn't my particular cup of tea; particularly not the inferior Genesis version that Nintendo decided to release on the VC. If we ever get the SNES one, I'd definitely download it eventually.
Art Style: Rotohex for me, all the way! Can't freakin' wait to download that one.
Re: Review: Tetris Party (WiiWare)
I'm gonna' keep in lock-step with IGN's review and give this game a solid 9/10. This is an absolutely stellar Tetris update with all kinds of modes to enjoy, online leaderboards, solid online play, wide-open multiplayer with plenty of options, items that are fun rather than a pain, and the same rock-solid single player experience Tetris has always been known for. Great game, all-around.
Re: USA WiiWare Update: Tetris Party & The Incredible Maze
I'm sure it won't last long, but I'm #28 in the Top 30 'Stage Racer Route J (Advanced)' (under the name "Joosh") at the moment. Kind of a good feeling while it lasts... not gonna' lie.
Re: USA VC Releases: Gradius II and Digital Champ
One particular platformer whose lack of presence on the VC still bamboozles me is Blaster Master. Come to think of it, I don't know of any Sunsoft games currently on the VC, although I'm not sure what definite reason there is for that, if any. Blaster Master is a game that certainly demands a new mass-market release on a system like the Virtual Console and is certainly one that I think most of us would agree qualifies as an instant download. Heck, if Earthbound is finally getting VC love, I suppose anything is still possible.
Re: Second Wave of Mega Man 9 DLC Released!
The two new difficulty modes are brutal, to say the very least. Superhero mode is... beyond terrifying. Ironically, the stage I had the most difficulty with on regular difficulty, Tornado Man, is definitely the easiest stage to get through now. The stage I had the least difficulty getting through, Concrete Man, is now absolutely insane. Holy crap, beating the game on these two difficulties is going to be taxing.
Re: USA WiiWare Update: Tetris Party & The Incredible Maze
@Stuffgamer1:
Does your Mii have a beard and glasses? Did you play a Mii with facial hair and glasses? I also quit playing the same guy and when I went back online to play somebody else, the same guy popped up, so I lost to him a few more times. ^_~ If that was you, I am quite humbled.
Re: USA WiiWare Update: Tetris Party & The Incredible Maze
Holy crap, I really suck at Tetris. I've played close to twenty online matches and haven't won a single one yet... Wow. I've even ran across a few players who are either A) Waaaaaaay too good at Tetris or B) Cheating. Seriously, I've never seen blocks form together that fast before. Before I know it, they've got two Tetrises and I'm out of the game.
I need to brush up in Single Player for a long time before I even think about online play, it would appear. Thankfully there are a bazillion modes to play, so I should be good.
Re: USA VC Releases: Gradius II and Digital Champ
Anyone who labels the release of Gradius II a "crappy week" needs their brain examined. Where's the shmup love?
Re: USA WiiWare Update: Tetris Party & The Incredible Maze
@KnucklesSonic8:
As though the DS doesn't have enough Sudoku games? Sheesh... my book of four hundred Sudoku is plenty more than I'll ever accomplish in decades. I certainly don't need a television version of it.
I also love the voice of the computer in Cubello. It's amazing that it never gets annoying; it's rather soothing, to be honest, and really helps envelope the player further into the puzzler. Much like the music building as you collect satellites in Orbient manages to suck you into that particular game more and more.
Re: USA WiiWare Update: Tetris Party & The Incredible Maze
@wesleyh:
Woof. That looks fuuuuuugly. I'm not even sure I could stomach it if it does in fact play better than it looks. Seriously, DL? That's the best you could do? Barf. I'll stick with Mercury Meltdown Revolution; considerably prettier and plays like a dream.