Happy New Year! To start you off right we have a brand new episode. CPAWei returns to the podcast along with TriforceBun, Guillaume, and DrFinkelstein as host. They talk about some games they've been playing like Aliens: Infestation, Super Meat Boy, Pushmo, and even Swapnote!
Then came the real meat and potatoes starting off with some Game of the Year banter replacing "What Do You Fink?" this time. Topics in this episode include; Metroid's 25th Anniversary, the Zelda Timeline, how much Challenge in games affects the Fun Factor, and finally some hopes and dreams for the WiiU 2012 launch!
As per usual, the theme music comes from Negative World's owner and dictator, Zero. Throughout the podcast you'll be treated to music from VVVVVV, a game also discussed early on. The tail end of the podcast contains a special song from TriforceBun in association with Brawl In The Family.
Let us know what you think about this episode on Negative World! Or, be a change it up and post them on Facebook or Twitter instead.
I totally agree about Pushmo. 18 tutorial levels? I probably could have figured it out in 2. Then when the game introduces the manholes, like you guys said, I'd much rather jump in and figure it out on my own. There was a thread not too long ago about the Sequelitis videos, and in one of them the guy says that, even if someone has never played a video game before, they're still able to recognize patterns and THINK. Games with over-the-top tutorials are almost offensive.
I think the reason Nintendo decided to have Link die for one of their timelines is so that Ocarina of Time would make sense as A Link to the Past's backstory like it was originally intended to be.
It's pretty safe to say that the Mario Wii U game will be called Super Mario Universe, right? If it's not, that wwill be the biggest missed opportunity ever. Ideally, it will have Mario 64-style exploration-based hub levels that have portals to Galaxy-style linear challenges.
I'm thinking the next Smash Bros. game will have some sort of transfarring. Hopefully the 3DS version isn't just a gimped Wii U game.
Bah! There was literally ten seconds of Swapnote talk!
Overall though, a good 'cast. I had a bunch of feedback regarding specific things, but for some reason it's all escaping me. I should take notes. I do feel that the three person 'cast works a little better in getting everyone's opinions in there though.
@DrFinkelstein There wasn't really much discussion of the features and lack of features though. This was a thing people were looking forward to until it turned out to be something else entirely.
Regardless, it was more of a joke post because it was mentioned in the OP.
I've said it before, but I think the third timeline is mostly a way for Nintendo to avoid placing the older games in line with the newer ones. I don't think it's a coincidence that that timeline is basically the older games we grew up with (and the Oracle games). I think it's unfortunate how they handled it, but I think that's mostly the reason they've done it this way. It's probably the next best solution to Nintendo saying "These games never happened."
I still think it's kind of weird though, simply because the stories in those older games are so simple, that they can be placed practically anywhere in the time line. Why does it matter where the original Legend of Zelda goes? It's basically an isolated adventure that doesn't have any bearing on any other game. Are they simply worried about other games referencing it? That is, someone saying "HOW CAN THIS GAME COME AFTER THAT GAME IF THIS GAME NEVER MENTIONS THAT GAME?"
And if something doesn't make sense, all they have to do is just say that there's basically an infinite number of adventures that can take place between some of these games. If things don't line up perfectly, it's likely because something happened between games that Nintendo didn't spell out for us.
Next podcast is actually gonna be an all-Swapnotes extravaganza. We'll aim for a 2 hour discussion about all of the features as well as our favorite notes. Look forward to it!
To play devil's advocate, doesn't Ganon win prior to Wind Waker? Or at least, Link never arrives? Isn't it kind of a similar set up?
Compare this: 1.) Ocarina of Time - Link fails against Ganondorf. 2.) Ganon is sealed away during the Imprisoning War. 3.) Link defeats Ganon in A Link to the Past
to this:
1.) Ocarina of Time - Adult Link and Zelda seal away Ganondorf 2.) Ganon escapes somehow, Hyrule is sealed and flooded 3.) Link defeats Ganon in Wind Waker
(This isn't to say that I agree with what they did, but isn't it basically the same thing?)
Okay, IDEA - Link is having a birthday party with his best buds, when all of a sudden, they are are stolen by a giant black monster. The monster leads Link to a creepy white place, full of areas and enemies from his past. There, Link from the present and Link from the past must join together to stop not one, but TWO (maybe three?) Ganons. Modern Link uses motion plus to get through devious 3D environments, while Classic Link travels through 2D overhead environments.
I am glad that I never really gave a shit about any of this timeline stuff. I just take each game as they come and I really don't care about previous Zelda games and how this new one may or may not fit into some timeline. They are just games, its not like we are talking real life here.
With that being said, I have always read up on the different timeline hypothesis and I will admit, that having this 3rd split timeline where Link failed in Ocarina of Time, well, I agree with most people, that it just sounds stupid as fuck. Again, its one of those, "what the fuck are you thinking Nintendo?" moments.
Then again, Am I right in thinking that this new Zelda book has only been released in Japan and more than likely the translation of the timeline theory has been all fucked up and people have interrupted it all wrong. Even though, probably not, its always possible this is the case as well.
