I'm sure you've read about how M:OM did away with floating missiles and power pellets (oops, wrong game) left behind by enemies that you have to pick up. This IMO is a good thing. It eliminates the need for farming and steamlines the game. Instead of standing next to a pit that spawns enemies to fill up your missiles, you just have to clear out a room of enemies (a challenge in itself) to catch a break and gain enough time to automatically fill them up. I guess in a way it's like the shield in Halo, except here you're not running for cover in order to recharge, instead you overcome the challenge each room represents before being able to enter the next one fresh.
Anyway, I think Zelda could stand to reevaluate why it does things the way it does. It seems to me there are a lot of vestigial conceits that are unnecessary in modern Zelda games, and the games would just be better if those conceits were done away with completely.
Having to pick up seeds or arrows, for instance. Honestly, did ... Read More!
I wrote this a long time ago. Pre-2006, apparently. And I'm not going to change it to make it make sense in the present times. Nor am I going to read it and see if it isn't nearly as interesting and/or funny as I kind of remember it being (but not so much). So, deal with it!
The worst Metroid movie script ever written… maybe.
As you may or may not know, the rights to a movie based on Nintendo’s Metroid franchise were optioned off to producer/director John Woo awhile back. Rumour has it that the “first” film will release sometime in 2006, though nothing much has been said since. Whether or not the movie is actually going to see the light of day, one thing is for sure… it will suck.
Badly.
Yes you heard me right. I have the utmost respect for John Woo, but let’s be honest here… Hollywood has no idea how to handle the video game to movie transition. There is a chance he pulls it off well. There is also a chance that tomorrow, on my way to work, I will trip over the winning lottery ... Read More!
Mega Man 10 Publisher: Capcom Entertainment, Inc. Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence Price: 1,000 Wii Points™ Description: Fans of all ages can enjoy the newest entry in this historic 8-bit franchise. As a special service to new players, there’s an Easy Mode – a first for a Mega Man game. This new feature means novices and longtime fans alike can all have a shot at making it to the end of a Mega Man game. Also, you can now play as Proto Man and try Time Attack Mode from the beginning, or watch play-through videos from players all over the world.
Dart Rage Publisher: JV Games Inc. Players: 1-4 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Alcohol Reference Price: 600 Wii Points Description: Grab your Wii Remote™ controller and prepare for the ultimate game of darts on your Wii console. Dart Rage features the most realistic throwing system available today. With pixel-perfect accuracy and no buttons to push, you’ll be completely immersed in the game’s realism. Dart ... Read More!
If the strength of feeling displayed on games forums and websites is a good measure of consumer sentiment, Nintendo is a company in gamers' black books right now. The stunning success of the Wii and the DS in reaching out to new audiences who have never played games before is viewed in the internet's darkest corners as a betrayal of core gamers, an abandonment of traditional games to be replaced with brightly-coloured, "waggle controlled" abominations.
The reality, of course, is somewhat different. Only this week, Nintendo announced dates for a line-up of Wii titles which should please any long-term fan of the company's output - Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid: Other M and Sin & Punishment 2 being key highlights for the hardcore audience. Many of the top sellers on the console are games which appeal broadly to upstream and downstream gamers alike - Mario Kart, New Super Mario Bros., Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Galaxy all appear in the console's top 10.
Now tell me that doesn't look awesome. One of the best implementations of head-tracking I've seen yet. It really looks like a real 3-dimensional environment inside of the screen. ... Read More!
First up, we have FlingSmash(nee Span Smasher), the retail MotionPlus-powered Breakout-y adventure which received steaming heaps of glowing impressions at the last E3. I'm really excited about this game, even though it's dev'd by Artoon. This is the kind of colorful, wacky shit that fuels my madness.
WarioWare DIY on the DS has an insane amount of potential. Create your own mini-games, complete with music, graphics, and AI, and trade them online (or play them on your Wii)? Hell. Yes. I hope the creation tools are intuitive and super-flexible.
Speaking of playing them on your Wii, I initially thought that the WiiWare Wario...Ware was just a conduit to play your DIY games on the telly. It seemed like a bit of a cash grab, but reading the press release more closely, it's apparently a lot more than that. Bonus. * Launching on March 29, WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase is a standalone product exclusive to the WiiWare service and available only from the Wii Shop Channel. The game contains more than ... Read More!
