Well when they say "play 20 times," what it really is (the most stupid unlocking prerequisite ever) you just select the game and quit 20 times--you don't even have to play it, just hit the back to menu option before the title screen boots up if you want. So it's simply tedious and doesn't involve playing at all, and the laser in your machine will be doing lots of grinding back and forth (loading/quitting the game over and over).
I was saying, I'm a huge stickler for the quality of ports/emulations/backward compatibility, and someone looking to compare how a GC game runs on the Wii will notice slight inferiorities--enough to make me hold on to my GC and not sell it for like twenty bucks. I suppose I'd sweat it a lot less for older stuff, tho. (Also note, Sonic Gems is GC only and has Sonic CD--easily the best Sonic game IMO).
I actually have the collection for the Xbox, but I think the GC version also has Ristar (which is nothing to sneeze at, and it's on the VC) and Comix Zone, among quite a few other Sonic spin-offs.
On storage solution, I don't see why Nintendo couldn't release a little USB Hard-drive and redo the whole channels thing.
Anybody notice how huge the SSBB save file is? And you can't transfer that to an SD card! There goes another 120+ blocks on that fifth-of-a-gig system memory.
No, it doesn't kill me to transfer files all the time to and from the SD card . . . that doesn't wear any hardware out, does it? But it really does seem like bad planning, when many people apparently don't want to spend thirty bucks for one (and you call yourself hardcore! BAH!) and are actually being conservative about spending money on VC titles on account of the ridiculously-low system memory.
"Don't forget Sonic & Knuckles; if there's time spent getting Lock-On together with it like with the original cartridge, then I can at least tolerate the delay for that"
. . . is there something wrong with picking up the Sonic Mega Collection? It would be way cheaper than Sonic 1, 2, 3 and S&K combined on VC, along with all the extras and other games. And it does the "lock-on" feature thing too. I guess if you only own a Wii, some might somewhat dispute the quality of the backward compatibility . . . or maybe I really am a severe minority that cares about the quality of a port/emulation.
@ Adamant
Yes, it looks/sounds good--I might download it. Though I own 60+ VC titles (my wallet is screaming in pain) I, along with most of us, can't afford to buy absolutely every single game that comes out--even if it's good--and that's why most of us, I suspect, usually wait for particular titles we want. And when only one title comes out a week from a combined library of thousands of games . . .
Does that explain a little bit why the re-waits can be kind of painful? If you don't mind my asking, do you download everything ($$$), or not mind in the least something you didn't want comes out and you end up downloading nothing? I'm just curious.
Personally, I'm on fire to play Ys Book I+II. I find it kind of crazy that almost half of the Turbo's library (I think) is out, but not one of its absolute-strongest titles. Meh.
SMRPG was one of the top five voted for most wanted VC games in Nintendo Power, wasn't it? Hey, here's something the naysayers should be happy about: Nintendo actually gives what people ask for!
"This game is in no way overrated as some have suggested. It's far better, in fact, than most current RPGs being pumped onto the market."
Sadly, I can vouch for that. It's getting harder and harder to find RPGs to get excited about since the days of (mostly) SNES and PS1 days.
RPGs just tend to age gracefully compared to other genres--I guess that's a long debate, I guess. <winces> But I guess once some of the early kinks in difficulty balancing got worked out in the NES days, playing any RPG after that feels less dated than playing, say, a six-year-old racing game. They just rereleased the FIRST TWO Final Fantasy games on PSP not too long ago. What other genre could get away with being rereleased at full price after some twenty years like that (okay, it was somewhat upgraded)?
I'd totally rather replay SMRPG than a lot of RPGs of the past few years.
This talk about Majora's Mask reminds me of something: If anyone has an N64 with a game and its corresponding VC emulation, check them out side-by-side.
There's a considerable framerate drop! Titles I noticed were Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (particularly bad, noticed on the demo found on SSBB) and a bit on Super Mario 64. The other N64 games I have on VC I don't have on the original carts, though I'm rather suspicious about most of them being the same case (except Paper Mario, which looks right). I'm sure data compression is to blame, but I think it's something to consider at $10 a re-buy.
I happen to have the GC Zelda Collection (and the Master Quest disc) also, so I've gone through OoT quite a few times. I found the demo of OoT on Super Smash Bros. Brawl really jarring because of this.
BAH! Zelda 2 is a classic! (an EGM issue knowingly went against the grain and appreciated it very highly on its last top 200 list).
FIVE STARS. This game is experimental and a success at doing so, with there being nothing really quite like it (Wonder Boy in Monster World wasn't even close). Some people might play this black sheep, sidescroller iteration after all the other top-down (or the highly-similar 3-D games) and they'll be all "this is ZELDA?!" and their heads will explode.
Everybody else will enjoy what is just simply an awesome fantasy game with a wonderfully functional level-up system, magic, skills, other RPG elements, and some totally excellent dungeon exploration.
I think I agree with Draygone's pros and cons about SMRPG, mostly, except I kind of do think the story is a tiny epic, because of the diverse places you go, characters you see, the presentation (you mentioned the ending) and characters like Peach (or was it "Toadstool"?) and Bowser, in a hilarious change of pace, actually exhibited more than one-dimensional personalities--like in lots of Square games, they had their moments of thoughtfulness, too, though again not too far out of character. In general, these guys were written like Square characters with respect to the Mario franchise, which is awesome. Other Mario RPGs (the first PM, Mario and Luigi, SPM) lack the bits of drama, or Square's talents for fantasy settings and characters.
For those on the fence, here's your empirical data: it appears most people think it's absolutely inspired and great, and a few don't. I'm hardcore into RPGs and Nintendo and thought it was a Godsend back in the day, and feel like the Square/Nintendo collaboration was a better success than, say, the Square/Disney Kingdom Hearts thing--the two franchises managed to gel a bit better in the former, in my opinion.
@Adamant: My bad, my memory is hazy even though I played through it like a dozen times. But really, I thought that that character was an exceedingly cool idea.
@Ginta: Bowser does take Peach, but there's WAY more to the story than that! Both Bowser and Peach end up in your battle party against a greater foe.
Yes, I universally hear that TTYD is better than the first Paper Mario. I'll get to it, honest! I did enjoy the innovation of Mario and Luigi (GBA, which was really the third Mario RPG) a great deal--I thought that one was pretty clever more in the Nintendo sort of way.
@DarkMatter "SMRPG isn't the most complex RPG out there and it certainly isn't the most difficult. It isn't 70 hours long, either. But who cares? It's still a fun, charming, and endearing game with an outstanding soundtrack to boot."
@Zyzzybalubah I still recall a more complex equipment system in SMRPG, and there were three characters in battle at once rather than just two in PM sharing the SAME HP and MP score and turn, if I remember right (which is the main reason why it felt like trading punches without a team working together). What's more, especially early in PM, HP is so low most attacks hit for more or less the same damage and vice-versa.
I called SMRPG "more complex" than PM, which I had thought at the time was, indeed, as basic as you could get and still have a battle system with (somewhat) multiple ways around a fight.
Thank you, Mr. McFarren, for a very well-written review, with sobriety intact. It does seem sad this mascot didn't take off; I always thought Sonic was kind of nonsense (the whole trademark of going fast was actually the deadliest thing you could do in those games).
And in all of Rexy's posts--and correct me if I missed something--I can only find a few actual criticisms: It's too "lenient" (you think Bleck is scarier than Smithy, a giant sword sticking into Bowser's castle . . . okay . . .) and it's too short. A good point may have unintentionally been made about the female thing: In my opinion, males tend to give WAY too much attention to someone on account of the fact that she's the minority female in a predominately male interest/hobby, as your points are so devoid of insight beyond the usual stick-it-to-the-man spiel--it's only popular because it's popular (or over-hyped).
I haven't played Paper Mario 2 (for shame), but the first one is a baby game compared to SMRPG. There's so little strategy whatsoever, it's barely more than trading punches in battles. Facets of the aesthetic, style, and story are put together out of scarcely anything new; the end boss is Bowser, and your party members are based on standard enemies of the series, for instance. SMRPG was brilliant--it combined the Mario universe with NEW worlds and characters. It was an absolutely brilliant combination of preserving tradition and taking it into new places and a new fantasy, somehow managing to not come across as bizarre--ambitious, but preserving the Mario innocence. And how can you mess with an RPG where you get to fight the Power Rangers?!!!!!
It would be hard to argue that Paper Mario's story or play mechanics were more complex than SMRPG's, which is to say, do you prefer "short," or drawn out?
Now did I say Paper Mario was a bad game? Not at all--it's a really nice and easygoing game, good for what it is. But the epic that was SMRPG? I personally think that Nintendo is the single best game designer in the world, but their writers are decidedly unequal to the people in charge of level design and play control. The combination of talent (with Squaresoft), here, is a rare treat, and it's clear they put their hearts into it.
I recommend this game to absolutely everyone. Those who enjoy Mario, RPGs, and especially something unique should flock to this. It's easy on those new to RPGs without losing what makes even the best RPGs such fantastic experiences.
There was one severe thing I had against the FF Advance rereleases--the GBA couldn't do the music justice, and I refused to hear FFVI (especially) butchered.
Other than that, what's the deal with Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger up there? Seriously, just buy a PS 1/2/3 (a PSone is CHEAP, folks) and get FFAnthology and FFChronicles (containing Chrono Trigger), or yes, those GBA remakes. So not like it would be a big hairy deal either way, but I can't understand why everybody's so desperate for games you can get a jillion different ways already. Earthbound, Secret of Mana, SMRPG have not been rereleased ever so I'm glad to see those up there.
My votes were for the Ys series; the wait for Book I & II is becoming absolutely obscene. Also Romancing SaGa (SNES) translated, as I heard the the Super Famicom trilogy was excellent, unlike most of the SaGa series after that.
NO KIDDING! Especially when a PS1 game costs only six to ten bucks on that service. And yeah, that would make me quite a bit less conscience-stricken about the money we shell out for games older than that (both on the tube and on the go)--they could easily do it, too, as proven by the pirating scene (yeah I have morals--I pay for stuff . . . probably paying for all the pirates' stuff too ) from everything short of the N64.
Come on, Nintendo. You're winning the console wars. Share the happiness!
Wow, you spoilers went and just about ruined most of the reward for enduring some of PS3's pain--man, the Genesis was good at torturing the ears with that tinny "music," but PS3 was on another level. The game is just overlong, often feeling aimless and incredibly cheap--every time you're male character is years older and no longer playable, the difference in his portrait is a cheaply-applied mustache (though admittedly, that was one of the biggest laughs I've ever gotten out of a game). And check out those puke-inducing battle screens. Surprisingly though, the plot proved to be downright inspired and incredibly creative, making PS3 unique enough to warrant a look.
Should hardcore RPG fans put up with this game for the good stuff? I'm leaning towards yes, as a matter of duty!
Honestly, in my opinion, THREE a week between eight consoles is crazy. And unremarkable stuff (and outright JUNK) in their libraries is exactly why. Sure, somebody out there might be interested in this stuff, but yeah, I'm seriously thinking about checking, like, every month rather than every week from now on; why should I punish myself by getting my hopes up week to week? If only we got a release schedule like with everything else . . .
Wow I really like this game a lot . . . except when I'm asked a question and have no idea what my response is going to do, don't know anything about the story, have to consult the operations guide constantly to know what the menus mean . . .
. . . this is unbelievable. I think Nintendo should update the download with a translation for everyone to download again. Fans out there have already done it out of the kindness of their hearts.
I can't help but respond to this, because this is clearly about nothing but a business move. And that is to say, I don't mean to "accuse" Nintendo of anything other than knowing full-well how to make the most money.
Correct me if I'm wrong--the ESRB can't rate a piece of software until it's COMPLETE (otherwise you see that "RP" rating pending thing), which is to say, there is no possible way Nintendo (or whoever is responsible) isn't just sitting on the ones that are rated already. And who knows how many are also finished but just aren't rated yet? The "poor Nintendo can only do so much" argument doesn't hold water in light of this fact--this is deliberate, strategic releasing.
Why use prepaid points? Why not announce titles releasing in advance . . . at all, LIKE HUDSON HAS (independently on its site)?! The answer to both of these questions is so that every Monday, our hopes go up for something we've been waiting for, but we might say something like "oh snap, the game I'm waiting for isn't out, but one of these looks kind of cool so I'll download that instead with my leftover points". When Metroid Prime 3 is coming out, Metroid is on the brain, so release it then. Likewise for Super Mario Galaxy. Why are there so many shooters on the VC? How many shooters came out and sold like hotcakes on the 360? They must be popular right now! RPGs are a relatively dangerous proposition, because I could be busy with one that I spent eight bucks on for a long time and ignore the rest. And it isn't holiday season anymore and Nintendo (thank goodness) has in fact discharged most of its most-celebrated software. Though again, this is a smart move, while the VC is fresh on people's minds.
And what would surely happen if Nintendo (whether they are able or not) actually did release the entire library of games on all these consoles at once? Most of us oldsters who knew how to pick the old ones would fish for the titles we knew were the best, sites couldn't re-review them individually like they do (it would take forever), and people who are new to the old stuff would have little idea where to start buying. I for one probably thought twice about some of the games I've purchased if this were the case, though I don't especially regret any that I've gotten.
I guess a couple upshots are that the trickle does get us (1) playing the same games at the same time and therefore on the same page about how we're going old-school and (2) yes indeed, it is directing people's attention toward titles they may have overlooked.
To restate my point, I firmly believe it's good to complain to let Nintendo what we really want. Only once (as far as I know, in the United States) did Nintendo release just ONE title in a week and this made people absolutely nuts, and Nintendo hasn't done it since. Whether we're "crybabies" or Nintendo is truly out to get us isn't the point. The point is, Nintendo is doing what businesses do--making money. And we're doing what consumers do: make feedback loud and clear; crybabies are good for both sides. Because of my aforementioned points (most of which I don't see room for dispute, unless someone knows something I don't), I find some of the jerking around withholding stuff I've already played and can't wait to drop five to twelve bucks to download--most of these are cheaper to track down used, but the VC is convenient and the emulations are mostly (suitably) superb--feels like a mild case of insult to wallet-nuking injury, though overall I'm elated at the chance to play some old, obscure stuff like Lords of Thunder. I understand why Nintendo is doing things for business reasons, but if we play dead we just aren't going to get what's good for us AND Nintendo (read: our continued business). Some of us hate this, and it's good that Nintendo hears about the fact.
Again, the ESRB thing is, I'm pretty sure, proof that Nintendo is in fact sitting on finished re-releases.
Jon: that's the spirit. I'd join. bacchus: excellent point about the SF2 point. It's impossible to deny what Nintendo was going on there: first the lesser versions to try people's patience and then the better ones later.
DO NOT MISS SUPER METROID. This is my favorite SNES game, and probably my favorite VC title of the sixty or so I've downloaded.
I don't know how to give this game the praise it deserves: Level design, atmosphere, art design, music, boss fights, power-up placements . . . this game doesn't miss a beat, ever; it starts and ends with a bang, with every piece so perfectly-crafted that 2-D gaming. It's two predecessors laid some basic groundwork for this type of interconnected level-design, but the ambition level is through the roof here--I dare say the presentation is the tightest and most atmospheric ever developed by Nintendo (though in my opinion Super Mario Galaxy comes closest . . . and no, I'm not forgetting ANY of the Zelda titles), and coupled with said company's talent for setting the bar for fantastic game design, and we have something absolutely extraordinary. This is as close to perfect as electronic gaming gets. This is NOT to be ignored by anyone who plays games, period. 5/5
Eh, should I rank the Metroids? I actually sat down and decided to rank my top 20 games or so (out of between three or four hundred I've played). Metroid Prime was number 3, and this was number six. I actually feel that MP had absolutely the greatest level design in a 3-D game to this day, and even edges out Super Metroid in this area (though it falters in music). Regardless, I feel that MP and Super Metroid both are head and shoulders above all the other games in the series to the point that I don't care too much about comparing the rest, but here goes anyway:
1. Metroid Prime 2. Super Metroid 3. Metroid (1) 4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 5. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 6. Metroid Fusion 7. Metroid 2: Return of Samus
This is a tough one to critique. Platformer+God-sim is pretty much the craziest proposition I've ever seen on paper, but the two really succeed in complimenting each other, as the fruits of your God-sim successes carry over to the platforming bits and that crazy last battle(s). The mechanics of the platforming aren't all that ambitious, and the God-sim portions are likewise rather simple, though the aesthetic appeal is certainly there and the writing is nothing if not charming. In short, I can't think of a better example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and what we have, as a result, is a unique and soundly-executed package. 4/5
Trivia: This game was made by the team later to be known as "Treasure" before it broke off from Konami.
I can't believe almost every 2-D Castlevania after this still had us using up-plus-attack to use a subweapon. I mean, in this game, hit the R-button and you'll throw a weapon while crouching, staying STILL on those freaking stairs (like, without accidentally ascending them).
Castlevania IV eschews the ambitions of its (also awesome) predecessor, such as multiple paths, endings, and companions, keeping things kind of straightforward and therefore fantastically polished, though it succeeds in being a spectacle of style and substance--the music and art direction really make things come to life as an "experience" as much as a game, with each level loaded with lots of character and feeling like separate romps through folklore and mythology, though remaining cohesive. It's also worth noting that Super Castlevania IV arguably sports the best-balanced difficulty of the entire series, knowing precisely the balance between challenge and frustration, well-placed checkpoints, and smooth rise of difficulty . . . although maybe Dracula is a little too easy here.
Altogether, to me this game is bliss from start to finish. Not to be missed.
I actually downloaded both versions and prefer this one--in general I hate that tinny noise the Genesis (Megadrive) calls "music" (though some developers have managed to get some good sound out of it somehow). I've heard lots of people say the Turbo CD's music "doesn't fit the game at all at times," and in one or two cases I tend to agree, but in general the CD-quality soundtrack is a huge plus as far as I'm concerned with some--I dare say it--sublime stuff. Otherwise, the resolution is a lot higher in this version (you'll really appreciate this on a larger screen) which is really nice also. And hey, if you're using a Classic Controller, you have those two rapid-fire buttons that will make you the fastest sword-swinger ever.
Beyond comparisons, I enjoyed this game. It's kind of low-key, and sometimes its exploration elements and item fetching don't feel completely well-conceived (I didn't bother taking very much time finding some previously-inaccessible item pickups), along with some repetitive level design, but I give this game a big thumbs-up for a highly-pleasant gaming experience with, in my opinion, enhanced presentation thanks to the CD format. 4/5
I think something needs to be cleared up about this version--it has a different engine than SF2Turbo, and most serious fans prefer the previous version; this is why many were bummed about the Street Fighter Collection for PS2 and Xbox, as you were stuck competing on the most recent, less-favored engine for SF2. I'm not the biggest fan of SF2 (or fighting games in general) in the world, but I do appreciate the difference and likewise believe Turbo's engine and "feel" are superior. I am somewhat at a loss to articulate further, except to add, perhaps, "more responsive" to my feelings toward SF2Turbo. SSF2's engine is definitely MUCH prettier, and it doesn't hurt to own both versions and compare them for one's own preference (though I really can't imagine someone who feels the difference giving the nod to SSF2), but I strongly recommend against SSF2 ahead of SF2Turbo. 3/5
I thought this game was just great--beat it, for the first time on the VC. No, it's not terribly complicated, with your character having exactly the moves and power-ups he needs to get through the (annoyingly) endless waves of enemies. Slashing the crap out of enemies with your powered up sword with your two doppelgangers (sp?) just feels absolutely awesome, plus twists of some stages involving leaps between floor and ceiling. I also thought the difficult was balanced very well! Except for that ridiculous final sequence of trying to fall between ninjas going upward, requiring memorization (yay for unlimited continues). Sure, it feels kinda primitive but astonishingly well-executed, epic action. A 2-D gaming masterpiece not to be missed.
Epic masterpiece! It's one of my top 5 Turbo-16/Duo games period, which are (I have 18):
Ys Book I & II Castlevania: Rondo of Blood Gate of Thunder Lords of Thunder Ninja Spirit
This is my single favorite game of all time. I can remember the order I first beat the eight bosses. The stage select concept, along with acquiring the boss's weapon, was what made Mega Man stand out. In this one, the level design, music, and even that cool intro altogether made MM2 absolute magic. Brings tears to my eyes.
Maybe it's my loss, but I couldn't get into this game though I stuck it out to the end. Long before it released it was dubbed "Super Mario RPG 2," which got me excited. But compared to the superlative Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario plays like a baby game with the most incredibly simple battle system I've ever seen in an RPG to the point of feeling like you're trading punches (attacks) with practically no room for genuine strategy. The visual style was all right to me, even if--completely unlike Super Mario RPG--it is extremely light on taking any chances, innovations, or creativity with the Mario universe that we've seen/experienced a thousand times already. (On a sidenote, I felt Nintendo trying to redeem this particular fault with some new stuff in "Mario and Luigi")
On the other hand, I guess the game is nice and low-key, and the easy accessibility and family-friendly atmosphere can feel like a breath of fresh air these days (isn't pretty much every high-profile title M-rated these days? Sheesh). But it's sheer lack of ambition almost breaks it in many aspects in my opinion (the pedestrian story, locations, and battle system).
Points for charm, low-intensity (though consequently kind of boring) stuff. It's not bad--especially for ten bucks--and I actually still strongly recommend it especially because games (or media in general, for that matter) with such innocence seem to come so seldom in recent times, but I do believe Mario's career as an RPG character have seen better times. 4/5
Would you recommend this to someone who played and ended up disliking Animal Crossing? I actually liked the low-key nature of the game, and it had some nice charm to it, but I hated the real-time be-there-at-seven -on-[x-date] -in-REAL-LIFE stuff --something is wrong when my entertainment starts giving ME a schedule about when I play games, IMHO
I've wanted this one forever. Just about every other T-16 game has come out, so they're almost out of options before they let out what I almost universally hear is the best Turbo-16/Duo game, period.
Sheesh. Just let it release already. I promise that, uh, really bad thing you *think* is going to happen won't if you just do it, Hudson!
Comments 386
Re: US VC Release - 16th June - Samurai Shodown
Well when they say "play 20 times," what it really is (the most stupid unlocking prerequisite ever) you just select the game and quit 20 times--you don't even have to play it, just hit the back to menu option before the title screen boots up if you want. So it's simply tedious and doesn't involve playing at all, and the laser in your machine will be doing lots of grinding back and forth (loading/quitting the game over and over).
I was saying, I'm a huge stickler for the quality of ports/emulations/backward compatibility, and someone looking to compare how a GC game runs on the Wii will notice slight inferiorities--enough to make me hold on to my GC and not sell it for like twenty bucks. I suppose I'd sweat it a lot less for older stuff, tho. (Also note, Sonic Gems is GC only and has Sonic CD--easily the best Sonic game IMO).
I actually have the collection for the Xbox, but I think the GC version also has Ristar (which is nothing to sneeze at, and it's on the VC) and Comix Zone, among quite a few other Sonic spin-offs.
Re: Samurai Shodown
I almost forgot! That Neo Geo collection! Is this game on it?
If I'd known about the anthology beforehand I wouldn't have downloaded any of the titles on it for the Neo Geo.
Re: US VC Release - 16th June - Samurai Shodown
On storage solution, I don't see why Nintendo couldn't release a little USB Hard-drive and redo the whole channels thing.
Anybody notice how huge the SSBB save file is? And you can't transfer that to an SD card! There goes another 120+ blocks on that fifth-of-a-gig system memory.
No, it doesn't kill me to transfer files all the time to and from the SD card . . . that doesn't wear any hardware out, does it? But it really does seem like bad planning, when many people apparently don't want to spend thirty bucks for one (and you call yourself hardcore! BAH!) and are actually being conservative about spending money on VC titles on account of the ridiculously-low system memory.
Re: US VC Release - 16th June - Samurai Shodown
"Don't forget Sonic & Knuckles; if there's time spent getting Lock-On together with it like with the original cartridge, then I can at least tolerate the delay for that"
. . . is there something wrong with picking up the Sonic Mega Collection? It would be way cheaper than Sonic 1, 2, 3 and S&K combined on VC, along with all the extras and other games. And it does the "lock-on" feature thing too. I guess if you only own a Wii, some might somewhat dispute the quality of the backward compatibility . . . or maybe I really am a severe minority that cares about the quality of a port/emulation.
@ Adamant
Yes, it looks/sounds good--I might download it. Though I own 60+ VC titles (my wallet is screaming in pain) I, along with most of us, can't afford to buy absolutely every single game that comes out--even if it's good--and that's why most of us, I suspect, usually wait for particular titles we want. And when only one title comes out a week from a combined library of thousands of games . . .
Does that explain a little bit why the re-waits can be kind of painful? If you don't mind my asking, do you download everything ($$$), or not mind in the least something you didn't want comes out and you end up downloading nothing? I'm just curious.
Personally, I'm on fire to play Ys Book I+II. I find it kind of crazy that almost half of the Turbo's library (I think) is out, but not one of its absolute-strongest titles. Meh.
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
@Least100Seraphs
I think I got everything in CT on my second playthrough (not New Game+) in 14 hours, and I wasn't rushing. I think SMRPG is shorter than that, though.
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
SMRPG was one of the top five voted for most wanted VC games in Nintendo Power, wasn't it? Hey, here's something the naysayers should be happy about: Nintendo actually gives what people ask for!
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
"This game is in no way overrated as some have suggested. It's far better, in fact, than most current RPGs being pumped onto the market."
Sadly, I can vouch for that. It's getting harder and harder to find RPGs to get excited about since the days of (mostly) SNES and PS1 days.
RPGs just tend to age gracefully compared to other genres--I guess that's a long debate, I guess. <winces> But I guess once some of the early kinks in difficulty balancing got worked out in the NES days, playing any RPG after that feels less dated than playing, say, a six-year-old racing game. They just rereleased the FIRST TWO Final Fantasy games on PSP not too long ago. What other genre could get away with being rereleased at full price after some twenty years like that (okay, it was somewhat upgraded)?
I'd totally rather replay SMRPG than a lot of RPGs of the past few years.
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
This talk about Majora's Mask reminds me of something: If anyone has an N64 with a game and its corresponding VC emulation, check them out side-by-side.
There's a considerable framerate drop! Titles I noticed were Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (particularly bad, noticed on the demo found on SSBB) and a bit on Super Mario 64. The other N64 games I have on VC I don't have on the original carts, though I'm rather suspicious about most of them being the same case (except Paper Mario, which looks right). I'm sure data compression is to blame, but I think it's something to consider at $10 a re-buy.
I happen to have the GC Zelda Collection (and the Master Quest disc) also, so I've gone through OoT quite a few times. I found the demo of OoT on Super Smash Bros. Brawl really jarring because of this.
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
So what games are you waiting for, Rexy?
Re: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
BAH! Zelda 2 is a classic! (an EGM issue knowingly went against the grain and appreciated it very highly on its last top 200 list).
FIVE STARS. This game is experimental and a success at doing so, with there being nothing really quite like it (Wonder Boy in Monster World wasn't even close). Some people might play this black sheep, sidescroller iteration after all the other top-down (or the highly-similar 3-D games) and they'll be all "this is ZELDA?!" and their heads will explode.
Everybody else will enjoy what is just simply an awesome fantasy game with a wonderfully functional level-up system, magic, skills, other RPG elements, and some totally excellent dungeon exploration.
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
I think I agree with Draygone's pros and cons about SMRPG, mostly, except I kind of do think the story is a tiny epic, because of the diverse places you go, characters you see, the presentation (you mentioned the ending) and characters like Peach (or was it "Toadstool"?) and Bowser, in a hilarious change of pace, actually exhibited more than one-dimensional personalities--like in lots of Square games, they had their moments of thoughtfulness, too, though again not too far out of character. In general, these guys were written like Square characters with respect to the Mario franchise, which is awesome. Other Mario RPGs (the first PM, Mario and Luigi, SPM) lack the bits of drama, or Square's talents for fantasy settings and characters.
For those on the fence, here's your empirical data: it appears most people think it's absolutely inspired and great, and a few don't. I'm hardcore into RPGs and Nintendo and thought it was a Godsend back in the day, and feel like the Square/Nintendo collaboration was a better success than, say, the Square/Disney Kingdom Hearts thing--the two franchises managed to gel a bit better in the former, in my opinion.
@Adamant: My bad, my memory is hazy even though I played through it like a dozen times. But really, I thought that that character was an exceedingly cool idea.
@Ginta: Bowser does take Peach, but there's WAY more to the story than that! Both Bowser and Peach end up in your battle party against a greater foe.
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
Yes, I universally hear that TTYD is better than the first Paper Mario. I'll get to it, honest! I did enjoy the innovation of Mario and Luigi (GBA, which was really the third Mario RPG) a great deal--I thought that one was pretty clever more in the Nintendo sort of way.
@DarkMatter
"SMRPG isn't the most complex RPG out there and it certainly isn't the most difficult. It isn't 70 hours long, either. But who cares? It's still a fun, charming, and endearing game with an outstanding soundtrack to boot."
Well said.
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
@Zyzzybalubah
I still recall a more complex equipment system in SMRPG, and there were three characters in battle at once rather than just two in PM sharing the SAME HP and MP score and turn, if I remember right (which is the main reason why it felt like trading punches without a team working together). What's more, especially early in PM, HP is so low most attacks hit for more or less the same damage and vice-versa.
I called SMRPG "more complex" than PM, which I had thought at the time was, indeed, as basic as you could get and still have a battle system with (somewhat) multiple ways around a fight.
Re: Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Thank you, Mr. McFarren, for a very well-written review, with sobriety intact. It does seem sad this mascot didn't take off; I always thought Sonic was kind of nonsense (the whole trademark of going fast was actually the deadliest thing you could do in those games).
Re: OFLC Update - Super Mario RPG On Its Way To Europe
Hey, why drop it? Arguing is fun!
And in all of Rexy's posts--and correct me if I missed something--I can only find a few actual criticisms: It's too "lenient" (you think Bleck is scarier than Smithy, a giant sword sticking into Bowser's castle . . . okay . . .) and it's too short. A good point may have unintentionally been made about the female thing: In my opinion, males tend to give WAY too much attention to someone on account of the fact that she's the minority female in a predominately male interest/hobby, as your points are so devoid of insight beyond the usual stick-it-to-the-man spiel--it's only popular because it's popular (or over-hyped).
I haven't played Paper Mario 2 (for shame), but the first one is a baby game compared to SMRPG. There's so little strategy whatsoever, it's barely more than trading punches in battles. Facets of the aesthetic, style, and story are put together out of scarcely anything new; the end boss is Bowser, and your party members are based on standard enemies of the series, for instance. SMRPG was brilliant--it combined the Mario universe with NEW worlds and characters. It was an absolutely brilliant combination of preserving tradition and taking it into new places and a new fantasy, somehow managing to not come across as bizarre--ambitious, but preserving the Mario innocence. And how can you mess with an RPG where you get to fight the Power Rangers?!!!!!
It would be hard to argue that Paper Mario's story or play mechanics were more complex than SMRPG's, which is to say, do you prefer "short," or drawn out?
Now did I say Paper Mario was a bad game? Not at all--it's a really nice and easygoing game, good for what it is. But the epic that was SMRPG? I personally think that Nintendo is the single best game designer in the world, but their writers are decidedly unequal to the people in charge of level design and play control. The combination of talent (with Squaresoft), here, is a rare treat, and it's clear they put their hearts into it.
I recommend this game to absolutely everyone. Those who enjoy Mario, RPGs, and especially something unique should flock to this. It's easy on those new to RPGs without losing what makes even the best RPGs such fantastic experiences.
P.S. I've played at least fifty RPGs.
Re: Fantasy Zone
this isn't the WHOLE game on the video, peeps
Re: RPG Titles Dominate Nintendo Power’s Most Wanted List
There was one severe thing I had against the FF Advance rereleases--the GBA couldn't do the music justice, and I refused to hear FFVI (especially) butchered.
Other than that, what's the deal with Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger up there? Seriously, just buy a PS 1/2/3 (a PSone is CHEAP, folks) and get FFAnthology and FFChronicles (containing Chrono Trigger), or yes, those GBA remakes. So not like it would be a big hairy deal either way, but I can't understand why everybody's so desperate for games you can get a jillion different ways already. Earthbound, Secret of Mana, SMRPG have not been rereleased ever so I'm glad to see those up there.
My votes were for the Ys series; the wait for Book I & II is becoming absolutely obscene. Also Romancing SaGa (SNES) translated, as I heard the the Super Famicom trilogy was excellent, unlike most of the SaGa series after that.
Re: Super Dodge Ball
jacknozwad:
NO KIDDING! Especially when a PS1 game costs only six to ten bucks on that service. And yeah, that would make me quite a bit less conscience-stricken about the money we shell out for games older than that (both on the tube and on the go)--they could easily do it, too, as proven by the pirating scene (yeah I have morals--I pay for stuff . . . probably paying for all the pirates' stuff too ) from everything short of the N64.
Come on, Nintendo. You're winning the console wars. Share the happiness!
Re: Earthworm Jim
How does the Megadrive version compare to the SNES version?
Re: Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Wow, you spoilers went and just about ruined most of the reward for enduring some of PS3's pain--man, the Genesis was good at torturing the ears with that tinny "music," but PS3 was on another level. The game is just overlong, often feeling aimless and incredibly cheap--every time you're male character is years older and no longer playable, the difference in his portrait is a cheaply-applied mustache (though admittedly, that was one of the biggest laughs I've ever gotten out of a game). And check out those puke-inducing battle screens. Surprisingly though, the plot proved to be downright inspired and incredibly creative, making PS3 unique enough to warrant a look.
Should hardcore RPG fans put up with this game for the good stuff? I'm leaning towards yes, as a matter of duty!
Re: US VC Releases - 7th April - Yoshi's Cookie
Honestly, in my opinion, THREE a week between eight consoles is crazy. And unremarkable stuff (and outright JUNK) in their libraries is exactly why. Sure, somebody out there might be interested in this stuff, but yeah, I'm seriously thinking about checking, like, every month rather than every week from now on; why should I punish myself by getting my hopes up week to week? If only we got a release schedule like with everything else . . .
Re: DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure
Wow I really like this game a lot . . . except when I'm asked a question and have no idea what my response is going to do, don't know anything about the story, have to consult the operations guide constantly to know what the menus mean . . .
. . . this is unbelievable. I think Nintendo should update the download with a translation for everyone to download again. Fans out there have already done it out of the kindness of their hearts.
Re: Talking Point: The State of Play of the Virtual Console
I can't help but respond to this, because this is clearly about nothing but a business move. And that is to say, I don't mean to "accuse" Nintendo of anything other than knowing full-well how to make the most money.
Correct me if I'm wrong--the ESRB can't rate a piece of software until it's COMPLETE (otherwise you see that "RP" rating pending thing), which is to say, there is no possible way Nintendo (or whoever is responsible) isn't just sitting on the ones that are rated already. And who knows how many are also finished but just aren't rated yet? The "poor Nintendo can only do so much" argument doesn't hold water in light of this fact--this is deliberate, strategic releasing.
Why use prepaid points? Why not announce titles releasing in advance . . . at all, LIKE HUDSON HAS (independently on its site)?! The answer to both of these questions is so that every Monday, our hopes go up for something we've been waiting for, but we might say something like "oh snap, the game I'm waiting for isn't out, but one of these looks kind of cool so I'll download that instead with my leftover points". When Metroid Prime 3 is coming out, Metroid is on the brain, so release it then. Likewise for Super Mario Galaxy. Why are there so many shooters on the VC? How many shooters came out and sold like hotcakes on the 360? They must be popular right now! RPGs are a relatively dangerous proposition, because I could be busy with one that I spent eight bucks on for a long time and ignore the rest. And it isn't holiday season anymore and Nintendo (thank goodness) has in fact discharged most of its most-celebrated software. Though again, this is a smart move, while the VC is fresh on people's minds.
And what would surely happen if Nintendo (whether they are able or not) actually did release the entire library of games on all these consoles at once? Most of us oldsters who knew how to pick the old ones would fish for the titles we knew were the best, sites couldn't re-review them individually like they do (it would take forever), and people who are new to the old stuff would have little idea where to start buying. I for one probably thought twice about some of the games I've purchased if this were the case, though I don't especially regret any that I've gotten.
I guess a couple upshots are that the trickle does get us (1) playing the same games at the same time and therefore on the same page about how we're going old-school and (2) yes indeed, it is directing people's attention toward titles they may have overlooked.
To restate my point, I firmly believe it's good to complain to let Nintendo what we really want. Only once (as far as I know, in the United States) did Nintendo release just ONE title in a week and this made people absolutely nuts, and Nintendo hasn't done it since. Whether we're "crybabies" or Nintendo is truly out to get us isn't the point. The point is, Nintendo is doing what businesses do--making money. And we're doing what consumers do: make feedback loud and clear; crybabies are good for both sides. Because of my aforementioned points (most of which I don't see room for dispute, unless someone knows something I don't), I find some of the jerking around withholding stuff I've already played and can't wait to drop five to twelve bucks to download--most of these are cheaper to track down used, but the VC is convenient and the emulations are mostly (suitably) superb--feels like a mild case of insult to wallet-nuking injury, though overall I'm elated at the chance to play some old, obscure stuff like Lords of Thunder. I understand why Nintendo is doing things for business reasons, but if we play dead we just aren't going to get what's good for us AND Nintendo (read: our continued business). Some of us hate this, and it's good that Nintendo hears about the fact.
Again, the ESRB thing is, I'm pretty sure, proof that Nintendo is in fact sitting on finished re-releases.
Jon: that's the spirit. I'd join.
bacchus: excellent point about the SF2 point. It's impossible to deny what Nintendo was going on there: first the lesser versions to try people's patience and then the better ones later.
Re: Super Metroid
DO NOT MISS SUPER METROID. This is my favorite SNES game, and probably my favorite VC title of the sixty or so I've downloaded.
I don't know how to give this game the praise it deserves: Level design, atmosphere, art design, music, boss fights, power-up placements . . . this game doesn't miss a beat, ever; it starts and ends with a bang, with every piece so perfectly-crafted that 2-D gaming. It's two predecessors laid some basic groundwork for this type of interconnected level-design, but the ambition level is through the roof here--I dare say the presentation is the tightest and most atmospheric ever developed by Nintendo (though in my opinion Super Mario Galaxy comes closest . . . and no, I'm not forgetting ANY of the Zelda titles), and coupled with said company's talent for setting the bar for fantastic game design, and we have something absolutely extraordinary. This is as close to perfect as electronic gaming gets. This is NOT to be ignored by anyone who plays games, period. 5/5
Eh, should I rank the Metroids? I actually sat down and decided to rank my top 20 games or so (out of between three or four hundred I've played). Metroid Prime was number 3, and this was number six. I actually feel that MP had absolutely the greatest level design in a 3-D game to this day, and even edges out Super Metroid in this area (though it falters in music). Regardless, I feel that MP and Super Metroid both are head and shoulders above all the other games in the series to the point that I don't care too much about comparing the rest, but here goes anyway:
1. Metroid Prime
2. Super Metroid
3. Metroid (1)
4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
5. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
6. Metroid Fusion
7. Metroid 2: Return of Samus
Re: ActRaiser
This is a tough one to critique. Platformer+God-sim is pretty much the craziest proposition I've ever seen on paper, but the two really succeed in complimenting each other, as the fruits of your God-sim successes carry over to the platforming bits and that crazy last battle(s). The mechanics of the platforming aren't all that ambitious, and the God-sim portions are likewise rather simple, though the aesthetic appeal is certainly there and the writing is nothing if not charming. In short, I can't think of a better example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and what we have, as a result, is a unique and soundly-executed package. 4/5
Re: Super Castlevania IV
Trivia: This game was made by the team later to be known as "Treasure" before it broke off from Konami.
I can't believe almost every 2-D Castlevania after this still had us using up-plus-attack to use a subweapon. I mean, in this game, hit the R-button and you'll throw a weapon while crouching, staying STILL on those freaking stairs (like, without accidentally ascending them).
Castlevania IV eschews the ambitions of its (also awesome) predecessor, such as multiple paths, endings, and companions, keeping things kind of straightforward and therefore fantastically polished, though it succeeds in being a spectacle of style and substance--the music and art direction really make things come to life as an "experience" as much as a game, with each level loaded with lots of character and feeling like separate romps through folklore and mythology, though remaining cohesive. It's also worth noting that Super Castlevania IV arguably sports the best-balanced difficulty of the entire series, knowing precisely the balance between challenge and frustration, well-placed checkpoints, and smooth rise of difficulty . . . although maybe Dracula is a little too easy here.
Altogether, to me this game is bliss from start to finish. Not to be missed.
Re: The Dynastic Hero
I actually downloaded both versions and prefer this one--in general I hate that tinny noise the Genesis (Megadrive) calls "music" (though some developers have managed to get some good sound out of it somehow). I've heard lots of people say the Turbo CD's music "doesn't fit the game at all at times," and in one or two cases I tend to agree, but in general the CD-quality soundtrack is a huge plus as far as I'm concerned with some--I dare say it--sublime stuff. Otherwise, the resolution is a lot higher in this version (you'll really appreciate this on a larger screen) which is really nice also. And hey, if you're using a Classic Controller, you have those two rapid-fire buttons that will make you the fastest sword-swinger ever.
Beyond comparisons, I enjoyed this game. It's kind of low-key, and sometimes its exploration elements and item fetching don't feel completely well-conceived (I didn't bother taking very much time finding some previously-inaccessible item pickups), along with some repetitive level design, but I give this game a big thumbs-up for a highly-pleasant gaming experience with, in my opinion, enhanced presentation thanks to the CD format. 4/5
. . .
Okay, the Turbo CD's armor is just stupid.
Re: Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
I think something needs to be cleared up about this version--it has a different engine than SF2Turbo, and most serious fans prefer the previous version; this is why many were bummed about the Street Fighter Collection for PS2 and Xbox, as you were stuck competing on the most recent, less-favored engine for SF2. I'm not the biggest fan of SF2 (or fighting games in general) in the world, but I do appreciate the difference and likewise believe Turbo's engine and "feel" are superior. I am somewhat at a loss to articulate further, except to add, perhaps, "more responsive" to my feelings toward SF2Turbo. SSF2's engine is definitely MUCH prettier, and it doesn't hurt to own both versions and compare them for one's own preference (though I really can't imagine someone who feels the difference giving the nod to SSF2), but I strongly recommend against SSF2 ahead of SF2Turbo. 3/5
Re: Ninja Spirit
I thought this game was just great--beat it, for the first time on the VC. No, it's not terribly complicated, with your character having exactly the moves and power-ups he needs to get through the (annoyingly) endless waves of enemies. Slashing the crap out of enemies with your powered up sword with your two doppelgangers (sp?) just feels absolutely awesome, plus twists of some stages involving leaps between floor and ceiling. I also thought the difficult was balanced very well! Except for that ridiculous final sequence of trying to fall between ninjas going upward, requiring memorization (yay for unlimited continues). Sure, it feels kinda primitive but astonishingly well-executed, epic action. A 2-D gaming masterpiece not to be missed.
Epic masterpiece! It's one of my top 5 Turbo-16/Duo games period, which are (I have 18):
Ys Book I & II
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Gate of Thunder
Lords of Thunder
Ninja Spirit
Re: Mega Man 2
This is my single favorite game of all time. I can remember the order I first beat the eight bosses. The stage select concept, along with acquiring the boss's weapon, was what made Mega Man stand out. In this one, the level design, music, and even that cool intro altogether made MM2 absolute magic. Brings tears to my eyes.
MM2>MM3>MM1>MM8
MMX>MMX4>MMX2>MMX3
IMHO.
Re: Paper Mario
Maybe it's my loss, but I couldn't get into this game though I stuck it out to the end. Long before it released it was dubbed "Super Mario RPG 2," which got me excited. But compared to the superlative Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario plays like a baby game with the most incredibly simple battle system I've ever seen in an RPG to the point of feeling like you're trading punches (attacks) with practically no room for genuine strategy. The visual style was all right to me, even if--completely unlike Super Mario RPG--it is extremely light on taking any chances, innovations, or creativity with the Mario universe that we've seen/experienced a thousand times already. (On a sidenote, I felt Nintendo trying to redeem this particular fault with some new stuff in "Mario and Luigi")
On the other hand, I guess the game is nice and low-key, and the easy accessibility and family-friendly atmosphere can feel like a breath of fresh air these days (isn't pretty much every high-profile title M-rated these days? Sheesh). But it's sheer lack of ambition almost breaks it in many aspects in my opinion (the pedestrian story, locations, and battle system).
Points for charm, low-intensity (though consequently kind of boring) stuff. It's not bad--especially for ten bucks--and I actually still strongly recommend it especially because games (or media in general, for that matter) with such innocence seem to come so seldom in recent times, but I do believe Mario's career as an RPG character have seen better times. 4/5
Re: Punch-Out!!
I BEAT MIKE TYSON!!!!
.....
Who is not in this version. But still, it's classic stuff. I think little mac should be in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, don't you?
Re: Harvest Moon
Would you recommend this to someone who played and ended up disliking Animal Crossing? I actually liked the low-key nature of the game, and it had some nice charm to it, but I hated the real-time be-there-at-seven -on-[x-date] -in-REAL-LIFE stuff --something is wrong when my entertainment starts giving ME a schedule about when I play games, IMHO
Re: Super Mario 64
. . . Actually, I think I noticed that the framerate is not as smooth on this version as it used to be.
Though I'd still tell someone who hasn't played Mario 64 to download immediately, of course!
Re: Ys Book I & II
I've wanted this one forever. Just about every other T-16 game has come out, so they're almost out of options before they let out what I almost universally hear is the best Turbo-16/Duo game, period.
Sheesh. Just let it release already. I promise that, uh, really bad thing you *think* is going to happen won't if you just do it, Hudson!
Re: Lords of Thunder
Didn't a Sega CD version come out also, and was it better?