CowLaunch

hmmm, never played a Rayman game before, love 3D platformers, and Super Mario is some way off. Could well be perfect for me.

The Darling Boobs of May?

Quite disappointed by lack of online multiplayer and difficult levels. Probably the only launch title that would have persuaded me to buy a 3DS at launch. I'll save some money I guess.

More reviews!

Don't really get the big deal about the master quest, but it certainly isn't an unwelcome addition though.

@Tasuki
Even though it's currently not a conflict of interest, Microsoft could stop Rare from making 3DS games if they wanted, as they own them right?

I mean it's not a direct conflict, but any money Nintendo make in whatever sphere does help them generally in regards to their efforts to compete with other companies.

Thanks for the info.

Can anyone tell me what the exact arrangement is between Rare and Microsoft, and between Rare and Nintendo regarding making handheld software?

I think the talk of the possibility of this title being on 3DS illustrates the point I made in the recent feature about Rare. Surely the 3DS is capable of having a fully 3D Banjo game with decent graphics? Is there a need then for them to rejoin Nintendo?

I don't see much reason for Rare to come back to Nintendo home console development, most games I'd like to see from them I think could be achieved on the 3DS, if they could be achieved at all.

Joining Microsoft seemed odd to me at the time, I thought they'd do much better simply being a multi-platform developer.

They seem to have made some pretty stupid decisons since leaving Nintendo. Why turn one of the best platforming series into a racer on a system already with an abundance of good racers?

I don't think we'll ever see games that are special from Rare like Donkey Kong Country 2 or Conker's Bad Fur Day again, on 3DS or Wii. Whereas Nintendo have Miyamoto (and others I presume) working behind projects providing a certain level of continuity whilst allowing new ideas to develop, this doesn't seem apparent at Rare. At least in the experience of playing their games, I don't know their staff demographic exactly.

It's gone, we have to move on.

I got this game because I wanted the SNES versions of all the Super Mario Bros. I had a vague hope that it might be worth something one day, but it's not my pension plan.

Pokemon Snap had added feature to send pictures, that wasn't absolutely necessary.

@23
Exactly, Gamecube was one of Nintendo's weaker consoles commercially.

I'm not too bothered, won't be getting a 3DS at launch priced $250 anyhow.

Events in old and new Amsterdam I see.

1) Can it outrun the flash?
2) Can Superman outrun the flash?

If anybody buys me this game I'm going to return to cinder.

Just looking at Kid Icarus footage, no way that's Wii level graphics, it's better than N64, but there's loads of jagged edges and a little fogging,I'd place it between N64 and GameCube, although admittedly I haven't seen it in 3D.

Not buying at launch, I'll wait for a bundle package or something.

His running doesn't look weird to me, now I'm worried that my running is weird...

I'm not that bothered, I want a more powerful handheld that can play better games, the 3D is an enhancement for certain games for me.

I don't play Wii for the motion controls, I play it because it has good games. Some utilise it very well, like the Mario Galaxies, others, like Smash Bros. don't, it's not an issue, I choose not to use motion controls in quite a few games.

And on the 3DS the option to not use the 3D effect is easier than changing controls on Wii, so not an issue.

Personally, I don't think 3DS will be as successful as DS, but I certainly don't think it'll flop like the Virtual Boy. I see it as a nice bonus, but I do find this 'new' (I use the word advisedly as of course it isn't exactly new) trend for 3D slightly bewildering. I'll be glad to buy the next Nintendo handheld which has a 3D option, but I'm in no rush to get a 3D TV or anything.

It's a myth, like the whole smoking thing.

Looks promising, but I hope they change the name.

I like the fire pig's nose!

Got it for xmas, and actually liked the booklet. Enjoyed playing the SNES versions of the games again, but there is something quite galling about starting up the game and seeing '1993' underneath the title screen.

Saw a tagline for it that said "Rediscover a lifetime's worth of entertainment" which was a bit much for me. The games don't span Mario's lifetime and for most fortunate people a life is longer than 8 years (1985,SMB-1993,SMAS).

Upon reflection also, the argument that adding a game like SM64 on the disc would have cost Nintendo a huge amount of money is a little spurious as there are limited copies of the anniversary edition, and could have been as limited as Nintendo wanted it to be, if they were concerned about profits. Anyway, the kind of fans who would probably buy this package regardless of the price probably have at least 2 copies of SM64 already, I know I do!

I think part of the logic is that it's the 25h anniversary of Super Mario Bros., not Mario Bros. or Mario's first appearance. This collection has all the Super Mario Bros. games on it.

I agree with the sentiment that a game should be judged for what it is, not for what it isn't, but there is something inescapably tacky about just repackaging a game released over a decade ago.

As the graphics are not even updated it should have just been released on VC.

I loved this game, some of the levels (especially the city ones) were really good and some bosses were better than than the DKC ones I reckon. I also liked the save system, gave the game added challenge.

DKL is pretty much its own game as the reviewer suggests, DKL2 is virtually a port of DKC2, and DKL3 is kind of halfway between the two.

Even if you want a portable version of DKC2 you might as well get the GBA port or wait for a possible download rather than get DKL2.

hmmm, I had hoped that the two were getting closer to being in the same game, so you'd select a level on a 2D SMB3 style map, and some would be 2D, and some 3D. I guess that doesn't make much business sense, but I'd like to see it happen.

10! Wow, getting this!

I think they should mainly focus on demos in stores, enough people casually wander through them these days, it's not as imtimidating for a 'normal' person to go to a game store as it may have been a couple of decades ago.

Wow!

I liked Puppy Love & loved the carnival level

I would pay a lot of money for this

@Chicken Brutus
I don't use the word hero very often, but you, are the greatest hero, in videogame history.

I like the idea as an extra to the main game once you've completed it, nothing more.

About right. I felt this game had far less stylistic consistancy & integrity than the original. But as Kaes says, still a decent platformer.

I wonder if you have to hide in a fridge to avoid nuclear obliteration in the game.

I want that K.K!

@missing_no
When did you last play Yoshi's Island?
I can't help thinking many people have seen the colourful graphics & lazily assumed it's as easy as a Kirby game.

I'd say Galaxy & Island are roughly the same in difficulty, easy to finish but tricky to complete, & that's all I really ask for in a Mario game.

A good thing about Yoshi's Island is that it doesn't artificially extend the game by asking you to complete it again with a mildly different character.

I'm not saying you can't judge a Mario game according to it's difficulty, but I just think it's silly to do so, or at least on this alone, for if you say Yoshi's Island isn't a very good game because it's too easy & yet adequate in other respects, it's my opinion that you must also discount SMW & SM64 for the same reason. Again, this seems to me absurd as the above mentioned are 2 of the best games ever made in my opinion. If your not an avid Mario fan, you could argue that Yoshi's Island doesn't offer enough challenge compared to Super Metroid or Mega Man, but if you're a fan of the Mario series to discount Yoshi's Island on this basis seems bizarre to me.

It may be too easy, but I can't see how anyone could view it as easier than Super Mario World. SMW is pathetically easy, to complete the game 100% is easy, and to just beat Bowser is peversely easy to accomplish. To judge a Mario game (against others in the series) on how difficult it is seems a little odd to me in the first place. The series hasn't been difficult since the NES (save SML). Super Mario 64 anyone? Easy but still a masterpiece.

Yoshi's Island isn't up there with the likes of Ocarina though, 9/10 is fair.

And now I rest.

Yoshi's Story is fun.

Super easy?! I grant you it's not Mega Man, but it's far more difficult to finish than Super Mario World and it's more difficult to get 100% in Yoshi's Island than it is to finish Super Mario Bros. 3. Just because it has cute bosses and colourful graphics doesn't mean its easy. Anyone who thinks that should try to get 100% on all the secret levels and then compare it to other Mario platformers. Super easy indeed...

Even for Pokemon this seems weird.

@Adam
If you say 100% you're setting yourself up for criticism. Kind of see what you're saying though, slightly odd statement to come out with.

@Smileoscar
I hope it's a little more like 64, they might give you quite a wide area to explore whilst riding Yoshi.

Super Mario Galaxy 1.5? Sounds a little like Lost Levels. I hope Galaxy 2 is just as challenging.

Penguins are the way forward.

Life of Brian is much better than Holy Grail (still good though).

@Chicken Brutus
That's my favourite bit from anything, ever.

Back to Scientology for me then.

The important thing is that it's a fun game. Nothing else matters.
Sorry.

A bit rich for my blood. Well, at least Princess Ruto wasn't involved. Or for that matter Tingle...

This is the only racing game I've played that has short cuts that actually lengthen your race.

Cool.