@Starboy91 Yep, for Wild Guns think of Cabal, Blood Bros. and the Neo Geo game NAM-1975 and you are on the right track. It has robotic cowboys and simply giant robots, massive bosses, destructible backgrounds, two player co-op and versus (on the bonus levels) with two characters, Clint and Annie. It was decent looking as well. However, it was criticised back in the day and I'll quote Super Play magazine on this: "But it has one fault; you can't use a mouse with it. For a game with a moveable target, this is a glaring omission." (Issue 24, Oct 1994). I don't know of that many games which used the SNES mouse, though it might be surprising!
@Sean_Aaron Ha, ha, good call on TAD's 1990 arcade Blood Bros., it was completely nuts! It did not just have Wild West trains, there were biplanes and zeppelins in it, too. It had a cool level set to a waterfall backdrop and featured full on destructible scenery, on one level you could take down entire mountains. The end of each sub-level little ditty tune still sticks in my head!
Aha, the fabled MSX eh! I have read plenty about it in retro magazines, but never seen one in the flesh. It is great news that its games are available on the Japanese Virtual Console. From the screenshots, the visuals look completely nifty for an 8-bit system in '89, I like Sean's Imperial shuttle comparison and from what has been mentioned by @Starboy91, the mix of vertical and horizontal scrolling sections sounds a bit like Konami's Salamander/Life Force. **** Edit: Doh! I think that I may have got myself confused here, the vertical sections must still be presented from the side-on view, but as Sean says they "are traversed both horizontally and vertically". I was thinking that it may include top-down sections, too! **** I would definitely check out MSX games if they headed to the US Virtual Console, particularly as it is a retro gaming machine that I know almost nothing about. Yet again one of Sean's reviews has led me to cross my fingers in hope! An excellent, informative review, Sean.
@JJ I have just booted Mega Drive/Genesis Sunset Riders again for a quick blast, you know lots about each version already, but this will give you some extra pointers specific to the MD/Gen, to help you decide:
There is no longer the arcade/SNES intro sequence.
Colours are generally less bright than the SNES version, with goofier main sprites, it is nicely detailed, though. It is a shame that the MD/Gen title has that ugly black bar at the top of the screen, creating a border and squeezing the graphics, to show the number of lives remaining and how many dollars you have earned.
Gameplay is a complete mix-tape of Arcade and SNES versions, bosses are in a different order, set-pieces are similar, like the train top sequence, but they have still been altered.
Excellent music is still present, but in a different sequence and I think that the MD/Gen may have its own specific tunes(?). There is no boss speech, only comic book style speech bubbles.
Levels are longer and are split into two parts now, the first is a save the "Help Me!" girl and the second part is hunting down the boss for the bounty. The MD/Gen version has less bosses.
Animations for characters being flattened and burnt to ash have returned, the bar girls are back in the doorways and Chief Wigwam's (now retitled and poorly spelt as Chief Scalpen) cliff top rope lifts & tribe are back.
MD/Gen has a new bonus sequence in which you chase and catch coins/1up lives thrown by girl out the back of a stage coach.
Only two selectable characters, now called Billy Cool and Cormano Wild.
You are no longer sent to the very start of the stage when you lose all of your lives, although this does not make the MD/Gen version an easy game, this version still throws a lot at you!
If I was forced to choose between the two Sunset Riders conversions, I would go for the SNES game. I would treat the MD/Gen version like Sega's console release of Golden Axe 2, in that it is more fun as a side-addition to the original, once you have already played the arcade conversion through. There is still lots of fun to be found in the MD/Gen adaption though, plus loads more kissing! There has not really been a poor Sunset Riders game.
As @Orgone mentioned, Arcade Sunset Riders is also a superb game and would be a brilliant inclusion on Virtual Console Arcade, although Konami have not released any of their Arcade games in the West yet, I am not sure about Japan. Below is a list of some of the details which the Arcade game features, which the SNES does not:
4 player co-op.
A manoeuvre whilst riding your horse, in which you can lean down low on it, to avoid bullets.
More clear speech.
Loads more enemy sprites.
Massive, nicer looking explosions, including a superb eruptive blast during level two when you blow up the stage coach, although the SNES mode 7 style explosions are still cool.
On screen prompts for joystick and button controls.
Booze and tavern girl kissing doorway power-ups and female bandit enemies.
Slightly longer levels.
More wacky character animations when your character steps on a pitch fork, is flattened by a barrel, or is burnt to ashes by flames.
Stage one has animated horses in its background.
Native American enemies are on level six, as well as a wicker basket lift which carries your characters down the mountain.
A section in which your horse gallops through the river on level seven, splashing water as it leaps.
The final level's fort collapses under explosions more convincingly, you get to use a gattling gun to blow up fences and this level also has a huge water wheel which takes you upwards, through the stage.
You get the idea, it is mostly visual differences, the Arcade is more detailed, but the SNES still does a fine job of replicating the gameplay from the Arcade game.
I wonder if Sean will be adding WiiWare Phalanx, and its bargain priced facelift, to his list of Japanese import game reviews? I hope so, his import Virtual Console Chotetsu Brikin'ger review was brilliant!
I am a bit of a dullard regarding this one, what with Mega Man 9 nailing the 8-bit NES look, I was kinda hoping that with Mega Man 10 Capcom would take a souped up, 'Konami ReBirth' style, 16-bit approach to its visuals. That is predominantly because most of my retro nostalia harks back to 16-bit design. I understand that the roots of these titles are in the NES era, therefore this is still a retro treat from Capcom.
Oh yeah, Retro GT does have a 'Red' option for its Space Harrier tee, I simply had to search under the main 'White' version of the shirt, my order has been placed now.... and yep, I would happily wear a NLife T Shirt, too.
Nice interview @Damo, it is good to see Retro GT get some NLife attention, I have noticed their products in the back of Retro Gamer magazine. I like the way in which they are keen to represent a few of the less known games, I would happily walk around Birkenhead in a Space Harrier tee or displaying a SNES, or Mega Drive pad. I am looking for a red T Shirt for Christmas Day clobber, it is just my luck that the Space Harrier design is available in loads of colour, but red! (Black, Navy Blue, Brown. Olive, DarkGrey). Perhaps I should go for a red Ryu Shoryuken T-Shirt instead.
Cheers for the response @Damo and @Sean_Aaron, if Sean keeps on educating me about all of the goodies exclusive to the Japanese Virtual Console, then saving my pennies for a Japanese Wii will become a serious proposition. The new focus on import titles is a superb addition to Nintendo Life, there has always been top-class Virtual Console coverage here and this addition differentiates NLife further from other sites. An inspired inclusion, great work Sean.
Woo hoo, I've been looking forward to this review, welcome to Virtual Console, Neo Geo CD! I did not even realise that the Neo Geo was rendering so much of it in 3D, I thought they were just cleverly shaded sprites, it sounds as if Saurus pushed the Neo Geo hardware with this one. Obviously it is not from an isometric position, but does it takes a similar graphical approach to the bosses and craft as Viewpoint? I defo like shooters which incorporate the R-Type option ball, Last Resort had one, too. This game typifies why the Virtual Console is so special, rare retro treats made accessible for modern gamers. Please, please, please fly Chotetsu Brikin'ger to the West, SNK . I want to be tapping buttons to this one like Hudson's Takahashi Meijin. Brilliant review, Sean.
@Quint Ha, ha, yep my memory is freakin' amazing, read on and I can even directly quote the mag, demonstrating the role of this game as one of the last high profiles SNES releases in Dec 1996, at the end of the SNES's lifespan and before the N64 was released: "At one stage, certain people were predicting a miserable Christmas for Nintendoids across the UK. Pah! How wrong could they be...?" See, jaw-dropping recall, with a memory like that I should rule the world... what day is it today? ...Nah, my comment has poor sentence grammar to blame more than anything else. I do remember the mag, partly from nostalgic memories, but largely because I have it right here in front of me (doh!). It is a bit weathered now, I am always flicking through some old copy of a retro magazine, like Super Play, or C&VG. Reading the retro mags takes me back to the '90s, just as much as slotting a well played cart into a yellowed SNES.
I am such a divvy! When I clicked on the link from Nintendo Life's tweet I was all excited about the possibility of a new WiiWare edition of Irem's 1990 coin-op Hammerin' Harry. Doh, silly me!
PS3 BlazBlue has been well received for being pretty darn awesome for a current gen, 2D perspective, one-on-one fighting game. There is not much information for me to be overly critical of this, but compared to its excellent PS3 'big daddy', this free-roaming battle game sounds kind of... meh!
Fair play to the SNES it was a proper li'l trooper, straining its hardware powers to land one last dragon punch on those 32-bit upstart punks! It did a decent job of Street Fighter Alpha 2, which was a stunning achievement under the circumstances, I remember it achieving the cover of issue 52 of the UK magazine 'Nintendo Magazine System', with a 90% review in January 1997 (pages 18 to 24). Just to put some perspective on that, the very same issue had extensive plays of the N64 games Killer Instinct Gold and Mortal Kombat Trilogy. The responsive controls and balanced characters were what mattered for the gameplay, excellent review @Corbie
Superb review Andrew, I love this series, from N64 to GCN, they are all great. I agree those medals are tough, but all the more rewarding, like a Star Wars gaming Olympics, the Gold is often out of reach. The good ole expansion pak, crammed the detail into this one and it was appreciated back in the day. Good point about the mission select screens too, they were properly cool. Nice one.
@LEGEND_MARIOID That is cool, we all make typos mate, I recently submitted a sentence in a review which stated that N64 Super Mario 64 was released in 2006! Remember that awesome N64 Mario game, it was only released three years ago and it had all those additions like the yellow cape, spherical planet gravity, hovering with the water pack, raccoon suit and where you pluck out the vegetables? Nah, it was just me not noticing that I had typed 2006 instead of 1996. We all make typos, 'cause we're all human, except sometimes when I pick up a controller I am a red and white trainer sporting, blue spiky hedgehog!
Doh, I have not even bought Phantom Hourglass yet, so this is a great review for me, with loads of depth, which is just what I need to decide which one to buy first. This is particularly with you saying "it’s almost the same game that they got so right last time". I know that the comparison with its DS predecessor is a compliment in many ways, but I think I will wait for a bit before buying it and perhaps get Phantom Hourglass on the cheap first. I like the train engineer story, it is a shame that fixed routes has meant that the spirit of the adventure has been lost a little with the change in transport, but the idea of more complex puzzles as a result of controlling both Link and the Phantom is promising. Ever since Super Mario 64 any Nintendo game that includes catching rabbits is likely to get my nostalgic juices flowing, too. Link and Princess Zelda would be handy to add power to the spirit tracks of my local Liverpool underground loop. Cheers @Prosody
Yep, I agree with all of the above, both Viewtiful Joe GameCube games were massively inventive for the side-scrolling 2D beat 'em up genre and yep indeedy I sucked at both of them, but still embraced that the game chose to humble me with its rock hard bosses. I am not too worried about the PSP Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble or DS Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble!, if Kamiya is saying "that story is incomplete so I'd like to finish it someday", that suggests the third game will follow the GameCube versions. Fingers crossed. A great bit of news this, cheers Jamie.
@Sean_Aaron No worries at all bud, I've noticed that your writing style is exactly what I look for in a gaming review, you are obviously a nut for retro genres and you take that perspective to concentrate on the details, which I appreciate. Three words and two hypens and with "bullet hell cute-em-up", I am already sold on Ilvelo. I headed to you tube and found a super vibrant cel-shaded shooter with a completely wacky art style, I like the busy colourful backgrounds with lego pieces, pencil crayons and huge bunnys. Nice!
Thanks Sean, your review has laid it all out for me and it definitely belongs in my collection. I am up for buying it to support Milestone's dedication to the genre, your opening paragraph is a great hats off to the type of company that earns my respect. I am going to import this for sure, I like the idea of a cel shaded shooter, but I may have to wait until after Christmas. Great review, mate. @LEGEND_MARIOID Just to let you know, unfortunately this one is not available for your DS, this 3 game compilation is for the Wii if you think that you may be more tempted in playing it more on a bigger screen. However, it is not available in the UK at the moment, so you would need an imported Wii console and copy of the game to play it.
Perhaps I should have given Sonic 3 more time, of all the 2D Sonic games, I play Sonic 2 the most. I've got to be honest, Sonic is great, but Super Mario World beats all of the 2D Sonics from where I'm sitting, my vote is for SMW. ***** Edit: Doh! SMW is not my vote for Game of the Year, it is my pick for Sonic 3 Vs Super Mario World. I've tweeted a possible WiiWare choice, but I picked Contra ReBirth, because I am a retro 'run and gun' dork! Thanks for the podcast James, Tom and Kim. *****
I think that there is value in reviewing these games, as @Machu mentioned there might be a younger gamer in your family who would head straight to this type of title as an instant purchase, in the same way that I am going to gravitate towards Sin and Punishment: Successor to the Sky. Reading these reviews on NLife helps me to separate the wheat from the chaff for my nieces and nephews. With SEGA publishing it and as Jamie said Pyro Studios behind it, there was a chance that it could have turned out half-decent. The money and work that goes into these computer generated animated movies is substantial, the boundarys between next gen consoles and animated movie visuals are closing in, so perhaps all of that visual design work will translate to a decent console game one day. Maybe!
Great work on your first review @Giggsy. My girlfriend is eager to see this one on the pictures, I hope that it turns out to be a bit better than this Wii game. Nice one, mate.
Like The Fox says, anyone who has played this knows that all of the atmosphere would be lost if they had to remove the soundtrack. Just like Corbie said, I guess that because this viewpoint for racing games is completely old school, some people may find that they need to adjust to the controls, but I found it as smooth as silk for gamers who have played lots of other isometric racers. Anyways I bought my Air Blade, raced to victory and I scored many a first place knockout. Now I need to head to bed, after all... "Jamie is in another time zone".
It is 1.40am here in the UK and Corbie has inspired me to boot up Rock & Roll Racing, I just hope that I don't wake my girlfriend up with that funky Blues Brothers bass line. I've picked Ivanzypher because he looks like Chewbacca. No need for bed, I can hear Larry calling... "Let the carnage begin!" *** Doh, I didn't mean to rip offTheLonelyGamer's use of a quote, I was typing it before I had read his post. I best get back to it, "Ivan is about to blow!" ***
There is greatness held in the previous two comments. First off, Croz winning an Earthworm Jim figure on a TV show is cool, is it rare and valuable to collectors today? Secondly, StarBoy91's use of the word nomenclatures is awesome. I have written it down as my word of the day, for tomorrow. Great stuff.
I have not played this one yet, I did not even know that there was an isometric shoot 'em up in it, although from Drake's description it sounds like that section is snot much fun (oh dear!). I can understand why developers attempt to add variety to a game, by including sections which stray from the core gameplay genre, but it is a shame when their ambition misses the mark. It sounds as though Shiny had the core platforming and shooting set-up nailed, but did not maintain that quality with the inclusion of more wayward gaming styles. This is a bit off topic and may sound a bit Star Wars obsessive, but when Factor 5 followed GameCube Rogue Leader with Rebel Strike, they also strayed too far from their core 'ship shooting' gameplay with weak third person sections. It all sounded so promising in on paper and in previews, but the disparate game styles simply did not gel. I am not going to rule Earthworm Jim 2 out completely, but I will treat it with a bit more caution now. Cheers Drake.
Regarding the Ultimate Shooting Collection most of my decision to purchase will be based upon how well Karous and Radio Allergy are received in Sean's forthcoming review. I already have Chaos Field for the GameCube, you see.
@Mickeymac Man, a collection of all of these old Technōs arcade and console games would be brilliant. Just imagine Karate Champ, Renegade, the Double Dragon series, River City Ransom games, arcade Combatribes, plus throw in some Super Dodge Ball titles and grab the WWF Licences for WWF Superstars and WWF Wrestlefest and retro gamers would be laughing (yeah right, I'm spouting rubbish there, like they would be able to obtain the WWF license, doh!). Unfortunately, I am certain that there has never been a compilation of old Technōs Japan titles on previous consoles and I am not sure how the licensing would work for one to be released today. Obviously Aksys Games have published this and I know that Technōs were in with SNK when the Neo Geo one-on-one fighter Double Dragon was released in 1995. Ballistic also did an accurate conversion of the Double Dragon arcade game for the Mega Drive, so who knows a deal may be able to be put into place to compile all these games on one disc. Aksys have also released other Technōs games on Virtual Console, including the NES titles: Double Dragon, Renegade and River City Ransom, so if anyone with decision making powers over Technōs back catalogue are reading this, then "make it so". Perhaps someone at Aksys is listening, it would be well good if Mickeymac sparked the idead for a great compilation of these rare games.
Ah well, at least there are some decent tunes in this one, I was not expecting much from it, I do not remember it getting much praise even on its original SNES release. The smaller areas sound a bit like Technos were taking this back to the roots of their 1986 arcade game Renegade. Cheers for the review Corbie, I will be giving The Combatribes a miss.
@Sean_Aaron I will wait for your Ultimate Shooting Collection review to see if it is worth importing, I can get it for about £26. I think that it is great that these games get a full boxed/ disc release and are not confined to being downloadable games on XBLA or PSN. I wonder if SNK Playmore will ever bring King of Fighters: Sky Stage to Wii? I would buy it, especially if it was a disc release. I do love the accessibility of digital downloads, but I am becoming increasingly attracted to collecting boxes on shelves, I have this niggling feeling that tangible formats may become obsolete in the next ten years.
I'm a happy European, 'cause like @Zammy I also have an import US Wii. I've had Castle of Shikigami III for a while, but I am such a bullet hell rookie, that I "lar-dee-dar" my way through short blasts of this one without displaying any real skill or understanding of the specifics of this genre. I was able to get into the colour mechanics of Ikaruga, because the system was so clearly presented, but other bullet hell games have eluded me a bit. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I often play them with unlimited credits, simply as a sweet little tour of explosive 2D visuals. This review is just what I needed, as a bit of a kick up the backside, so if it is one of the easier bullet hell shooters, I may use this game as a training ground to practise the basic skills. I think I will read the third paragraph over and over to get my head around the "High Tension Max" or "Shikigami Attack" and I will head off to play it and consciously graze bullets for the "Tension Bonus System" to gain those stronger attacks. This is a great read Sean, cheers for the education. Are you having a bit of a shooter marathon at the moment?
I have never played Stunt Race FX, I have always wanted to, I liked the look of it in magazines when it was first released. I was chuffed when the screenshots appeared on Nintendo Life, I had my fingers crossed that a review would be on the way. I'm glad that it has survived the test of time, the colour packed "stylised blocky" design means that it has kept its own charm even during these lavish 3D times. I particularly want to race through the underwater tunnel track and the Sky Ramp course sounds fun and imaginative, as I like the Sky Garden level on GBA Mario Kart Super Circuit. The quality of the track design is really important, so I'm pleased that Dave praises this aspect of it, the mastery of FreeTrax courses may just swallow my spare time just like with SNES Super Mario Kart time trials, I'll download this straight away if it hits Virtual Console. A quality SNES pick and a great review, Dave. @maka I had heaps of fun playing Amiga Stunt Car Racer, as well. I never got the chance to link computers for multiplayer though, which is a shame.
Wow, there are lots of SOTE fans here, its is good to see them defending this title. There are loads of good points in this comments board, for example from @Sabrewing and @roro44's comments it is clear that the first person view deserved more time. I did play the game from that viewpoint, but it did not gel with me, I found it more natural in the third person, as I was able to see Dash's actual physical position and footing placement. Note @roro44 that whilst the review does not mention Wampas, it does mention the Challenge Points (last paragraph before conclusion) and the variety of weapons (sixth paragraph down). Regarding control, @Bulbasaurus_Rex, a GCN controller will not change the third person dynamics dramatically, it was a launch game, so animations are quite stiff and the movement is fairly clunky. I have completed SOTE three times in total on separate play-throughs, listen to @theblackdragon, it is worth turning the difficulty up once you have mastered the level layouts on 'easy', but you had better save up those lives on earlier levels.
I agree with @the_shpydar regarding perspective and that its release was during a quiet time for Star Wars in general, it was just as everything was about to pick up with the re-mastered 'Special Edition' original trilogy movies on the cinema in 1997. This downtime in Star Wars releases hyped me up even more for the game when I first played it in '97, which added to the disappointment in the gameplay back then, too. As @dimlylitmonkey mentioned GCN Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader actually lived up to its launch hype and still stood up to comparison with later GCN games, that game proves that a Star Wars launch title can stand the test of time.
A number of the comments seem to be based upon the score, presumably regarding whether it should have received a 7/10. I stand by the 6/10, if a gamer picked up a N64 from a car boot sale today and was scanning Nintendo Life for game reviews as potential cart purchases, I would recommend a number of superior N64 games before SOTE, considering its position in relation to other game scores. Star Wars fans, myself included, will be more forgiving and will enjoy the story and setting. I am not sure if many gamers could ignore its gameplay niggles and award SOTE a score of 8/10, but I do respect the passion and enthusiasm that users hold for it. I would be interested to hear what non-Star Wars fan gamers make of it, simply as an early N64 video game, as it was definitely not my intention to stomp on anyone's memories. It is cool that people are sticking up for an old game that they love, that is pretty much what retro gaming is all about. Cheers everyone.
Dazza has hit the nail on the head in referring to the tight course design, Super Mario Kart is one game in which elements of the track design border on impeccable. Shave seconds off early tracks in time trials, like Donut Plains 1, and it is apparent that you can find perfect lines and drifts. Choose Donkey Kong Jr, to skim the corners and never lose top-speed, from touching the sides in Ghost Valley 1. Through multiplayer with two other mates, we were able to fully learn the timing for speed starts and for each timed jump into a drift corner, the placements of speed boost pads and every feather short-cut. The game is packed with hidden time savers, many are completely risk and reward, you mess them up and you are scuppered, for example Mario Circuit 2 has a cheeky little jump, to bounce pad. There is also an awesome one on Bowser Castle 1 in which you hit a speed strip on the far right, fly towards the brick wall on the far left and time a feather leap across an entire lava section, which separates a rectangular hair-pin portion of track. These are not spoilers, finding them is the easy part, the skill is in regularly pulling them off. Just imagine if SNES Super Mario Kart was online, the multiplayer emphasis is on pure player skill, not "catch-up" , it encourages weapon prowess, not cheap power-ups ("blue shell from hell", ha, ha). Online would make for some amazing races, even if it is never going to happen, it is a nice thought. For the above reasons, like a few of the other comments, SNES Super Mario Kart is without doubt my favourite Mario Kart game, in fact it is actually in the running for my "Best SNES Game Ever". I love this game!!! Cheers @Dazza
Cheers @Drake , a brilliant review and it is equally great to see this appear on Virtual Console, your review has encouraged me to download it this Friday. It is always good to dabble in another Factor 5 16-bit action platformer, because of the JVC/ LucaArts links I did not realise that they developed it... you learn something new every day! Their Super Turrican games are heaps of SNES VC fun, too. Sometimes hindsight is actually more objective that the actual reviews "back in the day". Issue 30 of 'Super Play' slaughtered it with a 29% drilling in April, 1995. They filled an entire comments box with faults and their only positive point stated, "Now, here's a list of all the good things about Indiana Jones the game. It's got Indiana Jones in it". I must admit that I am pretty much sold by the cracking movie license, "Whip-tah!". Perhaps they were just tired of the Super Star Wars style game formula, I can't get enough of it to be honest. Factor 5 must have been busy, Super Turrican 2 was reviewed in the very next issue and fared better with a 84% 'Super Play' score.
Whoa, a superb review and potentially Corbie's Game Of The Year, I've planned to be playing this one on December 25th for a while now, roll on Christmas Day. Good, good times. Cheers @Corbie.
Quite often when a game gets a 9/10 there is lots of user praise regarding how "excellent" the review is, because lets face it, we all love to read about a superb game, that we will buzz from playing. However, oddly enough I quite like reading a 6/10 synopsis, it is almost as though I pay more attention in reading all the text, to weigh up the pluses and minuses. I am the epitome of one of the "true fans of the beat-em-up genre", that "need apply". I think it is a bit of a shame that some gamers deride this one by comparing it to its successors. I am pleased to see lots of positive words from gamers on this review comments board. @Sean_Aaron This is a really excellent review Sean, completely succinct, it covers everything that arcade Ninja Gaiden has to offer, demonstrating that this version differentiates itself slightly by genre from the others in that it is notably a pure "brawler". Reading this review it is clear that it is a fun game, check out the fourth and fifth paragraphs and Sean lays out flashes of awesomeness in a title which is predominantly let down my its unforgiving and cheap coin guzzling roots. Read in the context of your analysis, the 6/10 score is completely fair. Cheers. Perspective and nostalgia are always an issue to take into account when viewing retro games, which is why so many people compare it unfavourably to their NES favourites, but it is this game that fuels my fun-time gaming memories. Arcade Ninja Gaiden was a much stronger start of a franchise, than a game like the original Street Fighter, I have lots of time for this nifty little title.
@Machu I hope the interview went well, mate. Good luck. Regarding the article, if Tecmo are backing VCA with late '80s arcade games, Rygar and Ninja Gaiden, am I completely nuts for having my fingers crossed that they release 1988's horizontal scrolling shooter, Silkworm? I have loads of fond memories of the Amiga port of it, co-op was inventive in that it was split between a jeep and a helicopter, with two different play mechanics. This is probably wishful thinking, I reckon!
@Machu I'm based in Birkenhead, so me and my girlfriend head over to Southport every now and then, mainly during the Summer. I'd be up for a bevvie the next time I was there, it would be cool to meet one of the sound Nintendo Life gamers in person. I reckon we could find an Outrun 2 coin-op for a quick race, too. I'm sure my girlfriend would have a fine time... she just loves gaming! lol.
It is worth addding that as well as the Lynx port, the Amiga received a decent conversion of arcade Ninja Gaiden (Shadow Warriors in Europe). The arcade was tough enough, even with its checkpoints, but the Amiga version sent failing players back to the start of the level. To get the most out of Ninja Gaiden's challenge, make sure you play it alongside a mate, on either arcade or Amiga (... or even the Atari ST).
@BassX0 Snap, mate! I've got loads of good memories of Southport's fairground and its arcades. It was the first place I ever played a 4 player co-op beat 'em up game, with the original TMNT arcade machine. It has obviously all changed now, the video games arcade boom sadly died, although I actually found Namco's Lucky & Wild there this Summer. **** Edit. @Machu Cool, I don't know if you're as old as me, but did you ever go to a slide park, with a helter skelter and vertical drop slide? I'm talking around about '89 to '90. That is where they had the super smooth, '70s throwback, skateboard snake run! ****
Ninja Gaiden reminds me of a superb Southport summer in which me and my mates did nothing but skate a sweet concrete snake run and play multiplayer arcade games. Late '80s side-scrolling, co-op brawlers were the arcade fans 'tipple of the day' and I must be one of a crazy few who holds far more nostalgia for this version, than any of the later console iterations. Hopefully it will find some new fans on VCA, therefore as always I look forward to reading the Nintendo Life Ninja Gaiden VCA review.
Fair play to Zoom, you can't really argue with a bargain 500 point price and the 'enhanced graphics' look decent enough from the screens. I hope that this one makes it to Western shores, if it does it will be a no-brainer purchase for me, it is as cheap as an NES game! Perhaps Phalanx will shake its dodgy box art reputation and actually become better known for being a decent enough side-scrolling space shooter. Then again, probably not. Cheers for the news @Drake
Congratulations to Nintendo, the Game Boy is a "real deal" iconic part of video gaming history and has justifiably earned its place in the National Toy Hall of Fame. Nintendo were as savvy to the average Joe's and gamer's wants and needs back in 1989 as they were with the release of Wii in 2006. The Game Boy was relatively under-spec'd considering what the Atari Lynx (1989) and Game Gear (1990) brought to the table. Nintendo knew what I wanted from a handheld, before I did! I was a foolish geek craving swanky graphics at the time, who pooh-poohed the Game Boy screenshots. Nintendo knew best and with a long battery life, decent portability and super playable games I was slotting Tetrominoes into place in my sleep, alongside everyone else. I learnt about the ancient "Playability Vs Graphics" quandary from the Game Boy. On a side note in the 'Dewey Decimal Classification' Computer Games are listed under Indoor Games of Skill (794.8) alongside Chess and Checkers/ Draughts. I would imagine that the National Toy Hall of Fame have Checkers featured too, because it is present in the image slider on their website. I do not see any problem with the Game Boy being acknowledged as being a superb and legendary toy.
Excellent review Sean, it is great that Nintendo Life have given this title their attention. It was a clever and inventive approach to present such a troubled American family, in an endearing manner, through the eyes of a cutesy little robot. Fair play to the developers, I do not know that many games that look at the world in this way. Wasn't Chibi Robo set to be released for Wii with a New Play Control version? **** Edit. Apologies @LinktotheFuture , @Xkhaoz and @KoKoO_Psy , you had already answered my question before I posted it. The NPC version must have only been released in Japan. Cheers. ****
This is a great set up for US gamers, you can't really argue with NES/ SNES and Japanese Super Famicom compatibility, but I presume that UK importers would have to consider extra shipping and the lack of RGB is a bit of a shame. The actual design of the machine, as it is layed out in the box, looks pretty nifty. I love the name 'Stone Age Gamer', I need to take a club to my Amiga and drag it into my cave to get it to work.
Thanks for your feature @Damo I played a game of 'spot the Super Famicom' cart in the main pic. I have not raced through Seta's Exhaust Heat in ages, Konami's Japanese artwork was particularly ace. I like the Super Game Boy Kid Dracula screen, too.
@Dicesukeinuzuka A DS adapter, TV player thingamajig, would be great, even if the screen was split in two. There is something about playing portable games on a TV screen, it may go against the purpose of a handheld, but I still play PSP and GBA, Game Boy Player (GCN) games on my telly.
Comments 506
Re: Review: Sunset Riders (Super Nintendo)
@Starboy91 Yep, for Wild Guns think of Cabal, Blood Bros. and the Neo Geo game NAM-1975 and you are on the right track. It has robotic cowboys and simply giant robots, massive bosses, destructible backgrounds, two player co-op and versus (on the bonus levels) with two characters, Clint and Annie. It was decent looking as well. However, it was criticised back in the day and I'll quote Super Play magazine on this:
"But it has one fault; you can't use a mouse with it. For a game with a moveable target, this is a glaring omission." (Issue 24, Oct 1994).
I don't know of that many games which used the SNES mouse, though it might be surprising!
Re: Review: Sunset Riders (Super Nintendo)
@Sean_Aaron Ha, ha, good call on TAD's 1990 arcade Blood Bros., it was completely nuts! It did not just have Wild West trains, there were biplanes and zeppelins in it, too. It had a cool level set to a waterfall backdrop and featured full on destructible scenery, on one level you could take down entire mountains. The end of each sub-level little ditty tune still sticks in my head!
Re: Review: Space Manbow (Virtual Console / MSX)
Aha, the fabled MSX eh! I have read plenty about it in retro magazines, but never seen one in the flesh. It is great news that its games are available on the Japanese Virtual Console. From the screenshots, the visuals look completely nifty for an 8-bit system in '89, I like Sean's Imperial shuttle comparison and from what has been mentioned by @Starboy91, the mix of vertical and horizontal scrolling sections sounds a bit like Konami's Salamander/Life Force.
**** Edit: Doh! I think that I may have got myself confused here, the vertical sections must still be presented from the side-on view, but as Sean says they "are traversed both horizontally and vertically". I was thinking that it may include top-down sections, too! ****
I would definitely check out MSX games if they headed to the US Virtual Console, particularly as it is a retro gaming machine that I know almost nothing about. Yet again one of Sean's reviews has led me to cross my fingers in hope!
An excellent, informative review, Sean.
Re: Review: Sunset Riders (Super Nintendo)
@JJ I have just booted Mega Drive/Genesis Sunset Riders again for a quick blast, you know lots about each version already, but this will give you some extra pointers specific to the MD/Gen, to help you decide:
If I was forced to choose between the two Sunset Riders conversions, I would go for the SNES game. I would treat the MD/Gen version like Sega's console release of Golden Axe 2, in that it is more fun as a side-addition to the original, once you have already played the arcade conversion through. There is still lots of fun to be found in the MD/Gen adaption though, plus loads more kissing! There has not really been a poor Sunset Riders game.
Also, Cheers lots, @Starboy91.
Re: Review: Sunset Riders (Super Nintendo)
As @Orgone mentioned, Arcade Sunset Riders is also a superb game and would be a brilliant inclusion on Virtual Console Arcade, although Konami have not released any of their Arcade games in the West yet, I am not sure about Japan. Below is a list of some of the details which the Arcade game features, which the SNES does not:
You get the idea, it is mostly visual differences, the Arcade is more detailed, but the SNES still does a fine job of replicating the gameplay from the Arcade game.
Re: Nintendo Download: 22-23 December 2009 (Japan)
I wonder if Sean will be adding WiiWare Phalanx, and its bargain priced facelift, to his list of Japanese import game reviews? I hope so, his import Virtual Console Chotetsu Brikin'ger review was brilliant!
Re: Mega Man 10 set for March 2010
I am a bit of a dullard regarding this one, what with Mega Man 9 nailing the 8-bit NES look, I was kinda hoping that with Mega Man 10 Capcom would take a souped up, 'Konami ReBirth' style, 16-bit approach to its visuals. That is predominantly because most of my retro nostalia harks back to 16-bit design. I understand that the roots of these titles are in the NES era, therefore this is still a retro treat from Capcom.
Re: Feature: Retro GT Clothing Interview
Oh yeah, Retro GT does have a 'Red' option for its Space Harrier tee, I simply had to search under the main 'White' version of the shirt, my order has been placed now.... and yep, I would happily wear a NLife T Shirt, too.
Re: Feature: Retro GT Clothing Interview
Nice interview @Damo, it is good to see Retro GT get some NLife attention, I have noticed their products in the back of Retro Gamer magazine. I like the way in which they are keen to represent a few of the less known games, I would happily walk around Birkenhead in a Space Harrier tee or displaying a SNES, or Mega Drive pad. I am looking for a red T Shirt for Christmas Day clobber, it is just my luck that the Space Harrier design is available in loads of colour, but red! (Black, Navy Blue, Brown. Olive, DarkGrey). Perhaps I should go for a red Ryu Shoryuken T-Shirt instead.
Re: Review: Chōtetsu Brikin'ger (Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Cheers for the response @Damo and @Sean_Aaron, if Sean keeps on educating me about all of the goodies exclusive to the Japanese Virtual Console, then saving my pennies for a Japanese Wii will become a serious proposition.
The new focus on import titles is a superb addition to Nintendo Life, there has always been top-class Virtual Console coverage here and this addition differentiates NLife further from other sites. An inspired inclusion, great work Sean.
Re: Review: Chōtetsu Brikin'ger (Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Woo hoo, I've been looking forward to this review, welcome to Virtual Console, Neo Geo CD! I did not even realise that the Neo Geo was rendering so much of it in 3D, I thought they were just cleverly shaded sprites, it sounds as if Saurus pushed the Neo Geo hardware with this one. Obviously it is not from an isometric position, but does it takes a similar graphical approach to the bosses and craft as Viewpoint? I defo like shooters which incorporate the R-Type option ball, Last Resort had one, too.
This game typifies why the Virtual Console is so special, rare retro treats made accessible for modern gamers. Please, please, please fly Chotetsu Brikin'ger to the West, SNK . I want to be tapping buttons to this one like Hudson's Takahashi Meijin. Brilliant review, Sean.
Re: Review: Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
@Quint Ha, ha, yep my memory is freakin' amazing, read on and I can even directly quote the mag, demonstrating the role of this game as one of the last high profiles SNES releases in Dec 1996, at the end of the SNES's lifespan and before the N64 was released:
"At one stage, certain people were predicting a miserable Christmas for Nintendoids across the UK. Pah! How wrong could they be...?"
See, jaw-dropping recall, with a memory like that I should rule the world... what day is it today?
...Nah, my comment has poor sentence grammar to blame more than anything else. I do remember the mag, partly from nostalgic memories, but largely because I have it right here in front of me (doh!). It is a bit weathered now, I am always flicking through some old copy of a retro magazine, like Super Play, or C&VG. Reading the retro mags takes me back to the '90s, just as much as slotting a well played cart into a yellowed SNES.
Re: See in the New Year with Happy Hammerin'
I am such a divvy! When I clicked on the link from Nintendo Life's tweet I was all excited about the possibility of a new WiiWare edition of Irem's 1990 coin-op Hammerin' Harry. Doh, silly me!
Re: BlazBlue Blazes onto DSiWare
PS3 BlazBlue has been well received for being pretty darn awesome for a current gen, 2D perspective, one-on-one fighting game. There is not much information for me to be overly critical of this, but compared to its excellent PS3 'big daddy', this free-roaming battle game sounds kind of... meh!
Re: Review: Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
Fair play to the SNES it was a proper li'l trooper, straining its hardware powers to land one last dragon punch on those 32-bit upstart punks! It did a decent job of Street Fighter Alpha 2, which was a stunning achievement under the circumstances, I remember it achieving the cover of issue 52 of the UK magazine 'Nintendo Magazine System', with a 90% review in January 1997 (pages 18 to 24). Just to put some perspective on that, the very same issue had extensive plays of the N64 games Killer Instinct Gold and Mortal Kombat Trilogy. The responsive controls and balanced characters were what mattered for the gameplay, excellent review @Corbie
Re: Review: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (Nintendo 64)
Superb review Andrew, I love this series, from N64 to GCN, they are all great. I agree those medals are tough, but all the more rewarding, like a Star Wars gaming Olympics, the Gold is often out of reach. The good ole expansion pak, crammed the detail into this one and it was appreciated back in the day. Good point about the mission select screens too, they were properly cool. Nice one.
Re: Review: Ultimate Shooting Collection (Wii)
@LEGEND_MARIOID That is cool, we all make typos mate, I recently submitted a sentence in a review which stated that N64 Super Mario 64 was released in 2006! Remember that awesome N64 Mario game, it was only released three years ago and it had all those additions like the yellow cape, spherical planet gravity, hovering with the water pack, raccoon suit and where you pluck out the vegetables?
Nah, it was just me not noticing that I had typed 2006 instead of 1996. We all make typos, 'cause we're all human, except sometimes when I pick up a controller I am a red and white trainer sporting, blue spiky hedgehog!
Re: Review: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)
Doh, I have not even bought Phantom Hourglass yet, so this is a great review for me, with loads of depth, which is just what I need to decide which one to buy first. This is particularly with you saying "it’s almost the same game that they got so right last time". I know that the comparison with its DS predecessor is a compliment in many ways, but I think I will wait for a bit before buying it and perhaps get Phantom Hourglass on the cheap first.
I like the train engineer story, it is a shame that fixed routes has meant that the spirit of the adventure has been lost a little with the change in transport, but the idea of more complex puzzles as a result of controlling both Link and the Phantom is promising. Ever since Super Mario 64 any Nintendo game that includes catching rabbits is likely to get my nostalgic juices flowing, too.
Link and Princess Zelda would be handy to add power to the spirit tracks of my local Liverpool underground loop. Cheers @Prosody
Re: Viewtiful Joe Could Return
Yep, I agree with all of the above, both Viewtiful Joe GameCube games were massively inventive for the side-scrolling 2D beat 'em up genre and yep indeedy I sucked at both of them, but still embraced that the game chose to humble me with its rock hard bosses. I am not too worried about the PSP Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble or DS Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble!, if Kamiya is saying "that story is incomplete so I'd like to finish it someday", that suggests the third game will follow the GameCube versions. Fingers crossed.
A great bit of news this, cheers Jamie.
Re: Review: Ultimate Shooting Collection (Wii)
@Sean_Aaron No worries at all bud, I've noticed that your writing style is exactly what I look for in a gaming review, you are obviously a nut for retro genres and you take that perspective to concentrate on the details, which I appreciate.
Three words and two hypens and with "bullet hell cute-em-up", I am already sold on Ilvelo. I headed to you tube and found a super vibrant cel-shaded shooter with a completely wacky art style, I like the busy colourful backgrounds with lego pieces, pencil crayons and huge bunnys. Nice!
Re: Review: Ultimate Shooting Collection (Wii)
Thanks Sean, your review has laid it all out for me and it definitely belongs in my collection. I am up for buying it to support Milestone's dedication to the genre, your opening paragraph is a great hats off to the type of company that earns my respect. I am going to import this for sure, I like the idea of a cel shaded shooter, but I may have to wait until after Christmas. Great review, mate.
@LEGEND_MARIOID Just to let you know, unfortunately this one is not available for your DS, this 3 game compilation is for the Wii if you think that you may be more tempted in playing it more on a bigger screen. However, it is not available in the UK at the moment, so you would need an imported Wii console and copy of the game to play it.
Re: Podcast: Episode 10 - Reviews Round-Up and Game of the Year Launch!
Perhaps I should have given Sonic 3 more time, of all the 2D Sonic games, I play Sonic 2 the most.
I've got to be honest, Sonic is great, but Super Mario World beats all of the 2D Sonics from where I'm sitting, my vote is for SMW.
***** Edit: Doh! SMW is not my vote for Game of the Year, it is my pick for Sonic 3 Vs Super Mario World. I've tweeted a possible WiiWare choice, but I picked Contra ReBirth, because I am a retro 'run and gun' dork! Thanks for the podcast James, Tom and Kim. *****
Re: Review: Planet 51 (Wii)
I think that there is value in reviewing these games, as @Machu mentioned there might be a younger gamer in your family who would head straight to this type of title as an instant purchase, in the same way that I am going to gravitate towards Sin and Punishment: Successor to the Sky. Reading these reviews on NLife helps me to separate the wheat from the chaff for my nieces and nephews.
With SEGA publishing it and as Jamie said Pyro Studios behind it, there was a chance that it could have turned out half-decent.
The money and work that goes into these computer generated animated movies is substantial, the boundarys between next gen consoles and animated movie visuals are closing in, so perhaps all of that visual design work will translate to a decent console game one day. Maybe!
Re: Review: Planet 51 (Wii)
Great work on your first review @Giggsy. My girlfriend is eager to see this one on the pictures, I hope that it turns out to be a bit better than this Wii game. Nice one, mate.
Re: Review: Castle of Shikigami III (Wii)
@Swerd_Murd Cheers mate, that was well good of you to take the time to summarise those games for me. Good on ya!
Re: Review: Rock & Roll Racing (Super Nintendo)
Like The Fox says, anyone who has played this knows that all of the atmosphere would be lost if they had to remove the soundtrack.
Just like Corbie said, I guess that because this viewpoint for racing games is completely old school, some people may find that they need to adjust to the controls, but I found it as smooth as silk for gamers who have played lots of other isometric racers.
Anyways I bought my Air Blade, raced to victory and I scored many a first place knockout.
Now I need to head to bed, after all... "Jamie is in another time zone".
Re: Review: Rock & Roll Racing (Super Nintendo)
It is 1.40am here in the UK and Corbie has inspired me to boot up Rock & Roll Racing, I just hope that I don't wake my girlfriend up with that funky Blues Brothers bass line. I've picked Ivanzypher because he looks like Chewbacca. No need for bed, I can hear Larry calling... "Let the carnage begin!"
*** Doh, I didn't mean to rip off TheLonelyGamer's use of a quote, I was typing it before I had read his post. I best get back to it, "Ivan is about to blow!" ***
Re: Review: Rock & Roll Racing (Super Nintendo)
Excellent, I am a fan of isometric racing games and I completely love Rock & Roll Racing. Nice one, Corbie.
Re: Review: Earthworm Jim 2 (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)
There is greatness held in the previous two comments. First off, Croz winning an Earthworm Jim figure on a TV show is cool, is it rare and valuable to collectors today?
Secondly, StarBoy91's use of the word nomenclatures is awesome. I have written it down as my word of the day, for tomorrow.
Great stuff.
Re: Review: Earthworm Jim 2 (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)
I have not played this one yet, I did not even know that there was an isometric shoot 'em up in it, although from Drake's description it sounds like that section is snot much fun (oh dear!). I can understand why developers attempt to add variety to a game, by including sections which stray from the core gameplay genre, but it is a shame when their ambition misses the mark. It sounds as though Shiny had the core platforming and shooting set-up nailed, but did not maintain that quality with the inclusion of more wayward gaming styles.
This is a bit off topic and may sound a bit Star Wars obsessive, but when Factor 5 followed GameCube Rogue Leader with Rebel Strike, they also strayed too far from their core 'ship shooting' gameplay with weak third person sections. It all sounded so promising in on paper and in previews, but the disparate game styles simply did not gel.
I am not going to rule Earthworm Jim 2 out completely, but I will treat it with a bit more caution now. Cheers Drake.
Re: Review: Castle of Shikigami III (Wii)
Regarding the Ultimate Shooting Collection most of my decision to purchase will be based upon how well Karous and Radio Allergy are received in Sean's forthcoming review. I already have Chaos Field for the GameCube, you see.
Re: Review: The Combatribes (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
@Mickeymac Man, a collection of all of these old Technōs arcade and console games would be brilliant. Just imagine Karate Champ, Renegade, the Double Dragon series, River City Ransom games, arcade Combatribes, plus throw in some Super Dodge Ball titles and grab the WWF Licences for WWF Superstars and WWF Wrestlefest and retro gamers would be laughing (yeah right, I'm spouting rubbish there, like they would be able to obtain the WWF license, doh!).
Unfortunately, I am certain that there has never been a compilation of old Technōs Japan titles on previous consoles and I am not sure how the licensing would work for one to be released today. Obviously Aksys Games have published this and I know that Technōs were in with SNK when the Neo Geo one-on-one fighter Double Dragon was released in 1995. Ballistic also did an accurate conversion of the Double Dragon arcade game for the Mega Drive, so who knows a deal may be able to be put into place to compile all these games on one disc. Aksys have also released other Technōs games on Virtual Console, including the NES titles: Double Dragon, Renegade and River City Ransom, so if anyone with decision making powers over Technōs back catalogue are reading this, then "make it so". Perhaps someone at Aksys is listening, it would be well good if Mickeymac sparked the idead for a great compilation of these rare games.
Re: Review: The Combatribes (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
Ah well, at least there are some decent tunes in this one, I was not expecting much from it, I do not remember it getting much praise even on its original SNES release. The smaller areas sound a bit like Technos were taking this back to the roots of their 1986 arcade game Renegade.
Cheers for the review Corbie, I will be giving The Combatribes a miss.
Re: Review: Castle of Shikigami III (Wii)
@Sean_Aaron I will wait for your Ultimate Shooting Collection review to see if it is worth importing, I can get it for about £26.
I think that it is great that these games get a full boxed/ disc release and are not confined to being downloadable games on XBLA or PSN. I wonder if SNK Playmore will ever bring King of Fighters: Sky Stage to Wii? I would buy it, especially if it was a disc release. I do love the accessibility of digital downloads, but I am becoming increasingly attracted to collecting boxes on shelves, I have this niggling feeling that tangible formats may become obsolete in the next ten years.
Re: Review: Castle of Shikigami III (Wii)
I'm a happy European, 'cause like @Zammy I also have an import US Wii. I've had Castle of Shikigami III for a while, but I am such a bullet hell rookie, that I "lar-dee-dar" my way through short blasts of this one without displaying any real skill or understanding of the specifics of this genre. I was able to get into the colour mechanics of Ikaruga, because the system was so clearly presented, but other bullet hell games have eluded me a bit. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I often play them with unlimited credits, simply as a sweet little tour of explosive 2D visuals. This review is just what I needed, as a bit of a kick up the backside, so if it is one of the easier bullet hell shooters, I may use this game as a training ground to practise the basic skills. I think I will read the third paragraph over and over to get my head around the "High Tension Max" or "Shikigami Attack" and I will head off to play it and consciously graze bullets for the "Tension Bonus System" to gain those stronger attacks.
This is a great read Sean, cheers for the education. Are you having a bit of a shooter marathon at the moment?
Re: Review: Stunt Race FX (Super Nintendo)
I have never played Stunt Race FX, I have always wanted to, I liked the look of it in magazines when it was first released. I was chuffed when the screenshots appeared on Nintendo Life, I had my fingers crossed that a review would be on the way.
I'm glad that it has survived the test of time, the colour packed "stylised blocky" design means that it has kept its own charm even during these lavish 3D times. I particularly want to race through the underwater tunnel track and the Sky Ramp course sounds fun and imaginative, as I like the Sky Garden level on GBA Mario Kart Super Circuit. The quality of the track design is really important, so I'm pleased that Dave praises this aspect of it, the mastery of FreeTrax courses may just swallow my spare time just like with SNES Super Mario Kart time trials, I'll download this straight away if it hits Virtual Console.
A quality SNES pick and a great review, Dave.
@maka I had heaps of fun playing Amiga Stunt Car Racer, as well. I never got the chance to link computers for multiplayer though, which is a shame.
Re: Review: Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Nintendo 64)
Wow, there are lots of SOTE fans here, its is good to see them defending this title.
There are loads of good points in this comments board, for example from @Sabrewing and @roro44's comments it is clear that the first person view deserved more time. I did play the game from that viewpoint, but it did not gel with me, I found it more natural in the third person, as I was able to see Dash's actual physical position and footing placement. Note @roro44 that whilst the review does not mention Wampas, it does mention the Challenge Points (last paragraph before conclusion) and the variety of weapons (sixth paragraph down). Regarding control, @Bulbasaurus_Rex, a GCN controller will not change the third person dynamics dramatically, it was a launch game, so animations are quite stiff and the movement is fairly clunky. I have completed SOTE three times in total on separate play-throughs, listen to @theblackdragon, it is worth turning the difficulty up once you have mastered the level layouts on 'easy', but you had better save up those lives on earlier levels.
I agree with @the_shpydar regarding perspective and that its release was during a quiet time for Star Wars in general, it was just as everything was about to pick up with the re-mastered 'Special Edition' original trilogy movies on the cinema in 1997. This downtime in Star Wars releases hyped me up even more for the game when I first played it in '97, which added to the disappointment in the gameplay back then, too. As @dimlylitmonkey mentioned GCN Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader actually lived up to its launch hype and still stood up to comparison with later GCN games, that game proves that a Star Wars launch title can stand the test of time.
A number of the comments seem to be based upon the score, presumably regarding whether it should have received a 7/10. I stand by the 6/10, if a gamer picked up a N64 from a car boot sale today and was scanning Nintendo Life for game reviews as potential cart purchases, I would recommend a number of superior N64 games before SOTE, considering its position in relation to other game scores. Star Wars fans, myself included, will be more forgiving and will enjoy the story and setting. I am not sure if many gamers could ignore its gameplay niggles and award SOTE a score of 8/10, but I do respect the passion and enthusiasm that users hold for it. I would be interested to hear what non-Star Wars fan gamers make of it, simply as an early N64 video game, as it was definitely not my intention to stomp on anyone's memories. It is cool that people are sticking up for an old game that they love, that is pretty much what retro gaming is all about. Cheers everyone.
Re: Review: Super Mario Kart (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
Dazza has hit the nail on the head in referring to the tight course design, Super Mario Kart is one game in which elements of the track design border on impeccable. Shave seconds off early tracks in time trials, like Donut Plains 1, and it is apparent that you can find perfect lines and drifts. Choose Donkey Kong Jr, to skim the corners and never lose top-speed, from touching the sides in Ghost Valley 1.
Through multiplayer with two other mates, we were able to fully learn the timing for speed starts and for each timed jump into a drift corner, the placements of speed boost pads and every feather short-cut. The game is packed with hidden time savers, many are completely risk and reward, you mess them up and you are scuppered, for example Mario Circuit 2 has a cheeky little jump, to bounce pad. There is also an awesome one on Bowser Castle 1 in which you hit a speed strip on the far right, fly towards the brick wall on the far left and time a feather leap across an entire lava section, which separates a rectangular hair-pin portion of track. These are not spoilers, finding them is the easy part, the skill is in regularly pulling them off.
Just imagine if SNES Super Mario Kart was online, the multiplayer emphasis is on pure player skill, not "catch-up" , it encourages weapon prowess, not cheap power-ups ("blue shell from hell", ha, ha). Online would make for some amazing races, even if it is never going to happen, it is a nice thought.
For the above reasons, like a few of the other comments, SNES Super Mario Kart is without doubt my favourite Mario Kart game, in fact it is actually in the running for my "Best SNES Game Ever". I love this game!!! Cheers @Dazza
Re: Review: Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
Cheers @Drake , a brilliant review and it is equally great to see this appear on Virtual Console, your review has encouraged me to download it this Friday.
It is always good to dabble in another Factor 5 16-bit action platformer, because of the JVC/ LucaArts links I did not realise that they developed it... you learn something new every day! Their Super Turrican games are heaps of SNES VC fun, too.
Sometimes hindsight is actually more objective that the actual reviews "back in the day". Issue 30 of 'Super Play' slaughtered it with a 29% drilling in April, 1995. They filled an entire comments box with faults and their only positive point stated, "Now, here's a list of all the good things about Indiana Jones the game. It's got Indiana Jones in it". I must admit that I am pretty much sold by the cracking movie license, "Whip-tah!".
Perhaps they were just tired of the Super Star Wars style game formula, I can't get enough of it to be honest. Factor 5 must have been busy, Super Turrican 2 was reviewed in the very next issue and fared better with a 84% 'Super Play' score.
Re: Review: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
Whoa, a superb review and potentially Corbie's Game Of The Year, I've planned to be playing this one on December 25th for a while now, roll on Christmas Day. Good, good times. Cheers @Corbie.
Re: Review: Ninja Gaiden (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
Quite often when a game gets a 9/10 there is lots of user praise regarding how "excellent" the review is, because lets face it, we all love to read about a superb game, that we will buzz from playing.
However, oddly enough I quite like reading a 6/10 synopsis, it is almost as though I pay more attention in reading all the text, to weigh up the pluses and minuses.
I am the epitome of one of the "true fans of the beat-em-up genre", that "need apply". I think it is a bit of a shame that some gamers deride this one by comparing it to its successors. I am pleased to see lots of positive words from gamers on this review comments board.
@Sean_Aaron This is a really excellent review Sean, completely succinct, it covers everything that arcade Ninja Gaiden has to offer, demonstrating that this version differentiates itself slightly by genre from the others in that it is notably a pure "brawler". Reading this review it is clear that it is a fun game, check out the fourth and fifth paragraphs and Sean lays out flashes of awesomeness in a title which is predominantly let down my its unforgiving and cheap coin guzzling roots. Read in the context of your analysis, the 6/10 score is completely fair. Cheers.
Perspective and nostalgia are always an issue to take into account when viewing retro games, which is why so many people compare it unfavourably to their NES favourites, but it is this game that fuels my fun-time gaming memories. Arcade Ninja Gaiden was a much stronger start of a franchise, than a game like the original Street Fighter, I have lots of time for this nifty little title.
Re: Nintendo Download: Ninja Gaiden, My Zoo, Rock N' Roll Climber and Nintendo Touch Golf (EU)
@Machu I hope the interview went well, mate. Good luck.
Regarding the article, if Tecmo are backing VCA with late '80s arcade games, Rygar and Ninja Gaiden, am I completely nuts for having my fingers crossed that they release 1988's horizontal scrolling shooter, Silkworm?
I have loads of fond memories of the Amiga port of it, co-op was inventive in that it was split between a jeep and a helicopter, with two different play mechanics. This is probably wishful thinking, I reckon!
Re: Nintendo Download: Ninja Gaiden, My Zoo, Rock N' Roll Climber and Nintendo Touch Golf (EU)
@Machu I'm based in Birkenhead, so me and my girlfriend head over to Southport every now and then, mainly during the Summer. I'd be up for a bevvie the next time I was there, it would be cool to meet one of the sound Nintendo Life gamers in person. I reckon we could find an Outrun 2 coin-op for a quick race, too. I'm sure my girlfriend would have a fine time... she just loves gaming! lol.
Re: Nintendo Download: Ninja Gaiden, My Zoo, Rock N' Roll Climber and Nintendo Touch Golf (EU)
It is worth addding that as well as the Lynx port, the Amiga received a decent conversion of arcade Ninja Gaiden (Shadow Warriors in Europe). The arcade was tough enough, even with its checkpoints, but the Amiga version sent failing players back to the start of the level. To get the most out of Ninja Gaiden's challenge, make sure you play it alongside a mate, on either arcade or Amiga (... or even the Atari ST).
Re: Nintendo Download: Ninja Gaiden, My Zoo, Rock N' Roll Climber and Nintendo Touch Golf (EU)
@BassX0 Snap, mate! I've got loads of good memories of Southport's fairground and its arcades. It was the first place I ever played a 4 player co-op beat 'em up game, with the original TMNT arcade machine.
It has obviously all changed now, the video games arcade boom sadly died, although I actually found Namco's Lucky & Wild there this Summer.
**** Edit. @Machu Cool, I don't know if you're as old as me, but did you ever go to a slide park, with a helter skelter and vertical drop slide? I'm talking around about '89 to '90. That is where they had the super smooth, '70s throwback, skateboard snake run! ****
Re: Nintendo Download: Ninja Gaiden, My Zoo, Rock N' Roll Climber and Nintendo Touch Golf (EU)
Ninja Gaiden reminds me of a superb Southport summer in which me and my mates did nothing but skate a sweet concrete snake run and play multiplayer arcade games. Late '80s side-scrolling, co-op brawlers were the arcade fans 'tipple of the day' and I must be one of a crazy few who holds far more nostalgia for this version, than any of the later console iterations.
Hopefully it will find some new fans on VCA, therefore as always I look forward to reading the Nintendo Life Ninja Gaiden VCA review.
Re: Phalanx Remake Coming to WiiWare
Fair play to Zoom, you can't really argue with a bargain 500 point price and the 'enhanced graphics' look decent enough from the screens. I hope that this one makes it to Western shores, if it does it will be a no-brainer purchase for me, it is as cheap as an NES game!
Perhaps Phalanx will shake its dodgy box art reputation and actually become better known for being a decent enough side-scrolling space shooter. Then again, probably not.
Cheers for the news @Drake
Re: Game Boy Granted Access To National Toy Hall Of Fame
Congratulations to Nintendo, the Game Boy is a "real deal" iconic part of video gaming history and has justifiably earned its place in the National Toy Hall of Fame. Nintendo were as savvy to the average Joe's and gamer's wants and needs back in 1989 as they were with the release of Wii in 2006. The Game Boy was relatively under-spec'd considering what the Atari Lynx (1989) and Game Gear (1990) brought to the table.
Nintendo knew what I wanted from a handheld, before I did! I was a foolish geek craving swanky graphics at the time, who pooh-poohed the Game Boy screenshots. Nintendo knew best and with a long battery life, decent portability and super playable games I was slotting Tetrominoes into place in my sleep, alongside everyone else. I learnt about the ancient "Playability Vs Graphics" quandary from the Game Boy.
On a side note in the 'Dewey Decimal Classification' Computer Games are listed under Indoor Games of Skill (794.8) alongside Chess and Checkers/ Draughts. I would imagine that the National Toy Hall of Fame have Checkers featured too, because it is present in the image slider on their website. I do not see any problem with the Game Boy being acknowledged as being a superb and legendary toy.
Re: Review: Chibi-Robo (GameCube)
Excellent review Sean, it is great that Nintendo Life have given this title their attention. It was a clever and inventive approach to present such a troubled American family, in an endearing manner, through the eyes of a cutesy little robot. Fair play to the developers, I do not know that many games that look at the world in this way.
Wasn't Chibi Robo set to be released for Wii with a New Play Control version?
**** Edit. Apologies @LinktotheFuture , @Xkhaoz and @KoKoO_Psy , you had already answered my question before I posted it. The NPC version must have only been released in Japan. Cheers. ****
Re: Feature: Retro Duo Console Review
This is a great set up for US gamers, you can't really argue with NES/ SNES and Japanese Super Famicom compatibility, but I presume that UK importers would have to consider extra shipping and the lack of RGB is a bit of a shame. The actual design of the machine, as it is layed out in the box, looks pretty nifty. I love the name 'Stone Age Gamer', I need to take a club to my Amiga and drag it into my cave to get it to work.
Thanks for your feature @Damo I played a game of 'spot the Super Famicom' cart in the main pic. I have not raced through Seta's Exhaust Heat in ages, Konami's Japanese artwork was particularly ace. I like the Super Game Boy Kid Dracula screen, too.
@Dicesukeinuzuka A DS adapter, TV player thingamajig, would be great, even if the screen was split in two. There is something about playing portable games on a TV screen, it may go against the purpose of a handheld, but I still play PSP and GBA, Game Boy Player (GCN) games on my telly.