Comments 314

Re: Klonoa 3? Depends On Wiimake's Sales

Jockolantern

I would highly recommend picking up this game, folks. It deserves every bit of the support we can give it and then some. 'Klonoa 3' is a game that I know many of we platforming fans would absolutely love to see developed and I truly hope that this Wiimake of the original game sells well enough to convince them to bring more unique Klonoa content to Nintendo's console. Like I said, this game is truly great enough (and at $30, who can complain?!) to deserve our combined support!

Re: Oh, So That's The E3 Dead Space: Extraction Demo

Jockolantern

Haven't cared for this game since they decided to put it on rails. Just not my cup o' tea, if you will. I may give it a rent just to play a co-op run with a friend but I can't say as I'm particularly thrilled about the rail shooter decision. A free-exploring game would've been a much smarter and decidedly more scary choice.

Re: Gladiator A.D. Trailer Is Ready To Shower You In Gore

Jockolantern

Definitely not Liam Neeson doing the narrating. I know my Neeson and that is certainly not him, though the narrator certainly does have a voice that sounds very similar to Neeson.

As for the game... meh. The animations looks quite clunky thus far and the blood-letting is more silly looking than gladitorial. Graphics look decent but the game looks like it needs some serious tuning up to come close to being a decent gameplay experience.

Re: Review: Little King's Story (Wii)

Jockolantern

After this and IGN's positive reviews, I'm really looking forward to this game. I've been curious about it since it popped up on the radar last year but it's good to see that it's actually living up to the anticipation. Looking forward to playing this game in June!

Re: New Punch-Out!! Details

Jockolantern

Sounds like the first two, only heftily beefed up. I'm even more excited for this game after reading these updates! All sorts of excellent goodies in this package, it would seem. Loads of challenges, unlockables, and overall Punch-Out!! goodness.

Re: Nintendo Download: DSiWare, Equilibrio & Uncharted Waters (US)

Jockolantern

No Majora's Mask? ...Odd. Also sad to not see Swords & Soldiers as the WiiWare release. I'm really holding out for that and Cave Story within the next four weeks or so. I've often heard positive things about Uncharted Waters and I never got a chance to play it growing up, so I may have to give it a look sooner or later. I honestly can't tell how Equilibrio will turn out; it certainly has promise, but that hasn't stopped similar WiiWare titles from sucking. I may wait for the review here to decide whether or not to get it; at only $5, it might be worth taking a chance on... who knows.

Re: Nintendo 'Not So Green' Based on Environmental Report

Jockolantern

What SupermarketZombies and Stuffgamer1 said is absolutely correct. The so-called "Green Movement" is revealing itself to be exactly what I've known it to be for as many years as Al Gore has been trying to convince us that the ManBearPig of man-made global warming exists in the apocalyptic state he preaches: just another money-making hoax bloated with fearsome propoganda and empty factual basis. I'll keep my money going to the entertainment and technology sources --like Nintendo-- who I think deserve it. Anyone with half a brain shouldn't buy into what screwballs like Greenpeace are selling; they should, however, buy into what video game console manufacturers are selling. Go "gaming," not "green." ^_~

Re: Review: Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)

Jockolantern

It's the best 3D Sonic in a while... which isn't saying much, but it's at least something. I loved the game at first but quickly tired of its shaky control setup. It's not unmanagable and the rush of the game generally makes up for the lack of defined control, but at times the game just feels like it slips out of your hands and the only thing you can really do is jump at the right time and shake the controller like a madman when a pile of enemies shows up. It's fun at first but doesn't last. Lots of stuff in this game for completionists though and I'm sure I'll head back for it all one day when I'm in the mood. The soundtrack is fun (for the most part), the visuals are gorgeous and the mood of the game is light-hearted. It's just a shame the gameplay wears itself out.

6 / 10

Re: Review: Henry Hatsworth in The Puzzling Adventure (DS)

Jockolantern

I beat this game about a week ago (will go ahead with the harder Gentleman Mode at some point in the future) and absolutely loved it. Couldn't put it down, to be honest. It's definitely the one game so far this year to really jump out of nowhere and surprise me with its greatness. The puzzling is always intense and fast-paced and the platforming is consistently action-packed and thrilling. The last couple of worlds, in particular, are quite challenging and every boss fight is a real treat. Terrific soundtrack too; very upbeat, brisk and even head-bangy at times. This game has loads of personality and is a decently long platformer (took me about 12-14 on my first playthrough). Highly recommended!

9 / 10

Re: Review: Kirby Squeak Squad (DS)

Jockolantern

Squeak Squad is a fun, solid platformer. Not hard in the least but it's a very relaxing gaming experience with plenty of delightful, bright Kirby visuals, cool power-ups and the usual jaunty Kirby soundtrack. Very much worth playing for platforming fanatics. I'm with Corbie: So long as they keep making Kirby platformers, I will absolutely keep playing them. Spot-on review.

7 / 10

Re: Interview with Brian Fehdrau - Secret of Evermore

Jockolantern

Would love to see Evermore make it to the VC as it's one of my all-time favorite RPGs and a very unfairly criticized game. Great interview with Brian; it was very amusing to read about him playing the game on his laptop via emulator as well as reading his disappointments regarding the game both then and now. The lack of multiplayer has never influenced my opinion on this game. It's a fine single player experience with a lush, thought-out world, spirited, memorable characters and refreshing sense of humor about itself. Being Jeremy Soule's debut video game score is also a big reason I love the game; he wrote some fine pieces for this little game and I still own not only my original cart, box and manual for the game but the official soundtrack release as well. As I said when I started this mini-rant, I truly hope Square/Nintendo bring this little gem to the VC. I would certainly be happy to support it with my money, if only to play through it again in 480p. ^_~

Re: Welcome to the New Look Nintendo Life!

Jockolantern

Provided a portion of this whole redesign doesn't turn into some elaborate April Fool's Joke (I trust not a single website on this day for anything, albeit this update would turn out to be quite the extravagant joke)... I like it. It's a solid redesign and the tab system works very nicely. Well done. _

Re: Review: Bonsai Barber (WiiWare)

Jockolantern

The 8 / 10 is an April Fool's joke! The real score will be revealed tomorrow to be a 1 / 10! Or... not? ^_~

If the game really is as impressive as this and IGN's reviews make it sound, I may have to go for it when I'm feeling in a very casual mood and need a little something to pick up and play each and every day before I jump into more intense gaming.

Re: USA VC Update: Super Punch-Out!!

Jockolantern

Glad to see Super Punch-Out!! released; looking forward to buying that later today. Bonsai Barber just looks... bad. Particularly at the 1000 price point. Do I really want to pay $10 to virtually groom chia pets?

No. I do not.

Re: SD Card Game Launching + Arcade Games Available on VC Now!

Jockolantern

Epic update is epic. I'm loving the SD card menu. I've got all my WiiWare games alphabetized on one SD card and all my VC games on the other. Fabulous update and I'm loving how quickly games load off the SD cards; even transfer times seem to be improved overall. Terrific work, Nintendo! I certainly can't complain, even if this update does seem a bit overdue. But, it's here now and that's the important thing!

@Muzer: Whiners never cease to amaze me. If he doesn't like it, fine, but none of what he mentioned makes the Wii a failure as a console. They sound more like personal nitpicks on his part than fully legitimate complaints.

Re: Review: Bit.Trip: Beat (WiiWare)

Jockolantern

@Corbie: I suppose my sardonic response to Chicken Brutus came across as a bit more harsh than intended. But what is the internet without a little personal prodding? ^_~ j/k My apologies to Brutus; my response was certainly a bit more harsh than it should have been. I suppose I'm just incredibly surprised by how well this just-above-average game is being received and how far superior titles have either been overlooked at best or wrongfully equated at worst. I'm having my own fair share of fun with Bit.Trip Beat (but damn if I don't suck even at the first level; need a lot more practice to get it down pat; the gray/white screen of silence makes me sad every time I suck hard enough to get to it) but I'm quite puzzled by excessive praise leveled at what is nothing more than a pretty, retro-styled rhythm game.

As for this most recent topic in the comments, I too really hope that storage space solution is coming soon from Nintendo. It's certainly long overdue and it will be fantastic to be able to play my VC/WiiWare games straight from my SD cards. I just hope we can still order them in whatever order we wish, ala the main Wii menu. If not, I'm going to be rather irritated. For how long Nintendo's taken to get this update done, I expect full personal arrangement functionality when it is available.

Re: Review: Bit.Trip: Beat (WiiWare)

Jockolantern

This gets a 9 / 10 but Gradius Rebirth gets a 6?! This places Bit.Trip Beat on the same level as Toki Tori, Onslaught, or Mega Man 9 and that's simply unrealistic and untrue, in my opinion. Bit.Trip Beat is a solid 6; enjoyable, but there's little more to it than simply racking up a higher score on subsequent playthroughs, and even that's bound to get a bit tiresome given the track lengths. I am, however, very much looking forward to seeing where Bit.Trip goes from here.

Re: Review: Gradius ReBirth (WiiWare)

Jockolantern

I'd have to bump up the score from a 6 to a solid 8, but Corbie's main point remains very true: If you like/love the other Gradius titles, you'll definitely get a kick out of Rebirth. It's more of the same but that's certainly not a bad thing.

I will however take exception with one particular annoyance: Star Soldier R a better game than Gradius Rebirth? Not by half. SSR can't even be qualified as a full shooter gaming experience; merely an arcade scorefest. Rebirth, thanks to its traditional level-to-level shmup makeup is a much more engrossing game.

Re: USA VC Update: Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen

Jockolantern

Solid VC release. Looking forward to playing through Ogre Battle in its entirety. I tried it out only a little when I was younger and I didn't come away dazzled, by any means, but my tastes for strategy games have certainly matured greatly since then. Can't wait to see what the fuss has been about all these years.

Re: USA WiiWare Update: Onslaught

Jockolantern

I actually thought the second boss was muuuuuuuuuuuch easier than the first one. His circular-sweeping laser attack is easy to dodge and you have to deal with a lot fewer bugs as you fight it.

Re: USA WiiWare Update: Onslaught

Jockolantern

Onslaught is astoundingly good considering it's a $10 FPS built for WiiWare. Technically gorgeous game considering WW's size limitations and it controls absolutely beautifully. The level design is nothing stellar and the missions are repetitive... but in a good way. Blasting away at bugs and watching their green blood splatter everywhere is immensely enjoyable and rewarding. The motion controls are also implemented exceptionally well; throwing those grenades is a breeze and actually takes it account how hard you thrust the nunchuk forward.

Great game, Hudson! Keep up this level of quality, please! It's surprises like this which make WiiWare worth it.

Re: Review: Evasive Space (WiiWare)

Jockolantern

Cleary Matthew and I are not playing the same game. The Evasive Space I have played controls every bit as smoothly as I had hoped it would and, while the game is a bit too short (would've been nice to see double the levels or so), I find it to be a fun time while it lasts. I seriously don't understand how anyone can find these controls to be bad... they're smooth, responsive and incredibly fine-tuned. This might be the most misleading WiiWare-World review I've read yet on this site. Evasive Space garners a solid 7.5 / 10 from me.

Re: New Cave Story Screenshot And Progress Update

Jockolantern

@AlexSays: If gorgeously updated graphics/music and DLC aren't motivation enough at a price point of probably $10, then how about the incentive of supporting a fantastic game designer/programmer like Pixel, who took four years out of his life to make this game and never thought of being paid back at all, except by the accolades of his fans. I'd say those are more than enough reasons for me.

Re: New Cave Story Screenshot And Progress Update

Jockolantern

Everyone on VC-Review/WiiWare-World who hasn't played Cave Story on PC already just may need to have their Gamer Card revoked. ^_~ There's very good reason why we fans are anticipating this one so much... Because it's Cave Story. Awesome, epic Cave Story.

That new screenshot has me even more convinced that this is going to be an absolutely gorgeous update of Pixel's original title. The classic look is still there, it's just been polished up with some refined pixel artwork and glossier tiling.

Can't. Freakin'. Wait. I'll be hanged if I'm not one of the first handful of people to download this when it hits WiiWare later this year. Keep up the great work, Nicalis!