Comments 423

Re: Talking Point: Considering the Paid Online Service for the Nintendo Switch

Rocky2418

"For now, we're being offered one NES or SNES game per month that's only playable for a month, but we could easily be given a handful of games for a longer period a year from now. . . . Nintendo isn't bound to the amenities it's laid out, and there's a good chance that the service will improve considerably as time passes"

With all due respect, that does NOT sound even a little bit like the Nintendo I've known in the last 10 years. A person doesn't wake up one day with a brand new personality, and neither does a corporation. For a long time, now, Nintendo has acted very self-assured as it decides what little things to trickle out to their fans, and they certainly don't seem to listen to what their fans would like to see - they do what they want, generally not what their consumers would appreciate. (Their 3 minute ad months ago led us to believe that the Switch would be a more traditional system, but one that could be both a console and a handheld. So what do they do in the hour-long presentation? Focus mostly on the Joy-Con motion control gimmick.) And FWIW, I'm a lifelong Nintendo gamer - I don't have much interest in the games offered by Sony or Microsoft. Nevertheless, I'm calling it like I see it. One NES or SNES game a month to temporarily have? . . . What more can I say?

Re: Poll: What Did You Think of the Nintendo Switch Presentation?

Rocky2418

@CTMike
Ditto. I'm absolutely baffled by the poll results. It's like we weren't even watching the same presentation. Hey, I'm happy for all those that were happy with it. But for my brother and I, that thing was abysmal. Okay, there's Zelda on launch day, which looks phenomenal. But we can also just buy that on the Wii U. The only other thing shown that was a must-have for us was Mario Odyssey - which doesn't come out for another 10 or 11 months. Between that and the fact that the base system is $300, and the ridiculously overpriced accessories ($70 for the Pro controller, and similar prices for other stuff?), well... like I said, I'm amazed at the percentage of positive reactions. But to each his own, I suppose.

Re: Nintendo Switch Will Be a Single-Screen Experience

Rocky2418

@ToneDeath
The d-pad in particular is really disappointing to me. It doesn't matter so much when playing via the TV, since you can just use the classic style controller. But for on the go, it seems like a big problem (I don't envision myself carrying around both the Switch and the classic controller).

Other than that, though, I'm happy with what I've seen regarding the system so far.

Re: Talking Point: The Problems With My Nintendo So Far, and Why All's Not Lost

Rocky2418

The article said that fans don't notice when something works well, only when it doesn't. It's not that simple. The thing that works well is the speed and streamlining of the structure of the site. Okay. But why in the world should that matter, if the site itself is pointless? It's not that we don't notice those positives; rather, it's that those positives merely make it easier to use a site incredibly disappointing in content.

If you have three choices in a fast food restaurant, and one of them always has the quickest service but also has by far the worst-tasting food, are you going to care that it's fast? Are you going to bother going back?

Re: Review: Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Rocky2418

I was already underwhelmed when I learned it was going to use a card-based battle again (I now realize it's not quite the same as SS, but still). Now that I've learned they've brought back boss battles that require you to have a specific "thing" card or you'll die? Pass. That was one of the things I detested most about Sticker Star. I don't want games to be easy, but I at least want it to be possible to beat a game the first time without any game overs, if you play carefully and skillfully. That's not the case if you happened not to bring the one exact thing you didn't know you'd absolutely need. (Plus redoing the battle repeatedly until you look it up online to actually find out why you're getting your butt handed to you.) So yeah, pass. I'm currently playing Paper Jam, which I've been enjoying far more so far, though TTYD and SPM are still my favorite installments in the Paper series.

@Franklin
BTW, nice name and pic. Arrested Development is my absolute favorite comedy.

Re: Warp in The Legend of Zelda Opens Up Ability to Beat the Game in Under 3 Minutes

Rocky2418

@BeardedSquash
I had the same exact reaction, and I actually took several programming classes in college (admittedly about 14 years ago). It wasn't only the ridiculous amount of technical jargon, but also the incredibly fast pace at which he insisted on saying it. Maybe pause a little bit, for the sake of the 1% who might actually have a shot at understanding at least a fraction of all that. Yikes, talk about overkill. I was attempting to follow what was being explained for about 5 minutes, but then caught myself daydreaming many times.

Re: Super Mario Maker Is Coming To 3DS

Rocky2418

@Raien
The NSMB theme was literally the first thing shown in the 3DS version's trailer, so that will indeed be included. And even if that hadn't been the case, what's the worst case result of including Course ID entering? A message saying, "This level is not playable on the 3DS version." In the same way that entering an invalid ID in the Wii U version gives you the message 'Invalid ID' or 'Course not available' or whatever it says. But I digress--all four themes will indeed be present, so that's one positive anyway.

Re: Super Mario Maker Is Coming To 3DS

Rocky2418

@AlexSora89
Well, I certainly wish for your strong optimism to pan out. Nevertheless, despite being a lifelong Nintendo guy, those aspirations--that pretty much don't jive with what they did specifically announce--are sadly not the Nintendo that I've come to know in the last 5 or 10 years. But as always, anything's possible, and Nintendo might actually employ some common sense. Fingers crossed.

Either way, I absolutely love the Mario Maker on Wii U.

Re: Super Mario Maker Is Coming To 3DS

Rocky2418

@AlexSora89
And that's fine--I'm glad you'll be very happy with it. I had just noticed you mention looking forward to the idea of continuing creating a level when going outside, and considering those very key differences in the versions, I'd say there's no chance of that. These games are clearly separate things--when creating, what you start on one will only be finished on that one, unfortunately.

Re: Super Mario Maker Is Coming To 3DS

Rocky2418

@AlexSora89
Considering how separate this is from the Wii U version, I highly doubt you'll be able to start making a level on one version and continue it on the other. I would've loved that, but considering how much is stripped from this version, I HIGHLY doubt it.

Re: Super Mario Maker Is Coming To 3DS

Rocky2418

Just re-watched that part. She said: "Instead of uploading courses online, courses you make will be sharable via local wireless and streetpass." So for those just looking to play levels, this is great. For creators, that's an incredibly lame restriction. Oh, and she said that you can't search for Wii U levels by course ID; just by random recommended courses, for the sake of "spontaneity." >_>

Re: Super Mario Maker Is Coming To 3DS

Rocky2418

@SandersEvers
Are you sure? I was pretty sure it said that--although you can play most levels that have been uploaded from the Wii U version--you can't upload any levels created on the 3DS version. They're just shared via local download or streetpass. Something like that. Which, if true, might be a dealbreaker for me.

Re: Chrono Trigger Director Would Love To Create A New "High End" Version Of The Game

Rocky2418

@nab1
I agree completely. Chrono Trigger has been my all-time favorite game for 20 years (I've even made four CT music levels in Mario Maker), and I love the classic SNES version. But I'd also love a newer HD remake, or a well-made anime/animated movie. As you said, if it's bad, it's not like the original somehow ceases to exist. In fact, that's my consolation with regard to . . .

@Lizuka "I'd rather see a proper sequel (as in, one that actually follows up on it and keeps mostly direct connections, instead of drastically changing things with a largely unrelated plot and killing off most of the first game's cast offscreen like Chrono Cross)"

While I do enjoy some aspects of the sequel, there are many things--including those things--that I just find very alien and distasteful, and flat out bizarre. But I still have the original to go back to and enjoy, and I don't have to dwell on the sequel that tore that game world to pieces.

Re: Weirdness: Check Out These Ditto Inspired Pokémon Plushies

Rocky2418

Ha, taken right out of the first season Pokemon episode where a girl's Ditto is able to transform into any Pokemon perfectly--except for the face, which it masters by the end of the episode. (The most awesome part of that episode is when Ash, Misty, Brock, and the girl dress up as Team Rocket and say their whole intro right in front of them, infuriating Jessie and James--and then afterward in the background you can hear them saying, "That was great to do the whole thing!" "Now I know why they like saying all that dumb stuff so much--it's fun!")

Re: Takashi Tezuka Began Development On Zelda: Link's Awakening Without Nintendo's Permission

Rocky2418

Actually, I forgot to mention that I did a "Ballad of the Wind Fish" music level in Mario Maker, if you or any fellow L.A. fans might enjoy checking it out: 6CB9-0000-00DB-7D4A. (Since there's no official page to post those codes on this site anymore.) I've also done some Chrono Trigger and Cross music levels. And for any who don't have the game, I attempted to record them and put 'em up on YouTube. (No capture device, though, so forgive the quality.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hipDrZXmuLM&list=PLmHtaAyAgiciHusqXkQs0Sce621MrbCzK

Re: Rumour: Details of amiibo Features in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Emerge

Rocky2418

@AlexSora89 "So amiibo keeps nothing away from the base game"

But wouldn't the vastly larger wallet be something attainable through the amiibo that's kept away from the base game? As one other person said, that would be very refreshing for all the chests that don't let you take the money inside if your wallet can't hold it.

I'd personally prefer just the base game, but then I'd miss the much larger wallet--something I'd not want to miss, particularly since I'm a completionist...

Re: A 'Big' Nintendo Announcement is Coming on Monday

Rocky2418

I'd love if it was the Nintendo Account. Ever since hearing about its start in Japan--specifically the two-month promo of $1 back for every $10 spent on the eshop--I've been hoping to hear about it for here, as I have lots of VC games to purchase, having recently purchased the white Wii U Deluxe from the online Nintendo store, and needing to catch up.

Re: Random: Check Out This Saxophone Cover of the Link's Awakening Overworld Theme

Rocky2418

@iflywright
Thanks. Yeah, that one took me a few hours a day, for most of a week. (Guess I'm something of a perfectionist.) But the one I just uploaded yesterday, a piece from the game Chrono Cross, took me perhaps twice as long. >_> It's frustrating and time-consuming trying to work around the various limitations in the game. Of course, the game isn't exactly aimed at making music levels, so I'm not gonna complain much; I'm just glad they incorporated it at all--giving every item and enemy their own unique sound, for instance.

Re: Random: Check Out This Saxophone Cover of the Link's Awakening Overworld Theme

Rocky2418

Very cool. Still my favorite Zelda game.

@mjc0961 @Auracle
Though not real life instruments, if you wanna hear some Ballad of the Wish Fish, Mario Maker-style, check out my creation: 6CB9-0000-00DB-7D4A. No controller input required, other than entering two pipes and a door.

I incorporated all 8 instrumental parts (plus Marin's harmony part for the second half), using sounds most closely resembling the in-game instruments, and working within the item/enemy number limits imposed by the game. Took a crazy amount of time to get it as good as possible, so I hope you like it--if you have the game, of course.

Re: Video: We Want Your Super Mario Maker Levels for Our New YouTube Series

Rocky2418

@hybridseed
Just finished the level. And then once more, as I wanted to see if it was possible to make it to the end still big (which it barely was). Tough but fair my butt. I'd say just plain tough.

My primary level would be closer to tough but fair. But with a 5% clear rate (8 clears out of 47 people and 157 attempts), even it would have to be more on the tough side, I guess. I meant it to be a more fun and interesting concept than hard, but I guess the sheer length hurts that. So I recently added some mild hints via comments, to help the player notice the clues a little easier and not waste as much time. Here it is, for any interested:

"Sacrificial Items": 07F1-0000-007D-1926

My music level has gotten far more stars, but it's essentially an auto-level, so wouldn't be good for this. But for any Link's Awakening fans here, feel free to check it out and enjoy. I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to get it as good as possible, within the game's items/enemies limits--but I managed to include a good amount for each of the 8 "Instruments of the Sirens" (plus some Marin harmony for the second half).

"Ballad of the Wind Fish": 1C8F-0000-009D-DCF9

I put many days into each level, and am proud of the results.

Re: Takashi Tezuka Gives His Opinion on Hard Levels Made with Super Mario Maker

Rocky2418

@Blue_Blur
Well, I'm sure I'll have to eventually; thus far, the most deaths I've ever had on a single level is 30 or 40--which has happened two or three times, maybe. Man, there are some nasty ones out there. And others that are just intentionally annoying or obnoxious (like one where there were a bajillion invisible blocks that you had to navigate through, followed by having to randomly find a P-switch in an invisible block, which required an unnatural jump to even reach; and another level that was simply comprised of about 13 sets of 3-way multiple choice paths requiring blind luck--two of which would lead to certain death, ugh...). Nevertheless, I've persevered--and then made sure NOT to star the levels.

Re: Takashi Tezuka Gives His Opinion on Hard Levels Made with Super Mario Maker

Rocky2418

@Captain_Gonru "I have to wonder if there are players who try a level once, and if they die at all, they move on to another."

Yup, that's been my guess too. I'm just the opposite, as a player--whatever the level that comes up, my goal is to eventually beat it, however many times I die. I've done about 600 levels thus far, including 20 times through the easy 100 Mario (for amiibos for the mystery shroom), 20 times through the normal one (same), and once through expert, and never yet skipped a level. (Of course, if a Kaizo-type level comes up, such as the one that was shown in an article here, I think I'll make an exception; nothing to be gained by dying a million times and never beating it.)