Comments 539

Re: Tallowmere Is Bringing Roguelike Mayhem To Switch Next Week

Virus

Although the visuals are pretty atrocious, Tallowmere is a solid game and a steal for seven bucks. I enjoyed it thoroughly on the Wii U, especially in co-op. I don’t think I’ll be double-dipping, but if McFarland releases new content for it, I’ll definitely snag it.

Re: Review: The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ (Switch)

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I feel the review was lacking in places, if not inaccurate.

1. There are extra lives; there are multiple items throughout the game that can give you them. That said, yes, you do need to be careful not to get hurt because extra lives often don't guarantee your success.

2. The game does have a continue option, allowing you to continue from your current game even if you turn off the Switch.

3. Unless you are dying frequently, you will rarely have a game that lasts 15-20 minutes. If you get to the end - which you will want to do on each run once you get enough practice - you should expect to have spent 35-40 minutes doing so.

I was disappointed that the review tended to summarize the game rather than note its strengths and weaknesses. As it was probably apparent, I am a fanatic when it come is to BoI. It is a fantastic game well worth the money. However, you might want to consider the PC version instead at this time. The portability of the Switch is great, but I have come across slowdown multiple times, and my game has crashed almost every time I have a daily. The game is very difficult, but one of the joys is learning how to improve at it.

The game is not perfect, but if you don't want to get it on the PC, it is highly recommended for the Switch.

Re: Wonder Girl Is Joining Wonder Boy In The Dragon’s Trap Remake

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I am for gender equality and everything. After all, I have enjoyed playing as female characters in the past (Bayonetta, Dead or Alive Xtreme, and Soul Caliber all had robust female leads). However, after hearing this new feature in Dragon's Trap to include an optional female lead, I must say I'm sickened by this political agenda. Thus, this game will not be a day-one buy for me.

That said, I'm intrigued by the artwork of the game, and I don't want to come off as sexist, so I will likely buy this game eventually. I want to make sure to get it at full price to support the developer. So, if I calculate my current disdain for political agendas, multiply it by the current internet drama, and then factor in my appreciation for gender equality, this game will be a 23rd-day buy for me.

Also, in case you all missed it like I did, Dragon's Trap give you an ENTIRE GAME for free after you buy the option to play as a boy or girl. Quite nifty, if I say so myself.

Re: Editorial: Pricing Blunders Have Distorted The Narrative Around Nintendo Switch

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Wonderful article, Thomas. I initially was happy with the price when it was announced, but when I had to factor in the additional accessories and games, that price ballooned ridiculously. I would like to see Nintendo have a strong opening, but I worry the pieces are not there. Even I can't get behind 1-2-Switch, and I have bought almost every other gimmick out there.

Re: Review: 140 (Wii U eShop)

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It is a fun little game. Definitely short (finished in one sitting) and a bit underwhelming at times. However, it was worth the experience for me due to the visual style and soundtrack.

Re: Review: Paranautical Activity (Wii U eShop)

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I'm not usually one to criticize a review, but this one seems particularly poor. The opening paragraph makes this sound like this is an atrocious game. In reality, it seems its technical issues make the game unplayable. However, are we ever told the game is actually fun? No. We're just told the GamePad is hard to put down. Why? The "review" is little more than an overview of the game with the critiques squashed down to a few sentences.

I know I'm griping, but I was looking forward to this review, and I'm left more confused than I started.

Re: Talking Point: The Argument For And Against amiibo-Cloning Tool Amiiqo

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Please forgive me for not reading all of the comments. If I have echoed anyone's thoughts already, I did not mean to. It was just getting a little tiresome to read through everything.

Anyway, I also take issue with this device. As expressed in Damien's argument, I have heard from many people, both online and in-person, that these types of devices are good because they allow people to access content that they would pay for if they could (whether it's due to lack of localization, stock issues, or other reasons). This "rationalization" is pure and all, but not everyone will use these devices for the same "pure" reasons. Some are out there simply to pirate, which I believe is fundamentally wrong.

In essence, I dislike Amiiqo because it will be abused. Yeah, some could argue, "Why should we be banned from using Amiiqo because others use it inappropriately?" The same argument is used for more extreme issues like gun, drugs, and prostitution. For rather anemic issues like Amiiqo, I feel that we should just kind of buck up and move on. I hope I do not offend anyone with this last comment.

Re: Review: Tiny Galaxy (Wii U eShop)

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I was worried that nausea would an issue with this game, given that the trailer is difficult to watch. Bummer, but thanks for braving the sickness for us, Evan.

Re: Video: Here's Our Nindies@Home Showcase

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It was interesting testing them all out. There seemed to be some bugs in most of the games, but I guess that's what "this game is not representative of the final copy" is for.

-Typoman, by far, was my favorite. I loved the atmosphere and quirky (almost Sesame Street-like) gameplay.
-Runbow was okay, if not a bit disappointing. The stages that they showcased seemed pretty mediocre while the color-changing mechanic didn't really catch my interest as much as I thought it would.
-Mutant Mudds was Mutant Mudds.
-Freedom Planet was a throwback to Sonic and pretty enjoyable for the most part. I'm not a huge Sonic fan, however, so others might enjoy it more.
-Lovely Planet was stupidly awesome. I can see how the gameplay can get mundane, but I look forward to play through the game in a not-so-sober state.
-Forma.8 had a really cool atmosphere, but it was so slow to me that I was bored quickly. The puzzles didn't seem all that intuitive to me either, which was a disappointment, especially when I was searching for a more creative solution to them.
-Rive was a pretty awesome one as well. I didn't like the commentary from the pilot, but everything else was great.
-Soul Axiom seems interesting, and the mechanics were enough to keep me engaged. The cutscene at the end, however, was laughably horrible.
-Extreme Exorcism was fun for about ten rounds. However, the gameplay quickly became repetitive after that. Love the concept, but I hope it has a few extra mechanics in the final build to keep the gameplay fresh.

Re: Poll: Do Video Game Reviews Need To Have A Score?

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Many of my opinions have been voiced by others already, including my disliking of how developers use Metacritic. That said, I do appreciate numeric scores. Like others, I often flip to the bottom to read the score first. If I am interested in getting the game, an 8 or higher from this site is all I need to confirm that I'll get the game. If the score is 5 or less, I don't feel compelled to read the review either. However, when the review receives a 6 or 7, then I'll probably read the review and see if the game is a fit for me.

Likewise, Metacritic has helped me by highlighting games that reach over 80. It has also kept me away from certain games that Nintendolife has recommended (and I am not often regretful of my decisions). Do I care if one game got an 87 compared to a 84? No, but those are the scores we get with the averages Metacritic produces.

Finally, I feel there is no problem with skipping a written review just to look at a score. It probably sucks, as a reviewer, to have your review ignored over a number when you put work into writing a review. In the end, however, a review is meant to help us decide whether we want the game or not. Sometimes a number is all is takes, and the written part is superfluous. For me to read each review, they would need to reach Ebert-like quality, which is not the case right now (nor does it need to be).

Re: Review: Strider (Wii Virtual Console / Mega Drive)

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Hmm...I personally feel a severe contempt toward this game. I bought it in response to all the good reviews it received, but I was horrifically disappointed. I'm certain I'm an outlier and that most people will enjoy this game, but I thought the controls were absolutely terrible. With fixed jumps, slow movement, and restricted attack ability, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy the game, no matter how varied the environments were. I can't understand how the reviewer liked the controls, but again, from the sounds of it, my mentality may be a little skewed. Regardless, I will add my negative opinion to the sea of praise.

Re: Review: Fluidity (WiiWare)

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I just downloaded this game through Club Nintendo. I'm absolutely ashamed I did not buy this game earlier. Its gameplay is amazing; its graphics are appropriate and whimsical; and the water controls surprisingly well. I held back because I thought it was just mere puzzle game. More appropriately, this game is a puzzle platformer with Metroid elements to it. Absolutely fantastic.

Re: First Impressions: Gnomz (WiiWare)

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Looks fun, but this game reeks a little too much of Eduardo the Samurai Toaster. I was stupid to buy that game on concept alone; I'll be damned if I fall for the same thing again. Call me cautious, but I'll need a lot of convincing before putting my bucks down for this one.

Re: Current Wii Model to be Discontinued

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Well, bugger, I'm going to side with the unhappy people. While I enjoy my Gamecube games on the Wii and using GCN controllers for VC games, my biggest complaint goes along with Joejoe_'s comment (number 36). I have quite a few Nintendo Channel games which support 5 or more players, Bomberman Blast perhaps the best example. With the "new" Wii, these multiplayer options are unavailable, which ultimately hurt the games. Now, I realize this isn't a problem for me because I own a Wii, but it screws a few future Wii owners and doesn't exactly support several companies' games on the Nintendo Channel.

Oh well, it bothers me, but it won't exactly hurt me. My fanboyism will cry a little later, that's all.

Re: Review: Zoo Disc Golf (WiiWare)

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Hmm, it seems NL can be a bit harsh on their reviews at times, but after considering it for a moment, I probably wouldn't get this game if it had received a 1 or a 5. Congrats on confirming my assumptions about the game.

Re: Review: BIT.TRIP RUNNER (WiiWare)

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Playing through Worlds 1 and 2, I could definitely see why many were giving this game a 10. Unfortunately, World 3 then hit me and has since drained me somewhat. Some of the levels are absolutely brilliant, and like the rest of the game, the world features some of the best music in the entire series, but there are just some levels that are so devilishly difficult that it becomes frustrating and not enjoyable. I know there are those that would argue that this is true difficulty, but after dying countless times on 3-11, I can't agree with it. Some jumps sometimes boil down to if you were lucky enough to press the button at the right time. It appears this way to me at least.

Still, I enjoyed the game. The music was my favorite in the series. The first two worlds were perfect. The presentation is incredible. Basically, I agree with everything in the review but his stance on the difficulty.

Beat > Runner > Core > Void

Re: My Dolphin

Virus

I'm thoroughly enjoying the American trailer and its horribly translated English; it helps make a crappy game at least look hilarious.

Re: Review: Bit.Trip Void (WiiWare)

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I guess I stand amongst the very, very few on this one in the respect that I think this game is the weakest entry in the BIT.TRIP series yet. It's still a good game, like the other two, but there were a few blaring annoyances for me. Like Reed, I disliked my inability to discern when I would move up or down a region, and I too also felt like my shifts between the regions were rather haphazard.

My own biggest complaint was the bits are sometimes too hard to see. Beat had a minor problem with this, Core made it a bit worse, and Void currently has made it even worse. Perhaps I haven't gotten used to it, but even after subsequent play-throughs of the game, I still can't get past this annoyance despite my memorization of the levels. The control also doesn't feel as tight to me as it was in other games.

Again, I still like the game. The music is solid in the levels, the menu, and the credits (the best so far, methinks). I also like the game's concept, and I didn't mind the checkpoints either (even if I never really utilized them, instead opting to restart the level). Maybe I need to let the game sit a bit longer. Still, for me, Beat reigns supreme.

Re: Interviews: Rage of the Gladiator - Ghostfire Games

Virus

Great interview. Although I'll probably wait for the reviews, each new article increases my interest; I'm still reeling from how much content they put into 40MB.

I do have one question, though, and perhaps this has been discussed before, but I was wondering, if given five or ten more megabytes to work with (in other words, the file size limit would be 45 or 50MB), how much more could you guys do with the game? I'm not implying you guys need more content--which you certainly don't--I'm simply interested in what can be accomplished with different limitations.

Please ignore me if I'm being ignorant.

Re: Review: NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (WiiWare)

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This is certainly one of the best games on WiiWare. Its initial quest is a bit short (I've clocked about three hours), but unlike LostWinds, I didn't feel shortchanged by the length. In fact, NyxQuest may share elements with LostWinds, but it is vastly better. Smarter level design, varied gameplay, great music, and a nice challenge puts this game among the few current, enjoyable platformers. A must-buy.

Re: Brand New Liight Gameplay Trailers Released

Virus

God, I don't know. It seems the developers put some time into this, but I still can't see myself getting another puzzle game for WiiWare. Its replay value, however large, never appeals to me. Besides...even the first trailer kind of turned me away.

Re: What Nintendo games do you want to see on the Virtual Console?

Virus

Well, here goes...

Mario Picross
Super Mario Kart
Star Fox
Yoshi's Island
Donkey Kong 64
Mario Party 3
Custom Robo
Custom Robo V2
Mario Tennis

There are so many other games I would enjoy. I just want Nintendo to release third-party N64 games...

...and I really just want Space Station Silicon Valley. I know Nintendo didn't make it, but c'mon, what else can we do? Have a Take-Two Interactive comment page?

Re: Interviews: ColorZ - Exkee

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After this game (which actually looks very interesting), I swear I'm not buying a single game from a company that uses "LOL" in an interview. That's worse than any "puppyboobs" in my book.

Re: Bit.Trip Core

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@Kirk

It is much easier to predict the bits' paths in Beat than it is in Core. While some parts are trial-in-error, most of the bits in Beat move in a noticeable pattern so it is easy to pick up when you'll need to hit them. In Core, however, since bits can spiral around the core several times, it is difficult to determine when they stop. So definitely, don't be afraid to pick up Beat; it's just Core that you should worry about.

Re: Review: Bit.Trip Core (WiiWare)

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I agree with Corbie on this one. In addition to my complaints on the game page, my only other complaint about Core is there is no online leaderboard. Since this game allows for higher ridiculous scores than Beat, it is a wonder why they didn't include such a feature.

Re: Bit.Trip Core

Virus

It all comes down to the control scheme in my opinion. Would you rather have a more traditionally-controlled game like in Core, or would you like to rotate the Wiimote instead like in Beat?

Re: Bit.Trip Core

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@totallyNECTAR
Well, I'm glad you find the game easier than Beat. Different minds approach games differently.

And I apologize for mistaking you, but my complaint was not about Core's rhythm but the notes each "beat" makes. Each beat makes a random note (whether it be high or low) every time you play the game (as you know already). So technically, you can get a whole series of beats that produce all low notes. The notes are all on-beat if you play the game correctly, but the music they produce is disappointing when the randomized notes do not mash well.

@pie4prez
When you say "save bug," are you talking about that problem in which the game only saves if you get a high score? If you are, well, the answer is "somewhat." The high scores have been lowered so drastically that it is almost impossible to pass a level without getting a high score. So technically, the game should save everytime.