Comments 1,048

Re: Review: Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS)

bro2dragons

I was really bothered in the demo by being unable to know when the enemy can use its "overwatch" attacks and suddenly halt my advances. That ruined my tactics on multiple occasions with seemingly no way to foresee or counteract that. Since that didn't seem to be mentioned in the review, is that not an issue in the full game or just not an issue to the reviewer?

Re: Freedom Planet Bringing Its Brand of Sonic-Style Action to Wii U

bro2dragons

With the character locked to the middle of the screen like that and the sprites as big as they are and the scrolling as fast as it appears, this looks really hard to play. I've never played a 2D Sonic game I thought was any good for that very reason. It's no fun slow, but played quickly you can't see that something's going to hit you until it already has. That's just not something I enjoy. I guess I'm glad people are getting a game they want, but I'm going to have to pass.

Re: A Cowboy's Tale from Nexis Games Rides to the Wii U eShop in 2016

bro2dragons

It could have been purposeful, so you should have consulted the developer before editing their work. The title is unusual, but not wrong, so you could be distorting the intent. This could be a (singular) tale about multiple (plural) cowboys, in which case "Cowboys" acts as an adjective describing the "Tale", instead of being the possessive noun you say it is.

I know you guys are mostly volunteers and most of you without formal journalism training, but come on. Don't go making assumptions about other people's work. Especially when you then use that assumption to insinuate they've done a shoddy job. That's just low class.

Re: Short Fan Film is Set to Chronicle the Final Battle Between Link and Ganondorf

bro2dragons

I'm surprised by the costume quality. Or lack of it. I know this is not a professional production, but you can get an actual metal, authentic-looking Hylian shield replica for $100 or less. That one is very obviously cheap plastic and kills the illusion from only seconds into the trailer. Also, I'm no equestrian, but that horse appears to be galloping very slowly, which leads me to believe the actor has had very little riding practice. And it jarringly cuts from Link riding along the path to riding in the grass to back on the path.

I wouldn't hold a fan film like this to a very high standard, but these are cheap, easy and obvious things to address. What I do expect from fan productions is at least a higher level of care than this shows so far.

Re: Review: Paparazzi (Wii U eShop)

bro2dragons

@Obito_Sigma
Well, according to the review, you're in luck. Dave said it is a fun game. He said it's a shortlived game, but by actually reading the review, I was able to gather that he had a really good time playing it for a while, and suggested it could make for a rather raucous event at a house party, even if it doesn't have quite the staying power a more varied title would.

Re: Iwata Doesn't Feel amiibo Has Shown Its Full Potential Yet

bro2dragons

I just feel like the lack of a "Nintendo Infinity/Nintendolanders" game will be the company's biggest missed opportunity since it turned down the Sony partnership. They do still have time, but if I were them, I'd make it known that it's coming to get people buying more in anticipation, that way players can have more content at the start without having to shell out hundreds all at once. Tease the game in a March Nintendo Direct, then show off a bunch of it at E3 and launch Q1, 2016.

Easy money.

Re: Zen Pinball 2 Set to Hit a New High Score for Number of Tables Available

bro2dragons

I'm always excited to see new tables, but every time they update it makes me more sad that the Star Wars tables are separate. There's no reason they couldn't add them into Zen Pinball 2 like they did for every other system, but as much as I want them, I hate the idea of having two icons on my menu for basically the same game. I know that's petty, but it would drive me crazy. I know my money isn't worth their time, but they're missing out on it all the same for those Star Wars tables.

Re: Nintendo Confirms Another Miiverse Update

bro2dragons

All I want to see from Miiverse is universal stamps. I think that's the biggest missed opportunity.

So many games have Miiverse stamps as unlockables, but since you can only use those stamps while posting in that community, the actual use of the unlock is severely limited. If I could have access to all my unlocked stamps in any community I'm posting in, it would allow for more creativity, while also giving an incentive to play more games as there's a collect-them-all aspect that comes into play. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if that's a feature that can be retrofitted to Miiverse, but until/unless that's implemented, I can't imagine any other updates that would excite or be of particular use to me.

Re: Humphrey, of SPIKEY WALLS Fame, to be a Guest Character in Blocky Bot on Wii U eShop

bro2dragons

I'm waiting to actually see what the gameplay is like before I get too interested, but I can't understand the hate for a game that not only isn't out, but hasn't even had a trailer. There's no reason a game shouldn't exist just because it's short.

People on this site seem to forget that Nintendo (and, in fact, video gaming as a whole) got its start on fun, repetitive, bite-sized experiences. Donkey Kong had four levels total. Pac-Man had one. If you're saying this has no place in the industry, neither do they.

Re: Review: Puzzle Monkeys (Wii U eShop)

bro2dragons

I'm actually surprised by the quality here. The trailer really put me off (I'm still hoping for a decent Tetris game or clone, so I checked this out quickly), but your review is making me reconsider.

I do need to put more time into Dr. Luigi, though, so I'll probably still hold off on this, since it sounds similar. That said, if I didn't already have the green physician on my system, I probably would have picked this up after this review.

Re: Review: Tri-Strip (Wii U eShop)

bro2dragons

@Teslain It's sad that no one understands this anymore. Maybe NL should put its mission on the homepage banner or something.

They review Tri-Strip and Flappy Bird clones for the same reason they review Shovel Knight and Super Smash Bros. NintendoLife's foundational purpose as an entity is to review EVERY game released for Nintendo download services. And so far they've done it, which is what makes them the most comprehensive source of information anywhere on what WiiWare, DSiWare and eShop games to buy. It's also what made them experts enough to get their own section of recommended titles on the eShop for a while.

TL;DR — When you decide to review EVERYTHING, you have to review EVERYTHING.

Re: Eiji Aonuma Explains That The Legend of Zelda for Wii U Will Push the Hardware, But That the Series Has Always Been "Open World"

bro2dragons

It's not open world if the world isn't open. If I really only have access to one or two areas at a time because of the story or item-acquisition progression, it isn't open world.

In the original Legend of Zelda, you had an open world to explore. You, of course, had to get some items to get into certain dungeons or find certain secrets and you'd likely be quickly killed in most areas without more hearts or better equipment, but you were allowed to try. Twilight Princess, however, gave you one small portion of the world map at a time, literally using large, inpenetrable walls to block off the rest. That is the textbook definition of a closed world.

If Aonuma thinks every game has been open world, then I'm moving forward with some hesitancy in my hype. I was hopeful for a 3D game in the vein of the original. It will be a real shame if it turns out all pur expectations are naught simply because the director doesn't know what gaming terms mean.

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

bro2dragons

On the first two, I voted "Always useful" followed by "Never influence my decision."

See, a review score is basically the headline for me. I see it first to determine if I should read the review. I generally agree with NL's assessments, but not always. However, I do know that a 1-5/10 is not going to be worth my money. There are enough objective problems in such games and enough great games I want to play that I know reading the review and playing the game will both be a waste of my time.

Anything above that, I'll read and dissect to determine if I want to give the game a shot. But I've never read reviews of two games I wanted and decided to get one over the other solely because it's a 9 instead of an 8. Once I decide to read a review, the score disappears from my mind.

I don't believe scores should ever affect a purchase but they ARE useful as an instant summary of the review.

Re: Weirdness: This Video Uses Super Mario Bros. 2 to Illustrate the Consequences of Capitalism

bro2dragons

I couldn't find anything accurate in this video. Not about Calvinism or capitalism or a correlation between the two. All branches of Christianity encourage hard work. That's just part of the Bible. But thinking that hard work is an idea unique to Christianity is insulting, even as a Christian (and Calvinist). Thinking Calvinists feel some kind of anxiety from a slave-driving god shows these people have never actually met someone who professes Calvinistic (or Christian) principles, and thinking people living in capitalist societies are the only ones who experience anxiety is among the highest levels of stupidity available on the internet.

To sum up:
[youtube:5hfYJsQAhl0]

Re: Video: Nintendo Opts For Creepy and Mysterious Commercials to Promote The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

bro2dragons

You guys all saying the statue is from Ben drowned, do realize it's an actual part of the game, right? And it was creepy long before that story made the internet rounds because it finalizes the idea that the hero of time is dead. And even those who don't subscribe to that theory for whatever reason think that it's creepy because just look at it.

It's one of the best things they could highlight in a commercial designed to evoke the eeriness of the game. It's not a meme reference.

Re: Feature: 20 Wii Games We'd Love To Download From The Wii U eShop - Part Two

bro2dragons

I'd only go for Fire Emblem if the FAR SUPERIOR Path of Radiance were re-released first. Radiant Dawn's already wonky story loses almost all its meaning without the significance of the first game, important characters get no introduction and the original disc sells for ungodly prices online now.

I only know that because my copy melted when my borrowing friend's car caught fire, and now I'm out of one of my top five favorite games.

Re: Review: Battleminer (3DS eShop)

bro2dragons

@kensredemption No, that's literally NintendoLife's purpose. They're mission as an organization is to review EVERY Nintendo WiiWare, Virtual Console. DSiWare and 3DS/Wii U eShop game released in the NA and PAL regions. The fact that they ever review exclusively retail games is just a bonus. But games like these get very few reviews. NL fills an important niche for that reason. If you just want reviews of the biggest releases, there are a hundred other sites you can visit.

Re: Fake Commercial for 'The Nintendo App' Stirs Debate

bro2dragons

The Matthew McConaughey ad series this voice over was ripped from is nonsensical and one of my personal worst ad campaigns of 2014.

That said, if this had been a real commercial for the actual eShop and Nintendo hadn't actually let the Virtual Console die, it would have been GREAT.

If Nintendo even had the Wii's Virtual Console up on Wii U, they could honestly build a VERY effective commercial or two by simply tugging on the nostalgia strings of long-lost gamers and saying that all the classics they remember are just a click away one one device in their living room. sigh ... What a waste.

Re: Video: Shigeru Miyamoto Outlines Online Sharing and Rankings for Mario Maker Creations

bro2dragons

Only as big as Twilight Princess... I hope this is just expectation management at work here, because with all they've been hyping about this massive open world and how long it takes to go end to end on horseback, something the size of Twilight Princess would be hugely disappointing. It would be easier to fill it with interesting things to see and do, for sure, but that game's scope, while originally impressive, has been far outclassed and on weaker systems. I was hoping for something at least Xenoblade-sized...

Re: Review: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (Super Nintendo)

bro2dragons

Kiddy is my favorite of the three playable Kongs. He and the overworld are the only parts of this game that to me stand out as better than the other two. The environments are different, and I like the greater presence of water to set the feel apart, but all in all, it doesn't have QUITE the same level of quality as the other two.

But, as the review says, that doesn't mean it's not a MUST-HAVE for any and all platformer fans.

Re: Feature: The Wii U is Two Years Old, But How's it Doing?

bro2dragons

If I step back from my personal tastes and look at what it does to appeal to the market as a whole, then I have to agree it's sorely lacking in all areas and probably earns a solid C. Power, library, install base, online, extra features... some areas are better than others, but overall, it's not quite up to snuff.

But just going by my own experience, it's an A+ system. I will concede that my gaming time is rather limited by my job, friends, other interests, and familial obligations, so the Wii U's relatively small library isn't much of a factor. There are enough games I want to play to fill all my available gaming hours five times over in a year. And the ones I've picked have been incredible experiences. Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101, Super Mario 3D World, Bayonetta 2, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Mario Kart 8, ZombiU, Child of Light, Little Inferno, Trine 2, BIT.TRIP Presents RUNNER 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien and Cloudberry Kingdom are all games that will stick with me for a very long time and games I found myself involuntarily smiling at over and over again. Games like these remind me why I love gaming and choose this medium as my way of winding down as opposed to all the other things friends and family are into.

The Wii U has supplied more of my favorite gaming experiences of all time than any other console, and for that, I am grateful. I just wish it was doing more to sell itself to the world at large, so more people could feel what I have in these games.

Re: Video: Relax With This Collection of Mario Kart 8 DLC Videos

bro2dragons

On topic: I LOVE the music from almost all of the new tracks, but especially the three posted here. In fact, these are my new favorite versions of both Mute City and the Zelda overworld theme.

@Kaze_Memaryu: I agree with you on a few of those, but only a few. I don't think the Hyrule and Mute City tracks quite captured the feel of their sources.

There's a little bit of it in the beginning, but I was really hoping the Hyrule track would feature a good stretch of wide open field. A few small hills and potholes, trees to dodge and maybe a couple freely moving peahats, but for the most part, lots of room to line up a green shell shot or to blaze through with a golden mushroom. I wanted it to capture the awe of Hyrule Field.

As for Mute City, they got a little closer, but I was hoping for even more boost pads. Really just send karts soaring down the track. There are plenty, but there are also a few stretches where they're suddenly missing and I was wanting to see it all but filled with them. I also, like you wanted them to take the anti-gravity to its fullest extreme like F-Zero, in fact, did way back on the N64. Give me a fully-traversible cylindrical track to race 360 degrees around. I was immediately disappointed the moment I saw barriers on the side.

As for the others, yeah, I think they could have done a little more to make Wario's Goldmine and Dragon Driftway stand out, but they aren't bad additions, while Yoshi Circuit and Excitebike are big changes of pace with the tight turns or jumps/straightaways. And I appreciate Rainbow Road's simplicity in a game of such otherwise wild proportions.