James McGeachie

I know, typical finding a complaint like this, but I do wish the game had the option of an improved soundtrack. The videos feel like the N64 version to me even though I know there's plenty of improved texturing and geometry work (though not as much as textures). When the sound kicks in it's just so similar that it instantly feels like the N64 game to me. With how tiny the music files for the N64 version probably are, I would've liked an option to switch between original music and a version with slightly more modernised synth. I would've never expected orchestrated, but just some kind of middle ground would've been cool.

This game was absolutely amazing. It's one of those few titles on Gamecube which I felt was breeming with "Nintendo magic", like it felt like an awesome, innovative piece of software you would only get from Nintendo (or to sound more like Reggie, you can only find this on Nintendo, you can only FEEL this on Nintendo). The atmosphere of the game is one of a kind and absolutely perfect. The music, lighting, sound, etc, it was all spot on for me. I remember being absolutely amazed with all the little details around the mansion, the blowing of shower curtains, the flickering of candles, stuff like that. To be honest it impressed me far more than when I saw a "next gen" game on an HDTV a few years later. I love how this was one of the few games on the system to really make use of the analogue shoulder buttons too, controlling the power of the vacuum. I can understand how at the time, when the N64 has launched with Mario 64 and this was its direct successor, people expected a bit more from a flagship Nintendo launch game, but looking from that perspective is the only way I ever understand people's complaints with the game. I've always wanted a sequel, though honestly perhaps one on the Wii would have cheapened the gameplay as I can't image the motion really helping much. Perhaps Cafe can deliver something though.

I didn't say it needed games like Saints Row in general. I just said that if they actually were aiming to capture the market you just mentioned, which assumedly is WHY they were very keen for THQ to make a Saints Row game (as per the news), then you'd think they would do more to stop projects like this going under, since it's very unlikely Nintendo will ever offer a similar type of product. Like, who knows why the game was cancelled, but like I preferred the days where Nintendo had more involvement with third parties and were more willing to get involved to make sure certain titles came out if they wanted them. I don't care about games like Saints Row coming out on it and I wasn't talking about "hardcore" gamers in general, just that section of the mainstream market that's into stuff like that. If the game was polished well enough visually I think it would've still sold to them even if it still looked far worse than stuff on the NGP when it's about. Chinatown wars was a big flop on that front, but that's because third person GTA games pretty much killed overhead GTA dead as soon as they came out. Anyway either way it's not a hugely important issue, but I do think Nintendo's goal with 3DS is probably to recapture as many "hardcore" gamers of different types as possible, because they probably appreciate that most of the casual "Brain Training crowd" isn't going to be sold by 3D or improved visuals, or really any of the features of the system, so if they want to get the same kind of level of sales as the DS they probably need to start recapturing the fans they've "lost" over the years.

You'd have thought if Nintendo were so desparate for it they could've stepped in with some funding. I mean if they really want to give this machine a better image with the hardcore gamers who sneer at "kiddy" Nintendo systems, they need to fight for it and fast, before the NGP captures that market as the "cool" portable of choice.

Well I've voted yes, but going by the fact that it doesn't even seem like the majority online are going with a unanimous yes, despite the internet in general being a left-wing haven and combined with the fact that everyone I've met in real life outside of University's default position has been "no", I think sadly it's going to be an overwhelming no vote. Unless most of the no crowd doesn't bother turning out.

Fucking raging if this is true. They said they were trying to UP the RPG elements over 2. Don't fucking tell me EA came in and were like "WHOA slow down guys, we have WHAT stats now?"

I cant fucking wait to taste his big boner.

I actually think Valve, considering how long they take to bring out sequels to anything as it is, are one of the companies that's most likely to cut a franchise's life short as soon as they feel it's reached its natural conclusion. Portal could get increasingly more complex and go crazy im sure but I think DLC can basically cover that, it would be weird to have a new story now that had any relation to the first 2 games.

^ Who says there'll be a Portal 3?

For me that retarded decision is actually a dealbreaker. That sound irritates the hell out of me. It's undeniably shittier sounding than the megadrive sound.

Maridia is an example of something that has disappointed me in every Metroid since - there's been absolutely nothing with that atmosphere. It's incredibly creepy and kind of a depressing place. You're in this sunken alien abyss where there's a feeling of total desolation, the atmosphere drowning you in the same way you'd expect its dark, murky waters to do so. It has a nice visual contrast too though between the depths of its waters and then the empty wasteland of the desert areas. However, both areas are bleak. In the 3D games and recent(ish) 2D adventures, there's nothing quite that dark and it's a glaring omission for me. The series has strong roots in being atmospheric in more ways than just feeling like you're on an alien world, it's at its best when it's moody and sucks you in emotionally simply through the environment.

The game really does NOT fit well with Fusion. It fucks up the Fusion storyline, where Samus was shocked to find out the Federation were cloning Metroids. The game attempts to bridge the gap between Super and Fusion yeah, but in my eyes the gap was better the way it was before, without the story of Fusion being cheapened.

Looks extremely boring.

Tell you something about it? Well, it was composed by Kuniaki Haishima, who had never worked on a videogame before and therefore had no previous involvement with the franchise. Part of the problem with the soundtrack is it takes a backseat, the music is barely audible in most areas. It's rarely "impressive" even when it is audible but that the very fact it's almost always downplayed shows that they weirdly werent putting as much focus on a good soundtrack as they could've been. On that note though the music is always fairly decent in cutscenes and the like and it tends to do the job well enough in boss battles (for example, there's the obligatory remix of Ridley's theme), but yeah, the main problem is the background music for general gameplay. It's both too low in volume and too basic, there clearly just wasnt the same level of focus on having something "listenable" in the background this time, it's just there to set some barebones atmosphere and that's basically it. I'm not sure if this was a directional choice from Sakamoto or simply due to the composer's style, but either way I dont approve.

I dont know if they do already or not, but Nintendo need to big up the 3D depth slider now to make sure people actually realise that if the 3D is causing them any fucking problems at all they can turn it off completely. I find this whole situation seriously annoying. People I know who are gamers, but not Nintendo hardcore, are even sceptical about the eye/headache issues now. There's a bad vibe getting out quickly and it could cause Nintendo problems fast. Although if it drives down the price of the system...then hey I cant complain too much...

^No, in fact as far as I'm aware a number of the original developers are actually still working on the game within the studio that's working on it. Like people like George Broussard, etc have no input anymore I dont think but it's very much just continuing the spirit of the project that was started at 3DRealms and taking it to completion. All the demo stuff leading up to the football field thing and then Duke getting blown by 2 women is all from work 3DRealms made I think.

Bullshit it isn't, that's the best game promotion I've seen in years.

Was expecting this. Mercenaries and Revelations in close proximity would've been weird. Good indicator that it's a serious project though hopefully.

Okay well that kind of sucks. Maybe they feel they can't outdo Portal now and wont even try. It was still Prey though that first impressed me by allowing me to follow myself around a dimensional loop.

What was the problem with Shattered Dimensions in people's view again? Since they're still focusing on multiple universes I wonder if this will be better. It seems maybe they wanted to keep with the idea of multiple universes, but focus on interaction between them and put a greater focus on good storytelling. Will that be enough though or was Shattered Dimensions weak gameplay wise?

Uh, that's blatantly WHY it's going to be a reboot! You don't have to request that of Nolan, he's the type of director who obviously always wants to do new things. I think he had to be convinced to even do a third Batman movie. He's not the type of director who wants to do endless sequels by a long shot. I'm pretty sure when they say he's "producing" a reboot what they mean is they just want to ensure that the series wont suddenly go to shit and he'll help maintain a high quality level.

I'm quite positive the Gamecube doesn't just have 40MB. It had 2 types of RAM didn't it? 24MB of another type? Assumedly the 3DS only has one type.

Didn't the original only have 8MB or something? Gamecube had 64MB of RAM right? I know there are different types though, but this doesn't sound bad for a handheld at all to me. I think the PSP had a lot less? I'm assuming though that part of the reason for this is the 3D.

So, a year and a half later, is this game still as interesting as it sounded in the first post of this thread or was it scaled back?

Kind of hope it comes with the original included, but I doubt it.