Grazza

But would you not agree, Ronnie, that Twilight Princess never looked as good as these images? They ended up adding so many odd lighting and shading techniques, the GameCube/Wii couldn't render the core models as well as the 2004 trailer. How satisfying it would be to finally play a game that lived up to it.

Twilight Princess always had a fantastic art style, but the hardware let it down in the end. I always try to make a distinction between TP and the 2004 trailer because I don't think we've ever seen it done as well as it could be.

Final Fantasy does have a way of doing that. In FFXII I entered a cave and was wiped out straight away. I know it's an RPG tradition of having stronger enemies at night and in caves, but it ruins the fun if you can't get away and just remember not to go back there for a while.

Nintendo Video has been very good recently. The Kid Icarus CGI animation was self-aware and exciting, whereas the anime version has even more artistic flair. Shaun the Sheep, on the other hand, has been downright hilarious. I thought it was just going to be for children, but it's not - it's as funny as Wallace & Gromit. The latest episode "The Art Class" is sheer Aardman genius.

If I had 1600 points left I'd be tempted by: - Mighty Milky Way - Dark Void Zero - Or wait/hope for Cave Story ...But I'm not sure you like any of those genres?

The main thing I liked about the old style was how pig-like Ganon was. Other than that, my new favourite style is that of the Wii U demo. If it looks as good as that I'll be very pleased.

OK, thanks. Doesn't seem greatly related, but it's a coincidence that both series are by Sega.

I wonder if the Oasis game is related to Beyond Oasis and its sequel? They were called Story of Thor over here - I loved the 2nd one, which was on the Saturn.

Game Boy/GB Color Shantae Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest) I, II and III Zelda: Oracle of Ages Zelda: Oracle of Seasons Game Gear Not sure about the Game Gear, to be honest. I'm tempted by how good the emulation is, but I didn't own one and am pretty unfamiliar with the catalogue. Not dismissing it, but maybe I'll try it when I'm at a loose end - probably sooner than I think as the list of games is making me nostalgic. I'll likely get all the games I used to read about in Sega Pro. Game Boy Advance Super Mario World Metroid: Zero Mission Metroid Fusion (just so it's available) Double Dragon Advance Ninja Five-O ...And that's about all I can think of for now, but I really hope they put the GBA on the Virtual Console sooner or later. I find it curious they've put the NES on before the GBA, but also wonder if we'll get the SNES and N64 too. The 3DS may not be able to emulate the latter, but in terms of resolution they'd both be a good fit. S.C.G... I haven't played the original either, but Risky's Revenge is fantastic.

Very good reviews as usual, S.C.G. I like how you really describe the games and what it feels like to play them.

That's bloomin' brilliant. Good singing voice, musical talent and some very funny/sad lyrics. Coincidentally, that very branch of GAME was my favourite in the whole world. I saw that bloke just last week and I'm actually gutted they closed his shop. The staff there were very cool - how I'll miss StreetPasses from Ozric and Rae.

I love cartridges, how the capacity can get bigger and bigger, potentially allowing better games as time goes on.

I had that all through Skyward Sword, @Jamba. You'd think it was a hardware issue, but I never encountered it during Wii Sports Resort or Red Steel 2 (admittedly, I hardly played them, whereas I spent 40-50 hours on Zelda). Happened so many times I just got used to unplugging the Nunchuk and plugging it back in again, although I can see how it'd be extremely frustrating during a mini-game.

Can't believe how excited I am for this! Nice to see there are still some developers who remember the old ways.

Some of the monsters in DQMJ:2 are huge, especially on the XL. I actually wonder if widescreen is at all important on a handheld. It's OK if you have just the one screen, but with Nintendo's dual screen handhelds, I think 4:3 works better.

Nah, I'm hooked. Probably just haven't explained myself properly. I love the game, it's just the atmosphere is very, very different. DQMJ:2 is far more ambitious than DQM:J and you can tell. I'm sure it has a lower frame-rate, less than 30fps in all likelihood. I hope the one on the 3DS is 30fps or even 60fps. You might not think it matters much in this type of game, but it does when monsters like the Headhunter jump around so much!

I scouted two after I'd read this, thanks. What is it about Conklaves that makes them good at that? Multiple attack? Anyway, this is a really gloomy game! By far the gloomiest Dragon Quest I've played. I'm a bit surprised DQM:J 2 is considered better than DQM:J. OK, I fully admit I found DQM:J a nuisance to play and had to start again before I completed it, and maybe DQM:J 2 is better if you're not familiar with the system. But if you have learned the system from DQM:J, then I think that's the better game. Certainly has a much nicer atmosphere. Not that I'm not enjoying DQM:J 2. It's great! There are lots of little improvements and things that have been tidied-up, like being able to see how far Skill Sets go and how many points you need to get certain skills. Also, things like retaining half your unspent skill points (the same as spent) instead of a quarter and being able to save anywhere you like. Heck, the whole game system is far superior and yet I'm not feeling it as much.

I still haven't even seen this on the shelves. Tesco didn't have it on Friday and GAME don't have it (for obvious reasons). I might get it as an impulse buy if it's ever actually in front of me!

Ever since I played Dragon Quest VIII I haven't been able to get enough of the series. To my mind, no game has ever got the tone so exactly right as VIII and DQ in general. Not too serious, not too childish. It's never gratuitously violent and doesn't have blood or gore but still has things like swords and spears, monsters and fighting. But do I love DQM...? I think it might be obsession more than anything else.

I don't have much nostalgia for the Game Gear, personally, as I never owned one. But I did borrow my neighbour's for a bit and apparently the emulation of the machine is superb, so I might give it a go sometime.

Already started. First impressions: * Music and general tone are both good. Makes me wonder why DQ IX felt so unlike Dragon Quest (tonally speaking). Well, I say the tone is typically Dragon Quest, but actually it's a lot moodier and a little bit scary! * One of the early monsters has the "Materialist" skill set! Apart from healing, that's basically all my favourite skills in one group! * Some great use of the DSi's dual screen real estate (this is something I miss on the 3DS). Very cinematic. I have noticed the graphics seem a bit less smooth than DQM:J (less frames of animation?) and the overall story and setting is less appealing. But... I love it. Didn't take me any time to "get into", I've enjoyed it all the way so far.

I don't know if it's my imagination, but the sound on mine was distorting earlier. Oh dear...

Sega, I think, were a particularly exciting company. Seemed they were always working on something new - Mega CD, 32X, new coin-ops - and didn't stick rigidly to accepted console "generations". Suppose it didn't help them much, really, but I agree they were more exciting times with a better atmosphere.

10 days since I completed the post-game of DQM... ...I just can't help myself!

Sorry if this has been posted, but remember people were talking about updates for Super Mario Bros and Metroid? I don't remember seeing anything about the effect they have, so I thought I'd post some photos: