Grazza

OK, I completed Kid Icarus, so thanks to @Eightbit for the moral support! It's a strange game, but there's a lot to like: crisp graphics, responsive controls and some pretty decent platforming overall. It's funny how levels 1-1 to 1-4 are the hardest. After that, it's a breeze. I can certainly understand how it might have been hard for Nintendo to make a modern version. Which bits to keep? Which not to? Which genre was the original and which genre should the new one be? All difficult questions, in my opinion. But anyway, quite a nice game, and I might play it again. Thanks Nintendo!

The only "problem" I have with Nintendo Video is that it downloads everything without asking which ones you want, therefore wasting bandwidth. You could set it not to, but then you don't get anything, and some of them are cool. It might be better if it informed you which videos are available, then you download which ones you want from the eShop, like the trailers for Luigi's Mansion 2 etc. I suppose the problem is that Nintendo don't own the content, and thus can't offer it indefinitely.

I saw this article on IGN today and found it very inspiring: http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/121/1217776p1.html Yes, of course I'd like a 2D Zelda, but also Mario and Metroid, as well as original titles (I think they should develop a series like Zelda II/Shantae/Monster World, for instance). Gaming has got to the point where I'm really missing the pure 2D games. Not that I dislike 3D - I just think the two types should play to their strengths. 3D games should have vast, explorable worlds and dual analogue control. 2D games should be simple, free of narrative and with that instant gratification you can only get with sprites. The thing about sprites is that polygons are not automatically better. As the article points out, Ocarina of Time being awesome does not diminish Link to the Past. Nor was Lttp the pinnacle of how good 2D can be. Sprite work could have (and did - look at Guardian Heroes) become better and better with technology. Using polygons is a design choice, nothing more, nothing less - but it is not the only way. So, I am all for a 2D department making games that are totally, utterly unconnected to their 3D incarnations. Let's see how far Super Metroid, Link to the Past and Super Mario World can be surpassed, whilst keeping the feel of the originals.

I was way too harsh on Kid Icarus before. Just done levels 1-4 and 2-1. I put my problems down to being a perfectionist, as the stage is really not that hard (did the boss first time). Level 2-1 was bountiful - I got three power-ups just in that stage! Two were arrow upgrades ("Here, Take This") and one was from succeeding at the Training Chamber. I was surprised to offered all three rewards again, as I already took the Bow in Level 1-3.

Right, that does it. This article has convinced me to get one: http://www.gamesradar.com/ps-vita-it-will-definitely-succeed-although-it-might-completely-fail-heres-why/?page=1 It's not really anything you don't know, just well-written and a reminder that this handheld is absolutely brilliant! No one knows how successful it'll be, but I can't see it being so unsuccessful that Sony wouldn't support it. Vita is Sony's handheld for the forseeable future, and I'm getting onboard.

OK, thanks. I've got 7 mallets, so maybe I'll make do with them, or perhaps buy three more. Nope.

But did you rescue all the cherubs, @Eightbit? How did you afford all the mallets?

Reminds me of (and I'm not saying this because it's @darksnowman) Metroid Prime. I ploughed through that game, but never, ever understood the gameplay or became good at it. Got up to the final boss but couldn't beat it - thought it was the hardest game in the world. Then one day I played Metroid: Zero Mission and suddenly understood Metroid. I found a 2nd-hand copy of Metroid Prime (I sold the original in frustration), played through the whole thing again (this time "getting" it) and defeated the final boss! Anyway, well done 'snowman.

Seriously? You just go to the "Hospital", which admittedly you wouldn't know was a hospital the first time you went in there, because there is no nurse until you get turned into an egglant... It's a very, very idiosyncratic game! Like I say though, I'm going to try and do it without being "perfect". It was probably my fault for trying to rescue everyone.

You need next-gen hardware if you want to keep improving the graphics and keep the technical prowess you've already built up. By the way, my point about the slowdown was not that it ruined the game, just that it was proof there was no spare power to do the rest of the technical things I mentioned.

I know what I fancy - a new Etrian Odyssey! (This comment is not as random as it sounds, but inspired by all this talk of dungeon-crawlers!) Anyway, about Kid Icarus 3D Classics... For me, it has the worst type of difficulty level - that is to say, one that you can spend a long time on and then fail. I did the first three stages, but level 1-4 is more problematic. Maybe it's my fault for being OCD, but I want to rescue all the soldiers/warriors (whatever they are). However, I only collected 7 mallets (not for lack of trying), so have to go backwards and forwards buying more in the dungeon. Then those bloomin' wizards turn me into an eggplant and I have to get myself cured, only the journey to do so could result in failure as I still only have two squares of health. By which time I need to buy more health, so have to spend more time gathering currency and then go back to the shop... Also, I didn't pick up the barrel so can't carry many health potions, etc, etc. I hate to moan about a free game, but it got to the point where it just seemed the opposite of fun. Or am I just misunderstanding it? EDIT - Actually, forget that. I don't know why I'm setting unrealistic targets. I'll just try and complete it "imperfectly".

I take your points about Majora's Mask, Ronnie, but a lot of that was allowed by the extra RAM (compared to OOT). Obviously the N64 was less powerful than the Wii, but the technical quality of the game seems to partly depend on what level you set the graphics at. The irony is Skyward Sword did push the Wii to its limit, as evidenced by the way it could hardly manage the Timeshift Stone gameplay, plus slowdown at other times. It seems to me the processing power was used for the graphics more than the game world. I remember when Ghirahim was walking towards me; it's subtle, but I don't think you could have that level of animation on the GameCube. And yet the general design of the game seemed less high-tech. For example, when approaching Skyloft, you could only see a "fake" version of it. You'd jump off your Loftwing, at which point the "real" version would load up - but you couldn't use this to arrive at a certain point with any accuracy. Compare this to Wind Waker's islands (particularly Windfall Island), which could be approached seemlessly and therefore felt more real.

For me, technical prowess is directly linked to how good the Zelda games have been, with Majora's Mask and Wind Waker the most advanced. It's things like having a timer keeping count of what time of day it is, which day it is (out of 3) or which moon cycle it is. Or having a connected overworld with no noticeable loading times. Of course, processing power doesn't automatically make a good game, but it does give it a better headstart. Graphics and visual style are something different. Personally, I don't take sides between realistic or cartoony, but the Wii U demo is simply the best I've seen so far, so it seems unwise not to use it. There's no reason the whole game couldn't look and play like that. Textures can be re-used. The game can't be full of complex buildings like that, but then Zelda games aren't anyway. To be fair to Skyward Sword, it did get some things absolutely right, like everything about Skyloft, most of all the Bazaar. At the end of the day, technology isn't a magic solution, but it gives a better chance of a good game. It doesn't help that so many reviews called it a "10/10 masterpiece", when there is now something of a consensus about the problems. Or that fans were so hostile to the better reviews that gave it 7/10, or even the 9/10 reviews that were very accurate about the flaws.

That's amazing for a fan video, but the more I think about it, the more I think Nintendo will have to produce something spectacular if they are to be justified in not using the style of the E3 2011 demo.

Go to "Titles You've Downloaded" on the eShop. Even though you haven't actually downloaded them, that's where they are.

Gain muscle. To be fair to my instructor, he knows that, which is why he suggests I not waste energy, of course. I just do a 5-minute warm-up. I'm not overweight (6' 3" and about 14 stone), it's just that I can "pinch an inch". In the past I have got my waist down to 32", which seemed just right to me. My instructor suggested I save all my calories for muscle-building, then burn off any fat if I need to at a later date.

Didn't realise I was the one who started this thread... Anyway, I finally tracked down Thor. I'm afraid I had to buy it 2nd-hand, as I didn't want to pay £29.99 and, if ever it was reduced, I missed it. The first thing that struck me were the visuals. They must surely be the best the DS can manage. Every enemy is richly-detailed and lovingly-animated, with a superb choice of colour palette. The genre is firmly beat-em-up, the type that hardly gets made any more. I have to think back to something like Bad Dudes vs Dragonninja or Two Crude Dudes to compare it to something. The combat, on the other hand, is more about combos and juggling than the previously mentioned games. Think "Guardian Heroes", but set on a single plane (instead of three). Thor features all the elements I used to love so much when I was a young, Megadrive owner: enemies can be picked up and thrown, scenery can be destroyed (with satisfying sound effects) and used as a weapon or thrown at the various enemies who burst in from all directions, often imaginatively. Despite Thor's strength being evident when destroying the scenery, it is less obvious against the enemies. Whilst I can accept trolls and other monsters are a good match for Thor, it could be argued that all his opponents have too much stamina. None of them are very difficult to fight, but all need to be hit multiple times. The end result is you may stand there bashing them longer than you'd like. One nice touch is finding runes, which can be used to upgrade Thor's helmet, armour and Mjolnir. Choosing which one you want to use for each of the three categories provides a welcome touch of customisation. Bosses are another chance to show off the graphics. The dual-screen titans of Acts III and VI are particularly impressive, requiring Thor to fly between the upper and lower screens. Unfortunately, if Thor seemed weak against normal enemies, it is even more pronounced against the bosses, especially the 7th, which is rock hard (after a curiously easy stage). Thor can only chip away at their HP and, as boss projectiles seem to do a ridiculous amount of damage, victory is largely down to whether you're lucky enough to avoid their lasers/fireballs for long enough. The end result is a distinct lack of catharsis. Overall, Thor is a lovingly-crafted homage to both Marvel's comics and traditional gaming. All seven Acts (with three Stages each) took me 4 hours 15 minutes to complete (with a sore thumb at the end!) Due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay, I only had fun for about half that time. Nonetheless, Thor dazzles with its fantastic graphics and authenticity. Graphics: 10/10 Sound: 7/10 Gameplay: 5/10 Overall: 6/10

My personal trainer often says "Don't waste your energy" if I do more than 5 minutes running. Trouble is, I know doing longer (I only ever do 10 minutes max) burns more fat, so I judge it on how much time I have on the day and how much flab I have in any particular week.

Exactly the same thing happened to me, about 30 times. Link just starts running round in circles. It's never happened to me in any other game, and the connection between Nunchuk and Remote didn't even seem loose.

Funnily enough, I picked up Phoenix Wright 3 the other day. I'm keen on a 5th one, but am cautious, because I could see this being for iPad.

Fair point, @King_V. I can't really argue against that because, as you say, Majora's Mask was on N64 and was still better. Also, I have honestly played PS2 games with much better overworlds, such as Dragon Quest VIII and Shadow of the Colossus.

A lot of good points there, Captain Falcon. Perhaps that is why I didn't enjoy Super Metroid quite as much as Zero Mission/Fusion. That said, I think every Metroid game is good apart from the very first, which I feel is antiquated, but that's how I feel about every NES game. Also, I haven't yet played Metroid II, although I have purchased it. Despite what I've said, I do think 3D games should use analogue sticks, it's just that I thought there were a few benefits of the D-pad in Other M. The real issue to me is separating 2D and 3D games, which is something I feel Nintendo is having a problem with at the moment. To my mind, 2D Metroid is perfect, Metroid Prime takes advantage of what 3D gaming can offer, whilst Other M is better in some ways than Prime, but inferior in others, and doesn't have any advantages over pure 2D Metroid. I would like to see them build upon Other M, but also Prime. Combining them seems the only way, although I think Other M should be the starting point. A perfect 3D Metroid would need Prime's analogue stick, lock-on, missile button and 1st-person, as well as Other M's 3rd-person, pacing and overall design.

Well OK, but the end result was that Wall Jumping and Space Jump were far inferior in the Prime games. Other M felt much more like Metroid than any Prime.

Yeah, that's what I thought. I wouldn't exercise my biceps two days in a row, but I thought you could go running five times per week.

That's not it at all, Ronnie. A sharp display helps, and I fully admit that I favour good graphics and high resolution, but when I say "HD console", I'm even more interested in the increased processing grunt implicit in that. Up until now, Nintendo haven't had the technology to build a proper Hyrule, or at least one that is more advanced than OOT's, hence the strange structure of Skyward Sword. Twilight Princess was a better attempt at a dry-land overworld, but still limited by the technology. So when I look forward to an HD Zelda, I look forward to the Hyrule of my imagination being realised, as well as better graphics.