Grazza

For me, MotionPlus is a 2nd wave. A very welcome one, but I wouldn't want it to last too long. It's arriving with Wii Sports Resort, but I'd rather the genuine Wii Sports 2 arrived with the Wii 2. Same with Wii Fit. I'm expecting Wii Fit Plus to be this "clear the shelves" game, but I wouldn't want Wii Fit 2 until the Wii 2. Nintendo have done Mario, Metroid, Smash Bros and Mario Kart this generation. All I really want from them now is Zelda. It would also be nice to see Kid Icarus, Star Fox and a few others. Don't get me wrong, I'm very positive about MotionPlus. It should give us some very good games over the next few years, but I really hope Nintendo are cracking on with their next console now. Anything later than 2012 would be a bit too late, in my opinion.

Yes, I'm afraid I do mention it a lot! Even though I'd say I enjoy most games I play, DQVIII is the last game that I thought was truly exceptional. £1.99 eh? Amazing value! If it grabs you, you'll be laughing at how good it is for the price. Considering how much enjoyment I've got out of it, at that price, it'd have cost me 2p per minute!

I've been catching up with Season 1 of Flight of the Conchords and some of it has been cracking me up, particularly Jemaine's underreactions to everything and Murray's outbursts.

I've got a really good feeling about this game: Cel-shading - great Less gore - great MotionPlus-only - great It just seems to me they're really getting a handle on what sort of game should be made for the Wii - not too violent but not too obscure either. It could (and should) be the first traditional game to really prove motion control enhances the experience.

I'm really keen on a new Kid Icarus game. OK, maybe the NES original is not that good (I don't know, I haven't played it), but nor is the original Metroid or Zelda (in my opinion). Not disrespecting them, but time moves on. Kid Icarus needs its "Super Metroid" or "Ocarina of Time".

Panzer Dragoon Saga is a good RPG and I've not actually ever seen the gameplay matched, with the dragon riding and calculating your moves based on whether your opponent is going to be behind you, in front of you, to the left or to the right for whichever turn. However, I still wouldn't pay anything like £80 for it. Good buy. ICO is good, Shadow of the Colossus is even better and if you like RPGs I recommend Dragon Quest: Journey of the Cursed King.

The two that particularly inspired me were Wind Waker and Dragon Quest VII (Journey of the Cursed King). Wind Waker made me think of all the mysterious things that could be found out at sea: viewing platforms, towers, tiny islands with strange statues on them, lighthouses with beams that pierce through the sky, phoenix-like birds perching on needle-type rocks... If you look at a map in real life, there really are lots of towers, forts and islands offshore, certainly between England and France anyway. Dragon Quest VIII, on the other hand, really showed me how you could be made to feel you're on a journey. There's one bit in particular, when you're on your way to Arcadia Castle, and you pass through enormous valleys/gorges. I'd never truly had that feeling I was travelling through huge areas before, and this delivered that. You don't have to have flat, barren landscapes. Huge hills/mountains lined with trees help greatly in giving a sense of scale.

I'm a big fan of certain 2D games, and it goes way beyond nostalgia. I prefer any RPG or adventure in 3D, for immersion, but anything based around jumping is best when kept on a 2D plane and viewed from the side. I consider the "SNES-quality" Metroids leaps and bounds ahead of Metroid Prime and whilst I love how they brought Mario into 3D, I still think Super Mario World is in some ways the best. 2D games certainly don't need gimmicks. Look how successful the relatively gimmick-free New Super Mario Bros on the DS was. You can also apply 2D to other styles like Metroid and action-RPGs like Wonder Boy III/Wonder Boy in Monster World - two great games on the Master System and Megadrive - much better than Zelda II, in my opinion (I know I said I liked the immersion of 3D, but they involved jumping). What I don't understand is the idea 2D games are low-tech. Surely 2D games need as much graphical power as 3D? And this is another thing: why keep them on NES/SNES engines? I used to dream about machines that could run full, platform/adventure-type games using Street Fighter III-quality sprites. Then polygons took over and it never happened. This may be controversial, but I don't love the hand-drawn style like in Wario Land: the Shake Dimension (which I own, by the way) and the forthcoming Boy & His Blob remake. Hand-drawn, 2.5D or 2D sprites, beggars can't be choosers, but I'd love to see Metroid V one day with a proper, beefed-up Samus sprite.

Nando, I'm sure you made the right decision, because it was your instinct telling you to get rid of the Saturn. Also, I don't want to be a hypocrite, because I did sell mine years ago. Times move on. However, I must say, I think you played the sort of games that have become more outdated than others. My favourites were the sprite-based games like Story of Thor 2 and Guardian Heroes. Although, like I say, you didn't like the machine, so I doubt it'd be worth the money to seek these out.

Yep, I still play on my PS2. Like others, I used to be anti-Sony (for "putting Sega out of business", as such), but the truth is that's marketing and the mainstream for you. It doesn't matter whether the dominant console is the PlayStation, PS2 or Wii, great games will always be underappreciated. The whole Twilight Princess/Wii scenario helped me to get over my anti-Sony stance, and I'm glad I did, because I'd hate to have missed some absolute gems. My favourite two games are Shadow of the Colossus and (particularly) Dragon Quest: Journey of the Cursed King.

Nor can I. I had to rush out yesterday, but I meant to put two more games: Final Fantasy IV I really liked FFIII, but FFIV introduced the ATB (Active Timed Battle), which I could not get on with at all. I know it sounds strange, but I kept setting it to "Wait" and it just didn't seem to work. The odd thing is, I didn't have any problem with it in FFXII. I didn't much like that game either, but it did "Wait" when I wanted it to. Beyond Good & Evil I've got no problem with this game at all (I did complete it), but at no point was I particularly inspired or excited. OK, I did like sending the photo reports and the ally A.I. was quite impressive, but that's about it. I think it's one of those games that has an atmosphere and setting that will totally grab some people, but not others.

Thank you kind sir! Yes indeed. I particularly like the way there's just one town, and that's your "base". You can do everything there to prepare yourself for your next expedition. I also love the music at night and in Shileka's shop. Ah, I see, thanks. I'm thinking of completely ignoring the "mid-tier" elemental spells and taking the strongest ones up to 5. That way, I can Boost to simulate them at max power. If I feel I need one of them at maximum, I think I can drop my character 10 levels and get all the skill points back.

There is only one title in the history of gaming that I think should have been a lot better, and that is... Zelda: Twilight Princess As Jonnas says, it would have been better if they'd stuck to a single format (the GameCube, in my opinion). The New Play Control version of Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat shows just how much certain games have to be modified in order to make a Wii version. Unlike DK though, Zelda's modifications were ported back to the GameCube version. It just doesn't control like OOT, MM or WW and, as such, feels like an itch I can't scratch. This is most bothersome when I pull R to try and get my shield out. I've no problem with games appearing on the Wii, but Twilight Princess should have focused on the GameCube, with a New Play Control version later (if they wanted). Only trouble is, that would have shown just how much the game would need to be changed... After all, I don't see an NPC version of Wind Waker... Some of the other design decisions were remarkable (in a bad way) like the rupee explanations/putting rupees back, and it generally just felt like they'd forgotten all the ways they'd advanced the series technically (like 3D towns, 1st-person view any time, optional camera control all the time). It's a great game, but it could have been near-perfect - a 10/10 rather than a 9/10. We only get a console Zelda every four years or so, and this just wasn't close enough to perfection (like they normally are).

Metroid Prime I love Zero Mission and Fusion, but to me, putting Metroid in 1st-person perspective is taking it one step too far away from the 2D games. I'd probably like it if it was 3rd-person. The 2D Metroids focused so much on jumping and evasion, the fact you can't see Samus in Metroid Prime is just too problematic for me. There's also the fact you have to switch between visors and different types of laser beam. Now I like changing between lasers, missiles and bombs in the 2D games, but having to switch between types of laser beam and adding visors to the formula (which you also have to keep changing) just takes it too far. I got up to the final boss, but after about 15 attempts and not even getting near to the 2nd stage of the battle, I realised I wasn't having any fun and hadn't had much fun the entire game. The 2D games tested your reactions, sure (they're very difficult), but having to switch between plasma beam, ice beam, wave beam etc and visors and not being able to see Samus was just too much for me. Mario Kart I just don't "get" this at all. My neighbour got Super Mario Kart on the SNES for his birthday and I went round to play it. He claimed to love it and thought it was much better than F-Zero (which I had), but I just didn't see it at all. For one thing, it wasn't even full-screen. Even with later versions, I just can't see the fun in driving skilfully and then getting stopped by a weapon.

Well that's where you're wrong, darksnowman, because I love it! Seriously, to me this does not have the same problems as Dragon Quest IV at all. My main complaint about that game was that you had different types of mages: one could do fire, one could do ice etc. Same for the healers. In Etrian Odyssey, the Mage can do everything. OK, there are nine different job classes (seven to me at the moment), but they are all completely different and each one can do everything you'd expect for that job class. The party I've settled on is: Landsknecht (because he works well with the Alchemist) Protector (superb defensive skills) Alchemist (I consider a mage pretty essential) Medic (a healer is essential) Bard (I wanted someone who could regain everyone's TP) It's working very well, although I did get frustrated for a few days thinking I had to actually defeat the Wyvern on Floor 8, instead of just sneaking round it. One thing I love about this game is that the mission is so focused. You have one town and one labyrinth. I find this very neat.

Ah, that takes me back. It took me a while to remember what the Controller Pak was, but then I remembered I actually had one - for a game called Holy Magic Century (which wasn't all that great, but there you go!) LOL, that's what I've been thinking recently! Specifically, it's considered an underrated game, yet most gamers love it! But yes, that was another good read. More philosophical than the last one, which doesn't resonate with me as much as analysing the gameplay mechanics, but I still agreed with it. I particularly liked the comparison with the way King Arthur is retold (and Robin Hood, although it doesn't mention that). I always love to compare Zelda to Blackadder too.

I bought this today, £14.99 at GAME. Not sure if it was the last one or not. I've got a feeling I'm going to like it, and I won't moan about having to choose different characters!

Indeed! Streets of Rage was OK for a home game on a console. Good 2-player fun too. I never actually bought Streets of Rage because loads of my friends had it. I did buy Streets of Rage 2 though and the Megadrive conversion of Double Dragon which, apart from some puny sound effects, was as close to having the coin-op as you could buy at that time (unless you bought the ROM). Street Fighter Alpha 2 on the Saturn was awesome, running in 60hz (it wasn't a good PAL conversion, but the 60hz switch made it perfect). Same goes for Marvel Super Heroes. Actually, Alpha 2 was the first SF I bought (all my friends had SFII on the SNES, but I was never really taken with it). Mind you, I was never very good at those games! Yep! No, 'fraid not (played it, I mean). Well, that's a subject close to my heart actually. In the 80s, our seaside resorts were absolutely choc full of them. In Britain, you're never far from the sea, so, personally, I have at least four seaside towns very near me that all have numerous arcades. Then there were the seasides we'd go on holiday to! My childhood was absolutely full of them! Unfortunately, they do have less arcades now, but they do all still have at least three or so. We didn't really have malls in England in the 80s. We do have them now, but they tend to be huge and don't really have coin-ops. The easiest way to play a coin-op in your home town was to go to a leisure (sports) centre. One of my local leisure centres had a good selection of coin-ops (seemed like 10-15, unless my memory is rose-tinting it) and that's where I first played Double Dragon. I was so excited, I was telling all my friends about this game I played where a bad guy burst through the wall! I couldn't remember its name, but they knew exactly what it was. Then another local leisure centre got Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, and I used to go there every week to play it!

Yep, that's lovely. You can get it on PS2, PSP and Xbox, plus there's a new downloadable one for Xbox 360 that looks very similar.

Good thread, darkjak. Super Mario World This was my first SNES game. I had a Megadrive, but my neighbour kept telling me how much better the SNES was. We actually first encountered it in the arcade (via a sort of promotional coin-op). My friend put his money in, chose the "Yoshi house" stage near the beginning that isn't really a stage. His time ran out and he declared it amazing! I didn't think it was amazing based on that evidence alone, but I was soon convinced when my neighbour bought a SNES and we played it co-op round his house so much. Still the best Mario game, in a way. Link to the Past I saw this in Mean Machine magazine and I had a feeling it was a bit special. Well, needless to say, when it was released it was the talk of the school (or at least the SNES owners!) We all had to own this amazing game. I wish I'd have played Super Metroid, but I didn't. Link's Awakening There was something so special about playing this on my Game Boy/Game Boy Pocket. It was like delving into a different world. The hooting of the owl was strangely dream-like and it was a joy to hear Ballad of the Wind Fish played ever-more richly the more musical instruments you acquired. Super Mario 64 We all know the story with this one! I saw it in a magazine and thought "Wow!" And we all remember our first test of this in a games shop! Ocarina of Time I actually sold my N64, then re-bought it for this, and it was simply as good as everyone says. Majora's Mask I was beginning to get bored with games at this point, but this was the one last game I really enjoyed. Super Mario Sunshine I had been completely bored with games for years at this point, but I remembered Mario and Zelda games were special, so, one dark November I treated myself to a GameCube. It was brilliant! I'll never forget being able to escape from the cold and dark into beautiful Caribbean, Hawaiian and other exotic environments. Not only was the atmosphere perfect, so was the gameplay. This well and truly got me back into gaming. Wind Waker I waited until the same Christmas to play Wind Waker, and... Oh my word! I couldn't believe how much the formula had been improved from the (brilliant) N64 games. I rushed through it and, yes, it felt a bit short as I completed it in about a week. However, the following week, spent exploring all the different islands, is to this day the most enjoyable gaming experience I've had. The Legend of Zelda 2004 Trailer This was jaw-dropping. At this point, I expected a sort of "Majora's Mask", ie. as good as the main Zelda of that gen (Wind Waker), but in a different place. I feel even as early as 2005, when the Wolf, Midna and the Twilight were revealed it had lost something compared to what I had imagined. Add all the technical issues and the fact it was set in Hyrule, and I feel it strayed way too far from that trailer and what it could have been. Metroid: Zero Mission I really disliked Metroid Prime, but I thought I'd give a 2D Metroid a go. I'm glad I did! Playing this on my lovely Game Boy Micro was the first time I'd loved a handheld game since Link's Awakening.

My favourites are mainly scrolling beat-em-ups. I loved Double Dragon first of all, then Bad Dudes vs. Dragonninja. Later on, Sega's Spider-Man was very good. So was their coin-op Golden Axe sequel (much better than Golden Axe II).

Thank you, Hero-of-Time. That is the most intelligent and perceptive article I've ever read. I agree with it almost 100%. Not me. Actually. I still like that! Seriously, sometimes it fits into an adventure or RPG well, as long as it's not a selling-point. I particularly agree with these points: (Actually, I don't quite agree about TP's gameplay mechanics being perfect.) So, so true, most of it.

I agree with your basic principle, darkjak, but people know the handheld games aren't going to be as good as the console ones. Personally, I'd much rather still have Flagship making them, then Nintendo could concentrate on the main series. Same goes for the spin-offs like Crossbow Training. People realise they aren't real Zelda games. Also, was Tetra's Trackers even released in the West? As for the main series, it's a shame you don't like Wind Waker. Have you played it all the way though? It has so much heart put into it, with all the small touches that make a "genius" game. It really was Ocarina of Time 2, with almost every aspect of that game retained and improved upon. There are no real flaws, only slight issues caused by the nature of the game. Like Majora's Mask, though, the overall game concept greatly outweighed any "flaws" inherent in the game style. Is there really a last-gen game better than Wind Waker? I don't think so. (In fact, is there even a game better than Wind Waker?!) Now, I have to agree with Twilight Princess. I see three main problems with it: 1) The delay meant it was less impressive as a Wii game in 2006 than it might have been as a GameCube game in 2005. Plus, as I always say, there were a lot of modifications to it in that time. This is the only real annoyance about the game. 2) The graphics were brilliant - they pushed the GameCube to its absolute limit. This, however, did mean it wasn't technically as good as previous games (Wind Waker in particular). The loading times alone are at least three times worse than any other Zelda! 3) This is the most concerning flaw - it did rather lack inspiration and even had some staggering flaws, like putting rupees back in chests and telling you how much each rupee was worth every time. This, combined with the lack of magical touches, does make me rather concerned about the next one. Hopefully I'll be proven very wrong!!!

To be honest, no. It looks too violent/realistic for me.

Yes indeed. This is the first proof that the Wii can emulate the N64 + RAM pak. I know the disc loads Ocarina of Time in its entirety before you start playing, but I can't remember if it does the same with MM. I think you're right about the actual emulator being lacking. Not only was there the dreaded game-freezing, apparently the were problems with the sound (as you say) and the appearance of the light bounced off the Mirror Shield too. I'm going to assume the extra power of the Wii allows perfect emulation, as they couldn't charge money for the GameCube version. Great news. I will buy it a 3rd time!