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WackerJr

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Posts posted by WackerJr

  1. Posted

    On 22/03/2024 at 7:52 PM, MindFreak said:

    So, 3 Body Problem is out. Yay or nay? Can't decide, the trailer didn't really do much to me but when reading about it, it sounds promising.

    Anyone else watched it? I was thinking the same, but haven’t watched it yet.

  2. Posted

    I’ve played a few GameBoy games on NSO recently:

    Kirby’s Dream Land
    98ac8d01e91f94da840662427f474582.jpg

    It was nice to see where the pink (err… white) puffball started, but ultimately felt this was pretty underwhelming.

    I appreciate the inhale technique was improved in future games with the ability to take on abilities. Here you can suck enemies in and spit them out. While this created the unique attacking concept for defeating many enemies, the fact that you can simply inhale air and spit it out as an attack nulled a lot of the need for me to use enemies as projectiles instead.

    Yes this would’ve been impressive and likely fun at the time, as far as early handheld platformers go, but really feeling its age now for me.


    Super Mario Land 2
    7897063f0e1d54943850a82a0f95807b.jpg

    The bulky sprites make this look like a Mario game and add character to the cast. However, the compromise of having large characters on a small screen meant the gameplay is really slowed down to allow for the subsequent small viewing area.

    Not as good as I remember. Just so slow with a low difficulty level.

    It’s not a tricky game. It was fun finding the hidden exits, but even though I hadn’t played this in around a decade (as a download on 3DS) I was able to blast through it in just over an hour, finding most of the hidden routes. I can imagine most people getting through it faster.

    • Like 4
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  3. Posted

    On 30/03/2024 at 11:31 AM, Cube said:

    Are there any other PS2/Xbox games that feel like they have an association with Nintendo or the N64, but never came out on GameCube - not so much "games that would have been nice on GameCube", but strange omissions (even if they were exclusive deals) - Soulcalibur III perhaps because of the popularity of 2 on the GameCube.

    You’ve covered the main ones I could think of, with the Rare move along with Shadowman (I didn’t realise about Winback though).

    Okami came to Wii.  I suppose Toe Jam & Earl 3 was being developed as a Nintendo/ multi-platform game at one point.  Too Human, as a Silicon Knights game I thought would be released on GameCube, before eventually coming out in XBox 360.  I only recall that one as I read about how they’d lost a lawsuit and had to stop making new copies of the game / destroy existing copies.  I immediately tracked down and bought a copy for cheap (under a fiver) and have still never played it, thinking it would naturally become a collector’s item.  Needless to say, over a decade later and interest never picked up - you can pick it up for a couple of quod on eBay! 😂

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    Spoiler

     

    Metroid Dread (Switch)

    A triumphant return for the Metroid series and while it doesn’t reinvent the franchise, it is essentially 2D Metroid on modern consoles.

    The counter move, introduced in the 3DS Samus Returns I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) adds an extra nuance to gameplay, although is pretty much a necessity on bosses.  Speaking of which, I thought the bosses here were excellent.  Each major one I did, I pretty much got wiped out quickly and wondered how I’d ever defeat it, especially with no visible life bar.  However, each attempt I lasted a little longer through naturally learning the attack patterns and my fingers hitting the right buttons a fraction quicker.  It’s a pretty cool feeling and motivation to persevere, and actually after a few attempts I found I was taking them down.

    I’m glad they introduced the QoL improvements such as areas of the map flashing to indicate there’s a hidden power-up, without revealing exactly where it is, and the scanner to identify breakable blocks in an area.  I was never that great in backtracking and finding lots in previous games, so this made that aspect faster and much less frustrating, especially as having a host of missiles and health is vital later on.

    I can see why views are mixed on the E.M.M.I. stealth sections.  I appreciate whst they added, but I didn’t really enjoy them, employing a more cowardly ‘run, run, as fast as you can’ mentality a lot if time and seeing way too much of Samus’ death animation!  I preferred the Zero Mission stealth sections.

    The Shinespark puzzles were clever, although some used mechanics I don’t recall the game ever mentioning, which made some much trickier.  I did need to look up help on a few.  

    I had no desire to replay it though, unlike some of the previous games, so I was determined to at least find and collect 100% of the items.

    Overall, great game, and fixes a Metroid itch and will introduce many to the 2D Metroid games.  It feels tough, and players need a little patience, especially with boss battles.   A good ‘once and done’ title.

    • Like 4
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  5. Posted

    Spoiler

    https://youtu.be/Ng87PCdSoRg?si=tTLu8F1sIYLen8be

    Into the Breach (Switch)

    I remember @Londragon raving about this a few years, so I finally got around to trying out this roguelike turn-based strategy game.

    Starting off with just three units who failed miserably to defend my cities, I quickly realised this wasn’t an easy game (until I changed the difficulty setting anyway!).

    I was expecting Advance Wars, but actually Into the Breach does enough to differentiate itself and carve out its own unique and fun niche.

    Battles aren’t necessarily won by defeating the ever respawning the alien bugs, but simply by surviving each short 5-turn level.  Each of your three units has a pilot, who earns experience which can give them a couple of new skills over time.  If any of them die in a level then the unit itself will be replaced next level, but the pilot will no longer be able to able to earn experience. Each level has optional objectives which earn you additional stars, which can be used later to replenish the health of your cities or to gain new abilities or maximum health.  I like that this allows for you to strategise in each level and amend tactics, as the upgrades do become very useful as the game gets tougher later on.

    The best part for me was the decision to show you what the enemy is planning to do on its next turn.  This allows you to prioritise certain enemies and potentially push them or dodge so they end up attacking and taking out each other.  It’s a tremendous idea that turns each go into a puzzle.

    It was fun for a short time. I could have invested more time earning even more unit types, but after opening all levels and beating the final level it did feel a little too repetitive to me.  I ended up spending probably too much time on each level working out strategies for what would only need to be 5 turns each time.  For me personally I prefer the Advance Wars story-lead gameplay with a little more variety to levels as opposed to the shorter number of levels but do them repeatedly with different unit types mentality of Into the Breach. 

    I can see the appeal though, and with plenty of unit types to open it has legs for those wanting to put the hours in. Glad I played it, and fun for a short while. 

    • Like 1
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  7. Posted

    2 hours ago, lostmario said:

    Not sure what my next lunch time GBA game is, maybe the Super Mario Advance series...

    They probably really good as lunch time games.  If you get the chance to play the version of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3 (or SMA4:SMB3 for short....) on Switch instead then of course you get the added advantage of the bonus eReader levels.  Certainly not compulsory to play, but a nice bonus for those overly familiar with Mario 3.

  8. Posted

    Do we know any more about the release date for this?  I remember seeing clips of this and it looked genuinely creepy.  I’m not sure I’ll get it, but I am interested to find out more.

  9. Posted

    Spoiler

    When the boss appeared I thought I had a chance as I was constantly freezing it & pummeling it so it wasn’t getting to me. Then a second showed up!  I was somehow managing both of them before a third blighter showed up and demolished me!!! 😂

    Well I feel as though I made the most of that trial.  By some miracle I managed to survive 30 minutes on one level once (library - thanks folks for your tips!).  

    Frustratingly I’ve just realised that you could evolve items and I now understand how.  Oh well.

    It’s great value for money and I can see why it’s so popular.  I don’t know if I’ll go back to it and get it, with the backlog I’m still working through.  I thoroughly enjoyed it this week although can see it getting a little repetitive after a short while and I don’t think I’d have the patience (or ability?) to unlock everything.  It’s a very satisfying game though!

    • Thanks 2

  10. Posted

    I’ve managed to survive over 10 minutes now on a few occasions, but I’ve been struck down each time by the new wave.  I’ve no idea yet how to get past it, but I’m having a blast trying!

    • Thanks 1

  11. Posted

    I remember the disappointment when teller first Apollo Justice game came out and it didn’t star Phoenix Wright.  Then it came out and it proved to be a worthy game in the Ace Attorney series!  I really enjoyed the story in the first one, and it’s good to see the DS games getting the chance to be played by more.  
    While I still think the original trilogy were the strongest in the series, these were excellent, and the fan service in the extra content of Spirit of Justice was a nice surprise.

    I wonder if we’ll ever get the Mikes Edgeworth spin-off games at some point?  Probably the weaker entries, but having played the first one it’s by no means a bad game.

    Hopefully this is all to increase the audience for the AA series and that they have a brand new title in development.

  12. Posted

    Spoiler

     

    Oh wow, I’m quite far behind on posting to this thread this year, and I’ve been succcessfully sifting through some of my backlog too!

    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)

    Needing no introduction, I loved this game!  I was worried to begin with that the building mechanics would get in the way of the gameplay, and after fumbling around trying unsuccessfully to build a simple cart I quickly realised it didn’t matter if I wasn’t creative and I wasn’t being forced to spend time building things.

    The game hides so many wonderful moments and secrets throughout its world that it was a pleasure exploring. 
    I get that it’s not for everyone, and there is much to be said for a return to the more streamlined games in the series.

    There are plenty of creative scenarios, and I loved the way the developers created subtle hints on how to solve puzzles without ever holding your hand.

    In what other game could you solve 3-dimensional mirror puzzles while paragliding in a low gravity Death Star???! (IYKYN)

    I got hooked on the exploration, the surprises, the characters and the gameplay.  Perfect? No.  Memorable? Absolutely!

     

    • Like 2
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  14. Posted

    9 hours ago, Glen-i said:

    This is the next game on Switch's Game Trials feature.

    "First hit's free".

    Brilliant!  I’ve been too stingy to pay the £4 so far for this (that plus I’m still a long way from catching up on my backlog!), but I will definitely check this out during the trial period!

  17. Posted

    It seemed common sense not to release this at the same time. I know Sega’s advertising has made some questionable decisions over the years, but it should never have been released that week, regardless of whether it was Nintendo or Sega that picked the date first.  

  18. Posted

    Thanks all.  6 dungeons in now and no deaths (not bragging as I did play a lot of the DX version, and Crazy Tracey’s potion has been reapplied on occasion!).  It’s mainly to know whether it’s worth reloading should I die in the latter stages.  From the consensus I’ll persevere to finish death-less, but good to know that if I hadn’t already up to this point then I wouldn’t have worried.  Cheers!

  19. Posted

    Glad to hear someone else enjoying this game.  Link’s Awakening DX was my first GameBoy Color game (the first handheld game I ever owned), having bought the console to play this game alone, and I was not disappointed.

    I’ve finally gotten around to playing the Switch version, having put it off due to how close to the original I heard it was, and so offering very little actually new.  I’m entering my 6th dungeon right now, and I agree with what’s been said in this thread, it plays it a little to safe and close to the original.  The frame rate really does stutter in a lot of areas.  I’m thankfully not too bothered by the drops and it hasn’t affected my enjoyment though.

    I’ve been a little disappointed in the dungeon maker, but I’m not sure what I was expecting.  Part of the joy of Zelda dungeons is in solving its various puzzles and the mystery of what’s coming next.  With the dungeon maker you use rooms you’ve already solved or explored, and there’s no mystery because you’ve designed it yourself.

    Overall though, I still love the game.  The world design and how everything ties together and the new items/abilities allow you access to new areas is great.  All while keeping the world small enough so that you’re never too far away from the next area, or if you fancy exploring then you won’t have to wander around for hours.

    Ok, onto the next dungeon.  Spoiler-free question for those who have completed it - is it still worth finishing it without dying? 

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  20. Posted

    Spoiler

    I was worried you’d spend most of the time watching them sit around talking, but the challenges during the day add some interesting twists.

    Most of them seem so fickle though!  One person is deliberately asked to rank the others, or put themselves in the hypothetical order, with no rewards, and some of them are getting upset with them.  It doesn’t matter people!

    The ‘all it needs is one vote’ is a clever way to put everyone on edge mind.  I wonder how long it’ll take the millionaire to tell everyone. He’s just dying to broadcast it, at which point someone’s going to get annoyed and vote him out I expect.

    Thanks. I’m three episodes into The Trust and it’s an interesting concept.

     

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    Like most responses, I personally would love it but it won’t be the deciding factor for me.

    I still have a backlog of Switch games.  I’ve had this issue on other consoles, but when I couldn’t play them on the system I had out they tend to get pushed the back and in most cases I’ve been too lazy to break out the old console to play it.  The portability of Switch may help, as I still occasionally play 3DS / DS games as it’s little effort to simply pick up that console.

  22. Posted

    Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll is brutally hard in later levels!  I don’t remember it being that tough, even with the rewind feature.

    Although saying that, I don’t remember getting that far in the first place so I doubt I ever saw those levels before…

    • Like 1

  25. Posted

    I love the news is that they’ve delayed something they haven’t even announced yet.  I also think it’s a great cop out for a leaker to say something had been delayed when they’re proven to be wrong…

    Ok so that’s me being cynical as I appreciate Jeff does seem to have a lot of reputable contacts (‘reputable’ meaning they’ll tell him secrets so that term seems a bit contradictory to me!), so it’s possible this has all happened.

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