Woah, check out this upcoming DS dungeon RPG ("Eruminajiyu"). Those are gorgeous enemy portraits. (NeoGutsman) (02:54:43 07/21/08 EST)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is only $16.99 new at Amazon.com! Don't forget that orders of $25 or more on in-stock items at Amazon get free shipping, too! BUY IT. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (13:06:43 07/19/08 EST)
Uhg. I don't know what Iga was thinking about when he decided to make Castlevania Judgement cause it looks like crap. Good thing Castlevania: Ecclesia looks fantastic. (n/t) (Darius) (17:15:51 07/18/08 EST)
Super Real Mahjong Premium Collection is now on clearance at NCS for $33.90 (includes free shipping). I've beaten the game twice over and almost a third, and had tons of fun. It does require a level of commitment on par with a light RPG, because you will lose a LOT, but if you change the settings like I did in the Option menu (at least that's what I think I did), you can at least replay a level and not lose progress. For those who are more recent visitors here, I have a FAQ available on the Sector: NGP website. It's got a few errors gameplay-wise, but otherwise I think you can marshal through the game just fine with it. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (12:22:54 07/18/08 EST)
Is it odd to sit in your house with all the lights off and headphones on playing the DS? Because that's all I want to do anymore. Soul Bubbles, baby. It has the most incredible sound. The audio in games very rarely grabs me--in fact, I often turn the sound off and just listen to my stereo instead--but Soul Bubbles is just so wonderful. The sound effects are very real, with all kinds of great natural tones and timbre. The clacking of stones and rustle of leaves and gurgle of water...mmmm. They all match each other and the visuals in a way that seems very rare in video games. And then the music...the music is even more amazing. It's really just sort of ambient musicality, but it fits the game's theme and sound effects so perfectly. Each world within the game is based on a shamanistic tradition from somewhere in the world and the music is built around those same themes, with drumming and chanting in the Pacific Northwest world or bells and great vibrating horns in the Tibetan one, etc. What's really cool, though, is that the music not just a simple waveform audio track that starts playing when the level begins and continues playing in a predictable way through the level. Instead, it changes in rather complex ways as you move through the level. Different themes and instrumentation begin and end as you move into and out of different parts of the level, but it always flows smoothly so that you wouldn't even notice. But if you leave a section and come back, you'll see that the music changes accordingly, or if you stay in the same place for a long time, the music won't change at all. This can give certain parts of a level a superb sense of mysticism or importance and really multiplies the sense of otherworldliness in the game. A wonderful touch that I've encountered in other games, too, but never done as well as this. (n/t) (Sweater Fish Deluxe) (15:52:57 07/17/08 EST)
Animal Crossing! Wild World and City Folk connectivity! Check out the rest of the details inside, and make sure you hold on to your AC:WW because Nintendo's made sure you can make use of it :) (NeoGutsman) (22:33:43 07/16/08 EST)
Jeurja, Rhythm Heaven was announced as a US release at E3. You still gonna import? Anyway, saw some vids, and now I get what you mean about the melding of quickie game, timing, and music. Looks neat, but now I'm sure it's not for me. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (19:19:28 07/15/08 EST)
Wow, Umihara Kawase PSP is getting the localization treatment and being brought here as Yumi's Odd Odyssey. I dunno how the PSP port is, but if you're looking for the biggest platforming challenge of your life, here it is. I found the PS version very fucking hard, but I will admit that I didn't understand the controls properly. Great fucking music, by the way. Very Japanese elevator music style. Nah, that's not right - just YouTube it to see what I mean. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (23:51:52 07/14/08 EST)
Why did I wait so long to play the copy of Drill Dozer I got for Christmas? This game is fantastic. It's a perfect example of that SNES2 style game that made me love the GBA so much. Either that, or I love all games about Drilling. I'm not sure which. (n/t) (PopaSmear) (17:35:47 07/13/08 EST)
The KORG DS-10 is coming out stateside and I'm just a big bundle of squeals and happy sounds! (twelvestep) (15:50:25 07/12/08 EST)
YAWN hipster game. (n/t) (substance J) (15:58:36 07/12/08 EST)
Threadjack! I just bought a WonderSwan from Value Village for $10. Included was a case, and 5 games. I can't read the japanese, but according to the english bits, one is Harobots, I assume one is something like SD Gundamn Generation Gather Beat, SD Gundam (something in japanese) Episode One, Digimon Version Wonderswan. And the last one I thought was going to be rad because the english says Emotional Jam, but its like a shitty Gundam game too apparently. Best part about this? This motherfuckin wonderswan is PINK. What luck! (n/t) (Apples) (16:09:25 07/12/08 EST)
This is great since NCS was saying they weren't going to be able sell the thing for less than $63 or something. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (17:01:01 07/12/08 EST)
If toys r us has a buy 2 get 1 free, I'm getting three of these. And probably do nothing with it since it looks complicated. (n/t) (Zero) (17:53:48 07/12/08 EST)
It looks like they sort of borrowed some aspects of the Koasilator. Awesome. If only there was some way to get hifi sound from a DS. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (03:28:11 07/13/08 EST)
That last part is why I don't understand why people are mandated to think this is awesome. (n/t) (substance J) (03:43:54 07/13/08 EST)
Super portable and low cost synths have always been popular (although sometimes not until they are out of production), and they have always sounded like shit which often times is part of the draw. See: the Stylophone, TB303, QY70, etc. I guess what's different here is that this isn't an original instrument but rather an emulator of an instrument that sounded great in hardware form. Last time I checked you don't really give much of a shit about electronic music, synthesizers, making music, etc so its sort of natural that you wouldn't give a shit about this either. On the other hand Raroo, Twelvestep, myself, possibly Akaimizu and Kaze are all very interested so just go back to shooting arabs and leave us alone. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (11:35:04 07/13/08 EST)
OH! (Zero) (16:13:48 07/13/08 EST)
See that surprises me given Kaze's really lukewarm review of that guitar synth for DS. You didn't seem too hot on that one either. This makes way more sense than a guitar synth, but you can't really record from it so I don't get it what the point is besides a fun novelty. I think in getting all huffy and personal you're building it up as more than it is. I just hope you'll be as ravenous for my Speak & Spell DS app when I find a publisher for it. Way to go on those last two sentences btw. (n/t) (substance J) (19:15:35 07/13/08 EST)
I'm not sure you really understand how much this thing isn't like Jam Sessions. This is basically Reason for the DS. Not as advanced, but still its more in that vein. Personally I hadn't tried Jam Sessions until about a week ago and I'm pretty sure I never wrote anything about it so I have no idea how you think I didn't like it. I like it more than anyone I've talked to, but like everyone I've talked to I'm not sure what its place is, and I wish they had included more than one song I actually know (more like "kind of" know since its Like a Rolling Stone). This Korg thing is not much like Jam Sessions though. Jam Sessions is something that sounds like a guitar, can be used like a guitar, but has an interface that is very little like a guitar. Its great for writing Billy Bragg tunes, but in some ways requires a level of understanding of music that is so advanced that, other than space considerations, you might as well have a real guitar. This Korg thing on the other hand is used pretty much like the original instrument, an instrument that isn't even slightly guitar like and has many automated features like arpegiators and stuff. That being said, I think they could make two parts of an interesting concept band, even if they are not much alike. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (23:39:19 07/13/08 EST)
yeah, they're really loading it up with extra goodness it seems. the synth itself, the sequencer, kaos pad and kaosilator. I seriously contemplated importing, even at 64.99 it seems like a bargain for what you get. i have some other equipment purchases i would like to make first though, so i'll wait till it releases here. (n/t) (twelvestep) (12:35:16 07/13/08 EST)
What defines "hifi sound"? In an app like this, the DS should certainly be capable of 16bit 32KHz stereo. (n/t) (Sweater Fish Deluxe) (12:51:36 07/13/08 EST)
sfsf (2w334) (13:29:46 07/11/08 EST)
I post about this every time it happens, but 25% off sale at Play-Asia again! (aerisdead) (10:35:20 07/11/08 EST)
So--that GBA game Motocross Challenge that was supposed to come out from some homebrew developers through one of the small publishers like Alten8 or someone, but eventually didn't come out and then got released as a free download ROM a while back--well now the developers, DG Games, are shopping around a DS version. I think the only reason it took so long was that they were pissed with all the publishing bullshit they went through last time. But I guess they're ready for more now, though it looks like they're also considering going independently (or self) published and hence, also unlicensed. I'd especially love to see that. More power to you, DHG Games! Stick it to the man! (Sweater Fish Deluxe) (15:32:38 07/10/08 EST)
The game itself--it isn't really all that tremendous. It's good and I think many people would like it and it could generate a good amount of word of mouth, but it's no show stopper. I think the controls are a bit too involved, so it's hard to really get into, but then I think my ideal game is so simplistic that you don't even know you're playing it. (n/t) (Sweater Fish Deluxe) (15:34:51 07/10/08 EST)
"I think my ideal game is so simplistic that you don't even know you're playing it." i think smurfs on the coleco fits that criteria pretty well. (twelvestep) (16:52:54 07/10/08 EST)
That's the way I feel about games like Rondo of Swords, Battletoads, and Ninja Five-0. They're all beneath me, actually, so I just look at them and they beat themselves. Pussies. (NeoGutsman) (17:08:54 07/10/08 EST)
battletoads has not aged well. i'm not even sure what people (myself included) liked so much about it in the first place. it was a game with a bunch of neat concepts but an absolutely rediculous level of difficulty. my biggest problem with the game is that it's actually more difficult with two players... that kills it for me. on a compleeeeetely different note: do you collect Game & Watches at all? If so, please send me an e-mail. i have a few questions. (twelvestep) (18:41:23 07/10/08 EST)
You're so right about Battletoads. For me, the constant bash action was cathartic, but after a level you realize that Rare has contempt for people. Idiots. I never got the feeling that I was a rock star as I played. I just felt like it was a matter of when I was going to die. Same holds true for the GB version (which I used to own). Also, I haven't really collected G&W's actively, rather, my uncle used to send them to me all the time from the Philippines. They are the real deal, and all complete - he only bought stuff like that from legit stores there. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (00:18:01 07/11/08 EST)
hahaaaaa vindicated! I never liked battletoads, nor understood why people did. hooray! (n/t) (exodus) (01:16:20 07/11/08 EST)
On a technical level, Battletoads was awesome, but from a gameplay feel point of view it was slippery. It reeks of the bad kind European game design (which breaks my heart): Awesome technical achievement and wildly daring game design, but awful, punishing, insulting, and frustrating gameplay. Ugh! Shadow of the Beast 1-3 come to my mind when I think of such a design. Beautiful, but painfully hard. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (13:10:29 07/11/08 EST)
What was exceptional about Battletoads was the way it integrated so many different types of gameplay mechanics so seemlessly. Every level is essentially an entirely new game, but not in any jarring way--it all flows quite naturally and is held together very well. Very, very few games--certainly back then and I would say probably also today--manage to integrate so many changes in gameplay style so well. And some of the levels in Battletoads are really superb games-unto-themselves, too; like the spelunking level or the snake maze level or even--dare I say it?--the vehicle obstacle course levels when they're not impossibly hard (the river surfing one is the one I'm thinking of). The beat'em up levels are pretty decent, as well, but not anything special. Another ting that makes Battletoads stand out, in my opinion, is its emphasis on technical gameplay, which is rare for games like it (ignoring the fact that I just said that there aren't any games like it). That level of technical play is somewhat undercut by flaws in the collision detection and enemy AI (which I assume are the sorts of things Gutsman is referring to in his post)--the Genesis version cleaned a lot of that up, though. Ultimately, I think Battletoads' greatest failing was in putting one of the game's hardest levels right at the beginning (I've never beat the game, so there may be much harder levels near the end, but levels 4 through 8 are all considerably easier than level 3). If they had made the level 3 speeder bike sequence easier or maybe swapped it with the surfing level, I expect people would be more accepting of the game today. As it is, no one today has the patience for that particular kind of technical gameplay--and very very few people in 1990 did, either. it's too bad, though, because the rest of the game is pretty great. (n/t) (Sweater Fish Deluxe) (19:44:27 07/11/08 EST)
I see what you're saying, but while it may have been well integrated and all felt like the same game, I found all of it to be boring. So that didn't really work for me... and nowadays it's expected that you can hop in a car GTA style, and then get on a boat, and then snipe from a roof, so I think we've got plenty of smooth integration now. And indeed, I have little tolerance for technical gameplay, though I do enjoy some fun precise gameplay still, ala N+. But there, you're just racing against the clock, and you can respawn infinitely, so the pace is determined by your own neurosis, which works for me. (n/t) (exodus) (20:08:59 07/11/08 EST)
Yeah, that's sort of what I'm referring to. The collision detection didn't seem as tight as in something like Double Dragon II. And even if the collision detection was dodgy on your end, the enemies had it nearly as loose - I swear, they would tag me with hits that didn't seem right. The enemy AI felt unfair overall. I don't remember all the details, but it seemed like they didn't ramp up gently like in Double Dragon II. Well, the first few levels were actually okay. But later, ugh. What was among the worst stuff for me was doing that combo hit there you'd do a super punch, or the ground head kick and super boot, or a super head-butt - your toad would automatically move forward, making it hard to stay within the boundaries of some open floors. I thought the sled levels were just savage. The bounciness was a neat trick, but it severely hampered any necessary feel you needed in order to really know if you were moving up or down properly. Those barriers that appeared on the right side of the screen were hard to see. Seriously, if Rare didn't have their trademark bouncy/floaty feel in the game, if the AI and behavior of the enemies were better balanced, and if the collision detection were better, I would agree that we would be talking differently about the game today. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (00:16:57 07/12/08 EST)
That game is bitch hard though. You walk up to a PIECE OF GRASS and if you don't hit jump at exactly the right time you DIE. What the hell, man? Once you get good at it you can just walk through it, but at first its a bitch. Great graphics in that thing. For a game that plays itself try the Tiger LCD version of 101 Dalmatians. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (23:38:49 07/10/08 EST)
complex eh? that's unfortunate. If it were just excitebike I think it'd go over pretty well. (n/t) (exodus) (17:09:55 07/10/08 EST)
In other news, Soul Bubbles was released in the U.S. last week. It's a Toys'R'Us exclusive. Now, I'm not one to encourage people to shop at Toys'R'Us--or to shop at all, in fact--but I really recommend Soul Bubbles. It's a fantastic game filled with beautiful gameplay and aesthetics and little touches everywhere. It's a game you will regret not buying now if it becomes hard to find down the road. I also recently learned that SMS Power's Omar Cornut (aka Bock, aka Zoop, etc., etc.) was the game's lead programmer and co-producer. I'm glad that not only has Omar busted into professional game development, whihc was something he wanted to do for a long time, but that he's actually using his opportunity to create and release some great games not just low end filler. (n/t) (Sweater Fish Deluxe) (20:50:20 07/10/08 EST)
square enix just sent out a press release about their upcoming lineup - I was pleased to see that they're bringing Legend of Kage 2 for DS to the western markets. Huzzah! Seems like quite a fun, simple game. (exodus) (14:57:15 07/09/08 EST)
I figured out how to fix fuzzed out shoulder buttons on a GB Micro!!! Just accidentally leave the thing in a pocket and wash your clothes. Make sure there is a Super Robot Wars J cart in the slot. Unfortunately some water seems to be trapped under the reflective layer of the LCD. It leads to a weird 3D effect during anything white...not sure how I'm going to fix that part... (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (14:08:18 07/09/08 EST)
dudes, did you all see Song Master or whatever it is from squenix for the ipod? tactics RPG using your songs as monsters and characters...or something. I don't really know. the writing is awful, the graphics are basic, and I want it!!! (n/t) (exodus) (23:58:23 07/07/08 EST)
Who developed it? Tose? (n/t) (Jeurja) (00:20:34 07/08/08 EST)
Yeah, I will probably get it tomorrow. Or not! See, I'm stupid in that I will spend hours on leveling up a monster in deequeehmjay just to synthesize it away in the blink of an eye, but the thought of having to listen to music to grind and then actually do a battle in Song Master seems tedious. I'm sow wack-ay! (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (00:32:48 07/08/08 EST)
That is extremely tempting. (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (02:57:51 07/08/08 EST)
...wow. (n/t) (substance J) (03:14:27 07/08/08 EST)
Yeah, total shock announcement. I think it might be alright? Dunno. I kind of want it, but don't have an iPod, so that's that! (n/t) (aerisdead) (10:50:36 07/08/08 EST)
oh man! neat! at five bucks i think it's worth the gamble. i'm assuming there is no real rhyme or reason to what type of character a track will generate. linking leveling bonuses with listening to that track is pretty awesome though. with the amount of use my ipod gets i might not lose miserably all the time! (n/t) (twelvestep) (15:43:39 07/08/08 EST)
I think I'll get this next paycheck! $5! (n/t) (Jeurja) (16:32:15 07/08/08 EST)
I've played it for about half an hour now, and I must say that its really really fun. Graphics are great, the games music is beaut, and it seems to have a lot of depth. A lot. Going to play it some more now! Oh, one slight disappointment though, the music that generated your tune trooper doesn't actually ever play during the game.. I had hoped to hear the song when selecting and commanding the unit.. :( so anyway, if you liked ff tactics, you're gonna love this. 5 classes, hundreds of items and skills. And guts, listening to the music gives your chars extras but isn't at all necessary. 5 bucks, amazing! (n/t) (Mental) (19:16:51 07/08/08 EST)
Rondo of Swords DS is only $19.99 new at Amazon US. Even with a $5 coupon I have, I am going to avoid this. I know you can use the quit out of scenario option then restart the scenario with your experience, levels, and used items intact, but man, what a lame way to have to level up to beat even the earliest of scenarios. (n/t) (NeoGutsman) (00:54:06 07/06/08 EST)
Hey, does anybody want to trade a Crystal Yellow or Platinum Blue NNGPC for my Crystal Blue one? (n/t) (Comic-Kaze) (15:18:20 07/04/08 EST)
Upcoming games I'm interested in: Rhapsody DS (puh-leeze be mega girly and fruity and fun), Disgaea DS (never played the PS2 version, don't mind if this is an adaptation or side story as long as it's a good strategy game), and seemingly Japan-only for now, DragonBall (original 13-year-old Goku, Bulma, Yamcha, etc.). I don't know a lick about the last one, but it does look pretty. (NeoGutsman) (00:17:12 07/03/08 EST)
What the hell? So I was friended by a "Rey Jimenez" on Xbox Live (you can stop reading now, Chad). And curious as to why I was friended by someone I have no clue of, but most curious that it appears to be a real name, I Googled it. Producer of SSFIIT-HD-Remix. I guess he's curious as to why I bought Commando but didn't bother downloading the Beta. Maybe because I'm afraid my Xbox 360 will blow up. (I know you're sitll reading this). Does that count as a name drop? (n/t) (Zero) (17:20:18 07/02/08 EST)
OH SHIT. Chrono Trigger DS confirmed!!! (NeoGutsman) (00:21:36 07/02/08 EST)
wow - I was thinking about all the problems people have been having with consoles, and decided to check my DS, since so many other peoples' have cracked. and lo and behold, it did! So weird. I don't think it really matters, but it's kind of annoying. I don't have a receipt or anything, but maybe they'll give me a new one if I bug them. (n/t) (exodus) (19:29:35 07/01/08 EST)
So for every dozen or so Space Invaders release there is one decent one. This time its Space Invaders Extreme. Its a poor mans Rez, and pretty good at it. Trance vibration enhanced! (n/t) (SignOfZeta) (23:18:54 06/30/08 EST)
Is FFV anygood on the GBA. I can get it cheap and I have never played a FF game before. (n/t) (Atarianallstar) (14:53:27 06/29/08 EST)
You know what would really rock? Diablo 3. I bet if that was announced nobody would mind a topic about it on the main board. (n/t) (mental) (12:52:53 06/28/08 EST)
