Well, I just thought I’d tell you ahead of time what all I have in store for you next month! I’ve slacked off on my game reviews, mainly because I’m trying to complete them before I review them, but by the end of February, I’m going to try to have them all beaten and reviewed! And that includes my birthday games, which I am getting soon! Speaking of which, today’s my birthday, but I’m not getting my presents yet (by the way, I’m 12 years old now!). You see, I’m let loose with a bunch of money, come my birthday, and I can pick what I get myself! Happy Birthday to Me! And many gaaaaaaaaaaaames!
Guitar Hero II vs. Guitar Hero III (360)
Reviews and comparisons coming soon!
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams Review (Wii)
Will I be able to cope with the fact that my sister erased my file (which wasn’t that scathing because I wasn’t very far anyway), the terrible controls, and punishing difficulty? Find out soon enough!
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Review (DS)
I’ve almost beaten this one!
Mario Party DS (DS) vs. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
How do the two most recently released Mario Party games match up to each other? We’ll see!
The Dark Crystal vs. Eragon (DVD)
I’m only reviewing it ‘cause I got it for Christmas, even though it’s an old movie. And thus, I’m going to make this more interesting by comparing it to the last fantasy film I’ve seen--Eragon!
Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Series Review (DVD)
It’s like Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, but without the slapstick humor. It’s like Sonic Underground, but without the rock band. It’s like Sonic X, but without the boredom. It’s Sonic SatAM, and it’s the best cartoon the series has seen yet!
Viva Pinata Review (360)
Viva Pinata--filled with fun! Horrid intro…but good game.
Mario & Sonic At the Olympic Games Review (Wii)
It’s The Final Countdown! (Cue trumpets) And it’s counting down to the time I actually decide to play this game!
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii) vs. Sonic Next-Gen (360)
How does the hedgehog’s latest (well…not counting Sonic Rush Adventure) match up with the hedgehog’s lamest? (Yet still good. I know I’m a diehard!) Find out soon!
Sonic Rush Adventure Review (DS)
Perhaps the best 2-D entry the series has seen yet. Only excessive dialogue drags this one down.
Beyond Good & Evil Review (PS2)
Is this cult classic entertaining enough for me? Find out soon enough!
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) vs. Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN)
I’m preordering Brawl, so expect this on launch day!
Cooking Mama 2 (DS) vs. Cooking Mama: Cook-Off (Wii) vs. Cooking Mama (DS)
My sister’s getting a little somethin’, too!
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Review (PS)
It’s cult. It’s Klonoa. It’s going to be obtained when I go birthday shopping...if I can find it.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Review (Wii)
I borrowed it from my cousin, but I’m buying it so I can give it back.
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves Review (Wii)
I’m sad I don’t have this yet…
Burnout: Paradise Review (360)
After reading the review in EGM, I know I want this game. I hope you can crash into cars like in Revenge, though, because that’s why I hated Burnout 3 (which I got AFTER Revenge because Revenge was so awesome. And I guess it wasn’t SO bad…).
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (Wii) vs. Tenkaichi 2 (PS2)
Since people say that Tenkaichi 3 is roughly the same as Tenkaichi 2, I’m going to buy the Wii version of it (since I’ve heard good things about the Wii version), whereas I bought the PS2 version of Tenkaichi 2 (because I had heard bad things about the Wii version and I didn’t even have a Wii at the time!) But before I do this, I’ve gotta beat Tenkaichi 2! (Yes, I haven’t beaten it yet! I lost interest when I got my Wii!)
Interpreting Songs Through Video Games Series
This’ll be hilarious! Sadly, the only good one I’ve got is one for In the End, by Linkin Park. I’ll try to find more good ones, though!
Deal With It! Series
This is about dealing with stupid things, like toys (such as Barbies), songs (such as Fergalicious), shows (such as Dora the Explorer), movies (Dora Saves the Mermaids, two Dora things in a row), and even games (E.T., Barney’s Hide and Seek…neither of which I’ve played, and I don’t intend to) whose existences plague our everyday lives just because they exist!
Well, that’s it so far! I’ll also review any other game I pick up along the way! So, bye for now, and happy birthday to me!
Guitar Hero II vs. Guitar Hero III (360)
Reviews and comparisons coming soon!
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams Review (Wii)
Will I be able to cope with the fact that my sister erased my file (which wasn’t that scathing because I wasn’t very far anyway), the terrible controls, and punishing difficulty? Find out soon enough!
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Review (DS)
I’ve almost beaten this one!
Mario Party DS (DS) vs. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
How do the two most recently released Mario Party games match up to each other? We’ll see!
The Dark Crystal vs. Eragon (DVD)
I’m only reviewing it ‘cause I got it for Christmas, even though it’s an old movie. And thus, I’m going to make this more interesting by comparing it to the last fantasy film I’ve seen--Eragon!
Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Series Review (DVD)
It’s like Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, but without the slapstick humor. It’s like Sonic Underground, but without the rock band. It’s like Sonic X, but without the boredom. It’s Sonic SatAM, and it’s the best cartoon the series has seen yet!
Viva Pinata Review (360)
Viva Pinata--filled with fun! Horrid intro…but good game.
Mario & Sonic At the Olympic Games Review (Wii)
It’s The Final Countdown! (Cue trumpets) And it’s counting down to the time I actually decide to play this game!
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii) vs. Sonic Next-Gen (360)
How does the hedgehog’s latest (well…not counting Sonic Rush Adventure) match up with the hedgehog’s lamest? (Yet still good. I know I’m a diehard!) Find out soon!
Sonic Rush Adventure Review (DS)
Perhaps the best 2-D entry the series has seen yet. Only excessive dialogue drags this one down.
Beyond Good & Evil Review (PS2)
Is this cult classic entertaining enough for me? Find out soon enough!
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) vs. Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN)
I’m preordering Brawl, so expect this on launch day!
Cooking Mama 2 (DS) vs. Cooking Mama: Cook-Off (Wii) vs. Cooking Mama (DS)
My sister’s getting a little somethin’, too!
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Review (PS)
It’s cult. It’s Klonoa. It’s going to be obtained when I go birthday shopping...if I can find it.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Review (Wii)
I borrowed it from my cousin, but I’m buying it so I can give it back.
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves Review (Wii)
I’m sad I don’t have this yet…
Burnout: Paradise Review (360)
After reading the review in EGM, I know I want this game. I hope you can crash into cars like in Revenge, though, because that’s why I hated Burnout 3 (which I got AFTER Revenge because Revenge was so awesome. And I guess it wasn’t SO bad…).
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (Wii) vs. Tenkaichi 2 (PS2)
Since people say that Tenkaichi 3 is roughly the same as Tenkaichi 2, I’m going to buy the Wii version of it (since I’ve heard good things about the Wii version), whereas I bought the PS2 version of Tenkaichi 2 (because I had heard bad things about the Wii version and I didn’t even have a Wii at the time!) But before I do this, I’ve gotta beat Tenkaichi 2! (Yes, I haven’t beaten it yet! I lost interest when I got my Wii!)
Interpreting Songs Through Video Games Series
This’ll be hilarious! Sadly, the only good one I’ve got is one for In the End, by Linkin Park. I’ll try to find more good ones, though!
Deal With It! Series
This is about dealing with stupid things, like toys (such as Barbies), songs (such as Fergalicious), shows (such as Dora the Explorer), movies (Dora Saves the Mermaids, two Dora things in a row), and even games (E.T., Barney’s Hide and Seek…neither of which I’ve played, and I don’t intend to) whose existences plague our everyday lives just because they exist!
Well, that’s it so far! I’ll also review any other game I pick up along the way! So, bye for now, and happy birthday to me!
You know who I’m after.
Dudley Dinosaur.
Dudley Dinosaur holding his Evil Toothbrush of Eternal Pain and Suffering
That stupid animated t-rex on those dental hygiene commercials who hopelessly attempts to teach you all proper dental hygiene. Except, that’s just what he WANTED you to think.
He’s really brainwashing innocent children into brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once a day and verbally abusing 12-year-olds by teaching them unnecessary dental care techniques or ones they already should know. “Don’t forget regular dental checkups!” WE ALREADY KNOW THAT!!!
OK, first question: if you went out on a treasure hunt, would you like to find dental care implements instead of gold? Provided you are sane, of course not. Well, that’s just what Dudley Dinosaur cherishes more than gold! In his worst commercial yet, he had apparently stumbled upon an obsessive dentist’s treasure map and, an Indian Jones hat resting upon his crown, he squealed with glee at the many toothbrushes, strings of floss, and, of course, mouthguards they found. “And don’t forget regular dental checkups!” he reminded me again, and as always I cringed with pain. Yes, the Indiana Jones hat DID make him look a LITTLE less stupid, but no one wears it like ol’ Indy himself!
"Don't mock the hat, Dinosaur!"
There’s yet more torridness in these commercials. If there is one thing I hate more than dinosaurs finding dental care items, it’s dinosaurs singing the praises of dental hygiene. Oh, he sang, alright. He sang. And I hated every moment of it.
He's not of this world!
But there’s more! There was another yet more torrid commercial where mothers, rather than watching their kids play a soccer game, are chatting about MOUTHGUARDS. They claim you should always wear a mouthguard while playing soccer, tennis, basketball, and, of course, bike-riding. WHO WEARS A MOUTHGUARD WHILE RIDING A BIKE?!!! “And don’t forget regular dental checkups!” Ugh. I seriously hope that they make a Dudley commercial in which the meteor that wipes out the dinosaurs hits him and knocks all his teeth out, or, more logically and even better, kills him, which would happen anyway, but who cares?
Though she looks just as innocent as her brother, Dudley's sister is just as diablolical and vicious.
It’s not a plan to teach kids proper dental hygiene. It’s a plot to brainwash kids into being obsessive freaks and verbally abuse them with songs, dental-care related treasure hunts, and overall existence. Besides, who eats healthy just because a cartoon dinosaur tells them to? (That was in the treasure hunt)
The Dental Care Association aren’t the only ones in on this. It’s a conspiracy that also involves Toon Disney and partner Jetix. First of all, the characters of the Toon Disney shows are trying to get to the treasure of a food pyramid, which just happens to be just a place where they can exercise with other cartoons. And then, we’ve got the Power Rangers on Jetix talking about vegetables, and then whoever narrates Jetix says, “Eat right and exercise, so you can be strong like the Power Rangers!” Oh my gosh oh my gosh, I hate the Power Rangers with every fiber of my being. If they say that, then I’m just going to break out the extra-fat potato chips and king-sized Recess cup packs and feast until Power Rangers goes off the air…for good. And, since Power Rangers has been on since before I was even born, I don’t see that coming anytime soon.
DIE POWER RANGERS! DIE!
So, hide kids, cause Dudley Dinosaur, Toon Disney, and Jetix are out to get you with dental hygiene. They will brainwash and verbally abuse you, so steer clear.
Dudley Dinosaur.
Dudley Dinosaur holding his Evil Toothbrush of Eternal Pain and Suffering
That stupid animated t-rex on those dental hygiene commercials who hopelessly attempts to teach you all proper dental hygiene. Except, that’s just what he WANTED you to think.
He’s really brainwashing innocent children into brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once a day and verbally abusing 12-year-olds by teaching them unnecessary dental care techniques or ones they already should know. “Don’t forget regular dental checkups!” WE ALREADY KNOW THAT!!!
OK, first question: if you went out on a treasure hunt, would you like to find dental care implements instead of gold? Provided you are sane, of course not. Well, that’s just what Dudley Dinosaur cherishes more than gold! In his worst commercial yet, he had apparently stumbled upon an obsessive dentist’s treasure map and, an Indian Jones hat resting upon his crown, he squealed with glee at the many toothbrushes, strings of floss, and, of course, mouthguards they found. “And don’t forget regular dental checkups!” he reminded me again, and as always I cringed with pain. Yes, the Indiana Jones hat DID make him look a LITTLE less stupid, but no one wears it like ol’ Indy himself!
"Don't mock the hat, Dinosaur!"
There’s yet more torridness in these commercials. If there is one thing I hate more than dinosaurs finding dental care items, it’s dinosaurs singing the praises of dental hygiene. Oh, he sang, alright. He sang. And I hated every moment of it.
He's not of this world!
But there’s more! There was another yet more torrid commercial where mothers, rather than watching their kids play a soccer game, are chatting about MOUTHGUARDS. They claim you should always wear a mouthguard while playing soccer, tennis, basketball, and, of course, bike-riding. WHO WEARS A MOUTHGUARD WHILE RIDING A BIKE?!!! “And don’t forget regular dental checkups!” Ugh. I seriously hope that they make a Dudley commercial in which the meteor that wipes out the dinosaurs hits him and knocks all his teeth out, or, more logically and even better, kills him, which would happen anyway, but who cares?
Though she looks just as innocent as her brother, Dudley's sister is just as diablolical and vicious.
It’s not a plan to teach kids proper dental hygiene. It’s a plot to brainwash kids into being obsessive freaks and verbally abuse them with songs, dental-care related treasure hunts, and overall existence. Besides, who eats healthy just because a cartoon dinosaur tells them to? (That was in the treasure hunt)
The Dental Care Association aren’t the only ones in on this. It’s a conspiracy that also involves Toon Disney and partner Jetix. First of all, the characters of the Toon Disney shows are trying to get to the treasure of a food pyramid, which just happens to be just a place where they can exercise with other cartoons. And then, we’ve got the Power Rangers on Jetix talking about vegetables, and then whoever narrates Jetix says, “Eat right and exercise, so you can be strong like the Power Rangers!” Oh my gosh oh my gosh, I hate the Power Rangers with every fiber of my being. If they say that, then I’m just going to break out the extra-fat potato chips and king-sized Recess cup packs and feast until Power Rangers goes off the air…for good. And, since Power Rangers has been on since before I was even born, I don’t see that coming anytime soon.
DIE POWER RANGERS! DIE!
So, hide kids, cause Dudley Dinosaur, Toon Disney, and Jetix are out to get you with dental hygiene. They will brainwash and verbally abuse you, so steer clear.
Well, I’ve finished Bridge to Terabithia, ya see. I had to read it so I could see the movie, which my mom recorded for us to watch. Of course, this would just make the experience better, because--you guessed it--Bridge to Terabithia was awesome!
So, there is this kid named Jess Aarons, ya see, and he falls in love with a girl in his class named Leslie Burke. Only, no one is actually comfortable. She seems unusual for a girl, with short hair and interests in gymnastics and scuba diving, along with the fact that her parents only moved away from Washington to not live like rich people. And thus, she has no TV or anything of the sort. So, Jess and Leslie make a place for them to be together, a magical kingdom called Terabithia. Actually, they just pretend it’s there. This book is kind of, how should I put this…realistic? Still, it’s better than it sounds. There are several other main characters, too, like Jess’s sisters, Mrs. Mayers (Jess’s teacher), Miss Edmunds (Jess’s music teacher), and Prince Terrian (the dog Jess buys Leslie for Christmas, whom she dubs the prince of Terabithia). Meanwhile, something happens to one of these main characters, but I’m keeping my mouth shut!
So, I know it doesn’t sound so great, but it seems like I never make plots sound as good as they really are! So, buy this book. Now.
So, there is this kid named Jess Aarons, ya see, and he falls in love with a girl in his class named Leslie Burke. Only, no one is actually comfortable. She seems unusual for a girl, with short hair and interests in gymnastics and scuba diving, along with the fact that her parents only moved away from Washington to not live like rich people. And thus, she has no TV or anything of the sort. So, Jess and Leslie make a place for them to be together, a magical kingdom called Terabithia. Actually, they just pretend it’s there. This book is kind of, how should I put this…realistic? Still, it’s better than it sounds. There are several other main characters, too, like Jess’s sisters, Mrs. Mayers (Jess’s teacher), Miss Edmunds (Jess’s music teacher), and Prince Terrian (the dog Jess buys Leslie for Christmas, whom she dubs the prince of Terabithia). Meanwhile, something happens to one of these main characters, but I’m keeping my mouth shut!
So, I know it doesn’t sound so great, but it seems like I never make plots sound as good as they really are! So, buy this book. Now.
Ladies and germs, I have a very important announcement to make:
I like Cooking Mama.
That’s right. Let’s start from the beginning:
So I says, “I wanna Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time!”
But she says, “No, Ralphie, you’ll shoot your eye out.”
Wait, wrong story!
So, anyway, another deliciously sweet Christmastime got us acquainted with many, many, MANY new games. My sister got Cooking Mama, while I got a bunch of stuff I wanted. Now, I had been interested in Cooking Mama after watching her play it (despite being a boy), so I decided, “What the heck?” and popped it in my DS Lite. About fifteen seconds later, I was having…fun?
Well, beginning, I will clarify again that I am indeed a boy (not that I thought you didn’t know) and 11 years old. So, what’s an 11-year-old doing playing his five-year-old sister’s cooking game? Ahh, good question! Not even I know! But, that’s not part of the real review, is it?
Well, there are about 76 dishes to cook (and they are real, too), from Spaghetti Neapolitan (or whatever that is) to fried octopus dumplings (yes…fried octopus dumplings), each requiring a very specific set of procedures in order to successfully make it. Should you fail even one of these tasks, Cooking Mama’s Fiery Eyes of Eternal Suffering and Pain will burn you like a renegade stove, but not before you suffer through twenty more years of advanced cooking school. Actually, if you fail a task, the dish-making procedure progresses as if nothing happened. She does get pretty angry, though…actually, VERY angry…
Anyway, by preparing dishes you already have, you can unlock new things to cook. Whether this is based on how well you do (since you can earn medals if you do well enough) or just based completely on cooking dishes is beyond my line of site, but they’re all really fun to cook, and might just interest you in REAL cooking! Anyway, to cook a dish, you must go through a series of Wario Ware-esque mini-games based on the different procedures used to cook the food. You’ll often be chopping, slicing, stewing and the like. Each mini-game utilizes the touch screen and stylus well, and sometimes might even use the mic, particularly when stewing. I actually have some mixed feelings about this. You see, I have two DS’s: a normal one, and a DS Lite. I have a DS Lite because my cousin sold his to me for dirt cheap, and, thus, me and my sister can play DS games at the same time. Well, the DS Lite’s microphone…seems to not work, and I can’t switch to my old DS in mid-game (the old one’s microphone works). It’s kinda selfish, but whatever. Besides, it’s not a flaw that has anything to do with the game: it’s a flaw with my DS, so who cares?
You also must know that I am a very picky fellow. In fact, I could hardly stomach most of the foods on this game. And yet, this game actually makes those foods look delicious, but whatever.
Now, since I’ve cooked most of the dishes in the normal cooking modes, I’m cooking more stuff in the “Let’s combine” mode. Yep, that’s right: you can combine dishes, no matter how ridiculous the combination. Most of the stuff to combine are various rice-based foods. I mean, after all, the game can’t help that it’s Japanese, and, thus, all about rice. Still, it’s fun. It basically has you do the cooking procedures of both foods--one after the other--and afterwards you are graded, as always. I’ve heard that it doesn’t unlock anything, but it’s cool, anyway!
So, the point? Buy this game. Whether you’re a boy or girl, whether your four years old or twelve, this game will probably appeal to you, and might even get you interested in real cooking. Also, fans of the Wario Ware series should REALLY check this out, as it’s pretty much the same thing--just with food. I know this was a short review, but I didn’t have much to talk about this game.
Overall: Awesome! I’m not a Cooking Mama--I’m a Cooking Daddy!
I like Cooking Mama.
That’s right. Let’s start from the beginning:
So I says, “I wanna Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time!”
But she says, “No, Ralphie, you’ll shoot your eye out.”
Wait, wrong story!
So, anyway, another deliciously sweet Christmastime got us acquainted with many, many, MANY new games. My sister got Cooking Mama, while I got a bunch of stuff I wanted. Now, I had been interested in Cooking Mama after watching her play it (despite being a boy), so I decided, “What the heck?” and popped it in my DS Lite. About fifteen seconds later, I was having…fun?
Well, beginning, I will clarify again that I am indeed a boy (not that I thought you didn’t know) and 11 years old. So, what’s an 11-year-old doing playing his five-year-old sister’s cooking game? Ahh, good question! Not even I know! But, that’s not part of the real review, is it?
Well, there are about 76 dishes to cook (and they are real, too), from Spaghetti Neapolitan (or whatever that is) to fried octopus dumplings (yes…fried octopus dumplings), each requiring a very specific set of procedures in order to successfully make it. Should you fail even one of these tasks, Cooking Mama’s Fiery Eyes of Eternal Suffering and Pain will burn you like a renegade stove, but not before you suffer through twenty more years of advanced cooking school. Actually, if you fail a task, the dish-making procedure progresses as if nothing happened. She does get pretty angry, though…actually, VERY angry…
Anyway, by preparing dishes you already have, you can unlock new things to cook. Whether this is based on how well you do (since you can earn medals if you do well enough) or just based completely on cooking dishes is beyond my line of site, but they’re all really fun to cook, and might just interest you in REAL cooking! Anyway, to cook a dish, you must go through a series of Wario Ware-esque mini-games based on the different procedures used to cook the food. You’ll often be chopping, slicing, stewing and the like. Each mini-game utilizes the touch screen and stylus well, and sometimes might even use the mic, particularly when stewing. I actually have some mixed feelings about this. You see, I have two DS’s: a normal one, and a DS Lite. I have a DS Lite because my cousin sold his to me for dirt cheap, and, thus, me and my sister can play DS games at the same time. Well, the DS Lite’s microphone…seems to not work, and I can’t switch to my old DS in mid-game (the old one’s microphone works). It’s kinda selfish, but whatever. Besides, it’s not a flaw that has anything to do with the game: it’s a flaw with my DS, so who cares?
You also must know that I am a very picky fellow. In fact, I could hardly stomach most of the foods on this game. And yet, this game actually makes those foods look delicious, but whatever.
Now, since I’ve cooked most of the dishes in the normal cooking modes, I’m cooking more stuff in the “Let’s combine” mode. Yep, that’s right: you can combine dishes, no matter how ridiculous the combination. Most of the stuff to combine are various rice-based foods. I mean, after all, the game can’t help that it’s Japanese, and, thus, all about rice. Still, it’s fun. It basically has you do the cooking procedures of both foods--one after the other--and afterwards you are graded, as always. I’ve heard that it doesn’t unlock anything, but it’s cool, anyway!
So, the point? Buy this game. Whether you’re a boy or girl, whether your four years old or twelve, this game will probably appeal to you, and might even get you interested in real cooking. Also, fans of the Wario Ware series should REALLY check this out, as it’s pretty much the same thing--just with food. I know this was a short review, but I didn’t have much to talk about this game.
Overall: Awesome! I’m not a Cooking Mama--I’m a Cooking Daddy!
Here I am, peeps, with my REAL review for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I know that I reviewed this game a long time ago, but I had made the foolish mistake of reviewing it before I finished It (at that time, I didn’t own the game, but my cousin did and I played it whenever he came over). It became apparent that I should finish games before I review them when I discovered that Super Mario Galaxy had more gameplay elements than I talked about in my review as I got farther…a lot more. While I won’t review that game again, I DID decide to review this game, and besides, I’m gonna review all of my Christmas presents, anyway, and this was one of them.
So, yes, as you can see by the title, I still love the game…a lot. But do I still think it’s the greatest game ever? No. I wanted a favorite game, and I blindly chose this. It’s not due to any major flaws or anything--I’ve just decided it’s not my favorite game anymore. But what is? I’m not entirely sure, but as you can well imagine, it leans somewhat toward Sonic Adventure. I still believe this is the best Zelda ever, though--yep, it still stands above Ocarina of Time.
Well, now that that’s out of the way, we have the matter of general reviewing. That is, I’m going to review the game now. Thus, I will start with the most important part of any game: the gameplay. Now, as usual, it’s a Zelda game. It’s a mix of adventure, RPG, and hack n’ slash. Now, did this Zelda deliver? Yes. It mixes up these elements as perfectly as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and The Wind Waker, making for a really fun experience. But otherwise, how is the game?
Now, most Wii games are pretty much built around the Wii’s unique controller. That is, Wii games that were originally meant to be Wii games. But Zelda Twilight Princess wasn’t originally meant to be a Wii game, and a Wii version only came out because of the excessive delays. Because of this, the controls are a bit tacked on. While items utilizing the Wii Remote feel perfect, the sword swings do not match up with your arm movements. It’s fun to swing your “sword” in real time, surely, but it would have REALLY been better if Nintendo had taken just a month more to make sword swings match up with your hand movements. But the good part? Not only is it really fun to do, but you can swing your sword while moving now!
An Ocarina of Time-style fairy is used as your cursor to choose items and whatnot. When you move it over something, it turns into a target marker. A similar cursor is used when using an item, such as the Bow or Boomerang, which must be aimed using the Wii Remote. Unlike the sword controls, these work better and don’t seem tacked on.
The item equipping system is much cooler now. While you can only use one item at a time, you can have up to four equipped at once. The D-Pad replaces the four C-Buttons from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask and the Y, Z, and X-Buttons from Wind Waker. Similar to Ocarina and Majora’s Mask, you equip items to the Down, Left, and Right directions on the D-Pad, while pressing Up allows you to talk to the helper character who is tagging along with you (in this case, Midna). However, there is a catch this time: rather than using all three “item buttons” you have items equipped on, you use ONE with the B-Button on the back of the Wii Remote. If you press a direction in which an item is equipped on, it will move to B. You can have three items equipped to the D-Pad, and one equipped to B (the one you’re currently using), and thus, you can have up to four items equipped at once, unlike past games, in which you could only equip three (two in the GameCube version of Twilight Princess, since the Z-Button is apparently used to talk to Midna).
The trademark Zelda items reappear: Hookshot, Bow, Boomerang…you get the idea. However, there are several new items as well as changes to the old ones. For instance, the Hookshot has evolved into the Clawshot, which has a claw on the end of it rather than a hook, hence the name. An advantage of this is that you can hook, or, rather, “grab” onto things such as metal grating, which the Hookshot wouldn’t be able to get you to. Another advantage is that, when you “grab” onto something, you hang there rather than fall off. Thus, when hanging by the Clawshot on the ceiling, you can lower yourself downward or move upward by using the control stick. The only disadvantage is that you can no longer hook to treasure chests or torches, but otherwise it has the same basic functions and uses as the normal Hookshot. You also get a second Clawshot later in the game, which allows you to “grab” onto something using your other Clawshot while hanging from something you’ve already “grabbed” onto. The Boomerang has evolved into the Gale Boomerang, which sends out a tornado when you throw it, allowing you to perform wind-related tasks. There are also Water Bombs, which are Bombs you can use underwater. The Iron Boots reappear as well, not only with the same functions as their Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker counterparts (walking underwater and standing still in harsh winds, respectively), also have two new functions, allowing you to sumo wrestle a Goron (yes, I said sumo wrestle a Goron) and magnetize to walls and ceilings that have magnetic crystals on them, making them, eh…much more fun to use, heh. There are also several new items like the Spinner and Ball and Chain, which have varying uses.
Now, on to the subject of the boss fights. They are epic. VERY epic. More epic than the series has seen yet. Plus, there are some interesting ways to beat them. For instance, one boss fight is a strange creature poking out of a hole. First, you only have to pull its moving eye out of its tentacles and slash away, but, after repeating this a few times, it will come out of its hole as a HUGE creature and begin swimming around (this boss takes place underwater). Then you must catch up to it and latch onto its back using the Clawshot, then slash away. A similar strategy is used for the second phase of a later boss fight. I must also mention the boss right after it, a giant skeleton. First, you must break off parts of its vertebrae using the Spinner. After that, you think it’s dead…until you raise a tower. Then, the boss will spring back to life as only a head and knock you off the tower, and you must move up the tower using the Spinner tracks, and, once you get between his head and the wall, you jump into his head and knock him down, after which you repeatedly slash the sword on his head. When repeating this, you will repeatedly have to jump between the Spinner tracks on the tower and wall, because now there will be spikes that will knock you down when you hit them. The sheer speed of this boss fight is what makes it so awesome. You go up the tower at a speed to at least RIVAL Sonic’s, and, as you can imagine, it’s really fun.
There are several hidden skills to learn, the first of these the Ending Blow, which lets you stab and enemy once you’ve knocked it down. They are all taught to you by this wolf-skeleton-knight, who appears after howling (as a wolf, of course) at a Howling Stone (rocks that make noises before you howl next to them), and you have to find it as human Link, and he’ll teach you a Hidden Skill, which you can use at will after learning.
Now, as a wolf, you won’t be able to do everything that normal Link can do, but you’ll be able to do things normal Link CAN’T do, as well. For instance, Midna will ride on your back, heehee! And you use your claws and teeth to attack, but that’s not very important. What IS important is that you can use your senses to track scent trails, find good digging spots, see hidden things, and listen to the spirits of the Twilight Realm. Also, as a wolf, Midna can teleport you to different places by using Warp Portals created after defeating groups of certain enemies, and also help you jump farther than normal. You can also talk to animals and howl at Howling Stones. The only downside is that, the first few times you are a wolf, you have to search for sixteen Tears of Light to restore light spirits. While easy (since they’re all marked on your map), it’s a long and annoying quest. At first, you can only turn into a wolf while in the Twilight Realm, but later in the game, you can turn into a wolf whenever you want.
Epona (the horse, for those who don’t know) returns and you have her from the beginning of the game. You can FINALLY use your sword on Epona, but she just tramples enemies anyway. By pressing A, you can dash, which is a lot faster and more fun than her Ocarina of Time dash. Sadly, rather than having a useful Ocarina song that can call her to you whenever necessary, you have to find horse grass to call her. You EVENTUALLY get a Horse Call, but you get it long after Warp Portals (as mentioned earlier) have completely ruled out its usefulness. However, there are some unforgettable moments on Epona, such as fighting a huge boar-riding ogre and his also boar-faring Moblin cronies while riding on Epona, the joust on a bridge directly after (yes, I said joust), another joust later in the game on a different bridge, helping a wagon get to Kakariko Village while defeating more pig-faring Moblins right after, and the third phase of the final boss fight that is fought on horseback.
Now, I know that I’ve been mostly giving this game praise (there have been a few rants). And it deserves it. But there is one more rant I have here: the fishing. Fishing was one of the main things Nintendo was talking about. They said the Wii Remote would revolutionize it, and it would be more fun than ever. But what happened? Bobber fishing is okay, despite being mostly useless, but what about lure fishing? Let’s go over the Wii Remote controls for fishing first:
You press and hold A first, then raise the Wii Remote, then throw it out and let go of A to cast it. Then, you can spin the nunchuk around to reel the line back in. Problem is, catching fish is almost impossible, and when one DOES hook on, it’s impossible to reel it back in. Besides, pretty much the only use of lure fishing is one Piece of Heart, which you fish off a rock rather than getting it as a reward for catching a huge fish (unlike OoT), so why bother for any reason other than that?
Now, before I conclude our talk about the gameplay, I must mention two more things: playtime and difficulty. The game is bigger, longer and harder than any game the series has seen yet, so don’t worry. There is much to do before you even enter the first dungeon--much, much to do. Hyrule Field is bigger than it has ever been, and filled to the brim with secrets. The dungeons are the biggest and hardest, with some pretty tough puzzles along the way. That, coupled with the epic boss fights (as mentioned earlier) gives you a strong sense of accomplishment when you complete one. As always, the water dungeon is a pain in the butt, following in the footsteps of the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time, the Great Bay Temple in Majora’s Mask, and the Temple of Droplets in The Minish Cap (the Tower of the Gods in Wind Waker, which I consider its water dungeon since it’s partially submerged, was actually not that much of a pain), but it’s not NEARLY as painful as the snow dungeon later in the game, ugh. The game takes about 40 hours to beat--about as long as most RPGs, but still longer than most Zeldas. There are nine dungeons in the game--as many as Ocarina of Time had (FINALLY!). You need five Pieces of Heart to complete a Heart Container now--and there are two scattered about in each dungeon. Yeah, the compass and dungeon map are actually going to be put to good use this time!
The story is, in a word, beautiful. The game chronicles the adventures of Link, of course, as he fights Zant, an evil king who is slowly covering Hyrule in twilight. This twilight-covered Hyrule, known as the Twilight Realm, is a result of Zant stealing light from the Light Spirits, who guard various areas of Hyrule, thus plunging those areas into twilight. The Hylians can no longer live in the light, and thus become spirits, while all others become the Shadow Beasts that rule it. All other indigenous life become “Twilit” versions. Link turns into a wolf, because, of course, he’s a descendant of the legendary hero from Ocarina of Time. Thus, Midna, a twilit freedom fighter (and coolest character in the game) helps Link to get Fused Shadows to defeat Zant. More plot twists appear later on that I’m keeping my mouth shut about.
Outside of Majora’s Mask (since it’s Ocarina of Time’s sequel), Twilight Princess is the most related game to Ocarina in its story. Many places, such as the Sacred Grove and Hidden Village, are obviously areas from Ocarina, but you’ll have to find out which ones for yourself. Once you get to them, it’ll be pretty obvious which ones they are. The Temple of Time reappears--in dungeon form! Link’s hometown, Ordon, is obviously the Kokiri Forest, and the Faron Woods next to it are probably the Lost Woods. Ganondorf reappears, as well, but I’m keeping my mouth shut about his role. Other plot elements relate to Ocarina of Time as well. There is only one problem with the story. While the story, like everything else, is the best the series has seen yet, its more cinematic approach requires voice acting, which the game lacks. But, it’s not that bad, so who cares?
The sound is your usual Zelda fare: sword slashes, trademark chimes…it’s all here. But the only difference is that it comes out of the Wii Remote’s speaker! While not exactly necessary, it is pretty dang cool! As far as music goes, it’s normal as well: an upbeat Hyrule Field theme, Kakariko Village theme, the Goron village theme--it’s all here, in updated form.
Now, last, but not least: the graphics. As with all Nintendo games, the game’s artstyle overcomes its “GameCube-ness.” That is, because the Wii isn’t as powerful as 360 or PS3, it wouldn’t have as good-looking games had it not been for Nintendo’s beautiful artstyle. Seriously, it almost makes this game look next-gen!
So, there you have it: my REAL review for Twilight Princess. The foolish mistake of reviewing games before I finish them I will not make again. I know I don’t have a very different opinion from my last, but I just thought I could write a better, more informative review now that I’ve beaten the game.
----------------Summary-----------------
Gameplay: Pure Greatness!! It’s Zelda--but better.
Story: Awesome! The best the series has seen yet. Too bad there’s no voice acting…
Sound: Awesome! Zelda with a speaker.
Graphics: Pure Greatness!! It’s artstyle overcomes its “GameCube-ness.”
Overall: Pure Greatness!! I thought that they could never top Ocarina of Time, but I was wrong; this is the one they’ll never top, at least until another ten years have passed.
So, yes, as you can see by the title, I still love the game…a lot. But do I still think it’s the greatest game ever? No. I wanted a favorite game, and I blindly chose this. It’s not due to any major flaws or anything--I’ve just decided it’s not my favorite game anymore. But what is? I’m not entirely sure, but as you can well imagine, it leans somewhat toward Sonic Adventure. I still believe this is the best Zelda ever, though--yep, it still stands above Ocarina of Time.
Well, now that that’s out of the way, we have the matter of general reviewing. That is, I’m going to review the game now. Thus, I will start with the most important part of any game: the gameplay. Now, as usual, it’s a Zelda game. It’s a mix of adventure, RPG, and hack n’ slash. Now, did this Zelda deliver? Yes. It mixes up these elements as perfectly as Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and The Wind Waker, making for a really fun experience. But otherwise, how is the game?
Now, most Wii games are pretty much built around the Wii’s unique controller. That is, Wii games that were originally meant to be Wii games. But Zelda Twilight Princess wasn’t originally meant to be a Wii game, and a Wii version only came out because of the excessive delays. Because of this, the controls are a bit tacked on. While items utilizing the Wii Remote feel perfect, the sword swings do not match up with your arm movements. It’s fun to swing your “sword” in real time, surely, but it would have REALLY been better if Nintendo had taken just a month more to make sword swings match up with your hand movements. But the good part? Not only is it really fun to do, but you can swing your sword while moving now!
An Ocarina of Time-style fairy is used as your cursor to choose items and whatnot. When you move it over something, it turns into a target marker. A similar cursor is used when using an item, such as the Bow or Boomerang, which must be aimed using the Wii Remote. Unlike the sword controls, these work better and don’t seem tacked on.
The item equipping system is much cooler now. While you can only use one item at a time, you can have up to four equipped at once. The D-Pad replaces the four C-Buttons from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask and the Y, Z, and X-Buttons from Wind Waker. Similar to Ocarina and Majora’s Mask, you equip items to the Down, Left, and Right directions on the D-Pad, while pressing Up allows you to talk to the helper character who is tagging along with you (in this case, Midna). However, there is a catch this time: rather than using all three “item buttons” you have items equipped on, you use ONE with the B-Button on the back of the Wii Remote. If you press a direction in which an item is equipped on, it will move to B. You can have three items equipped to the D-Pad, and one equipped to B (the one you’re currently using), and thus, you can have up to four items equipped at once, unlike past games, in which you could only equip three (two in the GameCube version of Twilight Princess, since the Z-Button is apparently used to talk to Midna).
The trademark Zelda items reappear: Hookshot, Bow, Boomerang…you get the idea. However, there are several new items as well as changes to the old ones. For instance, the Hookshot has evolved into the Clawshot, which has a claw on the end of it rather than a hook, hence the name. An advantage of this is that you can hook, or, rather, “grab” onto things such as metal grating, which the Hookshot wouldn’t be able to get you to. Another advantage is that, when you “grab” onto something, you hang there rather than fall off. Thus, when hanging by the Clawshot on the ceiling, you can lower yourself downward or move upward by using the control stick. The only disadvantage is that you can no longer hook to treasure chests or torches, but otherwise it has the same basic functions and uses as the normal Hookshot. You also get a second Clawshot later in the game, which allows you to “grab” onto something using your other Clawshot while hanging from something you’ve already “grabbed” onto. The Boomerang has evolved into the Gale Boomerang, which sends out a tornado when you throw it, allowing you to perform wind-related tasks. There are also Water Bombs, which are Bombs you can use underwater. The Iron Boots reappear as well, not only with the same functions as their Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker counterparts (walking underwater and standing still in harsh winds, respectively), also have two new functions, allowing you to sumo wrestle a Goron (yes, I said sumo wrestle a Goron) and magnetize to walls and ceilings that have magnetic crystals on them, making them, eh…much more fun to use, heh. There are also several new items like the Spinner and Ball and Chain, which have varying uses.
Now, on to the subject of the boss fights. They are epic. VERY epic. More epic than the series has seen yet. Plus, there are some interesting ways to beat them. For instance, one boss fight is a strange creature poking out of a hole. First, you only have to pull its moving eye out of its tentacles and slash away, but, after repeating this a few times, it will come out of its hole as a HUGE creature and begin swimming around (this boss takes place underwater). Then you must catch up to it and latch onto its back using the Clawshot, then slash away. A similar strategy is used for the second phase of a later boss fight. I must also mention the boss right after it, a giant skeleton. First, you must break off parts of its vertebrae using the Spinner. After that, you think it’s dead…until you raise a tower. Then, the boss will spring back to life as only a head and knock you off the tower, and you must move up the tower using the Spinner tracks, and, once you get between his head and the wall, you jump into his head and knock him down, after which you repeatedly slash the sword on his head. When repeating this, you will repeatedly have to jump between the Spinner tracks on the tower and wall, because now there will be spikes that will knock you down when you hit them. The sheer speed of this boss fight is what makes it so awesome. You go up the tower at a speed to at least RIVAL Sonic’s, and, as you can imagine, it’s really fun.
There are several hidden skills to learn, the first of these the Ending Blow, which lets you stab and enemy once you’ve knocked it down. They are all taught to you by this wolf-skeleton-knight, who appears after howling (as a wolf, of course) at a Howling Stone (rocks that make noises before you howl next to them), and you have to find it as human Link, and he’ll teach you a Hidden Skill, which you can use at will after learning.
Now, as a wolf, you won’t be able to do everything that normal Link can do, but you’ll be able to do things normal Link CAN’T do, as well. For instance, Midna will ride on your back, heehee! And you use your claws and teeth to attack, but that’s not very important. What IS important is that you can use your senses to track scent trails, find good digging spots, see hidden things, and listen to the spirits of the Twilight Realm. Also, as a wolf, Midna can teleport you to different places by using Warp Portals created after defeating groups of certain enemies, and also help you jump farther than normal. You can also talk to animals and howl at Howling Stones. The only downside is that, the first few times you are a wolf, you have to search for sixteen Tears of Light to restore light spirits. While easy (since they’re all marked on your map), it’s a long and annoying quest. At first, you can only turn into a wolf while in the Twilight Realm, but later in the game, you can turn into a wolf whenever you want.
Epona (the horse, for those who don’t know) returns and you have her from the beginning of the game. You can FINALLY use your sword on Epona, but she just tramples enemies anyway. By pressing A, you can dash, which is a lot faster and more fun than her Ocarina of Time dash. Sadly, rather than having a useful Ocarina song that can call her to you whenever necessary, you have to find horse grass to call her. You EVENTUALLY get a Horse Call, but you get it long after Warp Portals (as mentioned earlier) have completely ruled out its usefulness. However, there are some unforgettable moments on Epona, such as fighting a huge boar-riding ogre and his also boar-faring Moblin cronies while riding on Epona, the joust on a bridge directly after (yes, I said joust), another joust later in the game on a different bridge, helping a wagon get to Kakariko Village while defeating more pig-faring Moblins right after, and the third phase of the final boss fight that is fought on horseback.
Now, I know that I’ve been mostly giving this game praise (there have been a few rants). And it deserves it. But there is one more rant I have here: the fishing. Fishing was one of the main things Nintendo was talking about. They said the Wii Remote would revolutionize it, and it would be more fun than ever. But what happened? Bobber fishing is okay, despite being mostly useless, but what about lure fishing? Let’s go over the Wii Remote controls for fishing first:
You press and hold A first, then raise the Wii Remote, then throw it out and let go of A to cast it. Then, you can spin the nunchuk around to reel the line back in. Problem is, catching fish is almost impossible, and when one DOES hook on, it’s impossible to reel it back in. Besides, pretty much the only use of lure fishing is one Piece of Heart, which you fish off a rock rather than getting it as a reward for catching a huge fish (unlike OoT), so why bother for any reason other than that?
Now, before I conclude our talk about the gameplay, I must mention two more things: playtime and difficulty. The game is bigger, longer and harder than any game the series has seen yet, so don’t worry. There is much to do before you even enter the first dungeon--much, much to do. Hyrule Field is bigger than it has ever been, and filled to the brim with secrets. The dungeons are the biggest and hardest, with some pretty tough puzzles along the way. That, coupled with the epic boss fights (as mentioned earlier) gives you a strong sense of accomplishment when you complete one. As always, the water dungeon is a pain in the butt, following in the footsteps of the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time, the Great Bay Temple in Majora’s Mask, and the Temple of Droplets in The Minish Cap (the Tower of the Gods in Wind Waker, which I consider its water dungeon since it’s partially submerged, was actually not that much of a pain), but it’s not NEARLY as painful as the snow dungeon later in the game, ugh. The game takes about 40 hours to beat--about as long as most RPGs, but still longer than most Zeldas. There are nine dungeons in the game--as many as Ocarina of Time had (FINALLY!). You need five Pieces of Heart to complete a Heart Container now--and there are two scattered about in each dungeon. Yeah, the compass and dungeon map are actually going to be put to good use this time!
The story is, in a word, beautiful. The game chronicles the adventures of Link, of course, as he fights Zant, an evil king who is slowly covering Hyrule in twilight. This twilight-covered Hyrule, known as the Twilight Realm, is a result of Zant stealing light from the Light Spirits, who guard various areas of Hyrule, thus plunging those areas into twilight. The Hylians can no longer live in the light, and thus become spirits, while all others become the Shadow Beasts that rule it. All other indigenous life become “Twilit” versions. Link turns into a wolf, because, of course, he’s a descendant of the legendary hero from Ocarina of Time. Thus, Midna, a twilit freedom fighter (and coolest character in the game) helps Link to get Fused Shadows to defeat Zant. More plot twists appear later on that I’m keeping my mouth shut about.
Outside of Majora’s Mask (since it’s Ocarina of Time’s sequel), Twilight Princess is the most related game to Ocarina in its story. Many places, such as the Sacred Grove and Hidden Village, are obviously areas from Ocarina, but you’ll have to find out which ones for yourself. Once you get to them, it’ll be pretty obvious which ones they are. The Temple of Time reappears--in dungeon form! Link’s hometown, Ordon, is obviously the Kokiri Forest, and the Faron Woods next to it are probably the Lost Woods. Ganondorf reappears, as well, but I’m keeping my mouth shut about his role. Other plot elements relate to Ocarina of Time as well. There is only one problem with the story. While the story, like everything else, is the best the series has seen yet, its more cinematic approach requires voice acting, which the game lacks. But, it’s not that bad, so who cares?
The sound is your usual Zelda fare: sword slashes, trademark chimes…it’s all here. But the only difference is that it comes out of the Wii Remote’s speaker! While not exactly necessary, it is pretty dang cool! As far as music goes, it’s normal as well: an upbeat Hyrule Field theme, Kakariko Village theme, the Goron village theme--it’s all here, in updated form.
Now, last, but not least: the graphics. As with all Nintendo games, the game’s artstyle overcomes its “GameCube-ness.” That is, because the Wii isn’t as powerful as 360 or PS3, it wouldn’t have as good-looking games had it not been for Nintendo’s beautiful artstyle. Seriously, it almost makes this game look next-gen!
So, there you have it: my REAL review for Twilight Princess. The foolish mistake of reviewing games before I finish them I will not make again. I know I don’t have a very different opinion from my last, but I just thought I could write a better, more informative review now that I’ve beaten the game.
----------------Summary-----------------
Gameplay: Pure Greatness!! It’s Zelda--but better.
Story: Awesome! The best the series has seen yet. Too bad there’s no voice acting…
Sound: Awesome! Zelda with a speaker.
Graphics: Pure Greatness!! It’s artstyle overcomes its “GameCube-ness.”
Overall: Pure Greatness!! I thought that they could never top Ocarina of Time, but I was wrong; this is the one they’ll never top, at least until another ten years have passed.
It’s happenning. The sixth generation is having its last hurrah. Dreamcast was done in years ago, PS2 isn’t getting many games anymore in favor of the PS3, the Xbox is getting only as many as the PS2, and I don’t know if the GameCube is getting any support at all. The sixth generation was very important to me. I began my gaming life with the Dreamcast, and it has ultimately ruined me for life. Still, I owe it to games for bringing me much joy throughout the years, and why not reflect on the last generation for just a sec?
Name: Dreamcast
Release Date: Semptember 9, 1999
Manufacturer: SEGA
Predecessor(s): SEGA Saturn, SEGA 32X, SEGA CD, SEGA Genesis, SEGA Master System
Successor: None
Current State: Alive, but barely
This console is how I began my life as a gamer. I remember that day. It came with a demo disc, and it had several games on it. One of them, of course, was Sonic Adventure. I asked to play it and was granted permission. What followed was countless hours and days of playing that golden first level, Emerald Coast, eventually getting the real game for Christmas, and allowing it to ruin me for life. (I was only three years old, by the way) Thus, I owe it all to SEGA and Sonic for getting me into games. Maybe that’s why I like Sonic 360…
The system was a bit advanced for the time. It was released so early, and, while advanced, was technologically inferior to the PS2 and, thus, I rarely consider it a sixth-generation console, but it is, and that’s why it’s on this list. For one thing, it had many features that were the first of its time: 128-bit graphical processors, skipping ahead in expected specs of the next generation (72-bit or something around there was more likely), a GD-ROM (giga disc drive) drive rather than a normal CD-ROM drive for additional things like voice acting in almost every game, if not every, Memory Cards with screens, a feature that hasn’t returned to the gaming community yet, and out-of-the-box online that allowed you to download new content, a feature that has only recently returned to online consoles. These specs were the only things keeping the system from being a total flop, as the hype behind the PS2 was so great that the system would have otherwise flopped completely.
Please note that I said it would have flopped completely. While the system wasn’t a total backfire, it wasn’t a smash success either. When it came out, these features made it the most popular console at the time, but an improper release (in the middle of the PS2’s hype rather than waiting for it to come out and letting the fever die down), graphical inferiority, smaller discs (the GD-ROMS were not as big as the DVD-ROMS used by later systems), and inability to play DVDs (movies, not games) caused it to be left in the PS2’s dust. With the system’s failure in the same light as the SEGA Saturn, SEGA 32X, and SEGA CD before it, SEGA made the smart, but surprising decision to quit the console business altogether and rather develop for other peoples’ consoles, NFL2K2 being its last game.
And please note that I said that it was still barely alive. Some people still hack Dreamcasts and homebrew games, and it is a popular retro topic and is still widely regarded as ahead of its time.
Big Top Games:
I haven’t played nearly enough Dreamcast games, but I’ve played most of the ones that matter, I guess…
Sonic Adventure
I’m 99.9% sure that you expected this. How could I help it? It WAS the first game I played after all. Many today regard it to be extremely flawed, some even thinking it’s bad. Well, wake up and smell the burnt rubber, cause this is the best Sonic game ever released. So what if it’s flawed? It’s what brought me into games and is at least 120383789237892723 times better than Sonic Next-Gen, whether that game is good or not.
Shenmue
I’ve really only recently been introduced to this game, and when I was, I had fun, but there were still problems. I didn’t like using the D-Pad, and fights were once in a blue moon. In fact, I haven’t even played a single Virtua Fighter-esque one. Still, no one can deny that it’s a cool game.
Soul Caliber
An awesome fighter, indeed. It was apparently the sequel to Soul Edge, and, despite being first generation, had graphics almost up to snuff with its sequel!
Psychic Force 2021
The lost game of my childhood. I remember those days. I was so good at the game. While I remained stationary most of the time, since I wasn’t used to using the D-Pad to move, I had great fun noobishly fighting people with that blue-haired wonder, Emilio, who was my favorite character. Had only the game had English voice acting… I highly regard this game when I remember it, because it seems to be less prominent in my mind than almost any other game I’ve ever played.
Name: PlayStation 2
Release Date: March 10, 2000
Manufacterer: Sony
Predecessor(s): PlayStation
Successor: PlayStation 3
Current State: Still Gamin’
As soon as it came out, the Dreamcast was dead. Done. Finished. But in return, we got some REALLY awesome games and more powerful hardware. While the PS2 isn’t as popular anymore, I don’t have a PS3 due to that pesky high price tag. Well, whatever. Still, we have to admit that at least this was an awesome system.
Let’s face it. With a 1999 release, a year before the PS2, which was already getting a massive amount of hype, the Dreamcast basically only existed to whet gamers’ appetites for Sony’s new console. I mean, the PS1 was a big hit! With Squaresoft (now Square Enix) switching their Final Fantasy series to Sony consoles, and more of a focus on adult gamers (yeesh), they had it made, and getting a new console five years later with twenty times more power, bigger discs, and a built-in DVD player (which was a first at the time) was just MORE icing on the already very delicious cake. And thus, the Dreamcast, with its less powerful hardware, smaller discs, and inability to play DVDs was thrust into a vortex of failure. I mean, in stores, they were marketing the PS2 by having it play The Matrix! And this was all backed up by a myriad of great games, described below.
Big Top Games:
Keep in mind that the PS2 had several big top, awesome games!!
Final Fantasy X
By now this series had reached ten installments, and four of them were on Sony consoles. Since Square still hadn’t switched consoles, it was pretty much clear that all, or apparently most (because of Crystal Chronicles and a few others) would be on Sony consoles. This game was the first Final Fantasy with voice acting and the first without pre-rendered backgrounds, so…what more couldja want?
Kingdom Hearts
Not only did it successfully (some how) bring together Disney and Square characters, but it also had a great story and an even better sequel.
Jak and Daxter
I feel seriously guilty for never playing this game. I mean, it’s not like it wasn’t unbelievably awesome!
Ratchet and Clank
Same case here… I DID beat Ratchet Deadlocked, though…
Sly Cooper and the Thievious Raccoonus
While its two sequels were at least 20 times better, this marked the beginning of the series and thus appears on this list in their places.
Name: Xbox
Release Date: November 11, 2001
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Predecessor(s): None
Successor: Xbox 360
Current State: Still-a Goin’...I think
The Xbox was the rookie console of the sixth generation. Sony was the rookie of the fifth, and Microsoft was the rookie of the sixth. While the Xbox didn’t manage to reach the PS2’s threshold of popularity, it did manage to become quite popular, mainly due to games such as Halo and a Sony-esque focus on adults (GOSH, does ANYONE care about kids anymore?!!), and its successor, the Xbox 360, is the most popular console in America right now, while the Wii is the leading console worldwide (it’s because of Japan’s intense Nintendo obsession).
Big Top Games:
I haven’t really played any notable Xbox games, and I mean ANY, so the one I can’t play will have to appear.
Halo
While the M-rating prevents me from playing it, it’s a really notable game for the Xbox, as just about everyone plays it…
Name: GameCube
Release Date: November 15, 2001
Manufacterer: Nintendo
Predecessor(s): Nintendo 64DD, Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, Super NES, NES
Successor: Wii
Current State: Unknown
Nintendo had released their new console in the beginning of the Xbox-Halo craze, and I’m sure that slowed down sales at first. Yet, unlike SEGA, Nintendo was too big to have a bomb on their hands (aside from Nintendo 64DD and Virtual Boy, but that’s a different story), and the GameCube, though not being as much of a success as its two competitors, managed to be very successful, and there was only one game that had saved it, described later.
While the Dreamcast was still producing games and the new millennia had begun, Dad took me to an Electronics Boutique and decided to buy me a Nintendo 64--the console I had off and on heard about, but never owned--and Super Mario 64 for seemingly know reason, and for himself Ogre Battle 64. I LOVED it, and as soon as I heard that Nintendo was making a new console, I had to have it! Thus, “Santa” (yeah, right) got me a GameCube and a couple of games.
The state is unknown because I am unsure whether some people are still supporting it or what.
Big Top Games:
Ooh, there’s a lot of ‘em, to be sure.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Wanna know the game that saved the GameCube if you didn’t already know? Well, here it is--the one game that made the GameCube the success it was.
Pikmin
While I’ve never beaten it, I really do like the game and think it was a great launch game.
Luigi’s Mansion
While we had to wait another year for Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion was enough to whet our appetites until then. It was short and easy, but an awesome game, nonetheless.
Super Mario Sunshine
While this was just essentially Super Mario 64 with a waterpack and tighter controls, it was an awesome game, still.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
I didn’t really find much fault with sailing. In fact, I liked it a lot. It was only a pain when you had to sail a really long way, like from Outset to Windfall, but whatever. And other than that, it was pretty much the same as Ocarina, so, anything goes.
There you have it! A look back at all four sixth generation systems, from Dreamcast to GameCube! I hope you enjoyed remembering this special generation--the generation during which I began my life as a gamer and a myriad of awesome systems and games came out. So, goodbye, and remember this word to live bye:
Don’t put old consoles in the past. Keep them in your memory.
Name: Dreamcast
Release Date: Semptember 9, 1999
Manufacturer: SEGA
Predecessor(s): SEGA Saturn, SEGA 32X, SEGA CD, SEGA Genesis, SEGA Master System
Successor: None
Current State: Alive, but barely
This console is how I began my life as a gamer. I remember that day. It came with a demo disc, and it had several games on it. One of them, of course, was Sonic Adventure. I asked to play it and was granted permission. What followed was countless hours and days of playing that golden first level, Emerald Coast, eventually getting the real game for Christmas, and allowing it to ruin me for life. (I was only three years old, by the way) Thus, I owe it all to SEGA and Sonic for getting me into games. Maybe that’s why I like Sonic 360…
The system was a bit advanced for the time. It was released so early, and, while advanced, was technologically inferior to the PS2 and, thus, I rarely consider it a sixth-generation console, but it is, and that’s why it’s on this list. For one thing, it had many features that were the first of its time: 128-bit graphical processors, skipping ahead in expected specs of the next generation (72-bit or something around there was more likely), a GD-ROM (giga disc drive) drive rather than a normal CD-ROM drive for additional things like voice acting in almost every game, if not every, Memory Cards with screens, a feature that hasn’t returned to the gaming community yet, and out-of-the-box online that allowed you to download new content, a feature that has only recently returned to online consoles. These specs were the only things keeping the system from being a total flop, as the hype behind the PS2 was so great that the system would have otherwise flopped completely.
Please note that I said it would have flopped completely. While the system wasn’t a total backfire, it wasn’t a smash success either. When it came out, these features made it the most popular console at the time, but an improper release (in the middle of the PS2’s hype rather than waiting for it to come out and letting the fever die down), graphical inferiority, smaller discs (the GD-ROMS were not as big as the DVD-ROMS used by later systems), and inability to play DVDs (movies, not games) caused it to be left in the PS2’s dust. With the system’s failure in the same light as the SEGA Saturn, SEGA 32X, and SEGA CD before it, SEGA made the smart, but surprising decision to quit the console business altogether and rather develop for other peoples’ consoles, NFL2K2 being its last game.
And please note that I said that it was still barely alive. Some people still hack Dreamcasts and homebrew games, and it is a popular retro topic and is still widely regarded as ahead of its time.
Big Top Games:
I haven’t played nearly enough Dreamcast games, but I’ve played most of the ones that matter, I guess…
Sonic Adventure
I’m 99.9% sure that you expected this. How could I help it? It WAS the first game I played after all. Many today regard it to be extremely flawed, some even thinking it’s bad. Well, wake up and smell the burnt rubber, cause this is the best Sonic game ever released. So what if it’s flawed? It’s what brought me into games and is at least 120383789237892723 times better than Sonic Next-Gen, whether that game is good or not.
Shenmue
I’ve really only recently been introduced to this game, and when I was, I had fun, but there were still problems. I didn’t like using the D-Pad, and fights were once in a blue moon. In fact, I haven’t even played a single Virtua Fighter-esque one. Still, no one can deny that it’s a cool game.
Soul Caliber
An awesome fighter, indeed. It was apparently the sequel to Soul Edge, and, despite being first generation, had graphics almost up to snuff with its sequel!
Psychic Force 2021
The lost game of my childhood. I remember those days. I was so good at the game. While I remained stationary most of the time, since I wasn’t used to using the D-Pad to move, I had great fun noobishly fighting people with that blue-haired wonder, Emilio, who was my favorite character. Had only the game had English voice acting… I highly regard this game when I remember it, because it seems to be less prominent in my mind than almost any other game I’ve ever played.
Name: PlayStation 2
Release Date: March 10, 2000
Manufacterer: Sony
Predecessor(s): PlayStation
Successor: PlayStation 3
Current State: Still Gamin’
As soon as it came out, the Dreamcast was dead. Done. Finished. But in return, we got some REALLY awesome games and more powerful hardware. While the PS2 isn’t as popular anymore, I don’t have a PS3 due to that pesky high price tag. Well, whatever. Still, we have to admit that at least this was an awesome system.
Let’s face it. With a 1999 release, a year before the PS2, which was already getting a massive amount of hype, the Dreamcast basically only existed to whet gamers’ appetites for Sony’s new console. I mean, the PS1 was a big hit! With Squaresoft (now Square Enix) switching their Final Fantasy series to Sony consoles, and more of a focus on adult gamers (yeesh), they had it made, and getting a new console five years later with twenty times more power, bigger discs, and a built-in DVD player (which was a first at the time) was just MORE icing on the already very delicious cake. And thus, the Dreamcast, with its less powerful hardware, smaller discs, and inability to play DVDs was thrust into a vortex of failure. I mean, in stores, they were marketing the PS2 by having it play The Matrix! And this was all backed up by a myriad of great games, described below.
Big Top Games:
Keep in mind that the PS2 had several big top, awesome games!!
Final Fantasy X
By now this series had reached ten installments, and four of them were on Sony consoles. Since Square still hadn’t switched consoles, it was pretty much clear that all, or apparently most (because of Crystal Chronicles and a few others) would be on Sony consoles. This game was the first Final Fantasy with voice acting and the first without pre-rendered backgrounds, so…what more couldja want?
Kingdom Hearts
Not only did it successfully (some how) bring together Disney and Square characters, but it also had a great story and an even better sequel.
Jak and Daxter
I feel seriously guilty for never playing this game. I mean, it’s not like it wasn’t unbelievably awesome!
Ratchet and Clank
Same case here… I DID beat Ratchet Deadlocked, though…
Sly Cooper and the Thievious Raccoonus
While its two sequels were at least 20 times better, this marked the beginning of the series and thus appears on this list in their places.
Name: Xbox
Release Date: November 11, 2001
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Predecessor(s): None
Successor: Xbox 360
Current State: Still-a Goin’...I think
The Xbox was the rookie console of the sixth generation. Sony was the rookie of the fifth, and Microsoft was the rookie of the sixth. While the Xbox didn’t manage to reach the PS2’s threshold of popularity, it did manage to become quite popular, mainly due to games such as Halo and a Sony-esque focus on adults (GOSH, does ANYONE care about kids anymore?!!), and its successor, the Xbox 360, is the most popular console in America right now, while the Wii is the leading console worldwide (it’s because of Japan’s intense Nintendo obsession).
Big Top Games:
I haven’t really played any notable Xbox games, and I mean ANY, so the one I can’t play will have to appear.
Halo
While the M-rating prevents me from playing it, it’s a really notable game for the Xbox, as just about everyone plays it…
Name: GameCube
Release Date: November 15, 2001
Manufacterer: Nintendo
Predecessor(s): Nintendo 64DD, Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, Super NES, NES
Successor: Wii
Current State: Unknown
Nintendo had released their new console in the beginning of the Xbox-Halo craze, and I’m sure that slowed down sales at first. Yet, unlike SEGA, Nintendo was too big to have a bomb on their hands (aside from Nintendo 64DD and Virtual Boy, but that’s a different story), and the GameCube, though not being as much of a success as its two competitors, managed to be very successful, and there was only one game that had saved it, described later.
While the Dreamcast was still producing games and the new millennia had begun, Dad took me to an Electronics Boutique and decided to buy me a Nintendo 64--the console I had off and on heard about, but never owned--and Super Mario 64 for seemingly know reason, and for himself Ogre Battle 64. I LOVED it, and as soon as I heard that Nintendo was making a new console, I had to have it! Thus, “Santa” (yeah, right) got me a GameCube and a couple of games.
The state is unknown because I am unsure whether some people are still supporting it or what.
Big Top Games:
Ooh, there’s a lot of ‘em, to be sure.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Wanna know the game that saved the GameCube if you didn’t already know? Well, here it is--the one game that made the GameCube the success it was.
Pikmin
While I’ve never beaten it, I really do like the game and think it was a great launch game.
Luigi’s Mansion
While we had to wait another year for Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion was enough to whet our appetites until then. It was short and easy, but an awesome game, nonetheless.
Super Mario Sunshine
While this was just essentially Super Mario 64 with a waterpack and tighter controls, it was an awesome game, still.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
I didn’t really find much fault with sailing. In fact, I liked it a lot. It was only a pain when you had to sail a really long way, like from Outset to Windfall, but whatever. And other than that, it was pretty much the same as Ocarina, so, anything goes.
There you have it! A look back at all four sixth generation systems, from Dreamcast to GameCube! I hope you enjoyed remembering this special generation--the generation during which I began my life as a gamer and a myriad of awesome systems and games came out. So, goodbye, and remember this word to live bye:
Don’t put old consoles in the past. Keep them in your memory.
Hi, me again! Here’s some more songs I want on Guitar Hero IV (or a downloadable song pack for Guitar Hero III).
Chevelle: Get Some
This is my favorite Chevelle song, and it would definitely be a good Guitar Hero song!
Poppa Roach: Scars
Personally, I think this would be a good one, too.
Nickelback: Rock Star
No Nickelback song screams Guitar Hero like this song.
Linkin Park: One Step Closer
Heh, I guess there are more songs than Papercut that could make it onto Guitar Hero.
Linkin Park: Given Up
Well, there’s LOTS more that could be on Guitar Hero, but that’s enough Linkin Park for one wishlist. I need to get other stuff.
Pearl Jam: Rearviewmirror
Awesome!!!
Pearl Jam: Once
Another awesome one!
Bon Jovi: It’s My Life
I’ve only recently gotten into Bon Jovi. Well, whatever.
Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody
Well, this would be a good one if it was heavier on guitar. Maybe they could make a cover that’s heavier on it.
Metallica: Sad But True
Just the opening guitar solo tells one how great this would be to play on Guitar Hero. And besides, they put One on Guitar Hero 3!
Metallica: The Unforgiving
RedOctane should look into these people more. Seriously.
Billy Talent: Red Flag
This’d be something different.
Green Day: American Idiot
So would this.
Green Day: She’s a Rebel
…Or whatever that’s called.
U2: Walk On
Well, this was the first U2 song I ever heard, and I’d love it on Guitar Hero.
Coldplay: Yellow
More Coldplay, please!
Alter Bridge: Open Your Eyes
Please?
Evanescence: Going Under
Well, that’s enough for now! I know I used to many of the same band, but…whatever.
Chevelle: Get Some
This is my favorite Chevelle song, and it would definitely be a good Guitar Hero song!
Poppa Roach: Scars
Personally, I think this would be a good one, too.
Nickelback: Rock Star
No Nickelback song screams Guitar Hero like this song.
Linkin Park: One Step Closer
Heh, I guess there are more songs than Papercut that could make it onto Guitar Hero.
Linkin Park: Given Up
Well, there’s LOTS more that could be on Guitar Hero, but that’s enough Linkin Park for one wishlist. I need to get other stuff.
Pearl Jam: Rearviewmirror
Awesome!!!
Pearl Jam: Once
Another awesome one!
Bon Jovi: It’s My Life
I’ve only recently gotten into Bon Jovi. Well, whatever.
Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody
Well, this would be a good one if it was heavier on guitar. Maybe they could make a cover that’s heavier on it.
Metallica: Sad But True
Just the opening guitar solo tells one how great this would be to play on Guitar Hero. And besides, they put One on Guitar Hero 3!
Metallica: The Unforgiving
RedOctane should look into these people more. Seriously.
Billy Talent: Red Flag
This’d be something different.
Green Day: American Idiot
So would this.
Green Day: She’s a Rebel
…Or whatever that’s called.
U2: Walk On
Well, this was the first U2 song I ever heard, and I’d love it on Guitar Hero.
Coldplay: Yellow
More Coldplay, please!
Alter Bridge: Open Your Eyes
Please?
Evanescence: Going Under
Well, that’s enough for now! I know I used to many of the same band, but…whatever.
Please forgive the title pun. Well, since I've never said this before, I’m home schooled, and part of my curriculum is reading books of my choosing. Well, I chose Black Beauty (by Anna Sewell) this time, since I had lost Bridge to Terabithia and had read a chapter of it from my reading textbook, which sparked my interest. Now, if I may go ahead and say this, Black Beauty is 50 chapters of pure horsey glory. But I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.
Well, this book is certainly something different: an autobiography of a horse! The surprising thing is it’s actually well written, and written in the English language rather than “Horseish.” So, let’s get down to business. The title character, Black Beauty, is a horse who first grows up on a farm and then is periodically sold to different masters, enduring both good times and bad. Sound good? No, but that’s just a summary. To delve deep into the story would take a bit too long for one review, and drop too many spoilers, but I can say that there is a good plot in here, as well as likable characters.
Yes, likable characters. Perhaps a bit TOO likable. Many characters that Black Beauty (who is a boy and not a girl, by the way, which is puzzling because of the name) meets have had very hectic lives with ill-treated masters, and they actually make it sound pretty sad. Then, later in the book, Anna Sewell spews that hatred over her characters again, and it really made me sad. That’s really the most glaring flaw this book has. And while the characters in question ARE fictional horses, they think, talk, and act like humans (well, at least to each other), which makes you get a real feel for them.
It took me months to finish this book. Not because it was long, but because of my plodding (or trotting) pace. I only read two chapters a day, while there were, like, fifty of them (and they are short)…and then Christmas break came. It was worth it, though.
So, I recommend this book to any age and demographic, because it’s a great book--case closed.
Overall: Pure Greatness! Truly a beauty of a book.
Well, this book is certainly something different: an autobiography of a horse! The surprising thing is it’s actually well written, and written in the English language rather than “Horseish.” So, let’s get down to business. The title character, Black Beauty, is a horse who first grows up on a farm and then is periodically sold to different masters, enduring both good times and bad. Sound good? No, but that’s just a summary. To delve deep into the story would take a bit too long for one review, and drop too many spoilers, but I can say that there is a good plot in here, as well as likable characters.
Yes, likable characters. Perhaps a bit TOO likable. Many characters that Black Beauty (who is a boy and not a girl, by the way, which is puzzling because of the name) meets have had very hectic lives with ill-treated masters, and they actually make it sound pretty sad. Then, later in the book, Anna Sewell spews that hatred over her characters again, and it really made me sad. That’s really the most glaring flaw this book has. And while the characters in question ARE fictional horses, they think, talk, and act like humans (well, at least to each other), which makes you get a real feel for them.
It took me months to finish this book. Not because it was long, but because of my plodding (or trotting) pace. I only read two chapters a day, while there were, like, fifty of them (and they are short)…and then Christmas break came. It was worth it, though.
So, I recommend this book to any age and demographic, because it’s a great book--case closed.
Overall: Pure Greatness! Truly a beauty of a book.
Another Christmas has come and gone, and brought with it a managerie of new games. Wait, games aren’t animals?! Phew, whatever. Anyway, one of these games was, of course, Super Paper Mario. But I didn’t get it. It just HAPPENED to be one of my five-year-old sister’s Christmas presents, who just HAPPENS to be a gamer. She lets me play it anyway, though, ha! Ironically, I usually get farther than her on it, and then she copies the file onto hers. Hey, has anyone ever heard of EXPERIENCING THE STORY FOR YOURSELF?!! Pfft, whatever. (To my chagrin) It’s her game.
So, let us begin. All RPGs have the matter of a good story. While this isn’t strictly an RPG (more on that later), it’s a Paper Mario game, and without its story, it would just be another fun, but not special, Mario game. Thankfully for it, it’s got an awesome story--one better than its predecessors. Ya see, there is this bad dude, Count Bleck, who needs to get Bowser and Princess Peach to marry in order to summon a Chaos Heart that will consume the world, as according to the Dark Prognosticus, a book of dark prophecies. When Mario and Luigi believe that it was Bowser who has captured Princess Peach, they leave for Bowser’s castle, only to see Count Bleck appear with Princess Peach and disappear with Bowser, his minions, and Luigi. Mario then meets a strange pixilated butterfly, called a Pixl, named Tippi, who takes him to Flipside, the town between dimensions. There, Mario learns from Merlon that four heroes (Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Luigi) are supposed to unite and collect the eight pieces of the Pure Heart in order to counteract the Chaos Heart, which has created The Void, and it is slowly, but surely, consuming all dimensions. Thus, Mario must set out on a hilarious adventure full of unforgettable characters such as Fleep, the French Pixl who has stayed in a bathroom for 100 years, waiting for someone to bring back something to wipe his big, fat butt with, and thus sends you on an epic quest for toilet paper in order to save a poor alien’s bladder, whose name is Squirps, the tiny alien who ends his sentences many times with “Squirp!” or “Squinkle!”, Count Bleck, the hilarious-looking bad guy that says “BLECK!” whenever he laughs and even refers to himself in third person sometimes, and Nastasia, his tiny assistant who seems not to have any emotions. Meanwhile, there’s a love story slowly unfolding in the background…
Yet, there is one bad point to the story. While the dialogue sections are usually so funny, you don’t even care how long they are (I love it when people mention buttons on the controller and Mario doesn’t understand, and they remark “someone watching us from another dimension may know,” or something like that), sometimes they get a bit annoying, even when they’re funny, when you want some action. This is mostly apparent at the beginning of the game, but doesn’t get in the way as much later on.
So, an awesome story, this game has. It’s Mario-esque, but great. But what of the gameplay? We heard that this would be a normal platformer rather than its role-playing predecessors. Was this portrayed correctly? Yes. In fact, the paper characters have a little niche here. While Paper Mario 1 and 2 were particularly awesome (I have started new files on both games approximately 2103494 times), a platformer was the best place for paper-based character sprites. When I heard of it, I knew it would be a good game, but I was a bit disappointed by the fact that it was a platformer rather than an RPG. I’m not as affected now, as it’s mostly the same (just without turn-based battles), but I think that the normal Paper Mario series should run alongside a Super Paper Mario series.
Well, enough of my jabbering. Let’s get down to business. So, yes, this game is a platformer, but I also said that this is mostly the same as the other games--just without turn-based battles. Well, you see, you’ll find NPCs (mostly in Flipside), and you can press up on the D-Pad to talk to them. So yeah, that’s one thing. Well, there is also EXP that you get by defeating enemies and getting powerups. Get enough, and your HP or attack power will level up. Party members also make a reprise…in a way. There are pixilated fairies (usually locked in treasure chests) called Pixls that give you a special ability. The first one you get is Tippi, a Pixl that lets you “scan” things, similar to Goombario and Goombella from previous games. Other Pixls follow, like a Pixl that lets you grab and throw objects and one that lets you blow stuff up. The most fun of these is Barry, the Pixl that lets you create a spiky barrier around yourself. Should you time it right, you can do some extra damage when jumping on an enemy, but otherwise, the spiked barrier only does 2 damage.
So, what does this game have that’s new? Well, for one thing you gain the ability to flip into 3-D. This is very useful if you’re stuck. It lets you uncover hidden items, get around objects you can’t jump over in 2-D, among other uses. But there is a bad point to this. There is a gauge that will make you take damage if it runs out, which I feel is pointless and stupid and bad. There are also interchangeable characters. You’ll come across people like Peach, Bowser, and Luigi throughout your quest who will join you, and you can switch with them. None of them can flip into 3-D, but they have their own special abilities. For instance, Peach can float and guard against attacks with her parasol, Bowser can breathe fire and is stronger than Mario, and Luigi…I don’t know what he does yet. But I’ll find out!
Graphically, it’s 2-D, so there isn’t much to expect. However, as far as 2-D games go, the game is beautiful, with a great artstyle and detailed characters. When you flip into 3-D, though, it looks more like you’re playing the first Paper Mario on N64. But, these games don’t put very much emphasis on the graphical department, so anything goes.
So, in the end, Super Paper Mario is a cool game that combines 2-D classic gameplay with new graphics, RPG elements, and other things that not only make it a worthy entry into the Paper Mario series, but make it fit into the Mario series as a whole.
I plan to review more of my Christmas games, so stay tuned to my site! I want to review The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass next, but it seems like a game that you need to beat before you review thus far.
------------------Summary-----------------
Story: Awesome! The best the series has seen yet.
Gameplay: Awesome! It’s 2-D Mario gameplay with a hint of RPG and other things.
Graphics: Pretty Good. 2-D is great, but 3-D is Nintendo 64-esque.
Overall: Awesome! It’s a great game, but I still want another RPG.
So, let us begin. All RPGs have the matter of a good story. While this isn’t strictly an RPG (more on that later), it’s a Paper Mario game, and without its story, it would just be another fun, but not special, Mario game. Thankfully for it, it’s got an awesome story--one better than its predecessors. Ya see, there is this bad dude, Count Bleck, who needs to get Bowser and Princess Peach to marry in order to summon a Chaos Heart that will consume the world, as according to the Dark Prognosticus, a book of dark prophecies. When Mario and Luigi believe that it was Bowser who has captured Princess Peach, they leave for Bowser’s castle, only to see Count Bleck appear with Princess Peach and disappear with Bowser, his minions, and Luigi. Mario then meets a strange pixilated butterfly, called a Pixl, named Tippi, who takes him to Flipside, the town between dimensions. There, Mario learns from Merlon that four heroes (Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Luigi) are supposed to unite and collect the eight pieces of the Pure Heart in order to counteract the Chaos Heart, which has created The Void, and it is slowly, but surely, consuming all dimensions. Thus, Mario must set out on a hilarious adventure full of unforgettable characters such as Fleep, the French Pixl who has stayed in a bathroom for 100 years, waiting for someone to bring back something to wipe his big, fat butt with, and thus sends you on an epic quest for toilet paper in order to save a poor alien’s bladder, whose name is Squirps, the tiny alien who ends his sentences many times with “Squirp!” or “Squinkle!”, Count Bleck, the hilarious-looking bad guy that says “BLECK!” whenever he laughs and even refers to himself in third person sometimes, and Nastasia, his tiny assistant who seems not to have any emotions. Meanwhile, there’s a love story slowly unfolding in the background…
Yet, there is one bad point to the story. While the dialogue sections are usually so funny, you don’t even care how long they are (I love it when people mention buttons on the controller and Mario doesn’t understand, and they remark “someone watching us from another dimension may know,” or something like that), sometimes they get a bit annoying, even when they’re funny, when you want some action. This is mostly apparent at the beginning of the game, but doesn’t get in the way as much later on.
So, an awesome story, this game has. It’s Mario-esque, but great. But what of the gameplay? We heard that this would be a normal platformer rather than its role-playing predecessors. Was this portrayed correctly? Yes. In fact, the paper characters have a little niche here. While Paper Mario 1 and 2 were particularly awesome (I have started new files on both games approximately 2103494 times), a platformer was the best place for paper-based character sprites. When I heard of it, I knew it would be a good game, but I was a bit disappointed by the fact that it was a platformer rather than an RPG. I’m not as affected now, as it’s mostly the same (just without turn-based battles), but I think that the normal Paper Mario series should run alongside a Super Paper Mario series.
Well, enough of my jabbering. Let’s get down to business. So, yes, this game is a platformer, but I also said that this is mostly the same as the other games--just without turn-based battles. Well, you see, you’ll find NPCs (mostly in Flipside), and you can press up on the D-Pad to talk to them. So yeah, that’s one thing. Well, there is also EXP that you get by defeating enemies and getting powerups. Get enough, and your HP or attack power will level up. Party members also make a reprise…in a way. There are pixilated fairies (usually locked in treasure chests) called Pixls that give you a special ability. The first one you get is Tippi, a Pixl that lets you “scan” things, similar to Goombario and Goombella from previous games. Other Pixls follow, like a Pixl that lets you grab and throw objects and one that lets you blow stuff up. The most fun of these is Barry, the Pixl that lets you create a spiky barrier around yourself. Should you time it right, you can do some extra damage when jumping on an enemy, but otherwise, the spiked barrier only does 2 damage.
So, what does this game have that’s new? Well, for one thing you gain the ability to flip into 3-D. This is very useful if you’re stuck. It lets you uncover hidden items, get around objects you can’t jump over in 2-D, among other uses. But there is a bad point to this. There is a gauge that will make you take damage if it runs out, which I feel is pointless and stupid and bad. There are also interchangeable characters. You’ll come across people like Peach, Bowser, and Luigi throughout your quest who will join you, and you can switch with them. None of them can flip into 3-D, but they have their own special abilities. For instance, Peach can float and guard against attacks with her parasol, Bowser can breathe fire and is stronger than Mario, and Luigi…I don’t know what he does yet. But I’ll find out!
Graphically, it’s 2-D, so there isn’t much to expect. However, as far as 2-D games go, the game is beautiful, with a great artstyle and detailed characters. When you flip into 3-D, though, it looks more like you’re playing the first Paper Mario on N64. But, these games don’t put very much emphasis on the graphical department, so anything goes.
So, in the end, Super Paper Mario is a cool game that combines 2-D classic gameplay with new graphics, RPG elements, and other things that not only make it a worthy entry into the Paper Mario series, but make it fit into the Mario series as a whole.
I plan to review more of my Christmas games, so stay tuned to my site! I want to review The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass next, but it seems like a game that you need to beat before you review thus far.
------------------Summary-----------------
Story: Awesome! The best the series has seen yet.
Gameplay: Awesome! It’s 2-D Mario gameplay with a hint of RPG and other things.
Graphics: Pretty Good. 2-D is great, but 3-D is Nintendo 64-esque.
Overall: Awesome! It’s a great game, but I still want another RPG.
Guitar Hero 4 and/or Guitar Hero 3 Downloadable Song Pack Wishlist
Published Thursday, January 3, 2008 by T-Man.
Well, since I got Guitar Hero 2 for Christmas (not Guitar Hero 3; I’m getting that for my birthday), I thought that I could make a wishlist for future songs. If you like it, then you can e-mail me yours, and I might post it on my sight! Anyway…
Coheed & Cambria: Welcome Home
An obvious choice. I mean, after all, that song completely revolves around the guitar! Just think about playing it on expert. Your arm would fall off halfway through the song! This is one players just NEED.
Soundgarden: Spoonman
The more I think about this song, the more I think about how fun it would be to play on Guitar Hero. Soundgarden fans, cry out to RedOctane to get this song, for your guys’ sake.
Audioslave: Cocheice
Thinking of Soundgarden made me think of Audioslave, the band that brought Soundgarden and Race Against the Machine together. These people just keep coming out with Guitar Hero-esque stuff!
Pearl Jam: Alive
I started thinking about this when I heard the long, and, if it were to be on Guitar Hero, HARD guitar solo at the end. Let’s face it, people, you can’t go wrong with Pearl Jam’s old stuff.
The Pixies: Debaser
I don’t know why I used to not like this song. Maybe I just got tired of it, because it was ringing in my ears all the time when my dad played his NCAA football game. Either way, now that I like the Pixies, this would be a great song for Guitar Hero, but the next one is even better!
The Pixies: Where is My Mind?
This and Gigantic are probably my favorite Pixies songs. Just think about it for a second, Pixies fans!
Nickelback: How You Remind Me
I haven’t heard nearly enough of Nickelback, but I've heard this song. Hopefully they'll put some more of this kind of stuff on the next Guitar Hero.
Linkin Park: Papercut
OK, my Linkin Park fanboyism has probably driven me into putting this on here. Either way, this is one of their few singles (if not the only) that has enough guitar in it to be on Guitar Hero. At least, I think so.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Put a Spell on You
Three words: long guitar solo.
Guns N’ Roses: You Could Be Mine
Let’s think for a second. They’ve already done Sweet Child O’ Mine and Welcome to the Jungle, so what’s next? You Could Be Mine!
Guns N’ Roses: Paradise City
Hmm…they haven’t done two Guns N’ Roses songs on one game before, but this is on my wishlist anyway!
My Chemical Romance: Helena
By far their best song. It’s got even more guitar than Dead!
Crush 40: Into the Wind
Of course, most of their songs that I’ve heard were on Sonic games, but I haven’t heard this on any Sonic game (only in a YouTube video), and, thus, it deserves a place on Guitar Hero!
Chevelle: The Clincher
I don’t really have much to say about this…
Well, that’s all I can think of right now, but if I think of a lot more, then I’ll post them! And remember, you can send me yours, and it could appear on my site!
NOTE: I have now figured out that Cocheice (actually spelled Cochise) was in Guitar Hero 1, which I've never played. Dang.
Coheed & Cambria: Welcome Home
An obvious choice. I mean, after all, that song completely revolves around the guitar! Just think about playing it on expert. Your arm would fall off halfway through the song! This is one players just NEED.
Soundgarden: Spoonman
The more I think about this song, the more I think about how fun it would be to play on Guitar Hero. Soundgarden fans, cry out to RedOctane to get this song, for your guys’ sake.
Audioslave: Cocheice
Thinking of Soundgarden made me think of Audioslave, the band that brought Soundgarden and Race Against the Machine together. These people just keep coming out with Guitar Hero-esque stuff!
Pearl Jam: Alive
I started thinking about this when I heard the long, and, if it were to be on Guitar Hero, HARD guitar solo at the end. Let’s face it, people, you can’t go wrong with Pearl Jam’s old stuff.
The Pixies: Debaser
I don’t know why I used to not like this song. Maybe I just got tired of it, because it was ringing in my ears all the time when my dad played his NCAA football game. Either way, now that I like the Pixies, this would be a great song for Guitar Hero, but the next one is even better!
The Pixies: Where is My Mind?
This and Gigantic are probably my favorite Pixies songs. Just think about it for a second, Pixies fans!
Nickelback: How You Remind Me
I haven’t heard nearly enough of Nickelback, but I've heard this song. Hopefully they'll put some more of this kind of stuff on the next Guitar Hero.
Linkin Park: Papercut
OK, my Linkin Park fanboyism has probably driven me into putting this on here. Either way, this is one of their few singles (if not the only) that has enough guitar in it to be on Guitar Hero. At least, I think so.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Put a Spell on You
Three words: long guitar solo.
Guns N’ Roses: You Could Be Mine
Let’s think for a second. They’ve already done Sweet Child O’ Mine and Welcome to the Jungle, so what’s next? You Could Be Mine!
Guns N’ Roses: Paradise City
Hmm…they haven’t done two Guns N’ Roses songs on one game before, but this is on my wishlist anyway!
My Chemical Romance: Helena
By far their best song. It’s got even more guitar than Dead!
Crush 40: Into the Wind
Of course, most of their songs that I’ve heard were on Sonic games, but I haven’t heard this on any Sonic game (only in a YouTube video), and, thus, it deserves a place on Guitar Hero!
Chevelle: The Clincher
I don’t really have much to say about this…
Well, that’s all I can think of right now, but if I think of a lot more, then I’ll post them! And remember, you can send me yours, and it could appear on my site!
NOTE: I have now figured out that Cocheice (actually spelled Cochise) was in Guitar Hero 1, which I've never played. Dang.