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It’s entirely possible, if you’re a newcomer to Nintendojo, to think that we’re all about samurai swords and kendo tournaments. I mean, just look at our logo. But really, physical exertion? That’s gross, dude(tte)s. It’s all about living vicariously, through games like The Conduit 2 or (wait for it) Ocarina of Time 3D. Sure, being a ninja is pretty awesome too, but half of the time we’d rather be one in Videogameland. Less chance of getting killed, you see. So let’s get on with it: where are we going today?
Andrew Hsieh
So I splurged. What are you going to do about it? I may have spent a little too much money on Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, but it’s not my fault it was so expensive. First, it’s out-of-print, and second, I just couldn’t help myself, having played GameCube’s Path of Radiance for one too many plays on Maniac. (That particular difficulty makes everything else look trivial, including money.) And now I’m playing that now. It’s great to come back to a world full of shapeshifting animals and overwrought melodrama, especially since Radiant Dawn really amps up the difficulty from Path of Radiance— I can’t just throw my units in a battle or just wait until the enemy comes over to commit suicide against Ike’s overpowered blade. I really have to think about it. And after playing a little too much Dissidia 012 for PSP, I’m glad that I have a video game worth Joshua Johnston’s time. (I’m hoping here.)
Incidentally, I did try playing The Conduit 2. I got as far as the Leviathan, and hated it so much that I quit after about an hour of trying to battle it. I know, I know. I just seem to be really bad at first-person shooters away from the PC. You’d think after all this time I’d be used to the Wii– and you’d be wrong. Cue sad times.
M. Noah Ward
Inside that massive gut lies, uh, someplace we don’t want to think about. Poor Mario & Other Guy.
This weekend I shall continue my journey through Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. As I mentioned on the last podcast, I feel like I should be getting near the end or at least something really climactic, with only a mere 8.5 hours played, but I didn’t explain why. My main reasons for this are that I’m about to fix a big problem that happened at the onset of the game, and I’ve also had my characters on every spot of the single-screen world map, except for Peach’s Castle and one forest. What else more is there to do? Will there be a game-doubling, ridiculous plot twist? I know this is an RPG, but jeez, I hope not. Yes, it’s a fun game, but I’m definitely reaching a point where, as Aaron said, it may be time to put the game aside to play something else for a little while.
And that something else will likely be more Super Mario Galaxy on Wii and of course more League of Legends on PC. What’s odd though is I don’t like neglecting my DS entirely– I feel like it should be getting love the same as Wii and my PC. So maybe I’ll go back to some more Mario vs. Donkey Kong or 999.
Matthew Tidman
I found an old friend over the past few days and I’ll probably be spending this weekend with it. That friend is my SNES and the joys of Donkey Kong Country. I also picked up Mortal Kombat II at a thrift store and have been repeatedly frustrated by the extreme difficulty curve, especially when you make it to the last three fights.
In more recent games territory, I’m working my way through LEGO Battles Ninjago which has little to do with the model set game but is still a fun tower defense/RTS game. More on it in the future.
Aaron Roberts
I’ll be playing lots of handheld games this weekend as I am going on a float trip. I’m bringing along an extra DS and lots of single-card games as that way we can have a portable Mario Party, continue with the fantastic multiplayer modes of Tetris DS, Metroid Prime Pinball, and Mario Kart DS. I’m still working on Pokemon Black and Radiant Historia, so those’ll be coming along as well.
Oh, and if it decides to be mailed here before I leave, then The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be loaded into the docket as well. No rush, I’ve played the original game, but it would be nice to have something concrete to show off the 3DS with to all the peoples going on the trip as well.
James Stank
Marin returns on 3DS! … well, briefly. As always.
This week it’s been all about Zelda. Earlier in the week I beat Link’s Awakening DX with every heart piece and upgrade. It was the first Zelda game I ever owned back on the Game Boy, and it was just as good now. Despite being a Game Boy game, it is still one of the best portable games today. After that, my focus turned towards Ocarina of Time 3D. It looks better than ever, but I wouldn’t say it plays better than ever. Link turns extremely slow when aiming weapons, which almost forces you to use the tilt control, as it moves much faster. Though, if you do this, you run the risk of losing the 3D effect. Nintendo needs to learn that tilt and 3D don’t mix.
Playing the 3D remake of Zelda also made me realize the limitations of the slide pad. Yes, the game works, and is certainly playable, but this game really showed that the slide pad is nothing compared to an analog stick. It doesn’t recognize small movements as well as an analog stick, and doesn’t handle tight turns nearly as well either. The pads on Wii U’s controller are supposed to me more advanced, and I hope they are. Aside from the Zeldas, I’ve been playing Mortal Kombat, which is absolutely fantastic, along with the incredible Braid. Braid is probably the best, most classy platformer that Nintendo didn’t make. Yes, I prefer it over LittleBigPlanet.
Smith Stuart
I know it sounds heretical coming from a big-time gamer like myself, but I’m probably not going to be playing anything this weekend. *gasp!* I just started Donkey Kong Country Returns earlier this week, and I’m certainly raring to play it some more; but since my twin brother left town till Sunday, and we can’t rightly relive the joys of Donkey Kong Country for SNES without commanding Diddy and DK individually, I’m afraid I’ll just have to go cold turkey till he gets back. The dilweed also took our DS out of state – so thanks to him, I can’t even solve a puzzle or two with Professor Layton while I’m going through my Wii withdrawals.
Well, I guess that wraps up this week’s dissection of my gaming life. So either I can start to get into personal stuff, or I can quit while I’m ahead. I think I’ll quit while I’m ahead. There’s no need making any of our readers feel like I may have a life going on outside of Nintendojo. Why, to even hint at an alternate persona would be preposterous!
Nicolas Vestre
The S license test in Mega Man Legends 2 continues to evade me, but I’m not giving up. Completing this test makes the entire game significantly harder, and I really want that. I just know I’ll get it eventually!
I’m happily visiting my young cousins this weekend, so I predict some Bomberman for DS as well as Super Smash Bros Brawl for Wii. Just in case, I’m bringing a couple copies of Mario Kart DS and some spare DS handhelds for the possibility that theirs are in terrible, abused-by-young-child condition.
When I’m not playing with my cousins, I expect to put a hurting on Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure for PSP. I assume that I’m about two-thirds through the game, and it’s lot of fun. Gameplay is simple but engaging, and getting 100 percent on every level gives the title the extra oomph it needs.
Since I got Ivy the Kiwi? for DS in September of last year, I’ve only played a handful of levels just to try it out. I expect that to change very soon. My goal is to complete every level by getting all the feathers– we’ll see how that goes. I won’t give up easily, that’s for sure.
Kevin Knezevic
Link didn’t have enough Rupees for a copy of his own game. So he stole it. (He’s Link.)
Like many 3DS owners, most of my gaming time this week has been devoted to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. I’ll withhold most of my opinions on the title for my impending review, but it really is simply stunning to behold. The art style holds up very well despite the game’s age, and the updated graphics (not to mention the stereoscopic effects) bring Hyrule to life like never before. I’ve probably already said too much, so I will just leave it at that and subtly change the topic.
I also dusted off my copy of Animal Crossing for GameCube this week. I had always preferred this installment to either Wild World or City Folk, which is why I still (infrequently) feel the urge to pop the game into my Wii and check up on my town. As was to be expected, the place was littered with weeds, and I spent the bulk of my playtime just running around picking as many as I could. Now that I think about it, I probably would’ve been better off just leaving them for Wisp to clean up– I am awake far too late every night as it is, and I always like turning the game on in the early morning to hear the music and hit my sleeping neighbors with my net. That is probably what I’ll just do the next time I inevitably neglect my town.
Mel Turnquist
Going through Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D on my 3DS for most of the weekend. I’ll be also keeping tabs on my Brain Age: Sudoku and I’ll probably dust off some Super Mario Galaxy 2 if I’m up for it. It’s been a while since I’ve played so I’m sure I’ll be checking that out again.
I think I may also take a peek at Kirby’s Dream Land 2 now that I found my GBA that can play old Game Boy games. Unfortunately, I can only find Pokemon Red & Blue (yes I got both versions…I forget why but it was good) and that game. I had more but unfortunately they are not around anymore. I may even throw in Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga while I’m at it. All this happening between working and sleeping in after working almost 2 weeks in a row. Good times.
What’re our loyal readers playing this weekend? Zelda? Dead or Alive? If you don’t tell us, we’ll just assume you’re playing Imagine Party Babyz. And then you’ll have to answer lots of questions.
I actually like the slide pad, at least when it comes to running/riding across Hyrule Field in Ocarina of Time 3D many times, but as James said, it’s not as good for small movements. Also, I find it much harder to perform the quick spin attack by spinning in a circle then hitting B. I could do this without even trying on the Gamecube version, but not so much on the 3DS. Luckily there’s not too many points in the game where a quick spin attack would be favorable to just smacking everything in sight with the Biggoron’s Sword, but still.
As for the using the tilt to aim weapons, I love it, but I did notice a lot of problems when trying to use the 3D effect and using the tilt to aim. So far I’ve played most of the game without the 3D on, which doesn’t ruin the game for me at all. It’s still the same great Zelda, 3D or not. One area that the tilt control didn’t work very well was the horseback archery range in Gerudo Fortress. It works great to make the samll adjustments needed to hit 5 or 6 bull-eyes in a row, but after you reach one end and have to turn around, it becomes more of a pain. Regardless, I still managed to get the Piece of Heart and the Big Quiver in one try each.
Even with those problems, I’m still very close to beating the Master Quest, and will probably finish it on Sunday. The Boss Rush mode is pretty fun, but hard at the same time. Having to face all 8 bosses in a row and starting with only 5 hearts is quite a challenge.
I had just the opposite problem with the slide pad; Link moves slow unless I push it all the way. But for the most part it moves okay. I can definitely see the problem with handling tight corners though.
I lose the 3D effect if I so much as move my head too far, so I’m used to it. I’ve been using nothing but the tilt. Best thing I found, when you’re just whipping out your sling or hookshot is just close one eye. As for boss battles, since your adrenaline is pumping anyway, it’s easier to keep it if you stand up.