Post by tommyspud on May 12, 2008 21:02:45 GMT -5
Taken from other forums, it's time to post my VG reviews on AWF... YAY!
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Mario Kart Wii Review.
Well... This is nice. So a couple days ago, let's say 5(That would be May 2nd.), when my 19th birthday was... I made a purchase... I purchased Mario Kart Wii, along with Patapon and Oblivion... But enough about what I bought, let's get down to the basics.
First off, I would like to thank Nintendo for making the Wii Wheel, it's a good addon, but it's just not for me. I do use it in casual play, but in serious play, I will bring out a Gamecube controller.
Now, for those of you that don't know about Mario Kart Wii much, it spawns 8 different cups, 4 which are custom made for wii, and 4 which are taken from any Mario Kart Game(That's right, SNES to DS, right here, in this shell. There's even a few GBA tracks.) Anyways, that's 32 tracks to your liking. These tracks vary from malls, to traditional raceways, to what seems like a ski slope? The tracks are very distinct, and the graphics are pretty good for the wii. Unfortuantly, the retro tracks, don't have much to offer, besides nostalgia... However, to attack the fact that these courses should be changed, is downright stupid, because it adds a certain feeling of the gold old days... AT least, the N64 and SNES tracks do, and by some lesser extent, the GBA tracks.
Technically, there are 25 characters, that vary from favorites like Mario, Luigi, Bowser, to those unforgotten people, like Koopa Troopa, Dry Bones, and King Boo... Then you have new people like Mii, Rosalina, and one of my favorite new guys, Funky Kong. However, the character selection is meh for certain people, (Like who are Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, and Dry Bowser, and why should I care? I'd rather have Petey Piranha, that Paratroopa, and a Shy Guy driving carts then those three, and they WEIGH THE SAME!)
Of course, now is where we get to my favorite things... The Weapons! Three new additions have made a return, The POW block(for spinning people in front of you), The mega mushroom(Makes you huge, and be able to run over people), and the thundercloud(Which removes all terrain, but shrinks you after sometime. You can pass it off by hitting someone.) These weapons add to the mix, that make races quite unpredictable. Just when you think you are going to win, you drop to 5th, which is quite easy, considering how the CPU has some kind of luck that drives me crazy. Like I got hit with a blue shell, then red shelled, then slid into a fake item box.... and dropped to like 8th. It's also one of the main reasons that makes this game infurating. However, it's quite addicting, and now with 12 characters in, it should be interesting.
Of course, if you are a completist like myself, you want to try to unlock everything, am I right? Well, when you get to the 150CC cups, the CPU picks up, by a lot, and we haven't even started talking about the Mirror 150CC Cups... Also, some of the requirements are just freaking insane, like for example you unlock things four ways.
One: By doing something online(Like win 1000 Wi-Fi Matches for Toadette, WTF??)
Two: By clearing a cup in first place(Only for the last two cups of each four cup set, like you have to beat Leaf on 100CC for Dry Bones)
Three: By clearing all four cups in one row with at least one star each (For the 150CC Wii-cups, you unlock Dry Bowser)
Four: By unlocking staff ghosts, which means you have to beat the regular ghosts, by quite some time. (Unlock all 32, gives you another Mii Costume)
Oh, there's a 5th, it's something to do with having Super Mario Galaxy to unlock Rosalina, or play for some amount of time... I'm not exactly sure.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that you will be racing with Karts and Bikes, and you will be FORCED to ride with them both, because 100CC is Bikes Only at start... Bikes can wheelie for a boost... Both can preform tricks in midair to get a boost though, so I'm happy.
There is also an automatic/manual drift option, which I think eases the pain for newcomers, where they can practice their manual drifting in time trials, while using automatic in grand prixs(Which you can win, trust me.)
I have 150CC to fully one star, and Mirror 150CC to clear fully left, and a crapload of ghosts to unlock, but it's ok.
YAY, Battle is here again, in two modes, where you can battle with balloons(In a new Deathmatch team type way, with time limits and respawns) or collect coins(as a team). That's right, no more last man standing... OF course, regular races could be team too.
This game is, of course, meant to be a pretty hectic game, and to treat it any other way, would be stupid... Don't think just because you are far ahead, that you can take it easy. The game will find SO many ways to make you angry, it's ridiculous. However, it's still a game that keeps making me come back for more...
It deserves an 8.5/10 from me, because of several reasons, it's fun(Just because I get angry, doesn't mean I'm not having fun), it's addicting, and the wi-fi is incredible. It's WAY better than Brawl in the online aspect. The Character selection has some WTF moments, as well as some of the tracks(Still wondering why Peach Beach is in, people, and the DS tracks at all... No Donut Plains drives me crazy) But, it's great at what it's supposed to do, which is hectic multiplayer races. The singleplayer also is pretty fun. You probably should buy the game... It's only $50, and that includes the Wii Wheel.
EDIT for a QUICK TIP: Even though Automatic is great, the Manual option does offer advantages. Try running a couple solo time trials with it on, just to get better with it. Trust me, the switch to manual will help you, as it has mini-turbos that can give you a big boost during a turn. I would also suggest getting used to a bike, because the whole 'Boost then Wheelie' combination works pretty well.
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Patapon Review(PSP)
Believe it or not, the PSP is a gaming system(Who knew.) And it does have some awesome games. Let's be honest, thought, it's not as awesome game-heavy as the DS, but the extra features do beat the DS in that sole regard(RSS, MP3, Picture viewer, storage, UMD Movies, so on and so forth). Even though the games might be meh sometimes, there are a boxful of awesome ones.
Patapon is... hard to describe. It's like a strategy rhythm rpg, I know it sounds akward, but as long as you can keep a beat, it's pretty easy.
Patapon's plot is basically this, the eyeball patapons want to go to earthend, so they can gaze upon IT. What this IT is, no one knows, because it's been quite a very long time since they went to IT. Now, you might ask how rhythm plays a part in this, well, you command your Patapon army by certain timed beats. For example, you do four beats for a command, and the patapons repeat your beat, while doing the command, then you input another command. Commands, you obtain through the levels, and they go anywhere from moving(Pata Pata Pata Pon) to Attacking(Pon Pon Pata Pon) to Defending(Chaka Chaka Pata Pon) to performing miracles, like adding wind or rain(Don dondon dondon) Now there are white lines, that will flash for when you are supposed to hit the beats WHEN there are four of them, so the miracles you need to time right, or you fail. Basically, the more beats you perfectly hit in a row, the more powerful your army gets, with fever, being their best.
The game doesn't stop there, because, you will have to figure out what you are going to do. I mean, you can't just rush into battle and hope you can win, because, you won't. Trust me, I've also tried this. Now, people are wondering, "Why is this an RPG?" Well, it's part RPG, because you can equip your units with better weapons and armor, to make them more powerful. Also, you can create new units with objects(Food, Ore, and Wood) you get through your travels, and kaching(which is a form of money). You can also rez any patapon that has died if you want to(Yes, you are a patapon paladin god.) Don't think you can just go to the same boss over and over to get his items, because bosses get harder the more times you beat them.
Also, special objects, will get you better version of the patapon, which range from Warriors, to Archers, to spearthrowers, and so on. You are only allowed three groups though, but those groups CAN be maxed out to about 6-8 units in most cases.
Patapon is one of those 'weird games'(See Katamari Damacy) but it just WORKS. It's obviously one of the most ORIGINAL games made for the PSP, and it's definatly something to remember. This game gets a 9/10 from me, and it's a must buy for all PSP users that want to try something new. I hope there will be a Patapon 2, because, then that could possibly go to DS, and it could become the next "Phoenix Wright" in terms of popularity. Plus, with a $20 price tag, who can say NO?
EDIT, for a quick tip: Don't be afraid if you don't have the beat to start with, you can continue practicing while getting meat in the second mission. It's a great way to greater understand the rhythm.
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Mario Kart Wii Review.
Well... This is nice. So a couple days ago, let's say 5(That would be May 2nd.), when my 19th birthday was... I made a purchase... I purchased Mario Kart Wii, along with Patapon and Oblivion... But enough about what I bought, let's get down to the basics.
First off, I would like to thank Nintendo for making the Wii Wheel, it's a good addon, but it's just not for me. I do use it in casual play, but in serious play, I will bring out a Gamecube controller.
Now, for those of you that don't know about Mario Kart Wii much, it spawns 8 different cups, 4 which are custom made for wii, and 4 which are taken from any Mario Kart Game(That's right, SNES to DS, right here, in this shell. There's even a few GBA tracks.) Anyways, that's 32 tracks to your liking. These tracks vary from malls, to traditional raceways, to what seems like a ski slope? The tracks are very distinct, and the graphics are pretty good for the wii. Unfortuantly, the retro tracks, don't have much to offer, besides nostalgia... However, to attack the fact that these courses should be changed, is downright stupid, because it adds a certain feeling of the gold old days... AT least, the N64 and SNES tracks do, and by some lesser extent, the GBA tracks.
Technically, there are 25 characters, that vary from favorites like Mario, Luigi, Bowser, to those unforgotten people, like Koopa Troopa, Dry Bones, and King Boo... Then you have new people like Mii, Rosalina, and one of my favorite new guys, Funky Kong. However, the character selection is meh for certain people, (Like who are Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, and Dry Bowser, and why should I care? I'd rather have Petey Piranha, that Paratroopa, and a Shy Guy driving carts then those three, and they WEIGH THE SAME!)
Of course, now is where we get to my favorite things... The Weapons! Three new additions have made a return, The POW block(for spinning people in front of you), The mega mushroom(Makes you huge, and be able to run over people), and the thundercloud(Which removes all terrain, but shrinks you after sometime. You can pass it off by hitting someone.) These weapons add to the mix, that make races quite unpredictable. Just when you think you are going to win, you drop to 5th, which is quite easy, considering how the CPU has some kind of luck that drives me crazy. Like I got hit with a blue shell, then red shelled, then slid into a fake item box.... and dropped to like 8th. It's also one of the main reasons that makes this game infurating. However, it's quite addicting, and now with 12 characters in, it should be interesting.
Of course, if you are a completist like myself, you want to try to unlock everything, am I right? Well, when you get to the 150CC cups, the CPU picks up, by a lot, and we haven't even started talking about the Mirror 150CC Cups... Also, some of the requirements are just freaking insane, like for example you unlock things four ways.
One: By doing something online(Like win 1000 Wi-Fi Matches for Toadette, WTF??)
Two: By clearing a cup in first place(Only for the last two cups of each four cup set, like you have to beat Leaf on 100CC for Dry Bones)
Three: By clearing all four cups in one row with at least one star each (For the 150CC Wii-cups, you unlock Dry Bowser)
Four: By unlocking staff ghosts, which means you have to beat the regular ghosts, by quite some time. (Unlock all 32, gives you another Mii Costume)
Oh, there's a 5th, it's something to do with having Super Mario Galaxy to unlock Rosalina, or play for some amount of time... I'm not exactly sure.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that you will be racing with Karts and Bikes, and you will be FORCED to ride with them both, because 100CC is Bikes Only at start... Bikes can wheelie for a boost... Both can preform tricks in midair to get a boost though, so I'm happy.
There is also an automatic/manual drift option, which I think eases the pain for newcomers, where they can practice their manual drifting in time trials, while using automatic in grand prixs(Which you can win, trust me.)
I have 150CC to fully one star, and Mirror 150CC to clear fully left, and a crapload of ghosts to unlock, but it's ok.
YAY, Battle is here again, in two modes, where you can battle with balloons(In a new Deathmatch team type way, with time limits and respawns) or collect coins(as a team). That's right, no more last man standing... OF course, regular races could be team too.
This game is, of course, meant to be a pretty hectic game, and to treat it any other way, would be stupid... Don't think just because you are far ahead, that you can take it easy. The game will find SO many ways to make you angry, it's ridiculous. However, it's still a game that keeps making me come back for more...
It deserves an 8.5/10 from me, because of several reasons, it's fun(Just because I get angry, doesn't mean I'm not having fun), it's addicting, and the wi-fi is incredible. It's WAY better than Brawl in the online aspect. The Character selection has some WTF moments, as well as some of the tracks(Still wondering why Peach Beach is in, people, and the DS tracks at all... No Donut Plains drives me crazy) But, it's great at what it's supposed to do, which is hectic multiplayer races. The singleplayer also is pretty fun. You probably should buy the game... It's only $50, and that includes the Wii Wheel.
EDIT for a QUICK TIP: Even though Automatic is great, the Manual option does offer advantages. Try running a couple solo time trials with it on, just to get better with it. Trust me, the switch to manual will help you, as it has mini-turbos that can give you a big boost during a turn. I would also suggest getting used to a bike, because the whole 'Boost then Wheelie' combination works pretty well.
--------------------
Patapon Review(PSP)
Believe it or not, the PSP is a gaming system(Who knew.) And it does have some awesome games. Let's be honest, thought, it's not as awesome game-heavy as the DS, but the extra features do beat the DS in that sole regard(RSS, MP3, Picture viewer, storage, UMD Movies, so on and so forth). Even though the games might be meh sometimes, there are a boxful of awesome ones.
Patapon is... hard to describe. It's like a strategy rhythm rpg, I know it sounds akward, but as long as you can keep a beat, it's pretty easy.
Patapon's plot is basically this, the eyeball patapons want to go to earthend, so they can gaze upon IT. What this IT is, no one knows, because it's been quite a very long time since they went to IT. Now, you might ask how rhythm plays a part in this, well, you command your Patapon army by certain timed beats. For example, you do four beats for a command, and the patapons repeat your beat, while doing the command, then you input another command. Commands, you obtain through the levels, and they go anywhere from moving(Pata Pata Pata Pon) to Attacking(Pon Pon Pata Pon) to Defending(Chaka Chaka Pata Pon) to performing miracles, like adding wind or rain(Don dondon dondon) Now there are white lines, that will flash for when you are supposed to hit the beats WHEN there are four of them, so the miracles you need to time right, or you fail. Basically, the more beats you perfectly hit in a row, the more powerful your army gets, with fever, being their best.
The game doesn't stop there, because, you will have to figure out what you are going to do. I mean, you can't just rush into battle and hope you can win, because, you won't. Trust me, I've also tried this. Now, people are wondering, "Why is this an RPG?" Well, it's part RPG, because you can equip your units with better weapons and armor, to make them more powerful. Also, you can create new units with objects(Food, Ore, and Wood) you get through your travels, and kaching(which is a form of money). You can also rez any patapon that has died if you want to(Yes, you are a patapon paladin god.) Don't think you can just go to the same boss over and over to get his items, because bosses get harder the more times you beat them.
Also, special objects, will get you better version of the patapon, which range from Warriors, to Archers, to spearthrowers, and so on. You are only allowed three groups though, but those groups CAN be maxed out to about 6-8 units in most cases.
Patapon is one of those 'weird games'(See Katamari Damacy) but it just WORKS. It's obviously one of the most ORIGINAL games made for the PSP, and it's definatly something to remember. This game gets a 9/10 from me, and it's a must buy for all PSP users that want to try something new. I hope there will be a Patapon 2, because, then that could possibly go to DS, and it could become the next "Phoenix Wright" in terms of popularity. Plus, with a $20 price tag, who can say NO?
EDIT, for a quick tip: Don't be afraid if you don't have the beat to start with, you can continue practicing while getting meat in the second mission. It's a great way to greater understand the rhythm.