kisrael

On that I will have to agree. Huh. Do you think the linear setup plus automapping means people who prefered to play the previous Metroids w/ guide (curse you old NES Players Guide w/ the black cover for setting me down this road of Map and Walkthrus! will be less likely to need something like GameFAQs? Yeah, I remember the day both came out...I didn't have a GBA, and I almost felt a twinge of "You know, I think I'd rather be trying the 2D game..." Re: the "linearity" of Prime; to me, that kind of "exploring" feels more like "searching" and I don't enjoy it that much. (And that's the main reason I rely on guides; I hate to not have the maximum #s of missiles and energy tanks but I also hate searching and scanning and bombing every dang part) And I think I find "physical access barred w/o the right gadget" to something like, say, Mario or Megaman does, where it has a straightforward level select. Yeah, I know that would break the whole Metroid immersion vibe so isn't an option, but still... I guess what bugs me about Prime is that it feels like it SHOULD be a "found planet", a real world that you can explore, but in reality, just about every aspect of it is precisely geared to your character's specific abilities at some point in the game. Heh, it's almost like creationism vs. evolution; Prime's world is really obviously created for the player, with that fine tweaking. Something like GTA:VC feels more evolved; it seems like a consistent universe that is there for reasons other than the player to respond to. Admittedly the latter has the advantage of being set in a pseudo-realistic modernday world, so it's easier to make it look like there's a "real economy" and "real social structure" (even if the engine's tendency to appear disappear pedestrians and other cars strains credulity) Maybe GTA series isn't a fair example, because I really think they brought something new and cool to the table, and that's why they've had such runaway success.

I don't quite mean it as a total put-down (or "diss", to use your hipster slang) but it's definately a criticism. As a linear medium, video games don't stand up that well to books or movies; with some exceptions, they tend to have a lot less depth than either. (I do grant that you might connect with a linear story video game more than with, say, a movie, because of your involvement in it.) But I definately prefer games that have a complex enough world that I feel I have some freedom. And when Metroid moved into 3D, the way it lets you "see but don't touch" things (ike, you know you need to go there, but you don't have the right powerup) is a little annoying. I think I've been spoiled a bit by GTA3 and VC, which really combine the best of both worlds; a decent story line to follow, and a big world to play in during and after. Plus, a few storylines at once, and you pick what you want to focus on. What I like about GTA3 and I guess I'd say Mario as opposed to Metroid and Zelda is that there's not much powering up with those first two; your character and his armament is basically the same (or potentially the same) at the end of the game as it was at the begining, and the game isn't so contrived to keep you from certain parts of itself because you don't have the right doodad. Megaman is an interesting case: historically (I stopped playing MegaMan roughly with the SNES so I don't know about the latest versions) it's all about acquiring new terrific weapons...but I think it's cool that it lets you select to still try any board, and even have a bit of a shot, even without the optimal weapon in your arsenal. And each weapon tends to have different purposes and strengths, unlike Metroid and Zelda, where it's just a cooler, more gadgety form of leveling up really.

Huge, but surprisingly linear overall. There's a lot of backtracking, but overall it's geared so that you have to everything pretty much in order...

The yellow face...it burnsssss ussss, yessss my precioussss......

I don't know about that reference, but it's a bit like the homeversion of the Painstation...Pong that can deliver electric shock, heat, or flagellation via a small whip.

The stickers are pretty cool. I wish more games would do that. I remember the sheet of stickers that came with the old black Nintendo Player's Guide...man, that was a great book!

True 'nuff...once I see all the games, it will be interesting to see how much of a pick up and play for a bit factor this game keeps...it might be substantial, good for a few minutes of gaming fun in a way other games aren't.

I have a sneaking suspicion that a large % of the non-Xbox-specific titles, the emulation, I could also get for PC. No? And I just put down money for GBA+Metroid Fusion+Wario Ware. I need to cut back spending for a bit. Someday, tho.

Oh, emulated. Why didn't you say so? Chill out, Spartacus. I think the Xbox is a decent system w/ the best online play. I still can't justify the expense when all I really want it for is Halo, though.

3000??? Is that how like Atari counted Space Invaders as like 112 games with all the variations?

http://alienbill.com/vgames/guide/ (not sure if it will ever get moved into atari age proper :-( )

So I finally got it...pretty cool. You know what game it really reminds me of? Point Blank 3 for the PS w/ the lightgun. The pacing, the concept of minigames, and the unmitigated Japanese oddness (wacky characters, various anime signifiers, cheesy animation) are all very similar. Heck, Wario w/ his nose kinda looks like the Point Blank mascots.

Huh, I thought you couldn't get the copter 'til you beat all the assets...maybe it's just 'til you own all the assets? (i.e. purchased but not generating revenue) I thought it was 12, but don't quote me. Anyway, yeah, the copter does take a bit of getting used to, it's not a cakewalk, very easy to crash into buildings and especially easy to overfly your target. Plus, the way the camera swings around to show what's behind you, even if you're just barely moving backwards, means you need to learn to just barely keep creeping forward. I only use the missiles, I only later realized I had a machine gun option. Sometimes you just get in the groove, and then it's fun to see how far you can go, get a full warning level, slam the copter down near a Pay N Spray, grab a car, and then barrel your way through the cops...if you can survive that, you're one tough hombre! I'm not sure if when I did that it was up to full wanted, or just one less than full... Huh, hadn't heard any rumors. (Haven't been paying that much attention). I was wondering if a blade runner-esque world would be fun, or if flying cars is just too far removed from our reality to have the same edge.... I guess 2010 is near enough that things will still be recognizable, but they can throw in some gratuiotus high- and bio-tech for kicks.

Any luck? Sorry for the delayed response. if memory serves, it's finish the game and get all properties. Then when you get in your police uniform you should be able to fly any other helicopter into the army compound, and the attack copter should be there. One of the easiest (and for me, only) ways of beating the vigilanted missions. Fun game.

I think his point was that originally the HULK was grey. Wasn't that just for a short time? Also, I think in the meanwhile they've played with that idea, and had green hulk meet the grey hulk? Anyway, usually in the comics, and always in popculture, Hulk is green. Methinks. Those hulk hands are kind of funny...

Dang. I can't wait to get this now. I've always been in love with minigames...though haven't seen many single players that were that good. Maybe by changing them every few seconds, it lets the thrill survive... (Actually, if you want to see some kind of strange minigames I created, strange in that they exist completly inside a single grey HTML pushbutton, check out http://www.kisrael.com/features/gb.html ....)

Dang, sorry to here it's becoming a chase item, it looked interesting, but not so interesting I'd pay more than for a regular new game for it.

Actually, speaking as a bit of a Nintendo fan, I think most people say that in head-to-head comparisons, the X-box version usually has a slight edge. Usually it's the exclusive titles that will drive ones loyalties and purchases. And I agree, it doesn't sound like the original poster tried a fair representation of games. 4 or 5 random games from any system are likely to have as many stinkers as gems, and Halo being too scratched too play was probably an anomoly.

Thanks for the responses. Heh, I remember back in the day, the old GB Double Dragon port, I think it had some stern warning ala "this game for use outside Japan ONLY"... Anyway, just on the offchance i get to do some price compares before I leave the UK, what's a new/used original GBA going for these days? And used/new prices for WarioWare and Fusion?

Quick question, though it's probably too late (and not $$$ worthwhile, given the state of the dollar) to act on; are GBAs "regionalized"? If I bought a system here on my visit to the UK, could I play USA games, or if I had a US GBA, would games from the UK work on it? For some reason more and more I'm jonesing for a cheap GBA, WarioWare, and Metroid Fusion...

I think the original poster complained about not having enough older gamer friends in the area. And it is a problem; about half of my gaming buddies are around because I live in Boston where we all went to college; the other half our friends of friends from work. It's too bad there's not a clear place to establish social gaming contacts; I guss that's why network gaming is so popular.

Glad to see someone agree with my intuituon on what to get. WarioWare seems like such a cool concept, kinda like 1 player Mario Party meets Short Attention Span Theater. And Metroid Fusion...well, lets just say when the two Metroids were released on the same day, I was actually the tiniest bit bummed that I didn't have the system to play the 2D version.

Yeah, Cel shading is a little over used, but really, it's a tool that Miyamoto is learning to use. It lets you focus on character's expressions in a way a more realistic style might not. (Read Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics" to get how simplified figures can be more effective.) Another DK sequel? How many have there been since the SNES....one? And it was pretty decent, with good boss battles, if a little too much on the collective side. And of course Sunshine = Mario64 redux...actually, more people would have been happier if it was even closer to Mario64. I'm glad the Xbox is coming down in price...eventually, it'll be worth buying for Halo and its sequel. Til then, the GC will hold me pretty well, and maybe the PS2 will get another GTA someday...

Here it is. Not a great shot, shoulda stood back a bit. I might even be wearing my Atari Age shirt, I'm not sure, but I have been wearing it on this trip. Incidentally, I'm really thinking about picking up a GBA finally, mostly for Metroid Fusion and WarioWare. I was thinking about just getting the player for GC, but then I realized I couldn't really use that for games that link with the GBA...