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I got Blink 182's album in November last year. Amazing it is, in fact I'd say one of the best albums I have ever heard. Sadly, although many do, not everyone thinks so. There are 2 sources of criticism, the first are from the anti-pop punk crusaders claiming the album is nothing more than "generic pop punk". The problem with this criticism is that bar first release "feeling this" the album is nothing like any traditional Pop punk. The second source of criticism is the current Blink fans claiming they wanted something "like the old stuff".
I can name 5 people in my small friendship circle who wanted a more, "cheery pop-punk album and not this good but depressive mature-punk album". My reply to them is simple: "If you want cheery Punk listen to Blink's other 4 albums".
Fans of the group have to agree that despite the greatness of fourth album Take Off Your Pants And Jacket, it was VERY familiar to previous album Enema of the State... almost identical in style. So in my more optimistic eye this change is good, it is still the greatness I expect from Blink BUT it is also totally fresh and new.
Now comes to the point of the post.
Recent anti-Resident Evil 4 claims have been pointed at the more "Action" aspect of the gameplay. What no puzzles? No dumb Zombies? Less scares more action?
Yes get over it. Resident Evil 4 has changed the series just as Blink 182's new self-titled album has changed Blink 182. You see just like Blink 182's previous 4 albums, Resident Evil has endured 5 almost identical games. Resident Evil, 2, 3, Code Veronica and Zero play almost identically too each other (bar some minor gameplay twist in some titles). The games were great, but even I, an avid Resident Evil fan, were starting to get a little bored. So Resident Evil 4 COULD be a successful change in the series, sure less scares maybe BUT just as much fun and the series can continue. Blink 182's latest album have kept the immature Punk Pop outfit alive into this new generation, Resident Evil was becoming stale. It needed a change.
Most of you I'm sure would agree with the above. But now I bring in my next set of examples. You see I've been defending Zelda: Wind Waker and Mario Sunshine to the grave lately against an endless supply of critics. And in this I'll also defend the game I don't enjoy too much, Metroid Prime. You see my defense of Wind Waker is thus, the combat system and the graphics have changed the style of game so much that the title rules. The aggressors to the title claim "The lack of epic storyline, length and interaction have damaged what Zelda used to be and therefore is not as good as the previous games".
Nonsense.
If I want interaction I'll play Majora's Mask, just as if I want pop-punk I'll listen to older Blink material. If I want an epic storyline then I'll play Ocarina of Time. If I want an addictive control system, an emphasis on collecting and a great comic adventure then I'll play Wind Waker. But why can't they include all three I hear you cry? Well Nintendo can make an epic adventure, they proved that with OOT. They can make a fantastic interaction filled adventure, they proved that with MM and they can adopt amazing graphics, controls and comedy as they did in WW. But Majoras Mask's interaction is VERY complicated and took nearly a year to implement entirely. Ocarina of Time took nearly 4 years to make mainly due to it's size, and the graphics and gameplay of Wind Waker took the majority of it's development time. Do you think Nintendo have deep enough pockets to waste their most talented development team on what could be a multi-million 7 year project? Of course not! So Nintendo opted to give us something slightly different instead, a different Zelda experience.
The same applies to Super Mario Sunshine. Yes you are TOTALLY right, the game is missing Koopa's etc... the game does include a back pack changing Mario's ideas. The recent Edge magazine asks to put the Italian back into his old games. That is what we want. But the thing is we ALREADY have Mario 64. Yes we all really wanted a Gamecube edition of Mario 64, but instead Nintendo gave us a new option. They gave us a new game, different to IMario 64 but somehow similar. We've already got a fantastic 3D platformer that is like Mario titles, now we wanted the similar level of fun but in a different way. And we got it.
Metroid Prime is my final example because I can't really be bothered to go into Double Dash (I'm sure you've got my point anyway). Yes a third person platformer would be fantastic but then there have been countless third person Metroid games. Isn't it about time things changed?
My point is thus, and I'm sure you got it, game series' evolve in order to survive. Moods and opinions change. Playing Ocarina Of Time with my Gamecube Bonus Disc was fun for five minutes. I soon realised it wasn't for today's market. Neither is any of the Resident Evil games we have got. The lack of epic story in Wind Waker maybe cleared up for next time, but the emphasis on light hearted fun with stella graphics and gameplay will still exist. Maybe Samus will appear more out of her suit in the next Metroid but the new first person adventure idea will continue to apply. Mario 128 may return to more familiar surroundings, but expect similar new ideas to the ones we got in Sunshine.
Resident Evil 4 is more action based because it has to be in order to survive and keep us interested. We are never really happy with what we get even if we didn't really know what we wanted in the first place. We are constantly evolving, games are constantly evolving. Goodbye Resident Evil, you were fun for a while but now I need a new experience. Gracefully give up your Survival Horror King status or change.
You choose.
I’m off to listen to Blink.
Dringo.
I can name 5 people in my small friendship circle who wanted a more, "cheery pop-punk album and not this good but depressive mature-punk album". My reply to them is simple: "If you want cheery Punk listen to Blink's other 4 albums".
Fans of the group have to agree that despite the greatness of fourth album Take Off Your Pants And Jacket, it was VERY familiar to previous album Enema of the State... almost identical in style. So in my more optimistic eye this change is good, it is still the greatness I expect from Blink BUT it is also totally fresh and new.
Now comes to the point of the post.
Recent anti-Resident Evil 4 claims have been pointed at the more "Action" aspect of the gameplay. What no puzzles? No dumb Zombies? Less scares more action?
Yes get over it. Resident Evil 4 has changed the series just as Blink 182's new self-titled album has changed Blink 182. You see just like Blink 182's previous 4 albums, Resident Evil has endured 5 almost identical games. Resident Evil, 2, 3, Code Veronica and Zero play almost identically too each other (bar some minor gameplay twist in some titles). The games were great, but even I, an avid Resident Evil fan, were starting to get a little bored. So Resident Evil 4 COULD be a successful change in the series, sure less scares maybe BUT just as much fun and the series can continue. Blink 182's latest album have kept the immature Punk Pop outfit alive into this new generation, Resident Evil was becoming stale. It needed a change.
Most of you I'm sure would agree with the above. But now I bring in my next set of examples. You see I've been defending Zelda: Wind Waker and Mario Sunshine to the grave lately against an endless supply of critics. And in this I'll also defend the game I don't enjoy too much, Metroid Prime. You see my defense of Wind Waker is thus, the combat system and the graphics have changed the style of game so much that the title rules. The aggressors to the title claim "The lack of epic storyline, length and interaction have damaged what Zelda used to be and therefore is not as good as the previous games".
Nonsense.
If I want interaction I'll play Majora's Mask, just as if I want pop-punk I'll listen to older Blink material. If I want an epic storyline then I'll play Ocarina of Time. If I want an addictive control system, an emphasis on collecting and a great comic adventure then I'll play Wind Waker. But why can't they include all three I hear you cry? Well Nintendo can make an epic adventure, they proved that with OOT. They can make a fantastic interaction filled adventure, they proved that with MM and they can adopt amazing graphics, controls and comedy as they did in WW. But Majoras Mask's interaction is VERY complicated and took nearly a year to implement entirely. Ocarina of Time took nearly 4 years to make mainly due to it's size, and the graphics and gameplay of Wind Waker took the majority of it's development time. Do you think Nintendo have deep enough pockets to waste their most talented development team on what could be a multi-million 7 year project? Of course not! So Nintendo opted to give us something slightly different instead, a different Zelda experience.
The same applies to Super Mario Sunshine. Yes you are TOTALLY right, the game is missing Koopa's etc... the game does include a back pack changing Mario's ideas. The recent Edge magazine asks to put the Italian back into his old games. That is what we want. But the thing is we ALREADY have Mario 64. Yes we all really wanted a Gamecube edition of Mario 64, but instead Nintendo gave us a new option. They gave us a new game, different to IMario 64 but somehow similar. We've already got a fantastic 3D platformer that is like Mario titles, now we wanted the similar level of fun but in a different way. And we got it.
Metroid Prime is my final example because I can't really be bothered to go into Double Dash (I'm sure you've got my point anyway). Yes a third person platformer would be fantastic but then there have been countless third person Metroid games. Isn't it about time things changed?
My point is thus, and I'm sure you got it, game series' evolve in order to survive. Moods and opinions change. Playing Ocarina Of Time with my Gamecube Bonus Disc was fun for five minutes. I soon realised it wasn't for today's market. Neither is any of the Resident Evil games we have got. The lack of epic story in Wind Waker maybe cleared up for next time, but the emphasis on light hearted fun with stella graphics and gameplay will still exist. Maybe Samus will appear more out of her suit in the next Metroid but the new first person adventure idea will continue to apply. Mario 128 may return to more familiar surroundings, but expect similar new ideas to the ones we got in Sunshine.
Resident Evil 4 is more action based because it has to be in order to survive and keep us interested. We are never really happy with what we get even if we didn't really know what we wanted in the first place. We are constantly evolving, games are constantly evolving. Goodbye Resident Evil, you were fun for a while but now I need a new experience. Gracefully give up your Survival Horror King status or change.
You choose.
I’m off to listen to Blink.
Dringo.
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Dringo wrote:
> No game EVER has ever made me want to complete
> it AND collect everything... bar Pokemon and Mario Sunshine.
Well that's what I see as a sign of a brilliant game. Mario 64 urged me on to collect every 120 stars, Pokemon did the same and I ended up with a cartridge full of all 151 Pokemon, many at top level, and a clock that had frozen in time bang on 255 hours.
SabreWulf has done the same; after beating the game, grabbing all the collectibles and the like, I still feel the need to go all-out and fully complete the challenge mode, as well as found every last bonus door to earn 100%. It's not because of a silky-smooth, refined control system, no, it's because of fresh gameplay, unmeasurable scope with puzzles and a fair bit of a challenge o boot.
Sunshine and Zelda, despite having so much to explore, left me feeling uninteresting by the finale. That's not to say I didn't love every minute, these will always be modern-day classics that outshine most games on the market today, but as a Nintendo veteran, I feel I've been here all before, as a Nintendo fan I expect some beautifully pieced together levels, hardcore gaming challenge and innovation where its needed.
SabreWulf may not be quite on the same level as earlier Rare titles, but its freshness and all-round fluidity makes for a wonderful adventure that makes me want to complete every last bit.
One of my favourite games of all time, Killer Instinct, comsumed lots of my life in early years; I managed to get every ultra, ultimate and combo licked, along with every ending done. The same went for DOnkey Kong Country 3 and Zelda: A Link to the Past. Despite my brother beating me every tiem on KI thanks to him being a complete master at it, I plugged away with all three of these games to get that lovely 100% mark inprinted on those cartridges, and I still had another 13 games I could be playing at the same time.
That's why I remember then as the best around; Nintendo games didn't need an engrossing storyline, cut-scenes by the dozen or anything else to immerse you, simply pure, addictive, seamless gameplay, level design and adventuring for gaes of truly epic proportions.
Now however many years on I fail to see the same magic captured as much, the last games being Skies of Arcadia, Metroid Prime and SabreWulf, maybe on a lesser extent with the latter. You could just search for extras for hours on end while playing Skies, mess around searching for energy and missile capsules on Prime and thinking updifferent ways to earn combos, chains and the like on SabreWulf would engulf my time.
All I'm asking is Nintendo backtrack a little [like in Metroid Prime, which was a good aspect] and return to the days of old; make some all-new Mario platformers, focus on epicness, puzzles and what made previous Zelda's great and don't overcomplicate thigns with pointless innovation. Mario & Donkey Kong looks to be the closest to Nintendo of old that is up-and-coming, the last coming close being Mario & Luigi, ocne again quashed a little by lack of challenge.
They have the magic, but why bother if you can't match the content?
> No game EVER has ever made me want to complete
> it AND collect everything... bar Pokemon and Mario Sunshine.
Well that's what I see as a sign of a brilliant game. Mario 64 urged me on to collect every 120 stars, Pokemon did the same and I ended up with a cartridge full of all 151 Pokemon, many at top level, and a clock that had frozen in time bang on 255 hours.
SabreWulf has done the same; after beating the game, grabbing all the collectibles and the like, I still feel the need to go all-out and fully complete the challenge mode, as well as found every last bonus door to earn 100%. It's not because of a silky-smooth, refined control system, no, it's because of fresh gameplay, unmeasurable scope with puzzles and a fair bit of a challenge o boot.
Sunshine and Zelda, despite having so much to explore, left me feeling uninteresting by the finale. That's not to say I didn't love every minute, these will always be modern-day classics that outshine most games on the market today, but as a Nintendo veteran, I feel I've been here all before, as a Nintendo fan I expect some beautifully pieced together levels, hardcore gaming challenge and innovation where its needed.
SabreWulf may not be quite on the same level as earlier Rare titles, but its freshness and all-round fluidity makes for a wonderful adventure that makes me want to complete every last bit.
One of my favourite games of all time, Killer Instinct, comsumed lots of my life in early years; I managed to get every ultra, ultimate and combo licked, along with every ending done. The same went for DOnkey Kong Country 3 and Zelda: A Link to the Past. Despite my brother beating me every tiem on KI thanks to him being a complete master at it, I plugged away with all three of these games to get that lovely 100% mark inprinted on those cartridges, and I still had another 13 games I could be playing at the same time.
That's why I remember then as the best around; Nintendo games didn't need an engrossing storyline, cut-scenes by the dozen or anything else to immerse you, simply pure, addictive, seamless gameplay, level design and adventuring for gaes of truly epic proportions.
Now however many years on I fail to see the same magic captured as much, the last games being Skies of Arcadia, Metroid Prime and SabreWulf, maybe on a lesser extent with the latter. You could just search for extras for hours on end while playing Skies, mess around searching for energy and missile capsules on Prime and thinking updifferent ways to earn combos, chains and the like on SabreWulf would engulf my time.
All I'm asking is Nintendo backtrack a little [like in Metroid Prime, which was a good aspect] and return to the days of old; make some all-new Mario platformers, focus on epicness, puzzles and what made previous Zelda's great and don't overcomplicate thigns with pointless innovation. Mario & Donkey Kong looks to be the closest to Nintendo of old that is up-and-coming, the last coming close being Mario & Luigi, ocne again quashed a little by lack of challenge.
They have the magic, but why bother if you can't match the content?
Maybe if I hadn't played Mario 64 or Zelda 64 then I might've enjoyed them a bit more, but it was the same game with greased up controls and watered down level design.
And while Majora's Mask's dungeon's weren't amazing, they were still a bit better than WindWakers and the rest of MM TROUNCED the rest of WW.
On Sunshine, some jumps couldn't be done without Fludd but they didn't improve the difficulty or challenge.
Basically, there was less game than in Mario 64, and in Mario 64 they HAD an excuse because they'd never made a 3D game before and this was ALL new ground the were covering.
Mario Sunshine had a few sweet idea's but was a quick snap up.
The first level was fun on the tight-ropes, the rest was boring.
The second level had some fun girder action and water gliding. The rest was boring. The Gelato beach didn't have ANYTHING THAT good except for the bonus levels. The hotel level had an annoying clean up, a fairly fun ghost hunt and then just tedious wandering around with atrocious camera angles.
All levels had their good points and bad points, but none REALLY impressed me and I was left wanting when it finished.
It was better than Mario 64 for ONE reason, the fluidity of the controls.
Even then, Mario 64 comes close and has the excuse of being the first proper 3D platformer ever. Other than that, Sunshine was half done, rushed and it shows.
You know what, I've said this a hundred times now.
No one's going to change their opinion.
You were happy with it. I wasn't.
You're easily pleased! End of story! ;-P
And while Majora's Mask's dungeon's weren't amazing, they were still a bit better than WindWakers and the rest of MM TROUNCED the rest of WW.
On Sunshine, some jumps couldn't be done without Fludd but they didn't improve the difficulty or challenge.
Basically, there was less game than in Mario 64, and in Mario 64 they HAD an excuse because they'd never made a 3D game before and this was ALL new ground the were covering.
Mario Sunshine had a few sweet idea's but was a quick snap up.
The first level was fun on the tight-ropes, the rest was boring.
The second level had some fun girder action and water gliding. The rest was boring. The Gelato beach didn't have ANYTHING THAT good except for the bonus levels. The hotel level had an annoying clean up, a fairly fun ghost hunt and then just tedious wandering around with atrocious camera angles.
All levels had their good points and bad points, but none REALLY impressed me and I was left wanting when it finished.
It was better than Mario 64 for ONE reason, the fluidity of the controls.
Even then, Mario 64 comes close and has the excuse of being the first proper 3D platformer ever. Other than that, Sunshine was half done, rushed and it shows.
You know what, I've said this a hundred times now.
No one's going to change their opinion.
You were happy with it. I wasn't.
You're easily pleased! End of story! ;-P
The level design in Sunshine was genius... it was really clever how they made the jumping sections work with FLUDD. You wouldn't be able to do these levels using traditional Mario 64 way. The jumping was far too extreme and FLUDD was essential.
Granted Wind Waker's level design wasn't perfect but then it was no different to Majora's Mask... a game that of course was designed by the same man as Wind Waker. The levels need slightly sorting but it is hardly noticable.
The fact is Wind Waker wasn't as long but was AS fun... Same with Sunshine... it ruled. No game EVER has ever made me want to complete it AND collect everything... bar Pokemon and Mario Sunshine.
Granted Wind Waker's level design wasn't perfect but then it was no different to Majora's Mask... a game that of course was designed by the same man as Wind Waker. The levels need slightly sorting but it is hardly noticable.
The fact is Wind Waker wasn't as long but was AS fun... Same with Sunshine... it ruled. No game EVER has ever made me want to complete it AND collect everything... bar Pokemon and Mario Sunshine.
There was a LITTLE bit to play with, but that was half the games enjoyment because the levels didn't offer much more.
They had moments of genius, but at the end of the day Fludd Watered down the gameplay, making it too easy and taking out all the skill.
And there weren't enough levels, and the levels that WERE there had their moments but...
Basically, Nintendo put ALL their thought into the controls and the level design was a quick after thought in comparison. Just like in Zelda.
Perhaps they'll actually put a little thought into the level design in the sequels.
They had moments of genius, but at the end of the day Fludd Watered down the gameplay, making it too easy and taking out all the skill.
And there weren't enough levels, and the levels that WERE there had their moments but...
Basically, Nintendo put ALL their thought into the controls and the level design was a quick after thought in comparison. Just like in Zelda.
Perhaps they'll actually put a little thought into the level design in the sequels.
It felt polished, fun, the levels were full of exploration and there was lots to mess around with...
The landscape just screamed "play with me"...
Sorry if you didn't enjoy it as much.
I guess it is your loss.
The landscape just screamed "play with me"...
Sorry if you didn't enjoy it as much.
I guess it is your loss.
Dringo wrote:
> And when Sunshine came out we all went "hell yeah" bar a
> few of us and then a year later the majority had turned their plea to
> "It's naff".
Hehe. A year?
I was loving it for the first few hours but then it pretty much ended.
There was a bit of extra fun to be had but the game that showed much promise left me wanting.
It was quite good over all, GREAT in some ways but only quite good overall.
Not because things were different, but because things weren't really there...
> And when Sunshine came out we all went "hell yeah" bar a
> few of us and then a year later the majority had turned their plea to
> "It's naff".
Hehe. A year?
I was loving it for the first few hours but then it pretty much ended.
There was a bit of extra fun to be had but the game that showed much promise left me wanting.
It was quite good over all, GREAT in some ways but only quite good overall.
Not because things were different, but because things weren't really there...
Maverick42 wrote:
> Blink 182 are awful.
Just one thing Maverick... have you heard anything off the new album bar feeling this?
And if you've heard I miss you do you think it is really bad?
Blink 182 write for my generation... they did when i was 15 and they are now I'm 18... Blink 182 fantastically hit home with teenage fears.
Whether you like it or not isn't important. Blink 182 are no longer kids who were having a laugh... they are now musicians... and genius' at that.
> Blink 182 are awful.
Just one thing Maverick... have you heard anything off the new album bar feeling this?
And if you've heard I miss you do you think it is really bad?
Blink 182 write for my generation... they did when i was 15 and they are now I'm 18... Blink 182 fantastically hit home with teenage fears.
Whether you like it or not isn't important. Blink 182 are no longer kids who were having a laugh... they are now musicians... and genius' at that.
Maverick42 wrote:
> Who gives a damn
> about some idiot Americans whose teen rebellion has lasted thirty
> years? I couldn't care less if person x has been dumped by his
> girlfriend, or if person y is sexually frustrated, because they tell
> me as if they want to kill my ears.
>
That could be used to describe almost every American 'artist'
> Who gives a damn
> about some idiot Americans whose teen rebellion has lasted thirty
> years? I couldn't care less if person x has been dumped by his
> girlfriend, or if person y is sexually frustrated, because they tell
> me as if they want to kill my ears.
>
That could be used to describe almost every American 'artist'
Blink 182 are awful.
The lead singer has a stupidly high pitched, whiney voice, it all sounds the same and it's rubbish and depressing. Who gives a damn about some idiot Americans whose teen rebellion has lasted thirty years? I couldn't care less if person x has been dumped by his girlfriend, or if person y is sexually frustrated, because they tell me as if they want to kill my ears.
Anyhow, rant over. I just really dislike Blink 182.
The lead singer has a stupidly high pitched, whiney voice, it all sounds the same and it's rubbish and depressing. Who gives a damn about some idiot Americans whose teen rebellion has lasted thirty years? I couldn't care less if person x has been dumped by his girlfriend, or if person y is sexually frustrated, because they tell me as if they want to kill my ears.
Anyhow, rant over. I just really dislike Blink 182.
I've always liked Wind Waker and Sunshine, but from the start always had the same opinion of them; they quite simply don't live up to earlier incarnations of their series'.
Oh, and the dungeon design was genius in MM.
Oh, and the dungeon design was genius in MM.
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