The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Possibly the worlds worst opening statement but it is true, whilst playing classic gems such as Hitman 2 and err Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg it suddenly hit me (although it didn't hurt), as to why Mario Sunshine and Zelda ARE as good as their predecessors. (Just for those that spend the entire post complaing... "in my opinion" are as good as their predecssors).
Let me tell you about my game collection, yep brag brag I have 53 Gamecube games (*cough* loser *cough*) but you see 50 of them are what I like to call PLAIN games... titles that are good... have nice graphics... some have clever gameplay... some wonderfully simple gameplay... and some are crap because they don't adhere to any of those. But the top 3.... The Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United of my collection are 1: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker 2: Super Mario Sunshine and 3: Mario Kart: Double Dash.
Yes this is a matter of opinion but in some dire attempt to express my point I'm going to justafy my decision. Let me guess, one of your first questions is where be Metroid Prime? And if it isn't one of your first questions then pretend it is for the sake of my argument. Metroid Prime is number 4, it is number 4 because it does have a "special feel" to it... but this is a special feel I can describe... this is fantastic because of amazing graphics, clever new gameplay ideas, brilliant handelling... wonderful engine.... it is number 4 on my list because it does EVERYTHING right and I'm not going to claim otherwise.
Hitman 2 is another game that does one hell of a lot of things right... a really good saving system and some damn smart AI... even my new pet game Billy Hatcher (which I'm enjoying now) does many many things right. But none of these 3 games or the 47 others come even close to Nintendo's main 3 titles (they are the main 3 because they all come in different coloured boxes... thusly they are more important).
Does Mario Kart have better graphics than Metroid? Not a chance. Does Mario Sunshine have a larger variety in gameplay than Billy Hatcher? Nope not really... what about Zelda, does that do everything as well as Hitman 2... no indeed it does not.
The reason why Wind Waker is better than all of the games is because of the "FEEL" an indescribable sixth sense which Nintendo only acchieve by spending such a damn long time on a game. Metroid Prime didn't get this luxery design time, neither did Wario World or the 100 other Nintendo games.... This is the Nintendo magic... that difference which is so difficult to describe. Graphics? Who needs them, Music? Whatever! Addictive gameplay from start to finish? Not 100% needed... nope Zelda rules because Zelda feels like Zelda.... Mario Kart rules because it feels like Mario Kart... Sunshine rules because it feels like Mario.
Now complaints about all these games came into play when Nintendo released them. Zelda had dull parts and felt shorter... Mario Sunshine did nothing really over Mario 64 and Mario Kart: Double Dash was just Mario Kart with some new ideas that only work as well as the gamer. But there will be no platformer from Sonic team, Ubi-Soft or any other developer that can beat Sunshine in this generation... only Mario himself can do that... because he has that Nintendo love... feel and passion throughout.
Yes Wind Waker may of done some new things that didn't always work as well as it could have done, a few ideas that didn't always pull off too well (the new control system and flying methods were great but the sailing was a tad dissapointing) but it had that same magic or feel that existed in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask that made that irrelevent... this "feel" makes any minor flaw totally insignificant... Mario Kart: Double Dash for me is the best in the series because I love the 2-character system but for those that don't you have to admit it STILL has the Mario Kart charm. Sunshine may of lacked variety, depth and contained too much collecting... but it still felt like a Mario game and had that same magic Mario feel and so therefore is still a classic.
There is Nintendo magic, a little sprinkle in every game that Nintendo make... but it is only the big titles that have the full blown magic effect... maybe it is because Miyamoto is more in control of these titles, I don't Know. I can't even describe what this extra bit is... but this is why Nintendo haven't lost it... this is why Nintendo are still the worlds greatest developer... because despite some (relativly minor) design faults in a few of their latest games... they still contain the Nintendo magic. And only when they lose that can Nintendo ever truly "lose it".
Here's to Dringo's multiple, obessive and seemingly pointless posts
Dringo - Fanboy till the end.
Possibly the worlds worst opening statement but it is true, whilst playing classic gems such as Hitman 2 and err Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg it suddenly hit me (although it didn't hurt), as to why Mario Sunshine and Zelda ARE as good as their predecessors. (Just for those that spend the entire post complaing... "in my opinion" are as good as their predecssors).
Let me tell you about my game collection, yep brag brag I have 53 Gamecube games (*cough* loser *cough*) but you see 50 of them are what I like to call PLAIN games... titles that are good... have nice graphics... some have clever gameplay... some wonderfully simple gameplay... and some are crap because they don't adhere to any of those. But the top 3.... The Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United of my collection are 1: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker 2: Super Mario Sunshine and 3: Mario Kart: Double Dash.
Yes this is a matter of opinion but in some dire attempt to express my point I'm going to justafy my decision. Let me guess, one of your first questions is where be Metroid Prime? And if it isn't one of your first questions then pretend it is for the sake of my argument. Metroid Prime is number 4, it is number 4 because it does have a "special feel" to it... but this is a special feel I can describe... this is fantastic because of amazing graphics, clever new gameplay ideas, brilliant handelling... wonderful engine.... it is number 4 on my list because it does EVERYTHING right and I'm not going to claim otherwise.
Hitman 2 is another game that does one hell of a lot of things right... a really good saving system and some damn smart AI... even my new pet game Billy Hatcher (which I'm enjoying now) does many many things right. But none of these 3 games or the 47 others come even close to Nintendo's main 3 titles (they are the main 3 because they all come in different coloured boxes... thusly they are more important).
Does Mario Kart have better graphics than Metroid? Not a chance. Does Mario Sunshine have a larger variety in gameplay than Billy Hatcher? Nope not really... what about Zelda, does that do everything as well as Hitman 2... no indeed it does not.
The reason why Wind Waker is better than all of the games is because of the "FEEL" an indescribable sixth sense which Nintendo only acchieve by spending such a damn long time on a game. Metroid Prime didn't get this luxery design time, neither did Wario World or the 100 other Nintendo games.... This is the Nintendo magic... that difference which is so difficult to describe. Graphics? Who needs them, Music? Whatever! Addictive gameplay from start to finish? Not 100% needed... nope Zelda rules because Zelda feels like Zelda.... Mario Kart rules because it feels like Mario Kart... Sunshine rules because it feels like Mario.
Now complaints about all these games came into play when Nintendo released them. Zelda had dull parts and felt shorter... Mario Sunshine did nothing really over Mario 64 and Mario Kart: Double Dash was just Mario Kart with some new ideas that only work as well as the gamer. But there will be no platformer from Sonic team, Ubi-Soft or any other developer that can beat Sunshine in this generation... only Mario himself can do that... because he has that Nintendo love... feel and passion throughout.
Yes Wind Waker may of done some new things that didn't always work as well as it could have done, a few ideas that didn't always pull off too well (the new control system and flying methods were great but the sailing was a tad dissapointing) but it had that same magic or feel that existed in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask that made that irrelevent... this "feel" makes any minor flaw totally insignificant... Mario Kart: Double Dash for me is the best in the series because I love the 2-character system but for those that don't you have to admit it STILL has the Mario Kart charm. Sunshine may of lacked variety, depth and contained too much collecting... but it still felt like a Mario game and had that same magic Mario feel and so therefore is still a classic.
There is Nintendo magic, a little sprinkle in every game that Nintendo make... but it is only the big titles that have the full blown magic effect... maybe it is because Miyamoto is more in control of these titles, I don't Know. I can't even describe what this extra bit is... but this is why Nintendo haven't lost it... this is why Nintendo are still the worlds greatest developer... because despite some (relativly minor) design faults in a few of their latest games... they still contain the Nintendo magic. And only when they lose that can Nintendo ever truly "lose it".
Here's to Dringo's multiple, obessive and seemingly pointless posts
Dringo - Fanboy till the end.
1. Halo
2. Knights of the Old Republic
3. Rainbow Six 3
Either multi-platform or in the case of the last will be very soon. The PS2 doesn't have anything of interest to me anymore and for the odd title that does interest me I can pick it up on the Cube or PC in a better version. The next gen consoles will see me grab the new Nintendo machine on launch and the rest of my mnoey will be ploughed into upgrading my PC.
I know I sound like a real fa*ny (although I have maintained it for quite a while) but the Cube has a collection of first party titles that neither the PS2 or Xbox can compete with. Why settle for copper when I can have gold?
*Hugs Radeon 9800 XT*
GameCube:
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Super Mario Sunshine
Resident Evil
Xbox:
Halo
Rainbow Six 3
XIII
Playstation 2:
Pro Evolution Soccer 3
Game Boy Advance SP:
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World
Reasoning for Zelda and Mario Sunshine for GameCube? Same reason Dringo came up with. They have that feel that only Nintendo can re-create. As for Resident Evil, I had not played a Resident Evil game before I got this one, so I was ready for a scare. It made me hit the ceiling in jumping, was very atmospheric, and was extremely challenging. Pikmin rates high on my list too, though my list is constantly changing as I play new titles, out of the 40+ games I have for GameCube, those are my top three.
Halo is the only real exclusive title in my Xbox top three. It has that feel of completeness that most non-Nintendo games seem to lack, but doesn't quite have that extra something Mario and Zelda have. However, seeing as it is the closest Microsoft are likely to get in a second party game, then I'm happy.
Rainbow Six 3 comes in second because it is the one game I have spent hours on, and have only just completed the fourth mission on the easy setting. That sounds bad, right? Wrong. Some games I spend hours on and just get bored, even if I am doing well. This one is different. Plus I have kicked some but on Xbox Live with this game.
XIII is a very underated title. Due to its cel-shaded look, many people have looked at it and automatically their mind has told them it is crap. However, I gave it a try and haven't regretted it. It has a proper story, excellent gameplay and despite what the average idiot says, has excellent graphics. It also has something, like Halo, that makes it feel complete. Just not the Nintendo difference.
I have five games for the Playstation 2 and I have chosen just to list one: Pro Evo Soccer 3. Why? Because it is the best football game I have ever played. I want Konami to do something similar for Xbox Live. Enough said. The other four games I haven't mentioned because although they are fairly good, they don't compare to any games I have on the other systems.
As for my Game Boy Advance selection, the same reasons apply - Mario + Zelda = Excellent games - even if the three I chose are just ports.
*runs*
My top 10 games, only MP is in order, if that makes sense. It's the best, all the others are *just* behind it, equally so.
1) Metroid Prime - Nintendo/Retro - Gamecube
Legend of Zelda: OOT - Nintendo - N64
Mario 64 - Nintendo - N64
Viewtiful Joe - Capcom - Gamecube
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic - Bioware - Xbox (only Xbox game worth mentioning alongside the genius in this list)
Zelda: Wind Waker - Nintendo - Gamcube
Super Mario World - Nintendo - Snes
Goldeneye - Rareware - N64
Mario Sunshine - Nintendo - Gamecube
and an innumerable amount of games for the last bit. Jet Force Gemini, Body Harvest, Super Smash Tennis, Chuckie Egg, Mario Bros, CM 01/02....
GameCube:
1. Metroid Prime
2. F-Zero GX
3. Zelda: The Wind Waker
Xbox:
1. Knights of the Old Republic
2. Project Gotham Racing 2
3. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
PS2:
1. Deus Ex
2. Pro Evolution Soccer 3
3. Jak & Daxter
[excludes multi-format titles]
> Dringo is comparing MK:DD!! to Man United?!?!?!?!?
He's not comparing it to the Manchester United Club Football game developed by Codemasters though.