The "Retro Game Reviews" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only.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.
This thread has been linked to the game 'Kororinpa : Marble Mania'.
It’s more than likely you’ll be asking several questions on hearing about Kororinpa. The first is ‘Is this different enough from Super Monkey Ball to be worth getting?’ and the second is ‘Is it good?’.
The answer to the first question is a simple ‘yes’. While the idea is very similar; roll your ball along a track by tilting the track and get to a specified point, collecting things along the way, Kororinpa differs by making the control very sensitive and open to a lot more movement with the Wii Remote.
This allows for a much more interesting experience, including actually being able to turn the course completely upside-down. You’ll need the manoeuvrability as well, with steps, gaps and some tricky little pathways to negotiate in order to reach that elusive gate. I say that, but for the first 20 levels, give or take the odd bit, you’ll be wondering where the challenge is. Well, it appears soon enough, but that’s the problem. Just as you get into the game you find yourself reaching the end.
And that’s the answer to the second question. While this game is beautifully detailed, cute as a button and has some really well thought-out courses, it takes just a couple of hours for a good player to finish the initial courses. There are secret levels and another bunch of stages to unlock, but these last stages are just the first ones mirrored, which feels a bit like a cheap trick from the programmers. While it lasts, Kororinpa is amazing. The graphics really shine out and people watching you play will notice all sorts of small details that will make them fall in love with the game. The control system is perfect too and only the camera occasionally lets it down (you can’t move it while playing, which is a slight oversight to say the least). There are lots of different balls to unlock, including a dog, cat, pig, rugby ball and UFO, all of which have subtle (and not so subtle) differences. There’s even a nice little two player mode which is basic but works well and adds some value to the game. But at the end of the day, you’ll wish it was a lot longer.
And that’s the tricky thing; it’s such a good game that once you play it you’ll want to recommend it. But you know that pretty much everyone with any skill will complete it sooner rather than later. It does have some replay value, in that you’ll need to work hard to find all the extra crystals, get a gold cup on all courses (by completing them in a certain time) and there’s the two player game. But ultimately, you’ll feel as if you’ve played an amazing game, but it was all over too soon.
So perhaps a long term rental is the answer? Well, you’ll want to come back to it just for the pretty visuals, or to show others. So I still think it’s worth a purchase. Even after unlocking everything, it’s one of those games you’ll probably come back to after forgetting all about it for months.
So is it worth buying? Yes, if only to see what a beautiful and well put-together game it is. Just don’t be disappointed when it ends early.
The answer to the first question is a simple ‘yes’. While the idea is very similar; roll your ball along a track by tilting the track and get to a specified point, collecting things along the way, Kororinpa differs by making the control very sensitive and open to a lot more movement with the Wii Remote.
This allows for a much more interesting experience, including actually being able to turn the course completely upside-down. You’ll need the manoeuvrability as well, with steps, gaps and some tricky little pathways to negotiate in order to reach that elusive gate. I say that, but for the first 20 levels, give or take the odd bit, you’ll be wondering where the challenge is. Well, it appears soon enough, but that’s the problem. Just as you get into the game you find yourself reaching the end.
And that’s the answer to the second question. While this game is beautifully detailed, cute as a button and has some really well thought-out courses, it takes just a couple of hours for a good player to finish the initial courses. There are secret levels and another bunch of stages to unlock, but these last stages are just the first ones mirrored, which feels a bit like a cheap trick from the programmers. While it lasts, Kororinpa is amazing. The graphics really shine out and people watching you play will notice all sorts of small details that will make them fall in love with the game. The control system is perfect too and only the camera occasionally lets it down (you can’t move it while playing, which is a slight oversight to say the least). There are lots of different balls to unlock, including a dog, cat, pig, rugby ball and UFO, all of which have subtle (and not so subtle) differences. There’s even a nice little two player mode which is basic but works well and adds some value to the game. But at the end of the day, you’ll wish it was a lot longer.
And that’s the tricky thing; it’s such a good game that once you play it you’ll want to recommend it. But you know that pretty much everyone with any skill will complete it sooner rather than later. It does have some replay value, in that you’ll need to work hard to find all the extra crystals, get a gold cup on all courses (by completing them in a certain time) and there’s the two player game. But ultimately, you’ll feel as if you’ve played an amazing game, but it was all over too soon.
So perhaps a long term rental is the answer? Well, you’ll want to come back to it just for the pretty visuals, or to show others. So I still think it’s worth a purchase. Even after unlocking everything, it’s one of those games you’ll probably come back to after forgetting all about it for months.
So is it worth buying? Yes, if only to see what a beautiful and well put-together game it is. Just don’t be disappointed when it ends early.
There have been no replies to this thread yet.
It’s more than likely you’ll be asking several questions on hearing about Kororinpa. The first is ‘Is this different enough from Super Monkey Ball to be worth getting?’ and the second is ‘Is it good?’.
The answer to the first question is a simple ‘yes’. While the idea is very similar; roll your ball along a track by tilting the track and get to a specified point, collecting things along the way, Kororinpa differs by making the control very sensitive and open to a lot more movement with the Wii Remote.
This allows for a much more interesting experience, including actually being able to turn the course completely upside-down. You’ll need the manoeuvrability as well, with steps, gaps and some tricky little pathways to negotiate in order to reach that elusive gate. I say that, but for the first 20 levels, give or take the odd bit, you’ll be wondering where the challenge is. Well, it appears soon enough, but that’s the problem. Just as you get into the game you find yourself reaching the end.
And that’s the answer to the second question. While this game is beautifully detailed, cute as a button and has some really well thought-out courses, it takes just a couple of hours for a good player to finish the initial courses. There are secret levels and another bunch of stages to unlock, but these last stages are just the first ones mirrored, which feels a bit like a cheap trick from the programmers. While it lasts, Kororinpa is amazing. The graphics really shine out and people watching you play will notice all sorts of small details that will make them fall in love with the game. The control system is perfect too and only the camera occasionally lets it down (you can’t move it while playing, which is a slight oversight to say the least). There are lots of different balls to unlock, including a dog, cat, pig, rugby ball and UFO, all of which have subtle (and not so subtle) differences. There’s even a nice little two player mode which is basic but works well and adds some value to the game. But at the end of the day, you’ll wish it was a lot longer.
And that’s the tricky thing; it’s such a good game that once you play it you’ll want to recommend it. But you know that pretty much everyone with any skill will complete it sooner rather than later. It does have some replay value, in that you’ll need to work hard to find all the extra crystals, get a gold cup on all courses (by completing them in a certain time) and there’s the two player game. But ultimately, you’ll feel as if you’ve played an amazing game, but it was all over too soon.
So perhaps a long term rental is the answer? Well, you’ll want to come back to it just for the pretty visuals, or to show others. So I still think it’s worth a purchase. Even after unlocking everything, it’s one of those games you’ll probably come back to after forgetting all about it for months.
So is it worth buying? Yes, if only to see what a beautiful and well put-together game it is. Just don’t be disappointed when it ends early.
The answer to the first question is a simple ‘yes’. While the idea is very similar; roll your ball along a track by tilting the track and get to a specified point, collecting things along the way, Kororinpa differs by making the control very sensitive and open to a lot more movement with the Wii Remote.
This allows for a much more interesting experience, including actually being able to turn the course completely upside-down. You’ll need the manoeuvrability as well, with steps, gaps and some tricky little pathways to negotiate in order to reach that elusive gate. I say that, but for the first 20 levels, give or take the odd bit, you’ll be wondering where the challenge is. Well, it appears soon enough, but that’s the problem. Just as you get into the game you find yourself reaching the end.
And that’s the answer to the second question. While this game is beautifully detailed, cute as a button and has some really well thought-out courses, it takes just a couple of hours for a good player to finish the initial courses. There are secret levels and another bunch of stages to unlock, but these last stages are just the first ones mirrored, which feels a bit like a cheap trick from the programmers. While it lasts, Kororinpa is amazing. The graphics really shine out and people watching you play will notice all sorts of small details that will make them fall in love with the game. The control system is perfect too and only the camera occasionally lets it down (you can’t move it while playing, which is a slight oversight to say the least). There are lots of different balls to unlock, including a dog, cat, pig, rugby ball and UFO, all of which have subtle (and not so subtle) differences. There’s even a nice little two player mode which is basic but works well and adds some value to the game. But at the end of the day, you’ll wish it was a lot longer.
And that’s the tricky thing; it’s such a good game that once you play it you’ll want to recommend it. But you know that pretty much everyone with any skill will complete it sooner rather than later. It does have some replay value, in that you’ll need to work hard to find all the extra crystals, get a gold cup on all courses (by completing them in a certain time) and there’s the two player game. But ultimately, you’ll feel as if you’ve played an amazing game, but it was all over too soon.
So perhaps a long term rental is the answer? Well, you’ll want to come back to it just for the pretty visuals, or to show others. So I still think it’s worth a purchase. Even after unlocking everything, it’s one of those games you’ll probably come back to after forgetting all about it for months.
So is it worth buying? Yes, if only to see what a beautiful and well put-together game it is. Just don’t be disappointed when it ends early.