Starfox Adventures Comments by Tom Bramwell
Rare's first and last GameCube release falls short of expectations
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I have Biffo's personal email addy at home somewhere. i remember having a big chat with him once. cant for the life of me remember what about tho!?
As for Gamecube. Im still going to get one soon. and thats only coz i want to play nintendo only stuff. I have a box for the rest of the games i would like to play. |
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"What with games like Metroid, Mario Kart, Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy, F-Zero (by Sega), Starfox (by Namco)?"
Let's sum this up... Metroid - Moved it over to being just a pretty FPS Mario Kart - Could be great but they have to go back and look at the original SNES version and not the awful N64 one. Mario - Boring, too twee...Mario Sunshine was very pretty but it bored the arse off me after a week's play. Zelda - Aside from the pretty unique "look" it's now acquired, nothing's really changed. The boat bits are good...the rest is nothing special. Final Fantasy - Do me a favour, it's a franchise dying on its feet. F-Zero - Again, could be great but they need to take a serious look at the SNES version Starfox - Possibly could be good but these days I'm beginning to think that they're not the dev they used to be...too much time spent wasted on ropey old franchises like Ridge Racer and Tekken. So there will be some twinkling moments for next year, but to be honest it'll always be a runner-up in the console race because Nintendo seem intent on starving the console to death of frequent decent releases. Peej |
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BartonFink
21/11/02 @ 14:55
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So there will be some twinkling moments for next year, but to be honest it'll always be a runner-up in the console race because Nintendo seem intent on starving the console to death of frequent decent releases.
Peej - That is certainly the way I am starting to read it now too. I was really looking forward to getting a Cube at Christmas but this is all starting to seem very reminiscent of the N64 days and I'm not sure if I want to go through that again. I'll get one but probably not until March now. |
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I used to be a hardened anti-nintendo cynic but when the Cube finally arrived I figured "What the hey, they're cheap enough" and went for one...six mediocre releases later I'm beginning to think that I was a total idiot to think that Nintendo could've learned the lessons of the N64 debarcle (whether you were a fan or not, they killed that console with their attitude to quantity over quality) - less than one year on the cube is stuck with lacklustre versions of cross-platform titles, one or two Nintendo-grown updated titles...and very little showing any sort of innovation (Animal Crossing possibly being the only title I can think of off the top of my head - and who wants to play Puzzle games all the time!)
It's a sad state of affairs...I think they'll end up desperately slashing hardware and software prices just to make up the numbers.... Maybe they should stick to what they're best at, knocking out good quality portable gaming. For anyone who's still in two minds whether or not to go for a cube, if you already have a PS2 or an Xbox (or both) and really don't want to feel like you're missing out, then get one by all means...but don't buy it as your only next-gen console...I think you'll be hideously disappointed when developers start surreptitiously dropping their Cube projects come this time next year, like they did with the Dreamcast... Peej |
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Time will tell but my feeling is Nintendo ALWAYS bounces back.
I've no doubt that Nintendo can still produce the goods. The question is, is that enough these days? It's taking longer and longer for them to produce shorter and shorter games. They quality is (usually) still top-notch, but you wait ages and it's over in hours. This wouldn't be too bad if there was lots of third-party stuff to tide you over between first-party titles, but there isn't. It's about time Nintendo did everyone a favour and stopped making life difficult for third-party developers. |
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I'm not a sad case, I'm just a realist...the original Metroid was slick, beautiful (for its time) and had a lot of original features in it that made it the classic game it is/was. New Metroid (fusion) (christ if I see that word used once more to subtitle a game I will KILL someone!) is an FPS...it IS!! Look at it!!! I frickin' hate the things, therefore I won't be buying it even if its the best FPS in the UNIVERSE!
And on the subject of judging books by their covers..if a book cost 45 frickin' quid wouldn't you want a bit more of a recommendation for reading it than some cheesy fanboy's wibblings? Peej |
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I dont know.
Its like smelling death. You look at the charts are there are few or none GC games on it. Nintendo doesnt seem to be trying to get 3rd party support. I dont really care about 1st party greats. If I want platformers, PS2 has some really great ones, FPS i have my Xbox and PC. Zelda? I can live without one game and when KOTOR comes out I dont think Ill care about the boy elf. Nintendo has to grow up, I mean Zelda can be so cool if the change the world to a Lord Of the Rings sort of mixed world with dark regions such as Mordor and lighter regions such as the Shire. But Im sick of seeing Link's ass as he jumps and does the same old shite again and again. I mean I stopped caring half way thru Orcina of Time. Why would any 3rd party dev want to work with the GC? Technically the Xbox is the best, and marketwise the PS2 is killer. Sure the GC has some great technical features but thats it. Their inability to adjust to online games market is a sign. This is a company that just doesnt want to change. Im not saying that online games are gonna be totally huge this generation but Nintendo has this apatethic feeling about. Its like I look at Nintendo and I see this old man who is unable to run as fast as he did or be as sharp as he was. Sure the kids market is big, but no as big as the 20 somethings who acctually have their OWN money. And now they sold Rare! To Microsoft! *pats Xbox*. So whats left to come? Metroid, looks good but I live w/o it. Zelda, RPG-lite, I got Neverwinter Nights, thanks. F-Zero, sci-fi racer! wow, talk about a genre that if it was horse you would shoot it. Played one played all. Mario Kart, going to end up being another party game or combat racer, Twisted Metal Black did it best almost 2 years ago. |
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Spose Mr Do has a point - I am just sick and tired of seeing FPS's turning up on consoles. Unless you can rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time, FPS on a console is going to be a hollow experience (with very few noteable exceptions).
So the idea of Metroid Prime just turns me off completely. As for the death of the cube - I am sure it's got another year in it - perhaps. I'm not exactly getting excited about "Capcom's exclusive titles" (Yep, more Resident Evil...and we all know what Uncle Peej thinks of that, don't we kids?), Factor 5 are good at making very pretty games that are blisteringly hard to complete and pretty hollow...Enix - erm, pass...Square - yep a cube FF would be a delight to behold but to be honest that franchise is looking tireder than a basset hound after a 22 hour long haul flight... So come on you Nintendo Zealots, continue to try and convince me not to stick my cube in the free-ads this weekend. Peej |
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Christ peej you're beginning to sound like one of the yanks.
I don't see what's happened in the last few months to justify all this Cube doom & gloom, the flow of quality games has been slow but steady, just as expected, and shows no signs of drying up. There have been a reasonable number of decent 3rd party titles. All in all, I'm a fairly happy bunny. The only niggle is the total lack of RPGs so far (major niggle this). The latest xbox deal is fantastic value but doesn't imho detract from the value of the other two consoles. What MS is doing is dumping its console on the market at a vast loss to shore up its market share. These are desperate tactics affordable only by the übermonopolists themselves, great for the gamer with the short-term view, not so good for the industry in the longer term. If Nintendo were to do this, it would be seen by most people as their death knell. There you go, zealotry enough for ya? ;) |
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Actually the thought of making some snot-nosed brat happy over christmas makes me want to keep the console more than getting excited about any up coming games...!
Ahhh I dunno - Otto makes a good point there...I don't want to end up sounding like I'm purely Sony & Microsoft-oriented and there is a certain amount of kudos to owning the "holy trinity" of gaming (a quick headcount and I've got 12 consoles now stretching back to the NES...god help me!) Peej |
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BartonFink
22/11/02 @ 12:00
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Sorry otto but you have really turned into a raving Nintendo fanboy LOL. Only messing.
But on your point of dumping, what pesh, and if Nintendo decided to do the same thing it would be seen as its death kneel?, utter rubbish. If Nintendo did it it would be seen as what it is a great deal same applies to Sony. It seems to me that anything MS decide to do will be considered desperate measures by some parties whether it be trying to advertise their product or trying to increase their install base. These companies are all in it for the money not for the good of the gamer and if you think otherwise you are truly deluding yourself. On the GameCube terminal illness thing, I have owned every Nintendo console except the GC the main reason I currently don't own one are illustrated by the points made by Peej et al here and in other places. It really does smell of the N64 saga, infrequent realeases (although truly excellent), third party support not very evident, and no Rare-like third party developer there to pull their asses out of the fire. For me I'll wait until March to see what happens. |
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Why do people keep on raving about the lack of releases for GC. There has been a consistent supply of third-party titles and there is a consistent supply of ones up to and beyond Christmas. People are just relying on the old N64 mentality just for something to say.
This isn't fanboyism, it's factism. |
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"For me I'll wait until March to see what happens."
I think Nintendo could actually still scrape it if they brought out a similar bundle deal to Microsoft. When I bought my cube a couple of months ago, only GAME were doing any kind of a creditable bundle deal...I think Nintendo need to put out and endorse their own bundle pack to at least shift the units they will need to, to keep third parties from dumping the console wholesale. Peej |
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"I've only seen screenshots of the other versions, the GC version is the only one that gamespot had a movie of... "
Those ones are from either ps2 or the arcades :) (both ps2 and ngc (and xbox i think) have exacly the same movies entries. Since it's coming out on all 3, they propably posted ps2 screenshots in each untill the other two versions arrive) |
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Re: BartonFink
Taken me a while to reply to you, but there are no sour grapes here. In my opinion, the only really good game Rare have made is Goldeneye (and possibly Battletoads - I loved that). I've never been one of those people who thought Rare were amazing, they've merely immitated Nintendo for most of their games, and any games company that mimics Nintendo will always come off worse. |
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AnotherMartin
22/11/02 @ 16:27
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Was there ever any follow up to the Zelda in SC rumours, saw some screens but it must have been a hoax surely?
RE: Rare, GoldenEye was great as was Blast Corps, Perfect Dark multi player rules and is still better than TS2 in some respects (individual kills/deaths scores anyone?). Conker was technically v.good but too short. First Banjo (never played Tooie) and DK64 where again technicaly impressive but will always be a poor mans Mario64. I heard JetForce Gemini was good from people I know who played it, must try to pick it up 2nd hand one day. Picked up StarFox today, had it on pre-order for so long as the US reviews didn't make it seem as bad as some of the UK ones have more recently, so I will see how that is. If it's as bad as they say can always return it or give it to my Nephew who wants it for christmas anyway. |
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Emma Roids
23/11/02 @ 14:13
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Excellent, yet another over hyped bag of shite that makes me feel all warm inside. Oh how glad I am I rushed out to buy a Gamecube last may. *Sigh*
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BartonFink
24/11/02 @ 20:20
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In my opinion, the only really good game Rare have made is Goldeneye (and possibly Battletoads - I loved that). I've never been one of those people who thought Rare were amazing, they've merely immitated Nintendo for most of their games, and any games company that mimics Nintendo will always come off worse.
We will have to agree to disagree then I thought they were the best developer on the N64 (except Nintendo themselves) Re: imitating Nintendo I think not. Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, Conkers, Banjo Kazooie were completely unlike any Nintendo games of the time that's what made them such a great development house. We will just have to wait and see can the redeem themselves with Kameo on xbox after this one. |
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fernandoweb
25/11/02 @ 13:14
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Totally missed this thread until now when no-one will be reading it anymore. Anyway, two points - SFA is great - not difficult but immersive. I loved it. And secondly, the idea that Nintendo is on the way out - as I've posted a few times recently, their week on week sales have now reached half of PS2s in Japan, GBA is now outselling PS2 on the same basis, and their flagship title for the console, Zelda, is not even out. So long as it keeps doing what it's doing in Japan, it's genuinely got a chance of outselling PS2 there over the Christmas period. After all, the retailers (when questioned by Famitsu) all claim it will. Happy times :)
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