Metroid Prime 2: Echoes es un juego de aventuras en primera persona desarrollado por Retro Studios y distribuido por Nintendo. Fué lanzado el 15 de Noviembre de 2004 en Estados Unidos, el 16 de Mayo de 2005 en Japón y el 26 de Noviembre de 2005 en Europa para la consola Nintendo Game Cube, y recientemente una versión para Wii. Es el segundo juego de la trilogía Prime de la saga Metroid.

Argumento

El juego transcurre seis meses después de los acontecimientos ocurridos en Metroid Prime. La cazarrecompensas Samus Aran ha sido contratada por la Federación Galáctica para investigar la desaparición de una nave tripulada de la federación en el planeta Éter y prestarles ayuda si es necesario. En Éter se encontrará desde sus enemigos naturales, los Piratas Espaciales, una raza alienígena: los Luminarios, que le piden ayuda para derrotar a sus antagonistas, los Oscuros (provenientes de la versión oscura de Éter: Éter Oscuro, nacido de una colisión de un meteorito de Phazon contra Éter), y también se encontrará con su versión oscura: Samus Oscura que es como Samus pero con mejores armas que la original.

Jugabilidad

La jugabilidad es la misma que la del primer Metroid Prime, Echoes es un juego de aventuras, exploración y plataformas en primera persona dejando en un segundo plano los combates. La cámara de situa dentro del casco de Samus donde se visualizan el radar, un mapa tridimensional de la zona, un medidor de peligro, los visores, misiles y munición de rayo disponibles. Se progresa en el juego cuando consigues nuevas armas y habilidades recorriendo el planeta y derrotando a los jefes que aguarden algunas de ellas.

Regiones

La historia del juego transcurre en Éter, del que existe su versión oscura, por lo tanto todas las regiones de Éter tienen su versión oscura. Las regiones que se visitan son:

Tierras del Templo: Es la región en la que comienzas al principio del juego. Esta región es la que se comunica con todas las demás. Su parte oscura es Tierras del Templo Oscuro.

Yermos de Agón: Es una zona desértica y es la base de operaciones de los Piratas Espaciales. Su parte oscura es Yermos de Agón Oscuro.

Ciénagas de Torvus: Es una zona de habitat acuático donde la mitad del templo está inundado. Su parte oscura es Ciénagas de Torvus Oscuro.

Fortaleza del Santuario: Es una zona de gran tecnología creada por los luminarios para defenderse de los oscuros. Su parte oscura es La Colmena.

Gran Templo: Es donde se encuentra el líder de los luminarios y donde hibernan el resto hasta que desaparezca Éter Oscuro. Su parte oscura es el Templo del Cielo donde se encuentra el líder de los Oscuros (no llega a ser una región).

Inventario

Samus tiene un amplio repertorio de armas y habilidades para progresar en la aventura. Echoes tienes más armas y habilidades que Prime:

Cañon: este puede usar rayos y misiles:

Rayos: está el Rayo Estándar con su combo de recarga al igual que los anteriores juegos de Metroid pero es el único que se repite hay tres rayos nuevos con sus respectivos combos de recarga: Rayo Oscuro, Rayo de Luz y Rayo Aniquilador estos rayos tienen munición limitada la barra de munición de luz, la barra de munición de oscuridad, el Rayo Aniquilador utiliza las dos barras de munición.

Misiles: son los mismos que en Metroid Prime y añaden una nueva habilidad el Localizador capaz de lanzar cinco misiles a la vez.

Morfosfera: las habilidades son las mismas que en Metroid Prime: Bombas, Bombas de Energía, Aracnosfera y Turbosfera.

Trajes: los trajes de Echoes son menos que en Prime: empieza con el Traje Climático, el siguiente es el Traje Oscuro que resiste más a la atmósfera de Éter Oscuro, el siguiente es el Traje de Luz que resiste totalmente la atmósfera de Éter Oscuro.

Visores: Visor de Combate, Visor de Escaneo,Visor Oscuro donde ves cosas ocultas en Éter Oscuro y el Ecovisor.

Dispositivos de movimiento: Botas de Salto Espacial, Módulo Acuático y Salto en Barrena.

Modo Multijugador

Hay dos modos de juego Venganza y Codicia:

En el Modo Venganza simplemente tienes que derrotar al resto de jugadores sin importar las armas que utilices, aunque tambien puedes almacenar armas para luego enfrentarte al otro jugador. Gana el que más veces mate al resto de jugadores.

En el Modo Codicia simplemente tientes que coger más monedas que los demás jugadores para ganar. Puedes vencer a los otros jugadores para quitarles sus monedas o buscar el cofre que se esconde en el escenario.

En este modo pueden jugar hasta cuatro jugadores, hay hasta 6 escenarios distintos (algunos los tienes que desbloquear en el modo historia).

Opinión personal

Es el mejor juego de Nintendo Game Cube, gráficamente inmejorable, escenarios que muestran un mundo en declive pero a la vez maravilloso, cambios drásticos de escenarios; estás en un templo desértico, te vas a otro templo y éste resulta estar lleno de tecnología alienígena. Trae armas totalmente nuevas que tienen que ver con la trama y jefes totalmente nuevos nunca vistos en anteriores entregas de la saga Metroid, y una historia entre dos mundos, dos razas: luz y oscuridad, o sea, Samus y Samus Oscura. Otra obra maestra de Retro Studios. Pero esto no es todo, si no lo has jugado todavía tienes la oportunidad de hacerlo con Metroid Prime Trilogy para Wii. No te arrepentirás.

Lo Mejor

• Vídeos espectaculares hechos con el motor del juego
• Luchas contra los jefes, sobre todo los jefes de templo y Samus Oscura.
• Multijugador, puedes jugar con tus amigos como si todos fuerais Samus.
• Escenarios muy variados, tienes la oportunidad de ver la versión de cada escenario de Éter.
• Historia totalmente nueva, nunca vista en la saga Metroid.

Lo peor

• Se repiten algunas cosas de la versión anterior.

Nota: 9,8

Si tienes la oportunidad de jugar a este juego aprovéchala, no te arrepentirás.

Saludos

ScorpioDominator.

Siguiendo con la temática de mi entrada anterior, hoy voy a escribiros resumidamente la historia de Metroid, una de las mejores series de videojuegos de Nintendo. Espero que os

guste y que comenteis si habeis jugado a algún juego de la serie, o si los conocías anteriormente.

Samus Aran, es una cazarrecompensas a la cual la Federación Galáctica (FG) le encomienda diversas misiones. Los principales enemigos de Samus, son los Metroids y los Piratas espaciales que tratan de aprovecharse del poder de los Metroids. El juego combina las plataformas y el shooter. Los primeros juegos de la serie eran en 2D con un desplazamiento en scroll clásico de  toda la vida. En 2002 con la subserie prime se introdujo el 3D y el juego paso a ser en primera persona. El juego se caracteriza por ser no-lineal (hay veces que te puedes estar mucho tiempo explorando diversos caminos).

El primer juego de Metroid se creó en 1986 (no salió hasta 1988 en Europa) y Samus Aran ha estado en consolas como: NES, Game Boy, Super Nintendo, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo DS y Wii. Todos los juegos están ambientados en el mismo universo (a veces incluso se comparan los escenarios con los de la peli Alien) y siguen una historia coherente entre ellos.

Juegos

Esta es la lista de los juegos de la saga Metroid aparecidos hasta la fecha. Son 12 en total, incluyendo Metroid Prime Trilogy (recopilatorio de la saga Prime y el remake del primer juego, Metroid: Zero Mission:

• 1986: Metroid (NES).
• 1991: Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy).
• 1994: Super Metroid (Super Nintendo).
• 2002: Metroid Fusion (Game Boy Advance).
• 2002: Metroid Prime (Nintendo GameCube).
• 2004: Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance).
• 2004: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, (Nintendo GameCube).
• 2005: Metroid Prime Pinball (Nintendo DS).
• 2006: Metroid Prime: Hunters (Nintendo DS).
• 2007: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii).
• 2009: Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii).
• 2010: Metroid: Other M (Wii).

  

  El Metroid de 1986

El orden cronológico de los juegos es el siguiente:

• 1.- Metroid / Metroid: Zero Mission
• 2.- Metroid Prime
• 3.- Metroid Prime: Hunters
• 4.- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
• 5.- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
• 6.- Metroid II: Return of Samus
• 7.- Super Metroid
• 8.- Metroid: Other M
• 9.- Metroid Fusion

Pues como fan nintendero que soy, no me puedo perder la oportunidad de comprar este juegazo. Desde que conocí Metroid por primera vez. Me engancho visceralmente, es una de las mejores franquicias de Nintendo.

En este disco se recopilan las tres primeras aventuras de Samus Aran (la protagonista) en 3D. Si teneis una Wii, os recomiendo encarecidamente Metroid Prime Trilogy, que además viene en una caja de coleccionista.

¡Un saludo!

P.D.: Nooo, no me han pagado los de nintendo

Super Metroid

Ano: 1994

Plataforma: Super Nintendo (SNES)

Género: Acção/Plataforma

No balneário feminino dos personagens da Nintendo não existem só princesas. Samus Aran, que, afinal de contas, é uma rapariga loiraça. É a personagem principal de uma série cujo nome retrata uns bicharocos verdes com brains vermelhos e que são piores que mosquitos.

Metroid surgiu em 1986 para a velhinha NES, e espantou os fãs porque… porque… a Nintendo decidira criar um franchise em que o personagem principal era um robô amarelo e vermelho. Qual não é o espanto quando a comunidade descobre que…  não é um robô! Passados uns anos sai um segundo jogo para o Game Boy, a preto e branco.

Super Metroid marcou a era SNES, assim como a série Metroid. Era um mecanismo já usado em jogos como Contra, Metal Slug e outros do género. Mas Metroid tinha algo de especial, havia algo de diferente em andar no espaço aos pulinhos e a dar tiros.

A aventura decorre no planeta Zebes, para o qual fugira Ridley, o líder dos Space Pirates (arr!) com uma larva Metroid roubada dos laboratórios que colaboram com Samus Aran. Pelo caminho, a Lara Croft espacial da Nintendo terá que derrotar os líderes dos Space Pirates, incluindo o famoso supramencionado Ridley; por fim, a já conhecida Mãe Cerebral será o inimigo final a abater.

Entre plataformas num planeta com todo o tipo de ambientes e com um mapa vasto, derrotando vários inimigos e andando para frente e para trás em busca do caminho certo, ou do Save Point, quando já está a ficar tarde.  Apanhando pelo caminho, ao estilo de Zelda, vários updates, desde Mísseis mais Hardcore ainda, a diferentes fatos ao poder de andar à velocidade do Sonic.

Isto tudo num ambiente divertido de jogar à noite sozinho no silêncio, acompanhado de músicas que se associam bem a este efeito e outros temas agradáveis e bons para memorizar. Por mais solitário que o planeta Zebes esteja no espaço, a ausência de luz não é problema, os cenários são bastante agradáveis e coloridos (claro, considerando que estamos num planeta longíquo, não no Mushroom Kingdom), não tornando Super Metroid numa experiência monótona, carregada e/ou enfadonha; tornando-se ocasionalmente escura quando deve ser.

Os controlos são intuitivos e em algum tempo se ganha o jeito a eles, apesar de ser mais comum usar o botão A ou B para disparar. No entanto, é de notar que há uma lista relativamente maior de controlos e combinações, sendo estes adaptados aos upgrades adquiridos ao longo da aventura, podendo, no entanto, tornar-se confuso para os mais iniciados.

O jogo rapidamente se tornou um sucesso de vendas, assim como garantiu pontuações invejáveis no mundo da imprensa de videojogos. No entanto, a enorme crescente concorrência ofuscou um pouco a popularidade deste jogo no Japão, vendendo pouco neste mercado, o que levou a um salto de 6 anos sem outro jogo de Metroid (até Metroid Fusion, para o GBA) e fazendo com que a consola seguinte da Nintendo, a Nintendo64 não tivesse nenhum jogo protagonizado por Samus Aran.

Pessoalmente, considero um jogo interessante e divertido de jogar, assim como, caso fiquemos bloqueados ou já o tenhamos completado pela 10ª vez se torne monótono. Quem procura outro tipo de acção num jogo, tanto poderá ou não encontrá-la em Super Metroid. Nada como experimentar. Há uma diferença na jogabilidade e ambiente entre os Metroid 2D e 3D (sendo ambos positivos), mas que vale sempre a pena experimentar. Foi lançado há quase dois anos para a Virtual Console da Wii.

Pontuação

Ambiente: 5/5

Controlos: 4/5

Design/Estilo: 4/5

Dificuldade: 4/5

Diversão: 4/5

Duração: 5/5

Extras: 4/5

Gráficos: 5/5

História: 5/5

Jogabilidade: 5/5

Música: 5/5

Replay Value: 4/5

Ao Fim de Contas: 54/60 (90%)

Verfasst von Joe

Die SNES Ära war meine Zeit, ich war noch viel zu jung, Lesen konnte ich noch nicht, aber spielen, das war ohne Weiteres möglich. Was hat ein Kind ohne Lesekenntnisse dann wohl zum Spielen bewegt? Zum einen muss ich sagen, dass damals die (guten) Spiele nahezu perfekt designte 2D-Spiele waren. Zum Anderen hat hier die Musik sehr unterstützende Arbeit geleistet. Man könnte fast sagen, die Themes, die damals begeistert haben, wären heute im orchestralen Format bei weitem nicht so gut.

Weil meine Äuphorie zu 16-Bit Musik der SNES Ära so groß ist und ich bei jedem Theme das ich höre, Gänsehaut bekommen, liste ich einfach mal ein paar Songs mit den zugehörigen Spielen auf. Vielelicht wird der ein oder andere ja auch Erinnerungen an seine ersten Spieleerfahrungen bekommen.

Terranigma

Terranigma ist merkwürdigerweise nach wie vor mein Lieblingsspiel aller Zeiten. Obwohl die Spielmechanik mittlerweile nicht mehr ganz zeitgerecht ist, will ich den Titel nicht von Platz 1 stoßen. Auch musikalisch hat Terranigma vor allem für die GBA Generation vorgelegt. Die wunderschönen Midimelodien sind nach wie vor unabdingbar und geben dem nahezu perfekten Rollenspiel Action/Adventure noch den letzten Kick. Schon wenn der Titelbildschirm erscheint und das Main Theme startet sitz ich erst einmal etwas vor dem Bildschirm und höre zu. Das ist heute nicht anders wie damals.

Als Theme herausgesucht hab ich allerdings das Theme of Zue, dass nach dem gleichnamigen Dschungellevel benannt wurde. Der Magic Moment in diesem Level, man veränderte interaktiv die Vegitation und konnte so auch einzelne Wege frei werden lassen, alles in Form eines gigantischen Levels. Ohne das Theme wäre der Level nur halb so gut, deswegen hier für euch, das Theme of Zue:

Super Mario World

Wer das perfekte Jump and Run sucht, der sollte sich einmal Super Mario World anschauen. Damals war vor allem das originelle Leveldesign ein gigantischer Pluspunkt. Man konnte von einem Level durch geheime Ausgänge teilweise neue Level und damit andere Wege freischalten. Auch dieser Titel macht nur so viel Spaß, weil ein perfekter Soundtrack ihn unterbindet. Hier einmal ein paar Themes von Super Mario World:

Super Metroid

Schon der erste und zweite Teil des Sci-Fi Action Adventures Metroid sorgten durch die unheimlich gruselige Musik für eine authentische und gruselige Stimmung. Teilweise hat man durch die Musik auch Angst vor einzelnen Passagen bekommen. Doch Super Metroid setzt dem Ganzen noch eins drauf und schafft das perfekte Adventure Spielerlebnis. Noch heute träume ich davon, dass irgendwann ein Metroid mit so genialer Musik, so tollem, schlüssigen Leveldesign und einer so perfekten Spielmechanik daherkommt, wie Super Metroid es hatte. Zwar kommen die 3D Teile bis jetzt nahe an das heran, aber übertrumpft wurde dieser Titel noch in keinem Punkt. Hoffnung liegt aber in dem möglicherweise erscheinden Metroid Dread. Deswegen für euch eines der atmosphärischsten Themes: Ambient Silence

Secret of Mana

Ursprünglich für den CD Aufsatz des Super Nintendo’s gedacht, war Secret of Mana eines der größten und auch besten

Spiele auf dem SNES. Die gigantisch-große Spielwelt, die wunderschöne Grafik, die mit Liebe zu Detail kreiert wurde, der sagenhafte Soundtrack. Auch Multiplayertechnisch ein Titel, der gezeigt hat, wie ein Koop Modus aussehen muss. Man konnte nämlich zu dritt spielen.

Als Theme habe ich mir hier Did you See the Ocean ausgesucht, weil hier am besten zum Ausdruck kommt, was der damalige Entwickler Square sich bei diesem Spiel tolles ausgedacht hatte. Kleiner Anhang zuvor: Alle Nachfolger konnten dem Erfolg und der Qualität von Secret of Mana nicht mehr trotzen.

Contra 3/ Super Probotector

Die Contra Reihe haben wir in einer Retro-Perspektive zu genüge beschrieben.

Zum Lesen der Retro-Perspektive auf das Bild klicken

Wer jetzt keine Zeit/Lust auf die gesamte Perspektive hat, dem fasse ich Contra 3 kurz zusammen:

Ein actiongeladenes Run and Gun, dass mit einem hohen Schwierigkeitsgrad, toller Grafik, wahnsinnig guten Explosionen und einem tollen Soundtrack sowie Koop-Modus daherkam.

Als Musikstück hab ich ein Theme ausgesucht, dass mir sehr gut gefällt. Die Rede ist von dem Boss Theme (Invasion):

Wir wissen zwar, dass noch viele andere Titel einen tollen Soundtrack haben, allerdings können wir nicht jeden SNES Titel mit einbeziehen, weil der Artikel ja noch zu lesen sein soll. Jetzt die Frage an euch, welches Spiel mit zugehöriger Musik gefällt euch von der SNES Zeit am besten, was hat euch damals am meisten bewegt? Wir wollen es wissen: Bitte in die Comments oder ins Forum!   jj

Metroid Prime es un juego de aventuras en primera persona/Shooter, desarrollado por Retro Studios y distribuido por Nintendo el 19 de noviembre de 2002 en América, el 28 de febrero 2003 en Japón, el 21 de Marzo de 2003 en Europa para la consola Nintendo Game Cube y recientemente una versión para Wii. Es el quinto juego de la saga Metroid, pero el primer juego tridimensional en primera persona de la saga.

El juego narra las aventuras de la cazarrecompensas Samus Aran en el planeta Tallon IV y su incansable lucha contra los piratas espaciales, raza que pretende ser la fuerza dominante de la galaxia. Samus tendrá acceso a los textos que dejaron la antigua civilización que poblaba el planeta: los chozo que murieron después del impacto de un meteorito cargado con un mineral radioactivo llamado Phazon. El objetivo de la cazarrecompensas será recuperar su armamento y los doce artefactos chozo para desvelar el secreto de Phazon.

Jugabilidad

La jugabilidad mezcla acción en primera persona: en combates que pueden llegar a ser espectaculares (dependiendo del enemigo al que te enfrentes), rompecabezas, plataforma (superando los retos del escenario) y exploración (mediante el escanéo descubriras los relatos chozo y los planes de los piratas espaciales). Es un juego de aventuras más que de acción por la importancia de la exploración.

La misión de Samus es conseguir toda la información posible para detener a los piratas espaciales, mientras recupera su equipo y encuentra los artefactos chozo para entrar en el cráter donde impactó el meteorito. Estos objetos se pueden conseguir buscando por las distintas regiones o derrotando a los jefes que los guardan.

La vista del jugador muestra la visión de Samus desde dentro de su casco. En el modo combate (es la vista principal) se ve el punto de mira, el medidor de energía (salud), un radar, un mapa en tres dimensiones de la zona en la que estás, un contador de misiles, un medidor de peligro, el visor y rayo que se está utilizando en ese momento y, en caso de estar luchando contra un jefe, una barra con el nombre y la energía restante del mismo.

Regiones

El planeta en el que se desarrolla la acción, Tallon IV, está dividido en cinco regiones:

Superficie de Tallon: Es donde aterriza la nave de Samus al principio del juego. Contiene el templo chozo y los restos de la fragata de Orpheon.

Ruinas Chozo: Son los restos de la civilización que poblaba el planeta los chozo.

Las cavernas Magmoor: Es una región llena de lava y fuego, simplemente.

Phendrana: Es una región de hielo y la base principal de los piratas espaciales.

Minas de Phazon: Donde están las instalaciones de los piratas espaciales para extraer el Phazon.

Crater del impácto: Es la parte final del juego donde te enfrentas al jefe final (no llega a ser una región).

Armamento

Rayo Estándar: Es el rayo inicial en los juegos de Metroid. El daño que causa es bajo y sigue una trayectoria en línea recta, pero la frecuencia de tiro es la más avanzada del juego.

Misiles: Son misiles que persiguen al objetivo que se haya fijado. Si no se a fijado objetivo irán en línea recta.

Supermisil: Es una combinación del rayo estándar recargado con cinco misiles a la vez.

Rayo de Ondas: Es un rayo formado por energía eléctrica. Su potencia de disparo es un poco menor al rayo estándar.

Látigo de Ondas: Es una recarga del rayo de ondas y diez misiles. Lanza un rayo que descarga mucha energía eléctrica sobre el el enemigo.

Rayo de Hielo: Es un rayo que congela a los enemigos excepto a los jefes. Es muy lento tanto en la velocidad del disparo como en la frecuencia de tiro.

Difusor de Hielo: Es una recarga del rayo de hielo y diez misiles. Este arma lo congela todo incluyendo a jefes.

Rayo de Plasma: Es un rayo de fuego que lo quema todo. Es el más poderoso del juego.

Lanzallamas: Es una recarga del rayo de plasma y cinco misiles. Este quema todo lo que estes apuntando.

Bombas (morfosfera): Se usa para dañar a enemigos activar ciertos mecanismos, dañar algunas estructuras, etc.

Bombas de Energía (morfosfera): Sirve para acabar rápidamente con los enemigos y destruir estructuras hechas de bendecio.

Rayo de Phazon: Es un rayo formado de Phazon que solo puedes ejecutar cuando luchas contra el jefe final (en ciertas condiciones).

Opinión personal

Es un juegazo en todos los sentidos, para mí uno de los mejores juegos de Game Cube, gran diseño de los escenarios, de los enemigos, de los piratas espaciales,de los jefes, de Samus. Los vídeos están muy bien hechos, gran historia, las armas, luchas espectaculares contra los jefes, el control del personaje…En pocas palabras una obra maestra. Pero lo mejor de todo es que si no lo has jugado en Game Cube tienes la oportunidad de jugarlo si tienes la Wii con Metroid Prime Trilogy, que comprando un solo juego te llevas la trilogía entera. Vamos, una ganga.

Lo mejor

• Los vídeos, realizados con el motor del juego, te deja claro lo que te pretende mostrar.
• Los jefes, espectaculares, con un gran diseño gráfico y cierta dificultad.
• Luchas espectaculares. Acabarás agotado pero flipado tras cada batalla.
• La historia, impresionante si sabes como interpretarla.
• Los escenarios, con un diseño realista y espacial.

Lo peor

• Para la gente realmente experimentada en shooters les costará un poco familiarizarse con el sistema de apuntado. Aunque Metroid no es estrictamente hablando un shooter convencional.

Nota: 9,8

Como conclusión: Si tienes la oportunidad de jugar a este juego, aprovéchala. No te arrepentirás.

Saludos

ScorpioDominator

]]> http://donotturnoff.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/o-melhor-amigo-do-olimar/ Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:21:43 +0000 Alice http://donotturnoff.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/o-melhor-amigo-do-olimar/

E continuando com a avalanche de vídeos (que está para acabar, não se preocupe), aqui está o tão amado e esperado Vídeo da Semana! Eu realmente imaginava ele sendo postado no Dia do Amigo, mas como eu não estou afim de esperar: Enjoy!

]]> http://myntcondition.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/oss-samus-piece-sold-stump-4-0-ramblings-and-a-cookie/ Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:18:00 +0000 mynty http://myntcondition.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/oss-samus-piece-sold-stump-4-0-ramblings-and-a-cookie/ http://plusxp.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/metroid-the-past/ Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:00:29 +0000 Leon http://plusxp.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/metroid-the-past/

Most people have more than likely heard the name Metroid at some point – being one of Nintendo’s longer running series’, although perhaps not as successful as their other major titles, such as Mario and The Legend of Zelda. However, Metroid was possibly one of the most influential titles of it’s time, introducing a more free roaming, more mature style of platformer. It also introduced one of the world’s first gaming heroines – Samus Aran, a well respected bounty hunter that stormed the gaming world a full decade before Lara Croft appeared on the Playstation in 1996. As the first of a three part look at the series, today I will tell you a little about the roots of Metroid.



The original Metroid was released on the NES in 1986, the same year as the first Zelda title. As well as the platforming and open world style common to Metroid, many other aspects of the title were introduced in the very first title, and carried on to the later games – concepts such as upgrades that improved Samus’ power as she progressed, but also allowed access to new areas in order to give the open world some restrictions and would guide the player around in a certain way without feeling linear or restrictive.

The original title also introduced enemies and bosses that remain consistent throughout the series, namely the Space Pirates, an alien band of miscreants, and their Commander, the dragon-like Ridley. Last but not least, the original of course introduced the series’ first Metroids – the most dangerous beings of them all. Somewhere between a jellyfish, a brain and a leech, the Metroid is a rather disturbing creature – hovering emotionlessly, the Metroid wants nothing more than to drain the life of it’s victim, has a nasty habit of multiplying, and is incredibly hard to kill.



Metroid’s story, and its quality, has improved in stages over the years. Five years after Metroid came Metroid II: Return of Samus. Released on the Nintendo Game Boy, Metroid II was the first handheld title of the series, and was one of the most impressive handheld titles of it’s time – sporting graphics superior to the original home console version, and fluid controls, Metroid II found Samus hunting Metroids on a lonely planet called SR388.



 This title was the first Metroid I ever played, and was what got me into Metroid in the first place. Metroid II kept most of the major functions from the original, and also introduced some new weapons, however it is one of the few games to focus solely on Metroids as bosses, in various evolutionary phases, as no Space Pirates or other aliens are involved. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, though, as it only helped enhance the cavernous feel to the empty depths of SR388.

In 1994, Metroid reached a new level with the coming of Super Metroid on the Super Nintendo. This title was the first to feature full colour graphics and improved on every aspect of the game – particularly the plot. Although the game continued to feel vast and open, Super Metroid saw the return of Ridley, and introduced perhaps one of the most useful features of all, a map. Whereas the older titles could feel confusing and hard to navigate, Super Metroid included a map that could be viewed on the fly, detailing not only the layout of the area, but save rooms and other places of interest. This feature would be implemented into all future titles, and was even mirrored in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night three years later, which was the first to implement a more Metroid style of gameplay and progression that would create the term “Metroidvania” which can be heard nowadays.



Sadly, Super Metroid wasn’t really appreciated fully at the time of it’s initial release. Although considered one of Nintendo’s biggest classic titles, the initial trilogy sold fairly poorly and production was cancelled.

However, all that changed in 2002. Alongside the new GameCube title, Metroid Prime (more about this in my next post), the team that developed Super Metroid released an all new 2D Metroid for the Gameboy Advance. Entitled Metroid Fusion, the fourth Metroid title pitted Samus against a new threat, a parasitic lifeform known as X. After coming into contact with the viral lifeform, Samus becomes surgically bound to some of the core components of her Power Suit, creating the Fusion Suit.



Fighting against both Metroids and this new threat, hunted by a powerful doppelganger known as SA-X, Metroid Fusion yet again improved upon the game’s design in almost every way. Fusion did incredibly well, being named Handheld Game of the Year at the 2002 Interactive Achievement Awards, and recieving high praise from many gaming sites, and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. This success saw the rebirth of the series and Metroid continued to develop.

In 2004, Nintendo released Metroid: Zero Mission, a remake of the original Metroid on the GBA with graphics that perhaps surpassed even that of Metroid Fusion, and incorporating features and abilities from the more recent titles, such as saving capability and a selection of different abilities such as crouching, hanging, speed-boost running and much more.



They also expanded upon the game’s original plot, and even added an entirely new area to the game, including a section which, for the first time ever, allows you to play as Samus without her Power Suit for a more stealth-based chapter, dubbed “Zero Suit Samus” by Super Smash Bros Brawl, which incorporated this ‘naked’ version of the heroine as an alternate mode for her in the fighter series, which also turned a few heads in the process.  



And thats as far as the 2D saga of Metroid has come to this date – I personally hope to see at least one more 2D Metroid in the future. But that’s not to say that Metroid ends there, oh no – the present has seen a change in Metroid’s style…

Stay tuned for Metroid: The Present, in the second of this three-part look at the series!

-Leon

]]> http://eegames.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/die-super-smash-bros-reihe/ Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:44:47 +0000 eegames http://eegames.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/die-super-smash-bros-reihe/


Die Super Smash Bros. Reihe

(EE-Games Chatprotokoll) Heute haben wir uns eine andere Reihe geschnappt, da wir kaum Zeit hatten, für mehr Arbeit. Es kam wieder ein Protokoll zustande, in dem wir alle 3 Titel der Smash Bros. Reihe besprochen und mit eigenen Erfahrungen gekennzeichnet haben. Mit einigen Verbesserungen sollte das Protokoll auch besser zu lesen zu sein! Viel Spaß!

[21:18] Joe: Willkommen zum zweiten EE-Games Chatprotokoll, heute über Super Smash Bros., der einzigen Beat em Up Reihe von Nintendo
[21:18] Joe: Ich bin der Joe
[21:19] Joe: …
[21:19] Ronbärt: und ich der Ronbärt
[21:19] Joe: heute ist er kein Pirat, sondern ein Illuminat
[21:19] Ronbärt: … apropo pirat
[21:19] Joe: ja…?
[21:20] Ronbärt: heute ist doch piraten tag
[21:20] Ronbärt: warte ich schau mal nach dem offizielen tag
[21:20] Ronbärt: äähh namen^^
[21:20] Joe: jetzt wo du’s sagst
[21:20] Ronbärt: ja man kann sich heute sogar monkey island 5 teil 1 kostenlos downlaoden
[21:20] Joe: :O



[21:21] Joe: geil, das neue, von telltale games? tales of monkey island?
[21:21] Ronbärt: ja schon
[21:21] Joe: hätte ich das gewusst, hätt’ ich’s mir nicht für wii runtergeladen…
[21:21] Joe:
[21:22] Ronbärt: tja
[21:22] Joe: naja, genug davon, kommen wir jetzt zu dem eigentlichen thema…
[21:22] Ronbärt: http://www.giga.de/usernews/00020325-tales-of-monkey-island-episode-1-wird-fuer-einen-tag-kostenlos/
[21:22] Ronbärt: sry
[21:23] Joe: Smash Bros. ist eine 3-Teilige Beat em Up Reihe von Nintendo und mischt die wichtigsten Charaktere des Herstellers…
[21:23] Joe: Angefangen hat das Ganze auf dem Nintendo 64 und hat mit einer coolen Grafik und (für Nintendo Verhältnisse) viel Action



[21:24] Ronbärt: ja das game habe ich jahrlang gezockt und auch durchgespielt
[21:24] Ronbärt: das war/ist ein sau geiles game
[21:24] Joe: vor allem, weil es, trotz veralteter grafik nach wie vor gut spielbar ist…



[21:25] Ronbärt: ja so wirds auch immer bleiben
[21:26] Joe: Was mich damals wirklich gefreut hat, war, dass man trotz des 3D Hypes eine 2D Sicht genommen hatte…
[21:27] Ronbärt: ja das stimmt und die charaktere waren einfach gut gewählt



[21:28] Joe: Mir hat es auch gefallen, dass sie Link und Captain Falcon mit reingenommen haben, weil beide z.B. nicht bei Mario Kart vorkamen, was ja auch in eine ähnliche Richtung geht, wenn man sich Charaktere anschaut…
[21:28] Joe: Was auch richtig geflasht hat, war der Soundtrack
[21:28] Ronbärt: ja der war richtig gut

[21:29] Joe: dort hat man bekannte Themes aus den einzelnen Spielen genommen und Orchestral überarbeitet


[21:29] Joe: Leider war das Spiel etwas kurz und hatte auch wenig Modi’s und Level sowie Charaktere, jedoch das was da war, war richtig gut!
[21:30] Ronbärt: ja das game war ein bisschen ”kurz” aber die beiden modis waren geil
[21:31] Joe: Ich muss auch sagen, dass Nintendo hier erstmals Gaming mit Familiendasein verbinden wollte, was ja eigentlich eher poralisiert…
[21:32] Joe: Auf der einen Seite war das brutale Beat em Up Genre, und auf der einen, die teilweise sehr liebevollen und knuddeligen Nintendo Charaktere mit wenigen Ausnahmen…
[21:33] Ronbärt: ich fande eigentlich alle ”knuddellich”
[21:33] Joe: Captain Falcon?
[21:34] Ronbärt: ja sogar der xD
[21:34] Joe: xD
[21:34] Joe:
[21:35] Joe: Das sollte zeigen, wie NOE die ganze Sache so sieht oder besser gesagt gesehen hat…
[21:36] Joe: Die Werbung war meiner Meinung nach etwas kindisch, übertrieben und erinnert mich an Amerika, jedoch muss ich sagen, als kleiner Knirps einen Yoshi mit Pikachu kämpfen sehen, das war schon echt geil!
[21:36] Ronbärt: ja nicht nur als knirps, die werbung finde ich sehr witzig gemacht^^
[21:37] Joe: Was auch cool war, man konnte im VS. Mode gegen vier Freunde kämpfen und mit ihnen um die Wette kloppen, da gabs Tunierbedarf zu decken bis zum Umfallen…
[21:38] Ronbärt: ja das war auch sehr geil gemacht aber ich war nicht so der beste super smash bros zocker
[21:39] Joe: bin ich heutzutage auch immer noch nicht, ich verliere gegen alle anderen sehr oft, einfach, weil ich nicht so oft und lange gespielt hab, ich war zu der Zeit eher der Jump and Run und Pokémon Fan…
[21:40] Ronbärt: ich auch
[21:41] Joe: Gut, dann sollten wir mal einen Zeitsprung machen, denn nachdem der Erfolg gigantisch war und die neue Konsole kam, dachte man über das Fortführen der Reihe nach, da noch genügend Bedarf an Verbesserungen da war…
[21:41] Joe: und so kam es dann zu Super Smash Bros. Melee für den Nintendo Gamecube



[21:42] Ronbärt: ich hab auch das ”durchgespielt”, richtig geiles game
[21:42] Ronbärt: die charakter auswahl wurde mehr als das doppelte und es waren auch richtig gute charaktere dabei



[21:43] Joe: Dank Melee hat es Fire Emblem nach Europa geschafft, weil Nintendo gemerkt hat, wie gut sowohl Marth als auch der andere hierzulande angekommen sind
[21:43] Joe: Nicht nur das…
[21:45] Joe: Nintendo hat auch gemerkt, was am alten Spiel gefehl hat und hat hier das genaue Gegenteil gemacht, es waren nicht mehr wenig Charaktere, sondern eben wie vorhin gesagt, deutlich mehr, man hat so viele “Achievements” zum Sammeln gehabt, soviel Stuff zum freischalten, dass man das Ganze kaum richtig durchspielen konnte…
[21:45] Ronbärt: ja es gab sooo viele figuren



[21:46] Joe: Die Grafik war damals auch richtig gut, vor allem im Vergleich zu der Grafik des ersten, und vor allem der Soundtrack wurde erweitert…
[21:46] Ronbärt: ja der soundtrack war auch sehr gut

[21:49] Joe: Und, was mir als alter 2D Hardcore Nerd auch gefällt, es war wieder in der 2D Perspektive
[21:50] Ronbärt: ja das hat mir auch gut gefallen aber ssbm mit 3D perspektive würde nichtmal halb so gut sein
[21:51] Joe: Schon allein, weil dort das Problem wäre, dass man sich noch zusätzlich auf mehreren Ebenen und Achsen bewegen müsste, und das wäre dann zu viel…
[21:51] Ronbärt: ja
[21:52] Joe: Smash Bros. war ja noch nie ein richtiges 1 vs. 1 Beat em Up, man konnte ja auf einer Stage frei herumlaufen und seinen Gegner mithilfe von verschiedenen Kombos durch die Luft schleudern und hatte auch keine Lebensanzeige, sondern eine Schadensprozent-Angzeige, die zeigen sollte, wie leicht man ist und wie schnell man aus der Arena fliegen kann…
[21:53] Ronbärt: ja das stimmt
[21:54] Joe: Meiner Meinung nach immer noch eines der besten Gamecube Spiele, selbst da, als alle andere Reihen wie Zelda und Mario abgestunken haben (Ausnahmefall Metroid)
[21:55] Ronbärt: ja das ist wirklich eins der besten spiele und das ist eins der wenigen spiele die man immer wieder zocken kann und nicht nach dem 1. mal durchzocken weglegt
[21:56] Joe: stimmt, der Wiederspielwert von Smash Bros. ist unheimlich groß, weil es immer wieder was gibt, was man noch nicht freigeschalten hat und man immer noch mehr Figuren sammeln kann…
[21:56] Joe: oder einfach eine Runde mit dem Kumpel zocken…
[21:56] Ronbärt: genau
[21:57] Joe: Eigentlich war das Spiel fast perfekt, doch Nintendo hat es geschafft, das ganze zu toppen, trotz gigantisch hoher Erwartungen…
[21:57] Joe: Super Smash Brothers Brawl, kam am 27. Juni 2008 heraus…



[21:59] Joe: und auf einmal war da ein Story Mode…
[21:59] Joe: noch mehr Charaktere und die Tatsache, dass man sowohl Statuen, Sticker als auch Soundtrack bis zum “Gehtnichtmehr” freischalten musste.


[21:59] Ronbärt: sogar demos
[22:00] Ronbärt: das geilste an dem spiel war das man den story modus zu 2 durchzocken konnte das ich auch mit einem kumpel gemacht hab ^^



[22:02] Joe: ja, er war zwar leider sehr kurz, jedoch im Koop Modus zu spielen, und das war, vor allem auf Nintendo’s Konsolen seit dem SNES fast ausgestorben…
[22:03] Ronbärt: ja das stimmt
[22:04] Joe: Die Grafik war auch sehr sehr überragen, vor allem auf der sonst so grafikschwachen Wii…
[22:05] Ronbärt: ja das stimmt aber ich habe nur den koop modus gezockt mit nem kumpel und mehr nicht also kann ich nich sovieldrüber sagen



[22:05] Joe: Ok, dann bin ich wohl gefragt…
[22:06] Joe: Man hatte einen Stage Editor und konnte sich einfach mal so seine eigenen Stages bauen und mit einzelnen Objekten ausstatten…
[22:07] Joe: Das ließ einem irre viel kreativen Freiraum und es kamen gigantisch viele verschiedene Levels raus, die teilweise auch anderen Gaming Content damit in verbindung bringen…



PC Stage Studio von Xane

[22:08] Ronbärt: ich kann leider nicht viel zum game sagen aber es war/ist geil …vorallem snake ^^
[22:09] Joe: Ja, Solid Snake und Sonic the Hedgehog hatten ja hier einen Gastauftritt…



[22:09] Ronbärt: ja aber snake ist besser xD finde ich^^
[22:09] Joe: xD
[22:10] Joe: Snake war auch der Grund für viele Gegner der Wii, sich auch eine, zusammen mit Smash Bros. zu besorgen…
[22:10] Joe: Snake ist einfach eine coole Sau
[22:11] Ronbärt: …eine verdammt coole sau
[22:11] Joe: Hier fügen wir einen Vote ein, indem man uns zustimmen kann, oder nicht: Frage: Ist Snake eine Cooles Sau, ja oder nein?


[22:11] Joe: xD
[22:11] Ronbärt: Ja!

[22:12] Joe: So, hier jetzt noch eine letzte Schlussdiskussion, die nicht mehr viel mit Smash Bros. zu tun hat, wir werden weiterhin Protokolle machen, das nächste wird über Metal Gear handeln, vor allem, weil wir beide so große Metal Gear Fans sind und jeden Teil gespielt haben…
[22:12] Joe: *hust*
[22:13] Ronbärt: ..^^
[22:13] Ronbärt: ich freu mich drauf (galleria kaufhof)



[22:13] Joe: Genau, wir haben ja noch kaum Schleichwerbung gemacht, außer mit Telltale Games und ihren Neuauflagen von alten Lucas Arts Dingern…
[22:14] Joe: Ich liebe Lucas Arts Adventures, spätestens mit der Erfindung von Monkey Island, war ich PC Spieler
[22:14] Ronbärt:
[22:16] Joe: Naja, ich spiel jetzt noch ne Runde Smashbros. und bearbeite das Protokoll, dass es morgen noch online ist…
[22:16] Joe: von daher…
[22:16] Joe: Ich bin der Joe…
[22:16] Ronbärt: und ich der Ronbärt
[22:16] Joe: der Illuminat…
[22:17] Joe: und das war das zweite Experiment zweier Nerds, die ihrem Hobby näher kommen wollten…
[22:17] Joe: Tschüss und auf Wiedersehen!
[22:17] Ronbärt: Seaaas

]]> http://gamingdibbi.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/e3-coverage-almost-as-good-and-timely-as-the-magazines/ Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:33:58 +0000 dibbi2 http://gamingdibbi.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/e3-coverage-almost-as-good-and-timely-as-the-magazines/ http://wiivolutionnow.com/2009/09/14/good-things-come-in-trilogies/ Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:21:56 +0000 Jason Tanner http://wiivolutionnow.com/2009/09/14/good-things-come-in-trilogies/ http://supersonic1990.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/super-sonic-boom-reviews-14metroid-fusion-by-supersonic1990/ Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:02:44 +0000 Hyper Luigi http://supersonic1990.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/super-sonic-boom-reviews-14metroid-fusion-by-supersonic1990/

Metroid Fusion
Gerne(s):Action, Adventure, Platformer, Shooter.
Platform(s):Game Boy Advance
Is Metroid Fusion a classic, or has it blown a bad fuse?
 When Super Metroid was released, everyone loved it. It combined exploration, non-linear gameplay, action, adventure, and shooter elements into one fantastic game. Strangely, Nintendo did not work on a sequel for a long time. Metroid fans had to wait for 8 years before Samus made her return. But, she did not return in just one game, she return in two games in one day [only in North America]. The first game was Samus’s first 3D adventure:Metroid Prime. But, Samus also had a new 2D adventure at the time called Metroid Fusion on the Game Boy Advance. Metroid fans have a mixed opinon about Metroid Fusion because of it’s linear gameplay, but is it still an awesome game?


 Like Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion’s gameplay is similar in some ways, but different. Like other Metroid games, Samus’s goal is to look for upgrades to her suit that will allow her to reach new areas in the game. To do that, she will need to fight bosses or look for Data Rooms. Samus travels in an open-ended world like the other Metroid games, the game takes place in the Biologic Space Laboratories. The Biologic Space Laboratories has a Main Deck and 6 Sectors. The 6 sectors are varied and unique. For example, one sector is iced-based, and another is fire-based. Samus’s new enemies are the X parasites which mimic as various enemies and bosses in the game. Samus can absorb the X Parasites when she defeats any enemy or boss. When she absorbs a X Parasite from an regular enemy, it restores health or missles. If she absorbs an X Parasite from a boss, Samus will gain a new ability. Samus can also gain new abilities from Data Rooms, which Samus will have to search for.



 
The boss battles are fun and unique, every boss requires a different strategy to defeat it. After defeating a boss, you usually have to defeat it’s Core-X [a X Parasite that can attack you] to truly defeat the boss.



 But, what sets Metroid Fusion apart from other Metroid games is it’s linear gameplay. The main gameplay involes Samus taking orders from a computer in Navigation Rooms. The objectives ranged from finding a power-up, defeating a boss, and other objectives. This makes it it nearly impossible to perform any sequence breaks. You may think that because of this, Metroid Fusion is a somewhat medicore game. But, it is not a medicore game at all. In fact, Metroid Fusion is one of the better Metroid games out there. The controls are perfect, and game is a joy to play from start to finish. Not only does it keep the classic Metroid gameplay, but it adds enough new elements to make the game feel fresh. For example, Samus’s Fusion Suit is slight different from her Power Suit. She can no longer use the Ice Beam [instead she can use Ice Missles], but she can now grab ledges without the use of the Power Grip. Metroid Fusion is the first 2D Metroid game to have animated cutscenes. Metroid Fusion’s story is much more deeper and intresting than previous Metroid games.

 One other new element is that Samus will encounter the SA-X [an X-Parasite mimicking Samus's Power Suit] several times during the game. During these encounters, Samus will have to hide or run from the invincible SA-X. These SA-X encounters are intense but fun.



 For an early Game Boy Adavnce game, the graphics are fantastic. The music is awesome and fits in well with the game. Like previous Metroid games, there is replay value in obtaining 100% percent. There are different endings where you can see Samus with or without her suit depending on how many weapons and energies upgrades you collected and how quickly you complete the game.



 Metroid Fusion is a fantastic video game. It might be linear, but it’s new gameplay elements and deeper story makes this game extremely fun. Do not miss out on this overlooked gem, buy this game now!
 

Graphics:9/10 For an early Game Boy Advane game, the graphics are fantastic. Metroid Fusion is one the best-looking Game Boy Advance games.
Sound:9/10 The music is awesome, and the sound effects are great.
Gameplay:9/10 Metroid Fusion might be linear, but it is a fantastic game from beginning to end. Classic Metroid gameplay mixed with new elements makes this game fantastic.
Lasting Appeal:9/10 This game is not short by no means. There is plent of replay value in collecting 100% and seeing the different endings.
Overall:9/10 Awesome

]]> http://marcostux.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/el-mejor-costplay-de-samus/ Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:06:07 +0000 marcostux http://marcostux.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/el-mejor-costplay-de-samus/ http://joguepense.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/jogos-que-deveriam-existir-1/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:10:46 +0000 Zé http://joguepense.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/jogos-que-deveriam-existir-1/

Decidimos criar essa sessão no blog para debatermos idéias malucas de jogos que gostaríamos que fossem lançados. Se você tiver alguma idéia de jogos que deveriam existir, mande para nós no emeio joguepense@gmail.com. Sem mais delongas, um jogo que deveria existir com certeza é este:

Samus Strip Poker

Ok, eu admito… não tenho a menor noção de como se joga poker, mas se esse jogo existisse, eu aprenderia as regras em cinco minutos. Todo mundo que já jogou Metroid sabe que Samus é com certeza a mulher mais forte e incrível do mundo dos games, mas aquela armadura esconde suas verdadeiras qualidades. Agora, imagine jogar uma partida de Strip Poker com Samus: a cada partida que você vence, ela tira uma parte da armadura. Hum, sexy!



Ah, Samus...

Mas o jogo seria extremamente difícil, afinal estamos falando de Samus. Perca uma partida, e game over, ela explode sua cabeça com um míssil. Com certeza um jogo assim seria um ótimo fan service que a Nintendo faria aos jogadores de Metroid.

Chances desse jogo existir algum dia: Nulas. Se a Nintendo lançasse um jogo desses, perderia sua imagem de companhia que cria jogos para a família. Além disso, seria banalizar um personagem fantástico como Samus. Bem, não custa nada sonhar…



Não me mate por favor! Esse post é só uma brincadeira!

 

]]> http://nintendo-okie.com/2009/08/18/this-week-in-nintendo-history-august-16th-to-august-22nd/ Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:52:00 +0000 Tony Miller http://nintendo-okie.com/2009/08/18/this-week-in-nintendo-history-august-16th-to-august-22nd/


Howdy guys! It’s time once again to explore the deep, dark depths of the history of every one’s favorite video game company, Nintendo! This week we’ve got the blue bomber, Samus, kart racing, and the man in green. It’s not safe to go alone, take This Week in Nintendo History.

August 17th 1983 saw yet another Game & Watch game, this time it’s Popeye. This version of the game had you moving Popeye left and right to avoid Bluto’s punches and countering with a punch of your own. Of course all the while you were trying to rescue Olive from his clutches. You were not only trying to win the game, but do it by getting as many points as you could by hitting Bluto, knocking him into the ocean and rescuing the girl. This Game & Watch game also featured an alarm clock.

It was all about the Virtual Console on August 18th, 2008. The original Mega Man was released for the NES on the system. If you haven’t played this game you need to go and download it right now. It was the start of one of gaming’s most classic franchises and set the stage for many games to come. Also released on that day was Neo Turf Master for the Neo Geo.

Another big day for the Virtual Console on August 20th, 2007. Super Metroid, arguably many people’s favorite iteration of the series was gifted to the world when it was released on Nintendo’s classic download service. Alongside Samus’ return was Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master and Neutopia for the TG-16. If you’re more into the brain thing you could have gone out that day and picked up your copy of Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day for Nintendo DS. This was the second game in the brain training franchise and it had you completing puzzles and challenges in order to help keep your brain strong.

Game & Watch saw another release on August 20th, 1984. The G&W version of Donkey Kong 3 was released. While it shared the same name as an arcade version of DK3 it was completely different in terms of gameplay. The G&W version of the game was a two player affair where one player would control Donkey Kong and the other would control the human Stanley. They were both attempting to protect their gardens from bees with water guns, and shooting the insects would cause them to fly closer to the other players garden. You scored points if the bees reached the opposite side.

August 21st, 2000 was a sad day in the history of gaming. Earthbound 64 was in development for the Nintendo 64 DD, the ill fated CD attachment to the N64. On that day, the game was cancelled. It would be revived five years later and released on the Game Boy Advance, but you would only be able to play it if you lived in Japan. The game never saw release in America.

The Nintendo 64 saw the sequel to one of the first games dedicated to skating, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was released for the N64. Originally designed for the Playstation and ported to other consoles it was very similar to the original. If you’ve played a Tony Hawk game before, you know what to expect.

The Nintendo DS would see some of the first use of it’s Wi-Fi system on August 21st, 2006 when Tenchu: Dark Secret was released. Tenchu is a stealth action game where you were tasked with taking out enemies using various items in your inventory, as well as things found in the environment. It was one of the first games to take advantage of the Wi-Fi system and allowed you to trade items with players around the globe.

Japanese gamers were given the beginning of one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises on August 22nd, 1992. That was the day that Super Mario Kart raced on the Super Famicom in Japan. Players got their first taste of three dimensional racing and flinging turtle shells at other cars. The game used the Mode 7 system which allowed the designers to create the feeling of a three dimensional race, when in actuality you were static and the environment moved around you. This series has gone on to spawn several interations over every console since the Super Famicom and has been played by millions of gamers worldwide.

Our last piece of history, is a big one. On August 22nd, 1987 players finally learned that it was not safe to go alone. Link burst onto the scene in The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Since then Link has grown to be the second biggest star in Nintendo’s history behind the famous plumber and has been in a large number of games. He’s been around to launch consoles, fight Ganon and save the Princess for over twenty years and he’s still going strong. This game featured a huge overworld populated by near endless numbers of enemies, memorable dungeons and a huge inventory of items. There are few that have owned a Nintendo console that haven’t played this game at some point. Well excuuuse me, Princess!

So there you have it. Another week of history is in the books. I hope you enjoy this article and if there is anything that you know of coming up soon that you would like to see included in this article please drop me a line and let me know. You can find a link to my email address over on the right side of the page. Let me know what you think.

]]> http://uberfangirl.com/2009/07/29/post-comic-con-blues/ Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:59:13 +0000 uberfangirl http://uberfangirl.com/2009/07/29/post-comic-con-blues/

Due to extreme amounts of fun and endless things to do, I really didn’t get to blog as much as I would’ve like while at Comic Con, even with the free wifi throughout the Convention Centre. Consequently, I can’t possibly review everything I wanted to, so I’ll just stick to the best of the best.

The Robot Chicken panel, as I already mentioned, was funny as hell. I’ve been walking around replaying Breckin Meyer doing his Lindsay Lohan voice ever since. I actually lol’ed just thinking about it right now. That was on Thursday, as was the amazing screening of Dr. Horrible`s Sing Along Blog, to which Felicia Day, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed and Zack Whedon showed up. If you don`t know who they are, might I suggest watching Dr. Horrible already. Great show, and great night!!

The day I spent in Ballroom 20 (Friday) was probably the best day ever of life. I went first thing in the morning to make sure I was in and well situated for the panels I wanted to see in the afternoon. As a byproduct of the wait, I got to see previews and discussions for Stargate Universe and Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, as well as the upcoming Battlestar-related Caprica tv series. I’ve never really gotten into either Stargate or Battlestar (though I loved the Stargate movie) but I was pretty intrigued by both panels, and I think I will finally get off my ass and watch Battlestar.

Following those panels was the cast from The Big Bang Theory. I adore the show, and as I have publicly admitted on many occasions, I am happily in love with Sheldon Cooper while fully understanding that he is not a real person. Obviously, the panel was amazing and I enjoyed myself immensely, but what impressed me most was how good looking they all are in person. Not that they are unattractive on the show by any means, but in real life, they’re all super hot! I don’t know how they can stand working together and remain professional, I’d be in trouble for shamelessly hitting on my coworkers for sure. The best part, though, was the actor who plays my beloved Sheldon. Jim Parsons is delightful! He’s clever and witty, and seemingly quite humble. My love for the fictional character was promptly transformed into a celebrity crush. I can even call him Jim now, instead of Sheldon!

I also sat through the panel for 24, which was cool. My fellow Canadian Kiefer Sutherland is still handsome as can be, and the girl who plays Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) was there. I like her. After 24 came Bones, which was kinda boring since I don’t watch it and David Boreanaz wasn’t even there. But no bother; I was waiting for Dollhouse, and I would have sat through pretty much anything. The previously un-aired 13th episode of Dollhouse was AMAZING! My gal Felicia Day was in it; she’s super cute, plus mega talented. The episode itself was intense, and the screening was followed up with a full hour and a half q&a with Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku. Joss is so cool I can’t even stand it. Eliza is absolutely stunning and was most gracious with all the compliments she received. One adorable kid really thought she was Echo and asked how she could be in the show and in movies at the same time. Cute! Toward the end of the q&a, the actors who play Sierra (Dichen Lachman) and Topher (Fran Kranz) came out as well. He’s hot. There, I said it! I officially cannot wait for next season.

That brings me to Saturday, which I mostly spent in line for the Masquerade. I wore my super cool Silk Spectre II costume all day (photos below). Loads and loads of people took my picture. I felt like a minor celebrity and it was a lot of fun. I also took loads and loads of pictures of other people in costume, which was also fun. The Masquerade itself was pretty cool, though I’m not sure it was worth the wait and missing out on other stuff I would have liked to do – like get my Buffy comics autographed by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty. Ah, well, there’s always next year, right? Talents like those aren’t going anywhere any time soon, particularly since Espenson is working on Caprica, which is bound to be huge in 2010.

I did thoroughly enjoy some of the contestants in the Masquerade though, especially Bring it On: Rock the Mouse. If you missed it, check out the video on YouTube, though it doesn’t do the live show any justice at all. My honourable mention would go to Welcome to the Dollhouse, which was highly entertaining and so well done. It’s also on YouTube, but again, the video hardly gives the full effect. And finally, I fully appreciated the She-ra entry, because I loved her when I was young, and they did a wicked job on the costumes. YouTube again for the win on that video. (I truly love YouTube.)

And then, Sunday. Also known as The Day of My Biggest Disappointment, when Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles did not magically appear for the Supernatural panel. Not that they were supposed to, they were never on the schedule, I was just holding out hope that they might show up and surprise us all. No dice, however. The panel was still great though, everyone was pretty funny, it was cool to see the series creator (Eric Kripke), and we got a few good spoilers. The prophet Chuck is still around, which I love because he’s funny, and there was a lot of talk about Castiel’s changing role in season 5. The scene from Season 5, Episode 1 that they showed was pretty awesome as well. Also, Misha Collins (whom I’ve just realized I’ve been misspelling his name the past few weeks – sorry!) is super hot in person, fyi.

Whew. That takes care of that. Now for some awesome pics of me in my costume, some other cool costumes, and a hot guy dressed as Wolverine – proof hot guy nerds DO exist!!

Shameless Plug: Big, big thanks to Daniela Pizarro at Hypercube Apparel for making at kick ass costume! Everyone loved it! Daniela is a super talented designer based here in Toronto, Canada. Check out her website, and then find her clothes at The Fashion District on Queen West.

Sigh… back to reality and papers due next week. Sad face. On the bright side, only 11 months and three plus a little bit weeks until Comic-Con!!

- UberFanGirl

Dichen Lachman

]]> http://bloggonoid.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/topp-5-morkerstunder/ Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:34:47 +0000 NuYu http://bloggonoid.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/topp-5-morkerstunder/ http://bloggergamers.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/primer-trailer-de-metroid-prime-trilogy/ Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:42:41 +0000 PlayerNintendero http://bloggergamers.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/primer-trailer-de-metroid-prime-trilogy/ http://panzerpuff.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/xbox360-ps3-double-the-fun-i-think-not-ask-samus-why/ Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:34:16 +0000 panzerpuff http://panzerpuff.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/xbox360-ps3-double-the-fun-i-think-not-ask-samus-why/

We’ve all wondered what it would be like – to own more than one console. In fact, maybe some of you don’t even need to wonder – since you live it everyday. But ask me the same and I will tell you a completely different way of seeing it.

Now, this is not to say that, given the opportunity to own more than one console, if given for free, I would not agree to. However, if you were to try to convince me that buying and maintaining more than one console is something I would call practical – then I would call you a “fucking idiot.” And here is why.

I only own a 360. I don’t believe in having 2 consoles in a practicality/time standpoint.

We, as consumers want one thing from our consoles – entertainment. Regardless of game, as long as both have quality games (ahem PS3 has way less amount) then entertainment of any sort can be gained from any system. Having two consoles only means that you’re getting entertained by one while the other wastes away waiting to die a dusty death.

Mathematically, that is just a waste of time, money, and space.

You can argue “well this has that and this has this” all day, but in the end, picking your games is secondary to the ability to extract entertainment from just one from any of the other extremely amazing games a console has. And, as far as I can tell, nobody has maxed out the amount of potential entertainment hours on the 360 alone. (PS3 you might get bored after all of the 5 games on it. )

Who cares if I don’t get to play Kojima Gear Solstice? While you buy a PS3 and have fun with that, I’ll play another amazing game on my xbox. Both of us get entertained the same amount of hours except you had to buy another console. I don’t give a rats ass about how the story ends, because hey, its just a damn game. Let’s face it, you will need to make decisions on what games to MISS, otherwise, you should quit your job and play games for the rest of your life – and even that won’t suffice. Choose to miss out on some games exclusive to a console, and you’ll be thankful for it.

If, at some point, you fail to attain entertainment from just one console, then sir, you did not buy the right console for the job.

And my rambling is done. Excuse me while I boot up my SNES to play Super Metroid. Because I had to buy an SNES so I could go back and play this game because I missed it and I wanna know how it ends. Hey, look, its my xbox – maybe I should be playing games on that instead? NAH! We’ll have plenty of time to go back to the Xbox360 10 years later after we’ve finished all my backlog of games I missed back in the 90’s.

Touché. Booya. Farewell.

P.S.: Samus is a chick.

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