Planet Sillicon

Hope Zelda gets better

By blog on Jun. 17, 2010.

Because right now it’s pretty bad looking.

We’ve got a name now. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword… So much for Miyamoto’s stupid hint comment a while back suggesting Link wouldn’t have a sword. I’ve been waiting a long, long time for any information, any, coming from Nintendo about this game after the one concept poster was released back at last year’s E3, and now we have a very small bit of info to go on.

Basically, Miyamoto showed a very ‘quick and dirty concept demo‘ that didn’t work particularly well, given that the majority of the audience were toting infra-red devices. The result of this comical, if unfortunate, occurrence was that the MotionPlus Wii controller Mr Miyamoto was trying to use, didn’t work.

So a lot of people went away from the demonstration fearing the game didn’t work. All of the people at the demonstration went away knowing practically nothing about the game, too. No info on storyline at all.

Now, here’s where I can talk about what we do know. We know that the graphics style is a cross between realistic and cell shaded, resulting in a realistically crap. Seriously, it’s ugly. Really looks terrible.

This is the first Zelda title for the Wii that was actually developed for the Wii. Twilight Princess was in development so long that the bloody console it was being developed for became obsolete – as if the Wii isn’t! – and developers ported the game before it was released so it would be Wii compatible. So taking that into consideration, the fact that this game looks like it was meant to be played on the Nintendo 64 is really disappointing. It doesn’t look quite as bad in motion, though, so that’s something. I mean, it’s still underwhelming, but the gameplay trailer doesn’t look quite as bad as the stills of the game do.

So much could be done with the Zelda franchise on the Wii, but Nintendo’s yet to tap into that potential. The game is set to be released sometime next year, but at this stage I seriously doubt it’s going to be awesome.

Shall not be getting a Wii

By blog on Jan. 28, 2010.

I’m one console away from having all three current gen systems, but I shall not be getting the Wii.

Now, I know I’m going to anger quite a few Nintendo fans here, but I’m going ahead with this anyway. I’ve extremely fond memories of the SNES, which is still one of my all time favourite consoles, I mean, Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of the best games of all time, there’s no doubt about that! But the Wii, the latest console from Nintendo, just falls dramatically short from where the other current gen consoles are sitting.

Okay so let’s talk tech here, there’s no doubting that the Wii is by far the weakest system of the 7th generation in gaming. Both the 360 and the PS3 support far better graphics, processing, and memory capabilities, and whilst I can understand the Wii was aiming at a different audience, there’s still issues with charging that much for a console that is as limited as the Wii is.

I’ve used the console, and sure it’s fun for a while, but another thing that really, really, and is the clincher as to why I won’t purchase the Wii, is the complete lack of quality gaming on the console. You’ve got about four good games on the entire platform, and yet the game library for the Wii is enourmous, with around 600 titles, but just over 37% of those have been reviewed at or below 60… See where I’m going with this?

Nintendo should learn from what happened with Atari. Crappy games for the Atari flooded the market, and it sent the console under, yet for some reason, the unenlightened are still purchasing this shovelware for the Wii, and there’s tons and tons to be had. There are probably four good titles on this console, but I’ll not be paying the price of the console just to have a go at Mario Galaxy 2, and I don’t like party titles, so all the other Mario titles for the Wii hold absolutely no interest.

So please, Nintendo, please bring us a console in the next generation that’s worthy of the money we spend on it, don’t put out a whole heap of ultra crap games, and stop with the gimmick gaming!

Stumbled upon a gem

By blog on Jun. 19, 2009.

When watching some silly video on IGN, I happened to see a link to a video of a game called A Boy and His Blob. At first it was the amusing title that caught my eye. I don’t know, blobs are funny. Then I actually watched the video. For those two minutes, I was totally captivated. This is a beautiful game, it looks like a cross between a Miyazaki film and Braid. The Blob actually reminds me of the Kodamas from Princess Mononoke.

I am actually going to embed that first video that I watched, because I think this game looks like a lot of fun. I really enjoy enchanting games, games that have a sense of surrealism. Braid really had this, it was a compelling game, even if annoyingly difficult.

A Boy and His Blob is a follow on from the original NES title, which was released back in 1989. Up until a few hours ago, I had never heard of either iteration of this game. The story centers around a little boy helping an alien blob he meets after it crashes to Earth. Together, they are trying to save Blob’s people back on Blobolonia from an evil emperor who took over. Sounds alright, I can live with that. Off we go.

It’s a platform game, where you progress by having Blob aid the little boy, which happens by the boy feeding Blob different jelly beans which cause Blob to turn into different helpful items. For example, Licorice jelly beans turns Blob into a ladder, Tangerine jelly beans to a trampoline, Bubble Gum jelly beans into a bubble, and Caramel jelly beans turns Blob into a cannon.

The game is due out late September this year, so shortly thereafter for the rest of the world, hopefully. Here’s a video, and if you have the time, it’s worth dropping by IGN to check out more.

Nintendo announces Super Mario Galaxy 2!

By blog on Jun. 3, 2009.

And boy howdy is this gamer excited. I don’t know what’s with that turn of phrase back there, it just seemed appropriate… somehow… Anyway, back to the issue at hand! I love the Mario series, from Super Mario World on the SNES, to New Super Mario Bros on the DS, through all of the great Mario Kart games, and all of the Yoshi’s Island games, to Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii, Mario has always pushed the envelope. Whenever Nintendo releases a new console or handheld, Mario is there with his crew to herald in the new era of Nintendo gaming.

I think it’s safe to say that no other game character has so instilled itself in the modern psyche. You say to someone that you are going to a costume party as a piranha plant, and they probably won’t know what you are talking about, but you mention ‘those biting plants from Super Mario’ and everyone will know exactly what you are talking about. Mario has made his way from the gaming world into the main stream, as a terrible movie, a dodgy cartoon, wedding cakes, handcrafts, wall murals, and cars, and probably anything else you care to mention.

There is just something about this character that works, even though the idea of a plumber running around trying to save a princess who shows her gratitude with a cake and the occasional peck on the nose is at best a little ludicrous. I wonder if John McCain’s plumber obsession during the election last year was just because he is secretly obsessed with Mario?

When the Wii came out, it felt a little awkward to begin with. Sitting there with my Wiimote and nunchuk, I felt a bit odd, a bit silly, even. But as I played Mario Galaxy, running and spinning as my favorite Nintendo dude, it felt right! Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to stick with a controller for the XBOX360, the keyboard for PC gaming, but for the Wii, the oh-so Nintendo Wiimote is pretty groovy.

Mario Galaxy 2 has only just been announced, but already we know that our favorite green dino will be included, that’s right folks, Yoshi is back! After having just watched the trailer, I am pretty damn excited to get my hands on that piece of software. The trailer is actually pretty generous with how much in-game content we get to see, which makes for a nice change, and it looks like a heck of a lot of Mario in space fun.