Official Nintendo Fanboy Smugness & Gloating Thread

[Alarm]

I'm afraid to download it as I loathe Skweek and have many bad memories of the Amiga version.

[disciple]

Ghost Squad. It's cool because it's an arcade conversion (don't get many of those anymore) of a Sega game and is exclusive to Wii. I like Arcade games they're usually quite exciting compared to your usual console fair!

Looks like it's Operation Wolf style.

With a squad of three others, players will traverse three different mission areas each comprised of multiple levels, unlocking 25 high-powered weapons as they progress. Within each level there are a series of selectable alternate routes that will provide the gamer with increasing challenges as enemies attack from unexpected places. Weapon selection is varied across a wide array of weapon types ranging from machine guns, submachine guns, pistols, sniper rifles, shotguns, and even crossbows. Ghost Squad will feature an Arcade mode, a Multiplayer mode for up to four players, and more!

“Ghost Squad brings the classic light gun blaster experience that SEGA made popular in the arcades to the Wii,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. “With a more robust multiplayer experience than even the arcade version and numerous unlockable items and stages adding replay value, Ghost Squad will be the ultimate shooter experience for the Nintendo Wii console.”

The world in Ghost Squad is overrun with terrorism, affecting all corners of the globe. In an effort to combat the malicious plans of the terrorist groups, the U.N. created the Global Humanitarian-Operation and Special Tactics Squad aka “Ghost Squad.” This team of elite soldiers is comprised of the “best of the best” from both domestic and foreign military and special operations forces. Ghost Squad missions involve entering a situation with stealth, executing extreme prejudice upon terrorist subjects, and leaving a target area with no trace of their prior presence.

Features :

* 4 gameplay modes – Includes the full arcade version of Ghost Squad, a Multiplayer mode for 1-4 players and more
* 3 dangerous missions to complete - with multiple levels that increase in difficulty as the player progresses. Players will also unlock a variety of alternate routes, different player choice scenarios, and secret weapons and costumes. Time of day for certain missions can also be effected
* Alone or with up to three squad mates, players will rescue hostages, apprehend suspects and deactivate bombs as you eliminate terrorist threats around the world
* 25 different tactical weapons to unlock and use during operations
* Special assistance devices such as night vision, thermo vision and a flashlight will ensure that the operation is a success
* One of the first light gun games to make the leap from the arcades to the Wii – using only the Wii Remote

Ghost Squad will be available for Holiday of 2007 at game retailers nationwide.

http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php ... ad&order=0

[skweek]

21. Skweek
Love the cute graphics and the simple idea. Colour all the blocks and avoid death. Another
slightly unsung classic and the Scumstrad version is a killer.

Yay!

[disciple]

Lots of praise for Mercury Meltdown.

Average 80% at metacritic.

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platfor ... revolution

[disciple]

Previews: NiGHTS 2

Sega teases us again with a quick look at the new NiGHTS.
By Ray Barnholt 05/10/2007


Since the announcement a few weeks ago, Sega fans have been clamoring for more details on NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, the sequel to the 1996 Saturn classic. Sega showed off the game at a press event earlier today, but we're still light on details.

The game's producer (and longtime Sonic Team staff member) Takashi Iizuka gave a brief overview of Journey of Dreams focused on the nature of dreaming. The entire concept of the NiGHTS games themselves is based on the concepts of renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung. Jung's psychological archetypes correspond to the characters in NiGHTS -- NiGHTS himself is the "shadow," the other side of all of us who, in this case, exists only in the dream world. Fans will recognize this from the old game, where the heroes Elliot and Claris transformed into NiGHTS once they entered the world of Nightopia.


As for Journey of Dreams, Iizuka stressed the fact that he wants to move away from using the analog stick controls of the original game to using the Wii Remote in conjunction with your arm, so that "both become one instrument to help NiGHTS fly through the game's worlds." But the game will still use the Nunchuk's analog stick to further assist in the flight-centric gameplay.

Iizuka went on to describe the game's seven worlds. Much like the original, each level is varied in its path, creating that "roller coaster" feeling as you fly up to the sky, through caves, and glide across the water, with many devices propelling you along with impressive effects. The boss battles were also touched on, and it seems Journey of Dreams will capture what made the original game's battles so enjoyable: unique bosses for each level, where victory requires you to interact with them and the background, rather than just indiscriminately destroying things.

The presentation ended with a short trailer for Journey of Dreams, in which we actually got to see some gameplay footage. A third-person chase cam seems to be the dominant view of the game, but there look to be some side-view shots similar to the original game as well. And though we can't judge the game's visuals from the video clip, it looks as though the game has a lot of activity going on from all sides -- another element carried over from the original. We'll withhold judgment on Journey of Dreams until we see a bit more of the game as we near its Fall release.

http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3159404

[disciple]

Florida Attorney General Looking into Wii Version of Manhunt 2

Is Manhunt 2 worse on the Wii?

GamePolitics has confirmed via multiple sources that Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) has expressed concern over the impending release of Rockstar’s controversial game on Nintendo’s next-gen console.

For McCollum, the issue seems to be the use of the Wii’s motion-sensitive controller. It is widely anticipated that players will be required to simulate slashing, stabbing or clubbing motions in order to play Manhunt 2 on Nintendo’s popular system.

McCollum apparently said as much in an on-camera interview Monday with Fox News reporter Orlando Salinas. The interview hasn’t aired so far. It was originally slated to run this evening, but late yesterday Salinas told GamePolitics he thought it might run closer to Manhunt 2’s July 9th release date.

Among those interviewed by Salinas for the report was anti-game attorney Jack Thompson, who has been beating the drum about Manhunt 2 - and especially the Wii version - for several weeks. A Thompson letter sent to both McCollum and Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) on May 12th read in part:

Florida retailers are scheduled to sell a very violent video game called Manhunt 2 which will be available, remarkably, for “play” on the kids-friendly Nintendo Wii gaming platform.

The Wii device does not utilize traditional push button game controllers but instead utilizes hand-held motion capture devices… It is a training device.

Despite several calls to his office, it remains unclear whether or not Gov. Crist will take a position on Manhunt 2. However, it would appear that Jack Thompson has gotten the Florida Attorney General’s attention.

According to our sources, A.G. McCollum is not focusing at all on the PS2 or PSP versions of the game. Instead, McCollum is looking into the Wii version due to its motion-controlled simulation of violence. “That’s where they’re kicking up their heels,” one source said.

In February of this year GamePolitics asked Nintendo officials if they were concerned about potential backlash over Manhunt 2’s appearance on the Wii. Beth Llewelyn, Sr. Director of Corporate Communications told GP at the time:

Manhunt 2 is not developed or published by Nintendo. It is one of many titles released by third party publishers for our system that appeal to people of all ages and interests. Just as with movies, television, and books, different video games appeal to - and are appropriate for - different audiences.

A knowledgable video game industry source has told GamePolitics that Nintendo actively pursued a Wii version of Manhunt 2.

[Nintendo exec] Reggie [Fils-Aime] spent a fair amount of time soliciting [former Take Two CEO] Paul Eibeler to get the game on the Wii… Reggie did it to introduce more M-rated content, as he was afraid too many people would pigeon-hole [the Wii] as a kid machine.

It is unknown what - if any - official action A.G. McCollum might take. Florida has no video game law on the books and Manhunt 2, violent though it may be, would appear to enjoy the same constitutional protections afforded to other games.

For his part, Thompson has urged Gov. Crist and Attorney General McCollum to have Manhunt 2 declared a public nuisance under Florida law. But the anti-game attorney tried - and failed - with that legal gambit in his 2006 bid to block distribution of another Rockstar game, Bully.

UPDATE: GP has received the following comment from A.G. McCollum’s Press Secretary:

Attorney General Bill McCollum is concerned about any games which may instill violence in children, particularly games that encourage children to engage in violent behavior, even in simulation. He believes it is important to help protect children from influences which may introduce violence into their lives and stresses the importance of parental involvement in the efforts to keep these influences out of our homes and away from our families.

http://gamepolitics.com/2007/06/06/flor ... manhunt-2/

[chub]

I bought Mercury Meltdown yesterday on a whim. I wasn't planning to get it just yet, but it was on the shelf in the shop looking at me, so I thought go on then. I'm glad I did, it's rather good!

It's a tilt-em-up obviously, but more involved than say Kororinpa, since you often have to split up your mercury, control the multiple blobs simultaneously, make them different colours and combine them again depending on what the level demands. It's great (or a curse) if you're obsessive compulsive at completing everything in each level, since there are four things to achieve in each one, i.e. completing the level with 100% mercury, within the time limit, with all the bonuses collected, and with a high enough score to get position 1 on the level high score table. Fortunately you don't have to do all in one run, so you can concentrate on say 100% mercury in one go, then have another go to get all the bonuses and not worry about how much mercury you end up with.

One thing that surprised me in a way is that it doesn't tilt that much. You can't tip a level on its side like you can in Kororinpa, but I suppose you wouldn't really want to do that as it's hard to move quickly and keep the mercury in one piece. Also if you're controlling multiple blobs then it's good to be more delicate.

I haven't figured out yet how to switch the camera from single to multiple blob modes. It says you can do it in the manual, but it says to use up and down on the d-pad, but for me that just tilts the camera view. I think I did it once by accident by pressing lots of buttons at once, but I'm not sure which combination did it. So if anyone knows, please tell me!

Anyway, I've only done about 20 levels so far, but I really like it. There are about 150 levels plus minigames, so it should last for some time.

[fog]

I haven't figured out yet how to switch the camera from single to multiple blob modes. It says you can do it in the manual, but it says to use up and down on the d-pad, but for me that just tilts the camera view. I think I did it once by accident by pressing lots of buttons at once, but I'm not sure which combination did it. So if anyone knows, please tell me!

I'd be interested to hear how that works out. I loved Mercury on the PSP to start with but the camera killed the game on the later levels where you really need to have a good look around. Without that ability it's difficult to work out solutions to the puzzles and each level becomes a case of trial and error.

[chub]

I haven't figured out yet how to switch the camera from single to multiple blob modes. It says you can do it in the manual, but it says to use up and down on the d-pad, but for me that just tilts the camera view. I think I did it once by accident by pressing lots of buttons at once, but I'm not sure which combination did it. So if anyone knows, please tell me!

I'd be interested to hear how that works out. I loved Mercury on the PSP to start with but the camera killed the game on the later levels where you really need to have a good look around. Without that ability it's difficult to work out solutions to the puzzles and each level becomes a case of trial and error.

I haven't played it on the PSP, but on the Wii version you can tilt and rotate the camera with the d-pad, zoom the camera in and out with 1 and 2, and switch between different blobs in single blob mode with A and B. You can adjust how much rotation is done in the options (by default it's 90 degrees). Pressing the minus button puts the game into free look mode (and pauses everything) so you can have a closer look around the level by panning around.

[GeeZa]

The retro odyssey continues! Just downloaded two more VC titles:

Blazing Lasers (PC Engine):



Contra III (SNES):



Both of which have provided a highly enjoyably Sunday morning of blasting everything to hell. I'm still somewhat in awe of just how smooth, fast and effortless some of those PC Engine shooters are. They don't make games like that anymore. And nailing the Amstrad version of Gryzor inspired me to pick up Contra III which is a whole different beast entirely. Very nice.

[Jimaroid]

Contra III (SNES):



Both of which have provided a highly enjoyably Sunday morning of blasting everything to hell. I'm still somewhat in awe of just how smooth, fast and effortless some of those PC Engine shooters are. They don't make games like that anymore. And nailing the Amstrad version of Gryzor inspired me to pick up Contra III which is a whole different beast entirely. Very nice.

It's a fuck off cunting shitty twatting game is what it is.

[GeeZa]

And nailing the Amstrad version of Gryzor inspired me to pick up Contra III which is a whole different beast entirely. Very nice.

It's a fuck off cunting shitty twatting game is what it is.

I'm liking it so far but it's not really for wimps is it? Luckily playing some of those 8bitters prepared me for the constant and never-ending Game Over screens of the old skool. I think playing with a GC controller might be difficult, the Wii Classic controller is actually kinda ok.

[Jimaroid]

I'm liking it so far but it's not really for wimps is it? Luckily playing some of those 8bitters prepared me for the constant and never-ending Game Over screens of the old skool. I think playing with a GC controller might be difficult, the Wii Classic controller is actually kinda ok.

Yeah, the classic controller is a dream for this. I'm at least twice as less useless using that.

R-Type is still seeing a lot of action from me. That's a twat too.

[Jimmy T. @]

Streets of Rage 2's getting most of my VC love at the moment, mostly for the bouncy soundtrack I suspect, as much as anything; I think I even caught myself gurning to it a bit last night at one point.

[teamonkey]

Any game where you have to fight an enormous detached scrotum is fine by me.