Shutting up, sir

My ToastyFrog.com love has been a mere glimmer this past week, and there’s a good reason for that. Several, actually:



Children of Mana: Unless you count that weak GBA remake, it’s been six years since the last Seiken Densetsu game. Sadly, Square (blah blah Square Enix, whatever) seems to be a little unclear on what people actually like about the series. Hint: it’s not dungeon crawling. Too bad, since Children of Mana is just one step removed from being a roguelike: go into dungeon, kill stuff, find the exit, kill the boss, return to town and sort out equipment. I’ll allow it this once since it works pretty well as a portable experience (gaming in chunklets and all), but if Seiken Densetsu 4 isn’t something more along the lines of the first three games I’m going to have words with Square Enix. Angry words, in a strident tone.



Far too many words about Mega Man Powered Up: It dominated this week’s Retronauts as well as earning itself a companion preview. Are you sick of hearing about it yet? That is a pity, because I’m not tired of gushing about it.



Metroid Prime Hunters: Hunters looks pretty incredible, pushing 3D graphics on the DS that few imagined could be possible. Which is nice and all, but it emphasizes action over exploration, which really makes me wonder why the name “Metroid” is attached. Will it be the first Metroid game I don’t care about? Maybe, but who really cares? I don’t. It was strange to see the forum kids become so terribly offended at my audacity for not griping about my wholly subjective misgivings with the game in my preview. Apparently a preview should be a review without a number, or something? Not clear on that one. Well, anyway, savor the technical accomplishments, and if you’re into the game style, bully for you.



Super Princess Peach: I think we’re all pretty tired of hearing about this one!



Aaaand stuff I’ve been playing for magazines or for coverage that hasn’t appeared on 1UP yet:



Tales of Phantasia: If you’ve already received the new issue of EGM (202, Rainbow Six: Vegas cover) you already know the shocking surprise of what score I’ll be giving this GBA port when my 1UP review goes live. If you’re emotionally healthy, the arbitrary number I slap on the end doesn’t actually matter to you.



Tao’s Adventure: Roguelikes/dungeon crawlers seem like a perfect fit for portable games (see: Children of Mana). After Tao, I’d have to put the emphasis on seem.



Pokemon Trozei!: Do you like Meteos? Good! Play that instead.



Tetris DS: Even taking off the 8-bit nostalgia blinders, Tetris DS is pretty incredible; eight of my coworkers and I gathered reluctantly in the conference room the other day for a quick large-scale multiplayer match; 40 minutes later, when we finally voted to disperse to get back to work, half the participants were clamoring to keep playing. March 20 belongs to Tetris, Hunters or no Hunters. I’ll see you kids on WFC for some amazing 10-player matches.



Suikoden I & II: This is how you do a PlayStation to PSP port. If Konami doesn’t localize this there will be even more stern words exchanged.

12 thoughts on “Shutting up, sir”

  1. “Tales of Phantasia: If you’ve already received the new issue of EGM (202, Rainbow Six: Vegas cover) you already know the shocking surprise of what score I’ll be giving this GBA port when my 1UP review goes live. If you’re emotionally healthy, the arbitrary number I slap on the end doesn’t actually matter to you. ”
    That’s why I’m a user and spokesman for quick-lighting E-Z Torch!
    Seriously though, the previews I’ve seen make it look like they tried tacking on a few too many little ‘extras.’

  2. Not sure if it’s a concern of yours on the MMPU stuff, but the Ice Man vs. Time Man stage footage has some sort of glitch in it that runs the first minute or so twice, and cuts off Time Man’s intro.

    That, and “Mega Man” is spelled “Mgae Man” in the filenames.

    Otherwise, good stuff, linked ’em on MMN.

    …you’ll have the Castlevania level for download, right?

    LBD “Nytetrayn”

  3. You forgot to mention that the old style and new style file names were mixed up, too. Normally I’d crap myself about those screwups, but the video guys did a great job of getting that and the Mana footage up in a hurry despite being in the process of moving to a new area of the office Friday, so some slack-cutting is in order.

  5. I actually enjoyed Legend of Mana. But it’s Actraiser-like need to position icons in
    certain places to change the story irritated me.

  6. Oh, and it’d be really awesome if you could transfer the data from the PSP Suikoden to the newest one, seeing as Konami keeps putting the series OOP.

  7. Children of Mana- So… It’s like the Shining Soul games? Good thing I really enjoy Shining Soul II.
    I looooved Legend of Mana. It was having short stories instead of the big story that I really enjoyed. Too bad no one does that much.

  8. If Konami doesn’t bring over Suikoden I and II, someone’s getting a fork in their eye.

    It might be YOU.

  9. Curse you, Parish! I cannot enjoy your pre/re-views on 1UP for reasons that I don’t understand! It’s that site! It doesn’t load at all! Well, the blogs do, but that’s about it. Which isn’t actually your fault, but the only other 1UP writer I know of is Sharkey, and he scares me so I leave him alone. Curse the 1UP site!

  11. Suikoden I&II for PSP? Okay, if that thing ever goes stateside I’ll officially be envious of PSP for once.

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