January Hardware/Software Sales (U.S.)

[The Germanator]

Ya know, when people say things like "just take Mario 64 and put FLUDD in it and you have SMS"....I have to take that as a great compliment. Why not be compared to the best 3d platformer ever? Is that such a negative thing...In fact, that's all I ever wanted after i played Mario 64, another Mario 64...That's what I got with SMS, and it's a fantastic game. After all, games are about the fun you have while playing them, not about analyzing what it does or doesn't have, or what it "could have been." What did you want SMS to be? Show me a better way to make a great 3d platformer starring our favorite plumber and I'll see your side. Until something comes along and destroys the concept of Mario 64, I'll be happy to play many a like it. It's got new levels, new gadgets, a new storyline...same fantastic gameplay. It's really all I wanted and was as pleased as could be.
Crono also mentioned Majora's Mask...Another case of a game being similar to its predecessor. In this case, the sequel was in fact better. I think MM had better gameplay, a better story, and it was just a better game. Being the same doesn't mean stale, it's just giving out more of the greatness. Change is fantastic, though people want something they are familiar with. Take Wind Waker...Nintendo fans had a collective hernia when they saw the new graphics design, but guess what stayed in tact? Control scheme, basic boy saves girl storyline, familiar enemies, gameplay, etc. ya know why? Becayse this has worked in the past and will continue to. Super Mario 64=amazing game. SMS=similar game. So...SMS=amazing game. I think it's the same story with Golden Eye and Perfect Dark, games have a tendency to do this on Nintendo consoles, but ya know...I'm really not complaining because quite frankly I would NEVER get bored if all Nintendo did was rehash Super Mario 64 or OoT for awhile...Just change the levels, I'd be fine.
P.S Though...this argument is sort of silly coming from me considering I don't think a better game has been made since the 2D era of Super Mario World and A Link to The Past...

[Jonbo298]

I have to wonder if people think Nintendo doesn't know how to make a game. A lot of people are "weaned" on the PS(2) and think that when they see a 'Cube game from Nintendo like Mario, they think it sucks because its not what it "should" be. If Nintendo just took the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES and out it in 3D with nothing else new, people would bitch and moan on how its just Super Mario Bros. with a new coat of paint. Sound familiar? SM64/SMS Now it seems that people don't take anything from Nintendo as good anymore just because Nintendo takes a familiar character and gives him a fresh new look in a fresh new environment. Isn't this what most people want? People don't seem to want that. They just find anything to bitch and moan about from Nintendo and blow it out of proportion. I liked SMS, it was good. Luigi's Mansion was good, but it was too short and offered really no replay value. A rental was good enough for me. I liked SFA because it was similar to Zelda, with the exception that Fox was walking:eek: instead of flying. But people bitch that its not a "Traditional" Star Fox game. There have been only 2 SF games and people already think its the only way to play SF. I bet when the new SF comes out from Namco, people will find something to bitch about. Kind of like the new Zelda. People want a realistic one, but when they dont get it, they say it sucks. There is more then just what meets the eye. But to the casual gamer, looks are everything. (Just like real life:eek: ) But this is just my rant, and with all rants from me, people will blow it out. meh

[Professor S]

Looking at the GBA sales, I can fully say they blow my mind. I just bought a GBA and I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that it is my WORST gaming purchase I've ever made.

1) Its too small. Its not made for grown hands (yes I realize its intended for children, but it sucks for me) and I end up playing Ogre Battle Tactics by laying the thing on the table and pushing buttons with my index finger.

2) The horrific display. How they could release a system with little to no visibility BLOWS MY MIND. I have to set up a special light over my shoulder just to see well enought to play the damn thing.

3) The New One. There is no way in hell I am spending another $100 so that I can get a GBA with all the features that should have been in the first one.

The games are good. But the system itself is a travesty.

[TheGame]

I agree with Strangler..GBA is horrible. But it's no wonder that it's games-sold:consoles-sold ratio is so horrible.

I think Pokemon Advance will make it all worth it for me.

[tarakan69]

Originally posted by TheGame
I agree with Strangler..GBA is horrible. But it's no wonder that it's games-sold:consoles-sold ratio is so horrible.

I think Pokemon Advance will make it all worth it for me.

I agree completely... I own a GBA for what?? 1.5 years now...

I have 2 games... Why would I pay 50 Euros for a GBA game when a PS2 game from amazon costs 62 euros??

[Crono]

Originally posted by The Germanator
Ya know, when people say things like "just take Mario 64 and put FLUDD in it and you have SMS"....I have to take that as a great compliment. Why not be compared to the best 3d platformer ever? Is that such a negative thing...In fact, that's all I ever wanted after i played Mario 64, another Mario 64...That's what I got with SMS, and it's a fantastic game. After all, games are about the fun you have while playing them, not about analyzing what it does or doesn't have, or what it "could have been." What did you want SMS to be? Show me a better way to make a great 3d platformer starring our favorite plumber and I'll see your side. Until something comes along and destroys the concept of Mario 64, I'll be happy to play many a like it. It's got new levels, new gadgets, a new storyline...same fantastic gameplay. It's really all I wanted and was as pleased as could be.
Crono also mentioned Majora's Mask...Another case of a game being similar to its predecessor. In this case, the sequel was in fact better. I think MM had better gameplay, a better story, and it was just a better game. Being the same doesn't mean stale, it's just giving out more of the greatness. Change is fantastic, though people want something they are familiar with. Take Wind Waker...Nintendo fans had a collective hernia when they saw the new graphics design, but guess what stayed in tact? Control scheme, basic boy saves girl storyline, familiar enemies, gameplay, etc. ya know why? Becayse this has worked in the past and will continue to. Super Mario 64=amazing game. SMS=similar game. So...SMS=amazing game. I think it's the same story with Golden Eye and Perfect Dark, games have a tendency to do this on Nintendo consoles, but ya know...I'm really not complaining because quite frankly I would NEVER get bored if all Nintendo did was rehash Super Mario 64 or OoT for awhile...Just change the levels, I'd be fine.
P.S Though...this argument is sort of silly coming from me considering I don't think a better game has been made since the 2D era of Super Mario World and A Link to The Past...

Well, for one thing, I've already played SM64 years ago and beat it tons of times, When I go out and spend 80 dollars on something, I don't expect it to be almost the exact same thing as something that I've played 6 years ago. I could have easily hooked up my N64 and played it again. The worst part was it's been 6 years since SM64, then Nintendo comes and gives us a rehash.

What did I want SMS to be? Something different, that's all. I don't know how exactly, but I know that if Shiggy put his mind into it he could have created a much better game than SMS.

As for MM, IMO, it was nothing compared to OoT. At least OoT is part of the real Zelda story, and not some stupid sidequest thing. I mean, MM was fun, but the save system was just ridiculous. Actually I think that as MM's only downfall, and it's shortness.

[Perfect Stu]

I played SMS, and my not liking the game has nothing to do with its 'similarity' to SM64.

I was playing Ratchet and Clank at around the same time, and SMS just couldn't compare in any area. R&C is much more polished, the level design is fresh and creative, and the hoards of weapons add a completely new feel to the genre. The game was also humerous, had a great art style, and boasted much better graphics and animation. Oh, and it had a much better concept. SMS - Come on...a fat italian plumber with a super soaker?.

If I played SMS 5 years ago, I would have probably enjoyed it. Probably.

As for GBA...the software lineup is horrible, IMO. And I agree with Strangler in that it's way too small. When I was playing my cousin's GBA, the joints in my hands started to ache. I mean I'm a big man...and they obviously can't cater to young kids with small hands and big young men with large hands...but that also means they won't be getting my money. Dammit.

[TheGame]

I think MM was just fine... MM shouldn't even be in the same boat as SMS because there is a huge difference. SMS is on newer hardware while MM was just a sequal on the same hardware as OoT.

MM is very innovative...the way time works is great. The masks add to the game a lot too. I think MM is just as good as OoT now that I look back. OoT Re-creates the story of Zelda, and MM is just a normal addition to the series just like the GBC games. More gameplay based than story based. The gameplay is what sets it apart from OoT.

I sometimes wish MM was on Xbox, it would make MUCH better use of the time travel thing. The game could basically record all your actions to the hard drive, and when you go back in time have a second link in the world doing the same things you did before. So when you go back in time you don't have to do certain things over and over.

I know I'm soaring way off subject but eh.

[DeathsHand]

I thought MM was a perfectly fine game and while I prefer a save anywhere sort of system (meaning OoT's), I thought MM's save system worked good enough with the whole time dealy (which I didn't really mind... infact I thought it was neat... Getting access to different secrets or whatevers at different days and times and such...)... The whole time system and the masks were enough to make it pretty fresh and such over OoT, but of course using pretty much all the same character models and the exact same controls and everything was kind of meh... They could have added some more in that department...

But I don't think a sequel that came out a couple years after the first (and on the same hardware) compares to a game that comes out like 6 years later and on different hardware.... *shrugs*