Gamecube Impressions

[Shadow_Link]

How far are you in Metroid Prime? It gets a hell of a lot better (graphically and in the gameplay department) than what's in the space station, and gets better all the way through to the end for me. The game really comes into it's own once you're around 4-6 hours in.

(And get TWW!!!).

[Perfect Stu]

interesting impressions, but

Originally posted by The Strangler
THQ needs to take that s**t to the PS2.

what the hell does that mean?

[Jason1]

Ive said it once, and I'll say it again: Just buy the interact mega memory card 16x. Over 1000 blocks of data, I use mine all the time, and I havent had any problems. Any seirous Cube owner that dosent have one must be on crack. And its only 30$, possibly less.

Originally posted by nWoCHRISnWo
Get Super Monkey Ball 1 or (AND) 2. Trust me. You might not think it'll be that great, but it is. Gekko could tell you about it as well.

NAHHHH

Get SMB1 definatly that game absolutly rocks. SMB2 blows chunks. 40-50% of the leves (the difficult levels at least, the meat of the game) are really really lame. Unlike SMB they don't rely on skill so much as they do on dumb luck. Like that one underwater level with the guy walking on the 5 wheels, all I could do was play that level over and over and over again until I got luckey and fell through the goal.

SMB 2 might be worth a purchase for the minigames only but don't pay more than 20$ for it.

[bobcat]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link
How far are you in Metroid Prime? It gets a hell of a lot better (graphically and in the gameplay department) than what's in the space station, and gets better all the way through to the end for me. The game really comes into it's own once you're around 4-6 hours in.

(And get TWW!!!).

Yeh I got more and more into it. Nearly every review I've seen has given it an awesome score.

Hype can kill games, but for Metroid I think that it lives up to the high reviews it has been given. I have read nothing but high reviews for this game. And I agree with many of them.

One of the best games I've ever played

[gekko]

Originally posted by The Strangler
It looks great, plays pretty good but has virtually no story. The level design is artfully made but with little innovation or originality in layout.

Isn't that how the whole series is?

[Perfect Stu]

Originally posted by gekko
Isn't that how the whole series is?

Possibly...what's your point?

[GameMaster]

Might I suggest getting Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Mario Sunshine. Those are fun, worthwhile games.

As for RPGs, you're going to have to wait, but I have a hankering that Nintendo is going to release an out-of-this-world Pokémon RPG for Gamecube sometime in the future...

[Shadow_Link]

Originally posted by bobcat
Yeh I got more and more into it. Nearly every review I've seen has given it an awesome score.

Hype can kill games, but for Metroid I think that it lives up to the high reviews it has been given. I have read nothing but high reviews for this game. And I agree with many of them.

One of the best games I've ever played

Definately. It's my second best game of all time.

As for the story, well, the story comes together quite nicely, just as long as you scan the important bits. It's rather like some sort of log or documentation of events that have been occuring, and I may probably be in the minoroty, but it really engrossed me. It just got better as time elapsed. It may not be handed on a plate to you like in Metroid Fusion (and other games ofcourse), but its good enough for me. There's just something about scanning lores, and the computers screens in dark, metroid and spice pirate infested labs that just immerses you.

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Originally posted by Stonecutter
Like that one underwater level with the guy walking on the 5 wheels, all I could do was play that level over and over and over again until I got luckey and fell through the goal.

You know you can wait about 15 seconds and the goal will be straight across from you, right? I can beat that level every time, it's not really based off luck at all...

[Shadow Fox]

Originally posted by The Strangler
Well, I've had my Gamecube for 5 days now and I'm ready to spout off my opinions on it.

The System: Very nice. Light, small, qiet and with power to spare. The controllers aren't that great, and the triggers are downright awful, but then again I'm used to the XBox controller. I picked me up a Mad Catz so its ALLLLLLL good. Memory cards suck. I'm so used to the ease of a hard drive that memory cards seem passe.

Don't forget that playcube adapter-thingy that lets you use PS2 or Xbox controllers on your GCN. Great for fighting games and whatnot, though I prefer my third party joystick alot more...

The Games:

Metroid - I don't see what the big stink is. It looks great, plays pretty good but has virtually no story. The level design is artfully made but with little innovation or originality in layout. Don't get me wrong, it is a fun game, but I wouldn't give it anywhere near the score that IGN did. I'd give it a 8.6.

"No originality in layout"?? What other game has a seamless, contiuous world with no loading screens? I guess it was simple for you to find every item in the game too, due to this "lack of originality in layout"...

Only reason why I'm pissed about that remark is that MP DIFFERS SO MUCH from your run-of-the-mill FPS or action game. Not living up to your hype I can understand, but lack of orginality? Please. Name another game that allows you to change form on the fly to solve puzzles in first and third person. I'd love to see some good examples of wall/bomb jumping on another console too (not to be confused with UT's rocket jumping).

Also the story in Metroid Prime is just as flat as Splinter Cell's...you find out the bulk of the story by reading tidbits along the way (log scans and data sticks, respectively). So yeah, I can agree that the FORCED STORY (if one), is kinda bland, but the plot is there, and is very deep if you just LOOK.

Wrestlemania X8 - I payed $9 for this game used, and I want my F**KING MONEY BACK and $20 bucks more for tthe time I wasted playing it. THQ needs to take that s**t to the PS2. Awful graphics, awful animations and awful controls. Awful. 0.0

I dunno about the 0.0, but I too bought this game and I still think it stinks. However, reversals and specials are cool; nothing like an over-exaggerated Rock Bottom or Stunner to give you a good laugh, lol...

Def Jam - Decent wrestling game with good graphics and animations. Needs improvement but its a solid grappler, even if it falls far short of AKI's previous greatness. 7.9

Def Jam isn't without it's quirks, that's for sure, but on terms of pure gameplay and execution, it truly is the best next-gen wrestler by far, IMO.

Eternal Darkness - SWEEEEEEEEET. Great game with a great story. You feel like your playing a H.P. Lovecraft story, and trust me the whole story is a straight rip of Lovecraft, but done so well its more of a homage. Very original with the flashbacks mixed with puzzle solving and detective work. Excellent game and genuinely freaky. 9.2

To agree, this is the best M-rated game I've ever played, and for once the game is mature through and through, not some slap-together violence or swearing to nab the rating. This game truly cannot be understood, nor appreciated by kids/teens as well as adults, period.

Overall I'm happy with my purchase. Can anyone recommend a role playing game for the Gamecube besides Skies of Arcadia? I'm jonesing for some turned based tactical goodness.

Summoner: A Goddess Reborn is actually quite good, and while I've only played it on the DC, Evolution Worlds is OK if you're just looking for some good turn-based action with an above-average story. I also recommend Baulder's Gate for those needing a semi-D&D fix.

And for those hating on Rune (Lost Kingdoms), this game is really for niche, hardcore players- since the first game was nothing about story. Instead the game was based on it's battle engine, which is insanely addictive. I wouldn't call the game cheap either, because for some reason From Software decided to hide the GCN's true abilities in bonus stages/sidequests, where you find bumpmapped sanddunes, surreal waterfall graphics, and even more hidden cards with monsters that consume more than 2/3 of the screen in battle.

While I don't recommend Rune to the mainstream gamer, those looking for a change of pace should at least rent it. Rune II supposedly has a much better graphics engine, and a deep storyline full of spoken dialogue, so Lost Kingdoms II is also a good bet for GCN-owners, along with the obvious Tales of Symphonia, Golden Sun, and Final Fantasy games.

And just to join the ranks of everyone else here- BUY THE DAMN ZELDA GAME ALREADY!!!

-Official Ninja of [coming soon]...

[Professor S]

Sorry Shadow, I didn't find much of anything original about MP's layout. Seamless is nice, but it doesn't affect gameplay in the least. As for finding all the crap, thats nice too, but it just looks and plays like a FPS platformer, and some of the areas are downright simplistic. It was very true to Metroid and p;ayed like Metroid 3D, which is fun but FAR from original, IMO.

[gekko]

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
Possibly...what's your point?

My point is Metroid may be the best 2D to 3D conversion of all time, but if he's not a fan of the series, he can't expect to like it.

It will be like me thinking Silent Hill 3 is pure crap, which I will. But I didn't like Silent Hill 1 or 2 either. Unless the series faces a major change, it may be a great game in the series, but I still won't like it. Same thing applies with Final Fantasy games, I can't stand them.

Now I haven't played Metroid Prime, but I have heard a lot of Metroid fans who loved it. However, they liked the Metroid series itself. No matter how hyped a game is, if he doesn't like the series, it would be no surprise he didn't enjoy the game.

[Shadow Fox]

Originally posted by The Strangler
Sorry Shadow, I didn't find much of anything original about MP's layout. Seamless is nice, but it doesn't affect gameplay in the least. As for finding all the crap, thats nice too, but it just looks and plays like a FPS platformer, and some of the areas are downright simplistic. It was very true to Metroid and p;ayed like Metroid 3D, which is fun but FAR from original, IMO.

Well I for one have never played a "FPS platformer", never on PC/Mac, or any console to-date. I guess to you that isn't original, but then again, you probably weren't too excited about the Metroid series as a whole anyways. Gekko is right.

Sorry I wasted your time responding.

-Official Ninja of [coming soon]...

[Perfect Stu]

Originally posted by gekko
My point is Metroid may be the best 2D to 3D conversion of all time, but if he's not a fan of the series, he can't expect to like it.

It will be like me thinking Silent Hill 3 is pure crap, which I will. But I didn't like Silent Hill 1 or 2 either. Unless the series faces a major change, it may be a great game in the series, but I still won't like it. Same thing applies with Final Fantasy games, I can't stand them.

Now I haven't played Metroid Prime, but I have heard a lot of Metroid fans who loved it. However, they liked the Metroid series itself. No matter how hyped a game is, if he doesn't like the series, it would be no surprise he didn't enjoy the game.

A agree with you...but that doesn't mean Strangler has to say "my opinion is that it lacks variety/originality in level design blah blah, but I've never been a fan of the series so that's irrelevant"

You can say Silent Hill 3 is pure crap...and that opinion would be, vaguely, just as credible as Deathshands' (a hardcore fan of the series, and will more than likely love SH3).