Zelda Review HQ

[GameKinG]

Well, you can still post in the other threads but Ill just take the opportunity to compile them in one thread:

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GameSpy
Score: 97%

The Lowdown: A stunning video game that comes as close to perfection as any other.

Pros: Incredible design, balance, visuals, sound and gameplay; engrossing story; highly polished; superb controls; excellent learning curve; one of the finest games to date.

Cons: It's hard to find fault but some may dislike the Toon Shading; no widescreen mode; some aspects are a little repetitive; needs a GBA with link cable to get ALL the secrets.

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IGNcube
Score: 9.6

Presentation
Wow. Zelda perfectly realized as a cartoon. Everything from a slick interface to so much of the Zelda universe to behold. 10.0

Graphics
Gorgeous. Whether you like the style or not, you have to appreciate the technique and technology. Huge world, detailed locales, beautiful animation and particles, all at 30 frames and in progressive. 9.0

Sound
Some great music and sound effects mix with some less than stellar, MIDI-like samples and muted speech work. 8.0

Gameplay
Just about as perfect as can be. Finely crafted play mechanics, control, balance, design, and more, but it's occasionally scarred by tedious fetch quests and a sense that the game lacks difficulty. 9.0

Lasting Appeal
20+ hours the first time through and twice that for completionists -- and you'll want to come back after you beat it. Superb. 10.0

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GameSpot
Score: 9.3

Gameplay: 9
Graphics: 10
Sound: 9
Value: 8
Tilt: 10

While some may be a little put off by the late-game item fetching and the game's easy puzzles and boss battles, The Wind Waker is nonetheless a strong achievement in every way, from its stunning graphical presentation to its tight control and interesting story line. It may not have fallen too far from the tree Nintendo planted back in 1998, but the way it refines one of the polygonal generation's most important games makes The Wind Waker every bit as much of a must-own game as The Ocarina of Time was before it.

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Gamers.com (EGM)
Score: 10.0

There's plenty more to talk about in Zelda--minigames, side quests, secrets--that we'll leave to the sidebars and individual reviewers. But, honestly, you really need to hear only five words about The Wind Waker: You must play this game.

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Play Magazine
Score: 10

Nothing can prepare you for the greatness that is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. I only hope I’ve told you enough to make you rush out and buy it the instant it comes out. Mark my words: there will be no finer gaming experience this year.

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GamePro
Score: 5/5

FUN FACTOR: 5.0
Graphics: 5.0
Sound: 5.0
Control: 4.5

[Gamer]

*sighs* i feel comforted knowing that in a few short days, i will have a game this good in my house.

[Mushlafa]

Nothing can prepare you for the greatness that is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. I only hope I’ve told you enough to make you rush out and buy it the instant it comes out. Mark my words: there will be no finer gaming experience this year.

that statement alone is over-hyping the game...

[bobcat]

Originally posted by Mushlafa
that statement alone is over-hyping the game...

Which can work for some games, and totally backfire for others. I think Zelda can get away with those type of statements though.

[GameKinG]

Yeah its over-hyping a little (for some people). But I dont think Ive seen anyone over hype it for me (in comparison to how much I want this game).

BY FAR the most telling score of all of these is the gamespy one. Gamespy usually gets ignored by ignorant morons on boards who argue over IGN/Gamespot. IGN AND Gamespot both give games MUCH higher ratings than games diserve DOA:X got a 9 for chirst sakes.

Gamespy knows it's better to underscore a game rather than overscore a game.

[DarkDemonic726]

UGGHH I hate Gamespot. Its like nothing is ever good enough for them. Have they ever actually given a game perfect??

[DarkMaster]

Originally posted by DarkDemonic726
UGGHH I hate Gamespot. Its like nothing is ever good enough for them. Have they ever actually given a game perfect??

Chrono Cross, gamespot gives it 10/10

[Crono]

Originally posted by DarkMaster
Chrono Cross, gamespot gives it 10/10

Because it's probably one of the only games in the world worthy of that score.

[gekko]

Originally posted by DarkMaster
Chrono Cross, gamespot gives it 10/10

9.3

[Crono]

Originally posted by gekko
9.3

o.O
I could've sworn it was 10... let me check...

http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/chronocross/review.html

It's 10.

Originally posted by Crono
Because it's probably one of the only games in the world worthy of that score.

LOL Oh, you're too funny. Stop it, I'm going to rupture myself.

[Crono]

Originally posted by Stonecutter
LOL Oh, you're too funny. Stop it, I'm going to rupture myself.

Care telling me why it wouldn't deserve that perfect score?

I can think of many reaons why it should.

1. Story
Definitely the most diverse and complex story, along with Xenogears/Xenosaga. If you're smart enough to actually sit through this game and think about what happens, you can make the connections between Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, which is somethign most people don't see. Don't see any? Look at Dinopolis. What do you think Dinopolis was in Chrono Trigger? It was, in fact, part of the Tyrano Lair which was led by Azala. I also have this theory that Azala was the "face" in Dinopolis, but of course, you wouldn't know unless you actually played the game. Serge was The Chrono Trigger, and if you've played Chrono Trigger, you would know exactly what it is. I guess I shouldn't dictate on the CC/CT connections, anyway. CC's story alone is very good. Even I don't understand every aspect of the story, and I've palyed through that game many times. The story actually gets you thinking, is there really a predtermined fate for us all? Are well all just pawns controlled by a more powerful being? Those are the kind of elements that are presented in Chrono Cross' storyline. Again, you'd have to go through the entire game, and if you did and you still say the story isn't worth a 10, then you obviously don't understand it all, perhaps due to lack of patience for an RPG of this magnitude?

2. Music
Yasunori Mitsuda is God when it comes to video game music. Chrono Cross' soundtrack alone is worth the money, not a single bad track at all, everything is outstanding.

3. Battle System
There is so much to this area alone, I am definitely not going to go through it, because if you've played the game then you know what its like. But I must say, the actual battles are probably the most user friendly battles in any game. You can escape at any time, and the way you need to build up on element points is very creative. This is definitely one of the areas that excels beyond ANY RPG, I don't care what frickin RPG it is, if you've palyed many like I have, then you can see the differences.

4. Replay
Over 10 endings. There are also 2 major choices that you make in the game that determine what you do for certain areas. Like at the beginning when you pcik a guide to Viper Manor, each of the three guides has a different way of getting in. Another choice is to save Kid or not. Going through the game multiple times on New Game + and chosing these different options is the only way to get all the characters.

As for negative areas of Chrono Cross? I can really only think of a few small mistakes. Like having the 40+ characters was pointless. Some of the characters were so damn idiotic it wasn't even funny, but it didn't affect the overall value of the game.

Chrono Cross is only a "perfect game" to those who can understand it's story and appreciate it. Sure, other people will think that other games are better, but, if you really think that Chrono Cross is not worthy of a 10 in your eyes, then maybe you should justify your opinion, instead of giving a one sentence remark. I'm not saying that you have to like this game, I just don't see what makes other RPGs/Games so much better than it, but that's my opinion.

[BlueFire]

I take Chrono Cross as my favorite game right now. It's the best RPG ever... I love it...

[Mushlafa]

Im really not an RPG fan at all... ive played a couple only one i ever liked was Chrono Trigger... i thought that game was just amazing... Guess i should try the sequal I find most RPG's so repetitive...
*realizes he played diablo2 LOD for a year*