e ShOP diSCuSSioN (Fixed the title for ye mas)

WayForward Games are a bit hit-and-miss for me. On one hand, Mighty Milky Way is magic and the Wii update of a boy and his blob had a charisma like few other games. On the other is Mighty Switch Force (which might rank as the most universally disliked game on GNamer), and those Adventure Time games that got a critical baw-bootin'. Then there's lots of okayness in between, like Ducktales Remastered and that animated Batman game on Wii and DS. The DSiWare Shantae probably falls into this area for me too: what I played of it was decent enough, but I don't think it would have made as much of an impression at retail or even on the GBA.

This is out next week on 3DS/iOS/PC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsea0hUn-b8

It's from the team behind Bit.Trip. They just changed their developer name if I remember correctly. Had a go at EGX and it's really, really good. The trailer above explains the core concepts better than I could in words, but it starts to make you panic very fast, and the controls/feel of the game are faultless.

The Cappuccino Kid wrote:

WayForward Games are a bit hit-and-miss for me. On one hand, Mighty Milky Way is magic and the Wii update of a boy and his blob had a charisma like few other games. On the other is Mighty Switch Force (which might rank as the most universally disliked game on GNamer), and those Adventure Time games that got a critical baw-bootin'. Then there's lots of okayness in between, like Ducktales Remastered and that animated Batman game on Wii and DS. The DSiWare Shantae probably falls into this area for me too: what I played of it was decent enough, but I don't think it would have made as much of an impression at retail or even on the GBA.

I'd agree with this. Generally speaking their work-for-hire stuff is worse than their self-funded, original games, but even those tend to be hit and miss.

Urgh, no thanks. If the title hadn't put me off, the self-consciously retro-ness of it all would. See my discussion with Jay on the subject.

Looks like a high-paced score attack game - a genre which clashes directly with its appeal as a platformer for me. I'll likely not get hold of it, though could be tempted if it ends up being cheap and/or reviews well (mind you, Siesta Fiesta reviewed well ).

I think if it has a competitive hook and the sort of thing where you can only keep bettering yourself for high scores in the long run then it could be highly compelling: I can't recommend PIX the CAT high enough because of it. So much fun to play and there are too many ways to optimise your playthrough on it.

...I dunno... I love me a bit of retro, but it smacks a little of the "bad old days"; it's a high-score-type-affair, but I don't know if it has the replayability to warrant a purchase. Sorry, that's a bit negative.

I bought the iOS version on Thursday. It certainly doesn't lack the replayability, and at £1.49 I'm chuffed. Think of it like a great WarioWare minigame, if you will, there's so many ways to better your score and you pick up neat tricks with every new attempt.

Anybody bought Shovel Knight yet? Thinking I might take the plunge, although I can't really justify it considering I have a lot of new games piling up...

Yup. First level is good fund, but I haven't had time to play any more of it yet.

Siesta Fiesta is down to £2.49, and while it reviewed well I remember a few forumites saying on here that it wasn't up to much. What's up with it? Sounds like the sort of game I'd enjoy, so I'm tempted to download...

~

That Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal demo is rubbish. Slow, samey, bitty, annoying - think a pish version of the Crash Bandicoot games on the GBA and you're not far off. I'm getting the Wii U version, but first impressions of the 3DS one are that it could be a series low.

My main problem was that it was squeaky as all hell. The voice acting grated on me no end. Also, it's really tough to fail a level - all the longevity is trying to beat the high scores. If you're a high-score fiend who doesn't mind being yelled at Rayman's Lums every four seconds (and some really annoying character design), then you'll probably get something out of it: apparently the "ball" physics are brilliant.

Rum Rapture wrote:

Anybody bought Shovel Knight yet? Thinking I might take the plunge, although I can't really justify it considering I have a lot of new games piling up...

Aye, about just a little half way done with it (I think) & it's great stuff, I've also got a lot of games piling up suddenly as well but with SK having a retro feel in how it's structured it's perfect for quick bursts of play or something to play alongside a massive single player game you might be playing.

Balladeer wrote:

My main problem was that it was squeaky as all hell.  The voice acting grated on me no end.  Also, it's really tough to fail a level - all the longevity is trying to beat the high scores.  If you're a high-score fiend who doesn't mind being yelled at Rayman's Lums every four seconds (and some really annoying character design), then you'll probably get something out of it: apparently the "ball" physics are brilliant.

I agree with Balladeer.

To add to his comments, while the longevity is in beating high scores, the game doesn't really seem very well balanced around this: its systems don't seem to actively encourage getting higher medals, and some of the levels are too long and exacting to achieve these medals.

I think PilotWings Resort is the gold standard by which any high score-based game should be measured by.

Nintendo Life have a tendency to give a free pass to any decent Nintendo indie title, and while Siesta Fiesta isn't bad, I was disappointed that they didn't pick up on some of the things that let it down (and it certainly doesn't justify a 9/10 score in my eyes).

Still, it's well worth £2.49, I highly recommend it.

Picross e5 tomorrow. Thank goodness that there can never be too much Picross in the world.

I've still not got around to Picross e4.

I think that I may actually be Picrossed out.

My goodness! As I'm not going to get it immediately, it seems there can be enough Picross in the world...

Enough Picross e, maybe. If they released a new proper Picross package, with animations and different music and more puzzles, I'd probably still be all over that.

Confession time: I cracked and downloaded Picross e5. D'you know, it's exactly like Picross e4?

Funny that. I've thought about it a couple of times, but then it comes down to "can I be bothered to play another Picross-e?" and the answer ends up being "no".

I absolutely can be bothered as soon as I finish e4. It feels comforting knowing when I run out of e4 I have another game to fall back on.

I'm not going to bore you with everything coming this week as none of you care about Hello Kitty Happy Happy Family

but these two maybe

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy £24.99
Rune Factory 4 £24.99

Both games I am tempted, I'm yet to finish the other AA game on 3DS but did enjoy what I played that I'd consider playing the series from the start and RF4 I've only ever heard good things but at £25 each and lot's to play, I won't be getting right away.

RF4 is a day one buy for me. Been waiting since it was announced for it. I still have the old AAs on DS so I'll pass after hearing it was just the iOS ports.

masofdas wrote:

I'm not going to bore you with everything coming this week as none of you care about Hello Kitty Happy Happy Family

I would be all over AAT, but I've played 'em all already. If anyone hasn't, though (especially 3), pick 'em up now! NOW I SAY!