61 Frames Per Second - All Comments

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Sam — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:48:14 GMT

I couldn't agree more with this. The original Metroid fascinated me and was one of my favorite games as a kid, even though I never really got anywhere in it. However, I still think that Zero is a huge improvement, and more importantly, it was a joy to play.

re: Going There: Persona 4 and Feeling the World

John Constantine — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:56:25 GMT

If you'd be willing to lend me the thousands of dollars it would cost me to take that trip, Tim, then yes.

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Amber Ahlborn — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:07:57 GMT

Hello Nemo, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well. Indeed, I am a Metroid fan who, while recognizing elements in Metroid that define the game, I do not feel every little idiosyncrasy is vital to maintain. I'm no purist in that sense. I feel story and social interactions with allied characters can absolutely work in the series, but must be handled with care. Fusion, I feel, mishandles the story element and as a result, is actually my least favorite of the core series (I don't count Hunters). The Prime Trilogy's methodology of making the story (in the form of scans) an active and voluntary mode of story telling is an ideal template to follow in Metroid I think, and could be expanded beyond the scanning function.

re: Going There: Persona 4 and Feeling the World

Tim — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:09:12 GMT

Wouldn't visiting Iceland be more interesting?

re: Will Song Summoner Be the First Good iPod Game?

Rob — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:06:09 GMT

If I still lived in NYC and had any kind of train commute I would definitely give it a go. But now I could only play it at home, when I could be playing on the Wii or listening to music on my stereo.

And the listening to the song to level up does sound fucking cool, but to second what Derrick said, I change up my songs way too often for that to work. Hopefully there's another way to make the characters level up.

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Nadia Oxford — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:00:05 GMT

Metroid Fusion was jibber-jabbery, but I don't recall anything of the sort in Zero Mission. In fact, I loved the way ZM (and Metroid Prime, for that matter) told its story: with as few words as possible. The ending "sketch" at the end of ZM reveals far more about Samus than the pages of text in Fusion.

re: Spelunking Through Cave Story

Farvana — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:30:30 GMT

I'm of the opinion that this is the greatest freeware game ever made.

Also, Pixel deserves much more praise and attention (not to mention money) than he will allow himself.

re: Will Song Summoner Be the First Good iPod Game?

Derrick Sanskrit — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:05:15 GMT

If my iPod nano was the newer one that supported games, I'd totally try this out. It's only five bucks, half what I paid for Dr. Mario on WiiWare. The only downside would be that I change what I listen to so frequently that my characters would hardly ever level up.

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Amber Ahlborn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:49:29 GMT

Actually, after rereading your post a few times I think what this boils down to is: You say the jump is easy and I say it's not necessarily easy while the article says the feather is gone so don't bother. Alrighty then.

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Amber Ahlborn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:38:05 GMT

Actually Joe, I think you've simply misunderstood me. Let me try again. The article says the feather item in the original game took skill to use (it does take proper timing). I'm saying the Wii version of the track also takes skill without needing a lucky item pick up. I'm not saying it takes great skill. I am saying it's less dependent on luck since you can make the jump without an item. It's not a guaranteed success however, because if you aren't going fast enough, you'll hit the far ledge and bounce off, thus losing a great deal more time than you would have gained. In a heated race it takes some degree of decision making on whether or not to risk the jump based on your speed and the field of racers around you. My end assessment is that the jump in Ghost Valley plays out differently than it originally did, not that it's better or worse, just that it's different. It's not broken, but feel free to love or hate the change. I don't feel strongly either way since I'm not a fan of that particular course.

Now, perhaps it's my statement that it takes greater skill now (managing your speed) than it did before (timing the feather). This is just my perspective. I don't recall having trouble timing the feather but I do occasionally miss this jump in the Wii game. This could simply be due to there being a greater number of items that can mess up your speed. Your experience is no doubt different than mine. Even so, what is there to laugh at here?

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Joe Cam — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:31:23 GMT

Seems you're getting mixed up here between what you're saying and what the article is saying. The article says not to try the jump ever, at all because the feather is gone and the feather is what required skill to use. You're saying it takes skill to hit a jump while driving and doing a trick in the air. Either way, making this jump is simple now and whether you think otherwise or the article thinks otherwise, I laugh at your horrible assessment.

re: To be a Pokemon Master

Roto13 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:20:19 GMT

I caught them all in Red. I'm like you, really. I lost interest after Gold and didn't pick it up again until Pearl. I did go back and buy Emerald, though. I still haven't finished it. :P

re: Alternate Soundtrack: Streets of Rage 2 vs. Test Icicles

Demaar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:42:33 GMT

God damn, Test Icicles are friggen rad. Shame they were so short lived... jeez. Nice picks once again.

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Nemo Incognito — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:41:43 GMT

I agree with you on pretty much every point (except the stealth sequence, which I hate unconditionally): as a remake of a game that is unplayable by modern standards Zero Mission is a huge success, even if it's not the best game in the series. I didn't object to Zero Mission's appearance on the list because I acknowledged it as the most average Metroid game in terms of quality and didn't think about it any further but your article made me reconsider the criteria for it's inclusion and see how it wasn't really fair or accurate. Thank you.

Can I also say what a pleasure it is to meet another Metroid enthusiast who shares my sentiments that the first game is an unplayable relic and that story and dialogue are not a violation of any supposed ethos of the Metroid series.

re: Going There: Persona 4 and Feeling the World

Rob — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:23:56 GMT

Bjork eats puffins.

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Amber Ahlborn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:55:01 GMT

My ideal hint system would be one that only popped up when you asked for it. For Metroid, I'd integrate it into the game. Perhaps have a button that allows you to communicate with your ship or whatever with the response being an "area scan" that adds a point of interest to your map, basically what we saw in Prime but, again, dependent on your making a request, rather than something that interrupts your game.

Zero Mission style remake for Metroid II is a dream I think all series fans share. I want it. I also find the original Metroid II too hard to get into for the same reasons I listed for the first game. Metroid II was also quite the departure from the original's formula, playing closer to Fusion, so using Fusion as a template for the update would probably work well. Plus, Metroid II is an incredibly important chapter in the series plot, it really deserves an update.

Finally, the fan games. 61FPS covered a few in an earlier article. I need to add that link to my post. I dearly hope some hit full completion because I would love to download them.

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Henry — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:36:33 GMT

There are actually a few fan-Metroid games in the works. Here are links to joystiq-network blog posts about them.

www.nintendowiifanboy.com/.../reimagine-metroid-in-2d

www.dsfanboy.com/.../fan-remake-of-metroid-ii-is-not-only-awesome-but-also-playable

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Derrick Sanskrit — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:34:03 GMT

I just wished there was a way to turn off the hint system and comic book junk, as I found both of them very disruptive to the adventuring groove I'd get into. Metroid Prime wisely allowed purists to turn off the hint system.

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Randlan — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:24:12 GMT

Yes - I agree with you over the other guy.

Also, I'm hoping for a Zero Mission-style remake of Metroid II - I can't play that game either. All the halls look the same and there's no map to tell me what the hell I'm doing. Forget "exploration", that's just frustrating.

re: Rebuttal - Say What About Metroid: Zero Mission?

Henry — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:22:43 GMT

I too think the Metroid series is awesome. Although I haven't played the 3D ones, I love every 2D one. Metroid is very hard, and I haven't gotten close to beating it.

I agree, Fusion is awesome, even if it is a very large departure. Chargable Ice Missiles?! That was awesome.

re: Gaga for Segagaga

Derrick Sanskrit — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:55:35 GMT

A Sega mash-up RPG equivalent of Excel Saga? Woah, that sounds like fun!

re: Gaga for Segagaga

Amber Ahlborn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:22:00 GMT

I played this game. Well, actually I watched a friend play it. It was one of the most random things I've ever seen, yet, strangely coherent within its own reality. You battle giant disembodied heads, drive your programming team to occasional collapse to make games and, well... It was weird and utterly hilarious. Anyone a fan of Excel Saga? Yeah, Segagaga reminds me a little of that.

re: Game Designers: Rockstars, Auteurs, Dweebs?

Derrick Sanskrit — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:00:41 GMT

ha, oh man, "Dick Hard", that's a classic. I gotta remember that one...

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Amber Ahlborn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:22:01 GMT

Joe, that's what I meant. You have to get yourself going fast enough which does take driving skill otherwise you just hit the ledge and bounce off. This is in opposition to the original race that simply required luck of the draw in getting a feather. It also takes skill if you use an item like a mushroom to assist. Time your boost wrong and you shoot off the far side of the track after making the jump. I didn't say you needed a master's degree in racing. I simply said it takes greater skill than before, which is true. That some people find it easier than others does not negate the assessment. No need to throw your hands in the air get all freaking serious about it. "If you don't make the jump its user error" - Umm, yeah? That would be the skill aspect.

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Joe Cam — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:53:35 GMT

Great skill to nail that jump? Are you freaking serious? Just hit the jump and do a trick in the air to extend your hangtime. Done. Jump made. No items or special powers needed. I've done it with every weight class and both on bikes and karts. If you can't get over that gap, it's user error. That's why that little bump is there to give you air. Even better, start your drift before the jump, do the trick in air, land it and get the drift boost around the next turn.

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Amber Ahlborn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:10:09 GMT

Well, shame to the drive by trolls spitting on the site because they disagree with one top ten list. That said, yeesh. I'm dedicating a rebuttal to Zero Mission but on Mario Kart Wii, no sir, you are wrong. It takes greater skill than ever to nail that jump in the ghost valley but it's utterly doable even without items. And while I do agree the items may be getting a little out of hand, if the races were as chaotic as you implicate then nobody would be able to win consistently and I wouldn't be universally feared for my devastating driving skills (I exaggerate but still, take me on Mr. Smith).

re: Up All Night: Trojan

Nadia Oxford — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:39:26 GMT

Trojan truly is an "up all night" game. Takes me back to the summers I used to spend with my friend trying to figure out what the hell the game was on about. Full-armoured knights roaming city streets? Is it some kind of political statement or did someone just leave the gate at Half-Cocked Acres ajar?

re: Up All Night: Trojan

Rob — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:35:33 GMT

I love the "O" background as level design. Classy villans too. King Shriek is one tough SOB.

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Joe Cam — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:46:57 GMT

If you can't make that shortcut jump in Ghost Valley 2, it's because you suck at the game, not because it's not possible. I make that jump everytime I play Ghost Valley 2 and it's one of my favorite tracks in the game, but hey, if that was you in the video playing, I can see why you don't like the game, probably because you suck at it and keep running into walls. Way to be a chapion.

And how the hell is Sonic Genesis not included?

re: The Five Greatest Enhanced Remakes - And Five That Weren't So Great, Part 3

Autobobby1 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:36:07 GMT

Well, after reading this terrible article...don't quit your day job. Unless this is your day job. If that's the case, then by all means your should quit.