[Famitsu] Ratings and News, 2007/10/26

[Mandoric]

RATINGS:
3 Kingdoms DS 2 8787
* Tries hard to overcome the series's famous learning curve
* Smoothly constructed and well-thought-out
* Difficulty is all in scenario, not in controls
* "Turtle's Challenge" scenarios make good breaks from main game
* Tutorial is long but welldone
* Icons are too small
* Improves in tempo with added strategies and abilities
* Not always fun, but always pleasant.

Dragon Tamer 8767

Warhawk 7777

MotoGP 08 7778

Scramble Commander 2nd 8877
* Fixes what was broken with the last one
* Special attacks are usable too rarely, and not worth upgrades; it helps to think of them as special.
* Forgiving of mistakes
* Movements sharpened up
* Movement takes a bit of adjustment
* Too little money and EXP to keep units up to date
* "Pursue" command makes it easier for the player to keep up

Opoona 8887 PLAYTIME: 15-20 hours to clear, 75 to do everything
* Cute characters hide oldschool difficulty
* Ball-based battles are difficult
* Plot progression based on talking to people in the right order; reviewer finds this nostalgic but thinks you may not
* Music: "INCREDIBLE"
* Lots of subsystems
* To the extent where jobs and licences get confusing
* Battles don't really hurt the tempo, but encounter rate boosts the difficulty

Mario Galaxy 109910 PLAYTIME: As long as you damn well want
* Keeps up the feeling of "I wanna see what's in the next level!"
* Gladually builds up things available in game, keeping a good difficulty balance and level design.
* Gravity change gimmicks and special actions improve boss fights.
* Wiimote controls work almost too well
* Tempo is abnormally good
* Just being able to point and gather star pieces in exhilerating.
* Game everyone can enjoy.

AC6 9999 PLAYTIME: 15-20 hours for mission, online matches starting from 5 minutes
* Base play hasn't really changed, but still works; sensation of being in a massive dogfight is even better now
* Motion is balanced between "realistic" and "arcadey"
* 16-player mode is a plus
* Doesn't cause motion sickness as much
* Great visuals

NEWS:
Family Ski (Wii/Bandai Namco/und)
* Use remote and nunchaku as sticks
* Talk to AIs on the slope and become involved in races
* Beginner, Medium, Expert ranks; over 10 courses
* Character customization

Word Puzze Mojipittan Wii (Wii/Bandai Namco/08/03)
* WiiWare
* Adds 20000 phrases to the dictionary for a total of 120000
* In-game prizes; "Moji-kun Collection" mode

WWE 2008 Smackdown vs. Raw (PS2/PS3/360/Wii, THQ Japan, 08/02)
* Career "WWE 24/7" mode
* Tries to get closer to stars' actual fighting style
* Animation improvements
* Over 90 match types, including ECW rules
* Expands arena to backstage and audience seating
* Upgraded news system, complete with talking commentator heads
* Redone voice samples

Idolm@ster Live for You! (X360, Bandai Namco, undetermined date)
* Switches things up; you're now in charge of and judged on coordinating members, clothing and props, music for her live performances.
* Packaged with original animation DVD and remixed song versions
* Completion 60%

"Afterschool Boy" (DS, Konami, 08/01/31, \5229)
* Nostalgic ADV reliving boyhood in mid-1970s rural Japan
* Hero is an elementary school boy whose family will move far away in a month
* School, parks, candy shops, etc. will be available on the map; they contain nostalgic activities like swingsets, super car erasers, menko (card game similar to pogs), a particular board game where the object was to travel to space.
* Uses nostalgic music from the era
(vocal)
A Younger Guy/Candies
Cotton Hankerchief/Ohta Hiromi
Swim! Taiyaki-kun/Shimon Masato
Beautiful Sunday/Tanaka Seiji
Romance/Iwasaki Hiromi
(instrumental)
Tell Me, Space Battleship Yamato, Go! Goranger, Yamaguchi's Tsutomu
Days that Can't Be Returned To, G-Men 75 Theme, Youthful Days, Theme of the Big City
かけめぐる青春、学園天国

the Perplexion of Haruhi Suzumiya (PS2/Banpresto/08/01/31)
* Preorder bonus is a redo of the ED theme dance in CG, including Hero-class Haruhi/Thief Nagato/Mage Mikuru.
* Simulation RPG mode---looks a lot like SRW, we think?
* Looking at the scan the only way this stuff makes ANY sense is if it's a big ADV sequence first where the SOS group "makes a game" and then that game's the ending. Wonder if you actually get to -play- it.

G-Generation Spirits (PS2/Bandai Namco/11/29)
* Char Custom Zaku II, Gouf Custom, RX-78-4, Deep Striker, Qubeley MkII, F-91, ν, Mother Vanguard appear
* "Chance Step" occurs when defeating an enemy, allowing another move
* Up to 8 units can participate in group attack
* Preorder bonus is "G-Gene Spirits Disc"; game PV and video of Moriguchi Hiroko

DATES:
<NDS>
08/01/24　The Sims 2: Survival <EA>
08/01/31　Afterschool Boy <Konami>
08/03　Sudoku DS Complete <Hudson>
08 Spring　Ys DS <Interchannel Holon> (\5040)
08 Spring　YS 2 DS<Interchannel Holon> (\5040)
08 Digimon Championship <Bandai Namco>
??　TokiMemo Girls Side Second Season <Konami>

<PSP>
12/20　MAPLUS Portable Navi 2 <Edia>

<Wii>
12/20　Crazy Climber Wii <Nippon System>
Winter　Family Ski <Bandai Namco>
08/02　WWE2008 Smackdown vs. Raw <THQ>

<PS3>
08/01/31　Disgaea 3 <N1 Software>
08/02　WWE2008 SvR <THQ>

<PS2>
08/01/31　Tales of Destiny DC <Bandai Namco>
08/02　WWE2008 S/R <THQ>
08　Night Wizard the Video Game <5pb.>

<Xbox360>
12/06　VF5 Live Arena Stick <Hori>
08/02　WWE2008 <THQ>

<CANCELED>
Xbox360　Sangokufuujin (tentative) <Idea Factory>

NEXT WEEK:
Strategy) Mario Galaxy, FFTA2, Ar Tornelico 2
Feature) To Make Games More Fun
Coverage) DQ4
Extra) FINAL FANTASY Festa!

[I AM JOHN!]

Mario Galaxy - 38/40

GAF meltdown in 3...2...1...

[Adam Blade]

Who are you?

[Wyndstryker]

Mario Galaxy 109910

Wait...that means it's 10/9/9/10...

IT'S NOT PERFECT?!

[angelfly]

Mario Galaxy 109910

Expected all 10s but still

[fistfulofmetal]

Man, those are terribly high scores.

109,910 for Mario Galaxy?! Jesus.

[reilo]

AC6 > Warhawk? Really?

[jay]

38/40? There is no god.

[AceBandage]

Opoona 8887

What?

[ShockingAlberto]

Eh.

Just a score.

[Amir0x]

if you guys have a meltdown over a Famitsu review i will lock this thread and pin up various crucifix of the slaughter

[crbowen]

Obligatory "So basically nintendogs is better" post

[Segata Sanshiro]

ARMAGEDDON

ARMAGEDDON

ARMAGEDDON









ARMAGEDDON

[SS4Gogita]

So basically Mario Galaxy is worse than Nintendogs?

Edit: Screw you, crbowen!

[Adam Blade]

if you guys have a meltdown over a Famitsu review i will lock this thread and pin up various crucifix of the slaughter

Translation = bannage?

[Tristam]

if you guys have a meltdown over a Famitsu review i will lock this thread and pin up various crucifix of the slaughter

[neojubei]

Ok someone tell when famitsu scores matter and don't matter. I forgot which camp we are in now.

BTW: Where is the famitsu news?

[sprsk]

Not a bad score for Opoona, so maybe it isn't total shit? 31 is quite close to "Most likely shit" levels if you subscribe to the "How to Interpret Famitsu Scores newsletter" by Sp0rsk publishing only 5.99 per month for the electronic version and 9.99 a month for the hard bound version.

[angelfly]

if you guys have a meltdown over a Famitsu review i will lock this thread and pin up various crucifix of the slaughter

The new version of the avatar is hotness

[WhiteAce]

Who are you?

Warhawk 7777

oh, what's that?

MotoGP 08 7778

what is That?

Mario Galaxy 109910

oh this thing has numbers on it

AC6 9999

oh, what`s wrong with your legs?

[GhostSeed]

Is Opoona still being released the same day as Galaxy? If so SENT TO DIE! etc.

[I AM JOHN!]

Not a bad score for Opoona, so maybe it isn't total shit? 31 is quite close to "Most likely shit" levels if you subscribe to the "How to Interpret Famitsu Scores newsletter" by Sp0rsk publishing only 5.99 per month for the electronic version and 9.99 a month for the hard bound version.

Does t come in a nice, leather hardcover?

[HAL_Laboratory]

So Mario Galaxy is just barely better than Ace Combat 6

[Bebpo]

Warhawk scores are pretty strange. Seemed like a title Japan could get behind. It's not worth 9s and 10s, but 28/40 it's not.

Then again it's online only and Japan is literally 1,000 years behind everyone else in accepting online gaming.

[JoshuaJSlone]

2.56% worse than Super Mario 64 confirmed.

[Amir0x]

Ok someone tell when famitsu scores matter and don't matter. I forgot which camp we are in now.

They never mattered. Ever! Who said they did? Lies.

The only thing Famitsu is good for, and this has been established for a long line going back since the magazine began, is news. Famitsu reveals lots of stuff with news.

[Segata Sanshiro]

Not a bad score for Opoona, so maybe it isn't total shit? 31 is quite close to "Most likely shit" levels if you subscribe to the "How to Interpret Famitsu Scores newsletter" by Sp0rsk publishing only 5.99 per month for the electronic version and 9.99 a month for the hard bound version.

Hmmm.

I'll take... two.

[Guy Legend]

Nice score for Ace Combat 6. Maybe it will sell a few 360's with that price drop over there.....

[sprsk]

Does t come in a nice, leather hardcover?

Subscribe now and we'll send you a "Realistic Doggie Poo Key Safe" free of charge!

[Mandoric]

Idolm@ster Live for You! (X360, Bandai Namco, undetermined date)

* Switches things up; you're now in charge of and judged on coordinating members, clothing and props, music for her live performances.
* Packaged with original animation DVD and remixed song versions
* Completion 60%

[Error]

hopefully some NEWS please!

[titiklabingapat]

So Mario Galaxy is just barely better than Ace Combat 6

*zips mouth*

[Sharp]

They never mattered. Ever! Who said they did? Lies. The only thing Famitsu is good for, and this has been established for a long line going back since the magazine began, is news. Famitsu reveals lots of stuff with news.

What happened to Earthbound?

[Dali]

So Mario Galaxy didn't get a perfect Famitsu score. Does this mean the Wii's chances of earning a perfect score this gen have plummeted significantly (nearly to zero) with Mario and Zelda behind us?

[Amir0x]

What happened to Earthbound?

Temporary break until Super Mario Galaxy comes out. It can take a little break for a game of that calibre.

So Mario Galaxy didn't get a perfect Famitsu score. Does this mean the Wii's chances of earning a perfect score this gen have plummeted significantly (nearly to zero) with Mario and Zelda behind us?

No it's 100%, they'll give it to Wii Fit.

[dog$]

Nintendogs > SMG, sez Fam-eet-soo.

[~Devil Trigger~]

AC6 > Warhawk? Really?

in Ninja language, yes....

[reilo]

So Mario Galaxy didn't get a perfect Famitsu score. Does this mean the Wii's chances of earning a perfect score this gen have plummeted significantly (nearly to zero) with Mario and Zelda behind us?

Have they reviewed MP3? SSBB?

Let's not forget WiiFit.

[Link]

Well, that about wraps it up for Nintendo.

[jj984jj]

Not a bad score for Opoona, so maybe it isn't total shit? 31 is quite close to "Most likely shit" levels if you subscribe to the "How to Interpret Famitsu Scores newsletter" by Sp0rsk publishing only 5.99 per month for the electronic version and 9.99 a month for the hard bound version.

I think it'll do pretty well, I'll know I'd at least get it at budget price for the Sakimoto music.

[manueldelalas]

So Mario Galaxy didn't get a perfect Famitsu score. Does this mean the Wii's chances of earning a perfect score this gen have plummeted significantly (nearly to zero) with Mario and Zelda behind us?

Wii Fit says hi

EDIT: beaten

[ParticleReality]

Well, if Famitsu says its good then I should get a wii. I can't wait until the next Real Mario game in 4-5 years from now.

[Penguin]

I care more for what the reviews.

[HAL_Laboratory]

Does this mean the Wii's chances of earning a perfect score this gen have plummeted significantly (nearly to zero) with Mario and Zelda behind us?

Not if they make another Nintendogs...

[Adam Blade]

lol

[DECK'ARD]

So Mario Galaxy didn't get a perfect Famitsu score. Does this mean the Wii's chances of earning a perfect score this gen have plummeted significantly (nearly to zero) with Mario and Zelda behind us?

Smash Bros.
Wii Fit

Place your bets ...

[Formless]

Why do I get the vibe that a 9.5 average is bad?

[ZealousD]

Ok someone tell when famitsu scores matter and don't matter. I forgot which camp we are in now.

We learned it's quite common in Famitsu (and the Japanese gaming media in general) to "adjust" scores based on publisher pressure.

[sprsk]

So Mario Galaxy didn't get a perfect Famitsu score. Does this mean the Wii's chances of earning a perfect score this gen have plummeted significantly (nearly to zero) with Mario and Zelda behind us?

You guys are so short sighted.

Mario Galaxy is the hardcore game from Nintendo. While Nintendo still provides hardcore games for hardcore gamers, they can't possibly get Famitsu to hand out two 40/40s. So, Nintendo's priorities being what they are, they decided to get famitsu to 40/40 some other game.

I won't say what will get a 40/40 this season, but I think you all know what to blame anyway.

[Jonnyram]

Idolm@ster Live for You! (X360, Bandai Namco, undetermined date) * Switches things up; you're now in charge of and judged on coordinating members, clothing and props, music for her live performances. * Packaged with original animation DVD and remixed song versions * Completion 60%

Yay! I'd better play the first one some more :)