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Nintendo Downloads - December 2012

S

ScreenSplitter

Member
EPIC MICKEY DEMO IMPRESSIONS


- The cutscene is long and unskippable. It's a shame there's no animation or voice acting, considering there is in the main game!
- The music is great. Nice little orchestral throwback to Castle of Illusion. Love it.
- There's a nice blend of sprites in the foreground and more hand-drawn backgrounds. Looks very neat and colorful, and beautiful in 3D. Do wish the sprites were a little bigger though. This game is really pretty. Does more with the 2D than Epic Mickey on the Wii ever did with 3D.
- Okay, so the villain just morphed into Snow White Hag, Scar, Cruella De Ville, Hades, Gaston, and Malificent. The Disney fanboy in me is crying.
- I love the little voice clips from Mickey. I wasn't a huge fan of the new voice actor for Mickey (old one sadly passed away) in the recent KH titles, but this is generally fine. Very reminiscent of his various quips during Mickey Mania/Mickey's Wild Adventure.
- Something about "hearts". Did Tetsuya Nomura get a writer's credit on this title...?
- Beast interacting with Mickey. Again, from a Disney view, helluva cool. It's like House of Mouse but not vastly underwhelming.
- I can see the thinner/paint mechanic on the touchscreen getting very frustrating later on, but right now it's not such a chore. The various "shapes" you have to colour in are chunky enough that you can use your finger/thumb.
- Small nerdgasm, Mickey's crouch sprite looks WAY like his Mickey Mania one. Awesome.
- Mickey's um... "arse bump" for better term, is pretty cool. You can either use a small bounce, or hold the B button down for a longer one. If you use the wrong one, you can get hurt i.e. I just used a big bounce and propelled myself into some ceiling spikes. Ouch. OH and later on I found you can do a "Super Arse Bounce" by perfectly timing the B button right as you land on an enemy's head. Good practice for Jigglypuff's Rest move in Smash Bros. I guess. And a nice little evolution of a fairly simple move.
- Hah a Pete-Thwomp type thing! Awesome
- I found Rapunzel. Pretty cool!
- Just unlocked a "gun" move, for lack of a better term with my paintbrush. Can now shoot paint and thinner. It's a nice alternative to the ass bounce.
- And now I can do a Spin Attack using Y. It's like a mini tornado. Bit random, but hopefully later on they'll be enemies you have to use a specific move on, one of the four (Ass Bounce, Thinner Shoot, Paint Shoot, Tornado), lending a bit more strategy to the combat. It's quite an impressive array of moves in honesty, considering Mickey's only really been able to jump on enemies or chuck marbles in other titles.
- Okay this game really is very pretty. Just want to stress that.
- Whilst not implemented fantastically, the paint/thinner touch screen stuff is a decent idea. For example, to defeat an enemy you can take one of the aforementioned Pete Thwomp clones and drop them on an enemy. But then you've got circumnavigate your own obstacle, so it's a double-edged strategy. In another instance, you have to thin out a platform blocking your way, but then jump and re-paint it in mid air so you can jump high enough onto the next plaform. Nice little puzzler element there.
- The tickets you collect are in different increments, not entirely sure what they're used for yet. I would wager upgrades for your "Fortress" where all the rescued Disney characters go
- The filling in stuff is clearly aimed at kids. A nice little "stay within the lines" exercise. It's not too hard to tolerate.
- I've read a lot of previews that say Mickey runs too slow but... I mean, it isn't unbearable. He isn't Sonic or anything, but it's perfectly fine.
- As I've mentioned, the voice acting isn't extensive, but it isn't over-bearing either. Won't get on your nerves. Hearing "HEY MICKEY!" "Hey Oswald!" is a nice little touch. No Scrooge McDuck VA work though. Boooo!
- Overall... it's a pretty good game. I hear it gets tedious later on, but on the demo's merit alone, I don't see any inherent, game ruining flaws. The paintbrush stuff ain't great, but it has its merits, and ties it in nicely with the mainline Epic Mickey titles (and I had much less fun with the first whole Epic Mickey game than I did with this demo!).
BUT saying that, I am a die-hard Disney fan who also grew up on Mickey's Genesis titles. I am directly in this games demographic, so flaws may appear less evident to me. To others like me though, I'd definitely give the game a recommend.

Either putting this on the ol' Christmas list or buying it when it drops in price a little.
 
Z

zroid

Banned
I wasn't AS down on the painting mechanic as some people, I thought it occasionally led to some interesting gameplay, but some of the outlines were just way too complex. The concept is too simple to be challenging, while too tedious to be worth doing for more than a few seconds at a time. When it's just making me draw a Mickey logo, okay, that takes like 5 seconds, but when it becomes much more intricate than that, it gets in the way.

And thinning is just always bad. Making you fill out the whole thing with zero gaps was a terrible idea.

The game is gorgeous though.
 
S

ScreenSplitter

Member
My way of understanding it is that it's definitely for kids. I've re-read a lot of reviews, and some say that it dips in quality a few hours in. An awful shame, but then the original Epic Mickey did get wildly varying opinions too. It wasn't terrible, just samey.
 
O

oatmeal

Banned
Boy, Nintendo was all worried about repeating the 3DS launch disaster and they seem to be making sure with every decision that they copy it.

I have owned it since launch and am enjoying it, but if you were designing their system, what other decisions would you make to ensure that it disappointed fans? Seems like they have it all covered.
 
S

ScreenSplitter

Member
oatmeal said:
Boy, Nintendo was all worried about repeating the 3DS launch disaster and they seem to be making sure with every decision that they copy it.

I have owned it since launch and am enjoying it, but if you were designing their system, what other decisions would you make to ensure that it disappointed fans? Seems like they have it all covered.
Click to expand...

Wut? What exactly have they done? o_O
 
L

Letep

Member
Um. Mighty Bomb Jack is up.

Ninja Gaiden is not.

Ninja Gaiden still says "coming soon 12/6/12"

Getting trolled here.
 
L

Letep

Member
It's actually in the new arrivals section as well.

It's the only new arrival for 12/6/12 that's not available to purchase.
 
O

oatmeal

Banned
ScreenSplitter said:
Wut? What exactly have they done? o_O
Click to expand...

No Achievements, no Cross Game chat, no headphone jack in pro controller, no demos, accounts locked to system (hopefully will be alleviated soon), slow OS (hopefully will be alleviated soon), no VC at launch even though there are a hundred of emulated titles already, Wii transfer process is stupid, Wii Mode rather than integrated like the 3DS, lower than expected specs...

A number of decisions that are puzzling on their own but combined it makes you really wonder...
 
M

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
Javier said:
The "Coming Soon" section of the 3DS eShop lists Bit Trip Saga coming out on 20/12/2012. Only $14.99!
Click to expand...

And searching around, it was freaking 39.99$ when it got released last year. A clever move. :p
 
P

Plinko

Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
oatmeal said:
No Achievements, no Cross Game chat, no headphone jack in pro controller, no demos, accounts locked to system (hopefully will be alleviated soon), slow OS (hopefully will be alleviated soon), no VC at launch even though there are a hundred of emulated titles already, Wii transfer process is stupid, Wii Mode rather than integrated like the 3DS, lower than expected specs...

A number of decisions that are puzzling on their own but combined it makes you really wonder...
Click to expand...

Nintendo rushed to get the system out. It's not that hard to understand.
 
O

oatmeal

Banned
Plinko said:
Nintendo rushed to get the system out. It's not that hard to understand.
Click to expand...

Right. But not all of the issues I listed (and I'm sure there are more) are fixable via firmware updates.

It's a bummer. I love the system, I just wish certain things were better thought out. I feel like I really like it IN SPITE of itself.
 
L

Letep

Member
I am thinking that Ninja Gaiden was accidentally placed on the eshop with a 12/6 release instead of Mighty Bomb Jack, which is also a Tecmo game, but came out today.
 
C

Colonel Mustard

Banned
Wait. Did Harvest Moon launch on the eShop today?

If so...dammit. I wish I would have waited.

Also. This further reaffirms that the retail titles with a 'Price:TBA' marker are all probably headed to the eShop at some point. We'll probably get Zero Escape: VLR pretty soon too!
 
B

Brazil

Living in the shadow of Amaz
This week's new stuff and ongoing offers.

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Club Nintendo Rewards


Wii U | eShop Original Software, Downloadable Content and Demos


  • FIFA 13 (OT) (Electronic Arts | Demo Version) Latest release!

Nintendo 3DS | eShop Original Software, Downloadable Content and Demos



  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 (OT) DLC (Nintendo)
    Coin Challenge Pack C ($2.50) Latest release!
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Nintendo 3DS | Virtual Console

  • Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo Koei | NES | $4.99) Upcoming (lol)
  • Mighty Bomb Jack (Tecmo Koei | Game Boy Color | $4.99) Latest release!

Wii | Virtual Console

  • BurgerTime (G-Mode | NES | 500 Points) Latest release!

Nintendo DSi | DSiWare


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Wii U | eShop Original Software, Downloadable Content and Demos

  • Funky Barn (Tantalus | €49.99 | £39.99) Latest release!
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Nintendo 3DS | eShop Discounts

  • Donkey Kong (Nintendo | Game Boy | €4.00 | £3.60 €2.99 | £2.69) (Until 12/13)
  • Donkey Kong Jr. (Nintendo | NES | €5.00 | £4.50 €3.49 | £3.19) (Until 12/13)

Nintendo 3DS | eShop Original Software, Downloadable Content and Demos


  • New Art Academy DLC (Nintendo)
    Paint Like Van Gogh (€1.99 | £1.79) Latest release!
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  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 (OT) DLC (Nintendo)
    Coin Challenge Pack C (€2.50 | £2.00) Latest release!
    Platform Panic Pack (€2.50 | £2.00) Latest release!
    Golden Classics Pack (Free Until 01/31)

Nintendo 3DS | Virtual Console

  • Wario Land 3 (Nintendo | Game Boy Color | €4.99 | £4.49) Latest release!

Wii | Virtual Console


Nintendo DSi | DSiWare

  • Christmas Wonderland 2 (Microvalue | 800 Points | €7.99 | £7.20) Latest release!
 
J

Javier

Member
So glad I passed on Bit Trip Saga when it first came out. DD release at less than half its original price is perfect for me.

BTW, Fractured Soul demo is only 10 uses.
 
M

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
Natsume in their PR about Harvest Moon being on eShop said they're already planning to release other titles on it.

Burlingame, CA. – December 6, 2012 – Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today the digital launch of their 3DS-exclusive Harvest Moon: A New Beginning, available now on the Nintendo eShop. This is the first Natsume title to appear on the eShop, and more are planned in the future. The game is available for $39.99.

"At this year's E3, we spoke passionately about our desire to move Natsume into the digital world, and we’re making good on that promise today with our first Nintendo eShop title!" said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. “We hope to bring several classic Natsume titles to our Nintendo fans soon as well, including Harvest Moon GBC and River King GBC, so Harvest Moon: A New Beginning is truly just the beginning!"

Echo Village has seen better days... Just as you've moved in, almost everyone else has moved away to greener pastures. It's your job to bring everybody back by making the town appealing again, and giving Echo Village a new beginning!

For the first time in series history, you can completely customize your character's appearance! Choose your character's gender, skin color, facial expression, hairstyle, and much, much more! You can even go to the tailor and have them make new outfits for you! Don't like where your crops and barn are on your farm? Easy! Just pick them up and move them.

Prefer a boxed copy? Fans who want to snag an adorable yak plushie with purchase of Harvest Moon: A New Beginning can still do so via the Natsume Online Store at http://natsume.com/store/. Keep watching through the rest of the year for some special holiday promotions for the whole family!

Players can scope out all the news for the beloved Natsume franchises at www.natsume.com, or by following all of the latest Natsume updates, contests, screen shots and more via www.natsume.com/facebook and www.twitter.com/natsume_inc.
Click to expand...
 
terrisus

terrisus

Member
So, I assume I'm reading it right, and Classic Games Overload: Card & Puzzle Edition only has local multiplayer, and not WiFi/online multiplayer?

It's always disappointing when games are missing glaringly obvious modes. If it had online, would be worth the purchase just to always have it on the system. As it is, doesn't really seem to be any reason to pick it up when I already have Clubhouse Games for DS, which does have WiFi/online.
 
M

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
More salt in the wound? The EU list has Ninja Gaiden 2 for the European VC. :lol
 
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