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[DiscoJer]

Zonia just popped up on the PAL store last week. Does anyone know if it's any good?

Zenonia?

If you can get past the cringe inducing writing it, it's a decent low budget ARPG...

Original version was slow, but apparently they patched it to improve it (and that should be the version Europe just got, they are probably why it was improved, SCEE has some quality standards...)

 

[Luigiv]

Zenonia?

Yeah, just realised the errors my way and edited.

If you can get past the cringe inducing writing it, it's a decent low budget ARPG...

Original version was slow, but apparently they patched it to improve it (and that should be the version Europe just got, they are probably why it was improved, SCEE has some quality standards...)

Fair enough. I'll check out some videos then.

Edit: Well the animations look good and combat appears to have just the right amount of weight behind it, so that's good enough for me. I just want to enjoy some oldschool 2D hack and slashing.

 

[Takao]

I've been told Zenonia has vasoline-o-vision where the graphics obviously weren't optimized for the screen.

 

[sweetvar26]

Are there any good RPG's in the mini's?

I looked online but I can't get a list.

 

[DiscoJer]

Are there any good RPG's in the mini's?

I looked online but I can't get a list.

Zenonia is literally the only one that would qualify as an RPG.

A couple have RPG-ish elements. Young Thor at least you can level up, but that's more of a beat 'em up. And there is Snake Warriors Training which is really hard to describe...but that was only a tie in to an RPG (a product that was going to be sort of like Pokemon but with snakes. But haven't heard anything more about it...)

And the only thing resembling one that I know of in the works is an adaption of a Fighting Fantasy game. The sort of Choose your own adventure/RPG gamebook?

 

[sweetvar26]

Zenonia is literally the only one that would qualify as an RPG.

A couple have RPG-ish elements. Young Thor at least you can level up, but that's more of a beat 'em up. And there is Snake Warriors Training which is really hard to describe...but that was only a tie in to an RPG (a product that was going to be sort of like Pokemon but with snakes. But haven't heard anything more about it...)

And the only thing resembling one that I know of in the works is an adaption of a Fighting Fantasy game. The sort of Choose your own adventure/RPG gamebook?

Thanks buddy.I will check them out.

 

[Takao]

Man, this summer has been absolutely amazing for Minis, and it's a shame no one cares. Just a pool of what has caught my eye:

Ninjamuari

The 2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character

Me Monstar Hear Me Roar

I've been really enjoying Ninjamurai, and Rotating Octopus. In fact, I might start an OT for RO.

This game's also available in the EU, and looks great with a Ruby Gloom visual style:

Dr. Maybee and the Adventures of Scary Girl

And of course there's Mighty Flip Champs DX, but I haven't bought that yet.

 

[Agent X]

I care, Takao!

The 2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character is a very good game. It stands out from the glut of platformers and "match-three" puzzle games by dishing up a rather original game concept, with crisp graphics and simple controls that are easy to grasp. It does get difficult quickly, though, and I still haven't completed the second set of levels. One review that I've read made a point that the game would be improved if it had a more forgiving checkpoint system (saving your progress every level or two) rather than requiring someone to complete ten levels in one sitting on just three lives. I'd have to agree with that--it's a little frustrating when you finally polish off a particularly tricky level, then be faced with an even tougher one immediately afterward that quickly saps all of your remaining lives, meaning you've got to beat both of them again next time around.

I know Minis rarely get patched, but if the developer is listening, they should really consider adding such a checkpoint feature. Apart from that complaint, it's a nicely made game.

Me Monstar: Hear Me Roar is really cool. Right now, it's only available as a freebie to Plus members, and it's worth your time to download it. I've only played the first few levels so far, and while they're fairly easy at the outset, they are designed for you to play them repeatedly in order to obtain a better score, much like Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess. Getting the bronze award should be a piece of cake, but working your way to gold requires a much greater level of skill.

Another freebie for Plus members right now is Alien Zombie Death. It has been out for over a year, but still manages to serve up some good shooting fun.

If you crave classic arcade games from the 1980s, then SNK's releasing several of their early (pre-Neo-Geo) hits as Minis in just a few days. See this thread) for more information.

 

[daffy]

Someone should make a thread of all the best minis so far.



edit: Gonna get Flying Hamster and this Ninja game soon.

 

[Agent X]

Well, what do you know? Just a few minutes ago, I threw on The 2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character, and completed the second set of levels without much difficulty. In fact, I almost got through the third set as well!

I'd like to know more about Ninjamurai, and Mighty Flip Champs DX too.

FTH, Flying Hamster is top notch. The presentation is extremely polished, the game is fun to play, and it presents a good amount of challenge.

 

[Rhod]

The 2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character is a very good game. It stands out from the glut of platformers and "match-three" puzzle games by dishing up a rather original game concept, with crisp graphics and simple controls that are easy to grasp.

Thanks!

I know Minis rarely get patched, but if the developer is listening, they should really consider adding such a checkpoint feature. Apart from that complaint, it's a nicely made game.

I did try having a 5-stage and 2-stage checkpoint, but the feeling of the game was dramatically changed (lives became unimportant), and whilst that is more in-keeping with modern games, I personally felt it was a better experience when there was more tension as you got towards the latter levels of a stage, and then a feeling of greater accomplishment when you cleared them.

I think perhaps the overall balance of the earlier stages is a little too tough, and if they were simpler then the checkpoint/lives would be less stressful for some gamers. There are players (like me) who click with it straight away, and there were a few too many of those around me when building all the early stages, I guess!

Anyway, I'm afraid there's not likely to be another version, because I'm already neck-deep in the next game (Dakko Dakko is small!). I'll definitely make the next one more forgiving early on

I hope you stick at Rotating Octopus though - there are some stages I'm really proud of later on and the music and art just get better and better as it progresses, in my opinion.

EDIT:

Well, what do you know? Just a few minutes ago, I threw on The 2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character, and completed the second set of levels without much difficulty. In fact, I almost got through the third set as well!

NICE! There you go. It's starting to click. Sorry about the snakes though, they *are* tough

 

[Agent X]

Thanks!

You're welcome!

I did try having a 5-stage and 2-stage checkpoint, but the feeling of the game was dramatically changed (lives became unimportant), and whilst that is more in-keeping with modern games, I personally felt it was a better experience when there was more tension as you got towards the latter levels of a stage, and then a feeling of greater accomplishment when you cleared them.

I get what you're saying. I'm an "old school" gamer myself, so I remember the times when three lives were all you got, and then it was time to toss another quarter into the machine.

After my last playthrough a few minutes ago, I think I'd agree a checkpoint every two stages might be too generous, but one every five would have been a good compromise. This is not only to mitigate the difficulty of some of the later stages, but also simply to give the gamer on the go more of an opportunity to save his progress (although I guess sleep mode works, too).

I hope you stick at Rotating Octopus though - there are some stages I'm really proud of later on and the music and art just get better and better as it progresses, in my opinion.

Of course I intend to stick with it! Like you said, on that last session it somehow "clicked" what I needed to do. I think on a couple of the stages, I was getting impatient, and dashed across right into a waiting enemy on the other side. I knew this from my previous play sessions, so this time I played it a little more cautiously, and was much more successful as a result.

 

[HadesGigas]

I own a pretty sizable amount of Minis now, and the only one I regret buying is Angry Birds because of it's framerate issues. So I'd recommend pretty much all of these:

2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character
A Space Shooter For Two Bucks
Age of Zombies
Angry Birds
Arctic Adventures: Polar's Puzzles
Cubixx
Dracula - Undead Awakening
Echoes
Flying Hamster
Fortix
I Must Run
Jellycar 2
Mighty Flip Champs DX
Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess
Pac-Man CE
Pix'N Love Rush
Shift Extended
Tetris

And there's some I don't own yet that I'm interested in:
Ace Armstrong vs The Alien Scumbags
Denki Blocks (might opt for Android version)
Duael Invaders
Ninjamurai
Twin Blades (Already own Xbox version)
Who's That Flying (just bought Steam version)
Zenonia (A bit ridiculously priced compared to iPhone/Android)

 

[kassatsu]

Zenonia (A bit ridiculously priced compared to iPhone/Android)

Has slow down issues to boot, pass on it.

 

[daffy]

FTH, Flying Hamster is top notch. The presentation is extremely polished, the game is fun to play, and it presents a good amount of challenge.

Welp, I'll probably buy tonight then.

I own a pretty sizable amount of Minis now, and the only one I regret buying is Angry Birds because of it's framerate issues. So I'd recommend pretty much all of these:

2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character
A Space Shooter For Two Bucks
Age of Zombies
Angry Birds
Arctic Adventures: Polar's Puzzles
Cubixx
Dracula - Undead Awakening
Echoes
Flying Hamster
Fortix
I Must Run
Jellycar 2
Mighty Flip Champs DX
Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess
Pac-Man CE
Pix'N Love Rush
Shift Extended
Tetris

And there's some I don't own yet that I'm interested in:
Ace Armstrong vs The Alien Scumbags
Denki Blocks (might opt for Android version)
Duael Invaders
Ninjamurai
Twin Blades (Already own Xbox version)
Who's That Flying (just bought Steam version)
Zenonia (A bit ridiculously priced compared to iPhone/Android)

Thanks I'll check all of these out!

 

[Radius]

Ninjamurai looks interesting...will certainly try it out.

Just got Hysteria Project and already finished it. Though playing this on a TV made my eyes hurt I quite enjoyed it due to the creepy atmosphere. I hope the sequel is already being ported by Sanuk.

Other minis I can recommend are "Actual Crimes: Jack the Ripper" (if you're into hidden object games) and "Karoshi".

 

[Suzzopher]

I fully recommend Ninjamaruai, classic 2D scrolling action game.

Oh and everyone should own Denki Blocks.

 

[Rhod]

Of course I intend to stick with it! Like you said, on that last session it somehow "clicked" what I needed to do. I think on a couple of the stages, I was getting impatient, and dashed across right into a waiting enemy on the other side. I knew this from my previous play sessions, so this time I played it a little more cautiously, and was much more successful as a result.

Awesome. Really glad you're enjoying it. Caution is definitely the way to go, although for snakes (who are Rotating-Octopus-Seeking), a bit of confidence is key when you're leading them away from the babies.

Make it your mission to collect the waterdrops on a stage before you do anything dangerous

 

[DiscoJer]

Has slow down issues to boot, pass on it.

They patched that.

 

[kassatsu]

They patched that.

Didnt seem any better to me post patch.

 

[DiscoJer]

Didnt seem any better to me post patch.

Hmmm. You playing on a PS3 or PSP?

It's still sluggish in spots, but I thought it was a pretty dramatic improvement on PSP...

Someone made a video of the patched version on PSP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEtBw_yMMAs

 

[jvm]

Thanks!

I just wanted to toss in a vote for Rotating Octopus. My elder son (age 8) has had a blast with it (on the PS3). He had a hard time with it, and then I showed him a few things, and he just ran away with it. I think he's nearly finished, but hasn't played in a bit.

 

[Rhod]

Thanks JVM! Your avatar suggests you would enjoy knowing that many of the time trial times for Challenge Mode in Rotating Octopus were set by one of MM's co-founders. Though, because he is as good if not better than me at devising unusual routes through a stage, we added a bit of leeway to each time.

They may seem unbeatable at first but it's a case of 'easy when you know how'.

Anyway, really happy your son enjoyed it, and glad to have contributed to his gaming skill set!

 

[Takao]

Oh wow, screw Rovio. The new version of Angry Birds on Minis is lying through its mouth. It's using iOS pictures as being representative of its build quality (the resolution isn't anywhere near PSP, nor should the PSP build have the touch style pause button), it mentions features Minis can't have like; Facebook, Twitter, and Leaderboards (presumably online). The icon on the store is the exact same one that was published back in December, and there's no mention on if this version includes all the DLC the other versions received. All we know is that there's a bunch of lies, and that this version is now published by Rovio itself instead of Chillingo.

 

[CamHostage]

Oh wow, screw Rovio. The new version of Angry Birds on Minis is lying through its mouth.

Yep, this and Zenonia turned me right off of any iPhone ports to PSP, although Gamevil at least made good by patching Zenonia (which is great, this should have been a huge win for PSP as the iPhone game was apparently really cool but the port made this severely unplayable.) Rovio though, when I saw the iOS screens I knew it was a heartless portjob.

 

[Takao]

If you needed to know what Mighty Flip Champs DX played like, Wayforward released a trailer.

 

[jvm]

If you needed to know what Mighty Flip Champs DX played like, Wayforward released a trailer.

Looks nice. Reminds me of Shift Extended, in a way. May buy.

 

[HiddenAway]

Might be an interesting read for some users on the developer's view on PSP minis - including some sales figures.

 

[RelentlessRolento]

Might be an interesting read for some users on the developer's view on PSP minis - including some sales figures.

Good quick read.

I always like hearing good support from 1st party or whoever is in charge of the sales platform. I'm a little saddened at hearing about how less friendly MS and WiiWare is.

 

[Grinchy]

Oh wow, screw Rovio. The new version of Angry Birds on Minis is lying through its mouth. It's using iOS pictures as being representative of its build quality (the resolution isn't anywhere near PSP, nor should the PSP build have the touch style pause button), it mentions features Minis can't have like; Facebook, Twitter, and Leaderboards (presumably online). The icon on the store is the exact same one that was published back in December, and there's no mention on if this version includes all the DLC the other versions received. All we know is that there's a bunch of lies, and that this version is now published by Rovio itself instead of Chillingo.

Does the game actually run any better now? I couldn't believe how much the framerate died on PSP.

 

[Takao]

Does the game actually run any better now? I couldn't believe how much the framerate died on PSP.

Supposedly the frame rate issues have been fixed a bit. There is still slowdown if played on PSP.

About that post, they did later say they're working with Sony to allow those who bought the previous version of Angry Birds to get the new version for free.

 

[MarkusRJR]

I'm in Canada and I can't seem to find Angry Birds on the store. Was it taken down?

 

[HadesGigas]

I'm in Canada and I can't seem to find Angry Birds on the store. Was it taken down?

Still there for me, in the US. And still costs money even though I own it already.

 

[Takao]

Did anyone ever get the Angry Birds fixed version for free? I followed Rovio's instructions of emailing Sony CS and never got an email with the code.

 

[HadesGigas]

Did anyone ever get the Angry Birds fixed version for free? I followed Rovio's instructions of emailing Sony CS and never got an email with the code.

What instructions are these?

 

[Takao]

What instructions are these?

Basically contact customer service.

JVM got the fixed version, but I still haven't ...

 

[jvm]

Basically contact customer service.

JVM got the fixed version, but I still haven't ...

Yep. Worked for me. I actually have both on my system still...

 

[xenoflux2113]

Basically contact customer service.

JVM got the fixed version, but I still haven't ...

I am going to have to do this!

Edit: And submitted... hopefully they will get back to me soon about it. I would like to have a decent version of this.

 

[HadesGigas]

I emailed them about Angry Birds and today I got a download voucher! ...which was already redeemed... Thanks, Sony.

 

[Ben Morales]

I emailed them about Angry Birds and today I got a download voucher! ...which was already redeemed... Thanks, Sony.

I also received my voucher today. It was easy peasy. Turnaround time was about 3 business days.

 

[HadesGigas]

I also received my voucher today. It was easy peasy. Turnaround time was about 3 business days.

I'm waiting on my 2nd voucher now since that first one was already redeemed. They are pretty quick to respond to the emails, I'll give them that. I've been dealing with Gamestop via email over something recently and it takes them forever to get back to you.

Edit: got a working code now. Sent my first email the 23rd, got the dead one the 25th, and now a working one the 26th. Pretty swift turnaround. Good customer service.

But still kinda ridiculous that they didn't automatically offer this to every owner of the old version without us having to ask.

 

[Takao]

The long waited Mecho Wars finally launches Tuesday.

 

[Tomodachi]

Where Is My Heart? is amazing.

Also, anyone knows if psp minis will play on psvita? And I won't have to buy them again, right?

 

[HadesGigas]

Where Is My Heart? is amazing.

Also, anyone knows if psp minis will play on psvita? And I won't have to buy them again, right?

Only mention I can find is an old PS Blog post confirming they work on the "NGP". So, most likely. Someone would have complained about it by now if not.

 

[Takao]

Anyone pick up Mecho Wars? Seems to be a competent Advance Wars clone.

 

[Agent X]

Canabalt was released as a Mini in Europe recently. According to this article from Joystiq, it is scheduled to be released in the US next week.

 

[jvm]

But can it compare to I Must Run? That's a good step up for the idea I think.

 

[Agent X]

You're right, I Must Run is a very cool game. For those who haven't tried it, the game is similar in gameplay to Canabalt, but with a few additions to the formula, like being able to punch certain obstacles, and slide under low-hanging barriers.

While we're on the subject of Canabalt, did you know there's an official Commodore 64 version of Canabalt?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1INJ2tAEsc

 

[Baron]

While we're on the subject of Canabalt, did you know there's an official Commodore 64 version of Canabalt?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1INJ2tAEsc

The music to that C64 version is sublime.

 

[HiddenAway]

But can it compare to I Must Run? That's a good step up for the idea I think.

Wasn't Canabalt the original game?