Originally posted by asteroidboyIt's a good system if you don't give a shit about Tom Clancy and some boring military-esque strategy game, or first person shooters.
I don't, but I could buy Splinter Cell and TimeSplitters II for the Cube if I wanted to fill those voids. Metroid Prime has (single-player) FPS roots as well.
Nintendo's systems will always have strong first-party franchises, and there are many who'll buy those systems solely for those titles. The problem is that those franchises aren't always released in a timely manner. (Better to be late-and-great than rushed-and-flawed, of course, but I know people who bought an N64 because they expected a Metroid game for it, for instance.) Zelda: The Wind Waker was the last confirmed "big gun" for 2003, so far; games like Mario 128 and Mario Kart and Kirby and Pokemon are in development, but release dates are still firmly in TBA-land. There have to be good third-party games in between to fill in those gaps, or nobody BUT the faithful franchise acolytes will buy the console.
As long as popular titles are released for all three systems, that's not a big problem. But if third-party developers start dropping the Cube -- as Sega has done with some sports titles -- that's a red flag, as retailers will start treating it as a second-class system and giving it less shelf space.
The question is this: if I'm not already interested in Miyamoto's classic game franchises, why should I buy a GameCube? (If I was a big fan, I'd already own one, but I don't.) If Nintendo can keep giving a credible answer to that question, they'll do fine. If they can't...
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Nintendo is a bitch about making you wait. But I think that their quality always trumps. Mario Sunshine brought the cube back, along with Metroid (which, you're right, vsp, I guess it IS a FSP). Worth it? I guess it's up to the user.
One question - Mario 128?? I thought Sunshine was gonna be the definitive Mario game for the Cube. Is this a sequel? Or was there some big Mario Sunshine backlash that I wasn't aware of?
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Originally posted by asteroidboyNintendo is a bitch about making you wait. But I think that their quality always trumps. Mario Sunshine brought the cube back, along with Metroid (which, you're right, vsp, I guess it IS a FSP). Worth it? I guess it's up to the user.
One question - Mario 128?? I thought Sunshine was gonna be the definitive Mario game for the Cube. Is this a sequel? Or was there some big Mario Sunshine backlash that I wasn't aware of?
There were alot of people who didn't like the waterpack, but across the board I think people were pretty happy with Sunshine.
Of course, Mario 128 is Mario 64x2. So, perhaps it's more of a direct sequel?
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Well, I don't know about you guys, but it seems to me that the 'cube isn't just getting Nintendo's historical franchises, but the bulk of Sega's as well. As an old Sega fanboy, that's a pretty big bonus.
However, the Sega Ages Phantasy Star remakes seem to be PS2 only...
Why are people "loyal" to systems? Unless your getting a paycheck from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo your missing out as a gamer. I know everyone don't have the funds but, if you can I reccomend buying all 3 systems. There are just too many games exclusive to the systems that should not be missed.
I've also been a Nintendo fanboy since the very beginning, (I even had a Virtual Boy) but I just don't think I'm missing anything now. The games I want to play are on the Cube, and nothing on PS2 or X-Box piques my interest. And like Bongo mentioned, just getting some SEGA franchises like Sonic, is icing on the cake. If someone offered me the X-BOX for free I'd turn them down or take it and Jacknife it into a ditch.
One thing I will say having all systems make it hard to get into a game. I still haven't beat Vice City, Halo, Spliter Cell, Tenchu, Mario, Metroid, Zelda. I just bought Def Jam Vendetta for the GC. That is all I've been playing. I only have a few hours a week to play anyway.
I have both a PS2 and a GameCube. I think in general, there are more games on PS2 that I want to play, but when Nintendo makes a great game, they make a great motherfucking game. I just got Zelda: Wind Waker three days ago, and I've been getting even less sleep than I usually do. (Which isn't much to begin with).
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Truthfully, Nintendo's money maker is the Game Boy, not the GameCube. There are a limited number of games for the GC, so it makes for a good secondary system if you really like to play alot of games. I think that Nintendo's first party games are great, but there are so few of them that it is frustrating. I fully expect the GC to drop to 99 bucks with a free game at E3. I think that would sell some GCs and hopefully sell some more software as well.
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Originally posted by HrdCoreJoeI've also been a Nintendo fanboy since the very beginning, (I even had a Virtual Boy) but I just don't think I'm missing anything now. The games I want to play are on the Cube, and nothing on PS2 or X-Box piques my interest. And like Bongo mentioned, just getting some SEGA franchises like Sonic, is icing on the cake. If someone offered me the X-BOX for free I'd turn them down or take it and Jacknife it into a ditch.
I have to agree: there's nothing on X-Box I want to play, and the only thing I want to play on PS2 is Final Fantasy (and maybe Metal Gear). All in all, if I'm only going to have one system, I would rather have the one with Metroid and Zelda because they will ALWAYS be better than Final Fantasy, IMHO. Of course, this is the kind of thing that starts an Internet riot, but I believe Final Fantasy has gone nowhere but downhill after FF7. Flashy graphics and long "awe" sequences full of psychobabble in the FF series are no match for meeting that first space pirate who greets you with a hideous "BLAARRRGHGHGHWWHHH!"
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Originally posted by Parts UnknownI have to agree: there's nothing on X-Box I want to play, and the only thing I want to play on PS2 is Final Fantasy (and maybe Metal Gear). All in all, if I'm only going to have one system, I would rather have the one with Metroid and Zelda because they will ALWAYS be better than Final Fantasy, IMHO. Of course, this is the kind of thing that starts an Internet riot, but I believe Final Fantasy has gone nowhere but downhill after FF7. Flashy graphics and long "awe" sequences full of psychobabble in the FF series are no match for meeting that first space pirate who greets you with a hideous "BLAARRRGHGHGHWWHHH!"
And FFVII wasn't the undying masterpiece many make it out to be. Was it a step forward, a significant landmark in RPG _presentation_, with purty graphics and snazzy movies? Sure. Was it a pretty good game? Yeah. But people who (with a straight face) talk about weeping over Aeris's corpse scare me. A lot. Most of the characters had all the depth of a cake pan, just like in every other RPG.
(The PS2 has plenty of other RPGs to choose from beyond the FF series -- a ton more, if you include its backward compatibility. I'm plowing through PS1 Persona 2: Eternal Punishment as I speak.)
EDIT: And what is wrong with Nintendo's marketing team?
I laughed heartily at the get-one-of-four-games-free deal, as it included Metroid Prime, their biggest title at that time. "Why give away for free one of the FEW games that many GameCube owners are sure to pay money for?," I asked. "Zelda will have to sell a lot of systems to make up for that."
Last week, I was in a Wal-Mart with my wife, and saw a GameCube display. For the typical $149, you had your choice of a handful of Cube+game packs. You could get a Cube with Metroid Prime... one with Mario Sunshine... OR ONE WITH ZELDA and the N64 Ocarina add-on discs. Free.
I'd like to repeat this for emphasis: Nintendo was giving away FOR FREE their biggest system-seller title of the year, the last "big gun" on Nintendo's schedule for quite some time, within a month or two of its release.
Are they TRYING to lose money? Is this some sort of Brewster's Millions deal going on here?
(edited by vsp on 22.4.03 0933) "You may be wondering why I have been making so many references lately to Fox News. The reason is that it is now my cable news network of choice -- because if I’m going to watch the news and be lied to, I want it to be ridiculously obvious that I am being lied to." -- Center for an Informed America, Newsletter #34
Originally posted by vsp I'm plowing through PS1 Persona 2: Eternal Punishment as I speak
I loved the Persona series. Probably the best storylines of any Playstation RPG. If it wasn't for the crippling amount of random encounters and how easy it is to have a party with personas that are completely worthless against the next boss(stupid Devil Sugimoto), I'd call them perfect. A really overlooked series, especially by all the Square marks.
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Originally posted by UnderwaterIf it wasn't for the crippling amount of random encounters and how easy it is to have a party with personas that are completely worthless against the next boss(stupid Devil Sugimoto), I'd call them perfect.
And even then, the flaws are fixable. You can get out of most random encounters peaceably via the Contact system, and even get an item or cards for your troubles. There's a spell that helps ward off random encounters with enemies beneath your experience level. And while some Personae are more useful than others, you can change them on-the-fly in combat from a library of a dozen or so, so if one set is ineffective, you should have a Plan B or C in reserve.
I found Persona 2 for $1.99 at my local Blockbastard Video. I'm currently at the 53-hour mark on my main savefile. Not a bad deal...
"You may be wondering why I have been making so many references lately to Fox News. The reason is that it is now my cable news network of choice -- because if I’m going to watch the news and be lied to, I want it to be ridiculously obvious that I am being lied to." -- Center for an Informed America, Newsletter #34
Persona 2 is one of the greatest PSX RPGs. I still haven't beaten the final boss, and I'm at least 75 hours in (and missing a lot of sidequests and special stuff along the way...)
Regarding the encounter rate, try to summon a Personae or find a spell card with Estoma on it. That should solve a lot of problems, depending on your character level. You have to be careful not to become underlevelled, though. You can also make battles easier by looking into Fusion spells, and making sure to end each battle with a Fusion of some kind to help force mutations, making your Personae stronger or perhaps triggering an evolution.
Devil Sugimoto... I don't remember that boss, but I had the hardest times against Joker Noriko and that damned fortune teller (assuming you take Ellen's path). Joker Noriko in particular required me to gain at least six levels and summon an entire new group of Personae. If you don't have Maia Custom for that battle, you could be fucked.
Originally posted by ekedolphinI have both a PS2 and a GameCube. I think in general, there are more games on PS2 that I want to play, but when Nintendo makes a great game, they make a great motherfucking game. I just got Zelda: Wind Waker three days ago, and I've been getting even less sleep than I usually do. (Which isn't much to begin with).
Testify, brother.
Almost all of my friends have a PS2, but are constantly asking me to bring my Gamecube.
But, as far as FPS games go, I gotta stick with my fellow CounterStrikers.
Originally posted by Bongo P. MichinokuDevil Sugimoto... I don't remember that boss, but I had the hardest times against Joker Noriko and that damned fortune teller (assuming you take Ellen's path). Joker Noriko in particular required me to gain at least six levels and summon an entire new group of Personae. If you don't have Maia Custom for that battle, you could be fucked.
Noriko didn't bother me much, once I cast a single spell -- Wall of Water. That shut down her primary damage spell (Maha Aques), and once I figured out how to counter Old Maid (by defending), she wasn't hard at all.
If any battle troubled me, it was the police captain and his four SWAT-team buddies. Between their tear-gas group Sleep attacks and Aimed Shot (instant death if it hits), they screwed up my Fusions left and right. I ended up with only Maya alive when one last Maha Aques took out all four at once, then brought everyone else back one-at-a-time to pound on the captain...
"You may be wondering why I have been making so many references lately to Fox News. The reason is that it is now my cable news network of choice -- because if I’m going to watch the news and be lied to, I want it to be ridiculously obvious that I am being lied to." -- Center for an Informed America, Newsletter #34