Wario Land for VB was not merely a port, but a brand new game that never was remade for GB. It was in fact a very fun though short game with some pseudo 3D gameplay involved. As the first Wario game I played, I enjoyed it very much.
Visuals: Well, unlike any game for ANY other system save other 3D goggle systems, Wario Land was truly 3D, though it was still just sprites. That's all it had going though. The sprites looked about SNES quality, minus any color depth (many shades of red, and black, that's it). Everything looked as it should, and the depth was nice. However, adjusting to the real world's greater amount of color and different "depth shrink rate" than the VB game can be a sensory rush, like when you first chew on a bit of tasty food and you feel this rush of flavor fill your mouth when you haven't eaten in a bit. Graphically, it was so-so I'd say.
Sound: The sound quality of the VB is somewhere between the NES and SNES, but with superior voice sampling than either. The music isn't memorable (honestly, I can't remember a single tune from that game, so that's a perfect description), but I remember it got the job done. The sounds however are done quite well. Everything sounds as it should, from springboards to blasting fire.
Gameplay: Being my first Wario game, the gameplay was very fun to me. The levels were ones you felt free to explore, and wanted to, with the lack of any time limit. There were only 13 levels, but they were somewhat long (though even the first Wario game is still far longer). They were though very fun levels, with cleverly hidden special items in each you had to find for highest money score. The game is essentially still 2D play, but they gave the illusion of 3D by having two "levels" of play. There was a forground, and the background. You used springboards strewn across the levels to go back and forth between them. Honestly, a 2D displaying system like the GCN or the GBA could have done the same with no detrimental effects on one's ability to determine what little "depth" there was at all. However, it was a fun gimic. There were also the infamous hats. In the first Wario Land, you had the basic hats that stood alone. In the VB game, you could actually combine the functions of the hats and eventually form the almighty flying dragon helm, capable of letting you fly, shoot fireballs across the screen (capable of destorying anything a dash could), and smash into the ground. The levels also had HEIGHT to them, so you had a lot more to explore.
The bosses all involved the springboarding and being able to see how far away their attacks were from your "depth level". They were good bosses, but again, nothing that couldn't be done on a 2D display.
Replayability: When you beat the game, you got hard mode, with lots more deadly spikes, some more enemies, and "damaged" versions of all the rare items to find. Also, some elements of the ending are determined by the speed in which you beat the game. It's got enough fun quality that you will likely have no frustration at least playing until you have a perfect ending on hard mode. Still though, even being the first one I played, I'll say it's not the best Wario game out there. I will however also say that it would be nice if they ported it (fully colored) to GBA some time in the future.
Overall: Not really much to say. If you've played one Wario game, well, then you have played one Wario game. I think I got that expression wrong, but the meaning was basically that they are all very similar in gameplay so after playing one of them you know what to expect from the rest. Fun enough that if you find it for like ten dollars, it's worth it, but anything more (and it would be if you had to get a VB as well) then just get some other cheap Wario game for the same price.
Score: I don't do scores any more. Reading my review should let you decide how good the game is. Score it yourself.
Right now I'm watching season 2 on DVD [PAL import] and it really is worth the price, which is only $30-40. My favorite part of the DVD's are the commentaries, which provide some insite into the series and reveals some of the secrets you might not catch, but mainly it's just downright funny. The commentaries themselves are worth the price you pay for DVD's. And of course the series itself is really funny and, IMO, one of the best American cartoon series around [close behind ATHF, Space Ghost C to C, and Sea Lab].
Uh, yeah... I know I kinda sorta disappeared... however, after Cypherstation was revived (successfully this time :holyshit: ), I decided to check and see how this place is doing. Still the same ol' Tendo City as I remember it. ;)
Quote:June 13, 2003 - In a report by Yahoo Asia News, Nintendo admitted that software sales for its current-generation GameCube console have been sluggish.
"Our software has not been widely accepted by consumers," said Ken Toyoda, Nintendo of Japan's public relations head.
Toyoda also noted that it's difficult to develop software that can appeal to both beginner and expert players.
What, not going to say again that people are less interested in video games? :)
Quote:Access Corp. LTD has announced that it will be making it's NetFront internet software available as middleware for the GameCube to publishers and developers very soon.
Access is alredy the internet middleware provider for Sega's Phantasy Star Online Episode 3: CARD Battle.
Access is also the company that provided Konami the internet middleware tools for its upcoming Power Pro Stadium 10 Japanese baseball game on the GameCube and PlayStation 2, which has downloadable rosters available for it on both versions.
Access has stated that besides the normal TCP/IP stack that is the most common protocall among all internet software, that their NetFront internet middleware tools for the GameCube will also have a format called AVE-TCP, which is IPv6 compatible; as well as a wireless protocoll known as WAP Wireless Profiled TCP, WAP 2.0.
Hopefully with the release of this news, more online capable games will become available for the GC in the future!
..and so far, I'm only about 1 hour into it. But I can say, it already seems much better than #2 (which I found to be overall, lacking). At the moment, the storyline has yet had time to mature to the same level that was present in #2 from near the start of the game, but there have been a few interesting revelations that make you wonder just what the storyline will be about.
Gameplay is largely the same. Knife, pistol, pipe, etc. etc. Though I have been surprised by the almost complete lack of puzzles at this stage in the game. But again, I expect that to pick up as well (although, given how short the game apparently is..)
The graphics are indeed as good as we've seen in the screenshots. WEith amazing textures (for the PS2 at least). Even though the enironments are small, they are impressive. Of course with the lighting systems, there are times you notice inconsistancies. Such as when you enter a sunlit room, your shadow will be on the wall, even if you are pointing your light at it. Also, there really isn't that much difference between in-game graphics, and cut-scene graphics.. other than animations.
Anyways, I'm largely positive about this game at this stage, and while the story doesn't appear to be as good as #2 (which was the best thing about the game - hopefully it'll pick up) the atmosphere is great. I've already had the shite scared out of me on a number of occasions. Although it seems to be a lot of monsters in corridor - run to next room for safety - search room - run back through corridor with monsters - go inside next room. Meaning it doesn't maintain the intensity the whole time.
Anyways, those are my impressions, I'll update once I'm further into the game. :)
