"Doh’s Investigations - Overview (Part 2)"
January 2003 Edition: Was Mario Sunshine Rushed?
Well yes it was, but having re-read my investigation I believe I was a little unfair to compare the game with the Nintendo 64 (now Nintendo DS) hit, Super Mario 64. HavinH Having recently played the DS version of Mario 64, I came to realise that the games are similar but at the same time very different from each other. Very well, Mario 64 DS is a complete over haul of the original, with plenty of new features, but at heart it was the same game allowing for the realisation that the comparisons don’t really match up.
Nintendo have had to make sacrifices and indeed with this so called “Mario 128” still in the works, they had to keep gamers interested and ploughed out a Mario game to show that the plumber was still around. This could have also been coupled with the fact that Luigi’s mansion was far too short and gamers wanted some classic Nintendo gaming.
Mario Sunshine however, is not a classic, not in the Nintendo sense. With the new feature of a water gun, FLUDD, it allowed a different and fresher feel to the series. And this is the point where comparisons with Mario 64 were wrong. Nintendo were attempting to try out something different, mixed in with the classic platforming elements from previous titles. It was an addition to an already stale 7 year old format and changed it completely.
February 2003 Edition: It’s all about the Graphics, Part 1 - Which Zelda game would look best if it had a GameCube style graphical update?
Well it seems as though I was wrong about something I mentioned in this Investigation. I had stated that children of the PS1/N64 and current consoles generation would just stick their noses up at the two Zelda titles that appeared on the NES all those many years ago. However, soon after the Investigation was written, Nintendo released the first wave of NES Classics onto the GBA, and this included The Legend of Zelda. Of course that wasn’t all, a few months later and the second set of NES classics were released and believe it or not, Zelda II: Adventure of Link was apart of that. So, how did they do? Very well actually, the response was quite incredible, having worked at a shop selling the games I noticed that the majority of the people buying the games were in fact children and indeed the generation I just mentioned.
This may be so, but what about updates? Well I was wrong again, I’ve changed my mind on The Legend of Zelda not being suitable for a GameCube style graphical update, in fact I believe all 2D Zelda games could be translated in 3D very well. Though changes would be needed to encompass the games, especially LoZ as it would be in need of much fleshing out, let’s face it, the overworld isn’t really much to look at, but like I say, it’s not the graphics that count, but the gameplay and other elements. And with that said, it’s still one great game!
March 2003 Edition: It’s all about the Graphics, Part 2 - Why are the graphics used to judge a game?
Oh dear, perhaps my worst Investigation EVER! It had good intentions, but I was in such a bad mood the day that I wrote it, something to do with hosting I believe. I think I got entangled into a hosting dispute, but alas I can’t remember the details. Thinking about it, the whole Investigation is just one huge angry attack, with some justification mind, but some very sketchy details. Oh and yes, the two swear words in there were sent into Max without the asterisks (the little star thing) in them. Before you ask, yes I did get told off…and shot.
But onto the Investigation matter, I really don’t have anything else to add, my view points are all there.
April 2003 Edition: The Wind Waker: An Investigation
Have my views on The Wind Waker changed? Well in a way they have and in another way they haven’t. Everything written in the Investigation is what I believe even now, but The Wind Waker does have its merits and I seem to have shot it down to a level that I care not to talk about. Is it down at this level? I believe so, but when recently re-playing TWW, it made me realise it’s much more like the old 2D Zelda games than OoT and MM were. The Wind Waker has this key element called “fun for all”, take OoT as an example, they stuck 8+ stickers all over the game boxes in Europe, whereas with TWW it’s easily accessible by all. Yes, it may be much like the old 2D Zelda’s, but it’s still a very shallow imitation and that comment shouldn’t taken literally, It’s just being used as a basis.
All in all, some of my opinions have shifted on The Wind Waker. However, when judging the game, I still see it in the same light.
August 2003 Edition: Is the GBA to GCN Connection Worth Continuing?
Well I think I can safely say that this idea has flopped to the depths, never to return (hopefully!).
What was Nintendo thinking? They had this great new feature, that they never actually tried selling this idea to third party developers, so what do you expect? That everyone will just come rushing to this feature and utilise it in every single game? No chance! The real question is, will Nintendo ever learn? Here’s looking to the Revolution…
September 2003 Edition: Is Nintendo Becoming Lazy?
They were becoming lazy, but it seems Nintendo may be getting off its lazy butt to actually start working on some good quality games, but maybe a little too late. So far we’ve had some terrible games and since writing that Investigation Nintendo haven’t really gotten any better, what with Mario Kart: Double Dash!! being absolute garbage and releasing some rehashed trash known as Mario Tennis and Mario Golf. Yeah they were good games on the N64 and they’re okay on the GameCube, but do we need updates of all of Mario’s games? It’s just pure laziness. We’re still waiting on those killer titles! And please no more Mario Party games, because the microphone with the 6th title is just a pathetic gimmick.
Though we may be in luck with the new Legend of Zelda game on the horizon and also Mario 128 apparently still in production, so there may be light at the end of the tunnel after all.
November 2003 Edition: Do We Really Need Violent Video Games?
This topic is getting much more controversial by the day. But I will stick to my guns (pardon the very bad pun) and say that there are warnings on these games such as GTA and parents should be made aware of this. It’s illegal to sell GTA games to people under 18 anyway, and if the stores aren’t sticking to this then they need to be made aware also. Yeah I’m all for tighter restrictions on the selling of these games, but banning them would be going too far. If you ban violent video games then you have to ban violent movies at the same time, because they both convey the same messages.
February 2004 Edition: The Nintendo DS: An Investigation
Well okay I’ll admit it, I was wrong. The Nintendo DS is indeed a piece of innovative kit, and the extra touch screen really does add another dimension to the system. And yes I was very wrong regarding the PDA idea.
There is still however one problem with the system that I fear will cause the downfall of the NDS, the lack of games being released. We were promised that over 100 titles were in development when first announced, at the moment we have a small handful (some being very rubbish titles at that) and they are being released at a slow rate that makes me wonder why Nintendo even bothered.
It’s unique that’s for sure and it’s slick innovation in a portable shell, but it still has a way to go to prove itself. The PSP is also here, we’ll see who wins this battle.
Yes I know I’ve only included one 2004 Investigation, but the rest are still fresh opinions and don’t need reviewing.
Well this is it, the end of the Investigation on Doh’s Investigations. I’ve looked over all my past Investigations and commented on them. My opinions have certainly changed over the years, I’ve never been soft as it’s Nintendo, I set out to exploit the flaws in the company and I believe I have succeeded.
So this is it…a goodbye, please go back to the Investigations main page to check out the little extra called “The End of the Investigations - A Goodbye and The One’s that got away.” It’s my final goodbye note, so please go take a look.
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