411 Games Fact or Fiction 12.29.06: The GameCube version of Twilight Princess, the Frag Dolls, Kingdom Hearts, and more!
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 12.29.2006
Keith Perera and Chris Kovatsh talk about the GameCube version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the Frag Dolls, the key to the 360’s success, Kingdom Hearts, Super Mario Bros, and 2D games in this edition of Fact or Fiction Games.
You are about to witness another edition of Fact or Fiction. Joining us today are some of 411mania.com's newest games section writers. Our first participant is Keith Perera. Make sure that you check out last week's debut of his Me, Myself & Games column where he talks about the future of sandbox games, why Halo is so addictive, and his thoughts on the console wars. This is your chance to be there at the beginning. Our second participant is Chris Kovatsh. Many of you will be turning to his reviews when deciding on which games to spend your hard earned cash on. His first review is on Elite Beat Agents. Can a DS rhythm game work? Find out in his review. Lets get started -
1. Zelda fans that weren't able to get a Wii should ignore the GameCube version of The Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess. The Wii version is worth the wait.
Keith Perera: FICTION
Well I haven't played the game but I know a lot of people have been waiting for this game for a while now and I hear the game is basically pushing the limits of what the GameCube could do while on the Wii the big thing is the Wii controller element you don't get with the GameCube version. And being that various reviews have both versions at about the same with a few favoring the the GameCube even, I would say just get the GameCube version. I personally am not a fan of the Wii Controller when it comes to games like that. For something like Wii sports it would be great but it's too gimmicky for some others games in my opinion.
Chris Kovatsh: FICTION
The game was meant for the GameCube and they just made it for the Wii as a last minute kind of thing. The special controls for the Wii version don't make the game what it is. In fact, I think it makes the game worse. The graphics are exactly the same for both systems and there are no special features or new things in the Wii version, so you almost might as well get the GameCube version. There's no sense in waiting for another month to play a brilliant game if you just want to move a remote around to swing a sword instead of pressing a button.
Score: 1 for 1
2. The Frag Dolls' recent win at a pro-circuit event is significant.
Keith Perera: FICTION
I don't think this win makes women everywhere want to start entering into gaming tournaments. I think entering in those kind of things are for those kinds of people. I love games but you won't find me entering into any competitions. It's just not for me. I mean if they turn this into a whole publicity thing and have them in Maxim and etc... it may turn into something but the win alone isn't too significant too me. But congrats to the Frag Dolls none the less.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
It is significant, but mainly just because it's a bunch of women winning a pro-circuit event and it's never been done before. It's also a big deal because they're women winning in a man dominated world. I think that this will get more women into competing in pro-circuit events just because I'm sure women were too intimidated to even enter the competition in the first place.
Score: 1 for 2
3. According to video game analyst David Cole, "the key to the 360's overall success is what they'll offer consumers who don't go online." He is correct.
Keith Perera: FACT
I agree with that. I believe the majority of people with computers are still on dial-up. They do have to focus on the campaigns in games and offline content. We're noticing a trend with a lot more shorter games because so much money is being put into these games and so much time is spent on the online portion. Add that to the fact that the PS3 is free to play online and the 360 is not, it is something to look at. So many people already say that Microsoft is all about shooters and now they're all about the online play. If they want to win the console war or make big leaps they have to look to the gamers who won't be playing games online.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
I completely agree with that statement, it's one of the reasons I chose a Wii over a 360. I hate playing online games for the most part. I can't stand the communities and people are jerks for the most part. Just because you play a game more than me doesn't make me a bad person. The fact that Halo 2 didn't have bots drove me nuts. Especially because they figured this would encourage people to get Xbox Live, but I never intended on getting it. So I was playing with 3 other people in ridiculously huge maps and maybe there'd be 3 kills over an eight minute free for all. It almost ruined the game for me only being able to play a few of the smaller maps. I don't think it's an issue of money that people aren't playing online though. I think it's mainly just some people hate playing online games.
Score: 2 for 3
4. Another Kingdom Hearts game would be one Kingdom Hearts too many.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
It's fine the way it is. I'd rather have them not ruin the legacy of the series by releasing another one and besides, I personally think the first one was a lot better than the second. If they really need to do a Disney RPG they have many options. You could do an entire RPG based on the world of Little Mermaid or Aladdin. Square Enix has enough series of RPG's going on as it is. Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest are at ridiculous numbers of sequels and they don't need to do it to another series. The thing that made Kingdom Hearts so great is that it was a new fresh idea. It'd be in their best interest if they kept thinking of new ideas and not rehashing everything over and over again.
Keith Perera: FACT
I'll be honest - I never played this game so it's hard for me to comment on it too much but based on what Chris was saying I agree. Too many games are being watered down and whored out for sequel after sequel. But every time something is successful the majority of companies will beat it to death like a virgin on humping day. Ok did that make any sense?
Score: 3 for 4
5. Super Mario Bros. is the one game that you would definitely buy on the Wii's Virtual Console.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
Definitely. This will be one of the first games I buy for the Virtual Console. I can play this game forever regardless of how many times I have beaten it. Any game that has a remote connection to my childhood will be snatched up in a second. Also this is one of the games you don't need to get into and can play for a good fifteen minutes and beat it. It's good that they're releasing this game though because a fair amount of people bought Mario Bros. on the Virtual Console expecting Super Mario Bros. and were really disappointed.
Keith Perera: FACT
Of course, Super Mario Bros. was such a huge game for so many young gamers who are now adult gamers. I was actually a Sega fan growing up and was like against Nintendo haha. Little Sega Fanboy... but after switching from Sega to Sony's PlayStation (I didn't get the Dreamcast) I stopped caring about devoting myself to a console / company. I played it years after and I loved it. It's a character that has at times single handedly been the saving grace for Nintendo so of course Super Mario Bros. would be a definite buy for the Virtual Console.
Score: 4 for 5
6. 2D is dead. All console games, with the exception of retro and downloadable games, should be in 3D.
Chris Kovatsh: FICTION
If the Nintendo DS didn't exist I might have said fact, but the top DS games are 2D. As much as I don't want 2D to ever leave, I cannot imagine the next Nintendo portable system having 2D graphics at all. However, some of my favorite games that are fairly recent are 2D. Games like Fire Pro Wrestling R for the PS2 and Alien Hominid for the GameCube are excellent and excel in gameplay to make up for the lack of 3D graphics.
Keith Perera: FICTION
I love playing my Gears of War or Rainbow Six Vegas or Half-Life episode monkeytail but I also love playing Alex Kidd! Enchanted Castle bitches!! Or Michael Jackson's Moonwalker!! Alex Kidd is still fun for me to this day, I wish there were more Alex Kids games from something like the PSP or DS. I would buy one easily ‘cause they are freaking fun. No way 2D is dead. 2D is just like any other thing in the entertainment world. Like when they said horror is dead ‘cause there were too many horror films out. Well, if you make a good game or movie people will flock to it no matter what. So things like 2D will never be dead, only makers and developers will die or suck at making them. I mean of course 3D will always be the main thing but a lot of people still love 2D. They can create new 2D games like Alex Kidd or Mario Bros. and it will be loved too if it's good. Man I want to go play some Altered Beast! "POWER UP!"
Score: 5 for 6
A final score of 5 for 6. Your mission is to check out the next edition of Fact or Fiction Games. Rumor has it that the Malice Four will do everything in their power to keep you from fulfilling that mission. You won't let them stop you, will you?
