Coming Attractions 09.27.08: Homecoming for a Hedgehog

Posted by Drew Robbins on 09.27.2008

Join 411's Drew Robbins this week as he looks at the possible return to greatness for Sonic, as well as a next-gen debut of Silent Hill, with Silent Hill Homecoming. As an added bonus, he ranks the Mega Man series from worst to best in celebration of Mega Man 9.

Welcome…to the world of tomorrow! In an attempt to follow up last week's great success, this week fails miserably only putting out one game that is possibly worth buying!

- So I'm a little fed up with other gaming media outlets at the moment…mostly because of IGN and Gamedaily's "review" of the latest Kirby game. I'll start with Gamedaily, who are so clueless they didn't even realize that Super Star Ultra was a remake. That mistake is more forgivable than the…crimes committed in the IGN review. First of all, the reviewer talks about the history of the game, showing that at least they know what this game is. Here, the reviewer calls Super Star the "least played Kirby game" and a game that made "little impact." Find a gaming board on the internet and tell them that Kirby was the "least played," and had "little impact." It sure as heck had impact, this game dominated a lot of people's childhoods. Later they go on to say that the game hasn't changed enough, blah blah blah, 7.9. Really? No, I don't think that this is a bad score, but let me show you why this makes me so infuriated.

IGN's Review for Final Fantasy 4 (remake on DS) - Updated graphics, same thing we played years ago though, oh and they throw in more dialogue. 8.7/10

IGN's Review for Kirby Super Star Ultra (again, remake) - Polished animations, added new modes, new cutscenes…but we have played it before. 7.9.

Really, how does that work? When a game actually adds gameplay, it gets less score than something that just adds really nice graphics? Kirby Super Star has four new modes, and one of them lets you play through the main game as Meta Knight. I think that is better than new dialogue, personally. Another fact I'd like to throw in is the fact that we have played Kirby Super Star once before, but Final Fantasy 4 has been re-released three times now. "Dur hur, yup, never played dis one before." Way to show your bias, it is obvious that the gaming media doesn't care about you unless you are an RPG, a shooter, or a sports game. The eternal burying of platformers continues…

- I got this game in the mail, and that is usually cause for celebration…but not this time. What I expected was a fun wrestling game, but what I got was TNA: Impact...the worst wrestling game ever made (unless you count WCW Thunder, which no, I don't.). I'll save my whole analysis for the review, which will be up sometime soon, I'm not sure if I want to post a menacing review for TNA or a nice review for Kirby first. Needless to say, I will enjoy ripping TNA a new one in my review.



Coming Attractions – Week 12

Week 12 brings us the return of Sonic, a homecoming dance for the Silent Hill series, and another Harvest Moon game. Didn't one just come out a few weeks ago?

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility (Wii) - When I think of franchises that need to just take a break for a while, I think of Tony Hawk, Madden, Guitar Hero, Megaman Battle Network, and even Harvest Moon. I love the Harvest Moon series, as it stole my soul for a year or so when the Gameboy Color game came out several years ago. Since then, there have been seemingly a bajillion new entries in the series, and most of those entries even received a remake where you could play as a girl. Interestingly enough, the Gameboy Color game had that feature already, so I guess Natsume has more money troubles than they used to.

Anyways, another Harvest Moon is on its way, only a few weeks separated from the latest DS game. I feel like this is a really bad business move. People who play Harvest Moon usually sink several hours in to each iteration, but when they are so close, and they are probably still enjoying the last one, why even bother? A few years back when they released "Wonderful Life" and "Friends of Mineral Town" on the GBA/GCN, those games were separated by a mere six months at most. That may seem bad, but it is most certainly better than just a few weeks. This is looking very much like the Lego games situation. You don't want to overkill your fans with too many games close together, because eventually that customer will stop buying your products. It simply isn't good business.
My Opinion: Ehhh - I suppose if you don't have the DS version, or are a die hard Harvest Moon fan, then you should buy this. Otherwise, stay away!



Silent Hill Homecoming (Multi) - So it is that time of the year in Silent Hill, yep, the Silent Hill Silencers are returning from a busy away schedule to celebrate their homecoming! Hilarity ensues when Pyramid Head spills punch on someone's dress…and then he rapes her. Oh, it isn't about that? Gosh darn-it, I was getting really excited there for a second. Well, you do actually return "home," if your home is in the dark land of Silent Hill. This time excitement waits as you delve into the mysteries surrounding Toluca Lake!

I'll be honest; I've never played a Silent Hill, not once in my life. Why? The horror genre has never really appealed to me, that and the fact that I've seen a video of the aforementioned Pyramid Head…and that scared the holy heck out of me. Clearly this game is going to be scary, and that is good news for horror fans as you seem to have little to look forward to these days. Resident Evil has turned into an (awesome) action game, and outside of that there isn't too much. Fatal Frame is coming to the Wii, but that is one game. Sometimes I whine about the industry not pandering to my platforming tastes, but you horror fans really get the short end of the stick.

I really don't know what to say about this game…so I won't. If you enjoy being scared senseless, buy it. If not, then this game is most likely not for you.
My Opinion: Thumbs Up - Looks quality, and apparently they are changing up the gameplay. I think that is a good thing, right?



This Week's #1 Pick

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (DS) - Sonic is back, and while that is usually time for panic, I think this time it is a moment for celebration. You heard it here first, the comeback starts here! After years of waiting for a great Sonic game to sweep me off my feet, the time has finally come. You may wonder why I'm so high on a game I have yet to even play…so I'll go over everything that makes me excited for this Sonic RPG.

1) Bioware – Let it be known that Bioware, makers of KoTOR and Mass Effect, is one of the few companies to put out an RPG I've enjoyed over the past few years. Square did it with Chrono Trigger and Mario RPG ages ago, Lunar satisfied me during the time of the PS1, and since then…nothing but Bioware. Knights of the Old Republic was easily the best Star Wars game, and arguably one of the best games of all time. I expected a boring number-crunching RPG, but I got an extremely addictive RPG that gave me the illusion of being an action game. From what I've seen, and from what Derek tells me (import copy), Sonic Chronicles keeps you active during battles, and not just picking from a menu.
2) EBA Style - You should have been there, I nearly exploded from my seat when I read the words "Sonic RPG…Elite Beat Agents gameplay." EBA is my favorite rhythm game, and one of my all time favorite games in general. Now mix that with my hero, Sonic, and you are making magic! This is one of the most brilliant concepts I've ever heard, and any chance to tap numbered buttons will be taken by me.
3) Sonic is a Jerk - I've always wanted Sonic to be arrogant, because it always seemed right. If you could run that fast, there is no doubt in my mind that you would rub that in anyone and everyone's face. Apparently, Bioware takes a step closer to that attitude with the dialogue in this game, where you can make Sonic sound like a complete jerk. Now, you probably won't be able to threaten to kill someone like in KoTOR, but even calling Amy fat will suffice.
My Opinion: Thumbs Up - Hey, you got your EBA in my Sonic RPG! HOLY CRAP THIS IS AWESOME!


- Holy crap, nostalgia bomb.

Quick Previews

Princess Debut (DS) - Become a…pretty princess?
My Opinion: Thumbs Down - No, no…no.

We Cheer! (Wii) - Cheerleading for the Wii…yay?
My Opinion: Ehhh - Pom-pom attachments for your Wiimotes. That might be enough to warrant purchase…just saying…

Mortal Kombat Kollection (PS2) - A "Kollection" of the 3D Mortal Kombat games.
My Opinion: Ehhh - Not a big fan of the 3D ones…even though I don't enjoy the series much, I think that the originals are much better.

Onimusha: The Essentials (PS2) - I almost forgot about Onimusha!
My Opinion: Thumbs Up - I enjoyed Onimusha…maybe if you never tried it, then this is for you!

Console War Scoreboard

Remember what I said about the DS comeback? I sure do look smart now…

Xbox 360 6
PS3 4
PC 3
Wii 3
DS 3
PS2 2
PSP 0

Yesterday's Attractions

Decided to switch it up this week, I'm going to bring you a list. Mega Man 9 made its debut earlier this week, and to celebrate, I've compiled a list of the Top 9 original Megaman games. It is time for the 9th Hour!

9.) Mega Man 6 - Starting out the list as the worst original Megaman is number six. As the series continued on the NES, the games continued to get worse each time. While 2 and 3 were instant classics, the rest on the NES just weren't up to par. My biggest fault with six is that the levels are just too long, which is a problem seen in the newer Sonic games. No, I don't want to spend 20 minutes on one level. The level length gets ten times worse when you get to the boss and die…and have to do it all over again. Doing Bubbleman's level over several times isn't that bad, but Centaur man? Screw that.

8.) Mega Man 5 - See Mega Man 6. Mega Man 5 is a little more bearable, but when you compare it to the others on the NES? Not so favorable.



7.) Mega Man 4 - See the last two. Sorry for the lack of text, I really just don't like these first three games on the list.

6.) Mega Man 7 - The first Mega Man game on this list that I enjoyed, coming in at #6 is the only original Mega Man game on the SNES. Mega Man 7 featured some absolutely top notch animations, and also featured the most fearsome difficulty curve of all time. It is all fun and games until you reach the final boss, who will rape you. He is incredibly tough, and is the only boss in the game that really gives you much of a challenge.

5.) Mega Man 8 - What was once our final glimpse of the original Mega Man series is no longer that, being succeeded by Mega Man 9. Losing the appeal of "last Mega Man" game probably hurt its popularity, but I'm sure many will remember this game for its improved sprites and its horrible…just awful voice acting. So far, only Resident Evil matches these awful voices, and even that isn't a favorable comparison. Resident Evil's voice acting was cheesy and had some sort of weird appeal to it. Mega Man 8's voice acting was just like grinding nails on a chalkboard. Play this game, I just don't recommend paying too much attention to the cut scenes.



4.) Mega Man - The original holds a special place in most people's hearts. A game where you could just pick and choose which bosses you wanted to take on first…what a novel idea! Who knew back then that this would become a standard for an enormous series that is still growing to this day? The original is actually the shortest in the series, with only six (fixed...I'll never do something that stupid again, I swear) robot masters, but it also featured some of the hardest bosses in any game I've ever played. Some of those Wily levels were especially brutal.

3.) Mega Man 9 - 21 years, several games spanning all kinds of gaming consoles, and it all comes full circle with the latest game, Mega Man 9. It feels like it was just yesterday that Capcom was teasing the idea of another Mega Man game in the original series, and then later revealed that it would return to its roots. Having played the game, I can safely say that this is a faithful return to old ways. The game is as hard as heck, and finishing a boss brings back that memorable feel of satisfaction that everyone got when they took down a robot master.

2.) Mega Man 3 - The two best Mega Man games are often debated, and that debate is almost always between Mega Man 2 and 3. Two was a more faithful to the original, and featured extreme challenge and some of the best level design of all time. The third game added some new abilities to Mega Man's arsenal, such as the slide technique. Mega Man 3 may not be my favorite speaking from a platforming perspective, but musically speaking? Mega Man 3 is incredible. Last week I posted a video of the opening song for Mega Man 3, which has yet to be topped in my mind for opening music. Three is incredibly hard, and is only rivaled by the latest entry in that department.

1.) Mega Man 2 - Here it is, out of all nine games, Mega Man 2 stands high as the greatest of them all. With a mix of great platforming and challenging battles, it is hard to find fault in the game. While Mega Man 3 has the better soundtrack, the level design of 2 is just outstanding. I was on the edge of my seat every time I saw those disappearing platforms, or any other difficult obstacle. Getting past portions of the game felt like a huge achievement, a feeling that doesn't happen near as often with this newest wave of games. Mega Man 2 is truly a great game, and in my mind, it tops all games in the outstanding series known as Mega Man. It is better than any of the "X" games, Zero games, Battle Network games, and Legend games. It is most definitely a masterpiece.



Reader Feedback

Mark Salmela has evil thoughts…

Yeah, if I manage to get Buzz, expect a ton of quizzes like "Why is the Full Circle so inferior to B3yond?" and "Why do RPG's lick nuts for a living?" to go up for download.

I agree with the RPG question, since I am almost universally opposed to the idea of turn-based combat. However, when a company does it right by keeping you on your toes, like with Paper Mario or Sonic Chronicles, I enjoy it. I mention liking Chrono Trigger…but I think that was because of the music that was just really incredible. It seemed to always play at the right times, the intro song that they use in the trailer for the DS remake actually sends a tingle down my spine. Watching that clock spin and the music pick up the pace…oh wow, I think it is trailer time…



David brags about having Rock Band 2. I dislike him for this…

Hey, it is all cool. Ya know what? You have to wait less than a month to play Rock Band 2. If I wanted the new guitar, drums, and mic, I would have to buy the bundle. That would force me to wait as long as you.

Therefore, I just bought the new Strat (which is a "slight" improvement over the original) and the game. That was it. For the drum and mic, I would have to buy new ones (both versions have improvements as well...but, I do not want to spend that much money).

In all honesty, I would have to spend $220 for just the guitar, drums, and game (no mic). The bundle, that comes out on the 19th, is $30 cheaper (and has a ****ing mic)!

With that in mind, I think I'm the butt of the joke. *cries*

I think buying the new instruments, unless of course you are late to the Rock Band party, is silly. The guitar is fine, the mic is about as good as you are going to get, and I don't really see much room for improvement in the drums. Hopefully Rock Band comes out around some time with no game, if it falls into LBP time I'll probably opt to buy Rock Band instead. From what I'm hearing, LBP is turning into what Spore was just a few weeks ago. I'm not ready to get my heart broken again…

Toddo wants Tekken, but probably can't have Tekken…


"Namco Classic Fighter Collection - Woah, woah. Tekken 4, Tekken Tag, and SCII for $30?"

Stuff like this makes me cry when I realize that Tekken more than likely will not release on the Xbox360. :(


Before I got a PS3, and when I thought I would never buy one, I too felt your pain. Every time I heard about Tekken 6 I got kind of angry that I wouldn't be able to experience one of my favorite fighters in the next generation. "Luckily," my 360 broke and I got a PS3 in exchange.

The 411

The 10th Hour by Derek Robbins. Top 10 Final Fantasy characters…something I really don't care about. Someone in the comments section calls Kefka a horrible villain, and honestly, if you are a fan of Final Fantasy and you dislike Kefka…I think you have some problems.

The Full Circle by Joe Roche. I remember last week reading Roche's rant on TNA Impact and saying, "Oh, I'm sure it will be fun." If only I knew then what I know now.

The Negative Edge News Report by Tommy Coloma. Tommy is ending the Negative Edge, and splitting it up into a few separate columns. Looks like Select and Start news is now the only news report left that doesn't support a specific console.

Achievement Unlocked by Rod Oracheski. I honestly don't want to talk about the new Banjo Kazooie. It is an abomination of a series I once loved. I'm thinking for my preview of it I'll just make a letter to Rare that lists grievances, and tells of my distaste for this new direction. Don't bring back a ten year old franchise only to spit in the face of its core fans, EVER.

The Hall of Shame by Vincent Chiuchhi. This week he talks about consoles you have never heard of and…nope, never heard of any of these.

B3yond the Report by Derek Robbins. Is it just me, or is every news week for Sony about Final Fantasy 13 and Little Big Planet? Just saying…

The PC Centric Extravaganza by Chris Evans. DRM is certainly the hot button issue as far as PC games go right now. Penny Arcade is doing a series on it right now; I suggest you check it out.

Fact or Fiction starring Mark Salmela and Drew Rob—ME! Yep, your gracious host was in Fact or Fiction this week and laid the smackdown on former "B3yond the Report" writer, Mark Salms.

That is all for this week, leave me feedback in the comments section below or in the form of email, at [e-mail].