Genre: Platformer
Developer: Capcom
Platform: NES
Release: 1987
Rating: N/A
- Graphics -
The NES has rarely been praised for it's graphical capabilities, though at the time there wasn't much to compare to. Mega Man definitely did a lot to improve tha--Wait. Wait. Is that... TEXTURE? In the BACKGROUND? Holy--! @_@
Graphics: 9/10
- Story -
I'm not even sure if there's even supposed to be a story? I guess I'll just go with N/A?
Story: --/10
- Gameplay -
While many players seem to complain about the impossibility of some jumps, I never had much of a problem with it (except Ice Man's stage's shooting platforms). The addition of multiple weapons and ammo is something nearly unheard of in platformers at this time, too-- definitely a great improvement (also adopted by several later games such as Metroid). The game is simple to understand with a clean interface, yet keeps veteran and new players constantly coming back for more.
Gameplay: 9/10
- Music -
What would Mega Man be without music? The entire SERIES is based around music as a staple, and Mega Man's original release is no exception. Definitely a worthy soundtrack to any collection.
Music: 10/10
Total Score: 9/10
Also available for collections on various systems, and on various console download services.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Genre: Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Super Nintendo
Release: 1992
Rating: E
- Graphics -
I'm not gonna lie. I personally preferred the Genesis over the SNES (mostly nostalgia, but I also find that it generally has better graphics and sound quality). That doesn't mean that A Link to the Past (from now on abbreviated as ALttP) and other SNES games weren't great, of course! While the graphics were highly surpassed in my eyes by the other aspects I'll be reviewing, they're certainly some of the best I've seen on the console, and the styles were carried over in just about every 2D Zelda game since!
Graphics: 9/10
- Story -
ALttP set a lot of standards for the series in many ways. The story archetype is one that has been re-used throughout the series, and is, in some ways, the binding laws of Hyrule XD While I personally preferred Ocarina's rendition of this story, ALttP made a lot of headway towards that goal.
Story: 9/10
- Gameplay -
Like the story, ALttP also set the standards for the series in another few ways. First of all, we now have the standard 3, 5, final dungeon pattern, and also the tradition of having an alternate world to travel to (other variations being time travel in Ocarina/Ages, Subrosia, and the Twilight Realm, among others). For the first time in the series we have notable sidequests and minigames, and... what's this? Characters?! Aside from Link, Zelda, and Ganon, and Dark Link we really didn't have any notable in-game characters until now; Impa was mentioned in the instruction manual for Zelda II, and that was about the only additional named character.
Gameplay: 10/10
- Music -
ALttP's music has to be some of the most groundbreaking in the series, and set a lot of standards for the games. Definitely a worthy soundtrack, especially in high-quality covers!
Music: 10/10
Total Score: 9.5/10
Also available for Gameboy Advance and Virtual Console.
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Super Nintendo
Release: 1992
Rating: E
- Graphics -
I'm not gonna lie. I personally preferred the Genesis over the SNES (mostly nostalgia, but I also find that it generally has better graphics and sound quality). That doesn't mean that A Link to the Past (from now on abbreviated as ALttP) and other SNES games weren't great, of course! While the graphics were highly surpassed in my eyes by the other aspects I'll be reviewing, they're certainly some of the best I've seen on the console, and the styles were carried over in just about every 2D Zelda game since!
Graphics: 9/10
- Story -
ALttP set a lot of standards for the series in many ways. The story archetype is one that has been re-used throughout the series, and is, in some ways, the binding laws of Hyrule XD While I personally preferred Ocarina's rendition of this story, ALttP made a lot of headway towards that goal.
Story: 9/10
- Gameplay -
Like the story, ALttP also set the standards for the series in another few ways. First of all, we now have the standard 3, 5, final dungeon pattern, and also the tradition of having an alternate world to travel to (other variations being time travel in Ocarina/Ages, Subrosia, and the Twilight Realm, among others). For the first time in the series we have notable sidequests and minigames, and... what's this? Characters?! Aside from Link, Zelda, and Ganon, and Dark Link we really didn't have any notable in-game characters until now; Impa was mentioned in the instruction manual for Zelda II, and that was about the only additional named character.
Gameplay: 10/10
- Music -
ALttP's music has to be some of the most groundbreaking in the series, and set a lot of standards for the games. Definitely a worthy soundtrack, especially in high-quality covers!
Music: 10/10
Total Score: 9.5/10
Also available for Gameboy Advance and Virtual Console.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Genre: Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Release: 2006
Rating: T
- Graphics -
Most fans were extremely happy to see the realistic graphics return to the series; I myself was excited at first, and I'm not going to deny that the models and scenery is beautiful. The animation was a bit wonky in a few places (particularly a few of the wolf cutscenes), but other than that, amazing. Link's running animation did seem a bit plastic, though, whereas his running in OoT was much more fluid.
Graphics: 9/10
- Story -
I've always felt that the pacing in this game was a bit odd... We spend quite awhile being introduced to Link's hometown, then suddenly, PLOT! And finally we get a dungeon after that. After the first three dungeons, we end up suddenly getting a whole new thing introduced to us, and do a bunch more dungeons (this time with seemingly less in-between stuff for the most part). Now, keep in mind, after beating the second boss, Midna tells us that our enemy is some n00b named Zant. After we've fought Zant, and then, halfway through the game, we suddenly get our first mention of Ganondorf. NOTHING else about him until after defeating Zant... I mean, what?
Story: 3/10
- Gameplay -
I'm not gonna lie, I haven't had this much fun with dungeons since Majora's Mask. The puzzles, traps, and enemies were amazing (albeit easy for a Zelda veteran like myself). Well, aside from the monkeys in the Forest Temple. After that, though, pure awesome <3 I also loved the inclusion of plot-related sidequests between dungeons, such as escorting the wagon and rescuing Colin. Again, though, pacing is odd; we get that type of thing early on, but after the first 3 dungeons it's pretty nonexistent.
Gameplay: 8/10
- Music -
Like most Zelda games, great soundtrack, but there were a few tracks that simply REEKED of flat sound or static. I mean, how did NO ONE catch that?
Music: 5/10
Total Score: 6/10
Also available for Nintendo Gamecube
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Release: 2006
Rating: T
- Graphics -
Most fans were extremely happy to see the realistic graphics return to the series; I myself was excited at first, and I'm not going to deny that the models and scenery is beautiful. The animation was a bit wonky in a few places (particularly a few of the wolf cutscenes), but other than that, amazing. Link's running animation did seem a bit plastic, though, whereas his running in OoT was much more fluid.
Graphics: 9/10
- Story -
I've always felt that the pacing in this game was a bit odd... We spend quite awhile being introduced to Link's hometown, then suddenly, PLOT! And finally we get a dungeon after that. After the first three dungeons, we end up suddenly getting a whole new thing introduced to us, and do a bunch more dungeons (this time with seemingly less in-between stuff for the most part). Now, keep in mind, after beating the second boss, Midna tells us that our enemy is some n00b named Zant. After we've fought Zant, and then, halfway through the game, we suddenly get our first mention of Ganondorf. NOTHING else about him until after defeating Zant... I mean, what?
Story: 3/10
- Gameplay -
I'm not gonna lie, I haven't had this much fun with dungeons since Majora's Mask. The puzzles, traps, and enemies were amazing (albeit easy for a Zelda veteran like myself). Well, aside from the monkeys in the Forest Temple. After that, though, pure awesome <3 I also loved the inclusion of plot-related sidequests between dungeons, such as escorting the wagon and rescuing Colin. Again, though, pacing is odd; we get that type of thing early on, but after the first 3 dungeons it's pretty nonexistent.
Gameplay: 8/10
- Music -
Like most Zelda games, great soundtrack, but there were a few tracks that simply REEKED of flat sound or static. I mean, how did NO ONE catch that?
Music: 5/10
Total Score: 6/10
Also available for Nintendo Gamecube
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