Senlis said:
It's list time. Lets see how long I can make my recommendation.
Strategy:
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (DS) - as Advance Wars games go, this is a significant improvement in the series. I'm not sure about the storyline, but the graphics and gameplay have been significantly improved (sadly, I do not have a DS anymore to play this)
Got it. Wasn't as good as the original DS one, unfortunately - graphics may have got more "real" but the quality was down (battle backgrounds look like they were badly scaled up). Storyline tried to be both deep and AW-like and failed at both. Gameplay was pretty similar, except for the CO powers which were certainly more realistic although I don't know if they were better. The game was harder though, which was good.
Fire Emblem (GC and Wii) - Fire Emblem is based on the grid system of Advance Wars, but is a completely different type of gameplay. Instead of buying troops, you have a set party you go into battle with, and if one dies he/she is gone forever. Also, there is more variety in attacks. You have ranged units that can move and attack at the same time (and some archers with ridiculous defense. I never figured that out). The only thing to watch out for is that the supposedly high defense low speed characters are the most likely to die. This is because 1) They get targeted by AI a lot 2) They do not dodge attacks well and they usually get hit twice per round (speed). The Wii FE is a sequal to the GC FE. The Wii version is much harder but is basically a GC game as it does not use any of the Wii's motion sensing. It does look better IMO.
I'll look at it. Certainly AW is a great game, and FE is made by the same team, so...
Nintendo games only severely limits my list.....
As pikmin goes, you don't really need motion controls, and it really isn't an RTS, but more of an adventure game. You don't really control the pikmin, but you kinda throw them like weapons. The analog stick does well enough to point your character in the right direction to start throwing pikmin.
Oh. It looked like an RTS to me. I'll wait for the Wii version anyway, unless it's going to cost twice as much or something.
You don't like Zelda games in general? I have some issues with the series too and I would like to know what you opinion is on it.
I think it gets a little repetitive and doesn't give enough incentive to continue. I can't handle the sheer amount of items it gives you either. The puzzle solving is good, but since there are very few hints as to where items are, I can never find them (unlike Metroid). Also, the medieval setting means there is little variety in scenery and locations, whereas Metroid's sci-fi setting means anything goes. I liked Lttp because it was the most Metroid-like.
Regardless, if you are going to get a Zelda game, I would get the Twighlight Princess
At various times, I have bought Ocarina, TP and WW. WW was the best, but they were all basically the same game and I gave up halfway through even WW because I just wasn't enjoying it (though I appreciate how well designed it is).
first as it is the result of several generation of Zelda making skill put into one game. If you like challenge, however, you should go with Ocarina of Time, as I remember it as being the hardest. Wind Waker is a good game also. Many people got turned off by the whole ocean thing, but I enjoyed the exploration. You never know what you will find by just sailing around.
The sailing took too long to go places, so I never wanted to spend 5 minutes sailing to remote islands that might contain nothing at all.
Batalion Wars 1 & 2: I beat Batalion Wars 1. It is a fun game if you like shooting things with a rock-paper-scissors type of strategy directing units. It is very comparible to Advance Wars, and many people refer to it as the console version of Advance Wars, just without the grid based strategy. It was fun taking control of a tank and wiping out a bunch of infantry. However, the controls can be a bit annoying at times, as it is hard to keep your bombers from going to far into enemy lines and getting hit by anti-air rockets. I have never played Batalion Wars 2, but I heard it was basically BW1 with more units and less challenge.
I think RTSs are hard enough without mouse/pointer controls, so if I get anything I'll get BWii. But I will take a look at it now, thanks.
Just like how I don't consider Pikmin an RTS, I don't consider Batalion Wars an RTS. It is more like squad based action. You control one soldier that you can fight with, but you can also give simple commands to other units. In this particular situation, mouse and pointer would be worse than the joystick. With the joystick, you would move with the left stick and select unit groups with the right. Aiming would be lock on system. The mouse could not really substitute for the right stick very will. Regardless of what I just said, I still stand by the fact the controlls are a little ackward.
Tales of Symphonia: It is a good RPG. Solid in most of it's aspects, but doesn't really excel at anything. The combat is action based if you like that kind of thing. I own a copy of TOS, but never got around to getting more than 15% way thru.
I'll try BK first since you seem to favour it.
Baten Kaitos 1 & 2: These games come highly reccommended on my list as it is a refreshing deviation from turn based and action based RPG styles. Other card based RPGs have tainted many people's opinion of the genre, but I assure you that BK did it right. I would recommend getting BK2 (called Baten Kaitos Origins) before playing BK1 as it has better combat, better storyline, better sidequests, better characters than the original. Besides the point it is a sequal to BK1.
Thanks. Is it easy to get into for people who haven't played any serious RPGs? Paper Mario and Pokemon are my only experience.
Baten Kaitos has a unique battle system, so playing other JRPG's really doesn't help you with this one. The game is challenging, however, as you need to plan ahead with your battle card decks and have to think "on the fly" in battle since it is not turn based. You may want to take a look at some Baten Kaitos Origins youtube clips before buying, however I don't think you will have a problem.
I don't want you to go into this game with too high of expectations because when people do that, it is inevitable that they are let down. Baten Kaitos is great, especially for a console with so few JRPG's. However, there are games out there that are better. Baldurs gate comes to mind. Also, the storyline is above average in both games and do have some plot twists, but does conform to the general "we need to save the world" plot. Basically what I am saying is that BK is better than 80% of all the JRPG's I've played, and definately beats Tales of Symphonia. I might just have too high of standards.
I deviated form Nintendo games a little. If I had a better idea of what genre you like, I could recommend more games.
Any platformer/adventure game that in any way approaches Mario would be wonderful. I loved Banjo-Kazooie, but I no longer own it and it won't come to VC due to MS. I will take a look at any well-designed game with a certoon like style* but not for 'kids'. I don't like realistic games (I want escapism), and I don't enjoy violence (but I'm not anti-violence; if it enhances the gameplay like Metroid then I will tolerate it. I just don't like games based around it.)
*Metroid counts. It's not trying to be realistic.
When I think of platformer, I tend to think of Prince of Persia. The Two Thrones comes to mind, as I have beaten it and is a good mix of the platforming of the first and the combat of the second. There is violence, but it isn't bloody and all against sand monsters, and the ability to kill the monsters by sneaking around them and attacking from behing/above is very fun. Prince of Persia is platforming incarnate IMO.
Okami: It's like Zelda, but more originality and less challenge. Still, I enjoyed the artwork and setting.
Trying unpopular "cult classics" has let me down before. I bought Zack and Wiki and it was... bad. I can't see why anyone would like it.
I would not call Okami unpopular. The only drawback of the game is it's lack of challenge, but I say that about a lot of games. If you take Zelda, put in more style, humor and more interesting abilities, you get Okami.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted: I am not a big racing player, but NFSMW is a gem in unrealistic street racing, mainly with the police chases. Need for Speed: Carbon is good too: It incorperates differences between tuners, muscles (my fav) and exotics. However, the police chases are not nearly as fun. For simulation racing, I would recommend Forza Motorsport, but you would have to get a XBOX to play that.
I'm not into realistic racing. Mario Kart is fun, but that's it.
Need for Speed is not realistic racing. In fact, me and my friends tend to make fun of it's attempt to look realistic, but is in fact not. For example, when you jump Dukes of Hazard style and your suspension isn't shot. But Need for Speed's goal is fun, not realism.
Madden '08 (Wii): I am not a big sports player either, but Madden impressed me with some of the best use of motion controls I've seen. They feel natural, and reduce the complexity of the buttons you have to press. To Juke, you just twitch the nunchuck where you want to go. Same thing with the stiff arm, but you use the Wiimote. Passing is made easier too.
I don't do sport in general, but American football is completely alien to me as I am British (though I did live in America). Sports games just aren't my thing.
Yea, I forgot you were British.
Super Mario Galaxy: Like Legend Of Zelda TP, this game is the result of Nintendo's experience with thier other 3D Mario games and the surpass all of them with this game. It takes a lot for me to say that, because I have a very high opinion of Mario 64.
I did put that on my first list. I too think it is one of the best ever, behind SM64 (can't beat the originality though I agree SMG came close) and Metroid Prime (best game ever).
I have many more recommendations, but I should probably get to work. Take a look at my game list. It's too bad you did not finish Metroid Prive 3, the last boss was fun.
It seemed like MP3 tried too much to be a generic FPS. I loved MP because it was Super Metroid, not because it was Halo.
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