It was ok, it seems like for every thing they did right they did something else wrong though. The graphics are abysmal, just shrunk versions of the sprites used on the Saturn version for most of the characters and ugly, ugly backgrounds, especially when you look at Astroboy (or the original GH), it's clear where Treasure's GBA production values went. You can play in story mode as any character (not just the main ones) but you have to "earn" them by spending points earned in the main game (the ones you'd normally spend on your character points) or in the time attack mode, which is boring and stupid. There are no multiple routes, so there isn't much incentive to play through and see everything like there was in the Saturn GH. The slowdown is not as bad as I've seen reported, but it does set in at times in multiplayer.
The gameplay is ok. It's not like the original GH, it's an original system, and it's an ok brawler system, but it's NOT Guardian Heroes. It's very "reflect dependent," and feels a lot like a derrivation from Rakugaki Showtime, but the difficulty curve is SHARP, and you can expect to die a zillion times in the first few stages before you get the hang of it (and build up your stats) and then it becomes really easy. The story is sort of cool as it gives some closure to the original game, you get to encounter the old characters again from a new perspective, so if you were enamored with the setting at all, it's a nice treat in that regard. I enjoyed it, but it does pale before the original.
The new Gunstar Heroes does not look like it will have this problem, although it's also definitly an all-new game as well, and a lot of people are going to be disappointed by the lack of two player and the loss of the original weapon system. I spent most of my time with Gunstar in single player with the Rapid+Rapid weapon anyway, so it don't bug me much.
I have it, and I like it. I wouldn't consider it epic, but it's a good play nonetheless.
The graphics didn't bother me. Then again, I'm able to play through a game of El Viento without flinching. The animation was solid, and that's what mattered. Besides, I've seen far worse graphics in a video game.
The story line was stupid. I haven't had the opportunity to play GH, but I have read its script, and it's far better than the drivel that AGH spews out. The plot doesn't feel like a continuation... it almost seems as if it's an alternate universe of sorts.
There could have been more attacks. I like that they kept most of the original (I know because I read up on the original), but more things could have been added.
It's hard to say no to a pixelated squid that fills half the screen, but even in 1991 El Viento was not exactly a prize in the visual department. Annet on the other hand....
I've never played the original Guardian Heroes, although I've also read up on it quite a bit, and I enjoyed Advance Guardian Heroes. I agree that the combat system makes too big a deal out of reflecting attacks with perfect timing, but there are ways to get around it. I think the graphics are beautiful, too. That's about all I can say about it, though, because I could never get past the third level. I wouldn't expect anything more from a successor to a Saturn game on a sub-SNES-quality handheld, though.
G.Silver wrote:It's hard to say no to a pixelated squid that fills half the screen, but even in 1991 El Viento was not exactly a prize in the visual department. Annet on the other hand....
I'm finishing an Annet illustration in my Lithography (?) classes, I'll be sure to post it here when it's all done and printed.
Who do you think ended up with all the old Wolf Team properties? Not like they'd ever do anything with them, but somebody must have the rights to Time Gal and everything. I bet we could buy them for cheap.
I imagine Telnet has them, I believe they published all the WolfTeam games in Japan and are still around, but last I checked they had completely shifted into pachinko manufacturing. The original arcade Time Gal was done by Taito, so I'd assume they still have the rights to that one.
The Valis games were recently re-released for Windows PC in Japan in one collection, but unlike over here where you retail something like that for $20, they charged around $100 for it. I can't seem to find a trace of it online at the moment but I'm not looking very hard either, I don't know who published it.
G.Silver wrote:I imagine Telnet has them, I believe they published all the WolfTeam games in Japan and are still around, but last I checked they had completely shifted into pachinko manufacturing.
I don't know. I think it's got something to do with hoarding those balls into one of the goals. Which goal you're supposed to knock them into and what effects the colors have I do not know. Sometimes the rabbit grows to twice normal size. I do not know what that does, either.
Sega announce E3 line up • Next Sonic game to be unveiled on May 18
