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[DJ Sl4m]

Am I the first to say Alien Hominid is almost too hard ?

It looks fantastic, controls nicely too, but the background scenery just blends with the action way to much making it harder than need be on top of the game already being hard as ****.

I went back to older games I had to play, I have too much trouble distinguishing what's going on in the screen in Alien Hominid.

 

[GhaleonEB]

So... SotN in February, huh

Where was it announced as February? I still only recall Q1 from the initial announcement.

 

[FlyinJ]

Am I the first to say Alien Hominid is almost too hard ?

It looks fantastic, controls nicely too, but the background scenery just blends with the action way to much making it harder than need be on top of the game already being hard as ****.

I went back to older games I had to play, I have too much trouble distinguishing what's going on in the screen in Alien Hominid.

It's a really poorly designed game. It's what happens when you have artists try to be game designers.

Three huge issues:

There is far too much background clutter, obscuring bullets that kill you in one hit. Half the time you die there was no way for you to know why it happened. How was this not noticed while testing the game?

The dodge mechanic results in your death more than it helps you. You can't judge the distance of where you'll end up while dodging, or what will be there when you come out of the dodge, resulting in your dodge ending on an enemy or bullet (or obscured by background clutter bullet) more times than not.

The boss stage where the screen pans upward so you can't see your character. And you're being attacked by unseen enemies. Then the screen pans down just in time to see you're touching an enemy and you die. I mean come on! Who in the hell thought this was even passable design?

I could go on and on about what a horribly designed game this is, but that was enough to make me never want to play it again.

HOWEVER- Thank god for an original XBLA title. I'd rather have people trying new things and failing than not trying at all.

 

[Odrion]

Actually it's a port of a GCN/PS2/X-Box game.

 

[FlyinJ]

Actually it's a port of a GCN/PS2/X-Box game.

I guess I should qualify my statement further-

Thank god for an XBLA title that isn't ROOT BEER TAPPER.

 

[Thespis721]

Anyone think there is a possibility that Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 might come to the arcade???

 

[mosaic]

Actually it's a port of a GCN/PS2/X-Box game.

They released it for the Game Boy Advance in Europe as well. It's actually a very impressive port. The cinemas were reduced to stills, but almost all of the levels are intact. Even the big ol' yeti is in there.

 

[watership]

Actually it's a port of a GCN/PS2/X-Box game.

And before that, a Flashgame on Newgrounds.

 

[Tailzo]

I must say I was dissapointed with XBLA for a while, but Alien Hominid has really made XBLA look better in my eyes. And when I know we might see Worms, Castlevania and Castle Crashers pretty soon, I must say I am very pleased. Hopefully Sonic will be released soon to.

There, I praised XBLA. MS deserves praise when we get nice games, right?

 

[GhaleonEB]

And before that, a Flashgame on Newgrounds.

I smiled when the Newgrounds logo came up in the demo, paying tribute to the its roots.

 

[watership]

I must say I was dissapointed with XBLA for a while, but Alien Hominid has really made XBLA look better in my eyes. And when I know we might see Worms, Castlevania and Castle Crashers pretty soon, I must say I am very pleased. Hopefully Sonic will be released soon to.

There, I praised XBLA. MS deserves praise when we get nice games, right?

People have short memories on success and long memories on failure. Microsoft can release game after game after game and if they miss one week, people will bitch.

 

[SnakeXs]

I smiled when the Newgrounds logo came up in the demo, paying tribute to the its roots.

Yeah, keeping it's to the it's roots is very important. :lol

;]

 

[bjork]

Anyone think there is a possibility that Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 might come to the arcade???

I think the likelihood is 0%

 

[Eggo]

It's a really poorly designed game. It's what happens when you have artists try to be game designers.

Three huge issues:

There is far too much background clutter, obscuring bullets that kill you in one hit. Half the time you die there was no way for you to know why it happened. How was this not noticed while testing the game?

The dodge mechanic results in your death more than it helps you. You can't judge the distance of where you'll end up while dodging, or what will be there when you come out of the dodge, resulting in your dodge ending on an enemy or bullet (or obscured by background clutter bullet) more times than not.

The boss stage where the screen pans upward so you can't see your character. And you're being attacked by unseen enemies. Then the screen pans down just in time to see you're touching an enemy and you die. I mean come on! Who in the hell thought this was even passable design?

I could go on and on about what a horribly designed game this is, but that was enough to make me never want to play it again.

HOWEVER- Thank god for an original XBLA title. I'd rather have people trying new things and failing than not trying at all.

Regarding difficulty and game design, I think there are two poor choices for the game:

1) The default difficulty should be easy. Normal is too difficult for your average gamer.

2) Stage 1-2 is ridiculously harder than any of the other stages in the first world. It should have been the final stage in that act, or the dying when missing a car (and hitting the road) should have been modified to be more user friendly, considering it's still early in the game. I think playing that stage on normal difficulty will cause a lot of people to stop playing the game right there.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yeah, keeping it's to the it's roots is very important. :lol

;]

I was just amused that the Newgrounds logo was there, that's all. Nothing about keeping it's roots, just acknowledging them.

 

[mollipen]

HOWEVER- Thank god for an original XBLA title. I'd rather have people trying new things and failing than not trying at all.

...original?

 

[pswii60]

Some of you guys are so friggin' fussy. You'll disect anything in to crap.

I love Alien Hominid. It's humerous, colourful, bright, fun and very addictive. Also a complete bargain for 800 points - with the PDA etc.

 

[Thespis721]

I think the likelihood is 0%

Why is it a likelihood that MVC2 would come to the Arcade a 0%?

 

[duckroll]

Why is it a likelihood that MVC2 would come to the Arcade a 0%?

Because Capcom no longer has the Marvel license?

 

[Thespis721]

But Rare no longer has the rights to the 007 games, and Goldeneye is still talked as a possibility on the VC.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

But Rare no longer has the rights to the 007 games, and Goldeneye is still talked as a possibility on the VC.

Marvel character licenses are a lot more complicated than the Bond license, and waaaaaaaaaaaaay more expensive licenses individually compared to the Marvel bankruptcy years when Capcom made the original deal.

 

[Thespis721]

Thanks for the soul crushing reality of a lack of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2.

ANYWAY, in anticipation of Worms, I bought 1600 points. After getting worms, I'll have 900 points left over.

Anyone have any suggestions how I should spend these points?

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Well supposedly SOTN will be released the week after Worms, so there's 800pts to blow.....that's what I'm plannin' on doing. I don't have many PSone games left around here but for some reason I still have the orginal SOTN case but not the disc. I don't know where the hell that went. I couldn't count how many times I've stumbled upon that case and looked inside only to find Bushido Blade staring back at me.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Thanks for the soul crushing reality of a lack of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2.

ANYWAY, in anticipation of Worms, I bought 1600 points. After getting worms, I'll have 900 points left over.

Anyone have any suggestions how I should spend these points?

Have you bought anything else at all? If not, Geometry Wars is definitely the first thing you should consider. Beyond that, I think it depends on your tastes. Like, I love Doom, so that was a priority download for me. Others seem to really like Heavy Weapon. If it weren't for the busted online, I'd recommend Assault Heroes and Contra in a heartbeat, but the online play is busted so only get those if you have someone to play locally with you.

Poke around, try the demos, see what jumps out at you. The demo system of XBLA is a fantastic service that lets you play what you're buying before you actually drop the points.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I really hope what Luke was alluding to on the 1up yours show comes true about how March is supposed to be make up sex month for XBLA and they might release more than one title a week. I'm actually ok with releasing one game every week if they're like Alien Hominid or Settlers of Catan but I sure won't complain if they give us more. Hell, I'd be even be cool with shit I've been bitching about like ancient arcade games as long as they were released along side something more substantial.

 

[AstroLad]

Thanks for the soul crushing reality of a lack of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2.

ANYWAY, in anticipation of Worms, I bought 1600 points. After getting worms, I'll have 900 points left over.

Anyone have any suggestions how I should spend these points?

If you haven't played it and are a fan of Puzzlers or Rez, I think Lumines Live is probably my favorite Arcade game so far.

 

[Wario64]

Well supposedly SOTN will be released the week after Worms, so there's 800pts to blow.....that's what I'm plannin' on doing. I don't have many PSone games left around here but for some reason I still have the orginal SOTN case but not the disc. I don't know where the hell that went. I couldn't count how many times I've stumbled upon that case and looked inside only to find Bushido Blade staring back at me.

Some people are saying it's Catan being released the week after...dont know though. I hope it's SOTN. 800 points please.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

???
!!!!!

Symphony and Catan can come in whatever order they'd like. I will gleefully purchase and play both. I guess to help out our man Potato, I will hope Symphony comes first.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Heh, I'll be more than happy with either.

 

[Beer Monkey]

Surprised anybody wants Symphony out first. I'm sure most of us have ways to play Symphony on our TVs already, as opposed to stuff like Catan.

 

[speculawyer]

Any Zuma pros out there? I need help with level 8-4 . . . that damn Mouth of Centoil. That level seems to be more a matter of luck than skill.

Any hints/tips on how to complete that level?

Zuma is a Goddamn addicting puzzle game.

 

[speculawyer]

Regarding difficulty and game design, I think there are two poor choices for the game:

1) The default difficulty should be easy. Normal is too difficult for your average gamer.

Is there an 'easy' difficulty setting? I was interested in this game but I'm turned off by all the talk about how difficult it is.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Is there an 'easy' difficulty setting? I was interested in this game but I'm turned off by all the talk about how difficult it is.

Yeah but easy just means more continues. The game is hard but anyone here should be able to beat it while playing easy....not necessarily all the way through on one game though. When you complete a stage you can select it in the main menu so you can just slowly plow through the game using up your continues to get to the next level. If it wasn't like that, I'd be tearing out my hair in frustration.

 

[coldvein]

What in the world is this Settlers of Cattan game? I confess I have never heard of it..

 

[Diablohead]

Is there an 'easy' difficulty setting? I was interested in this game but I'm turned off by all the talk about how difficult it is.

If you are on about AH, in easy mode you spawn with a 2 hit shield every life.

 

[Tempy]

Catan better have an option to save a multiplayer game like Civ4 has. Though granted, it'd still be a pain in the ass to get all players back together (friends only option?).

I wonder how they'll streamline it so that multiplayer matches don't last too long and you get the problem of lots of people dropping out.

Another concern of mine is playing Catan with the xbox crowd. *Shudder* Sometimes I wish voicechat was off by default.

 

[SickBoy]

How many continues in easy mode? I may be weaksauce (ask me if I care), but I know I'll never get through it on default difficulty...

 

[Tabris]

I was really excited for SOTN until I heard it's coming out on PSP... with Maria.

I don't think I'll get the Xbox Live Arcade version. Man, that announcement was such bad timing. Konami could have made money off me twice if they waited for the PSP announcement after releasing SOTN.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

I was really excited for SOTN until I heard it's coming out on PSP... with Maria.

I don't think I'll get the Xbox Live Arcade version. Man, that announcement was such bad timing. Konami could have made money off me twice if they waited for the PSP announcement after releasing SOTN.

Wait, when was Maria announced to be in the Dracula X Chronicles version?

 

[Remy]

How many continues in easy mode? I may be weaksauce (ask me if I care), but I know I'll never get through it on default difficulty...

7.

 

[Mrbob]

Wait, when was Maria announced to be in the Dracula X Chronicles version?

I dunno if specifics came out, but the PSP version is getting a new translation plus some extras.

I'll still get the XBLA version if the price is right. If only for nostalgia value. The bad translation and horrible voice acting is part of the nostalgic appeal!

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

I swore many years ago I would buy Symphony in any and all incarnations it appeared in, for better or worse. I think I've seen the worse, with the Saturn Symphony, so I don't mind revisiting the best.

 

[SapientWolf]

Normal in Alien Hominid isn't too much trouble thanks to the generous continue system but hard mode isn't very balanced. I forgot what changed but it was something that cheapened the gameplay instead of making it more challenging.

I'm really looking forward to more games from The Behemoth. I love the art style and the gameplay can only get better as they gain more experience.

 

[Synth_floyd]

I would say the next game after Worms might be Luxor 2, being that the gamepage is already up there. Hopefully Catan or SOTN will come first though.

 

[Tempy]

I would say the next game after Worms might be Luxor 2, being that the gamepage is already up there. Hopefully Catan or SOTN will come first though.

Hmm looks like it. No interest in Luxor 2 unfortunately, but I'll be busy with Worms and Alien Hominid

 

[bumpkin]

I don't know if this is old, but a friend of mine just told me that after Worms this coming Wednesday is Castlevania (on the 14th) and then TMNT The Arcade Game the following Wednesday (2/21). I hope he's right, and if so, I weep for my wallet! :lol

 

[arne]

I don't know if this is old, but a friend of mine just told me that after Worms this coming Wednesday is Castlevania (on the 14th) and then TMNT The Arcade Game the following Wednesday (2/21). I hope he's right, and if so, I weep for my wallet! :lol

pulling game names out of a hat i see.

 

[Beer Monkey]

I don't know if this is old, but a friend of mine just told me that after Worms this coming Wednesday is Castlevania (on the 14th) and then TMNT The Arcade Game the following Wednesday (2/21). I hope he's right, and if so, I weep for my wallet! :lol

I thought GAF hated shovelware on XBLA, how can you cheer for back-to-back shovelware releases?

 

[Wario64]

I don't know if this is old, but a friend of mine just told me that after Worms this coming Wednesday is Castlevania (on the 14th) and then TMNT The Arcade Game the following Wednesday (2/21). I hope he's right, and if so, I weep for my wallet! :lol

Price on Castlevania? If it's 1200 points, I'm passing

 

[Beer Monkey]

Price on Castlevania? If it's 1200 points, I'm passing

Anything more than 800 points and they'll look very silly when compared to the $6 PS1 games on PSN.