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[demidar]

Need an immediate emergency RFN with everyone just shouting "oh my gehd, oh mygod, ah mah god, uh my god" for one and a half hours straight.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Did he not like Bayo? Haven't been listening for that long.

He didn't. He did like Vanquish however.

 

[Ondore]

From Lindy's Twitter:

RFN Fans: I will be taking an extended break from the podcast to tend to some life stuff. I shall return as soon as I can! #rfn

Hope he's back soon. Sounds like he could use some good GAF vibes right now.

 

[Jonnyboy117]

Why would I react negatively to any game being made for Wii U? I may not have much interest in Bayonetta 2, but it's a good thing for people who like that sort of thing. I played about half of the first one and thought it was just okay.

 

[zroid]

Just listened to 304. It pains me to see RFNer arguments

Loved the 4 second clip at the end, hah

 

[A Human Becoming]

Why would I react negatively to any game being made for Wii U? I may not have much interest in Bayonetta 2, but it's a good thing for people who like that sort of thing. I played about half of the first one and thought it was just okay.

I expected an argument that Nintendo should have gone after a different franchise.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Just listened to 304. It pains me to see RFNer arguments

Loved the 4 second clip at the end, hah

You can't expect people to always walk in lockstep, even people as preternaturally harmonious as Nintendo fans. Besides, it's no more heated than past arguments have gotten between, say, James and Jonny.

Tangentially related, I have a theory that the personality types attracted to Nintendo games are somewhat less combative than the personality types inclined to be obsessed with pwning n00bs in CoD. It leads to a slightly better class of fanboy and I'd be inclined bet that if Nintendo ever allowed full unrestricted voice chat that it'd be somewhat less of a cesspool of racism and profanity than, say, Xbox Live.

 

[Reclaimer]

Where has this been all my life!? Subscribed!

 

[speedpop]

Tangentially related, I have a theory that the personality types attracted to Nintendo games are somewhat less combative than the personality types inclined to be obsessed with pwning n00bs in CoD. It leads to a slightly better class of fanboy and I'd be inclined bet that if Nintendo ever allowed full unrestricted voice chat that it'd be somewhat less of a cesspool of racism and profanity than, say, Xbox Live.

An interesting point. Would the typical Mario Kart player be cussing and cursing their way to Hell with an 8th placing? I expect a lot of players may be miffed about it, but many Nintendo players seem mentally stable compared to the CoD & WoW players I've run in to over the years. It probably helps due to the way a Nintendo game is designed. Sure my partner may get a bit peeved because she went from 3rd to 8th on a Mario Kart track online, but she's the last type of person to be cursing from hallway to hallway about the race. "It's all a matter of luck," as she'd say. It reminds me of the Pokemon debate. "Fuck! I lost the chance to capture Kadabra!! Ah screw it, another 10mins won't kill me."

I imagine that there is a lot of banter involved with Smash Bros. but it seems nothing more than friendly, if slightly fiery, banter. You can be an expert in that game but at the very least you can still expect to cop an arse whoopin'. Maybe proper Smash Bros. experts can weight on this debate far better than I ever could.

 

[zroid]

You can't expect people to always walk in lockstep, even people as preternaturally harmonious as Nintendo fans. Besides, it's no more heated than past arguments have gotten between, say, James and Jonny.

I know, I know, I said that in jest. I'm likening it to a family fight ;p

 

[Ondore]

Episode 306: Wonder whether the RFN crew (-Jon) are boarding the WiiU hype train? Wonder no longer.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/31748

With Jon beginning an indefinite hiatus from the show (come back soon, buddy!), our good friend TYP steps in to help analyze and respond to the week's huge Wii U announcements. But first up is New Business, which is packed as usual. Mike starts with Star Fox 64 3D and his own take on Monster World IV, which again draws comparisons to black sheep favorite (and long-ago RetroActive game) Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. James catches up with New Super Mario Bros. 2, which it seems he played for most of his overseas vacation last week. Jonny gets to try the Kickstarted DS strategy game, Diamond Trust of London, and he finds some franchise redemption in Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters for Game Boy (and 3DS Virtual Console). Guillaume bats clean-up on the controversial Double Dragon Neon and the very odd Touch Detective, which he vastly prefers to Hotel Dusk.

We didn't bother with Now Playing, since the second segment directly concerns all the coverage dominating NWR this past week. Check out the event page for a convenient hub of all our recent Wii U news coverage and impressions of the launch games. On this podcast, we don't spend too much time on the hard facts but instead focus on our reactions to the various announcements and revelations, from the price to the implied delays and unexpected features. The gang isn't completely satisfied with what Nintendo showed, but we all expect to pick up a system at launch. It's part of the job, after all!

The poll is done, a winner declared, and just like that, the next RetroActive is off and running! We hope you'll join us in playing Kirby & The Amazing Mirror -- and as always, your thoughtful deposits into the official forum thread would be a great help. Also, don't forget to send in your emails because we'll probably answer more of those next week!

Time: 1'43"03
Downloads: mp3 | AAC
Hype train status: A bullet train, but with an emergency brake
Links: Added

 

[XDDX]

Nice to see them getting Wii Us at launch. Should be a good episode with the Wii U discussions.

 

[tanooki141]

I don't know if Lindy will see this but we wish you well with your personal issues.

 

[Zornica]

you really think the wii u is expensive?
I found it to be moderatly priced and within expectations.
sadly the 1:1 $<>&#8364; conversion hit again :7

 

[Ondore]

Episode 307: Great title or GREATEST title?
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/31838

This week on RFN, we welcome a new voice to help fill in while Jon is taking care of business. That new voice is Nate Andrews, whom you might have heard before on Connectivity. He jump-starts New Business with a recap and discussion of his recent Fractured Soul review. Nate and James tag-team impressions for FTL, the seemingly impossible space exploration roguelike for PC. Jonny has his own space report for Q-Games' Starship Defense, a visually striking tower defense game for DSiWare. He also recommends Renegade Ops, a Blast Corp-like drivin' and shootin' game. Guillaume wraps up his thoughts on Touch Detective, and he reminds us of the awesome, Wii-exclusive Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands (quite different than the other console versions).

We return to Listener Mail this week with an unusually large batch of questions, each dispatched rather efficiently. Several involve hand-wringing over the Wii U price, bundles, backwards-compatibility, a digital copy of Nintendo Land, etc. We also get some really interesting survey results from a high school teacher who wanted to know what games are most beloved by today's students. Keep these conversations going, and start your own, by sending in a letter for the show!

If you're having trouble with Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, or just haven't started it yet, head over to the RetroActive forum thread for some handy tips and the nascent group discussion. We'll be covering it on the podcast very soon!

Time: 1'34"04
Downloads: mp3 | AAC
FTL: FTW!

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

I *just* finished Tales of the Abyss (that game has more fat on it than a prize hog, seriously) and wasn't in a huge rush to beat NSMB2, so I might just give Kirby and the Amazing Mirror the old college try.

 

[Jonnyboy117]

Wow, Gui cut out 20-25 minutes this week even though we only recorded a pretty lean two hours of raw audio.

 

[Zornica]

I am glad somebody finally acknowledges the wii version of forgotten sands.
I actually bought it back than instead of mario galaxy2, and had no regrets. It's way better than the ps360 versions, but was sadly completly ignored.
I really loved the "build your own path" mechanics that came into play in the 2nd half of the game.

 

[Suzzopher]

I am glad somebody finally acknowledges the wii version of forgotten sands.
I actually bought it back than instead of mario galaxy2, and had no regrets. It's way better than the ps360 versions, but was sadly completly ignored.
I really loved the "build your own path" mechanics that came into play in the 2nd half of the game.

Agreed. I enjoy Guillaume on the show. Shame we can't have both Greg and him together

 

[Katsuragi]

Nate was a great guest! It's always refreshing to hear the guest's opinions since they often bring a new perspective to the table.

 

[plufim]

I should probably nab forgotten sands for wii then.

 

[Ondore]

Episode 308: Truncated for your pleasure.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/31931

Since Gui couldn't edit this week, we kept the episode a lot shorter by focusing on just New Business. Jonny starts it with a whopping three games: the hardcore exploration WiiWare game La-Mulana, mildly controversial eShop platformer Fractured Soul, and the nostalgic vision quest of To the Moon for Steam. Guillaume follows with his own thoughts on Renegade Ops, plus a wrap-up for the Wii game now being sought all over the world, Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands.

After an oddly placed break for Now Playing, we return with James showcasing a couple of more obscure titles: the hybrid arcade/sim flight combat game called Birds of Steel, and a questionable genetic puzzle PC game called Splice. Then, returning champion Nate finally gets his turn with Nintendo's new 3DS RPG called The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave. He also shares impressions of the long-awaited Torchlight II for PC.

Next week, we're planning to discuss the latest RetroActive game: Kirby and the Amazing Mirror. Be sure to drop your thoughts in this here thread by Wednesday if you want a chance to be heard on the show! (Lots of useful tips over there, too.) And as always, the email lines are open and waiting for your excellent questions and comments.

Time: 1'18"08
Downloads: mp3 | AAC
Edited by: James and Jonny.

 

[tanooki141]

Interested to hear about La-Mulana after all the trouble it went through to come out.

 

[Ondore]

Episode 309: Another platformer RetroDARK SOULS ALERT DARK SOULS ALERT
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/32034

It's always a good week when we can rope in TYP for an episode, and he's a great choice for this one because we've got a RetroActive discussion of a series he adores. But first, James has early impressions of the New Super Mario Bros. 2 downloadable level packs. Plus: a troll gets trolled by the infamous Dark Souls! TYP is next with a Mario Party 4 (wha?) and a few thoughts on Kirby's Nightmare in Dream Land, that other really good GBA title in the series. Jonny sums up his mixed emotions from playing Rayman Origins lately and wonders just how much the upcoming Wii U sequel will improve the template. Finally, Guillaume revisits a genre-bending childhood favorite in Quarth, from the 3DS Virtual Console, and doesn't get far at all into Final Fantasy V from the PSN Store.

Next up is the latest RetroActive discussion, and this one is really fun. Kirby & The Amazing Mirror is a strange game with a shockingly steep learning curve, yet those who decipher it come away impressed and, perhaps, with a new respect for the entire franchise. If you hear this segment and decide to play it for yourself, the RetroActive forum thread is still open and contains a wealth of useful tips. Thanks so much for playing along and contributing your own thoughts on this wacky game!

We'll get back into Listener Mail next week, so be sure to send in your questions for the crew! Also, we're excited to announce that the NWR Live Telethon for Child's Play will return for its third year on Saturday, November 10. Mark your calendar now and stay tuned for more details and your chance to donate early for this awesome event!

Time: 1'46"44
Downloads: mp3 | AAC
November 10: Can't come soon enough.

 

[tanooki141]

I'm hoping this year I can participate in the event live. I've been busy the past two years but have always donated.

I'm hoping we'll get some great features and guest appearances out of this.

I can always hope for a Greg return.

 

[Henke]

Could anyone help me out by suggesting an episode with a decent amount of Xenoblade discussion? I'm fairly new to the show and would like to hear the crew's impressions since I'm currently playing through it. Cheers!

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Could anyone help me out by suggesting an episode with a decent amount of Xenoblade discussion? I'm fairly new to the show and would like to hear the crew's impressions since I'm currently playing through it. Cheers!

Go into the descriptions and look up Xenoblade. It kept popping up in New Business.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Go into the descriptions and look up Xenoblade. It kept popping up in New Business.

It comes up in a lot of episodes.

I would check when the game first came out in Europe. I think James and Greg were both playing it around the same time.

 

[demidar]

I don't think Dark Souls is actually that hard, just relentless and punishing of rashness. Best advice I can give to newcomers is to always keep your shield up and you can strike with your shield up with a spear.

 

[Henke]

It comes up in a lot of episodes.

I would check when the game first came out in Europe. I think James and Greg were both playing it around the same time.

Good thinking!

 

[Ondore]

Just going through the descriptions of the RFN feed, I found Xenoblade mentions in these episodes: 253, 255, 259, 260, 266, 270 (US launch love), 287, 290, 291, 292 (Listener Mail), 298 and NFR-01

 

[Jonnyboy117]

Way to narrow it down, Ondore. ;-)

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

It's a long game, so it's not surprising it takes so long to fully describe.

Greg's descriptions of climbibg to a high place, falling from that great height into a river, finding a secret place and getting exp for doing so were what sold me on the game.

 

[The_Darkest_Red]

I love Dark Souls talk! I really think the guys on this show would love the game if they gave it a proper chance, it's a shame some of them dismiss it based solely on its reputation.

James should probably take a few minutes to read about the basic systems of the game on a wiki or something, it makes the learning curve much more manageable.

 

[Henke]

Just going through the descriptions of the RFN feed, I found Xenoblade mentions in these episodes: 253, 255, 259, 260, 266, 270 (US launch love), 287, 290, 291, 292 (Listener Mail), 298 and NFR-01

Thanks a lot, bud. I use a podcast app on Android and it's difficult to get the full descriptions on older episodes.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

I love Dark Souls talk! I really think the guys on this show would love the game if they gave it a proper chance, it's a shame some of them dismiss it based solely on its reputation.

James should probably take a few minutes to read about the basic systems of the game on a wiki or something, it makes the learning curve much more manageable.

See, having to read a wiki in order to enjoy a game means either that you're playing a sim or the designers have done something wrong.

The World Ends With You, as brilliant as it is, suffers from this issue too. Challenge as part of the design is one thing, difficulty as a result of obtuseness just produces needless frustration.

 

[zroid]

Good chat about Rayman Origins. Loved the game, but agree with just about all of Jonny's and the others' points.

Fuck the chase stages, seriously. Most of those were just not fun. Slogging through them was worth it for LOTLD though, what a ride.

 

[XDDX]

Haha, that silence after Jonny mentioned Halo was amazing.

I also agreed with pretty much everything Jonny said about Rayman.

 

[Ondore]

The official gif of episode 310? disgunbgud
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/32101

Over the years, some of the most memorable James rants have come from his reviews. The start of this episode is sure to join that pantheon, as he struggles to cope with the nightmare of... Crazy Hunter. No, it has nothing to do with deer. Returning super-guest Nate Andrews follows up with a game opposite in quality, the stellar Walking Dead from Telltale. Anticipating the imminent release of Crashmo, Nate also loads up Pushmo to revisit the eShop favorite. Guillaume scratches an RPG itch with Persona 3 Portable for PSP, and we consider the prospects for that series coming to 3DS. Jonny concludes the segment with updated --and significantly more jubilant-- impressions of La-Mulana, the last great WiiWare game. He also spends a few minutes on FTL, the difficult but strangely addictive space roguelike that everyone's talking about.

We emerge from the Now Playing break to catch up on just a few of the excellent emails you've been sending over the past few weeks. One listener is concerned about how expectations affect reviews. Another questions how abundant 1-ups can affect our perception of a game's difficulty. We also dig through our collections for games that are worth far more than we originally paid. This email adventure concludes with some fun speculation on how Metroid will translate to the Wii U experience. Please contribute even more great questions and ideas by sending your own email -- we read everything and use as many as possible for the show!

One last, important thing: we announced the new telethon last week, and now the event page is available to provide all the details you need, plus links to donate early. Bookmark this page, because it will be updated frequently as the planning gets hot and heavy! Plus, that's where you'll want to be on the day of the event, November 10, to access the live audio and interact with us and fellow NWR fans throughout the telethon.

Time: 1'47"51
Downloads: mp3 | AAC
Was the editor drunk: ALLEGEDLY.

 

[zroid]

rfn saturdays are best saturdays

 

[Katsuragi]

Yay! I was quite surprised to see a new RFN episode in my iTunes library when I woke up this morning. Loved Jonny's segment about La-Mulana. It's a fantastic game that should be experienced by anyone who's even remotely interested in 2D exploration.

 

[JoeFu]

Dropping truths about reviews. "games journalism" needs more dudes like RFN guys.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

God. The listener-mail Metroid suggestion sounded fucking terrible.

 

[tanooki141]

I'm hoping the loyal RFN gaffers will drum up some great support for RFN Live this year.

Its still not for a while off yet but Gaf is a pretty powerful force and I'm sure could raise a lot of money.

 

[Ondore]

Do we need an OT for it, or can we just discuss it here?

Keep in mind that if we do a separate thread, someone else has to do it because of rule number one (as I will be playing the role of Carl Kasell if it gets that far).

 

[tanooki141]

I thought it would be nice to have an OT to drum up some support but I guess that depends on who is willing to put in the work.

 

[Ondore]

Episode 311: Warning, this podcast goes up to 66% Canadian at points. Viewer disrection is strongly advised. Please don't kill me.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/32188

Jonny was out travelling this week and Jon is still out, so James was charged with not just pulling together not just a show but a cast. Nate rejoins the show this week along with first-time guest Donald "Shaymin" Theriault, the host of Nintendo Free Radio - a podcast for the NWR forums, by the NWR forums.

We start the show with New Business this week. Donald goes all-out Pokemon. First he talks about Pokemon Black 2, and the rest of the crew grills him to justify its existence. He hits the Pokemon well again with Pokemon Dream Radar; it turns out AR Pokemon sounds about as fun as it is. Nate takes us on a strange journey though the utterly inexplicable world of Asura's Wrath. Guillaume explores co-operative gameplay with Kirby Super Star and delves into Lara Croft and the Cradle of Light. James wraps up New Business digging himself into a very deep hole in the Xbox Arcade version of Minecraft.

After the break we move into a set of feature discussions. Inspired by this article, we first we share our thoughts on Nintendo's recent (and not so recent) procurement of Japanese franchises. It turns out it isn't easy to determine the larger effect Nintendo publishing Bayonetta on the larger Japanese gaming market. Our second topic is a more in-depth discussion of Nintendo's marketing strategy for Wii U, one month from the launch window. With all of these features, how are they supposed to sell this thing?

Just a reminder, the NWR Live Podcast Telethon is just a few weeks away! It's for the children, so be sure to mark it on your calendar. This week's guest Donald and the rest of the Nintendo Free Radio crew will host their own hour, but only if you donate! Also, remember to send us listener mail, it's been a little slow so there's a pretty good chance we'll use it on the show!

Time: 1'30"02
Downloads: mp3 | AAC
Embargo preserving beeps: I wish
Where's my AAC chapters?: Redownload it.

 

[zroid]

GASP. Ondore on the podcast!

AND YOU'RE DEFENDING POKEMON, RIGHT ON!


The added Canadianness is highly appreciated. It's a matter of weeks before we take over completely, tbh.

 

[XDDX]

Nice to have some Pokemon talk on RFN! Sounds like a good episode this week.

 

[Suzzopher]

New week confirmed!