4847 replies to this topic

[Nicholas Steel]

Sure, but at what cost? The visuals look fugly as sin and as far as I know they didn't improve anything except the load times.

[The Satellite]

The visuals do look annoyingly downgraded in the 3DS version. Plus, I don't want to buy another system just to play that. Hell, just buying a Wii disc, which are insanely overpriced, would be far cheaper. The New 3DS seems like a wasted investment anyway; as far as I'm aware, literally only Xenoblade and Isaac: Rebirth take advantage of it. And if the former looks better on Wii and the latter is better on PC (especially with the ability to change the soundtrack back to the far superior original game's soundtrack), I don't really see the need to get this system.

 

But yeah, Dan's right, Xenoblade's only out in the PAL eShop for some reason.

[Nicholas Steel]

Only available on the PAL eShop? o_O Makes no sense but awesome for me And the New 3DS offers benefits in some more games, like Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for example: Consistent high frame rate (instead of fluctuating frame rate) and higher resolution textures.

 

What I hate about the new 3DS is that the C-Stick isn't compatible with Slide Pad add-on thing for the regular 3DS. Games that support the latter don't support the former as far as I can recall.

Edited by Nicholas Steel, 17 December 2015 - 10:51 PM.

[kurt91]

Actually, games that use the Circle Pad Pro simply see the New 3DS as having it attached already. At least, that's how Dream Drop Distance works. I think that what you're thinking of is homebrew. As of right now, we can get homebrew programs to recognize New 3DS expanded input, but not Circle Pad Pro expanded input.

 

Also, Smash Bros. takes advantage of the New 3DS's extra hardware, as well as Monster Hunter, like you already said. You see, the 3DS is capable of a sort of 'High Power Mode', where it comepletely shuts down all unnecessary features such as the Home Menu in order to free up RAM space for more extensive games. This allows games like Monster Hunter and Smash Bros. to function as well as they do. There are two drawbacks to this, though. First of all, even this method is not enough for New 3DS exclusive games such as Xenoblade. Second, this method requires the system to perform a full reboot when finished with the game. This may not seem like a big deal for casual retail-only users, but people who use homebrew and custom firmware are forced to re-activate the exploits that allow these additional programs each time, with most methods of doing so being annoyingly time-consuming or not consistently reliable. The New 3DS's additional hardware and RAM allow these games to run normally without having to shut down all additional resources and are able to close the game normally.

 

Now, your complaints about not enough games and software utilizing the additional hardware and not warranting buying a New 3DS is valid, unless you look at the homebrew available. As of right now, we have a near-full RetroArch collection, for example. The original-model 3DS is unable to play most of these at full speed. I think it can most reliably run NES and Game Boy Color level games at most at a full 60 FPS. The New 3DS can play everything from Super NES, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis at a full 60 FPS and with certain graphics filters enabled. There's even a PlayStation emulator in early Alpha that can play just about everything with few to no glitches, albeit at half-speed 30 FPS. (Although I've been told Final Fantasy VII and IX run at something like 50 FPS. Slightly slow, but perfectly playable.) There's also my favorite program, 3DS Controller, that lets you play games on the PC using your 3DS as a wireless controller via WiFi, and it is able to use the expanded controls of the New 3DS as well as the Volume and 3D sliders as additional input.

[Nicholas Steel]

Actually, games that use the Circle Pad Pro simply see the New 3DS as having it attached already. At least, that's how Dream Drop Distance works. I think that what you're thinking of is homebrew. As of right now, we can get homebrew programs to recognize New 3DS expanded input, but not Circle Pad Pro expanded input.

I might have had it around the wrong way, games expecting the C-Stick probably can't work with the Circle Pad Pro.

[Dawnlight]

The visuals do look annoyingly downgraded in the 3DS version. Plus, I don't want to buy another system just to play that. Hell, just buying a Wii disc, which are insanely overpriced, would be far cheaper. The New 3DS seems like a wasted investment anyway; as far as I'm aware, literally only Xenoblade and Isaac: Rebirth take advantage of it. And if the former looks better on Wii and the latter is better on PC (especially with the ability to change the soundtrack back to the far superior original game's soundtrack), I don't really see the need to get this system.
 
But yeah, Dan's right, Xenoblade's only out in the PAL eShop for some reason.

Visuals vs load times that's probably the big question regard both versions of XC. From my experience with he Wii version, I was very annoyed by the long load times. Even opening up a single menu screen took a while to open.

[Lejes]

I started playing Xenoblade Chronicles too. I'm not really feeling it. Everything about it feels very generic so far. The sweeping acoustic guitar overworld theme might have felt more impressive if I had played this 15 years ago before I heard Scars of Time. I haven't hit any of the big story beats yet, since I mostly spent the first few hours playing dicking around with sidequests. Ironically, I hope that aspect of the game continues, because I like doing things like finding little disconnected story bits in the city, exploring wilderness, and seeing what treasures monsters drop. I'm kind of sour on the battle system. People comparing it to an MMO are right. It has the same overload of pointless, real time information across multiple characters that MMOs do, and the same unsatisfying disconnect from what's happening on screen. Scrolling through a dialogue box saying what happened in a turn based system really is way better than this style that has a million different numbers, text blurbs, and small icons continuously flashing in and out of existence. It pushes you to focus on your build and chaining commands rather than trying to parse anything that's actually happening on screen, but if you're not even paying attention or reacting, why would the battle system be real time in the first place? I was especially put off by the game's concept of aggro. Not being able to avoid an attack by physically walking away from an enemy is a real bad feeling. The Tales of series handled this so much better.

Speaking of bad gameplay I have to talk about the controls. They're bad almost entirely because the Wiimote is bad. I honestly hate this thing so much. Manipulating all the buttons on the remote with just your thumb is terrible, and tying virtually all of the menu functions to the out-of-the-way D-pad is worse. Moving your character around with the stick while a menu is open is so, so pointless. Controllers had had designs where directional input was on one side, and face buttons on another, each manipulated by different thumbs, for decades. The Wiimote was such a huge step backwards. Some of these issues would be solved by a Classic controller, but I didn't want to drop an extra $20 on that just to play this one game.

The little I've seen of the sequel doesn't look promising, either. I'm reading in this very thread that the MMO aspects were ramped up even more? That doesn't sound good. And it's hard to think of things more viscerally unappealing character design-wise than mechs. They were already having trouble with generic designs in the first game. Removing human faces and replacing them with ugly, boring robot suits feels like the opposite of progress.

[Nicholas Steel]

You're meant to play it with the Classic Controller (Classic Controller Pro is better), the Wiimote & Nunchuk function was included just to give those that couldn't afford it some way to play the game (I think it launched as a bundle with a Classic Controller Pro). You're right at it feeling very mmo'ish.

Edited by Nicholas Steel, 19 December 2015 - 10:06 AM.

[Avaro]

I somewhat agree with you about the combat system Lejes, but turn based combat isn't much better either in my opinion. I find both equally unfun, but that's just me. xd

 

The story is gonna get pretty good throughout the game. As for towns, there's 5 in the game. Xenoblade Chronicles X feels very different from the first game because of the lack of focus on a story but it shines in other parts.

[The Satellite]

I don't personally have a problem with the control schemes, other than camera control, but I'm fine sticking to Wiimote/Nunchuck. I actually do kind of agree that it's stupid you can't dodge an attack simply by moving out of range, but otherwise I honestly quite like the combat system. As for sidequests, don't worry about that, this game's loaded with them so far. And it's awesome. And distracting. But mostly awesome. And since a fair bit of them give EXP, it makes them even more worth it, which is what I like most about these sidequests.

[Joey2216]

Just started chapter 2 in paper Mario. I love this game so far.

[Haylee]

I keep forgetting to use this topic.

 

I beat Tales of Xillia last night. Overall, I like the game more than Tales of the Abyss, but there are some things about Tales of the Abyss that I like more. I'm planning on getting Xillia 2, soon.

[Tree]

100% Majorpo's Borpo for the first time last night. I had the hardest time finding this one heart piece, and had to comb through all the ones that aren't logged into the Bomber's Notebook, and found out that I totally forgot to get one of the earliest heart pieces... What a derp. Ah well. At least it meant I got to spend time in good ol' Termina for awhile longer. 

 

What game should I 100% next...

[Dawnlight]

I keep forgetting to use this topic.

 

I beat Tales of Xillia last night. Overall, I like the game more than Tales of the Abyss, but there are some things about Tales of the Abyss that I like more. I'm planning on getting Xillia 2, soon.

Xillia 2 was better to me IMO. It pretty much fixes any problems its predecessor had. 

[Dark Ice Dragon]

Xillia 2 was better to me IMO. It pretty much fixes any problems its predecessor had. 

I'm agree, Xillia 2 is great.

I'm in my first play of Tales of Zestiria in those days, i will let you know my opinion once i clear it.