Exile`90

I’ve NEVER played Metroid game for more than 10 minutes. This demo was no exeption, but mostly due to the 10min time limit. This ‘game’ gives you a couple of modes to play around. For single player mode: Regulator (where you basically go and shoot everything that moves), Survivor (just try to survive) and Morph Ball (where you roll around in the ball mode). In multiplayer you have 3 maps to play. Haven’t got a chance to mock around too much in that mode so I’ll leave that part without any comments.
Will I buy the game after trying the demo? NO. It’s not my type of a game. It’s fun for 10 min.. But that’s enough for me.

Game Info:
Title: Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt Demo
Serial: NTR-AMFE-USA

Published by: Nintendo
Distributed by: Nintendo

ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)

Game Type: Action
Players: 4 (each player is required to have the game card)
Languages: English

Video: 8
The graphics are pretty nice. Colors are sharp, bright and vibrant. The lighting is good, with dark and bright places nicely balanced. There are no slowdowns even when you and your oponent are shooting at eachother pretty much face to face. The intro is nice.. The ending movie is pretty cool too.. But I can’t say much more just from playing it for an hour..

Audio: 7
Well.. It’s a shooter. So there is not much of any other sounds than you and your enemies. The BG music is nice and not disturbing but it gets repetive.

Touch Screen Usage: Heavy
The default controls require you to use the stylus and the touch screen like you’d use a mouse on a PC. It takes a minute or two to get used to it but after that it’s easy you control your movement without any thinking.

Replay Value: 3
If you’re a Metroid fan I’m sure you’ll play it few times until the full version of the game comes out next year. Me? I may play it when I’m bored out of my mind or if I forgot any other cards. Otherwise.. I wont touch it..

Final Score: 5

Game Tips and Other Info:
Nada..

Read more…

So.. It’s finally here..

Btw. I suck BIG TIME when it comes to operating a camera so just forgive me for some low quality shots. Maybe one day I’ll redo them.

Here’s a look at the back of the box:

Inside of the retail box:

1x Nintendo DS unit
1x Power Adapter
2x Stylus (yes, 2!)
1x Nintendo DS strap
1x Instruction Manual
1x Health and Safety Precoutions Booklet
1x Nintendo Power Subscription card
1x Registration card
1x Metroid Prime Hunters demo (more about it below)

Not included in the picture above power supply (basically the same as GBA SP):

Here’s a closeup of your ‘input’ devices, stylus + the thumb strap:

The stylus is SMALL.. and I mean TINNY.. Here it is against it’s big brother from Palm:

And here it is next to the DS unit:

And finally the Nintendo DS itself:

Bottom of the unit:

And the top side:

And the back:

The unit itself is BIG and HEAVY..
It’s about the size of the old GBA:

GBA SP was much smaller:

Now to the boundled demo of Metroid.

1st big dissapointment here.. The demo came in a lame cardboard cover instead of a proper box:

Inside you find the game card in a plastic cover and the manual:

Now about the cards. They’re SMALL..

With the console I picked up Super Mario 64 DS

The box is pretty big if you compare it to the size of the card:

Inside you’ll find the card itself, the manual, health and safety booklet and NP subsctiption card.

Like I said above the box is pretty big, but still smaller than the GB/GBC/GBA USA box and almost as wide as the japanese GBA box:

The thicknes of the box is about the same as the other boxes:

Later today I also picked up Asphalt DS. The content of the box is about the same as the Mario one so there is no point in taking pix of that.

Now first impressions:
DS looks cheap.. Sorry, but maybe I got spoiled with the SP but the plastic they used to make the DS case looks cheap.. It’s BIG and HEAVY.. I’m a geek.. I don’t need to excercise my muscules just to play a damn game.. I remember Nintendo fanboys dissing XBOX for having a big and heavy controller.. And now Nintendo pulled this crap..

Anyways.. The DS is NICE.. The sound is amazing.. Stereo == r0×0rZ!!! And it’s pretty loud too for a build-in sound. Waaaay louder than GBA.. The graphics.. Well.. I can’t really base my opinions on the 1st generation games.. And we all know they were rushed anyways so they’re not as polished as say titles coming out after X-Mas.. But from what I’ve seen so far this system seems to have lots of potential to kick PSP’s ass when it comes out..

Mario DS:
I’ve never played the N64 version so it’s a completly new game for me.. Dunno what to make of it yet.. Kind of weird to play it in ‘3d’..

Asphalt DS:
Nice racing game.. The colision detection sucks at few ocasions but otherwise it’s a pretty decent launch game.. I’d preffer Initial D but.. I guess this will have to do ’til I get Ridge Racer..

What games I’ll be getting:
Prince of Tennis 2005 (!!!)
Tiger Woods (golf + 2 screens = PWND!)
Ridge Racer (not too sure about this one yet)
Mario Cart (still unsure)
Final Fantasy
Tecmo announced Team Ninja produced game so.. DOA?
NFSU2 (just to keep me busy)

Well.. That’s all for now.. Back to playing the DS..