I-n-j-i-n

The missing music affects the presentation a lot as was the superior voice acting and the minimal play mechanics of the original. Like others have said, MGS2 moves in MGS1 = you can literally cheat your way through the entire game with FPS mode. Also, some scenes totally missed the gravitas evident in the original. If you're comparing the cinematic impact of the two, I don't think it's any contest really. MGS1 did everything right, Twin Snakes perverted a lot of what made it great originally, though it still ends up being a great game because it milked off the original. . Gray Fox holding up the Rex was otherwise pretty straightforward and didn't involve flipping around in the air needlessly. They're two totally different things in the way they're presented. Also, Solid was known to be a genetic supersoldier though not said so explicitly. It was implied under the more subversive writing of the original game. The problem isn't just with the accents. The voicework is just all around a bit worse for the wear. The thing was that the accents were just done so well done, taking it out just doesn't do the original game justice.

And why shouldn't we? He was one of the major enemies of the gaming industry as was the tons of misguided allegations that got nowhere. This legal notice puts a firm foot down against slanderous litigations against the liberty of game developers to make the games they want. Objectively, it's big news. I don't really buy the argument that the best way to deal with adversity is to ignore it, or that Thompson wasn't a threat. Because there are millions of misguided people who actually bought into it. Thankfully, the vast millions more are smart to see it as frivolous as was the court. This is something to be thankful for.

I don't disagree. Both are great for different reasons. But the original just has that different flair. As if it was meant to be played that way. Pezman, I enjoyed Twin Snakes too so I'm not saying you shouldn't play it. But the definitive experience is with the original. The warts and all. Maybe it's only me, but I don't have such a big problem with the heavy pixels of the Playstation 1 era. Technically, it really does look bad but I think the gameplay stands on its own. As for the different physical appearance issue with Liquid/Solid, I think that could'be been construed from the way Liquid kept saying he was of inferior gene when just about everyone else in the game said otherwise. Maybe that was a bit too cryptic for many gamers.

Nope. There was a definitive Metal Gear Solid game called VR Missions (tacky name I know). MGS2 also had its own VR missions, but it's not the same. I think the MGS2 ones are missing the giant-soldiers ones in the original. I'm still a bit terrified of the giant soldiers.. Like everyone says, the game is much easier than it ever was. Though I think MGS always needed better camera system because you really can't aim anywhere (no FPS mode, very restricted looking mode, etc). Also, the original favoring with the foreign accents and its darker feel is missing in the remake. Like how they say in the interviews that they purposely made Twin Snakes over the top with Hong Kong style acrobatics. I think it's still a very good remake. Just not the same as the good old original. Imagine playing Super Mario Bros and then playing Super Mario Bros in Super Mario Allstars. It's just not the same experience with the slight overhaul. MSG2's second version only added the VR missions. The other MGS3 game Subsistence had a lot of new features in the second disc including the original Metal Gear 1 and 2 (IMO just as great as the 3D versions except for the lack of any theatrical feel and none of the great voice acting). That and MGS3 had a pretty horrible online mode added in with people cheating or acting cheap with shotguns all the time.

Twin Snakes is like a neutered form of MGS though... even with its pretty graphic overhaul, the original was still one of the best versions of MGS. I would even rate the ridiculous MGS2 over Twin Snakes personally. Also, why don't they have the VR Missions? That disc was one of the best versions of Metal Gear ever made. And I'm pretty peeved that I spent at least $200 on the Metal Gear Solid games for what amounts to $30 now..

I just hope the sliding is balanced enough because I can imagine all sorts of abuses for it. As for snaking, against truly great snakers, I never really beat those in MK:DS. Some lousy ones, yes, but not against snakers who can do it for the whole race.

Sonic is at least considered middle tier in some circles so I don't think he's bad either. Just notoriously difficult to use.

Only 1up would be any real competition if they had as much video features as GameTrailers does. I usually stick to Screwattack though.

To me, the gist of the Japan only games that are noticeably absent in the American market is the dating-sim/visual novel games. Many recent lot of them being excellent or just masterpieces like Ever 17. I used to think Touhou games were great, but there are better alternatives out there I believe. Then there are the fighting games like Fist of the North Star and a few others. Most notable releases do come to the States, so I don't think that niche is much to talk about anymore.

The Zerg looks pretty disgusting in StarCraft 2. I mean that as a compliment.

I honestly don't see why anyone would think that 'feature' is intentional. It's an obvious overlook in the control scheme. As for Sonic, I don't think he's any harder to control than the needlessly fast Captain Falcon in SSBM. I've seen some good Sonic players in the random 4 player matches. I don't know of any single prominent players yet.

iPods account for the lion's share of MP3 players out there, and most MP3 players will have to keep up with iTunes in order to compete in the market and there's plenty (though not all) 3rd party MP3 players that support it. I'd say that constitutes it as a complete product unlike something like FLAC which is at least a generation or two away as far as hardware is concerned. The next direct step as I see it is AAC. It's already out there, it's being distributed (again, pirated music comes in AAC much more than it ever has), and the hardware for the most part, supports it. I really don't understand the argument that AAC isn't being supported.

Wow. I just watched it and I must agree. The director and the staff worked on Kemonozume and needless to say, it does everything unconventionally from the story to the animation to the ridiculously widescreen format.

iPod and iTunes support AAC. How is that not ubiquitous? And my Winamp plays AAC no problem. I don't even know if I downloaded any AAC applications for it. Either it was seamless or close to it. AAC is already a completed product unlike something like FLAC where you have to convert it and it's a pain in the ass for otherwise unacquainted users. AAC never had that problem, really. I really don't see how convenience has anything to do with it since just about all the programs that handle MP3s already has built in AAC support now such as Winamp and Nero. When the 3rd parties are making it a must to support the new file types, I think that is a sign. It's happening now so why wait 20 years when everything is smoothed out? I don't think technology ever worked that way. It always starts as a rough entrance then it steamrolls down. VHS was like that, DVD was like that, HDTV was like that, HD disc formats is in that stage now, etc. Especially on the software compression front, I think the progression is going to be seamless. I don't think most MP3 users will have to worry since the hardware companies are always trying to keep up with the highest end in terms of being able to read different file compression types. So it's basically a hands off upgrade in the coming years. IE- All the MP3 players of the future will most likely play both MP3 and AAC files. This isn't a competition. Also, you say this is about audiophiles cramming it down users' throats but I disagree. I think any run of the mill iPod/MP3 player owners realize that the compression is just problematic and if you're putting in CD quality music in the player, it balloons up in size. It's just common sense. And now there is an alternative for that demand. I think it's just a natural progression of technology. Also, XviD is slowly but surely being replaced by H264 as well on the video front. Actually, the H264 is in the exact same situation as AAC. Other than the minor installation, it's basically the same type of file but in much better compression.

It's not a matter of being sufficient or not... Why does that arise in every new technology threads? I use the old telephone too, but it's not the point. I use the old DVDs but that's not indicative of the quality of newer disc formats, etc etc. Not the point. The AAC is supposedly a superior format and I'd agree from experience though it's usually the Apple files that are on it though plenty of recent pirated soundtracks are on it now. For the filesize, as in pound-for-pound, AAC is typically better. In the end, AAC files are both smaller and sound better even in compression than the typical MP3 files. That's the basic conclusion from audiophiles anyway. And again, I agree due to my personal experience with them. As for iPod compatibility, it should work since it's something supported by Apple itself but I wouldn't know since I try to shy away from the break-prone iPods.

I'm fully convinced that there is no escape from the Ice Climbers Final Smash.

I think it's usually the parents who have the cash to burn and want to indulge their kids. Not the relatively money smart gamer crowd. I've seen many parents blow entire cars and expensive jewelery before, and going through it on the post office. $500 is nothing for indulgent grandmas.

I just wish the background looked better though. Worst looking videogame pedestrians in history.

^ Exactly. $500 a Wii? Are they crazy?

I would recommend Piano no Mori movie that was fansubbed pretty recently if people liked Nodame Cantabile and wants more. I think Nodame Cantabile was much better for its comedy than anything else though I agree it does flatter the classical music scene a bit. As for Kodomo no Omocha, I prefer its anime version though the manga has that dead-serious final arc that wasn't covered in the anime. The anime is just genius at how it uses the comedic pieces. IMO better than the manga does.

Olimar is just abusive with the Pikmin. If it had any more versatility, he could be high tiered (or maybe he is there already). Also even in slightly laggy games, players just unleash it and let the things go to work. He's a lazy gamer's choice. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I abused plenty of players with the few times I used Olimar.

I think the current Persona Trinity Soul anime is very well made. And the Xenoglossia anime turned out well even if it's absolutely nothing like the game.

I find it surprising that Sonic bamboozles players a lot in anonymous internet play. I think a lot of gamers are sticking to Fire Emblem characters though. I don't think they're particularly dominating or anything.

Xenosaga is actually pretty good as a game but only if you're willing to sludge through the almost undeniably great Xenosaga 3. I don't really think highly of anime/game conversions. That includes Dot Hack (biggest cross media commercial bust I can think of) and Devil May Cry which just felt very weird and very un-Dante. Strawberry Sundae Dante?

Don't you realize the contradiction there though? The fact of the matter is that Nintendo itself was hyping it up as one of major new features but it's just a very well fleshed out (but mechanically busted) version of SSBM's adventure mode. Add on or not, it's just broken. They have 4 or 5 more years until they can do it better next time. But overall, my borderline-total-distaste of Subspace Emissary is actually the one huge nitpick of the entire thing (okay, so maybe not playing custom matches with strangers and not being able to communicate well is a huge nitpick as well. They basically took out what is truly fun about playing with strangers on the net.) Unlike Gametrailers reviews and other reviews have it, I don't think it's a bad single player game at all. I'm having enough fun messing around with the AI, no less the very limited online multiplayer. And picking up a few straddlers in GameFAQs for a few custom matches (I hate using friend codes like it's 1994).