I've finally made it. Even now, a day after it was finalized, it's all so surreal.
Today, I am absolutely beyond thrilled to announce I will be hosting MY VERY FIRST INTERVIEW with an individual who's worked on Nintendo games! And not just any individual; it's someone who's composed music for over seven Nintendo games. That interviewee happens to be....
Mr. Tomoya Tomita!!! Over the past decade, Tomita-san wrote music for games such as Kirby's Epic Yarn, Yoshi's Woolly World, Wario Land: Shake It! and even certain StreetPass titles! (Mii Force, Battleground Z, Slot Car Rivals and Market Crashers) It will be happening this week, with translation help courtesy of my buddy Masked Man, who you may remember as chiming in for my Nintendojo localization article last year.
Mr. Tomita had recently announced on his YouTube Channel that he was going freelance from Good-Feel/Nintendo and was currently taking requests. While obviously referring to music, an idea sprang to mind:...would he agree to an e-mail interview? I spent days agonizing over what to say before finally sending it, and I woke up Saturday to him saying yes!
Needless to say, I'm just...stunned this is happening. I'm interviewing an ex-Nintendo composer! The guy who wrote the music for Kirby'sEpic Yarn, one of my favorite gaming soundtracks, is going to discuss his work with ME! And he's thrilled to do so! Wow!
And here I thought Leave Luck to Heaven eventually leading me to working in game journalism was mindblowing. Like many a Nintendo fan, I've fantasized meeting and talking with countless names and faces from the company and its branches, but that it's actually happening is...it's a feeling that can't be put into words. My dream is coming true.
The best part? Readers familiar with my blog know how descriptive I can get with my articles, and Tomita-san has agreed to answer all of my many questions regarding his works. His history at Good-Feel and his three works for Nintendo home consoles will take the spotlight, although I'm currently considering whether or not I'll be asking a couple questions regarding Mii Force. And just to be clear, this will be hosted on Hey Poor Player.
I'll be wrapping up my questions tomorrow, so hopefully afterwards the three of us can get started ASAP. I absolutely cannot wait for this to happen, for this to be shared, and for this to lead to many more opportunities to come! See you soon!
I typically don't link to my news pieces, but this was such exciting news that I couldn't help but share it. Talk about a smart way to circumvent the absence of new hardware!
I'm surprised it wasn't shown off via trailer, as we're a bit in the dark as to how it works. What's the menu for selecting from the 30 pre-installed games like? Are the games enhanced through HD? Regardless, it's an especially solid list of games (Kirby's Adventure!) and I'm already looking forward to playing famous titles I've never tried before (Bubble Bobble and Castlevania).
If there's only one concern...are these going to have the nasty black filter found on Virtual Console? While I understand safety concerns, it's especially gross on colorful games like Kirby's Adventure and I believe preserving the games in their original lighting would best emulate the original experience. People have pointed out the Mini's inclusion of a HDMI cable may point to an all-new form of emulation, so let's keep our fingers crossed.
It's been over six hours since the Final Smash Presentation by Mr. Sakurai, and we're only just now coming down from the high! What a show. Not everyone's dreams came true, but that's Smash Bros. for you!
So, what went down in this special video? Just newcomer reveals and Mii Costumes. Many expected to see at least one veteran (Wolf, in particular), a returning stage or two, or even a new mode. Considering that we already had three veterans return, a variety of old stages and the downsizing of Sakurai's team, there's a variety of reasons as to why those didn't come to be (not the least of which is poor Snake!).
Of course, any slight disappointments regarding the absence of those factors immediately melted in the face of the first newcomer, who's already stirred quite the controversy!
Why, it's Corrin, the avatar protagonist of Fire Emblem: Fates! The moment I saw the opposing kingdoms of Hoshido and Nohr, I knew trouble would be brewing. After all, not only has Sakurai made it no secret of his love for Fire Emblem, but we already have five different Fire Emblem characters in Smash 4's cast! Isn't six characters pushing it...?
Well, perhaps, but just look at how the character plays! He's just as versatile and inventive as his fellow Fire Emblem newcomer Robin, what with the Manakete-boosted abilities (or, for those unfamiliar with Fire Emblem terminology, him temporarily turning into a dragon). Just look at his reach! I forsee his Dragon Lunge attack, which turns his arm into a massive lance and nails it into the ground, leading to many hilarious scenarios aside from those seen in the video.
Truth be told, this is a character that's crossed my mind before, but I figured the presence of two Awakening characters would render his chances as DLC nil (moreover, there's also Sakurai's recent comment from the Fire Emblem 25th Anniversary book to consider: "it’s not as if we have a stipulation that says “we have to include the protagonist of the next Fire Emblem game.”). As with the last character, it only goes to show you can't make up any rules for roster inclusions. Think of it this way: if Corrin won't be a possibility by the time the next Smash rolls around, why not add him now?
In fact, I think the character looks so fun that I could care less he's yet another Fire Emblem entry. Now more than ever, I'm quite excited to play Fates this coming February. Maybe I'll finally get around to finishing my fifth Awakening playthrough by then.
Next up, Cloud. We already saw him in action last month, but Mr. Sakurai went over his moveset in far greater detail this time, alongside the workings of the Midgar stage.
Cloud was made available soon after the video ended; naturally, I picked him up for both versions. While I've only had the chance to play him on Wii U, it was a beauty to witness to another famous foreign character who brings another dimension unfamiliar to Smash. I'm in an interesting predicament with Cloud in how I'm not completely unfamiliar with him (thanks to his boss cameos in Kingdom Hearts), yet I've played very little of the game he originated from: Final Fantasy VII. I'll be soon rectifying that by jumping into the series next year, but I can only imagine the glee others now feel at seeing Final Fantasy's most popular character join the fray.
By the way, Midgar is incredibly fun! I know many (lame) people tend to complain about stage hazards, but fighting for the super-cool Materia summons is just as joyful as doing the same for a Smash Ball. Your loss if you can't handle the fair, telegraphed d summon attacks, I suppose. If anything, that there's only two music rips from Final Fantasy VII available is the only real disappointment (alongside the lack of non-Cloud trophies), but I'm not too surprised given how strict Square-Enix can be regarding the foreign use of their visuals/audio (anyone who's seen the Final Fantasy VII suite in Video Games Live should know what I'm talking about). A shame, since I was looking forward to the possibility of Nobuo Uematsu returning to Smash for an arrangement. Maybe next time!
Oh, but speaking of Square-Enix, look who's back! Yes, that's Geno, the sentient puppet from Super Mario RPG! He may be just a Mii costume, but to see Super Mario RPG finally be referenced in Smash after all this time (barring perhaps Peach's frying pan) just...just brings a tear to your eye. Even if he was impossible, the fact remains that Geno was a very popular character suggestion for Brawl, and to see that come full-circle in the next best possible way is an amazing nod. I know I'll be using it.
AND THE LAST CHARACTER IIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSS
BAYONETTA?!? AIIIIEEE!!!!
My goodness, a character most had written off due to her being practically synonymous with guns and flaunting her sexuality 24/7 is actually in Smash?!? Incredible! That she hails from two action-game masterpieces ain't half-bad, either! She was the winner of the Smash Ballot, too. I guess that really did come down to popularity.
Just like Ryu, I'm at amazed at how the Smash team got Bayonetta down within the confines of the game's controls. Just like in Bayonetta, you can suddenly shift into bullet-riddled Gun Arts just by holding the attack button, no matter what move you're using. The awe-inspiring Wicked Weaves retain their devastative impact through Smash Attacks. The time-slowing Witch Time is activated as a counter, which I typically stink at pulling off. If you look closely on the Wii U, you might realize Madam Butterfly is closer than you think. Both her Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 outfits are included. And, best of all, stunning dance moves for taunts.
It's all too much to take in; I know I had to watch her presentation three times over to fully digest that all. Not to mention, her accompanying stage is one of the greatest opening sequences in video game history: the falling Umbra Clock Tower. And it comes with a plethora of amazing tracks too, not the least of which are two arrangements of both games' battle themes. A shame You May Call Me Father and The Greatest Jubilee didn't make the cut, but at least they nailed One of a Kind.
And you know what else is too much to take in? This glorious poster.
Just admire this beautiful piece of work for a moment, won't you? Be sure to find the hidden Smash logo.
But the eye candy doesn't end there, for I'm certain all us Kirby fans are dying to know: what does Bayonetta Kirby look like?
JUST LOOK AT HIM USING HIS BIG POOFY FEET FOR HEEL GUN ARTS AWWWWWWW
At any rate, just look at all the magic DLC's brought us. We've had beloved veterans return, stunning third-party newcomers, classic stages for new and old characters to brawl upon...Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS is truly a gift, and all the post-launch content is courtesy of one man's vision: a love letter not just for Nintendo's history, but for video games as a whole.
Yet while the hype train may be stopping for Wii U and 3DS, many are still speculating over the possibility of an NX port. After all, it's not like we can expect Sakurai and the gang at Namco to get cracking at yet another Smash game for the nearing console. But should such an amazing title be left to languish on a dying console and a handheld within its twilight period...?
This Thursday on Nintendojo, I shall be reviewing such a case. Please join me then!
I gotta say, I haven't been this floored by a third-party Smash character since Snake! As incredible as the rest of the third-party cast is, they're far more hands-on with Nintendo than Cloud. Like Snake, the broody swordsman kickstarted his popularity off of Sony PlayStation, but even then that's where the similarities end: while Snake's starred in a couple of games on Nintendo consoles, Cloud's only made periphery appearances in a scant few Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts spin-offs.
It's an inclusion straight out of the GameFAQs wishlist netherworld, and yet...it's the most natural, beautiful thing in the world. Only in Smash Bros. can we see famous icons like Mario, Pac-Man, Sonic, Link, Mega Man, Ryu, Pikachu, and Cloud join together, and it remains as special and euphoric as ever. Oh, if only Snake was here!
I forgot if I mentioned this before, but when I announced Worldly Weekend, I stated I'd use the column as a means to introduce myself to new games outside of Nintendo's sphere. I may or may not have cited Final Fantasy as an example, but just in case I didn't, I was already planning on that from the column's conception. In fact, I actually purchased the NES cartridge for the first game when I was at Otakon this year! That's right: alongside Dragon Quest, I aim to play through both series chronologically.
...although that means it'll be a while before I reach VII, which stars Cloud. I was going to start next January, but perhaps I'll start just a bit earlier...? Regardless, congratulations, Mr. Strife! The nostalgic explosion of celebration that is Smash welcomes you with open arms!
Anyway, what else happened this Direct? Zelda:Twilight Princess HD, for one. We don't know too much about it, and the game might not look too different, but take look at this comparison video. The HUD's far less cluttered, for one, and the absence of blurry jaggies give way to some great detail (take a look at the Zant close-up to see what I mean). It's definitely far less of a graphical endeavor than the other three Zelda remasters, but that shouldn't be the focus. Twilight Princess had far too much padding and bloat for its own good, and how this version will handle all that should be the focus.
Splatoon updates? Good, now I'll continue to worship that game at a snail's pace. Star Fox Zero launches in April? Enough time for me to play through and review the first two games. Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow are launching on 3DS Virtual Console? Wait, what? Really?
So they are! And what's more, Japan's getting some retail boxed copies. I'd say not fair, but hey, they're finally coming out EVERYWHERE digitally! Many had long suspected the games'...uh, "complicated" coding would prevent such a thing, and here we are. I wonder if my old, treasured copy of Red still works properly...
By the way, I didn't know about what I'm about to show you below until just a few hours ago. How cool is this?!?
Apparently, this not only happened on Yellow when played on GBC, but for Red/Blue on the Super Game Boy! Sadly, Game Boy games on the VC don't display in their GBC/SGB versions, so the same effect probably won't be replicated...but I imagine it'll still be quite the nostalgia for many!
Anyway, that's all the time I have. Off to party in New York for a couple days, and then I'll get right back to work on my next review! See ya.
Lately, I've been noticing the blessings of being tardy. Now, it's not like I necessarily condone it, but it's led to some awesome moments that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. For example, the other day I was procrastinating like crazy on an assignment and decided to take a break via recycling all the empty bottles in my dorm room. Along the way, I came across a friend who, after informing him of my mouth ulcer, earnestly said he'd praying for me. Despite attending a Christian college, I was touched that he'd keep me in his praying thoughts over something that was, at most, a minor nuisance.
Then we have my blog. I kept (unintentionally) putting off the next few installments, particularly Biweekly Music Wednesday since I already said it'd be coming back last week. I'd already had the song for it planned out, but I forgot that was the date for my root canal appointment and I couldn't focus on it during my recovery period. In any case, I was ready to commit to it today when the most joyous of news broke this morning...
After years and years of pleading....
Wave after wave of unsuccessful petitions and vigorous outcries that fell upon deaf ears...
The assault of the cruel despair that destroyed the hearts of untold amounts of fans that legal issues would prevent any hope of re-release...
Watching helplessly as Japan is able to once again enjoy our holy grail with no red tape blocking their way to salvation...
Periods of where the bitter realization sunk in that, indeed, we'd never see our beloved friend resurrected for a modern audience....
As of today, we were wrong.
My friends, we are now ushering in a brand new era where EARTHBOUND IS BEING RE-RELEASED ONTO THE ONLINE VIRTUAL CONSOLE SERVICE AAAYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEe
For those not in the know, Earthbound is the second in a beloved trilogy of RPG (Role-playing games) known in Japan as MOTHER, a series of games featuring children in modern-era American-inspired settings embarking on soul-searching adventures to repel the advances of alien civilizations and soldiers garbed in pig-inspired outfits. The series bears an odd name, yes, but it all makes sense when you learn it's named after the John Lennon song (not really). Moving on, MOTHER 2 was released here in the Americas in the form of Earthbound back in 1995 on the beloved Super Nintendo, but a mismanaged marketing campaign rendered the game a sales dud, and was quickly swept under the rug by Nintendo's American division.
However, Earthbound was not without its cult fanbase, charmed with its quirky atmosphere and setting. The series accumulated a frenzied followed thanks to the wonderful Starmen.net website and character appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series of games. The latter was my introduction towards the series, as my seven-year old self held a strong fascination with the mysterious Ness, a young boy who stood out from the cast of familiar Nintendo mascots.
Not more than a month after Smash's Gamecube sequel arrived, I tracked down a copy of the elusive Earthbound. What I discovered that night was unlike any game experience I'd had up to that point; despite its old age, the game invited me in as if it'd known me its entire life, and I identified with its premise immediately. Resulting from this newfound piece of gaming bloomed an intense loyalty that, other than perhaps the neglected Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the Kirby series, I have yet to display for any other form of electronic entertainment. Despite my noobish demeanor, I posted on the Starmen.net forums and idolized the grown-up posters. I signed the petitions. I started countless files that were never finished. I defended the game numerous times from real-life naysayers and came across fellow fans. I participated in the PK Call'n. I've cosplayed as Ness. I fucking mourned when my cartridge fell victim to dust contamination. And yes, I threw a hissy fit when my parents wouldn't let me wear my Hatness apparel anymore (too nerdy, they say! I got it signed by freaking Tommy Tallarico!).
I shit you not, I felt tears welling up at the news. Over eleven years later, I still love Earthbound. Despite my preference for the Game Boy Advance sequel MOTHER 3, it is the game I point to as defining my video game career. Yes, Super Smash Bros. Melee may have permanently cemented my status as a Nintendo fanboy, but I can no longer summon its old magic no matter how hard I try. The Nintendo 64 may have jumpstarted my interest in gaming, but I've found that the console doesn't resonate with me as much anymore.
And yet, I found that as I've grown older, Earthbound continues to grow with me in ways I've never envisioned. Back then, the beauty of the game's world was that anyone could identify themselves with the character of Ness, thanks to the modern-day setting and the staples of RPG mechanics (for example, being able to name your character). In my experience, it was a case of duality: Having an absurd sense of humor as a kid, all the weirdness going on in the form of battling evil hippies and aforementioned vomit (the existence of which the residents in the in-game towns seem to take for granted) was right up my alley, and the way Earthbound handed me all that like it was perfectly normal was kind of a godsend; I mean, it was basically saying "Hey, kid, it's perfectly okay to be weird. Go have a ball." And even with all that going on, the game is laced with childhood nostalgia. The presence of a secret tree fort is uncovered if one looks carefully. The thrill of a bicycle and the expanse of the big city is yours for the taking. You can head right into the fast food store and order a slice of pizza with your friends. And no matter how far you've traversed in your long journey, Mom is always waiting for you at home with your favorite snack, complete with a heavenly choir.
I've often discussed my perception of nostalgia on the blog before; in the case of Earthbound, it was always a perplexing issue. The way the folks on Starmen.net spoke of their memories with the game, whether it be shaking their heads at all the whimsical jokes or discussing the game's wonderful soundtrack left me with a spellbinding impact that I eventually applied to my experience with Earthbound. I wasn't just creating my own vision of childhood when playing the game; I was experiencing their childhood as well. I shook my head at the Beatles in-jokes even when I didn't fully understand them, and engaged in the euphoric rush of yesteryear when entering Playskool-esque households and getting to know my weird virtual neighbors.
Now that I'm older, I am that wisftul old coot. It's more than just appreciating the game's more subtle wisecracks and mature themes, it's that I'm remembering all this and enjoying it at the same time. The choirs of Ness's house still gives me chills. I can't get enough of the bicycle music. I still space out with the Coffee Break theme. I still smile through it all. To be fair, I feel the game's mostly lighthearted nature has a smoother connection with children, but that trademark musty scent of nostalgia that Earthbound so joyfully revels in is one I've always treasured, and it's why I still love the game today.
It's why that, instead of celebrating with just the game's ending themes or the famous final boss music, I'm finding myself drifting towards the Twoson town music. This is primarily what I'm talking about. As a child, I wasn't crazy about the actual theme, but I loved exploring the town's nooks and crannies. Who can forget, for example, the mysterious tiny home near the bus tunnel, or encountering an NPC who's obviously a nod to Mr.T? Today, I find myself laughing at the guy at the flea market who offers to sell me the "world's greatest ruler," yet the song sends me back to not just era of experiencing the 80's/90's suburban America I never experienced, but of a beloved piece of childhood entertainment I still find joy in. Seriously, I can't wait to get a car just so I can turn this on and drive away. Seems perfect for a drive.
Thank you, Nintendo of America, for no longer ignoring this classic. As not just a fan but as someone who's been through much of the fanbase's series of heartbreaks, I'll certainly be there day one to pick up the digital download.
As the whimsical camera man would always say....fuzzy pickles!!
