
(K1DD1nG!1!!!)
MonkeyM666 wrote:Well I got my hands on a copy and I must say that I'm impressed. The graphics are very impressive for the little DS, and it's by far the best use of the DS's controls I've seen to date (Trauma Centre comes close though). The characters are lively, they all seem familiar with each other in the Zelda universe and it works well as there’s a vibe of ‘word of mouth’ in the games interactions. Link as a character has been developed further and although he may be cuter, I like him a lot more. There are little things that give him personality like doing too many spins makes him dizzy and fall over. There's even a cut scene where Link is shaken around a whole heap by another character and then he is given a prize. Link holds it above his head with the champ music ringing like usual but he's all dizzy and falling over, and the music follows this deviation from the normal character. I really like these little touches as it makes the whole world more loveable and believable.
I’m really enjoying it so far, but I can see that the boat travel will become a pain (like in Wind Walker). Fighting is strange to start with as you don’t use any buttons, the whole thing is done via the touch screen, but very enjoyable once you get the hang of it. It’s a perfect sequel for WW and I hope that this cartoon Zelda stays on the DS and the real Zelda stays on the Wii.
Currently I’ll give it an 8.5/10 but I’ll fill you all in further when I get through it more.
Appropriately scheduled for release on Halloween, Dementium: The Ward is from start-up developer Renegade Kid and a first-person survival horror game set inside a derelict hospital. We were thoroughly impressed with the game's first showing at the E3 Media & Business Summit earlier this year and are pleased to report that a recent session spent playing a near-finished version didn't disappoint either.
Quite who you're supposed to be in Dementium: The Ward isn't clear. The game starts with you waking up in a blood-soaked hospital room where the only items of interest are a key to the door and a notebook in which someone has scrawled the words "Why did you do it?" You're free to erase that somewhat disturbing message and use the notebook yourself, which is extremely useful because there are a number of puzzles in the game that involve memorizing sequences of letters or numbers. Other useful items that you'll find within minutes of waking up include a flashlight and a nightstick. The flashlight not only looks great as you use it to explore the hospital's darkened corridors but can also be used to scare off swarms of harmful cockroaches. The nightstick is used for melee attacks, of course, and although you'll be getting your hands on plenty of firearms later in the game, it's a great way to conserve ammo.
The cast of Michael Jackson's Thriller video makes a surprise appearance.Early on in Dementium: The Ward, you'll find that ammunition for your first 9mm pistol is plentiful, as are the bottles of pills that can be used to restore your health. Both of these commodities become scarcer as you progress through the game, and by the time you're an hour or so in, you'll probably be wishing that the protagonist was the kind of guy who never leaves home without a backpack. Regardless of how many ammo boxes and pill bottles you find early on, there are definitely going to be times when you're frantically searching for more. This is because the amount of ammo that you can carry is very limited and because you can't save any pills for later use whatsoever.
Because none of the enemies in Dementium: The Ward are able to pursue you through doors (of which there are loads, though many of them are locked), one of the best ways to get by a lot of them is simply to run past them into the next room. But this isn't always as easy as it sounds, and with plenty of puzzles that need to be solved, this definitely isn't a game that you're going to get through without taking some time to explore your surroundings. Figuring out the most efficient ways to kill enemies is crucial in some cases. For example, the zombies with gaping holes in their chests can be killed with a single bullet to the heart, but it'll take at least three bullets anywhere else on their rotting bodies to take them down.
Other enemies that we've encountered in Dementium: The Ward to date include floating heads that scream as they fly toward you, legless torsos that use their arms to claw their way along ceilings before attacking you from above, and large maggotlike creatures that rush at you across floors, walls, or ceilings while making a particularly annoying noise as they do so. We've also defeated a number of the game's boss characters and found the encounters to be enjoyable, as well as varied. Depending on what weapons and ammo we had available to us at the time, we found those encounters quite challenging. Dementium's arsenal boasts a shotgun, assault rifle, sniper rifle, a powerful revolver, and even a particularly nasty-looking medical instrument. It's worth mentioning, though, that it's possible to miss out on picking up certain weapons if you don't make a real effort to get your hands on them. For example, we ended up playing through the first boss battle without a shotgun that would've made it much easier simply because we hadn't yet figured out the combination to a gun-cabinet padlock when we stumbled on the boss in question. Initially, Dementium's corridor and room level designs are quite linear, but as you progress, the levels become more labyrinthine in nature, so taking the time to explore them is important.
This guy really doesn't like you pointing your flashlight at him. If you're thinking that Dementium: The Ward sounds like it might have a lot in common with the early Resident Evil games, you're not too far off. It's worth mentioning that the game definitely has its share of Silent Hill-style creepiness as well, though, thanks in no small part to its sound design. As you navigate the hospital's darkened corridors, you'll almost always hear nearby enemies (as well as freaky white-eyed little girls singing) before you see them. There are also plenty of ambient noises, including hospital equipment and a storm raging outside to keep you from getting too comfortable. The optional audio of your constantly beating heart is also a nice touch because it really adds to the atmosphere and also lets you know how your health is without you having to actually look at the indicator on the touch screen.
Dementium: The Ward has come a long way since its impressive debut at this year's E3, and we're very much looking forward to getting our hands on a finished copy of the game. Expect a full review soon.
stereosforgeeks wrote:The problem is I only play DS games when traveling so I don't work through them quickly.
stereosforgeeks wrote:My mom is going to get my grandmother a DS for Christmas with some Brain Age. Gramma has been having problems with the memory lately and can't knit or bake very much anymore so she doesn't have many other hobbies.
Does anyone else have any ideas as to good games for an 80+ year old woman?
godzillasushi wrote:stereosforgeeks wrote:My mom is going to get my grandmother a DS for Christmas with some Brain Age. Gramma has been having problems with the memory lately and can't knit or bake very much anymore so she doesn't have many other hobbies.
Does anyone else have any ideas as to good games for an 80+ year old woman?
http://zone.aintitcool.com/viewtopic.php?t=64468
Made by old people for old people.
stereosforgeeks wrote:My mom is going to get my grandmother a DS for Christmas with some Brain Age. Gramma has been having problems with the memory lately and can't knit or bake very much anymore so she doesn't have many other hobbies.
Does anyone else have any ideas as to good games for an 80+ year old woman?
LaDracul wrote:I believe they released "Flash Focus", which is supposed to improve hand-eye coordination.
godzillasushi wrote:Now wasn't there a Pac-Man that let you draw your own guy? That would be fun. Even Tetris. They have Tetris im sure.
stereosforgeeks wrote:godzillasushi wrote:Now wasn't there a Pac-Man that let you draw your own guy? That would be fun. Even Tetris. They have Tetris im sure.
Yeah There is a Tetris definitely. As for a Pacman you draw I am unsure of that. There was a game where you draw your character though.
Pacino86845 wrote:Ok I'm just gonna toss this question out there 'cause I'm confused about this issue:
My Nintendo DS was bought here in Europe, so it runs on 220V, but I would like to take it with me when I go home for the holidays. The system itself doesn't appear to "adapt" to the different power standards, so does anyone know what would be the easiest way to charge my DS's battery in North America?
Pacino86845 wrote:Yeah I guess that's the best solution... what do those things go for? [/has no clue about r-tarded power standards, damn Europe!!]
Pacino86845 wrote:Yeah I guess that's the best solution... what do those things go for? [/has no clue about r-tarded power standards, damn Europe!!]
Theta wrote:So, anybody hear what Nintendo moved on the DS front Thanksgiving week?
Yeah, 653,000. You read that correctly. Apparently Thanksgiving week was Nintendo's best week ever in terms of sales. They're officially doing better than in the NES/SNES days!
Pacino86845 wrote:Are you on the go, Cha-Ka?
Pacino86845 wrote:Who can tell you if something is worth it? How long do you expect this DS to last? How often would it be played?
Graham Chapman wrote:Look, *I* don't know! Mr. Wentworth just told me to come in here and say that there was trouble at the mill, that's all... I didn't expect some kind of Spanish Inquisition!
The legendary designer on online play, content balance, weapons, AR and the importance of humour to the series.
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