Metroid Reviews (retro)

A couple of you have asked me what I think of the new Metroid games. Here's what I think:

Metroid Prime for the GameCube official site
What they did was they took the best technology they could and made a first person shooter out of a game that should never be in first person. Perhaps the most fun thing about the Metroid series is the play control and your ability to maneuver Samus. Well you know what you can't enjoy that kind of thing in this genre of video games. You can't even see your frickin' feet. Now true to Metroid form, the graphics and sound are outstanding. I don't play games because they're pretty though. Yeah it helps make the experience more enjoyable but if the game isn't fun then why play. Now I'm not saying that the game isn't fun. It's no Metroid though. This series was built on games with superior game play. The outstanding graphics and sound were extra. In this installment they seem to be the focus. Nintendo could have very easily have done what Konami with the new Contra game. They took all the technology and made a beautiful game out of Shattered Soldier but left the format alone and kept it in third person. I praise Konami for having the guts to make an awesome game rather than fall into the trap of going first person just because the genre is so popular. So to sum things up, only buy Metroid Prime if you're a die hard Metroid fan or really enjoy first person perspective games. If you're looking for a Metroid game like you've played before you wont find it here.

Metroid Fusion for the Game Boy Advance official site
Now this is a Metroid Game! We've got side scrolling action at it's finest. There are two draw backs though. The biggest being that you have to play it on the Game Boy Advance's little screen and inadequate speaker. Fine for short periods of time but becomes tiring after a while. The second problem is that you have to check in with your ship every 15 minutes or so. You have to do this to find out where you're headed next. Now I'm not very far in the game (no thanks to Nintendo for not shipping it on the day I took off to play it) so this may just be to help you get the feel for the game. Other that that the game is outstanding. It looks better and feels just like Super Metroid. There's new abilities like you can grab on to cliffs and climb ladders. I haven't come across any new weapons or items yet but as mentioned I haven't had much time to play. (Damn you Nintendo.) This game comes highly recommended to any fan of the series. Also if you have a Game Boy Advance and have never played Metroid go get it. You'll have lots of fun with it.

OK so there is one really cool thing about Prime. If you own both games and spend the $15 on the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable then upon completion of Fusion you can link the two up and unlock the original Metroid on the GameCube. That in and of it's self may be worth the $50 for Prime.

The saddest day Grand Rapids every had (retro)

I sit here and cry as my Game Cube collects dust. Why am I crying on what should be the happiest day? The people at Nintendo have decided that Grand Rapids is not important to them. Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion were released today. For over eight years loyal Metroid fans have sat by and watched as hundreds of crappy games have been made. None of which had Metroid in their title. We have been patient. Telling ourselves that there will be a new Metroid game. Well after our long wait Nintendo finally came through! Came through for people in Major cities that is. Nintendo doesn't feel that the good people of Grand Rapids are important enough to get it though. We must wait until tomorrow. So I sit here and cry as my Game Cube collects dust waiting for tomorrow when I will go to Electronics Boutique and play Metroid II, Return of Samus on my Gameboy Advance in their lobby until the shipment comes in.

Merry go round (retro)

Just so you know we're working on the basement again. Until something is completed though I thought I'd share an old grade school memory with you. Old grade school memories will be seen in this color from now on.

When I was in grade school we didn't have much of a playground. We had an old metal slide, monkey bars and a merry go round. If you were one of the cool kids then every recess you would run out side and grab a hold of the merry go round and push. Nobody would be riding the merry go round. It was more of a tug of war game. Some people would push clock wise while others pushed counter clock wise. Most days the merry go round would move no more than an foot or two in either direction. There were however those days where one or two people would all of the sudden switch sides and those who were originally on their side would now be getting trampled by their classmates. What happened to the good old days.

Random Email (retro)

Here's a random email that was forwarded to us:

Hello,
If you are a Time Traveler I am going to need the following:
1. A modified mind warping Dimensional Warp Generator # 52 4350a series wrist watch with memory adapter.
2. Reliable carbon based, or silicon based time transducing capacitor.
I need a reliable source!! Please only reply if you are reliable. Send a (SEPARATE) email to me at: Colt3113@aol.com
aholg80397tigwriteIrHHoYdf

Also let it be noted that all future random emails will be this color.

I Kimmed (retro)

I thought you all might like to know what employees at your local pizza place have to deal with every now and then. The following is an actual phone call received by a manager. The manger will be in this color. The customer will be in this color. All names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Thank you for calling A Pizza Place, my name is Pizza Manager, how can I help you?
Hi, I'd like to order a pizza.
OK, can I have your phone number please?
555-6464
Alright, what can I get for you?
I would like a large thin half cheese half no mushroom pizza.
A half cheese half no mushroom?
Yes, half cheese half no mushroom.
O.K. so you just want cheese on the whole thing?
No. I want half cheese half no mushrooms.
I'm not sure what you mean by no mushrooms. Do you mean a supreme with no mushrooms or a veggie lover with no mushrooms?
Is that what I said? I want a half cheese half no mushrooms pizza.
Sir, you can't just have no mushrooms. You have to start with something in order to make it no mushrooms.
I.. want.. a.. half.. cheese.. half.. no.. mushrooms.. pizza..
Can you hold on a second please?
Sure.
The manager puts the customer on hold and turns to his cook and says:
Do you know how to make a large thin half cheese half no mushrooms pizza?
The cook looks at the manager dumbfounded and shakes his head. The manager picks the phone back up:
OK sir tell me one more time what you would like.
What I told you, a large thin half cheese half no mushroom pizza.
I'm really sorry sir but I don't know how to make that. You can't have no mushrooms as a topping it just doesn't work that way.
Why are you making this so difficult? Get me a manager.
I am the manager sir.
Screw you then.
The cus

911 (retro)

We all are aware of the significance of today's date. When you turn your TV on today I have great confidence that you will have trouble escaping from the broadcast of 9/11 specials. Some of them will probably be good while others will probably be not that way. How does 64tacos feel it can best acknowledge 9/11? By giving you the opportunity to express your feelings about what's being shown on it's anniversary. Go to the forum, register yourself (it's free and really fun) then put your opinion up for others to comment on or comment on the opinions that are already there. Don't have an opinion? Go there anyway and form one based on everyone else's. If you don't want to discuss 9/11 that's fine. Start your own topic.

Chat rooms (retro)

While we were working on the basement we started talking about possible other things that we would like to have in the future. One thing that was mentioned was a chat room. We decided that it would be cool but didn't put much more effort into it than that. Well I got up this morning and Juke had already figured out how to do one. So now we have a chat room. Keep in mind it's very primitive but it's a great start and we're looking forward to seeing you there.