[quote name='uncle5555']A little off topic, but directed towards you, not meant to offend, just a decidedly bystander take on some of your posts.
The way I see it is you "champion" a lot of games that aren't really as good as they could be (or that you believe them to be) only because it's some niche genre you really like. And I'm not taking that away from you, I commend your enthusiasm over some of these lost souls and giving them the chance or more exposure they might have not gotten otherwise.
I read many a post of yours in the 360 XBL topic and scratch my head in wonder over some of the games you recommend.
One such game you championed and reviewed in recent times was Dungeon Fighter Online, and you couldn't say enough about how great it was, I looked at my time with it, as what the hell was he talking about this game is crap, slow, clunky, boring, no where even on the same level as Guardian Heroes or other genre fare (which is what I would have recommended in your position).
I'm not going to nitpick, as this is not a personal attack, but as the KaneRobot pointed out why does disagreeing with your (very vocal) opinion on the game have to do with anything. (reminders of peoples comments of Dust An Elysian Tale, float into memory at this time)
Double Dragon has been done to death as far as I'm concerned, and very little has been done to improve on the beat'em up genre in years. As far as I'm concerned Guardian Heroes did the fantasy beat'em how it should be done, Streets of Rage is how to incorporate an awesome techno soundtrack with good, but repetitive gameplay that quit evolving after the second title and the Punisher arcade game was the pinnacle of variation and how a beat'em up game should be with many new ways to kill bad guys, fast paced action with weapons all over the place and no holds barred violence with a little story thrown in for good measure, and sadly since then we've gotten rehash after rehash, while it's nice to visit some of these old haunts every now and again.
I have yet to see anything take the genre in new and exciting ways as those games from the 90's did, even Treasure couldn't do it with their attempt (Guardian Heroes Adv.) while I'd like to see something new and refreshing come out of the genre that would mean 2D sidescrollers would have to have a rebirth and golden age, and sadly the chances of that are slim to none.
So keep on preaching to those who'll listen, just remember that you're not going to win everyone over no matter how much you try and not everyone is going to love OneeChanBara as much as you do.
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It's always nice to be recognized and remembered. But you level some strange assertions, sir!
Yes, I come here to promote and discuss games that I'm excited about. Many people also do the same. I don't think of any game I like as something that everyone will enjoy though, especially if it's something I haven't played and may not actually end up liking myself. I do expect (or prefer) people to approach games with an open mind and learn about them before making a judgment. Writing a game off for its art style is shallow IMO, so I do speak up against it.
- I do not love most games that I discuss here unequivocally. While I enjoyed Dungeon Fighter LIVE and gave it a positive review, I also levied a ton of criticisms against it, like any good critic would. Never have I berated someone for not loving it.
- I also like (not love) the Onechanbara games, and similarly I've never painted them as games that absolutely everyone should own. They're a true niche product.
- Another game I was excited about beforehand, Kung Fu Strike, I ended up hating, BTW. You can't completely predict how the final product will turn out.
I think you're admitting that you don't really care about the beat-em-up genre that much, as apparently the ones you like are all from your younger years. A nostalgic view of a genre or a kind of game (Sonic anyone?) is better than no positive view at all, but only liking the old stuff and finding it impossible to enjoy the new stuff is not a perspective I can appreciate. Me, I love the genres I loved growing up (in addition to new ones) and I'm always excited to see them grow with new games. Then again, there's nothing wrong with disliking a particular kind of game. It's when you enter the discussion that others have the right to react to that attitude.
So far I'm finding Double Dragon: Neon to be an excellent update/reimagining of the classic series. I already knew I enjoyed the gameplay having played it months ago at E3. Learning more about the unlock structure, the ability to repeat missions and grind for abilities, etc. has only made me love it more. Right now I'm not liking the difficulty curve for single-player and I fear people who don't play with a partner will struggle with it (as the IGN 'reviewer' did). All of that will come out in my fair and balanced review, written from the perspective of someone who loves Double Dragon.
Neon does advance the genre and try new things, BTW. The co-op abilities to buff each other and share life are terrific. Your character calling out jokey insults to the other guy when he wants to go through a door is delightful. Throw a hair pick at Skullmageddon and listen for his clever response. Tons of great little details show the thought and love Wayforward has for Double Dragon and brawlers.
As for the ducking and countering ability that Jkam mentioned, it works great if you pay attention to enemy movements. It makes a significant difference against certain enemies like Skullmageddon, so it's a good idea to really learn it instead of writing it off.
ing shit and just about the perfect beat em up.
