the N3 ninety-nine nights thread!

MrSneis

MrSneis

CAGiversary!
Feedback
7 (100%)
I've always wanted to start one of these, I've been watching this game for a while now and I'm stoked for its release. $44.99 @ Fry's launch day this coming Weds!!

n3-ninety-nine-nights-20060510005152984.jpg
 
Unfortunately the Japanese reviews weren't that great. It is also said to be incredibly short. Beating the game with all the characters is possible in the matter of a few hours. How much truth there is to that, I don't know. Just do a quick search on gamerankings.com and it'll give you an overall sense of the game. I'm waiting for it to be realeased to see if the American version is different because I like the look of the game and would like to pick it up if it gets moderately decent reviews.
 
GameSpot gave it a 5.9.

The game felt a little too straight-forward (press A to win!). The graphics were mundane, the voice acting was embarrassing and the story seems shallow.

I think the only cool thing was how many enemies were on the screen... even then, Dead Rising did it better -- and had a fun game built around the amazement.
 
I'm betting that since this is a first party title, it'll be close to $19.99 by years end, especially if reviews suck for it.
 
I plan on giving it a shot either though the reviews were terrible. Hell King Kong received a 8.0 and higher on most sites and I thought it was terrible, its just a matter of opinion. With the number of first person shooters, sports titles, and racing games for the 360 I am more willing to give games from other genres a shot.
 
I enjoyed the demo, and a hardcore gamer friend of mine was blown away by it. But IDK 5.9? Seems Gamespot never likes hack/slash though
 
[quote name='s3v3n777']Unfortunately the Japanese reviews weren't that great. It is also said to be incredibly short. Beating the game with all the characters is possible in the matter of a few hours. How much truth there is to that, I don't know. Just do a quick search on gamerankings.com and it'll give you an overall sense of the game. I'm waiting for it to be realeased to see if the American version is different because I like the look of the game and would like to pick it up if it gets moderately decent reviews.[/QUOTE]

I loved the demo, but beating the game with all characters in a matter of hours? I'm going to take that with a grain of salt, as I've heard some missions are 45 minutes to an hour. The demo alone took me about 30 min, give or take.

I have the luxury of being part of the MS Retail Site so when the game goes up I'll snag it there for cheap.
 
I wouldn't trust the Gamespot review. The reviewer only played less than half the game based on his achievements on his gamertag. But he somehow manages to comment on parts of the game he didn't play fully (ex: story and how each character handles). Its also a one page review. Just seems like the reviewer could care less for hack n slash and wanted to get his review out before the other major gaming sites did. Though the score he gave wasn't too far from what I expected review sites to give it (I expected 6.0-6.9).
 
[quote name='Morpheus']I wouldn't trust the Gamespot review. The reviewer only played less than half the game based on his achievements on his gamertag. But he somehow manages to comment on parts of the game he didn't play fully (ex: story and how each character handles). Its also a one page review. [/QUOTE]

:rofl:
 
Developers are going to need to give out a unlock all achievements code to these reviewers so it looks like they actually played the game they are reviewing. :D
 
I do have the agree with the reviewer on the issues with the voice acting. My god it's so horrid. This is a great example why they should just give an option for japanese voices with subtitles.... If they're gonna do such a shitty job with the dub
 
I thought the demo was pretty lackluster. Graphically it seemed ok...but just was not that exciting. Mash Mash Mash. I'd rather mash with Zombies in Dead Rising :)
 
I will be picking up my pre-order on Wednesday, store credit.
I really enjoyed the demo and the genre.

But now that I sunk my teeth into Dead Rising I do not know when I will actually play this game.

Dead Rising is so great!
 
The thing with N3 is they made some pretty glaring Game Design Flaws on top of the Voice acting. Mainly the lack of a checkpoint system. Many people came over to play the demo for 30 mins long only to die at the ogre at the end, which could happen at times when you're just not lucky enough to find the right potions. Replaying stuff just sucks
 
[quote name='Zoglog'] Replaying stuff just sucks[/QUOTE]


unless it's fun. which this isn't the second time through a level.
 
[quote name='Apossum']unless it's fun. which this isn't the second time through a level.[/QUOTE]

yeah, mainly because you're replaying through such long parts ;). Ah such huge flaws with such easy fixes overlooked by game designers.......... That's one part where I have to give Cliffy B props.
 
[quote name='Zoglog']yeah, mainly because you're replaying through such long parts ;). Ah such huge flaws with such easy fixes overlooked by game designers.......... That's one part where I have to give Cliffy B props.[/QUOTE]


nah...it's mainly because the combat is really boring and empty, imo. and there are so many enemies on screen at once in such a small focused spot, that you don't really see anything until you kill most of them, making it even more boring. though checkpoints would make it considerable to pick up at $10, but I think I'll pass altogether.
 
Brak's Ninety-Nine Nights strategy guide:

Press X over and over while moving the joystick around to win!
 
[quote name='Apossum']nah...it's mainly because the combat is really boring and empty, imo. and there are so many enemies on screen at once in such a small focused spot, that you don't really see anything until you kill most of them, making it even more boring. though checkpoints would make it considerable to pick up at $10, but I think I'll pass altogether.[/QUOTE]

and dynasty warriors is better in that aspect because.....?

Checkpoints and keeping the Japanese voice acting with subs could have easily made this game a 7-8/10. Congrats on jacking things up with localization MS.
 
[quote name='Zoglog']and dynasty warriors is better in that aspect because.....?

Checkpoints and keeping the Japanese voice acting with subs could have easily made this game a 7-8/10. Congrats on jacking things up with localization MS.[/QUOTE]


oh I dunno, I've never played a dynasty warriors game. are they all really that bad? how could they take a perfectly good concept and screw it over by making it easy and boring...

Might as well put on an action movie, pretend you are the hero, pick up a controller and start mashing buttons on it :lol:
 
I was really looking forward to this game for awhile. Now even with the trade 2 get 1 free at Rhino I am having second thoughts about picking it up. Might have to rent it first. Dead rising is keeping me busy for now anyway...
 
[quote name='Zoglog']That's just how these games are harkoning back to the days of double dragon. Sometimes you just want to play some mindless slaughter.

[/QUOTE]


yeah, but the enemies fought back in Double Dragon. And this game would have scored a 9 easily if it had a green Abobo with a mohawk :lol:
 
[quote name='Zoglog']I do have the agree with the reviewer on the issues with the voice acting. My god it's so horrid. This is a great example why they should just give an option for japanese voices with subtitles.... If they're gonna do such a shitty job with the dub[/QUOTE]

Reminds me why I'm glad I bought the Asian version although I fucking hate Dubs too.

Zog look at MS's big original audience for the XBox. They're probably the same type of douchebags who complain about subtitles, the typical stupid fucking American who goes to movies. Sorry these people just piss me off.
 
[quote name='Sarang01']Reminds me why I'm glad I bought the Asian version although I fucking hate Dubs too.

Zog look at MS's big original audience for the XBox. They're probably the same type of douchebags who complain about subtitles, the typical stupid fucking American who goes to movies. Sorry these people just piss me off.[/QUOTE]

yeah, I don't doubt that dubs have a higher appeal for mass market (esp Xbox)... But If they're going to dub it, at least couldn't they have done a better job? It's obvious whoever was in charge of localization was a total douche and totally fucked it up. Inphyy sounds like a 10 year old girl when her character is clearly way older than that -_-...........

I think i'm still going to keep my preorder for this game though since it was $40, but I have to say I had real big hopes for this game. Actually this game was a good reason why I bought the 360 in the first place. I'm just happy there have already been a few games that have justified the purchase. Otherwise I probably would have spent even more just to upgrade my PC so I could play Oblivion.
 
Zog just remember whenever some MS original game gets fucked with when it comes here it's to appease the idiot general population. Think of Hollywood and some of the stupid Blockbusters they make that are successful and you have basically summed up a large portion of the XBox audience and yes I did go there.
And yes the PS does have some of the same people but compare DDR on PS2 and DDR Ultramix 2 and 3, especially 3 on the XBox and you have your answer.
 
I think a few of you are taking this dub/sub thing a bit too far. Usually its the game studio that does the localization. And when it comes to Japanese games it means its a Japanese studio looking for English voiceovers. Which means they have no clue what a good English dub sounds like, just like the English speakers don't know what a good Japanese dub sounds like. That's why you see more English made games (USA/England) having a better English voiceover than a Japanese made game in English. There are exceptions like MGS series, but its far away from the norm.

That's not all that causes localization to be a chore. Developers have to sync the voices in English to lips that were talking in Japanese in the original game. So, some translation may end up butchered, with extra stuff, or with lips that don't sync. Then theres the whole translating it so the English speaking audience understands whats going on. Its just a plain fact that some phrases in Japanese just translate into English all FUBARed or just plain make no sense. Then theres the different tastes in humor, views, etc. Its a real mess and is in no way easy to localize a property.

Here's an article about making English Dubs for anime as an example of how hard it is to localize something from Japan:

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30C13FF39540C7A8CDDAE0894DE404482

AMERICANS — especially young Americans — love Japanese animation, and as anime becomes increasingly popular on television, nothing is more vital to the viewer's enjoyment than the quality of the English-language dub. A good one will enrich the story and bring the characters to life, but a badly dubbed show can be as grating as a concert performed off-key.

Preparing American versions of anime series poses vexing problems for the small, highly specialized industry of writers, producers and actors in the United States who seek to bridge the language and culture gaps. For one thing, Westerners might have trouble understanding a too-literal adaptation, but if the English version strays too far from the original, otaku (die-hard anime fans) will object. When a heavily edited version of "Cardcaptor Sakura" appeared on the Kids' WB as "Cardcaptors," for instance, fans mounted online protests about the changes in the characters and story line.

Anime offers a much wider array of situations and characters than American programs do, and often requires more complex voice characterizations. No Hanna-Barbera show ever demanded the kind of intensity required to play the beleaguered brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric in "Fullmetal Alchemist," or the cynicism that shields the wounded heart of the space cowboy Spike Spiegel in "Cowboy Bebop," or the constant shifts between samurai bravado and slapstick farce of the wandering warrior Kenshin Himura in "Rurouni Kenshin."

"When we start a new series, people come in with a translation, then one of the writers will prepare the English script," said Don Rush, a director at ADV Films in Houston. "I'll go over that script as I watch the show, getting a feel for the characters and thinking about casting. Then we hold auditions. I think it's real easy to do bad dramatic stuff. Look at any TV soap opera. They're horribly overdone. So I work really hard to make it come off as convincing and not sappy."

A major decision in casting is how close the English voices should be to the original Japanese ones. Fans want them as close as possible, but the higher-pitched, more childish voices of some anime heroines grate on Western ears. And there's no American equivalent of the voices of some other characters, like the long-haired androgynous bishonen ("beautiful boys").

"I tend to go more for the acting than a voice that sounds like the original," said Ken Duer, president of Phuuz Entertainment in Los Angeles. "But it's up to the client. When I worked on 'Lupin III,' they wanted comparable voices, so we held a lot of auditions to find actors who were good, and who sounded like the Japanese cast."

When the English voices are recorded, the actors have to match the words to the characters' mouth movements, which were originally timed to the Japanese dialogue. "That's the hardest part of the job," said Chris Patton, the voice of Sousuke, the highly trained, terminally dense hero of "Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu!" "If you're passionate about acting and telling the story, you go in and chain yourself to the fact that you're going to have to match those flaps."

Because each actor records alone, to allow for greater concentration on synchronizing the mouth movements, it is difficult to generate the chemistry needed to make, say, the fractious romance between Sousuke and the hot-tempered Kaname (Luci Christian) in the farcical "Fumoffu!" believable. Mr. Patton and Ms. Christian never saw each other during the recording sessions, so there was no chance for the kind of give and take actors in live-action series use to explore character relationships.

"If I have Luci read first, Chris has something to work off," Mr. Rush said. "Then I can tell him, 'It didn't sound like you were really talking to her,' or 'You're a little angrier with her.' If I don't like the chemistry in certain scenes, we can redo it parts of it, but that's pretty rare."

Although they too worked in isolation, Vic Mignogna and the child actor Aaron Dismuke created a deep, believable bond as Edward and Alphonse Elric in the popular fantasy-adventure "Fullmetal Alchemist" (shown on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim). The brothers try to use alchemy to revive their dead mother, but when the spell fails catastrophically, Edward loses his left leg and sacrifices his right arm to preserve Alphonse's soul in a suit of armor. Edward receives prosthetic steel limbs, while Alphonse remains a spirit housed in an empty metal shell.

Aaron Dismuke faced a special problem when he was cast as Alphonse: he was only 11 and needed to complete the recordings before his voice changed. He imbues Alphonse with a gentle honesty typified in the wrenching moment when Edward says to his brother: "I wouldn't blame you if you did, Al, but I've got to know: Do you hate me for all that's happened?" Stunned, Alphonse replies, "Brother, I could never hate you."

Mr. Mignogna said: "Aaron is brilliant as Al, but we were probably halfway through the series before I met him at an anime convention in Dallas. It was like I'd known him my whole life: I ran up to him and yelled, 'Al, it's me!' "

The challenges for the writers can also be daunting. Japanese humor runs to difficult-to-translate puns and wordplays, and jokes or clues may be hidden in the characters' names. In the original Japanese, the hero's name in "Tenchi Muyo!" can be read as "Earth and Heaven" or as "This Side Up."

"A joke may not make sense in English, so I have to explain why it's funny in Japanese," said the producer and translator Yurika Araki-Dennis. "If there's no lip sync, we may add a line or a subtitle to explain something.

"If the series is going straight to DVD, the audience will mainly be serious anime fans, which means we have to stick very close to the original. If there are too many discrepancies, they complain. If the show is intended for a broader TV audience, we have a little room to play with the interpretation."

Even if American viewers can be harsh judges of the English versions of their favorite series, they are often unclear about what makes a dub work, Mr. Rush said. "When I meet people and tell them what I do for a living, a lot of times I get, 'You need to talk to my son, he can do all kinds of voices.' But it's not just a matter of doing voices. The acting has to come across so you believe what you're hearing and you buy into the story.
Click to expand...
 
[quote name='Morpheus']I think a few of you are taking this dub/sub thing a bit too far. Usually its the game studio that does the localization. And when it comes to Japanese games it means its a Japanese studio looking for English voiceovers. Which means they have no clue what a good English dub sounds like, just like the English speakers don't know what a good Japanese dub sounds like. That's why you see more English made games (USA/England) having a better English voiceover than a Japanese made game in English. There are exceptions like MGS series, but its far away from the norm.

That's not all that causes localization to be a chore. Developers have to sync the voices in English to lips that were talking in Japanese in the original game. So, some translation may end up butchered, with extra stuff, or with lips that don't sync. Then theres the whole translating it so the English speaking audience understands whats going on. Its just a plain fact that some phrases in Japanese just translate into English all FUBARed or just plain make no sense. Then theres the different tastes in humor, views, etc. Its a real mess and is in no way easy to localize a property.

Here's an article about making English Dubs for anime as an example of how hard it is to localize something from Japan:

[/QUOTE]

I know you're speaking of the little sayings we all have in various cultures like "Let them eat cake." but that's why you hire a Birth Translator to oversee the overall translation as well as making sure you have as parallel a saying in it's place as well. Also if you're talking about words that just plain don't have a parallel in the U.S. to describe something and vice versa that's when you introduce it into the culture to make expression of emotions and other concepts more clear as well.
 
Inphyy = 17 years old
E Dubbed Inphyy = sounds 10 years old

Aspharr = 19 years old
E Dubbed Aspharr = sounds 15 years old

Seems like an ample amount of retardation from the localization team to me =p. Cuz u know... i'm sure we just have a shortage.... on voice actors... that can sound 17...
 
I hope no one ever hires the guy who did the voice acting for Titus for dubs again Zog. That guy deserves to be bitchslapped.
About the ONLY games I can really see being better for being in English or a pure English version all the way through including lips would be KH or MGS and even then you might be able to break it up though I would suggest not. After all James Woods was the voice for Hades in the movie as well as in the game and so on and so on. Did they get Robin Williams for the voice of the Genie or a double because I know the guy who did the voice for the series sounded exactly like or almost exactly like him.
With MGS someone correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't MGS to begin with not have a Japanese voice track anyway? Personally it would make more sense to me since Snake is an American, on American soil.
 
[quote name='MaskedPlague']I like the game so far. It's some beat 'em fun. I don't see this save system as being any worse than Dead Rising.[/QUOTE]

I am sure both games have equally crappy save systems ;) It's so sad that 2 of the 3 games I wanted this month were thwarted by such elementary game design flaws. I'd cancel my nintey nine nights preorder, but my girfriend wants to play as tyyrruu.
 
picked up a copy after my shift at work. didn't think I'd have the time to get my pre-order at EB. will they let me get a refund on the amount I put down?
 
i'm waiting for mine from outpost to arrive haha. I don't really blame people for not buying it after the reviews though.
 
I rented it, and I must say it's hard as fuck.

The save system sucks, the graphics are medicore, the voiceacting is less then stellar.

I suppose it would be better if I could actually get past the third stage, but I get to the end and always die to one of the bosses and have to start the whole fucking thing over.
 
[quote name='Calamityuponthee']I rented it, and I must say it's hard as fuck.

The save system sucks, the graphics are medicore, the voiceacting is less then stellar.

I suppose it would be better if I could actually get past the third stage, but I get to the end and always die to one of the bosses and have to start the whole fucking thing over.[/QUOTE]

my point exactly, the most elementary game design lesson overlooked. I think that was one of the reasons that made halo such a great game. The checkpoint system was so well done.
 
Picked it up today, but its probably going to be awhile until I get to it... Probably finish Dead Rising Overtime mode and start Tomb Raider next. Since I wab able to pick it up with the Rhino 2 for 1 I figure I give it a shot...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top