Chad Gombosi ([info]signofzeta) wrote in [info]gamefaceradio,
@ 2006-10-01 18:06:00
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Current location:The Red Milky Way
Current mood:Showering Forth
Current music:Modern Times
Entry tags:episodes

Game Face Radio Gaiden #1
Substance J makes a surprise visit to GFR's studio and the result is Game Face Radio Gaiden! This episode discusses "alternative" driving games. A complete list is included in the audio file itself. This episode contains many errors. If you spot them, nag us about it here.

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The recording of GFR Episode 19 is scheduled for early this week.


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[info]infernarl
2006-10-02 08:08 pm UTC (link)
Loved the focused topical nature of this episode. Which is not to say I don't enjoy the format of main continuity GFR episodes.

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[info]kazegfr
2006-10-10 07:32 pm UTC (link)
This is a side story.

The story goes something like this...

*OPEN MUSIC* blahblahblahblabhlbhablhalbhlahb *WAYTOOMUCHMUSIC* blah *END MUSIC*

I don't think the whole song was necessary...jeez.
Other than that though, it is apparent I'm not the one dragging Zeta down.
He doesn't even sound that happy talking about games he likes. /sarcasm

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(Anonymous)
2006-10-05 02:18 pm UTC (link)
Content-rich and very informative as always, but not quite the same without Kaze berating Zeta.

--Tom

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well...
[info]kazegfr
2006-10-06 05:33 pm UTC (link)
I'm glad somebody missed me. Zeta just kinda cranked this out without telling me.

I don't really care much because I despise the racing genre. To me any racing game worth playing has either stunts, tricks, or weapons.

Mario Kart, Uniracers, RC ProAm...those are the racing games I fondly remember.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Great Gaiden!
(Anonymous)
2006-10-05 08:32 pm UTC (link)
This is the main reason I got hooked on GFR in the first place - loved this episode! More Gaiden episodes please, as long as you save some good stuff for GFR as well.

What do you guys think of the Shutokou Battle series? It was briefly mentioned in your podcast. I've always loved that series. It was my favorite DC title at launch (I stayed up all night playing it on release day), and TXR2, although the driving mechanics changed a bit, was great as well. Since I don't have a PS2 I never played Zero or TXR3, but I just picked up Import Tuner Challenge for the Xbox 360 and am dying to get into it.

Also, since Zeta is an F1 fan, what do you think of F1 games? Personally I miss the commentary from the early 32-bit Psygnosis titles for the PSX. Saturn had F1 Live Information which was pretty cool, just with how accurate the announcers would call the race. When it came out in the US, they took out all the commentary if I remember correctly.

One more thing - you guys failed to recognize the greatest racing game of the 16-bit generation: Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II. I liked how you could change teams (for better or for worse) based on your driving.

BTW, I have in my hand an original Togue King The Spirits 2 for Sega Saturn. Didn't follow the series after that though, but loved what I'd played.

Spot

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Re: Great Gaiden!
[info]kazegfr
2006-10-06 05:33 pm UTC (link)
*sniff* I thought we were friends...*sniff*

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Re: Great Gaiden!
(Anonymous)
2006-10-11 10:37 am UTC (link)
As long as there's enough love to share between GFR and Gaiden, more power to you. Two podcasts from you guys are always better than one!

And favorite 32-bit "alternative" racing game? Does the WipEout series count? IMO WipEout XL is the best of 'em. Thoughts?

Spot

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Re: Great Gaiden!
[info]signofzeta
2006-10-11 11:04 am UTC (link)
Wipeout is pretty common/mainstream. It sold like mad in the US/EU pretty much from the begining. It had a big budget soundtrack, magazine covers, etc.

Anyway, I never like the game. No tires means Zeta can't help but smack just about every wall he comes close to. I've never seen anyone play the game any other way in fact. Is it actually possible to be good at Wipeout (ie: not hit anything)?

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Re: Great Gaiden!
(Anonymous)
2006-10-12 02:23 am UTC (link)
In XL you can. WipEout and Wip3out (WipEout 3) it is very difficult to avoid hitting the wall. But in XL they added the ability to skim off the walls. So yeah, I've had "perfect" laps before but only by sliding along the rails.

Wip3out has some brutal corners, plus it was the first of the series to use the analog controls, and I never got the hang of it. So even though you can slide in 3, it's much more difficult to do.

It's all about knowing when to use the air brakes and when to just pull a normal turn. Air brakes can make tight corners pretty easy when you can just swing the tail around a bend, but it slows you down considerably.

That's just the driving. The other part is using weapons wisely. It's actually a pretty deep game if you give it a chance. Remember: XL is the superior version - the other two are for harcore fans or completists.

Spot

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Re: well...
[info]signofzeta
2006-10-07 08:48 am UTC (link)
Gaiden was only made because some random crap happened that just made things fall into place. Currently there are no plans for another episode. There might end up being 10 of them, but then there might never be another one again.

I haven't actually played much of the Shutokou Battle series. I like it, but there are always other games to play. Mainly though I prefer the touge style to the high speed highway "wangan" style racing. The one Shutokou sort of game I did play a lot of was Wangan Midnight. Its pretty much the same thing, but its based on the manga of the same name. Its for the arcade and runs on System 246 so it crashes all the time since the 246 is really just a PS2, with all the load times, disc read errors, and jaggy graphics to go with it.

F1: I don't really get into the games. The EA titles from 2002 or whatever were pretty nice, but to be fully enjoyed kind of have to be played on a PC, and I don't really like playing PC games. My favorite 16-bit era F1 game was Heavenly Symphony for Mega CD, although Sena II was a great piece of work as well. Live Information isn't that great...at all. You can get it for about $1 on eBay these days if you want to try it.

The greatest 16-bit racer is Super Mario Kart btw. There is no contest. None.

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Re: well...
[info]takaitakai
2006-10-08 12:09 am UTC (link)
If we'd gone down that road while recording, I'd have argued that Biker Mice From Mars was in fact a much better 16-bit racer than Mario Kart. Because it's true.

Has anybody played Wangan Dead Heat for Saturn? The yellow label game that supported the MPEG card. I always meant to buy it just to see how much of a race queen you have to show to get a yellow label. There must be so much neon spandex in the FMVs.

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Re: well...
[info]signofzeta
2006-10-08 01:36 am UTC (link)
I actually have played it, but I can't remember much. It was a long time ago.

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Re: well...
[info]kazegfr
2006-10-09 03:29 pm UTC (link)
this game?

http://www.satakore.com/template2.php?serial_serv=ZZT-9103G

well crap he has a redirect. search that page for wangan and click the link for screenshots.

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Re: well...
[info]kazegfr
2006-10-10 05:00 pm UTC (link)
Having just downloaded the ROM, I demand you defend your position.

MK >>>>>>>> BMFM

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Re: well...
[info]kazegfr
2006-10-11 06:36 pm UTC (link)
STILL DEMANDING TO KNOW HOW THE HELL BIKER MICE IS BETTER THAN MARIO KART.

I have played enough BMFM to know that it is little more than an engine for selling Snickers. Not only are Snickers an awesome ass powerup, but after every race the winner of the race says "Even winners need a way to feed their hunger" while holding a GODDAMN SNICKERS BAR. This is worse than when Pizza Hut sponsered TMNT:TAG.

Also what's with the turning in this game? I mean I just repeatedly tap a direction to step-by-step change the sprite for turning. Plus the physic on ramps and jumping just don't seem to add up.

Also the way you're given powerups is you get one per lap. So the top tier strat is just to be in 6th place (not by much) at the end of the 1st lap, and then slowly work your way forward. Then you can use your ungodly item to not only take first, but gains such a lead that the rest of the pack won't be able to use their specials on you. Since there's no red shells/spikes shells a lead is pretty insurmountable. Maybe later in the game the computer gets to use whole-track-destruction type supers, but early on it doesn't seem that way.

Also wtf is with a password system?

I mean this game is like 3/4 view with no mode 7 or anything. In good conscience, how can a racing fan like yourself recommend this title?

I FIND THY ARGUEMENT LACKING, SUBSTANCEJ! (clever pun!!!!111)

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Re: well...
[info]signofzeta
2006-10-12 12:27 am UTC (link)
"Also the way you're given powerups is you get one per lap. So the top tier strat is just to be in 6th place (not by much) at the end of the 1st lap, and then slowly work your way forward. Then you can use your ungodly item to not only take first, but gains such a lead that the rest of the pack won't be able to use their specials on you."

Wow, in that case it was a real trend setter. Mario Kart 64 (may it burn in hell forever) seems to have forever cemented that shit concept into all kart games. "Racing skill be damned, our True Levellers based weapons system makes actual racing skill competely useless!"-Nintendo circa 1996

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Re: well...
[info]signofzeta
2006-10-12 03:00 am UTC (link)
I just got the ROM, and here are some thoughts:

Its very good. I love isometric racers in general, but none of the home ones are as good as the arcade only Great 1000 Mile Rally. This one isn't either, but its cool because since it is based on bikes, you can control the front-to-back weight shift. In other words: its like playing Excite Bike and being able to steer!

Speaking of isometric racers, how can you say you love RC Pro Am and dis this game because it isn't Mode 7?

Its shame about the license though. Someone should hack graphics in this ROM and make it into some generic bike game. The fucking mice and shit...stupid.

Kaze, I think you must have gotten some special version of the game. A promo or something. There aren't any Snickers in mine. I really love Snickers, btw, but not in games.

There are too many obstacles and weapons and crap in this game for my tastes, but there is a real zen to the physics. Once you get the hang of squealing around corners and stuff its pretty cool.

If I see this game for $10 I'll buy it.

It doesn't even compare to Super Mario Kart. Sorry.

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Re: well...
(Anonymous)
2006-10-12 04:55 am UTC (link)
i don't hate it because it's not mode 7 but it makes mario kart a much more usable game.

i loved rc pro am in 1988 or whatever. BMFM is not match for Mario Kart.

it's kinda based on bikes except there's hovercraft and cars as well.
i looked in a faq and i didn't see you having any weight shifting ability other than breaking to do a wheelie and some specials make you do wheelies.

also the guy with the charging forward high damage super is probably broken.

i found the cornering to be waaaay to easy and simple, even compared to pro-am.

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Re: well...
[info]signofzeta
2006-10-13 02:37 am UTC (link)
Up and down on the controller make the guy lean forward and back. So when you hit a jump while leaning back you'll jump further. Try to land evenly, just like in Excite Bike. I've only played the main mouse, whatever his name is.

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Re: well...
[info]takaitakai
2006-10-12 04:51 am UTC (link)
I was just being contrary. Zeta summed up the positives though. It's pretty nice.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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