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Episode 322: You're the Best Around

by James Jones, Jon Lindemann, Jonathan Metts, and Guillaume Veillette - January 19, 2013, 4:26 pm EST
Total comments: 17

Our Top 5 games of 2012 include many surprises and passionate advocacy. Could it be that Wii had a better year than 3DS?

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We start this episode with a very, very short New Business segment (because we were making extra time for the main feature). Jon starts with his first game of 2013 --which he has already finished!-- and it's the wonderful Gunman Clive from the 3DS eShop. You'll probably hear about this game at least once more, because our resident Mega-Fan has yet to discover this hidden gem. Guillaume backtracks to Liberation Maiden, another recent eShop release that he finds to be shockingly devoid of "jank", especially for a Suda 51 joint. James didn't have any New Biz this week (he's been cranking away on Majora's Mask for next week's live show), so Jonny wraps up the segment with a few thoughts on the Fire Emblem: Awakening demo.

After the break, it's time to finally reveal our personal Top 5 of 2012 lists. The rules are very simple, but Jon still manages to break them immediately by padding out his list with a few 2011 games that he didn't play until last year. Otherwise, you'll be quite surprised to hear what games did and didn't make our lists... and the balance of Nintendo platforms may be the strangest of all.

We'd love to see your own Top 5 lists and any thoughts on ours -- jot down an email for us to read on the show! Most importantly, we are quite pleased to announce that RetroActive Live: Majora's Mask will take place on Sunday, January 27 at Noon Pacific (3pm Eastern). Check back soon for a dedicated page that will contain the live audio player and complete information on how to set up Skype and call into the show. You can also interact via chat, which will be on that same page. Either way, we look forward to talking with many of you about this fascinating, controversial Zelda game.

This podcast was edited by Guillaume Veillette.

Music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is used with permission from Jason Ricci & New Blood. You can purchase their newest album, Done with the Devil, directly from the record label, Amazon (CD) (MP3), or iTunes, or call your local record store and ask for it!

Additional music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is copyrighted to Nintendo and is included under fair use protection.

Talkback

Pixelated PixiesJanuary 19, 2013

Early RFN!

Pixelated PixiesJanuary 19, 2013

I don't think I've ever laughed as hard as I did when the Benny Hill music was played, lol.

Genius.

- So is Guillaume banned from the forums now for not putting Mutant Mudds at the top of his list?

- Rhythm Thief actually got a retail price drop to Canada - it's $20 now, and Amazon has $17 copies. I jumped on it at that price and probably won't regret it.

- I had to trade in Mario Kart (56/8) but playing it with the local Streetpass group has reignited my love of the game. Even the act of course selection is a good way to troll.

- Christ, I bought two of James's top 5 on the SAME DAY? (TotA)

- Between the lack of gameplay and the 3DS glitches, I can't call Virtue's Last Reward #1. But for what it did right, I can't put it below 2.

- Xenoblade is what Final Fantasy wants to be.

PajamasJanuary 20, 2013

LIKE FRED FLINSTONE DRIVING AROUND WITH BALD FEET

Pixelated PixiesJanuary 20, 2013

The 'Top 5' segment was great guys.

It was really interesting, because I found myself in sync with each one of you at some point during the run down of your top 5, but in complete opposition at other points, lol. Although I can appreciate the construction of La Mulana, I just can't seem to get along with that game (despite playing it for over 25 hours). Similarly, I can appreciate Uprising for what it is, but in my hands those controls are flat out broken (I say 'in my hands' because when it comes to Uprising's controls it seems to be very subjective).

Anyway, this would be my top 5 for Nintendo platforms.

1 - Crashmo
2 - Fluidity: Spin Cycle
3 - Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise
4 - The Last Story
5 - Mutant Mudds

*I played Xenoblade in 2011. It was my favourite game that year.

azekeJanuary 20, 2013

Was really glad to hear La Mulana, Rhythm Heaven and Fluidity praised.

Also, while La Mulana is an amazing game in gameplay and especially in music, it controls pretty badly.

It feels great to me, at least on a Classic Controller Pro.

Pixelated PixiesJanuary 20, 2013

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

It feels great to me, at least on a Classic Controller Pro.

Same here. I have some issues with the game, but the controls felt spot on.

Sal ParadiseJanuary 21, 2013

Still baffled on how Johnny seems to enjoy La Mulana so much, but completely ignores Dark Souls everytime it gets mentioned. It's especially funny, cause EVERYTHING he said about La Mulana in this episode could be said about DKS, except that it's not in 2D. May I suggest to watch some lore & gameplay videos by someone like EpicNameBro, he truly does a great job to explain the fascination of the game.

But anyway, thanks for the podcast, it's still the best out there! 2013 will not only be the year of Luigi (according to Reggie), but also the year of Lindy! ;

azekeJanuary 21, 2013

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

It feels great to me, at least on a Classic Controller Pro.

I don't know what it is but controls in La Mulana feel really gimped no matter what controller. Swimming is abhorrently bad, that's for sure.

Maybe they tried to replicate awkward controls scheme of the original (where up arrow was used as jump button) where jump was really, really limited. But then they didn't succeed even in that cause controls feel very different, i think i have much more air control in original, despite that jump in the remake can do more things than you just couldn't in original, like you can do wall jump from the get go.

Also i tried classic controller and it's not really doing it for me in La Mulana. I always end up pushing some other button that switches my main weapon and that screws me up.

ejamerJanuary 21, 2013

Great show and discussion. Great opening too.  ;D

Shocked to hear La Mulana on a top 5 list, but extremely happy. That game has been a revelation for me and has been thoroughly enjoyable (granted I'm still early on and the game hasn't gotten completely obtuse yet).

Regarding controls, I find them tight and responsive for the most part. The jumping is a bit weird, but was something I got used to and now enjoy. Swimming momentum is terrible though and trying to get out of water is far more difficult than it needs to be.

My only disappointment was the complete lack of Resident Evil: Revelations - a game that I loved and spent a lot of time with. The single-player campaign was great and the best Resident Evil game since 4, while the cooperative online mode was very good (although would've been significantly better with voice chat). The game wasn't perfect, but certainly was in my top 5 for Nintendo platforms.

Speaking of which...

5) Colors 3D
4) Fluidity Spin Cycle
3) La Mulana
2) Resident Evil: Revelations
1) Xenoblade Chronicles

Honorable mention to Zen Pinball 3D, Crimson Shroud, The Last Story, and Mario Party 9. All great games in their own right - just not top 5 choices.

AnGerJanuary 21, 2013

Haven't played La Mulana or To The Moon, but I want to (if they either get a Mac Version or I get a Windows PC).

Anyway, here's my Top5 Nintendo Console Games List of 2012:

5. Liberation Maiden (3DS eShop)

4. Tales of the Abyss (3DS)

3. The Last Story (Wii)

2. Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)

1. Pandora's Tower (Wii)

PhDintendoJanuary 21, 2013

Great lists guys!  Great to have Jon back "shaking his rump."  I really enjoyed the discussion.  I feel like I have come back into gaming at a great time where there are so many good 2D games. 

I have to say that the La Mulana controls did take some time to get used to but that game makes it worth it.  I think too many are used to the "floatier" Mario controls which are more forgiving than the "lock-in" jumping in La Mulana.  It took a while for my brain to remember to think before jumping.

For the record my top 5:

1) New Super Mario Bros. U
2) Kid Icarus Uprising
3) Paper Mario: Sticker Star
4) Mutant Mudds
5) La Mulana

KDR_11kJanuary 21, 2013

I didn't like the shooting in Kid Icarus, the feel, especially of the impacts, just isn't very good.

I'm staying far away from Dark Souls despite liking La Mulana and Binding of Isaac because melee combat isn't something I'm any good at and from what I hear that's mandatory.

I feel like Jon Lindemann here: I haven't played enough games released in 2012 to compose a top 5 list of cream-of-the-crop games.

Any possibility of the live Retroactive of Majora's Mask to be recorded and put on the podcast feed? 

Yes, we will do our best to get a clean recording of the live event for podcasting.

shingi_70January 21, 2013

Great Episode.

Top 5

1.Walking Dead
2.Halo 4
3.Mark of the Ninja
4.Bomb Monkey
5. Kid Icarus Uprising 

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