Thanks all...having gone through a phase of buying up games with an intention to work through them I never got round to it - figure if I don’t now I never will!

May be back in touch about modding in the future...

While messing about with the Wii I decided it was high time I played some games from the tower of shame.


Played Mario Tennis : New Control Scheme.

I picked this up for buttons on a whim and then cringed when I read reviews about it criticising the control scheme. Well - after playing it - I have no idea what the moans were about.

The original GC game used to get similar ciriticism but that was because the default setting is automatic which makes it a barely controlled demo game for young kids. Set the option to technical in the GC game and you have a great tennis game. You can also turn off the power shots in multiplayer to just have a solid game of tennis without any gimmicks. You can also set the scheme for each player which is a great leveller.

Well it seems to be the same case with the Wii version. The default is auto which I didn't even try. Just set it to technical. There is also a manual mode with means you have to press a button to lunge.

I found the controls just fine. It's all about timing. Now I am no waggle fan but this is a fun game even though there is no traditional control option on offer. I'm surprised they didn't include it though. I'm also surprised they didn't add in M+ either but at the end of the day it doesn't really need it given the target audience - this is an out-and-out family casual game.  I have the GC game and Virtua Tennis for trad controls so it's no big deal for me. However I wouldn't be surprised if the control scheme has hidden nuances. You can add nunchuck to replace the auto positioning (and you can just use the dpad without it which leaves auto position on and overridable with the dpad).

It looks like another case of poor reviewing. It's an arcade style tennis game and I don't think the scheme is as good as the GC game but it's still perfectly playable. I just breezed through the first tournament even with teething problems I had with my timing. I think the CPU has been been toned down a bit because I remember there being a step up in the 2nd tournament which I haven't noticed.

If you fancy a waggle tennis game that gives more than Wii Sports then go for this. It's the usual solid polished offering. The graphics haven't noticeably been improved apart from widescreen support but then the game looks nice on GC anyhow given the styling.

Aye. The GC game probably sold well enough but deserved a bigger audience. The N64 original is still a great game and the GC game was essentially a makeover with the power shots added. The problem with building a really good game is justifying a next gen version.  Both the GC and Wii versions would have copped a lot criticism because the original game really didn't need anything new added to it.

Re the waggle - a lot of 3rd party stuff was dross but Nintendo's own output used the controller pretty well. Camelot did the Tennis game though so it seems they were able to make the most of it too.

I played on a bit and beat the 2nd cup after losing once so it's definitely easier than the GC game. But it steps up in the next cup - got my arse handed to me in the first round.

I restarted playing Mario Galaxy 2 last night. I abandoned it years ago after 20-odd shines because I was bloated after playing MG1 to get all 120 shines and had even made some inroads on a 2nd run as Luigi.

Still a superb game. I need to finish it really.

Also went back to Asteroids Dx after leaving it for a couple of weeks. You really need to keep at this game to maintain a modicum of skill. Got just shy of 40K though after several games.

Vita is arguably the best handheld of all time.

Only thing that might be better is the GBA.

The whole PSP/Vita thing is very confusing.

Those little discs - the UMDs? DO they work with all of the versions?

There are a couple of games I always liked the look of - Ultimate Ghosts & Goblins being one. There are some shmups collections too such as Parodius I'd fancy playing on a handheld.

I'd put the PSP on a par with the DS just behind the OG GB, 3DS is my favourite.

Vita and GBA didn't do it for me.

davyK wrote:

The whole PSP/Vita thing is very confusing. Those little discs - the UMDs? DO they work with all of the versions? There are a couple of games I always liked the look of - Ultimate Ghosts & Goblins being one. There are some shmups collections too such as Parodius I'd fancy playing on a handheld.

PSP Go is the only PSP that doesn't have a disc drive. Vita had it's own system but digital PSP games are backwards compatible.

If you do get a PSP, I really recommend softmodding it. The disc drive keeps a very loud noise and I believe the loading times are also shorter if playing a ripped game from a memory card.

I've never put a game card in my Vita but it's an absolutely stonking handheld for indie games.  Wouldn't want to choose between 3DS or Vita in a head to head.  

GBA was king for me (was my first non LCD handheld too), definitely wasn't fussed with the DS/PSP gen. I had a DS lite, but it was a bit of a waste of money for me.  Have since played a couple of DS gems I'd missed on 3DS, but at the time and with hindsight it's not a device that floats my boat.  Same with PSP actually - Ghosts 'n Goblins is the only game I've played fully iirc, and I didn't get round to that until last year.  

All in for any future handhelds now though.

Ah. So PSP and Vita are different machines.

The Vita probably looks the better choice. Collecting and all that. Ickle cards.#

The only games I've ever fancied have been PSP games though and no doubt they didn't all make the jump to Vita.  Sigh.


My daughters had DS-Lites and I found them just fine to use though I tended to play the touch screen games with them. Had a real thing for Touchmaster at one time.

I grey imported. There was no Wipeout at launch, so I actually played Ridge Racer for a while.

Castlevania The Dracula Chronicles and Outrun 2 are my picks for favourite PSP games.

There was some nice collections on there too, the Gradius one being the one I played the most of.

I bought my nephew Ultimatre GnG and Outrun 2 when he got a PSP for Christmas many moons ago. That's why I've always had a hankering for it.

Yeah Coast 2 Coast really shone on that screen. Amazing game.

This is your alert that SGDQ is on right now.

Excuse me I think we all know GTA Liberty City Stories is not only the best PSP game but actually the best game full stop.

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