Hyper 199 Feedback Thread

[Darren]

The first rule of the UFC is that you don't talk about the UFC. Actually, that's an outright lie -- and good thing, too, because we dedicate six pages and the front cover of Hyper 199 to the world's biggest fighting sensation, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. We're there ringside as the UFC hits Sydney, and we compare the blood and sweat from actual fights to what THQ's newest game, UFC Undisputed 2010, has in store.

Fight clubs of a different sort can be seen in our own backyard. Battle Arena Melbourne (or BAM, to use its rather fittingly punchy acronym) sees the country's best Streeties and Brawl players go head to head, while Sydney's OzHadou group constantly trade blows over walking Russian meat tanks and guys who swallowed yin and yang. Competitive gaming is where the pwners are separated from the noobs (I'm sorry), and we check it out.

Reviews? Consider them super-sized. God of War III, Final Fantasy XIII and No More Heroes 2 get four pages a piece, while we also give ample word time to the likes of Just Cause 2, Red Steel 2, Yakuza 3, Metro 2033, Runaway 3, and some other games that probably have some numbers in their title. In preview town, we go hands-on with the Blur multiplayer beta and check out the latest Boreanaz-less Kingdom Hearts, while Jickle has a fiddle with a full deck in his latest Barrel romp.

There's also a comprehensive look at gaming's dim and dark origins, discussing what has happened throughout the decades to bring us the games we play today, as well as a confession from Dan Staines that he once knew someone who looked "JUST LIKE" Alex Kidd.

Truly, the only place you'll read all about it is in Hyper 199, on sale from Wednesday, March 31!

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4034/hypercover1992.jpg


EDIT: While I've got you here, issue 200 is currently in the works at Hyper HQ. If you've got a photo of your collection itching to be printed, or you just want to vent your spleen/wish us a happy 17th birthday, get in touch! Send your Hyper photos to dwells@next.com.au, and your letters to freakscene@next.com.au.

[scoz]

Enjoyable issue. It was good to see NMH2 get pride of place even against giants like FF13. I also really liked the Edgeworth review, I think it hit the nail on the head. I personally didn't have any issues with Red Steel Elbow, but everyone seems to be saying it, so *shrugs* I must just be too manly to notice :D

The PS0 review was a bit light on details. Whilst they were all valid criticisms it sounds like the game is identical to Phantasy Star Online. Would've been nice to know if the online lags at all, because despite my better judgement I really enjoyed multiplayer in PSO.

[BB2K]

Enjoyable issue. It was good to see NMH2 get pride of place even against giants like FF13.

That's most likely because FF13 is shit, though :p

So did Jickle put a dedication to me in his BotB?

[Lazlow]

Be interested to see if the UFC feature can change my mind that it'll be little more than an yearly update tweak and a stop-gap release before EA MMA.

There were so many fundamental things wrong with UFC 2009 that I doubt they've addressed many of them.

[FX-GTZ]

You guys really need to put more humor into your cover's, to express how humorous your magazine content truly is.

All i see on this cover is seriousness.

[Lazlow]

I disagree, Mad Magazine it ain't.

[Mr Pie]

Absolutely loved reading the Hits/Misses in gaming technology.
This magazine... its like sex, but easier to get, and it isnt.
I also didnt know that BC2 was on the Wii.

[Watchers]

I also didnt know that BC2 was on the Wii.

Probably because it isn't.

[Mr Pie]

But it said so... But it also said the Wii is the only console BC2 is on sooooo... yeah.
Can i have some clarification?

[Mr.Mew]

I normally leave the lastest Hyper copy at the top of my tower for all to see, but it looks as if NMH2 will stick around for another month so's I don't have to look at a big sweaty beef kebab.

[FX-GTZ]

I disagree, Mad Magazine it ain't.
I wasnt referring to that style of humor. I mean like, witty humor.

[Citizen Erased]

Just read the FF 13 review, agree 100% with the verdict. I wish there was some sort of scienific study on why Vanille is soo f-king annoying.

[oogi2000]

Just read the FF 13 review, agree 100% with the verdict. I wish there was some sort of scienific study on why Vanille is soo f-king annoying.

I put her annoyance on her voice for starters, and her OMGKAWAIIEVERYTHINGISGONNABEALRIGHTNE?GIGGLE bullshit. :D

[TimmyJ]

Yeah, I'd just about had enough of giggling FF girls with Rikku. (I didn't mind Penelo).
And Vanille's weirdly sexual moaning in battle had most people passing by pretty confounded...

[TimmyJ]

I kind of agree with Dan Staines on FF13. I thought the combat was (thankfully) more interesting than FF12, and the worlds of Cocoon and Pulse did have quite a detailed backstory, but...to be honest, I was thinking to myself 'When is the gameplay going to get...you know...interesting?'
As it turns out, not until chapter 11 IMO. I wouldn't quite say it's a disappointment though, it's just not what I'd hoped for.

[Spazzola]

Just got my issue, I'm glad it didn't have a massive delay this time. Haven't read it, but it does smell like sushi. Nextmedia's choice food?

[Darren]

Haven't read it, but it does smell like sushi.
That's... odd.

I thought we were saving the scratch-and-sniff feature for issue 200.

[Watchers]

Do we get another sock as well?

[Australian Ninja]

I wasnt referring to that style of humor. I mean like, witty humor.

So less Mad Magazine now, and more Mad Magazine circa 1950.

[Zan]

http://www.ozhadou.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4853

Very positive feedback from the communties interviewed regarding the fighting game scene. It's good timing actually cos everyone is crazy busy with new game releases and preparing a national tournament to find Aus representatives at Evo.

Anyway, I hope readers get a kick out of it. :)

[Lazlow]

I'll be honest; I was trying to see if I could spot UC1.

And that's only based on a photo of an old Hyper meet that was posted ages ago... and it may not have even been UC1 >_>

Also; I feel the Abe Simpson in me coming out after those closing comments in the Runaway review <_<

[TimmyJ]

I got a weird look from guy who served me at the newsagents when I bought the issue.
Possibly because of all the MAN BEEF!!! on the cover.
Don't worry Malcolm, I still think you're awesome.

[Lazlow]

HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL WHEN I BUY MMA MAGS!?!!?

Actually I don't really give a shit.

[TimmyJ]

Haven't read it, but it does smell like sushi.

I'd smell it, but if anyone sees me sniffing that particular cover I'm probably going to be locked up.

[TimmyJ]

HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL WHEN I BUY MMA MAGS!?!!?

Actually I don't really give a shit.

Nothing wrong with a bit of MAN BEEF, but I would've probably preferred Lightning. To echo Dan Staines a couple of issues ago, she's hot. :cool:

[Lazlow]

Be interested to see if the UFC feature can change my mind that it'll be little more than an yearly update tweak and a stop-gap release before EA MMA.

There were so many fundamental things wrong with UFC 2009 that I doubt they've addressed many of them.


Well it appears they're addressing some key areas that I hated in the previous game; mainly positional control (hopefully it'll make subs more fluid, ie lean over their upper body for an Arm Triangle, sit up and go for a Kimura, lean back for a heel hook) and the dumb moveset system that ridiculously locked people into rigid styles.

[REQUIEM]

Well it appears they're addressing some key areas that I hated in the previous game; mainly positional control (hopefully it'll make subs more fluid, ie lean over their upper body for an Arm Triangle, sit up and go for a Kimura, lean back for a heel hook) and the dumb moveset system that ridiculously locked people into rigid styles.

As long as they have overhauled the menu interface I will be happy.

[Lazlow]

Make it snappier... took to longe to navigate through options, etc.

[TimmyJ]

Loving BOTB, the top 5 hits and misses, the opinion pieces...and I'm tempted to consider buying a Wii after reading the No More Heroes 2 review.

[Australian Ninja]

Loving BOTB, the top 5 hits and misses, the opinion pieces...and I'm tempted to consider buying a Wii after reading the No More Heroes 2 review.

Don't do it!

Resist the dark side of the schwartz TimmyJ ;)

[RunningMild]

I love how, in the Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing review, you asked 'Are you really so short on mascots that you need to include the Bonanza Bros?' Come on, do you really need to ask that question when the game also features Shadow the Hedgehog, Big The Cat, Billy Hatcher, and the guy from Samba De Amigo? Unless you meant for it to be rhetorical... :D

But I'm not hating on Sega. I mean, it's not like Mario Kart isn't just as guilty of using obscure and unpopular characters, such as Waluigi, Dry Bones, and Funky Kong. ;)

On another note, that review (which I enjoyed btw) pretty much confirms my suspicion that the DS version is the superior one. Tracks are less cluttered, everything is dialed back (ie. not SHOUTING and IN YOUR FACE like with the console version), and multiplayer is more fun. Kinda like how Mario Kart DS is better than the Wii one, strangely enough. :p

[Jickle]

Having played both I think the console version is marginally better. The DS tracks have a real problem of obscuring the way forward on times (Staines mentioned it in his review, but the problem is that much worse on the DS) and the mission structures are a bit more fun and varied on the consoles. Still, there's not a whole lot in it, and the DS version is, in my opinion, pretty solid (even if it does suffer from being in direct competition with Mario Kart DS).

[RunningMild]

Having played both I think the console version is marginally better. The DS tracks have a real problem of obscuring the way forward on times (Staines mentioned it in his review, but the problem is that much worse on the DS) and the mission structures are a bit more fun and varied on the consoles. Still, there's not a whole lot in it, and the DS version is, in my opinion, pretty solid (even if it does suffer from being in direct competition with Mario Kart DS).

I personally prefer the drifting mechanic on the DS version (you can change direction mid-drift, allowing you to fly through S-bends with one drift instead of two). Also, I don't think the 'competition' thing with MK: DS is much of an issue. The way I see it, MK: DS is the only really good racing game on DS (I hate Diddy Kong Racing, so sue me), and if you happened to want another racing game on the DS, Sonic Racing is the best choice. On the other hand, if you wanted a decent arcadey racing game on a console, there's a wider selection of games (WipEout, Burnout, etc), so if Sonic Racing is ever gonna 'suffer' from direct competition, it wouldn't be on DS.

I've actually been waiting a really long time for some sort of follow-up to MK: DS (ie. similar, but with new tracks), and Sonic Racing turned out to be the game I was waiting for. :p

[Craig Davidson]

Reading that article on the Australian Transformers game brought back a lot of memories. I ended up getting the game, brand new, from the local Target store for $4.88. Honest! And to think it was once almost a hundred dollars.

[Lazlow]

Indeed, the article made me want to seek it out. And another Melbourne House game Grand Prix Challenge, which many felt was the best F1 game on the PS2.

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An old radio interview where they talk about the history of Melbourne House, game development in general and about Grand Prix Challenge.


RE: Darren Wells' comments in the Runaway 3 review.

As much as I want to dispute criticisms directed towards a beloved genre, I can't really dispute the crux of your argument; pixel hunting is not fun and neither are illogical and obtuse object puzzles.

That said, I still love them. It's an more sedate method of delivering a cracking story, that doesn't require twitch reflexes or stat crunching. So I'm glad some developers are offering such highly polished point & click adventure games such as the Runaway series, so its not a genre that's trapped in the domain of cash strapped indie developers.

[RunningMild]

What I loved about the TF feature was the background info on Melbourne House. I had no idea they were formerly Beam Software, nor that they were still in business. Also, the closing joke about the company constantly transforming was gold.

BTW, who wrote the 5 hits and misses of gaming tech? It was a great read.

[Australian Ninja]

What I loved about the TF feature was the background info on Melbourne House. I had no idea they were formerly Beam Software, nor that they were still in business. Also, the closing joke about the company constantly transforming was gold.

BTW, who wrote the 5 hits and misses of gaming tech? It was a great read.

That would be Santa Claus, but don't quote me on it.

[Darren]

BTW, who wrote the 5 hits and misses of gaming tech? It was a great read.

That would be Santa Claus, but don't quote me on it.
Ho ho ho!

(It was me.)

[ireadtabloids]

Reading that article on the Australian Transformers game brought back a lot of memories. I ended up getting the game, brand new, from the local Target store for $4.88. Honest! And to think it was once almost a hundred dollars.

Bargain of the year!

[ireadtabloids]

You guys really need to put more humor into your cover's, to express how humorous your magazine content truly is.

All i see on this cover is seriousness.

You don't find the monster from Quake attacking Manly Mans' crotch while anime girl looks on amusing?

[Daniel]

I thought the "click, click, click, click, click" coverline for Diablo III however many months ago was pretty funny. Possibly my proudest cover moment.

[Lazlow]

Brownie Monsters?

[REQUIEM]

Good mag this month and WTF is Naughty Bear lol ? Also loved the trip back the golden age of gaming in the brief history article. Should have made mention to the brilliant Spectrum 48k in the 80's section.

[Mr.Mew]

Looking forwards to hear how Dylan's resolutions turn out; it'll make an interesting article in whatever months to come, forcibly going against habit and such doesn't end well.

[Australian Ninja]

Ho ho ho!

(It was me.)

I guessed it was you from your writing style. Didn't even notice the lack of a credit until I looked at the mag a second time.

[RunningMild]

I guessed it was you from your writing style. Didn't even notice the lack of a credit until I looked at the mag a second time.

You obviously pay more attention than I do. Based on the writing style I thought it was Dan Staines, or maybe Jickle. ;)

WTF is Naughty Bear lol ?

I wanted to ask that as well. I saw the pics last night and I was just thinking 'WTF is this'?

It looks like the kind of game that will cause buttloads of controversy, purely because parents will think it's a kid's game due to the presence of teddy bears, and then they find out it's violent (as usual, the MA15+ sticker didn't somehow tip them off :rolleyes: ).

EDIT: Found it.

Here you play as the titular Naughty Bear. His main goal throughout the course of the game is to wreak havoc on the members of his peaceful bear village. The more chaos he causes, the more points you'll earn and the higher your multiplier will get. All of this carnage takes place on a large island that's divided up into 4 areas spread across 28 levels. Your dastardly little Naughty Bear is free to move around the island in order to find instruments that will maximize the pain and suffering of every bear around him. I recently got the chance to play around with Naughty and a few of his tools of torture when 505 Games brought an early build into the IGN office.

Meh, sounds like Postal with bears.

[xander_cade]

I am loving the Made In Australia section. Already I've been amazed at the two games that have featured in this section, especially as used to own one of them and now I want the other! Keep this section alive boys & girls, goodwork!

[Mr.Mew]

I thought the "click, click, click, click, click" coverline for Diablo III however many months ago was pretty funny. Possibly my proudest cover moment.

That's interest. I associated it with TF2's The Heavy running out of ammo; some such doom that follows.

[Gameboffin]

Looking forwards to hear how Dylan's resolutions turn out; it'll make an interesting article in whatever months to come, forcibly going against habit and such doesn't end well.

I haven't been doing too badly. I managed to stick to, and finish, God of War III and Mass Effect 2 last week. Hoping to finish off a few more from the unfinished pile this week, although Splinter Cell should be rocking up today... can I resist?!

[TimmyJ]

Don't do it!

Resist the dark side of the schwartz TimmyJ ;)

I've debated internally whether to buy a Wii for a year or two now, but the thing that always puts me off buying one is that the only game that has been played on my friends Wii for the last year and a half is Brawl...
I'm going through a similar thing with getting a PS3 as well.

Hmmmm.

"What to do, what to do?
One three hundred dollar hooker-bot, or three hundred one dollar hooker-bots?"

[REQUIEM]

Splinter Cell should be rocking up today... can I resist?!

Probably not, give in to your desire. Play it, you know that little voice in your head is right.

[/backslash]

Hmm, someone must've put this issue with the wrestling mags because I've been visiting numerous newsagents in the past 2 weeks & can't find it

[REQUIEM]

Hmm, someone must've put this issue with the wrestling mags because I've been visiting numerous newsagents in the past 2 weeks & can't find it

Its cover was so tough and manly.

[Australian Ninja]

Hmm, someone must've put this issue with the wrestling mags because I've been visiting numerous newsagents in the past 2 weeks & can't find it

Its cover was so tough and manly.

It paaaaaaaaaaanched it's way right out of the newagent, that's why you could not find it.

[Mr.Mew]

Recently picked up Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, I have to say you must be a helluva fast reader Darren to complain about the text speed. Majority of it flies through the text box while the rest I can keep up with, I feel it's fairly effective too while most other games which rely on text aren't fast enough for me; or styled to the dialogue for that matter as mentioned in your review. I think it's safe to say it'd work for some/most people.

[AranchineD]

Hyper is still selling in the Sydney area, right? Haven't been able to find a copy anywhere

[Australian Ninja]

Hyper is still selling in the Sydney area, right? Haven't been able to find a copy anywhere

Last I heard after paaanching it's way out of the newsagent Hyper was sighted doing the bridge climb.

[Lazlow]

Jesus f***ing christ Ninja, just stop already.

[Australian Ninja]

Jesus f***ing christ Ninja, just stop already.

I'll stop when you do (along with EVERY other member).

[REQUIEM]

Hyper is still selling in the Sydney area, right? Haven't been able to find a copy anywhere

Its been awhile since it hit the streets Aran its a popular mag it doesnt hang around... :P

[ireadtabloids]

Some observations I made while reading the latest issue of Hyper:
"Christian Side Hug Reference is good" Ever tried one? They're pretty sweet!
"Nice T-Shirt article" I nearly bought one the instant I stopped reading, lol.
"It took me a while to notice it wasn't a real woman" Blast you Hollywood and your plastic creations!

I also enjoyed your rant about Naruto. 100% agreed with you about what you said about the cartoon staff creating filler eps while waiting for new manga :D

Been fun, Hyper crew. Look forward to more next month (minus the mundane comments... maybe) :p

[Tonez]

I've left my copy at work. Does anyone have their copy handy?

If so, could you list the movies that were reviewed at the back. One of them piqued my interest and I Can't remember the name.

[jawsy]

Kick-Ass, Triangle, Chaw and Superjail! were reviewed. 10, 8, 7 and 6 were the scores assigned.

[Mr.Mew]

Something's wrong. Where's the thread to show off issue 200? I imagine it would be on display by now and everythang.

[Tonez]

Kick-Ass, Triangle, Chaw and Superjail! were reviewed. 10, 8, 7 and 6 were the scores assigned.

Thanks jawsy. I think it's Triangle.

[Australian Ninja]

What's up with Wilks - Is he just joking around about being unemployed?

Will #200 shed any light on this worrying development?