VCF Gaming Club: October 2009

[pdRydia]

This thread will be used for ongoing discussions, questions, and help about Octobers's game, Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa. Click here for the main Gaming Club thread (maintained by Betagam7) or click here for September's thread (Wonder Boy in Monster World, picked by Jogurt the Yogurt).

VC Forums Monthly Gaming Club
October's Pick: pdRydia

Title: Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
System: Famicom
Cost: 600 Nintendo Points
Genre: Import (Platformer)
Controls: Wii remote, Classic controller, & Gamecube controller



Comment: Halloween isn't until the end of the month, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy some sweet, delicious candy now. While an import, this is a Famicom/NES platformer and thus, should be pretty accessible, with a minimal reliance on text. It's also one of the cheapest games available, and will work with the default controller. Also, it looks like a minimum of forumers own/have completed this game, so it should be a relatively new experience for many of us...and convince the rest of us to finish it up, already.

October Participants: Ausden (7/10), Betagam7 (8/10), digiki (6/10), enigmaopoeia (4/10), hansolo350 (6/10), Kiwi the Tortoise, lordbowser (7/10), Pocketim, Radretrogamer, Refa, Sharecrow, SKTTR (6/10), sponge, Tides of Chaos, Trapster, wii-c-kid
ineligible for November's drawing: Jogurt the Yogurt, pdRydia (7/10)
(Please contact me if you're missing or if your name shouldn't be here!)

A NOTE ON SPOILERS: I know this is an early platformer, and that this is a discussion group, but let's try to avoid spoilers as much as we can. Use spoiler tags wherever it may be appropriate. They're used the same as any other code on this forum, with the word "spoiler" enclosed in square brackets.

[hansolo350]

I think this is a great especially since I haven't beaten this one yet. The later levels are very challenging.

[SKTTR]

BIO MIRACLE
BOKUTTE
UPA

Bio Miracle.. yeah ok... but...
Bokutte Upa....what the hell does that mean??!??

I really would have never looked into this game,
playing a baby, travelling through candyland and stuff...
So...
Good choice I think
I hope

[pdRydia]

Originally Posted by hansolo350

I think this is a great especially since I haven't beaten this one yet. The later levels are very challenging.

Yeah, I didn't get very far, myself. Just the second world (maybe just the second stage?). This is just the motivation I need to get through it.

[lordbowser]

I love this game, I got it as a gift from a friend a few months ago.

[SKTTR]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

VC Forums Monthly Gaming Club
September's Pick: pdRydia

aren't you October's Pick? ok you're theoretically have been chosen in september but...

anyway..

ehh.... forgot what i wanted to write.

[pdRydia]

Originally Posted by SKTTR

aren't you October's Pick? ok you're theoretically have been chosen in september but...

anyway..

ehh.... forgot what i wanted to write.

Lolo and I don't know what you're talking about.

[Trapster]

Originally Posted by SKTTR

Bio Miracle.. yeah ok... but...
Bokutte Upa....what the hell does that mean??!??

I really would have never looked into this game,
playing a baby, travelling through candyland and stuff...
So...
Good choice I think
I hope

I wasn't sure if it was a baby since the resolution is so low on the NES.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Great pick!

This is a game that I've variously considered and then talked myself out of a few times since it came out. This is all the convincing I need—and here's hoping my platforming skills get back into shape within the first couple of stages.

[SKTTR]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

Lolo and I don't know what you're talking about.

you know!!

[enigmaopoeia]

Oooh, great pick! I only know of Upa as a playable character in pop'n music, and now I get to finally play the game he stars in.

[Betagam7]

Ooh, what a lovely choice. Much like Jogurt I'd considered this in the past but never took the plunge.

Best of all its 60hz! This makes you my new bestest friend

I'm excited to get started.

[Radretrogamer]

I never got past the first stage, though i have been meaning to. cool pick Rydia, i probably would never have gotten back to this game without the proper motivation

im liking this club already.

on a side note, ive been wondering what happens if someone picks a game that can be beaten in a few hours? are they allowed a backup game or something of the kind?

[SKTTR]

you mean, if someone picks a really short and easy game, we should maybe have 2 picks a month? hmm... i don't know. it would speed things up, but on the other hand if you want more games you can always buy them for yourself.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Radretrogamer

on a side note, ive been wondering what happens if someone picks a game that can be beaten in a few hours? are they allowed a backup game or something of the kind?

I doubt it would take everyone a few hours. And chances are that a game that short would have some kind of replayability or score challenge or something that could get the club members competing and chatting long enough to make it worth it.

[Tides of Chaos]

Ooh, Bio Miracle Bokkute Upa. Interesting pick for sure. This is one of those games that I eyed when it first came out but slowly forgot about as more items got piled onto my wishlist. I guess I'll finally find out how good it is!

[Refa]

Possibly great choice! Now all I need to do is download it.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

I doubt it would take everyone a few hours. And chances are that a game that short would have some kind of replayability or score challenge or something that could get the club members competing and chatting long enough to make it worth it.

Yes, this was my thought when first establishing the rules. Another important thing to bear in mind is cost. Most people can afford to pick-up one game a month out of their spare change but two might be pushing it for some.

As Jogurt says there are always Master runs or score challenges with most games to keep people discussing the game.

These threads are here to talk about the game and discuss its nuances not solely to update daily with a progress report.

If you happen to complete the game before the month is up that shouldn't stop you discussing the game or as SKTTR did this month exploring other similar titles.

[Yossarian]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Yes, this was my thought when first establishing the rules. Another important thing to bear in mind is cost. Most people can afford to pick-up one game a month out of their spare change but two might be pushing it for some.

As Jogurt says there are always Master runs or score challenges with most games to keep people discussing the game.

These threads are here to talk about the game and discuss its nuances not solely to update daily with a progress report.

If you happen to complete the game before the month is up that shouldn't stop you discussing the game or as SKTTR did this month exploring other similar titles.

That's an excellent point and one I'd overlooked.

[wii-c-kid]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

That's an excellent point and one I'd overlooked.

And judging from the videos I've seen of this game on YouTube it has lots of them and I'm really looking forward to downloading it and experiencing them all. Great pick!

[Sharecrow]

I'm looking forward to playing this and seeing how far I can get. My biggest challenges with finding time to play it will be the fact that work will be hectic for me the first couple of weeks of October, Phantasy Star, and, to a lesser extent (because I'm stuck again), The Dark Spire. I'll still work this one in, though. Can't wait!

[wii-c-kid]

I just downloaded it and played through the first two worlds. It's really nice but the pig battles can be frustrating when you keep shooting horizontally rather than vertically!

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by wii-c-kid

I just downloaded it and played through the first two worlds. It's really nice but the pig battles can be frustrating when you keep shooting horizontally rather than vertically!

I got to the first pig on the quick go I had but had no idea how to defeat it. Are you just supposed to hit it with the rattle?

[hansolo350]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

I got to the first pig on the quick go I had but had no idea how to defeat it. Are you just supposed to hit it with the rattle?

No, you need to hit things into the pigs.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by hansolo350

No, you need to hit things into the pigs.

Ah, I figured that but it was tough to make them do anything other than fly upwards, I guess the key is to get under him?

[hansolo350]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Ah, I figured that but it was tough to make them do anything other than fly upwards, I guess the key is to get under him?

No, you can hit them horizontally but it is much more challenging. In the latter stages these pig fights are very annoying.

[enigmaopoeia]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

These threads are here to talk about the game and discuss its nuances not solely to update daily with a progress report.

Whoops, I'm guilty for doing a progress report! It's my way to remind myself what has happened since my last play so I won't forget. I'll try to stop that in my future posts, sorry about that!

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by enigmaopoeia

Whoops, I'm guilty for doing a progress report! It's my way to remind myself what has happened since my last play so I won't forget. I'll try to stop that in my future posts, sorry about that!

You don't need to stop. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with progress reports (although we all need to try to make them a bit less spoilerly in games that are more story driven than the first two picks) just that that's not all the thread exists for.
Progress reports should only be one part of the club, not the be all and end all.

As for this months game, I hope nobody minds but I'm stealing a march on you given that after the 3rd I won't have a Wii for two weeks.

I can tell you though that Bio Miracle is utterly gorgeous and nobody should have the slightest reservation about joining in. It's difficult but fair and overflowing with character and charm.

Also its interesting that the game is a Famicom Disk System title, I wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of problems I tend to associate with the NES; flicker and annoying enemy respawning. So far I havn't seen either thankfully and the game runs very smoothly. Loving the variety in the levels.

This should be a fun month for you all.

[pdRydia]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

As for this months game, I hope nobody minds but I'm stealing a march on you given that after the 3rd I won't have a Wii for two weeks.

That is sad. When will you get it back?

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Also its interesting that the game is a Famicom Disk System title, I wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of problems I tend to associate with the NES; flicker and annoying enemy respawning.

It could be the reason for the lack of flicker, but it has nothing to do with enemy respawning, since respawn points are hard-coded—they behave exactly the way they're intended.

enig, this game is on its way over to you tonight.

[Trapster]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

It could be the reason for the lack of flicker, but it has nothing to do with enemy respawning, since respawn points are hard-coded—they behave exactly the way they're intended.

enig, this game is on its way over to you tonight.

Do we gift eachother the games now?

[digiki]

Sweet pick, I've always wanted to try it, just never felt like tossing down the points.

I'll play the game this month too. I just couldn't get motivated to play a game I'd already beaten, while I was gaming little anyways.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by pdRydia

That is sad. When will you get it back?

Around the 23rd i think. So I'll have a week or so to beat it. I thought about not joining in this month but now I'm glad I did

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

It could be the reason for the lack of flicker, but it has nothing to do with enemy respawning, since respawn points are hard-coded—they behave exactly the way they're intended.

To clarify its not respawning in general that bugs me its more the type you get in the first Ninja Gaiden or Mega-Man where enemies respawn endlessly as soon as you kill them until you scroll the screen on a certain distance (often, when combined with a tricky jumping section that makes scrolling near impossible!)

[wii-c-kid]

Hi guys. You can also headbutt ballooned emenies diagonally which tends to work well against the pigs.

This game is so %8?%#%! inducing sometimes! I went back to it yesterday in order to play through both worlds 1 and 2 to find all the goodies but damn! If I didn't loose three lives at the end of the first part of world 2-1 (were you jump on the cherries to go up to the pig boss)

I kept head-butting a flying enemy (I needed to get to the cherries) away instead of jumping on him, leaving me stranded mid-air waiting to fail into that bottomless pit and I've got past that bit easily before! Needless to say, my television (and probably my baby son) has learned a new favourite word!

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by wii-c-kid

Hi guys. You can also headbutt ballooned emenies diagonally which tends to work well against the pigs.

This game is so %8?%#%! inducing sometimes! I went back to it yesterday in order to play through both worlds 1 and 2 to find all the goodies but damn! If I didn't loose three lives at the end of the first part of world 2-1 (were you jump on the cherries to go up to the pig boss)

I kept head-butting a flying enemy (I needed to get to the cherries) away instead of jumping on him, leaving me stranded mid-air waiting to fail into that bottomless pit and I've got past that bit easily before! Needless to say, my television (and probably my baby son) has learned a new favourite word!

I havn't found the game to be as difficult as everyone says so far. I reached 2.3 fairly comfortabley and as the game has infinite continues (albeit sending you back to the beginning of a world when you continue and the level when you die) with 7 world of 3 levels each in total, I don't anticipate a problem in completing it.

Diagoanal attacks are definately the way to go with the pigs though

[Pocketim]

This is a good choice really, as this was a game that I let get a bit over-shadowed by other games I was playing at the time, so now I have a good reason to start playing again. Going to start today.

[digiki]

...This game is kind of bothersome

[hansolo350]

Originally Posted by digiki

...This game is kind of bothersome

How so? ...

[pdRydia]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

Diagoanal attacks are definately the way to go with the pigs though

Depends on the stage. The set-up on 1-3 is such that, if you use diagonal shots, you'll just wind up smacking yourself in your big baby face most times. I used horizontal shots there, especially since if you got the right height, you'd always hit the pig. He moves so little there.

[Betagam7]

Played for 30 minutes while waiting for my laundry and I'm still loving this game. Even the appearance of a generic videogame staple for a level in World 3 hasn't dulled my joy over this.

I love the way the Baby's mouth moves as you walk him about, great animation. This is definately reminding me of Kirby's Adventure only with much better graphics and a difficulty setting that isn't made for 3 year olds.

I'm enjoying that each world has one level that isn't the usual sidescrolling platformer but that does something new and inventive. I was slightly worried when I got to 3.2 and it was another side scroller but thankfully a brief glimpse of 3.3 confirmed another unique twist, this time one that could be considered a homage to a certain Nintedo game also on VC.

Trying not to give out any major spoilers as to the levels themselves as getting to each one should be a reward to see what's coming next.

This is a great game: Buy, buy, buy!