- Joined
- Dec 1, 2009
- Messages
- 2,228
- Trophies
- 0
- Age
- 40
- Location
- Canada
- Website
- www.shophandmade.com
- XP
- 1,326
- Country
Well, it's been a long time coming. The series that this game is based on is like a mix of Power Rangers and insect lore. Each Rider is based on either magic/technology or organic means. Meaning that their backstories vary, and some of their histories/timelines are different. The series is at it's heart, a Sentei show - one of those shows that show off cheesy transformation sequences into a Superhero which battles various monsters of the day, until a conclusion occurs.
It's a long running show, first beginning in 1942 and still running today. However, different eras/timelines intersect, and the result is 30 playable characters. Rider Generation is a side-scrolling beat them up with a few differences. There are some extra levels which are the classic forced scrolling, and the ever popular stick the hero in the elevator and try to kill him sequences. Rider Generation keeps up appearances, and lets you have an AI controlled partner. There are also "missions" for the levels - beat 'em and get extra cash, lives or weapons. These "missions" either consist of not letting your health drop below 1/2, using a specific character, just using special moves, and finishing off the bosses with a super move.
However, characters have different abilities and playstyles that suit them. Some characters can transform into other forms with their powers, some are long range characters, some are glass cannons, and some are just shit. Not all powers can be accessed at the beginning - you have to collect money and items that the enemies drop and buy them with the cash.
Story - 3/5:
Standard save the world plot in which the danger is so great that all of main heroes have to meet and greet to get it done. The final boss is also very cut and dried from what I can glean of the storyline online - however it does fit for the Kamen Rider universe.
Gameplay - 3/5:
First Impressions: Oh great. So many character slots - you start off with 3 characters. I picked Den-O (the guy with the sword looking thing), and off we go. This character has an awkward attack range, and he really takes so little damage - why the heck did the level design include so many health pickups? Oh, great. /sarcasm. You unlock things for merely completing a bloody stage. Hoo boy!
Second Impressions (mid-game): Oh good. They are starting to throw harder enemies at us. This means that your extra moves and stuff really gets a chance to shine, and your hands really get sore. Money is a pain to get - but never really disappears like you expect it to. For some enemies, you'd be resorting to using your long range weapons....Leveling up characters is a chore, as some of the weaker/odder characters pretty much don't get used - and if you don't unlock them...yeah, have fun grinding...
Last Impressions: Oh, this is short. Seriously - only five worlds with a small amount of levels? The difficulty never ramps up until world 5, and then the game just throws a crazy amount of high health enemies at you. I'm only using the heavy hitters...which really sucks, because the different characters are supposed to be a draw! The missions aren't really a challenge (there's a translated list of what you need to do online), and the only real annoyance/problem is running out of money to buy those upgrades - especially for Decade - who needs to buy each one seperately!
Graphics - 4/5:
Not the best the DS has to offer - some finishers have a grainy look to them, like they were scanned in at a low resolution. However, all fighters have a super move that needed to be animated, so that was probably the reason behind the lower resolution. Each character also has a portrait on the character select screen, and they are quite recognizable, even at that size.
However, during intensely populated battles, the game tends to slow down. It happens quite rarely, but it is highly annoying, and throws the user out of the battle.
Sound - 5/5:
I'm told that the voices in All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation are recognizable by those who watched it. However, be prepared for the sheer amount of awesomeness that is Engrish. This also goes along well with the campyness of the game, and the series itself. Attacks are voiced, and so are super moves/finishers. (Usually in English, and the taunts and the starting pose voices are in Japanese.)
Control - 4/5:
All buttons on the DS are used for this game. The triggers are used in combination with the d-pad to trigger super moves. Y is your light attack/combo, X is your heavy strike, A is your special move. The d-pad is used to modify different attacks. The R button is used to activate your alternative modes or your alternative abilities.
Multiplayer - 0/5:
The multiplayer is a lie. The game makes it look like you can play co-op with another live human being, but...nope, here's your partner AI.
Extras - 3/5:
Password based extras in the form of extra stages and one extra character. However, the passwords are pretty long and annoying to "fat finger" in.
Final Thoughts - 2.75/5
A pretty average beat them up. Possibly ruined as a result of trying to cram too many Kamen Rider characters into the game - but each character does bring something to the table, even if it is subtle as heck. Could be much improved by adding co-op and a much higher difficulty - I was playing on "climax"/the highest difficulty and only died a handful of times. Too easy and the level design is really too forgiving!
It's a long running show, first beginning in 1942 and still running today. However, different eras/timelines intersect, and the result is 30 playable characters. Rider Generation is a side-scrolling beat them up with a few differences. There are some extra levels which are the classic forced scrolling, and the ever popular stick the hero in the elevator and try to kill him sequences. Rider Generation keeps up appearances, and lets you have an AI controlled partner. There are also "missions" for the levels - beat 'em and get extra cash, lives or weapons. These "missions" either consist of not letting your health drop below 1/2, using a specific character, just using special moves, and finishing off the bosses with a super move.
However, characters have different abilities and playstyles that suit them. Some characters can transform into other forms with their powers, some are long range characters, some are glass cannons, and some are just shit. Not all powers can be accessed at the beginning - you have to collect money and items that the enemies drop and buy them with the cash.
Story - 3/5:
Standard save the world plot in which the danger is so great that all of main heroes have to meet and greet to get it done. The final boss is also very cut and dried from what I can glean of the storyline online - however it does fit for the Kamen Rider universe.
Gameplay - 3/5:
First Impressions: Oh great. So many character slots - you start off with 3 characters. I picked Den-O (the guy with the sword looking thing), and off we go. This character has an awkward attack range, and he really takes so little damage - why the heck did the level design include so many health pickups? Oh, great. /sarcasm. You unlock things for merely completing a bloody stage. Hoo boy!
Second Impressions (mid-game): Oh good. They are starting to throw harder enemies at us. This means that your extra moves and stuff really gets a chance to shine, and your hands really get sore. Money is a pain to get - but never really disappears like you expect it to. For some enemies, you'd be resorting to using your long range weapons....Leveling up characters is a chore, as some of the weaker/odder characters pretty much don't get used - and if you don't unlock them...yeah, have fun grinding...
Last Impressions: Oh, this is short. Seriously - only five worlds with a small amount of levels? The difficulty never ramps up until world 5, and then the game just throws a crazy amount of high health enemies at you. I'm only using the heavy hitters...which really sucks, because the different characters are supposed to be a draw! The missions aren't really a challenge (there's a translated list of what you need to do online), and the only real annoyance/problem is running out of money to buy those upgrades - especially for Decade - who needs to buy each one seperately!
Graphics - 4/5:
Not the best the DS has to offer - some finishers have a grainy look to them, like they were scanned in at a low resolution. However, all fighters have a super move that needed to be animated, so that was probably the reason behind the lower resolution. Each character also has a portrait on the character select screen, and they are quite recognizable, even at that size.
However, during intensely populated battles, the game tends to slow down. It happens quite rarely, but it is highly annoying, and throws the user out of the battle.
Sound - 5/5:
I'm told that the voices in All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation are recognizable by those who watched it. However, be prepared for the sheer amount of awesomeness that is Engrish. This also goes along well with the campyness of the game, and the series itself. Attacks are voiced, and so are super moves/finishers. (Usually in English, and the taunts and the starting pose voices are in Japanese.)
Control - 4/5:
All buttons on the DS are used for this game. The triggers are used in combination with the d-pad to trigger super moves. Y is your light attack/combo, X is your heavy strike, A is your special move. The d-pad is used to modify different attacks. The R button is used to activate your alternative modes or your alternative abilities.
Multiplayer - 0/5:
The multiplayer is a lie. The game makes it look like you can play co-op with another live human being, but...nope, here's your partner AI.
Extras - 3/5:
Password based extras in the form of extra stages and one extra character. However, the passwords are pretty long and annoying to "fat finger" in.
Final Thoughts - 2.75/5
A pretty average beat them up. Possibly ruined as a result of trying to cram too many Kamen Rider characters into the game - but each character does bring something to the table, even if it is subtle as heck. Could be much improved by adding co-op and a much higher difficulty - I was playing on "climax"/the highest difficulty and only died a handful of times. Too easy and the level design is really too forgiving!
