<div align="center"><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/jph11200/TTP.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div>
<div align="center"><b><!--sizeo:2--><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->May 11th - May 17th, 2008<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></b></div>
Hello, and welcome to the sixth issue of the <b>Temper Post</b>!
The Temper Post is a weekly recap of all that's been going on on the GBAtemp Network and the gaming world. Have a nice read!
<fieldset><legend><b>Contents & Index:</b></legend><ul><li><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#a">GBAtemp & Scene News</a></li><li><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#b">Weekly Game and Homebrew Reviews</a>
- <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#b1">DS Game Review of the Week</a>
- <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#b2">Wii Game Review of the Week</a>
- <a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#b3">Homebrew Review of the Week</a></li><li><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#d">Virtual Console News This Week</a></li><li><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#e">Interesting Gaming News This Week</a></li><li><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#f">Community</a></li></ul></fieldset>
<div class="reviewbreak"><a name="a"><img src="http://gbatemp.net/images/icons/mascot.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> GBAtemp & Scene News</div>
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c8.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b>Wednesday, May 14th</b></p><ul><li><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=85618" target="_blank">GBAtemp Quiz #2 upcoming!</a></li></ul><p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c8.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b>Thursday, May 15th</b></p><ul><li><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86556" target="_blank">GBAtemp Quiz #2 Open!</a></li></ul><p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c8.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b>Friday, May 16th</b></p><ul><li><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86757" target="_blank">iTouchDS Firmware v1.6</a></li><li><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86766" target="_blank">G6/M3 DS Real Loader v3.7</li></ul>
<div class="reviewbreak"><a name="b"><img src="http://gbatemp.net/images/icons/index/review.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Weekly Game and Homebrew Reviews</div>
<p><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c27.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <a name="b1">DS Game Review of the Week</a></b></span></p><div align="center">
<a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=85616" target="_blank"><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/SpeedRacerIcon.PNG" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a> <b>Speed Racer</b> Review by <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=Hadrian' target=_blank title='View profile for member Hadrian'}>Hadrian</a></div>
<div><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/speedracer.png" align="right" hspace="9" vspace="2" /><font color="#000000"><b><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Arial Black--><span style="font-family:Arial Black"><!--/fonto-->T<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--></b><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->wo things that mostly fail on the DS; racing games & movie license games, Speed Racer bucks the trend. Although looking initially like a light version of F-Zero, at its heart is a something more akin to a Kart racer.
Handling is smooth, and being able to drift, roll & do stunts become easier as you play on. Its fast, possibly the fastest racer on the DS second to maybe Asphalt GT 2 (which was ported from Gamelofts N-Gage version by the same developers Virtuos). Performing said stunts, rolls and drifts also generates more boost bar which in turn enables you to go faster until the bar is empty.
There are 16 racers, each have their own good sides and bad, some racers may seem a bit sucky but them ones may also have more charisma which in turn gets them more fans. The are 19 tracks, which usually take around 3-4 minutes on each, that's if you do 3 lap races. The tracks are well made though some are a little bit samey, but they never feel boring due to twists & jumps. There are also two special events which are Battle & Stunts. Battle is simply racing along a track and making sure you get 5 opponents within 120 seconds, which you'll do within 20 easily. Stunts is basically the same as battle only you'll have to get 2000 fans in 180 seconds by doing various stunts. This also is too easy. In arcade mode you'll get these as well as Quick Race & Time Trial.
Battles in this game could be better but they work well. When you get close to an opponent it'll tell you to press the B button and when done so you'll get switched into this overhead/side on view where you have to press either X or Y (depending on what it says) nearer to the centre than your opponent does, if you are successful than you bash them. This is also how you get out of this "car-fu" when another racer targets you, only you simply dodge the racer. To be honest I'd rather just simply press X while racing and near an opponent, which makes me spin and cuts them down for a few seconds. Not only is that easier, quicker but it also gets you more fans. You can also get fans by drifting and doing stunts, and these fans get you access to more tracks, racers and cars.
Visually it looks a lot better in motion. Good backgrounds & very colourful and varied tracks. No slowdown at any time, no dip in framerate. I sure hope the developers use this engine for future racers.
Sound, its not good kinda like a mobile game. Music is OK though. Another downside is the difficulty, Amateur is stupidly easy and the AI is dumb, Pro Am is slightly better down to the fact that other racers can hurt you now but seriously play this on Pro Class to get the most out of this game. Sadly you have to unlock that by completing one of the other difficulties. Even the the other two are easy it still is fun playing & doing stunts.
Another downside is a multiplayer mode but that is limited to 2-6 players all of which would need a copy of a game, it will extend the game a bit more but it is a shame that there is no Wi-Fi as that would've been brilliant for a game like this.
I bought this game after obtaining it by other ways as I enjoyed it so much. For £20 I think its worth it, and I still play it after a week of completing it and I still see me picking it up for a quick race. Its no 3D F-Zero but then Nintendo hasn't blessed us with that just yet, still its second to Mario Kart DS for a racer.
</font></div>
<b>Final score: <!--sizeo:2--><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->8.0<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></b>
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c108.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><a name="b2">Wii Game Review of the Week</a></b></span></p>
<div align="center"><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=85928" target="_blank"> <img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/speedracerwiicon.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a> <b>Speed Racer</b> Review by <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=lagman' target=_blank title='View profile for member lagman'}>lagman</a></div>
<div><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/speedracerwii.png" align="left" hspace="9" vspace="2" /><font color="#000000"> <b><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Arial Black--><span style="font-family:Arial Black"><!--/fonto-->B<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--></b><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->ased on the movie ....blah blah blah... really colorful...blah blah blah
You have 3 basic modes: Single Race, Time Attack and Championship all the modes are pretty self explanatory. I'm almost sure there's a story for the championship mode but being a race game I wont bother talking about the history.
Despite the fact that a PS2 version is going to be released soon is clear that this game was created with the Wii in mind, the controls are always responsive -once you've learned what you're supposed to do- and the tracks were build with around the wiimote-only control scheme -which might be the reason why it is the only control option you have- you wont be hitting the walls by accident in this game.
After you're done with a race you can watch the replay, but you can't change the camera angle so you're genuinely re-watching the exact same thing minus the cool captions and graphic effects, terribly done Sidhe Interactive, also, pressing any button -except for the "-" button- will result in the menu popping up and as consequence the replay will simply go back to the beginning of the race. Another major design flaw show up when you realize that there's no way to look behind you, inexcusable for a game where a rival can crash you from behind and send you to Racers Heaven. Oh yeah, it also has some of the longest loading times I've seen on the Wii.
By driving well -not hitting the barriers- you'll gain boost, if you save it you can get 4 boost levels and -after pressing the B button 4 times-activate the "Zone" mode which will give set you in a minimalistic Rainbow Road kind of track -it's actually the same track but it looks like RR- and even in this mode the sense of speed is never as good as it is in F-Zero GX which is odd because when using the Zone mode you'll often find yourself not controlling your car at all but just seeing it moving trough the track by itself.
There is one thing however that I think this game does better than the last F-Zero game; the battle system,the "Car-Fu", it's really fun to ram against your opponents while going at 300km/h~ or land on top of their vehicles and if you're feeling nostalgic you can always do a 360 spin attack, Car-Fu is easy to learn, easy to use in a race and really, really fun to practice. Sadly, the game doesn't explode this as much as it could, having a "Road Rage" mode ala Burnout was a no-brainer and they didn't add it, same thing for simpler things like..I don't know a decent variety of tracks, after the your first hour with this game you'll feel that you've already done everything you could and that might actually be true, this game is short, way too short and with no online mode present it's really hard to think of a way to expand its life span.
The game is good, there's no doubt about it,but, as a free/low priced marketing product it would have been excellent, then again, they want you to pay full price for it and it's not worth it. You'll play this game, you'll like it then you'll get bored and you'll go back to Mario Kart Wii.
Check out video gameplay of Speed Racer for Wii <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypX9P2R4v7E" target="_blank">here</a>.
</font></div>
<b>Final score: <!--sizeo:2--><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->7.0<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></b>
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c85.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%"><a name="b3">Homebrew Review of the Week</a></b></span></p>
<div align="center"><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86125" target="_blank"><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/ElectroIcon.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a> <b>Electro</b> Review by <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=JPH' target=_blank title='View profile for member JPH'}>JPH</a></div>
<div><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/jph11200/ElectroScreenshotClassic.png" align="right" hspace="9" vspace="9" /><font color="#000000"> <div><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/ElectroScreenshot.png" align="right" hspace="9" vspace="9" /><font color="#000000"><b><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Arial Black--><span style="font-family:Arial Black"><!--/fonto-->E<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--></b><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->lectro is a puzzle game for the DS, developed by GBAtemp member <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=chris28' target=_blank title='View profile for member chris28'}>chris28</a>.
The game is a port of an old PC game, EletroChok. The objective of this game is to clear out blocks.
The game's menu is nice and simple.
The first thing will take you to a credit screen, then on to the main menu.
This Homebrew game is entirely stylus-based, no buttons are used.
From there, you'll have the choice of choosing "Classic" or "Puzzle."
Using the stylus, choose one of those and another screen will pop up, with a few options.
On the top screen, you'll see the instructions for the game, which is helpful. On the bottom screen,
you'll see three different options: Level (Easy, Normal, Hard), Time (5 min., 15 min., or Endless),
and Music (No Music, Back WTC, and Scarlatti).
Choose the options you like, and press start to begin!
I'll be covering both the game play of the 'Classic' mode and the 'Puzzle' mode.
In Classic mode, you'll need to make a horizontal column of the same color to clear blocks out.
Blocks will start falling, and you'll need to slide them around to position them where you want them to land.
You'll need to try and score as many points as possible within the time limit, and you lose if the columns of blocks touch the top of the touch screen.
In Puzzle mode, you'll need to do the same thing as you did in Classic mode - make horizontal columns of the same color to clear blocks out. The touch screen will start filling up with more in more columns of blocks. Using the stylus, position the blocks to make horizontal columns of same-colored blocks to clear them out. If you're too slow, all the columns will reach the top of the touch screen and it's game over for you.
The block sprites are the same block sprites used in a game called Planet Puzzle League for the DS.
However, there are two unique blocks in this game.
Rainbow-colored blocks counts as any color. Blocks with an exclamation point (!) don't fall and don't count for any points.
Whenever you get the 'Game Over' screen, it will tell you the score you made and you'll enter your name on the scoreboard. It's a nice feature, if you like to compete with your friends.
The music in this game is fitting, I'd say. In the options menu, you can set to listen to 'Back WTC' or 'Scarlatti' or no music at all. Both of them are fast-paced music, and played on the piano.
Overall, this is a nice game for puzzle fans. The gameplay is easy to catch on to and entertaining. The music fits in along nicely, and the graphics don't look bad at all.
There's a lot of puzzle Homebrew for the DS, and this is definitely one of the best.
Puzzle fans - put it on your flashcart!</font></div>
<div class="reviewbreak"><a name="d"><img src="http://sinkhead.gbatemp.net/misc/classic_remote.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Virtual Console News This Week</div>
<p><b><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c103.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Digital Champ: Battle Boxing (TurboGrafx-16) -Europe-</b></p>
<a href="http://jph.gbatemp.net/dchamp.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/dchampsmall.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>
A game much like Punch-Out.
You take a first person view, and box it out with an opponent.
It's now available for purchase at the price of 700 Wii Points.
<p><b><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c103.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Grey Lancer (TurboGrafx-16) -Europe-</b></p>
<a href="http://jph.gbatemp.net/gleylancer.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/gleylancersmall.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>
A side scrolling shoot 'em up game.
It was originally released in Japan on the TurboGrafx-16, developed by NCS.
It's now available for purchase at the price of 900 Wii Points
<p><b><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c103.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Star Parodier (TurboGrafx-16) -Europe-</b></p>
<a href="http://jph.gbatemp.net/starparodier.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/starporodiersmall.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>
A "Cute 'em up" shooter that was only released in Japan. Features three different playable characters, animated cut-scenes, and CD music.
It's now available for purchase at the price of 900 Wii Points</font></div>
<div class="reviewbreak"><a name="e"><img src="http://gbatemp.net/images/icons/index/essentialgames.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Interesting Gaming News This Week</div>
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c167.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86411" target="_blank">Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Confirmed</a></b></p>
A new Castlevania game has been announced for the Nintendo DS.
More information to be confirmed; check out the link above for screenshots.
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c167.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86524" target="_blank">Pokemon Platinum Confirmed</a></b></p>
A new Pokemon game has been announced for the Nintendo DS.
Pokemon Platinum is basically the same as Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, except the fact there will be a one new Pokemon included in this new Pokemon game.
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c167.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86413" target="_blank">Infantile for the Nintendo DS</a></b></p>
A new Sci-Fi RPG for the Nintendo DS. The game involves spacecraft battling in space, requiring strategy to win. Check out the topic for more information and images of the game.
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c167.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><a href="http://kotaku.com/5009229/wii-dominates-april-ps3--xbox-360-in-dead-heat-on-gta-iv-sales" target="_blank">NPD for April</a></b></p>
According to <a href="http://kotaku.com" target="_blank">Kotaku</a>, Wii led in the Console Wars last month.
Grand Theft Auto IV led game sales last month, with over 1,850,000 sales!
<div class="reviewbreak"><a name="f"><img src="http://gbatemp.net/images/icons/index/forum.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Community</div>
<P><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/jph11200/Topic-1.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b>Topic of the Week</b> goes to <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=Costello' target=_blank title='View profile for member Costello'}>Costello</a> and his <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86556" target="_blank">GBAtemp Quiz #2 Now open! topic</a></p>
Get a chance to win a free Acekard 2 by taking our quiz!
50 prizes are at stake... will this be your lucky day?
<P><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/jph11200/Reply.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Post of the Week</b></span> goes to <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=ScuberSteve' target=_blank title='View profile for member ScuberSteve'}>ScuberSteve</a> in the <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?s=&showtopic=86436&view=findpost&p=1146237" target="_blank">PS3 or Xbox 360? thread</a></p>
A lovely poem from our friend Scubersteve.
Yet a little bit too aggressive for our taste!
<!--QuoteBegin-ScuberSteve+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScuberSteve)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
The PS3 sucks,
and so do you.
Ontopic:
Being the piratey pirate that I am, I'd go with the 360 since I can do some piracy with it.
Not being able to use PS3 for (PS3 video game) piracy kinda sucks.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<p><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c24.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b>Poll of the Week</b> goes to <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showuser=47214" target="_blank">lookout</a> and his <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86496" target="_blank">GBAtemp Staff Members 2008 poll</a></p>
Vote for your favorite staff member of 2008!
<P><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c171.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Blog Entry of the Week</b></span> goes to <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86133" target="_blank">AceGuman's Blog Entry - Gym Ad Nauseam</a></p>
A fascinating story written by our friend Ace the Gunman.
Yes, it actually happened! (... in his dreams.)
<P><img src="http://gbatemp.net/style_emoticons/default/tpi.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b>Testing Area Topic of the Week</b> goes to the <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86500" target="_blank">im blue topic</a></p>
Da bu dee duh bu die
<P><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c23.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Avatar of the Week</b></span> goes to <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=lookout' target=_blank title='View profile for member lookout'}>lookout</a></p>
<img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/lookoutavatar.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
How cute!
<P><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c3.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">KYT Sessions This Week</b></p></span><ul><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=ScuberSteve' target=_blank title='View profile for member ScuberSteve'}>ScuberSteve</a> - <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86087" target="_blank">Session</a></li><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=Sinkhead' target=_blank title='View profile for member Sinkhead'}>Sinkhead</a> - <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86326" target="_blank">Session</a></li><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=offtopic84' target=_blank title='View profile for member offtopic84'}>offtopic84</a> - <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86797" target="_blank">Session</a></li></ul>
<P><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c7.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Birthdays This Week</b></span></p><ul><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=JPH' target=_blank title='View profile for member JPH'}>JPH</a> (15)</li><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=DaRk_ViVi' target=_blank title='View profile for member DaRk_ViVi'}>DaRk_ViVi</a> (21)</li><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=MagNetCZ' target=_blank title='View profile for member MagNetCZ'}>MagNetCZ</a> (17)</li><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=m|kk|' target=_blank title='View profile for member m|kk|'}>m|kk|</a> (30)</li><li><a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=jaxxster' target=_blank title='View profile for member jaxxster'}>jaxxster</a> (21)</li></ul>
<P><img src="http://jph.gbatemp.net/search.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Temper Tips</b></span></P>
New to the site? Have a hard time figuring out where to find something you need?
Use the <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?dynamic=48" target="_blank">Site Index</a> !
The Site Index will help you navigate around the site, and show you all of the many features GBAtemp has to offer. You can access the Site Index by clicking the link, which is located under the toolbar next to the <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?act=boardrules" target="_blank">Forum Rules</a>.
<P><img src="http://gbatemp.net/html/lp/c156.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" /> <b>Next Week's DS and Wii Release List Topic by Hadrian</b></P>
See what DS & Wii games are coming out next week <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=86669" target="_blank">here</a>.
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<h4><div align="center"><b>This Week's Temper Post Issue Was Made Possible By:</div></b></h4>
<div align="center">- <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=JPH' target=_blank title='View profile for member JPH'}>JPH</a> - <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=Hadrian' target=_blank title='View profile for member Hadrian'}>Hadrian</a> - <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=Costello' target=_blank title='View profile for member Costello'}>Costello</a> - <a href='http://gbatemp.net/member.php?name=lagman' target=_blank title='View profile for member lagman'}>lagman</a> -</div>
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