The **** is your avatar. Get that **** outta here!

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/...ml#post3831094

Curious on your perspective.

I'm going to disagree with you there. Heavily. There is nothing wrong with eating say 500 calories above maintenance. I believe that the health risks only come into play when you start to eat too much. As for overuse injuries, those are only issues if you don't do an exercise through its full range of motion. If you do all you workouts correctly, you probably should be more worried about hurting your knees from running.

That's an interesting point of view. I bulk up during the fall and winter (or whenever it starts to become too cold outside for running to be comfortable). I'm on a 6 day split right now, and I do hardcore jump rope on my free day. (It helps me be able to eat enough food to get all my protein for the day.) Then during the spring and summer I start to cut. I.E. eat less than maintenance, and run to cut fat, but still lift and eat protein to burn fat. So you can be more than ready for beach/pool season hahaha.

What do you mean by "wasn't desirable or healthy long term"? Nothing wrong with getting big, and it's certainly not unhealthy lol.

random curiosity from bro to bro: i recall you mentioning you running during the spring/summer. how has winter affected your daily runs?

Same thing here. I remember the week before last E3, I was almost losing sleep anticipating the reveal for the next Zelda game. It was the moment we've all been waiting years for. Yet, after the initial reveal, I felt, quite honestly...nothing, I guess is the best way to describe it. I knew something was up when I was more excited about a Kirby game than Zelda. I tried convincing myself that I was being too critical of how it turned out, or maybe that I was expecting way too much out of it, but then I just faced the truth: The game's completely unimpressive. When past console Zelda's were coming out, the game preoccupied my mind to the point of being obsess. I hardly even think about SS outside of several threads on this site.

You're certainly right that many people don't quite realize what it is that's bringing the series down. I myself didn't realize it till recently, when I started thinking about what I liked least about the past several Zeldas, and they always ended up being the little "quirks" added to the games. And it saddens me that I receive comments like, "Go play another series if you don't like Zelda anymore" when I express my dissatisfaction. Heck, I probably will end up ditching Zelda eventually if things keep up this way, but it pains me that so many people just blindly follow the series while not giving those who are critical of the series the time of day.

Its the people who want the series to change the path its headed down before it crashes and burns, who are the true fans, in my eyes.

I don't want to get off-topic in the graphics thread, but I just want to say that I 100% agree that these new artstyles and clever "gimmicks" in Zelda games have to go. SS has only shown that Nintendo still doesn't "get it". I know fully fleshed out motion controls are a big change, but the more Nintendo focuses on them in regard to the game, the more I lose faith. The eyeball puzzle in the demo disgusts me. The motion controls should be used only to perfect the combat in my eyes, not for adding all these little "cute" scenarios to try and impress us. Nintendo acts like the new controls are the main element of the game, and all I want to see is what locations/dungeons/bosses we'll be encountering, not how we'll be using items.

I know I'm making assumptions about the game here, but my feelings are completely justified if the DS games are anything to go by. The blowing gimmick for playing the Spirit Pipes in ST (don't know if you've played it) pretty much destroyed the game for me. I don't ever consider replaying it because of that, and I actually quite liked the game overall. The gimmicks of the series just fustrate me to no end, and I'm glad someone else feels the same way.

Hell yeah, Meteos.

Dunno if its a "top ten of the decade" game, but it does deserve recognition.

I love reading your posts. Do you have a blog? I was reading some older threads you made, some went back to the time you used to post as ron_mexico. Reading your stuff (like this -> http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/2832083-post1.html) was actually pretty entertaining. You are a great writer, haha'. I was just wondering if you have a blog, I'd read yours.

Also, this particular post (http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/2627374-post1.html) actually somehow helped me through a relatively tough time. If you don't have a blog, then just take this as a thank you for the fun reads!

<3

That's what Aonuma and Miyamoto said, but since we haven't heard anything about the release date since E3, it could be changed. What annoys me is how Miyamoto said at E3 that the game would have already been completed if they just reused the TP graphics engine. Coming up with the "art" style in SS is what set them back.

I'm pretty sure an eagle will play a role in this game. The logo has the classic Hylian bird crest on it. Since this is a prequel to Ocarina, I bet this game will explain the meaning of that bird crest. And by the way Link jumped off of the cliff in the trailer, I'm sure he'll have something that will bring him down safetly.

I gotta say, I'm really pleased with the way OoT 3DS looks. It's simple, but effective. It doesn't try to be artsy, but it does create a fairytale/fantasy feel. The models for the Zelda characters in Melee were also really nice. I think these OoT-inspired graphics appeal to the most people and they don't need explaination.

I still don't want to write of Skyward Sword just yet. I can't help but feel that Nintendo purposely showed off the least impressive area in the game to avoid Twilight Princess levels of hype. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but it's clear that there is still a lot left to be seen in SS. I can forgive the graphics, it's the gameplay I'm worried about. I'm expecting another Zelda DS-esque game where the adventures are purposely dumbed-down just so it can be marketed as a casual game.

I do like the inspiration SS is taking from the 2D games. The demo was a field, yet it wasn't anything like Hyrule Field in OoT or TP. It was more "maze-like" like LoZ, ALttp and LA, which I'm all for. The overworlds need more activity, especially after being absent in the last two Zeldas.

Combat looks fun, but it will be a lost cause if the enemies are as weak and stupid as shown in the demo. It is nice to see each attack take away full hearts, though, but what's it matter if you always have access to 4 red potions and infinate hearts flying out of every bush? Again, it's a demo, and to what seems to be an early area of the game.

It shouldn't be long before Nintendo starts marketing Skyward Sword. They're shooting for an early 2011 release. If that's still the plan, I'd expect a new trailer by late January/early Febuary followed by every bit of information hidden within the game.

Oh well. It will make a great Christmas present. You'll get a kick out of the speedrun challenges. I can't even get a gold medal in the first level!

Corruption's beginning was easily the worst of the 3. I felt like I was playing Halo or some other generic shooter. It wasn't 'til Byrro where things started to pick up, but even at its highest points, it was the worst of the series.

With Zelda, it's annoying how easily Nintendo can convince fans that their artstyle improves the game. With WW, their excuse was showing facial expressions (and people even used this as a jab against OoT--"Link shows no facial expressions!! Worst game ever!!"). Twilight Princess proved that this was BS. With the ****ty ass DS games, Aonuma was talking about how the cellshaded graphics fit the DS perfectly. Fans agreed even though PH and SS are two of the ugliest games I've ever seen.

Now with Shyward Sword, they said they are using this art style so they can exaggerate enemy weakpoints. Yeah... ok. Of course, it does this using its "impressionistic" look. People who know nothing about art blindly admire it for this even though anyone with a brain can see that SS looks nothing like Impressionism. It's TP with a crappy filter ontop of it. It's so lazy and it looks awful. Easily the worst-looking console Zelda, and the worst-looking first-party Nintendo game for Wii.

And is it just me, or are the subtitles for Zelda games getting stupider? The Wind Waker, The Minish Cap, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks (yuck), and Skyward Sword. I'd almost perfer the Zelda games to just be numbered at this point.

And I wouldn't call Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask generic looking. I love those art styles. They had a great balance between realistic-looking characters and goofy looking characters. The difference is that Nintendo didn't try to convince everyone that those artstyles were great for the games because everyone already got it. They didn't need it told to them like they did with Wind Waker or Skyward Sword. You know, because we're too stupid to understand what good art is. Thank God Nintendo is here to clear that up for us. That's why we need to defend each games' artstyle because those who don't like it just don't understand Nintendo's reasoning behind it. Silly noobs!

But seriously, I wouldn't mind seeing something more generic-looking like the art used in the LA official player's guide (like this and this). Something more "realistic" with no anime influence used to be considered generic, but it would stand out now.

Bill, you're going to love DKCR. I can't stop playing it, even though it's pissing me off so much! By far the most challenging Donkey Kong Country game, but it's so much fun. Just like playing Galaxy for the first time, I can't help but marvel at the creativity in Returns, but I feel that DKCR flows so much better. There hasn't been a platformer this good since the SNES days. I rank this with Yoshi's Island and DKC2 (my two other favorite platformers).

Corruption wasn't that bad. It was the weakest of the trilogy, but still fantastically designed. I didn't like all the artificial breaks in gameplay though (like all those mini cutscenes of Samus in her ship or in an elevator or whatever). They got annoying and really slowed down the pace of the game which, for the most part, was trying to be faster than the previous 2 Primes.

Retro really needs to do a 2D Metroid. When you play DKCR, you'll understand how they are the ONLY people who could create a Metroid game that could be equal to or even surpass Super Metroid. After that, and yes I'm being greedy, I want Retro to do a 2D Zelda in the same spirit of A Link to the Past. It's the most "flawless" Zelda game, and it has the best replay value (in my opinion). Using the basic formula of ALttP (or even LoZ) as a foundation would give Retro a lot of room to incorperate their creativity and make a Zelda title that would surpass anything Nintendo can do now.

Other M is the type of Metroid game an anime nerd with no passion for gaming would make.

Metroid needs to go back to the basics, and pretty much recreate Samus's image. Scrap the Zero Suit, too. I really can't think of anyone else who could do the Metroid name justice other than Retro Studios, but would giving them Metroid now be a good idea? With the Prime games, you could really tell that they were tired of the Metroid IP by Corruption. Of course, this game would play entirely different...

By the way, I was wrong. DKCR is every bit at atmospheric as previous titles. The level art is just outstanding. I've died several times because I was admiring the art, but most of the deaths... have been because the game is so ****ING HARD! It's not AoL hard, but it's a step up from any other DK game.

And no, Zelda will never be as terrible as Other M. I'm surprised how much support that game is getting from Metroid Database. They are even calling it the Metroid game "they'be been waiting for" or "the ultimate Metroid" if I recall their reviews correctly. I almost don't ever want to visit their site again because of it.

An original franchise is what Wii needs. All their major titles have been sequels, but I think of Retro as the Nintendo clean-up crew at this point. They take franchises that died or went a way for a while, and breathe new life into them.

I don't think Sakamoto will give up Metroid since he's in denial. The same thing with Zelda. I'd actually like Retro to make a "Zelda-killer" original franchise. I don't think the Zelda franchise will ever reach the quality of the big 4 (ALttP-MM) again, but I have faith that Retro can create an original series based on exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving beyond anything the Zelda franchise offers.

I'm far more excited to see whatever Retro's next project is than Skyward Sword.

Have you ever watched the Donkey Kong Country cartoon show? It was from the late 90s... I used to love it. The show was a musical in a way. Strange.

Anyway, yeah, you can tell that Retro just had fun making this game. Like Mario, DK is a character that you can pretty much do anything with. I can't believe it took this long to get another DK game, but it's worth it. I wanna see a sequel, but I mostly want to see Retro take on Metroid again (2D this time) as well as Zelda.

Retro shows that they have the corky Nintendo humor and charm with Returns, so I'm more confident that they could handle Zelda. They understand what makes games fun, challenging, and rewarding.

I agree. Rare's games were a bit more realistic, which is still pretty unique for a platformer. Overall, I like the old look better, but the more cartoony look of Returns fits the DK universe a lot better, I think.

I actually really like the way the characters act in cutscenes. Don't worry, there are few cutscenes (like the intro to the game, and before and after a boss--all are short and skippable), but the ones they have are very effective at giving the game some added charm. Like, remember how DK and Diddy play fought in the credits of the first game? It's that kind of silly stuff.

The environments feels so alive in this game! You'll just have to play it.

It has a lot to do with the soundtrack. The music is largely forgettable or just remixes of tunes from DKC1. It's atmospheric, but just not at the same level as DKC 2's Web Woods. Then again, I'm only on the 3rd world.