La-Mulana- Wiiware, Steam

[evil_ash_xero]

I am baffled at how anyone thinks these new graphics are ugly. I HATE MSX graphics. Yeah, I said it.
I mean, these are still charming sprite graphics, with more detail. They're not all messed up looking HD smear sprites either.

But whatever.

But yes, there are TWO..count them...two versions of La-Mulana. The freeware that has been available for years. And the new Wii remake. The Wii remake version is going to be released on PC too. Because the old version is already on PC.

You guys need more rest, or some coffee or something.

[Ed Oscuro]

Well, I had a look at this. Individually, the graphics look nice, but look at that mess of a screen - better than Moraff's Escapade, in terms of cohesiveness, but still a mess. The original MSX graphics you hate (shame on you!) work together, so the screen doesn't look cluttered or messy. That is all I have to say.

[evil_ash_xero]

Well, I respectfully disagree. I don't mean to be to harsh on older systems...as their graphical styles always have their fanbases.

You know, I wonder...it says there that all the graphics are in high res, but had to be scaled down, for the Wii...I wonder if that means it will be in high res on PC?

Also, I'd like to point out...I like Cave Story...but really think it's over rated. This lives up the hype, much more. But it's cruel, and that will probably keep it from being as popular. And Cave Story has all those likable(and cute) characters too.

[Ghegs]

La-Mulana isn't coming to Wiiware in either US or Europe.

That's a bummer. Was really looking forward to it. Hopefully they'll get the new PC version out, at least.

[Ed Oscuro]

Sure they will, 'cuz they won't have to submit to anybody's QA process

[JBC]

Figures

[Moniker]

Fuck you, Nicalis, even if this isn't strictly your fault, I'll act as though it is. Nicalis: fucking up indie game excellence with raw incompetence since 2008.

[guyot]

Fuck you, Nicalis, even if this isn't strictly your fault, I'll act as though it is. Nicalis: fucking up indie game excellence with raw incompetence since 2008.

Well their boss used to work for IGN so I guess it's kind of par for the course.

The worst thing is that he tweeted it to all and sundry before he even informed the developer.

[Drum]

Fuck you, Nicalis, even if this isn't strictly your fault, I'll act as though it is. Nicalis: fucking up indie game excellence with raw incompetence since 2008.

Well their boss used to work for IGN so I guess it's kind of par for the course.

The worst thing is that he tweeted it to all and sundry before he even informed the developer.

That in combination with the fact that it's been out in Japan for ages tells me Nicalis shoulders a massive chunk of responsibility.

Nintendo deserves a lot of shit too - they've left the Wii, and especially Wiiware, to rot and that in combination with the long dev cycle made it highly impractical to release on the 'service'.
I hope somebody better than Nicalis picks it up and puts it on 3DSware (which has a different policy) or some other place. I'm pretty certain it will come to PC.

[Op Intensify]

Some other developers have complained that the approval process for WiiWare games can take over 9 months.

Everything will be okay if this makes it onto Steam, though. WiiWare is, in short, a terrible platform for releasing or owning anything. Your games aren't tied to an account, and there's no way of redownloading them if anything happens to your Wii before you're able to set up a transfer.

Nicalis has already canceled a WiiWare game before. Night Sky was canceled for the Wii, but it made it onto Steam. This should be no different.

[Zeether]

NIGORO will be behind the Steam version (if it happens) so at least I'm not supporting Nicalis' shitty company if I buy it.

[evil_ash_xero]

It's a real bitch, this isn't going to be on WiiWare. I have been playing the JP version(which is impossible, without watching a walkthrough), and I would really like the option to play it on a CRT.

Well, the way the graphics are(they're kind of smoothed out sprites), I"m sure it will look nice on PC. Maybe it'll look even nicer. At the end of the day, it's the only way they're really going to make any money off all their hard work, since the Wii is dead.

And yeah, I'll be happy not to be giving Nicalis any of my money either.

[evil_ash_xero]

Release date for the English PC version is July 13th. Available thru....Playism...whoever the hell that is. They're really messing up, not putting this on Steam.

Anyway, get it. It's really good.

http://la-mulana.com/en/blog/the-histor ... ulana.html

[ZellSF]

If what I've read is right, that Playism is supposed to be a DRM free service, then PLEASE don't wait for and buy a Steam release.

[Op Intensify]

One huge advantage of having this on PC instead of WiiWare.

No issues with redownloading if your system bricks. God, that was an awful decision of Nintendo's to make Wii Shop purchases tied to your console instead of an account. Also, use whatever controllers you want.

I think this game has the kind of clean, crisp graphics that look better on an LCD. Just my assessment.

[Ed Oscuro]

Looks better than I thought, from their latest video (History of La-Mulana). I still think the style of tiling generally works better with lower-rez tiles (lots of tiny high rez tiles = uggh) but not bad, like some games (i.e. the previews of Jetpack 2, or the classic version was Moraff's Escapade).

[EmperorIng]

I was excited about a Wii release, meaning I could actually play something on my Wii for the first time in forever.

However, those JPN Wii vids kind of turned me off.

Say what you will about old graphics, but I cannot stand that flash-tweening overly, unnaturally smooth cheapo movement that is shown in the updated version.

It looks amateurish, especially when the sprite of the main character and other sprites retain their frame-by-frame movement. It's clunky and doesn't fit. At least everything in the original (which I like a lot, aesthetically) is consistent.

Oh well, at least the original is free!

[evil_ash_xero]

This is DRM free. Any of you guys tried this out, or has it fallen of your radar?

I highly recommend it to anyone who likes the old school. The bosses are a bit maddening though.

[Drum]

I just played the start, but I like it so far. Controls are much smoother.

[evil_ash_xero]

It's a very long and substantial game. The only issue I have is with the bosses. They make me cry. Like I said before, some of them are worse than Dark Souls bosses. At least with them, there's always a weak point to exploit. Not(most) of these bastards.

[evil_ash_xero]

Here's a review from Destructoid, for those on the fence.

http://www.destructoid.com/review-la-mu ... 2174.phtml

[Op Intensify]

Wow.

This is beyond a doubt the hardest game I've ever played.

Clearly Mr. Tony Ponce started gaming less than ten years ago.

I wanna know how much this remake offers over the freeware original beyond the rather out of place new graphics. The review isn't helpful with that. I've heard they made the jump physics easier to handle, which would be disheartening.

[Klatrymadon]

The treasures are much easier to find, enemies generally pose less of a problem, and there are quite a few save points dotted around. It's a much more accessible version of the game, generally speaking. The jumping's definitely different, aye.

[Op Intensify]

I'm going to pass, then. I'm not interested in a watered-down version for the masses. Though I guess it will help for recommending the game to people with more casual tastes.

Man, if that Destructoid reviewer says it's the hardest game he's ever played, I wonder what he would think of the original version.

I assume all the MSX references are removed?

[Ruldra]

This is a question regarding the original version:

I remember there are 2 cartridges that reveal the map of the floor you're in. If you combine both of them, do they reveal hidden rooms on the map?

I ask this because I only found one of those cartridges and I had to spend far too much time whacking every single wall in the game to find hidden rooms. If combining both cartridges reveal those hidden rooms on the map, then I may come back to the game one day. Otherwise, I'll never touch it again.

La Mulana is a fantastic game but the puzzles are far too obscuring to the point of being frustrating. I spent a lot of time just wandering around trying to figure out what to do next (despite this, I still managed to take down 5 of the Guardians).

[Op Intensify]

If combining both cartridges reveal those hidden rooms on the map, then I may come back to the game one day. Otherwise, I'll never touch it again.

Read a FAQ. Also, the game is meant to be frustrating. That's why they dumbed it down when it came time to actually start making money off of it.

And if you think La Mulana is bad with the obscure secrets, never play Sierra adventure games or Milon's Secret Castle.

[Klatrymadon]

Don't get me wrong - it hasn't been turned into a brainless, purely action-oriented game, and it's by no means a cakewalk. You just won't spend quite so much time scratching your head and wondering what to do, since most of the objects and obstacles in the levels are more clearly represented, etc.

You actually have less HP to work with, too, and it retains your low HP when you reload your game.

[Ghegs]

Wait, it's coming to Wiiware in USA and Europe after all. I already bought the PC version when the Wiiware release was cancelled and I imagine so did many others. I'm surprised if they'll sell enough to make a profit. Still, better late than never, I guess.

[Op Intensify]

and it retains your low HP when you reload your game.

Wouldn't this be negated by the addition of a health-restoring hot spring in the starting area?

And yeah, as for the Wiiware version, that ship has sailed. Publishing that in the West now is a bad idea that's going to inevitably result in a loss.

[Vexorg]

If combining both cartridges reveal those hidden rooms on the map, then I may come back to the game one day. Otherwise, I'll never touch it again.

Read a FAQ. Also, the game is meant to be frustrating. That's why they dumbed it down when it came time to actually start making money off of it.

And if you think La Mulana is bad with the obscure secrets, never play Sierra adventure games or Milon's Secret Castle.

At least Sierra games have the decency to repeatedly kill you off in amusing ways while you're stumbling around.