I really loved the first Phoenix Wright game, and Phoenix has always been a pretty likable guy. Did you happen to play the Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton crossover, Karifean?
08.gifRise from your grave, thread! I, too, have more characters to share!
The Snakeoids (Zombies Ate My Neighbors)
To my continual amazement, Zombies Ate My Neighbors is actually a pretty hit or miss game, and I know as many people that adore it as utterly loathe it. Personally, it is one of my favorite multiplayer games on the SNES, with challenging stages, awesome music, an amusing arsenal and stage titles, a unique premise, and a rare example of combined co-op and head-to-head gameplay. It also houses one of my secret gaming pleasures: the Snakeoid.
Before I get into that though, if you are unfamiliar with the game, its entire enemy roster is inspired by famous film monsters, from attacking alien invaders to Creatures from the Black Lagoon, giant ants to Blob monsters, werewolves to killer dolls with hatchets. It's a dream come true for the classic horror movie fan in every household -- and everyone else that happens to come along. Best of all, while the simple 'save everyone' premise can get kind of old after a while, seeing new, recognizable monsters every couple of stages never really does, adding a bit of new challenge as the players progress through the game while keeping things interesting. The Snakeoids on level 20 were such an addition, and when I first encountered them it was love at first sight.
And by that, or course, I mean they killed the trout out of me and I was terrified of the things for the longest time afterwards.
Inspired partially by the Graboids from the Tremors film series, as well as every other burrowing terror in the history of ever, these happy creatures COMPLETELY belie their size when you first see them, appearing as little more than a moving mound more indicative of your garden variety moleman than anything else. Then they burst forth from the ground in all their tongue-wagging glory and eat your health bar. Suddenly my trusty weed whacker seemed less formidable than I initally imagined. (I'm not the only one that uses that thing, am I?)
That surprising nature of theirs is actually why they are one of my great gaming pleasures, as I NEVER warn people about these things their first time through the game. That first reaction when the Snakeoids attack them is always priceless. Even better, though, these things soak up TONS of fire (or one monster potion, you cheater, you), so on top of the, 'What the hell is that?!' reaction these things elicit, there's that bit of panic that sets in when they just won't die either.
Then their friends show up.
It's really the highlight of the game for me, and far and away the single thing I most look forward to in the multiplayer experience. They are also the element I most look forward to in single player as well, as I really like fighting them. As great as the game is overall, every other boss in the title is completely 'meh', either being completely boring to fight or, in the case of the UFO, being a thing most people don't even knowis an ENEMY. Only the Snakoids are worth looking forward to. Great job, LucasArts, 5 points. ._.
And, since I've spoiled all the fun already and won't be playing with any of you anyway . . . (SPOILER)
I love that they don't even get boss music. XD
Dr. Karbunkle (Biker Mice from Mars)
I don't even remember this show. Or, rather, I remember it existing, and I know I watched it, along with Street Sharks and Cowboys of Moo Mesa, but I don't remember it being anything but an inferior Ninja Turtles and nothing about it stuck with me. I mean, except that, also like Turtles, Konami got ahold of the license.
Interestingly enough, instead of making an inferior Turtles product in the vein of the source material, Konami decided to make a racing game -- one I consider to be among the best the SNES has to offer. The isometric perspective puts off a lot of people, and the game might as well only have two characters, but the game is great mechanically and everyone has a unique feel to them.
For his part, Karbunkle, not being Moto or Vinnie, isn't one of the best characters in the game, but he's the character I always take. Riding a mechanical bug, he lacks the ability to wheelie, so rough terrain tears him up, and he put the rocket booster on the BOTTOM of his bug bot instead of behind it, so he's fairly slow, but, as one would expect from a mad scientist, he's got tricks up his sleeve.
First of all, his sharp turn fires a grappling hook into a wall, auto-piloting the turn for the player as long as the button is held -- this is important because properly executed sharp turns maintain the players speed, and it's fairly easy to get that perfect 90 degree turn every time with the good Doctor without losing any momentum.
Secondly, for all characters, Dr. K included, rapidly tapping the acceleration button provides a brief speed boost. With other characters you only want to do this at certain times, as tapping the button means you aren't holding it and slows you down overall. However, Karbunkle doesn't loose speed when grappling a wall, allowing a player to mash like mad during the turn and surge forward with bonus speed. This effectively makes almost every turn in a stage a free boost pad for him.
Thirdly, Karbunkle seems to get more air time than all other racers who aren't named Vinnie, making every jump with ease and clearing CRAZY distances at times. Due to the mechanics of the game allowing you to grapple walls in mid flight, it is possible for Karbunkle to turn corners while in the air as well, allowing him to avoid enemy attacks and maintain maximum speed for longer than (most) others characters can.
Finally, whenever you hit an enemy with his primary weapon he yells 'MARVELOUS!' and turns them into a little three eyed mutant (which I have affectionately dubbed, "The Sausage") for a few seconds, which is FAR more satisfying than it has any right to be. You can also drop his weapon as a little landmine as I recall, though it's less useful than directly firing at people since wheelies ignore the mines. It's all worth it when you sausage someone across the stage and hear him yell, "MARVELOUS", while flying through the air, though.
In the end, it's the way that properly using his mechanics rewards the player that makes me really love this character and his bug car, especially when playing against another person that knows how to play the game. You have all the tools that will let you overcome any other racer (who isn't named Vinnie), but you have to properly use them, and it just feels awesome learning to weave all of your little advantages in a stage into a big one and crossing that finish line before them.
Of course, all the impressive videos are of Vinnie players, but here's one I found of someone playing Karbunkle. He's in battlemode, so he's more interested in axing other racers than finishing, but it's still a good example of the character in action.
Did you happen to play the Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton crossover, Karifean?
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