When SSX Blur was first announced for the Wii, I had my doubts. I questioned whether or not complicated game controls would ruin the experience and turn off some gamers. IGN disagreed -- in their 8.5 review, they praise the control scheme, saying it's "the first step in the right direction for SSXon the Wii." 1up, on the other hand, couldn't get it. Reviewer Andrew Pfister (best name ever) found the controls unresponsive and spotty.
In response, YouTube user Truedoogie posted the above video of himself pulling off all of the game's ubertricks with ease. Good for him. So which is it? While there's always room for disagreement, "traditional" controllers do tend to offer a uniform experience across different users. The Wii controller, on the other hand, seems to be a different story. There does tend to be more room for error when it comes to flicking and moving the Wii controllers.
It seems that Nintendo's new control scheme is not as "pick up and play" as they hoped it would be. Some people "get it" and others don't. Has anyone else had these kinds of disparate experiences with others while playing any particular Wii games?
i really do enjoy the wii, and love twilight princess, but there have been several sections of the game that took longer than necessary (prob b/c i'm still gettin used to the wii remote), and i found myself wishin i had another controller. overall, its just different, and that difference adds to the challenge, which keeps things fresh.
we're all too used to ssx and we have expectations on what we can and can't do. i think game's we've played on traiditional platforms will always have to live in the shadows of their predecessors. the new IP's will garnish more praise b/c people had never played them in any other manner.
The only bad experience I had was with Metal Slug Anthology, but that's because I'm too attached to the old-school joystick. I recognize that for what it's worth it's a good collection, but I think I'll just wait for the PS2 version.
Someone please tell me if this is true or not, I really want SSX for the Wii, but not with gimped out controls, and the reactions to this game have been confusing. Help?
Same question as Snaileb, with a twist. My kids (6 and 8) love the snowboarding in Twilight Princess (the race with Mr. and Mrs. Yeti). I'd like to get them SSX Blur wii, but I'm afraid it'll be too hard for them. Like parts of Rayman are too hard for them. Anybody know how small children do with ssx blur?
I really want to get my hands on a copy of Blur and I might do so early next week, just to check it out. I have a 9-year-old up in this piece, so I'll let you know how he does with it.
Still, even traditional SSX might be too difficult for a young one. Have they ever played a Tony Hawk game? If so, how did they do?
The review on Gamespot.com basically states that the reviewer could not get ubertricks to work no matter what he did. It certainly can't qualify as good game design if they only work for about half the people who play it.
Anybody who hates the controls for SSX Blur hasn't spent any lick of time with it. Sure, there's a learning curve but once you GET IT it's truly a unique and amazing experience.
By the way, if you were impressed with that video, checkout this video of myself doing 13 ubers in a single minute.
I think the disparity in control is just based on the fact that everybody performs "standard" movements slightly differently.
I've seen some people struggle at Wii Golf because they can't get an even stroke no matter what they try and they end up getting a random amount of power on each shot.
On the other end of the board, some people just find it more intuitive.
I'm not one of those people.
Oh, and SSX has always been a pretty in depth Snowboarding experience. I imagine your children would be able to get from the top of the mountain to the bottom, but I doubt they'd ever be able to win a race (and thereby continue in the game) since to gain speed you must land tricks frequently.
Well, I find a lot of people have issues figuring out the degree in which they should swing back the club, etc. They would get really varied results each time they swung.
With a traditional controller and on screen GUI, it is a bit easier, I think.
I'm not saying one is better than the other, by the way. I'm just sayin' is all.
intuitiveness (now we may just be making up words) is the ability to pick up the controller, and perform the required actions to yield the proper on screen results with minimal instruction. how naturally the motions replicate the real world experience. not how easy it is to duplicate your own actions (thats muscle memory).
anyone can pick up a golf club and hit a ball, once in a while you may actually hit it straight. the ability to replicate the motion of a straight shot is not easy, or we'd all be professionals.
Sure, but intuitive means what you would do by intuition. Your slight motions would result in slight motions by the club, thus you intuition says to swing like you would in real life.
I find that if you do the same exact motions, you would get the same result. Much like real golf.
I'm really looking forward to SSX Blur - it looks really sweet and I'm excited for some new gameplay. GameStop has a deal now where you can trade two Wii games for a new Wii game - I think it's time to say goodbye to Elebits and DBZ:BT2.
From GameStop's spam - er, email:
"In-Store Offer Only
Until March 25, when you trade-in 2 Wii games* get 1 new or used Wii title free. This offer applies for PS3 games as well. Visit our Trade-In Values page for updated trade-in pricing on featured titles and special offers. *Not valid on Wii Play, Wii Sports & demos."
I think that people are obviously spoiled by a control scheme that for all intents and purposes really has not changes since the early '80's. Analog control using thumbsticks was really just an offshoot of the digital pad in the way you used your thumbs. However, now you have a device that controls far differently from what we've been trained in using and sometimes requires a learning curve. It shows that the WiiMote is capable of varying degrees of complexity depending on how the developer wants to use it.
As a quick aside, my father can handle an arcade or Atari style joystick like nobody's business. But sit him down with a digital pad and he's lost. To him, using his thumbs is not intuitive.
Nick, I think your observation about some people "getting it" in respect to controls with the Wii is dead on. I made that same observation regarding Red Steel. I "got it" in like, five minutes, while my friends gave up in frustration.
In regard to SSX Blur, if IGN says it works, then I know the majority of gamers could get it. Like ZealousD said, there's a learning curve, and there's going to be one with probably every Wii game that uses motion sensing. It's a matter of sticking it through and not giving up halfway up the curve.
Hmm. I'd have said "no way, it's all good" until I read the first post:
"i overall just hate using the wii remote handlebar position to steer"
Yup, me too. It just doesn't work for me at all. My kids beat me at Super Monkey Ball race because I'm always going backwards. Bah.
Having said that, I've got Blur pre-ordered and I can't wait to get it. Who'd have thought that the company that's synonymous with zero innovation in gaming would be putting out some potentially great Wii content. Watch me eat my words through a mouthful of powder in two-weeks time :D
I think that with review sites like IGN,1up, GameSpot, etc, they don't have nearly enough time required to actually get into the games they review. That, and more often than not, the wrong people get tasked with reviewing certain types of games.
It isn't so much a fault of the control scheme, it's the person playing/reviewing the game. The Wii remote is very pick up and play, it's just that to dig deeper, there is a certain curve in every game. SSX Blur is no exception.
People getting or not getting a game is legendary amongst reviewers and people alike, and it's not the fault of the Wii remote...God Hand anyone?
Just sat down with the bf last night to play Rayman. It was a first for him to spend an extended amount of time with the nunchuk. Like most people, even us seasoned gamers, I think it took him a while to figure out that exaggerated movements weren't always necessary--like tennis in Wii Sports.
I'm thinking specifically of the slam the door on the bunnies in the outhouse mini-game. He kept shaking the nunchuck like crazy to close the doors. I just casually flicked it and was able to beat it.
Of course, the controls for some of the mini-games are uneven in Rayman. I can't believe how hard you have to pump the controllers for the running-/speed-based games.
There was talk before the Wii came out that gamers might actually have a harder time adjusting to the new controllers than non-gamers. Makes sense to me for some games.
I think 1Up's going to be biased though. Weren't they the ones that though Wii Sports was unplayable because it made them stop eating and being lazy?
Maybe it was Gamestop, I dunno.
I think controls for Wii games won't be as perfect as they are for other consoles because of the motion sensing thing. WiiSports likely pulls it off because the motions are a lot more naturally intuitive than Snowboarding.
"I take back the Morat comment, you meant just the handlebar way not in general."
I had my flame pen at the ready there too! Yup it's just the handlebar. I'm not completely sure why I don't get it, I think it's because it's oversensitive in that particular game. Other than the cow racing in Wii Play (which is hardly difficult) I don't have anything else to compare to.
I think the controls work out well, Actually I think it's good that it's easy to fall on your face. I liked SSX3 (haven't played any other) My only complained is that it was to easy once you knew how to land the board after a jump. You could make it to the highest peak in one try.
Only thing I'm missing in this game is online. SSX3 on the ps2 had online and while it was just 2 players it was really fun. I don't care too much about online but this is one of those games that could really benefit from it.
I remember that it took me a while to learn the controls for tricky. I thought it made the game more satisfying to have to learn what you were doing before you would ever be competitive against people that already knew how to play.
That is one of the problems i here about Tekken that my friend spent hours learning the moves for characters and his wife comes in and button mashes and beats him every time, that sux really
I know people who STILL can't get the hang of pre-winding before a jump in SSX with a regular controller. This is one I want to check out when I finally get my Wii.
Holy shit, I am liking it a lot. I am pulling off the ubers pretty easily. It took about a half an hour, and now I can do all 4 available. I like the ssx series a lot, and this doesn't disappoint.
Holy shit, I am liking it a lot. I am pulling off the ubers pretty easily. It took about a half an hour, and now I can do all 4 available. I like the ssx series a lot, and this doesn't disappoint.
I'm having a little trouble doing some of the uber trick movements but I assume I'll get better over time.
There's a section where you can just practice the moves, but it really doesn't teach you how to get better. There should be some sort of on screen guide to show what you're doing wrong.
I thought that to for a minute, but I dont know if that is asking too much. The only two things you can really adjust is the speed of your motion and when you hold A. I found just by focusing on these things, I was able to get a lot of "goods" in a row.
After a couple hours with SSX, you'll get it all down, the ubertricks are pretty easy to pull off, and carving while tilting the nunchuck and using the control stick at the same time is amazing. And in regards to Sonic and the Secret Rings, it's absolutely awful, and I LOVED Sonic Adventure 2 battle. It's a frustrating example of how the wii-mote should not be used.
But the game was built from the ground up for the Wii console? And that "level" was called a HALF-PIPE, They tend to look similar because they're all shaped like Half-Pipes...
First, we heard complaints that wii games will inherently feature "dumbed down" controls so that even a monkey could be successful at them.
And now we hear complaints that will games will inherently feature over challenging controls that only a fraction of players will be able to master.
Here's a protip, sit your ass down and learn a hard wii game. Motion control is an entirely new control scheme, it's going to take time to get used to it. But once you learn a hard wii game, each one after that is going to feel more "intuitive." If not, well, I'm sure there's going to be plenty of games with wii sports type learning curve.
On a related note, dust off a copy of "red steel" from the bargin bin. One of my favorite shooters of all time, but it took an hour and half of practice to un-hate it.
Rorshach, it is a lot like ssx3 in feel. The controls are a ton of fun after you get the hang. There are 2 new tracks, and 10 from the other 4 games. Or something like that.
I'm not much of a battle arena online player, I think online racing in any form works well, so I'm always I bit disappointed when they leave that out. Still it's not something I take into account when I'm looking for a game.
I think we all have to understand that comapnies, including the big N are just learning the potential of the Wii mote and the proper way to employ them in games. I have SSX Blur at home, and after going through the Training sessions and a few free runs down the half pipe I found my score almost doubling each time. To me it's enjoyable because it makes you do something different than just learning which combination of buttons to push, and I have a hard enough time doing that on my cell phone.. damn speed dial.
As for Wii golf the controll scheme to me anyway was perfect. I've been playing golf for almost 16 years and I find if I actually visualize me hitting a drive off the tee and actually holding a Driver I get the "Nice Shot" almost every time. As for the "get it or don't" scheme, my very beautiful, but un-athletic girlfriend shot a 1 under par her second time playing on the 9 hole course.
After playing this game for a while, I have to say I'm impressed. The controls are fluid and tight, but not unforgiving. There is a learning curve! I am sick of hearing people write off a game after only playing it for an hour, with the excuse of 'the controls suck. Motion sensing is still immature' etc. Just 'cause a reviewer has cerebral palsy and can't actually stick an Uber does not make the controls suck.
If people would sit down and prepare for the controls (i.e. Do the fucking Tutorial Mode. It's what it's there for!), then they would be rewarded with a unique control experience.
This game was frustrating to me at first, but after playing it for a few hours, it feels natural. I stick Uber tricks about 85% of the time I'd say. It's not all that difficult once you get into it.
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Contest:
12:53 PM on 03.02.2007
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I love the idea of mastering controls like this. I would have bought it the day it came out, but im broke.
we're all too used to ssx and we have expectations on what we can and can't do. i think game's we've played on traiditional platforms will always have to live in the shadows of their predecessors. the new IP's will garnish more praise b/c people had never played them in any other manner.
haha asshole! had to put that in there! that shit's funny.
I really want to get my hands on a copy of Blur and I might do so early next week, just to check it out. I have a 9-year-old up in this piece, so I'll let you know how he does with it.
Still, even traditional SSX might be too difficult for a young one. Have they ever played a Tony Hawk game? If so, how did they do?
By the way, if you were impressed with that video, checkout this video of myself doing 13 ubers in a single minute.
http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=45960
I've seen some people struggle at Wii Golf because they can't get an even stroke no matter what they try and they end up getting a random amount of power on each shot.
On the other end of the board, some people just find it more intuitive.
I'm not one of those people.
Oh, and SSX has always been a pretty in depth Snowboarding experience. I imagine your children would be able to get from the top of the mountain to the bottom, but I doubt they'd ever be able to win a race (and thereby continue in the game) since to gain speed you must land tricks frequently.
With a traditional controller and on screen GUI, it is a bit easier, I think.
I'm not saying one is better than the other, by the way. I'm just sayin' is all.
anyone can pick up a golf club and hit a ball, once in a while you may actually hit it straight. the ability to replicate the motion of a straight shot is not easy, or we'd all be professionals.
I find that if you do the same exact motions, you would get the same result. Much like real golf.
From GameStop's spam - er, email:
"In-Store Offer Only
Until March 25, when you trade-in 2 Wii games* get 1 new or used Wii title free. This offer applies for PS3 games as well. Visit our Trade-In Values page for updated trade-in pricing on featured titles and special offers. *Not valid on Wii Play, Wii Sports & demos."
As a quick aside, my father can handle an arcade or Atari style joystick like nobody's business. But sit him down with a digital pad and he's lost. To him, using his thumbs is not intuitive.
In regard to SSX Blur, if IGN says it works, then I know the majority of gamers could get it. Like ZealousD said, there's a learning curve, and there's going to be one with probably every Wii game that uses motion sensing. It's a matter of sticking it through and not giving up halfway up the curve.
"i overall just hate using the wii remote handlebar position to steer"
Yup, me too. It just doesn't work for me at all. My kids beat me at Super Monkey Ball race because I'm always going backwards. Bah.
Having said that, I've got Blur pre-ordered and I can't wait to get it. Who'd have thought that the company that's synonymous with zero innovation in gaming would be putting out some potentially great Wii content. Watch me eat my words through a mouthful of powder in two-weeks time :D
It isn't so much a fault of the control scheme, it's the person playing/reviewing the game. The Wii remote is very pick up and play, it's just that to dig deeper, there is a certain curve in every game. SSX Blur is no exception.
People getting or not getting a game is legendary amongst reviewers and people alike, and it's not the fault of the Wii remote...God Hand anyone?
I'm thinking specifically of the slam the door on the bunnies in the outhouse mini-game. He kept shaking the nunchuck like crazy to close the doors. I just casually flicked it and was able to beat it.
Of course, the controls for some of the mini-games are uneven in Rayman. I can't believe how hard you have to pump the controllers for the running-/speed-based games.
There was talk before the Wii came out that gamers might actually have a harder time adjusting to the new controllers than non-gamers. Makes sense to me for some games.
Maybe it was Gamestop, I dunno.
I think controls for Wii games won't be as perfect as they are for other consoles because of the motion sensing thing. WiiSports likely pulls it off because the motions are a lot more naturally intuitive than Snowboarding.
I had my flame pen at the ready there too! Yup it's just the handlebar. I'm not completely sure why I don't get it, I think it's because it's oversensitive in that particular game. Other than the cow racing in Wii Play (which is hardly difficult) I don't have anything else to compare to.
Only thing I'm missing in this game is online. SSX3 on the ps2 had online and while it was just 2 players it was really fun. I don't care too much about online but this is one of those games that could really benefit from it.
And thanks to deanhatescoffee, I now own this game.
That is one of the problems i here about Tekken that my friend spent hours learning the moves for characters and his wife comes in and button mashes and beats him every time, that sux really
There's a section where you can just practice the moves, but it really doesn't teach you how to get better. There should be some sort of on screen guide to show what you're doing wrong.
How long before you unlock other peaks?
i am just having trouble and not enjoying my experience with it....
And now we hear complaints that will games will inherently feature over challenging controls that only a fraction of players will be able to master.
Here's a protip, sit your ass down and learn a hard wii game. Motion control is an entirely new control scheme, it's going to take time to get used to it. But once you learn a hard wii game, each one after that is going to feel more "intuitive." If not, well, I'm sure there's going to be plenty of games with wii sports type learning curve.
On a related note, dust off a copy of "red steel" from the bargin bin. One of my favorite shooters of all time, but it took an hour and half of practice to un-hate it.
As for Wii golf the controll scheme to me anyway was perfect. I've been playing golf for almost 16 years and I find if I actually visualize me hitting a drive off the tee and actually holding a Driver I get the "Nice Shot" almost every time. As for the "get it or don't" scheme, my very beautiful, but un-athletic girlfriend shot a 1 under par her second time playing on the 9 hole course.
If people would sit down and prepare for the controls (i.e. Do the fucking Tutorial Mode. It's what it's there for!), then they would be rewarded with a unique control experience.
This game was frustrating to me at first, but after playing it for a few hours, it feels natural. I stick Uber tricks about 85% of the time I'd say. It's not all that difficult once you get into it.