Topic: First impressions: Nano Breaker

[Crying Freeman]

I've been on a PS2 spree for a bit and picked up Nano Breaker after seeing it on Screattacks top 10 bloodiest games. It looked fun and ridiculous so I just had to get it. I had no idea KCET was behind it, with Iga heading the project until I turned it on. Oh my god, where's this game been my whole life??

It runs off a modified LOI engine, and the gameplay is the same but a little slower paced. Nano Breaker makes the combo system its main hook(besides the ridiculous amount of gore), and it makes the game addictive alongside it's presentation. Speaking of which, don't take the story seriously; it's laughable like most ultraviolet anime.

The main focus is the gameplay and presentation (story aside) and I'm having such a blast! The combo system, blood(which you can change to a range of different colors in the menu ), and music are all great! The graphics are a little flat I guess but they're pretty detailed. Your "plasma sword" has an awesome looking effect when swung that I haven't see in any other game. Plus it feel wicked old school: enemies can hit you to the ground, keeping you from hitting them, the life we goes up when you get a good score, and it's challenging. Thankfully not as hard as the Xbox Ninja Gaiden, but hey I'm only at the beginning, could get harder.

I thought it'd be a dumb fun-bad game, but it's legitimately good so far. Once I beat it I might do a mini review or something, but so far I recommend it for anyone who likes action games or hack n slashers(everyone on this forum lol).

[Claimh Solais]

Aside from some of the really awkward jumping segments, I really enjoyed the game, but I unfortunately lost my copy of it somewhere. I really wish I could find it since I never beat it. The game is damn hard, but it feels less annoying and more like classic 'vanias (to me, anyway). That branching combo system, though... I thought that was wicked. I loved it so much, though. Plus, if you enter the Konami code you unlock a little shooter game on your mini-map.

[Crying Freeman]

Aside from some of the really awkward jumping segments, I really enjoyed the game, but I unfortunately lost my copy of it somewhere. I really wish I could find it since I never beat it. The game is damn hard, but it feels less annoying and more like classic 'vanias (to me, anyway). That branching combo system, though... I thought that was wicked. I loved it so much, though. Plus, if you enter the Konami code you unlock a little shooter game on your mini-map.

It is getting harder so far, about an hour and a half in. It's pretty cheap now if you have some extra cash (got mine for about $5 including shipping). I have to agree that it feels like a classicvania more than other 3D canoas. The way you need to strategize your attacks against the appropriate enemies plus the difficulty in general gives me a big CV3 feel . Have to say, it's awesome to see Iga's work outside of CV and see what else he's capable of. Btw Thanks for the Konami code info, I'll use it next time I power it on didn't think it'd be usable in it

[darkmanx_429]

Yeah, I wouldn't minded of seeing a next gen sequel to that game.

[Claimh Solais]

I'm considering getting a new copy, but I've been holding off on buying PS2 games since my PS2 has kinda gone to crap lately. Still works, but makes me not wanna buy anything for it.

And yeah, it's always interesting to see Iga's work on other games. One of his hardly known ones is that he was the producer for the cinematic game Shadow of Destiny (which tells a damn good story, btw), but I don't know if it's all versions or just the PSP port.

[X]

I'm considering getting a new copy, but I've been holding off on buying PS2 games since my PS2 has kinda gone to crap lately. Still works, but makes me not wanna buy anything for it.

If you've got a PS3 that's backwards compatible then it shouldn't be an issue. I don't own a PS2 but I do have some games for it.

[Claimh Solais]

If you've got a PS3 that's backwards compatible then it shouldn't be an issue. I don't own a PS2 but I do have some games for it.

Unfortunately, nope. I used to, but I sold it back in like 2007. Now, all I have are the slimmer not-backwards-compatible ones.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I remembered that game. IGA insisted that the "blood" is actually oil. I usually turn on the rainbow color mode just for the lols.

[Crying Freeman]

I remembered that game. IGA insisted that the "blood" is actually oil. I usually turn on the rainbow color mode just for the lols.

Lol I can see that. In the menu it's called luliquid, plus you are fighting machines so it makes more sense

[PFG9000]

I picked it up when it came out because I was desperate for more Iga stuff.  It was okay.  I played up to the final boss and wasn't hooked enough to see it through to the end.  Never beat it.  One of these days I'll fire it up and finish it.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Just picked up a factory sealed copy for like... $7 on Amazon. This is so obviously a prototype for Curse of Darkness it almost hurts.

First impressions:
The graphics are pretty damn good for a 2005 PS2 game from Konami. The music? Not so much.

Jake gives me MAJOR "Cyborg Raiden" vibes (maybe Hideo Kojima felt inspired by playing it?)

The controls are bizarrely tuned. Button presses don't always register, the jumping is spotty, and there's this bizarrely noticeable pause between pressing the input for a dodge roll and the roll actually happening, which has gotten me killed a couple of times in the first half hour.

The combo input flow is really weird. I'm used to combos requiring a fairly quick input time, but here you have to wait a smidge before pressing the next button or the combo fails. I'm not sure what Iga's team was doing there, as it's very counter-intuitive from how other games (including those by the same team, no less!) do it.

Also the opening cutscene feels so much like a Resident Evil game's set up that I had to laugh.

This game is, all in all, quite odd but I am resolved to play further.

[Neobelmont]

Yeah, I wouldn't minded of seeing a next gen sequel to that game.

Metal gear revengence 

Fun fact did you know that nanobreaker is a yu-gi-oh card?


Also I hear there is a rainbow or skittle mode anyone know what that is about? I think I saw a video years ago about that but i don't remember, and the last question is that is it worth it?

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Fixed, and I totally thought that too.

[Crying Freeman]

Just picked up a factory sealed copy for like... $7 on Amazon. This is so obviously a prototype for Curse of Darkness it almost hurts.

First impressions:
The graphics are pretty damn good for a 2005 PS2 game from Konami. The music? Not so much.

Jake gives me MAJOR "Cyborg Raiden" vibes (maybe Hideo Kojima felt inspired by playing it?)

The controls are bizarrely tuned. Button presses don't always register, the jumping is spotty, and there's this bizarrely noticeable pause between pressing the input for a dodge roll and the roll actually happening, which has gotten me killed a couple of times in the first half hour.

The combo input flow is really weird. I'm used to combos requiring a fairly quick input time, but here you have to wait a smidge before pressing the next button or the combo fails. I'm not sure what Iga's team was doing there, as it's very counter-intuitive from how other games (including those by the same team, no less!) do it.

Also the opening cutscene feels so much like a Resident Evil game's set up that I had to laugh.

This game is, all in all, quite odd but I am resolved to play further.

Despite my praise I haven't picked it up for a while. The story in general had me laughing on multiple occassions (seriously... This guys just known as Jake was Universal Soldier'd and sent to fight man eating machines that spew blood (or oil as I've seen it called) with a new laser sword weapon, plus he has to fight another universal Soldier'd for and save the female scientist...) it's so much of a crazy "awesome dude" type plot that it seems like a parody of ultra violent anime like MD Geist. That coupled with the over the top voice acting and writing makes the story a laugh.

I agree the controls are touchy sometimes, but I do personally like the combo system. It feels almost like learning to attack and then attacking rather than just pressing buttons. But I'm not good at remembering and mastering combos in most games (especially fighters) so it's more of a personal thing.