Mad Bodies Release!

[Gorf]

The release is getting a lot of interest :

http://kotaku.com/5241855/atari-jaguar-get...-game-this-year

And of course, the usual negative follow-up comments from the Jaguar haters...

They think we're crazy anyway, when actually we're just MAD!

 

Frig 'em!

[CrazyChris]

I don't understand the power-up, where you can shoot the paddle forward.

What do you use that for?

 

Chris

[The Graphics Man]

I don't understand the power-up, where you can shoot the paddle forward.

What do you use that for?

 

Chris

Figure it out!

Edited May 10, 2009 by The Graphics Man

[Gorf]

I don't understand the power-up, where you can shoot the paddle forward.

What do you use that for?

 

Chris

 

 

Again, Im trying to figure that out.

[+thanatos]

Yeah, this game is definitely hard to figure out. And just plain hard!

 

Only 8000 points as a best so far. But I'm not using continues.

[the.golden.ax]

I recommend using the Rapid Fire Controller if you gots one! it helkps alittle...

Ha! It doesn't help to much does it! When I design MB, I thought about those Rapid Fire Controllers (weak cheat controllers)! MB cripples them with the detection code, mahaha... It's all right to get !

 

 

Sure, that you had room for... but not rotary code..

 

 

AX

I'm not sure how a rotary controller would help.

You have to move on more than one axis.

I haven't seen a rotary controller with a directional pad.

 

Yeah, I made that point a few pages back... I was only teasing... me and my humor...

 

AX

[Tom-Lynx]

This is the kind of game that would benefit from two analog sticks so you could have very precise control vertically and horizontally...almost like a controller for a remote control car.

 

Kind of makes me wonder if any controller for any system was ever custom designed in that fashion? Something like this:

 

Concept Controller for Mad Bodies?

 

[JagMod]

This is the kind of game that would benefit from two analog sticks so you could have very precise control vertically and horizontally...almost like a controller for a remote control car.

 

Kind of makes me wonder if any controller for any system was ever custom designed in that fashion? Something like this:

 

Concept Controller for Mad Bodies?

 

I'll take two!

[kevincal]

Kinda reminds me of the Virtual Boy controller, only that has 2 d-pads...

[nonner242]

This is the kind of game that would benefit from two analog sticks so you could have very precise control vertically and horizontally...almost like a controller for a remote control car.

 

Kind of makes me wonder if any controller for any system was ever custom designed in that fashion? Something like this:

 

Concept Controller for Mad Bodies?

 

I'll take two!

 

 

I'll take 3!

These would be really nice.

[Gorf]

You could probably do that with a regular Jag controller with some modification.

 

That thing looks a bit to uncomfortable.

[BuddyBuddies]

Id take several!

[BuddyBuddies]

Could a new controller get the best of TheGraphicsMan???

[Tom-Lynx]

You could probably do that with a regular Jag controller with some modification.

 

That thing looks a bit to uncomfortable.

 

I don't know....putting a rotary knob in the d-pad spot is one thing. This would require completely destroying the top half of the controller and rebuilding it.

[nonner242]

With the mock up design...I think it would need trigger buttons instead of the top/shoulder ones...Just seems like it would be impossible to grip & fire with those handles.

[Tom-Lynx]

With the mock up design...I think it would need trigger buttons instead of the top/shoulder ones...Just seems like it would be impossible to grip & fire with those handles.

I agree now that I think about it.

 

So much for my career in controller design -- my first mock up is a failure.

[nonner242]

With the mock up design...I think it would need trigger buttons instead of the top/shoulder ones...Just seems like it would be impossible to grip & fire with those handles.

I agree now that I think about it.

 

So much for my career in controller design -- my first mock up is a failure.

 

I think it pretty still...for a mutant hand..

[+LS650]

Dang it - I wish my order would get here quick!

[Gorf]

You could probably do that with a regular Jag controller with some modification.

 

That thing looks a bit to uncomfortable.

 

I don't know....putting a rotary knob in the d-pad spot is one thing. This would require completely destroying the top half of the controller and rebuilding it.

 

 

No, what you do is replace the D pad with a mouse ball. Or the D pad with an up down rotary and

the right shoulder with a left right rotary......they can be bought real small to fit with out and total

hack up of the plastic. I would just prefer the mouse ball in the D-pad area.

[Gorf]

With the mock up design...I think it would need trigger buttons instead of the top/shoulder ones...Just seems like it would be impossible to grip & fire with those handles.

I agree now that I think about it.

 

So much for my career in controller design -- my first mock up is a failure.

 

 

If at first you don't suceed, try , try again.

[doctorclu]

This is the kind of game that would benefit from two analog sticks so you could have very precise control vertically and horizontally...almost like a controller for a remote control car.

 

Kind of makes me wonder if any controller for any system was ever custom designed in that fashion? Something like this:

 

A real joystick controller, like the MAS Prostick, works well for me in this game.

[+LS650]

Some comments I've typed up about Mad Bodies:

 

Mad Bodies - from Force Design

 

After years of development, 3D Stooges and Force Design have officially released “Mad Bodies” on May 2, 2009. The price is $80 US plus shipping from www.madbodies.com

 

The cartridge ships with a full-color label and a plastic case similar to a VHS video cassette’s shell. The case also contains a 4-page instruction booklet. These instructions are sparse on playing details, leaving the player to puzzle out exactly how the game works.

 

The game has been described by many as a hybrid between a Breakout paddle game and a top-down shooter like Xevious or Raiden. There are a total of ten levels, each with four stages and a ‘boss‘ to defeat.

 

After a short introduction that displays the logos for the developers, Mad Bodies’ title page is displayed. There appear to be no configuration or option screens; the player’s only possible action at the start is to press ’B’ to begin the game.

 

The graphics of the game are based on an “outer space” motif. The user can move a Breakout-style paddle left or right. In addition, the player can move a green square vertically as well as horizontally; this square acts as a gunsight. Button ‘B’ acts as a fire button to shoot whatever the gunsight targets.

 

A ‘planet’ starts bouncing around on the screen. The player can keep it bouncing on the screen with his paddle, as well as trying to shoot it with the gunsight. If the ball sneaks past the paddle, the paddle suffers some damage and the planet reappears at the top edge of the screen again.

 

There are also various enemy spaceships, asteroids, and other space debris zipping down the screen. Most objects can be shot for points, but you’re usually too busy just handling those bouncing planets! After the first couple of stages, some space suited astronauts fly down the screen. If you shoot these guys, you don’t kill them but actually capture them. If you then line up the astronaut with a space station scrolling by, the astronaut shouts “Thank you!“ and you receive bonus points or even power-ups.

 

Finally, the stage boss shows up. He cannot be shot directly, but as he spits yellow fireballs at you, you can bounce them back at the boss with your paddle. The first time you bounce the fireball it turns green and does little harm to the boss - but on the second paddling, the fireball turns purple and causes minor damage to the boss. A meter tracks the damage to the boss, and as he starts to near the end of his life, he starts projecting out spiked red balls that damage your paddle.

 

This game really harkens to the arcade shooters of the 1980s. There is plenty of twitch shooting, but there’s also a lot of thought involved: should you concentrate on bouncing that new fireball, or instead try to get the astronaut to the space station for a much-needed power-up?

 

The game is aggravating, even maddening, hence the name “Mad Bodies“. When your player dies (and that will happen often), you can choose to continue on, but as you continue, the game keeps track of the number of continues. When you finally stop, the scores are saved. When you look at the final score table, you’ll see scores with happy faces or neutral faces if you didn’t use many continues. Of course, it’s much more likely you’ll see a trembling, angry red face and hear the Jaguar call you a Mad Body…

 

The game play is great if you are a fan of arcade shooters like Raiden or Tempest. The graphics, while not a showcase of the Jaguar’s 64-bit abilities, are very well done and look great. The sound effects and music are also catchy and better than your run of the mill game.

 

If there is one caveat, it is with Mad Bodies’ voice samples. The game is chock full of various voiced comments, but the quality of these varies a lot, and some of them, frankly, are nearly impossible to understand!

 

Despite the voice sample issue, overall this is a great addition to any Jaguar fan’s collection. If you are looking for something new and unique for your Jaguar, I highly recommend Mad Bodies!

 

--

[STGuy1040]

Some comments I've typed up about Mad Bodies:

 

Mad Bodies - from Force Design

 

After years of development, 3D Stooges and Force Design have officially released “Mad Bodies” on May 2, 2009. The price is $80 US plus shipping from www.madbodies.com

 

The cartridge ships with a full-color label and a plastic case similar to a VHS video cassette’s shell. The case also contains a 4-page instruction booklet. These instructions are sparse on playing details, leaving the player to puzzle out exactly how the game works.

 

The game has been described by many as a hybrid between a Breakout paddle game and a top-down shooter like Xevious or Raiden. There are a total of ten levels, each with four stages and a ‘boss‘ to defeat.

 

After a short introduction that displays the logos for the developers, Mad Bodies’ title page is displayed. There appear to be no configuration or option screens; the player’s only possible action at the start is to press ’B’ to begin the game.

 

The graphics of the game are based on an “outer space” motif. The user can move a Breakout-style paddle left or right. In addition, the player can move a green square vertically as well as horizontally; this square acts as a gunsight. Button ‘B’ acts as a fire button to shoot whatever the gunsight targets.

 

A ‘planet’ starts bouncing around on the screen. The player can keep it bouncing on the screen with his paddle, as well as trying to shoot it with the gunsight. If the ball sneaks past the paddle, the paddle suffers some damage and the planet reappears at the top edge of the screen again.

 

There are also various enemy spaceships, asteroids, and other space debris zipping down the screen. Most objects can be shot for points, but you’re usually too busy just handling those bouncing planets! After the first couple of stages, some space suited astronauts fly down the screen. If you shoot these guys, you don’t kill them but actually capture them. If you then line up the astronaut with a space station scrolling by, the astronaut shouts “Thank you!“ and you receive bonus points or even power-ups.

 

Finally, the stage boss shows up. He cannot be shot directly, but as he spits yellow fireballs at you, you can bounce them back at the boss with your paddle. The first time you bounce the fireball it turns green and does little harm to the boss - but on the second paddling, the fireball turns purple and causes minor damage to the boss. A meter tracks the damage to the boss, and as he starts to near the end of his life, he starts projecting out spiked red balls that damage your paddle.

 

This game really harkens to the arcade shooters of the 1980s. There is plenty of twitch shooting, but there’s also a lot of thought involved: should you concentrate on bouncing that new fireball, or instead try to get the astronaut to the space station for a much-needed power-up?

 

The game is aggravating, even maddening, hence the name “Mad Bodies“. When your player dies (and that will happen often), you can choose to continue on, but as you continue, the game keeps track of the number of continues. When you finally stop, the scores are saved. When you look at the final score table, you’ll see scores with happy faces or neutral faces if you didn’t use many continues. Of course, it’s much more likely you’ll see a trembling, angry red face and hear the Jaguar call you a Mad Body…

 

The game play is great if you are a fan of arcade shooters like Raiden or Tempest. The graphics, while not a showcase of the Jaguar’s 64-bit abilities, are very well done and look great. The sound effects and music are also catchy and better than your run of the mill game.

 

If there is one caveat, it is with Mad Bodies’ voice samples. The game is chock full of various voiced comments, but the quality of these varies a lot, and some of them, frankly, are nearly impossible to understand!

 

Despite the voice sample issue, overall this is a great addition to any Jaguar fan’s collection. If you are looking for something new and unique for your Jaguar, I highly recommend Mad Bodies!

 

--

 

Excellent review!

[nonner242]

Excellent Review!

[Tweety]

My copy arrived today, not yet had the time to play it. Hope to find the time for it in a few days.