Just personal preferences, I like the original spritework from the DS version. The iPhone versions looks great but I'm not a fan of upscaled sprites with a filter put on it. For those who want more info on Giana Sisters in general (at least the modern remakes), check out: http://www.giana-sisters.com/giana_sisters_en.html Pretty sure the iPhone version has everything the DS has + more, making it the definitive version. The site looks pretty cool and you can hear some of the music from the game.
Game Impressions Won't challenge your personal preference -- it is, after all, yours -- but I think the way they upscaled the bitmapped graphic makes a big difference. Here, rather than apply the blur (as in Zenonia) they used median, which actually enhances the painterly look of the game without making things look fuzzy or out of focus. In any event, just finished the first world, and I have to agree with the general sentiment: this is a great game. Retro, but with a contemporary feel. The controls are well implemented, and so far I haven't felt that any deaths have been the result of missing a button. The challenge ramps up nicely, just as the level design gets more complicated and interesting. The character animation is top notch and the whole thing just oozes personality. I've encountered just one glitch so far: sometimes after finishing a stage, the world map becomes unresponsive. It works fine after you close the map and reopen it, so it's just a minor issue. I mention it only because the rest of the game is so polished. Feels like the App Store is on a roll in 2010.
I would rather if the retro levels were open from the start. It could be 2 seperate games. Also, If there were 3 save files, then more than one could play on the game. Please open the retro levels before the entire 80 levels are finished !!
Yea I didn't like what they did with Zenonia on that part. But I still think that is still a nice looking game. It is a really great game (No wonder why Nintendo felt threatened back in the 80s). Its a shame that Armin Gassert passed away last year. I know the DS remake was something that he had help to produce. I'm still waiting on a domestic release of the DS version so I can collect it.
About price I just have one comment: it is not the users' fault. Some developers make fool of us launching a game one day and put it on sale the next day. I do not think the problem is the money. The problem is to pay a price today and you could have save some money tomorrow. I used to buy a lot of games the same day they are released. I have all my receipts and with the help of the site AppShopper I reviewed my purchases after a 2 weeks (holliday sales does not count). I was really surprised about all the money that I spent unnecessary. I do not buy the speech saying that we have to support indie developers, that they put a lot of work in the game, bla bla bla. Well, I put a lot of effort to earn my money as well. Think about it guys, we are not cheap bastards, we just do not want to be called stupids. If you really want a game today, buy it. If you can wait, wait. I am pretty sure that most of us have a lot of games to play in the meanwhile. I do not always wait for a price drop. When I see the game has a lot of good reviews, are growing in the charts and the gameplay videos seem to be good, I buy it for whatever price they are asking. Thank you for your time to read this, Bruno
Well, I had to buy it, despite the girlie icon and updated graphics. It's nice -- very well done, if very cartoony now, and it plays a great deal like the original. It still doesn't feel like the original but I guess you can't have everything. Nonetheless it's a great platformer, very distinct Mario flavour as was intended, but with enough changes and spice to make things different and interesting. Worth $5, I'd say.
I'm so close to caving on this, but can someone tell me what the Classic controls are? The controls they show a screenshot of look sort of weird. Oh, nvm it seems the classic controls are in the other screen shots. Hmmm, well does anyone have a comment on the "Touch" controls?
It's basically the same controls as Soosiz: left and right arrows for movement on the left hand side, up arrow on the right hand side for jump. The only difference is a second (B) button on the right for a fire blast when you're in punk mode. They're intuitive and easy to use, IMO.
I love the controls for Soosiz, and unlike you guys I like the 'girly' look of this platformer. This is an instant buy if not for the fact that I'm busy mining ores right now. Must resist...
This is tied so far with Soosiz for favorite platformer, might even beat it for me the more I play it. Really wonderful game, I'm happy with my purchase.
Oh crap, it needs 2.gen iPod touch, so I have to pass on this one. Really wanted to play the game, because I loved the originals so much. Damn...I really need a new iPod touch.
Visually, it's a lot richer than Soosiz. So far level design feels more deliberate, too, though it lacks the "wow" factor of Soosiz's gravity and rotation tricks. I think I'm enjoying Giana Sisters more, though.
Is this game a lot better than Castle of Magic? The reason why I'm asking is I wasn't too crazy about that one I wanna make sure this is better.
Completely agree. I'm not getting bored of this game like I did with Soosiz, I did have to take a few breaks in between Soosiz. This world feels a bit more "alive" to me.
10x better IMO, I didn't like CoM very much either. Mainly the controls in that game were what ruined it for me. This is a solid platformer experience.
For me, Castle of Magic was ruined by poor frame rates and iffy controls. Giana Sisters is much better on both counts. Giana Sisters also feel less gimmicky; and the level design is stronger.
Yes this game is MUCH better than Castle of Magic (I did not like that game at all) Pick it up now ..Best platformer I have played on my iphone by far.
