Alright, since I had the night off, I just did something I'm probably going to regret in the morning... Uh, I just beat Bomberman Act: Zero. ALL 99 levels. In one sitting. And now I want to put a bullet in my head. (why couldn't I stop???) O_O I was basically researching some stuff for a new 'fic I've been writing lately (researching Act Zero? WTF?), but I didn't think I'd be stuck playing it for three hours straight (probably longer, since that announcer doesn't SHUT UP for more than two friggin' minutes). The online multiplayer isn't so bad (the community is practically dead, though. -_-), but considering Bomberman LIVE's is SO much better, why bother? Sorry if it sounds like I'm b------- TOO much, but I thought I'd share this with people who actually care about this series... All in all, even those of you with a 360, I wouldn't bother recommend playing this. *nods* (Man, that ending SUCKED.)

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you poor soul......

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Next time you feel tempted to play the horrible game, jump out the window.

It's not that I ENTIRELY loathe this game (I think the new setting and look is actually interesting and whatnot), it's just that I can't stand the fact that you have to play through it in one sitting. And what with the incredibly endearing plot that moves along with it, it just makes it all the more exciting to want to get through it.

BTW, that First-Person Bomber mode Hudson was hyping is total crap. Wait, scratch that. I'm not even going to dignify it by comparing it to crap.

It's nothing. Nuzz-ing!  

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You actually got through all 99 levels? Holy hell. *bows down*

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If I don't wield the bomb, I can't protect you. If I keep wielding the bomb, I can't embrace you.

I'm definitely interested to hear about your (terrible?) experience!

Was there any sort of surprises awaiting in later levels? Like say, new enemies? Or did you always and only fight other Bombermen?

I would also like to know everything about the plot. If you don't want to spoil the people reading this topic (not sure what the policy on spoilers is here), I would appreciate a PM.

I'll be looking forward to your reply  

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Metroid: Other M - As in "There's the good Metroid games... we chose to do one of some Other Make altogether."

Just provide a spoiler warning before saying it, and it's perfectly fine- so people don't start reading without knowing and get spoiled at all.

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"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they're not entitled to their own facts."

Wait wait wait, slow down -- there was a real storyline? Or, actually, there was an evolving storyline? I am suddenly lost here.

Yeah, me too.   Spoil me to the nines either here or in PM - I'm curious about this.

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If I don't wield the bomb, I can't protect you. If I keep wielding the bomb, I can't embrace you.

Well, I'll have you know, Duke, that I sat at the title screen for 'bout an hour just to copy down the scrolling text (and rather quickly, at that) that appears for you! ^_^

But to answer your questions first:

No, there were barely any surprises [if any] at all waiting for you. The entire game is fought against different-colored Bombermen and women, and really the only thing that changes is the number of them. For example, on the first level, you're basically going against one other "Bomberman," but for, say, level 63, you'll probably be fighting either five or six. *shrugs* Not much to say for surprises.

But there are a few challenges that pop up every 15 or 20 levels, and when I say "few," I mean two. Occasionally, you are thrown into a "Boss Fight" against one Black Bomberman (who really doesn't play ANY different than any other opponent), in which you must beat him. The other challenge -which makes me nervous, seeing how you can get killed in one hit no matter how many "hearts" you may have picked up- throws you into an arena, and as you begin, the "Sudden Death" blocks start filling up the screen, and you have to make sure to either kill ALL of your opponents, or hope they get smashed underneath one. Usually, they do, but in the rare case that they don't, you'll have to kill them fast, because the blocks fill up the ENTIRE arena, and you'll have to start over from Round 1. Imagine a VERY close call on Round 88 (that's what happened to teh Axis)...

As for the plot, I copied down the [important] info from the Instruction Manual, as well as the 'hidden' opening movie. I actually think the storyline to this game's world is very interesting, but it DOES NOT move along as you progress through the game. It's also interesting to note that this game takes place through your eyes; YOU are the Bomberman/woman who fights against all these other androids.

And here goes.

-- -- -- -- --

MANUAL EXCERPT:

FIGHT! FIGHT TO SURVIVE!

You regain consciousness in a cold, dark underground room.
But wait. Did you really wake up, or are you still dreaming?
You’re not really sure about anything.

Wrapped in a straightjacket, your body feels
heavy, stiff and cold…

Why?

Who has brought you here?

Now begins the fight to escape to
the surface…

The fight to survive.

[LAME TEXT HUDSON PUT IN TO GET YOU EXCITED ABOUT PLAYING THIS OTHERWISE UNEXCITING GAME IS HERE]

What lies beyond the frenzy of battle?

Will it be the light of hope, or
the dark land of despair?


-- -- -- -- --

TEXT TAKEN FROM HIDDEN OPENING MOVIE:

I woke up in a cold, dark basement.
Could it be a dream, or is this reality?

In a blurry haze, all I am aware of is my own existence.

My body feels heavy, rigid, and cold.
What am I doing in this place…?
-
-
-
The World War was seemingly endless.
Each nation came to possess lethal weapons of massacre.
But to fall behind would mean one’s own destruction.
So needless battles ensued, and the world was ravaged.
-
-
-
Far to the east, a giant underground facility was built.

A plan to develop ‘The Ultimate Human Weapon.’

In order to overcome the ever-worsening horrors of war,
this highly classified plan was hatched deep underground.

The scientists involved had opted to utilize human
faculties ?Ephysical, intellectual, and special abilities.

Human frames are cultured artificially, infused with battle-
condition memories, and fitted with special armaments.
-
-
-
Each subject breathes its first breath of life underground.
They know nothing of why they are here,
or why they were born.

But the ‘program?Egives them one order:
“Fight.”
-
-
-
Only one can survive.
Each subject must eliminate all others, or be disposed of.

When manufactured, a test subject is not yet complete.
It must hone its abilities in actual combat,
and survive long enough to break free of the Prison.
Only then will it have achieved its true purpose.

Subjects are constantly manufactured and forced to fight.
Only the best of the best are sent to the battlefield above.
This is how the ‘Prison Program?Eworks.
-
-
-
300 years have passed since the program’s conception.
Its creator has been dead for centuries.

But the Prison Program continues to run like a
well-oiled machine. Even today, the test subjects
are faithfully following orders to fight and survive.
-
-
-
Will the end of this war

provide a beacon of hope for all mankind?

Or will it plunge the world into the

depths of hopelessness?
-
-
-
Once again, a new battle is about to begin.

-- -- -- -- --

I understand that you are allowed to post spoilers here (thanks, Razon! ^_^), but to avoid any "pissed-off-ness," I'm going to refrain from posting it here. I do this because the last time I posted a spoiler on another forum (WITH a warning, mind you), I still ended up pissing off a few of the people there. Since I love all you guys, I'm not gonna take that chance. ^_^

Just PM me if you want to know the ending, although there isn't much. Also, I taped my 99th battle and the actual end-cutscene with my VCR, but alas, I have NO idea how to upload it to my computer and put it on YouTube... otherwise, I'd do it.  

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Wow. Very strange departure from what Hudson usually does. It is kind of like the first Bomberman game, but darker.

I think, if you wanted to upload a VHS tape onto your computer, you need a special piece of equipment for that. Probably expensive. Though I'm not entirely sure, I've never had any need for that.

Seconded what Zaphe said about the plot. Man, if they expanded that into an adventure-platforming game, they could've made Act Zero so bad-ass.

Also, PM me the spoilers plz? ^_^

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If I don't wield the bomb, I can't protect you. If I keep wielding the bomb, I can't embrace you.

Darn, I'm late replying (sooo busy even in summer  )

Thanks for the trancription, especially that of the movie, it's awesome  

And of course I'd love to have that ending through PM, but you already know that  

About the being somewhat similar to the first Bomberman, that much should be no surprise (at least I had that figured out from what little I had heard before). But this game may be called Act Zero for a reason: it could be a prequel, explaining the reason bomb manufacturing cyborgs were developed in the first place (and I so figured out on my own Bomberman could be cyborgs who's fleshy parts were created artificially!)

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Metroid: Other M - As in "There's the good Metroid games... we chose to do one of some Other Make altogether."

Yeah, but at the ending of the first game, didn't he just... well, don't wanna spoil it (even if it is of the 8-bit era). The ending to Act: Zero isn't similar to it in any way.

I always figured Act: Zero was just off doing its own thing, like a separate universe and whatnot. I dunno though; we all know Hudson. If there's one company who's the "Master of Continuity," it's them.  

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...that's sarcasm, right?

Anyway, thanks once more  

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Metroid: Other M - As in "There's the good Metroid games... we chose to do one of some Other Make altogether."

No prob. ^_^

And yes. Yes, it is.

...

...

... Or is it?

But seriously, it is sarcasm. :P

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If you want to think on the bright side, It is one of the rarest achievements to be made in gaming, and certainly one of the rarest in bomberman gaming. I myself would sooner go for the "crushed skull with joystick" achievement, but whatever.

Hehe, that made me laugh.

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There is such an achievement. But it's called "Destroyed 1,000,000 Soft Blocks."

*Wishes he was kidding*

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If it was Super Bomberman 2 we were talking about I would have made that. In battle mode. Several times probably.

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Metroid: Other M - As in "There's the good Metroid games... we chose to do one of some Other Make altogether."