Polarium Advnace: Where the hell are you?

AlphaTwo

Today I went to EB and went to check up on my preorder for Polarium Advance. Well, basically they said that the system has listed the title as discontinue.

Great.

Two things:

a) What the hell did Atlus do? Advertise it in Nintendo Power, and not release it at all?

b) What the hell is wrong with EB (well, we kinda know what's with that...).

cj iwakura

This game is out... I've seen it at our GS. For like weeks now.

ArcticXC

http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=160788 ?

AlphaTwo

Hmm...Yeah, that's what I thought so too.

The thing is that I've been to B&M stores in Canada, and none say it has arrived. Stores like Futureshop, Best Buy and WalMart have no clue what I'm talking about.

Is it possible that it's not out for Canada?

cj iwakura

Could be... do games usually get delayed between here and there?

BTP

It's been in my store for a long while now. I've never seen it anywhere else. Check the smaller stores around you.

Also, what are the differences between the DS and GBA versions? I know there's 300 puzzles but no Challenge mode, and there's certain tiles that block your path. Anything else?

PikaPuff

Never heard of Polarium Advnace. Was it even announced?

And since other people are going off-topic to talk about it: Yeah, I've seen Polarium Advance at several american stores. I think it's still in stock around here.

deadonthestreet

Polarium hurts my brain

The Tommy

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

Graviija

The Tommy wrote:

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

I think the DS version sold upward of 16 copies, so they probably aren't inclined to make a sequel.

Granted, the game cost $14 to make, so they still made a cool profit.

BiggNife

The Tommy wrote:

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

I dont play Polarium, but IIRC, if you put this in the GBA slot of you DS when playing Polarium, you can play the GBA stages just like the DS stages, with the touch screen.

BTP

The Tommy wrote:

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

This WAS the sequel. The original game for DS sold so poorly Nintendo didn't want to put out this one. So Atlus picked it up.

AlphaTwo

BTP wrote:

It's been in my store for a long while now. I've never seen it anywhere else. Check the smaller stores around you.

Also, what are the differences between the DS and GBA versions? I know there's 300 puzzles but no Challenge mode, and there's certain tiles that block your path. Anything else?

Where are you, and which stores are you checking? Names if possible?

Difference: More puzzles, more colours, no touch screen, more modes (IIRC)

Neo Rasa

BTP wrote:

The Tommy wrote:

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

This WAS the sequel. The original game for DS sold so poorly Nintendo didn't want to put out this one. So Atlus picked it up.

I was under the impression that in Japan this was an expansion cartridge for your DS game.

BTP

Microplay. And I say "my store" as in my LOCAL store. I should edit that.

And did anyone ever get 1000 lines in Challenge mode? Do you get something by accomplishing that? I just want to know if it's worth my time to go for it.

SageinaRage

BiggNife wrote:

The Tommy wrote:

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

I dont play Polarium, but IIRC, if you put this in the GBA slot of you DS when playing Polarium, you can play the GBA stages just like the DS stages, with the touch screen.

Whawhat? Is this true? If so, I'm getting it. I polarium, even though I never finished the 100 first puzzles....partly though, I was trying to space it out so I didn't beat them all really quickly. I would love an excuse to get back into it.

Trenog

I loved Polarium when I first got it. So much so that I started to see that line path being drawn over reality. It also took a good long time for me to beat the game and each time I finished I felt accomplished. If this game is nice and affordable I might pick it up.

Just say where and how much.

BTP

Wow, the game's been out for two months and there's only three reviews on Metacritic. IGN has nothing from what I can see.
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/polariumadvance?q=polarium%20advance

According to Gamespot's review, passwords for custom puzzles used for the original Polarium work in this game as well. That's awesome, despite it being a 30 digit code.

Damn, this thing must be rare! Even for an Atlus game! I don't know why I've put off getting this for myself (well, besides asking for it for Christmas).

Okay, this and WW:SM and that is friggin' it for a long long time.

Bartholamue

I did see it once at an Best Buy, but because I didn't like the other one, I passed. You could probably still buy the import version somewhere, as I doubt there would be much to any japanese in that one anyway.

AlphaTwo

BTP wrote:

Microplay. And I say "my store" as in my LOCAL store. I should edit that.

And did anyone ever get 1000 lines in Challenge mode? Do you get something by accomplishing that? I just want to know if it's worth my time to go for it.

Done. I guess that's where I'm heading off too, unless I order from Amazon...

Drez

I think the problem here, as with all Atlus releases, is that you blinked. You cannot, under ANY circumstances, do this when an Atlus game you want is due out within the next six months. Don't blame Atlus. Don't blame EB. Blame yourself and your own involuntary, autonomous biological functions.

Foolishly foolish fool.

AlphaTwo

Drez wrote:

I think the problem here, as with all Atlus releases, is that you blinked. You cannot, under ANY circumstances, do this when an Atlus game you want is due out within the next six months. Don't blame Atlus. Don't blame EB. Blame yourself and your own involuntary, autonomous biological functions.

Foolishly foolish fool.

Look man. I had it on preorder since August of last year. I've been calling almost on a daily basis.

Drez

AlphaTwo wrote:

Drez wrote:

I think the problem here, as with all Atlus releases, is that you blinked. You cannot, under ANY circumstances, do this when an Atlus game you want is due out within the next six months. Don't blame Atlus. Don't blame EB. Blame yourself and your own involuntary, autonomous biological functions.

Foolishly foolish fool.

Look man. I had it on preorder since August of last year. I've been calling almost on a daily basis.

You think that gives you any excuse? Next time tape your eyes open, use toothpicks, give yourself the Chinese glass rod torture, jam forks in your ears, pick your nose with a rubber hose, essentially do whatever it takes to stay awake and alert enough to make sure you don't miss the release. Like keys dropped in a river of molten lava, if you miss an Atlus release the split second it hits shelves, forget it, man, 'cause it's gone.

*This post brought to you by the Obnoxious Alluders' Association of America.

buimlot

is it true that you can play the gba stages with the touchscreen?

CZroe

Nintendo did this too. It was listed on MyNintendo.com as a PIN code game I had not registered for the longest time. They had never officially canceled it and so it sat there for the longest time until sometime last year. It DID launch in Europe with their PIN code program ("Stars" or whatever). I considered importing it despite owning it for my DS, but then I saw the Atlus ads and realized that it would never gain me N-cred in any way, especially when launched in the US. So, if true, you have the same option as me: Import it.

Edit: Actually, I saw it at TRU so it definitely launched state-side.

thegloaming

On a more serious note, the game got a 7/10 from GameSpot. A .1 difference from the DS version. So at least Atlus hasn't made things worse.

BTP

Drez wrote:

AlphaTwo wrote:

Drez wrote:

I think the problem here, as with all Atlus releases, is that you blinked. You cannot, under ANY circumstances, do this when an Atlus game you want is due out within the next six months. Don't blame Atlus. Don't blame EB. Blame yourself and your own involuntary, autonomous biological functions.

Foolishly foolish fool.

Look man. I had it on preorder since August of last year. I've been calling almost on a daily basis.

You think that gives you any excuse? Next time tape your eyes open, use toothpicks, give yourself the Chinese glass rod torture, jam forks in your ears, pick your nose with a rubber hose, essentially do whatever it takes to stay awake and alert enough to make sure you don't miss the release. Like keys dropped in a river of molten lava, if you miss an Atlus release the split second it hits shelves, forget it, man, 'cause it's gone.

*This post brought to you by the Obnoxious Alluders' Association of America.

You've been playing too much Bust-A-Move 2, haven't you?



Anyway, I now own Polarium Advance, just in case you still doubt its existence. $25 + tax. I'll get to it after I get to Mario & Luigi: SS, which I'll get after I get through I-Ninja. Damn, I just want to play some M&L right now.

Neo Rasa

Gamestop/EB has this for $14.99 USD now.

CZroe

Alpha Two:
Perhaps you can't find the game because you keep typing "Advnace" like the thread title.

Neo Rasa wrote:

Gamestop/EB has this for $14.99 USD now.

Should I?

Neo Rasa

Yes. If you already have it on the DS why pass up this oppurtunity to have the entire franchise in your collection?

CZroe

Neo Rasa wrote:

Yes. If you already have it on the DS why pass up this oppurtunity to have the entire franchise in your collection?

Reasoning++

BTP

CZroe wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

Yes. If you already have it on the DS why pass up this oppurtunity to have the entire franchise in your collection?

Reasoning++

And when you put both games in your DS, lightning will shoot out from your DS because it can't contain that much awesome in it.

I wonder what would happen when you put FF3 and FF6a, which was once known as FF3, into your DS at the same time? Explosion causing damage to the space-time continuum?

Evander

SageinaRage wrote:

BiggNife wrote:

The Tommy wrote:

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

I dont play Polarium, but IIRC, if you put this in the GBA slot of you DS when playing Polarium, you can play the GBA stages just like the DS stages, with the touch screen.

Whawhat? Is this true? If so, I'm getting it. I polarium, even though I never finished the 100 first puzzles....partly though, I was trying to space it out so I didn't beat them all really quickly. I would love an excuse to get back into it.

is this confirmed?

how much is it? if it's 19.99, and works as an expansion, I am THERE

SlyJoker

AlphaTwo wrote:

Hmm...Yeah, that's what I thought so too.

The thing is that I've been to B&M stores in Canada, and none say it has arrived. Stores like Futureshop, Best Buy and WalMart have no clue what I'm talking about.

Is it possible that it's not out for Canada?

My TRU has had it for months.

AlphaTwo

SlyJoker wrote:

AlphaTwo wrote:

Hmm...Yeah, that's what I thought so too.

The thing is that I've been to B&M stores in Canada, and none say it has arrived. Stores like Futureshop, Best Buy and WalMart have no clue what I'm talking about.

Is it possible that it's not out for Canada?

My TRU has had it for months.

God damn...

Tingle

Evander wrote:

SageinaRage wrote:

BiggNife wrote:

The Tommy wrote:

Why aren't they doing a DS sequel? I loved the first one, but this could be kind of hard to play.

I dont play Polarium, but IIRC, if you put this in the GBA slot of you DS when playing Polarium, you can play the GBA stages just like the DS stages, with the touch screen.

Whawhat? Is this true? If so, I'm getting it. I polarium, even though I never finished the 100 first puzzles....partly though, I was trying to space it out so I didn't beat them all really quickly. I would love an excuse to get back into it.

is this confirmed?

how much is it? if it's 19.99, and works as an expansion, I am THERE

It's not an expansion pack (as far as I know it doesn't interface with its DS predecessor at all) and it does not work with the Touch Screen when played in the DS. It's a sequel on the GBA, plain and simple. It is controlled with the d-pad which is a bit less convenient but still works, and it has some features that weren't in the first game, most notably lots of new types of blocks that add variety and more puzzles (365 instead of 100). It's perfect for the SP or Micro cuz you can just put it in your pocket and whip it out if you're in for a quick play session. I quite like it.

Alfred J. Kwak

Ah, Polarium, my first and only DS game for 6 freaking months. That's been said, I quite like it, and it stands up with my most favourite puzzle games. Glad to here they now abandoned the challenge mode and put more effort into the core gameplay. If I ever see the GBA copy for cheap around here, I might pick it up.

Illyria

thegloaming wrote:

On a more serious note, the game got a 7/10 from GameSpot. A .1 difference from the DS version. So at least Atlus hasn't made things worse.

Nintendo still made the game, Atlus just published it.