March 23rd, 2011

Ubisoft’s launch line-up is “full of dodgy ports”

73 Comments

And here we have it. The bittersweet confirmation that Ubisoft’s launch line-up sucks. I figured as much after being subject to a few races in *Asphalt 3D*, but now Matthew Castle, a writer for NGamer has shared:

> Ubisoft held Rayman back so no one would see how crap it is, basically. Without spoiling the score, it’s one of our lowest rated 3DS launch titles. Along with Splinter Cell and *shudders* Asphalt 3D. Ubisoft have only gone and blighted a Nintendo hardware launch with dodgy ports again.

My suggestion? Stay away. Stay far, far away. If there’s one way I can make this blog have some greater purpose, it is to fend off the disease of cash grabbing shovel-ware from launch parasites like Ubisoft. I don’t think Ubisoft is a bad company. They publish lots of good games. But they can’t trusted at launches.

That said, Mattew also shares that *Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars* “is one of the better launch games,” which may surprise some people. But it is the only original game in Ubisoft’s launch line-up I think. Even if the project was shifted from the DS to the 3DS, it might be at least worth your consideration.

This information came out the day the producer of *Rayman 3D* said that the game isn’t a simple port. Oh yes, it is. A very, very, very simple port by the sounds of it.

  • Perfection

    It’s just for the money:/

    • Harry Potter

      ^^ to true

    • Matt

      Omg harry potter! Lol that’d be cool if it was H.P.

  • CRIMSON

    Unsurprising. I like Ubisoft. That’s the worst part. I like their franchises.

    I just won’t be buying any of their terrible launch games.

  • nugget

    ive actually never played an ubisoft game, rayman looks extremely dumb to me, i hate characters without legs

    • Perfection

      Don’t ever buy any of the Imagine games. Even when they’re not rushing a game for a launch, thier games are still awful.

  • Guy

    For a whole 10 min I thought, “Hey, maybe rayman 3d wont be so bad… I just may pick it up at launch” Not anymore… not anymore..

    • cobanermani456

      Same here. I was going to get the game but I won’t anymore. And that was the game my little sister was looking forward to the most.

      SCREW YOU UBISOFT FOR CRUSHING THE HEARTS OF LITTLE GIRLS!

  • Perfection

    Ya know, even if they added only one Mario/Zelda/Layton/Etc game, it would’ve canceled out all the crappy games and people would be more excited about the lineup.

  • tony

    The problem isn´t that they´re ports, the problem is they´re crappy ones, and I mean reallllyyyyyyyyy crappy :)

  • Boba2007

    WHY can’t they just make a NEW Rayman.

    and not any of this Raving Rabbids crap…

  • NintendoAddict

    I have faith in rayman 3D, even if it is just a port, 3D, better angles, better graphics, and a smidge of enhanced gameplay, and im there! (Plus I have never played a rayman game before so that will just make this game all the better)

    • McGee and Me

      Thank god someone sees the point.

      Thumbs up man :)

  • _oMeGa_

    Fuuuuuuuck. My copy of Rayman just got here from Amazon. Methinks they made the release date for their launch titles the 22nd so they could ship out a few copies before anyone sees the shit reviews.
    Oh well, it can’t possibly be any worse than the DS port, and I still enjoyed that (sort of.)

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    • W.R

      I’m in.
      They are also more cheaper that the way better titles.

  • 3dsfan3

    OFF TOPIC- i know i posted this before but i dont think everyone read this-

    PPL YOU GOTTA READ THIS

    ssf4 is available for spot pass… that means you can play the demo version of ssf4. its very useful to ppl who cant afford the game. you can only have one backround and you can only fight as ryu but you can do all the online features! thats most of the details but i dont know if its confirmed but its on the site.

    all thanks to captain falcon. x)

    go to 3dsbuzz.com and find the article…

    • Joshua

      Technically these games don’t fit the definition of shovelware.

      They’re just bad games.

    • 3dsfan3

      well according to 3dsbuzz.com, its a downloadable demo from the eshop… and its free…

      heres the link-http://www.3dsbuzz.com/games/super-street-figher-iv-3d/page/2/

      scroll down untill you see in bold letters demo

    • Mr MC ClapYoHandz

      it has Single-Card Local Wireless Multiplayer. so if your friend has a copy and you don’t, you can play against him but you can only be Ryu and you have to be near him. no wi-fi or any other characters.

  • Ran

    I have Splinter Cell 3D, and it really isn’t THAT bad. The levels are pretty much the same as the xbox, graphics, while they arent the prettiest, are still better than original DS, and about the same as my other 3 3DS games so will just put that as “Standard” till the good games start coming out.
    The gameplay isn’t bad, tho have run into a few problems

    I am kinda nervous about the AC for 3DS, the PSP one was ok, but they really don’t care when it comes to handhelds

  • 3dsfan3

    well they SHOULD know that if they CANT make so many different games in such a low time that THEY SHOULDNT make it. THEY SHOULD have made each game one at a time… MAYBE theyre games MIGHT come out BETTER… this was a FAIL… SIGH!

  • 3dsfan3

    i never had a ubisoft game… well i think… now i know to not buy there games

    x)

  • Dave Brzozo.

    Not to be nitpicky but, “But they can’t trusted at launches” I think you ment to put “can’t be trusted”.

  • mptje

    Good I didn’t preorder this one and I pre-ordered Lego Star Wars 3 – The Clone Wars. Gotta be a hell of a game! :D

    What do you think of Lego Star Wars 3 – The Clone Wars, mate?

  • http://sharicxstudios.weebly.com Sharic X

    I’m getting Rayman 3D. I’ve made my mind.

    REASONS:I’ve played Rayman 2 and it’s awesome! Playing it in 3D will make it way awesomer! I’m a fan of Sonic,Legend of Zelda,Mario,Rayman,Jazz JackRabbit and StarFox.

    So I’m getting Rayman 3D no matter what the reviews say.

  • 3DSROX!!

    I hope they don’t screw up Assassins Creed: Lost Legacy 3D>:

  • WingedOne

    So far, the only Ubisoft games that I own are the original Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil.

  • FacestabMan

    And-that’s-why-we-need-demos.

    Demos, demos, demos. Demos.

    I said it before and I say it now, ubisoft has some great titles but they sometimes sell you fancy covers.

    I am now noticing though, that the GBA, the DS and the 3DS all came with a Rayman game at launch. And these were all ports.

  • George

    Does ghost recon shadow wars get any graphical upgrade or does it still have low level DS graphics.
    Someone please reply so i can know weather or not I would waste money on it. Thanks :)

  • KrazyBean14

    Still getting Rayman 3D. I’ve never played Rayman 2, and apparently it’s the best in the trilogy, so I’ll enjoy it, a LOT. So it doesn’t really matter if it’s a simple port considering that I haven’t played it at all.

    Also guys, would you pick Pilotwings Resort or Super Monkey Ball 3D…I like both but I only want one.

    • someguy

      Pilotwings, definitely.

    • Viggie24

      Pilotwings. Super Monkey Ball 3D is supposed to be dumbed down to be easy and not have the difficulty of the first two.

    • Mr MC ClapYoHandz

      Pilot Wings. it’s a great relaxing game. 40 challenges, hundreds of secrets in map, and a variety of vehicles will give me hours of fun once in a while :)

    • Dave Brzozo.

      Definitely pilotwings, I’ve heard some pplz have gotten vertigo cuz the 3D is so good :P

    • Magnus

      I picked up Shadow Wars even though Im a little disapointed that it is not made form the ground up for 3ds I just like advance wars and fire emblam games so much that how could I pass this up.

      I thought of getting piolet wings but opted for SFIV. Even though Im not a huge SF fan I figure I have not really played them since I was a kid.

    • KrazyBean14

      Thanks everyone! Definitely getting Pilotwings Resort then =)

  • cobanermani456

    Wow, this is quite shocking about Rayman. Are you moving that from your recommended titles, David?

    • Xuphor

      Seriously, Rayman 3D will get crap reviews simply because it’s been ported tons.

      The reviewers won’t take into account how amazing the game is (I’ve PLAYED it, it’s amazing) to people that have never played Rayman 2 before, like me.

  • Xuphor

    http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=26625398&postcount=93

    Rayman 3D is great, NGamer only says it’s crap because it’s been ported a ton.

    • Viggie24

      Thanks for posting this, I needed to see this. I’m convinced I should still buy it.

  • 3dsfan3

    man we need free demos… i know i keep commenting about free demos on the 3ds for spot pass but im really looking foward to it.

  • videodrome

    ubisoft = long loadtimes, stodgy controls,graphics tearing,pop up frame issues,glitches,bugs,freezing and thats there better stuff ,dont get mii started on there shovelware

    • McGee and Me

      PC problems?

  • Zach R

    At least play the game yourself, can 1 or a few reviewers truly speak for all gamers who enjoy Rayman? Seriously, these people haven’t even had a 3DS as long as David has so idk what they thought was bad about the game.

  • Wind Waker

    If I have yet to play Rayman 2, a game that is awesome, though gets negative feedback due to how many ports there are, should I buy it?

    If I never played Rayman 2, do you think this will be a good choice to buy?

    • Xuphor

      Yes, Rayman 3D is by a LONG shot the best 3DS launch game if you’ve never played Rayman 2, and it’s still among the better launch games if you have from what I’ve read. It has very good graphics, great use of 3D, very fun gameplay, and is the longest lasting of the 3DS Launch titles in terms of new content.

    • McGee and Me

      @Wind Waker YES!!!!!!

  • Coolmatt49

    I checked out the box for Rayman 3D a couple days ago at my local Gamestop. It does a great job at misinforming the consumer about what it is. Besides the front box art being awful, the back doesn’t say ANYTHING about it being an adaptation of Rayman 2 and it only shows CONCEPT ART as the screenshots.

    Rayman deserves better than this.

    • _oMeGa_

      Not too different from Rayman DS, the back had screenshots of the PC version, if I remember correctly.

  • Chicken Nuggets

    Seriously, they better not screw up assassin’s creed or I’m not buying ubisoft games for some time.

  • Flip

    Accept the facts. The entire 3DS is full of dodge ports

    • Chris Parlamas

      … Kid Icarus Uprising, Pilotwings, Steeldiver, Mario Kart, New Mario game, Animal Crossing, Paper Mario, and much more are just ports? The thing isn’t even out in US yet, so… how can this comment be made?

    • The Flip News

      When I said full, I did NOT mention all the ports were dodgy but several are.

  • Johnn¥

    Ghost Recon looks like an interesting game with the angles and stuff but I don’t know if it looks worth £30 :S

  • Alex Atkin UK

    May be true, but until we see the actual review how can we be sure? We do not know what they feel is bad about it.

    They seem to be more critical of the price and personally I wouldn’t get it even if it was the best port in the world at full price, so that is not relevant to me.

    What I want to know is does it rate okay as a rental or budget buy later?

  • thomas

    Dear Ubisoft,

    Remember 2003? Beyond Good & Evil, Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time, Rayman Hoodlum Havoc and XIII.

    What happened?

    • Xuphor

      Beyond Good and Evil HD is coming to 360 and PS3, POP games all are in a collection for PS3.

      The other two, you have a case there.

    • thomas

      My point was that they’ve almost entirely stopped developing original, unique and awesome games. Remakes of those awesome games are hardly an excuse, like a band finally collapsing in on itself and releasing one more “greatest hits” to remember what it was like.

  • Josh3DSUK

    I’m still happy to get Rayman 3D since I haven’t even played the original version :)

  • Jose

    Hey david would u still recommend rayman 3d ? I never played it before so is the game at least good? :-/ i really like rayman

    • Xuphor

      He should IMO to anyone that’s never played Rayman 2, since after playing it, it’s the bets version of Rayman 2 to date IMO. As to if he does or not, no clue.

  • Dmt4030

    I think Ubisoft sould have Polished and prerendered Splinter cell 3D, and Rayman 3D alot so it can look like Resident evil or Metal Gear solid the naked sample 3D.

  • Shades

    I’m still keeping my preorder for Rayman. It’s too late anyway.

    Judging from the comments, if they hate the game because it’s a port, then I couldn’t care less. I’ve never beaten Rayman 2, only rented it once and considered it on the DS. Playing an accurate version of it with ever so slightly more new things will be cool, and I do need a game at launch.

    I will also be ordering Pilotwings when I preorder OoT. Shame I never preordered it, but eh.

  • sammy

    Ubisoft make only crapgames for Nintendo and if its a big hit the money goes to produce PS3 and Xbox360 games.

  • McGee and Me

    “Without spoiling the score, it’s one of our lowest rated 3DS launch titles.”

    Just because it’s a remake from the console?

    • Xuphor

      Sure sounds like it.

  • lol

    My suggestion would be to actually play the games before telling anyone else to stay far away from them. Don’t base your opinion on something just because someone else said it. For everyone else, be patient and wait till you play the games or see a proper review/gameplay videos before you jump on the bandwagon.

  • Demigod

    Crap, I pre-ordered my 3DS with Rayman and it’s just been shipped.

    Ah well, I never played the original Rayman 2 anyway.

    • Xuphor

      I suggest reading other comments. It’s been said numerous times (in the comments) by people that have played Rayman 3D, it’s a great game. The NGamer reviewer hates Rayman, so why on Earth they picked him to review Rayman 3D is beyond my understanding.

    • Anon

      It’s not like disliking Rayman makes the framerate worse.

  • Anon

    It’s not just launch. They flooded the DS with so much shovelware it’s insane. The only good Ubisoft game for the DS that springs to mind is Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, and they released hundreds.

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