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Topics - NWR_Karlie

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TalkBack / 3DS Home Screen Overview

« on: March 18, 2011, 09:23:51 PM »

So what exactly is on this menu screen?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/25745

The Nintendo 3DS home menu works very similarly to the menu on the DSi, but it is noticeably improved. For example, you can change how many rows of applications you want to have displayed at once, optimizing the space on the touch screen. The default is one, but you can make it as large as six rows. My personal sweet spot is three, but that could change as I add more applications.

Here is a list of the icons that are on the menu when you first boot the system up:

Health & Safety Information: This contains a variety of 3D, gameplay, and general precautions about the system. Basically, all the stuff Nintendo warns you about, but because there's 3D in this, they're making it more pronounced.
Game Card: When you insert a game, this is where you go to play it.
Nintendo 3DS Camera: Here, you can take 3D and regular pictures and mess with them in a Nintendo-like fashion. We'll have a more detailed look at this soon.
Nintendo 3DS Sound: Similar to the DSi Sound application. If you leave it on, it will record what is said and repeat in a creepy high-pitched parakeet voice. We'll go more in-depth with it later.
Mii Maker: The 3DS version of the Mii channel, but this time you can use a picture of yourself or a QR code to make Miis. Also, there are more options.
StreetPass Mii Plaza: Potentially the secret best thing on the system. Inside this are two games: Puzzle Swap and Find Mii. One is a simple game where you try to get puzzle pieces by using StreetPass or Play Coins, and the other is an RPG-esque experience where you have to recruit friends to fight enemies and save your Mii. Along the way you get hats. It's really cool.
AR Games: You use the included AR cards to mess with multiple AR games, including Archery, Pool, Graffiti, and more. We'll have video and more on this soon.
Face Raiders: The not-so-secret best thing on 3DS. This game is similar to the DSi-exclusive title System Flaw, but it's made by Nintendo, which, no offense to the developer of System Flaw, means it works great and follows through on the promise of the concept. Also, shooting faces is awesome.
Activity Log: This tracks your steps like a pedometer, and also tracks your playtime for every single game, including DS games. It's rather sharp.
Download Play: Use this to take part in Download Play for 3DS or DS titles.
System Settings: No surprises here. The System Transfer option is tucked away here, but you can't do anything with it yet.

In addition to those, there are several icons on the top section of the touch screen. Unlike the other applications, you can fully utilize these when you pause a game. You see, the 3DS has the ability to do a crude form of multitasking. You can pause an application or game at any time with a press of the Home button. Then, you can browse through your other applications, and when you select one, it closes the one that is paused, unless it's one of the top icons, which are your friends list, the notes section, an Internet browser, and notifications. You can also adjust the brightness on this top row.

The friends list is very sleek and reminscent of Xbox Live. After you add a friend by exchanging the one Friend Code you need, you can check out their gamer card. The card features the player's Mii, a favorite game, and what they are playing right now if they're online.

The notes section is something that is likely seen as standard by most smart phone users, but in the world of DS user interfaces, it's a revelation. Whenever you're in a game, you can hit the Home button and click on the little notepad to bring up several notepad pages where you can take quick notes easily and conveniently. Unfortunately, this makes the MyNotebook apps on DSiWare somewhat redundant.

The Internet browser, along with some other features, are currently locked away, awaiting a system update in May. When you click on those icons, most of which are tucked away in the System Settings area, they do inform you that this will be added in an update in May.

Currently, all the notifications do is reiterate stuff in the instruction manual, which is handy in its own right. However, once the SpotPass and StreetPass things start rolling in, the notifications will be your hub to see what they are.

There are a few tricks tucked away in the menu. The 3D images that appear on the top screen when you select an icon spin around quickly when the microphone picks up noise. It's nothing fancy, but it is cool nonetheless. I never thought I'd write this sentence, but bust out your 3DS in a club and watch as the Face Raiders gang goes nuts to the beat of the music.

Podcast Discussion / Live Radio Trivia Results 10/15/2010

« on: October 21, 2010, 07:56:49 PM »

A little late, but better than never. If you haven't been to either of our recent Live Radio Trivia nights here is a sample of what you might expect. We started a little late due to adding a third host to the equation, but that gave us the pleasure of MegaByte, super-trivia winner of the past, hosting with us. While there were fewer in attendance than the event last month, we still managed to pull off a music-filled evening. Scoring was a little tricky due to NWR_TYP's private bonus question answers, but congratulations to jrlibrarian, who walked away with the prize even though he didn't guess any of the game music!

It's not a great listen due to the nature of the show with long pauses, typing noises, etc. but the music tracks sound clear so here's a download for archive purposes.

Download MP3 Recording
Chat Log

Game 1 - Golden Sun: The Lost Age (GBA)
Points to: NWR_TYP, Shaymin
Game 1 question: Which of the main party members in The Lost Age was a party member during the original Golden Sun?
Game 1 answer: <jrlibrarian> jenna
Worst guess: James forgot to record one

Game 2 - Top Gear (SNES)
Points to: No one scored!
Game 2 question: What are the colours of the cars? (All colours on one line)
Game 2 answer: <jrlibrarian> red, white, blue purple
Worst guess: <CaptainK> Top Gear 2 - SO CLOSE!

Game 3 - Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon (Wii)
Point to: NWR_TYP
Game 3 question: For much of the game "The Merchant" obscures his identity with what kind of mask?
Game 3 answer: <jrlibrarian> chicken
Worst guess: <Shaymin> Geist

Game 4 - Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (DS)
Point to: CaptainK
Game 4 question: What happens when you collect a chocobo card?
Game 4 answer: <NWR_TYP> Rescue a chocobo (from the magic book)
Worst guess: <Jonnyboy117> Karnov

Bonus Game - Pokemon Black & White
Points to: No one scores!
Bonus Game question: What kind of Pokeball does Black & White have that is new to the series?
Bonus Game answer: <Shaymin> Dream Ball
Only guess: <NWR_TYP> Drill Dozer

Tie-breaker between NWR_TYP and jrlibrarian
<NWR_TYP> Mario Kart: Double Dash (GC)

Final Point Totals:
NWR_TYP - 4
jrlibrarian - 3
Shaymin - 2
CaptainK - 1

NWR Staff can't win trivia. jrlibrarian won the NYCC Okamiden prize pack!

Thanks for playing!

TalkBack / GoldenEye Details Confirmed, Not a Remake

« on: June 25, 2010, 04:14:47 PM »

The new GoldenEye 007 for Wii will be a new experience, with inspiration and nostalgic elements from the N64 title.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23527

In a game demo with the GoldenEye developers during E3, we asked Eurocom's Julian Widdows about how the game came into existence and how it compares to the original movie and N64 title. Activision, Eurocom, MGM, and Nintendo were all involved in the decision to create the game, which is a new experience based on several sources.

Widdows: What happened was Eurocom had made Bond titles for Activision and conversations were had between Activision and Eurocom about doing another Bond game and that led to the idea of how about bringing GoldenEye back but it was a very hypothetical conversation. We spoke to the people at MGM pictures and we of course had conversations with Nintendo and Nintendo got behind the idea of this new GoldenEye so that is really where is started.

To answer the question about how much it is like the original game, it is a new GoldenEye game. I think that is really important to approach this from a fresh perspective. Its been fifteen years since the film was released. Its been thirteen years since the game was released and theres a danger there that if you try to ape that you will create something that is derivative. This is a new experience. There are lots of things familiar from the GoldenEye property. Its the same narrative. Its going to be less Cold War focused. We recognize the cast of characters. Were re-conceiving those characters. So weve got Zukovsky, but hes not Robbie Coltrane (the actor who played him) anymore, hes a new Zukovsky re-imagined for a 2010 experience.

Weve got locations fans will recognize from GoldenEye. The dam, Severnaya, statue park, the jungle location, and yet theyve all got a twist and we worked really closely with some interesting contractors, like Robert Cowper, who's a set designer who worked on the Bourne films and Stardust, a really talented guy, who brings a unique architectural perspective to the locations so you know the final location had to be this huge statuesque location in the jungle. You know the array in GoldenEye, its now a solar collector so youve got all these solar panels that are arched towards this huge array that collects the sun's rays and turns it into energy and thats the focal point for the level.

So how much of the original game is in there? Its really a new GoldenEye experience for 2010 is the best way to describe it. Lots of nostalgia points touching back to the film, back to the original game.

GoldenEye 007 is set for release on November 2, 2010.

Staff Writer Jared Rosenberg contributed to this article.

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light

« on: June 22, 2010, 07:12:14 PM »

Fast RPG gameplay.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23493

The demo for this game was limited, as it had been designed specifically for the show floor. NPC characters would guide you through the demo and suggest you ask a demonstrator if you needed help, so none of the story was apparent.

What you could see was the environment, your characters, and, as the game put it, the well balanced battle system. Leaving the town, you could see the day and night effects in the overworld. While travelling between towns, enemies encountered are stronger at night.

Battling is fast, attacking and abilities can be pre-set into slots. Random encounters are not tedious because of the ability to click through to the attacks that you intend to use very quickly.

The crowns system was also demonstrated. Collecting gems after defeating enemies can be used to level up crowns, and each your party members can wear a crown to boost their power and add new abilities. While party members have varying attack and spell powers making them more suitable to certain roles, you can modify and enhance this with crowns.

What I played of the game was a lot of fun, and so far without the usual slow pace of RPGs. The art style is novel and works well for the DS. I will definitely be playing more of this game after the release.

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

« on: June 20, 2010, 04:23:55 PM »

Detailed impressions of the Zelda demo.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23462

The E3 demo showed the new Motion Plus controls to add value and challenge to the gameplay, and having one to one control with the sword on-screen brings new possibilities.

Sword Controls

Skyward Sword uses the Wii controls in a new way, with the sword and shield controlled by holding up the nunchuck and remote. This is shown immediately as Link starts in the level and encounters biting Deku Baba plants. A fairly wide area is needed to be able to swing the sword far enough and at the right angle.

Some of them have jaws opening horizontally, and some vertically so to do damage to them you have to slice in the same direction that they are open. A golden plant later on in the demo changes from horizontal to vertical. Slicing grass. Mushrooms were placed all over the level, some larger some smaller. What was nice is that they could be used to demonstrate the sword action, slashes appeared when you sliced into them that disappeared again. It's very precise due to the one to one mapping.

The sword also charges up over a few seconds to release a beam when you swing. This may have been only when all heart containers were full.

The shield is only armed when you raise and push forward with the nunchuck. This was required to deflect attacks from Deku Scrubs. Holding the shield up doesn't deflect the attack back at the Deku Scrub, it only blocks it from damaging Link. You need to time the shield with the attack to deflect and kill this enemy.

Link's Movement

Walking around is controlled with the analogue stick as usual, with A used as the context button to dash and climb. When leaping up a wall, there is a limit to how much energy he has, shown by the sections fading on a green circle. It automatically refills after time.

Holding the remote and nunchuck together and swinging them to the side executes a spin attack. Upwards and downwards does a somersault while attacking with the sword, allowing Link to flip towards enemies to attack.

Items

Holding minus brings up the potion menu, with four slots. To take a potion you need to point the Wii Remote in that direction, directly left, right, up or down. The items menu works in the same way, brought up by B.

Five weapons were visible from the total. The bombs could be dropped or rolled along the ground when selected. The bow and arrow uses the remote to aim and nunchuck to draw back and shoot. Aiming controls worked smoothly.

The flying beetle was also selectable, demonstrated in the video with picking up bomb flower and drop it elsewhere. To control the beetle, you tilt the Wii Remote to the left or right to turn, and up or down to go higher or lower. If you hit an enemy/obstacle the beetle returns. The control here I thought was more difficult to manage, but this style of "driving" has been seen in other games before.

The whip has the same one to one control and swings to wherever you swing the Wii Remote. If you swing wide you get a wide arc, and if you just throw it forward it goes straight ahead. This was best demonstrated by sweeping away sections of the grass. Swinging the whip to a rupee and then drawing it back can pick it up.

The slingshot can be used to aim and point to shoot or Z-target to shoot. The target stays locked even if you point elsewhere, so you can shoot while aiming at a different part of the screen. The aiming cursor turns red when target is locked. In general, Z-targeting works the same way as previous Zelda games.

Combat

I got to the boss, a large scorpion with eyes in the claws. The eyes were the targets, and the claws turned and closed so you had to aim the remote to cut at the right angle while you had an opening. If one of the eyes turned red, the claw would try to grab Link and you would have to break free by shaking the remote and nunchuck. After the two claws had been defeated, the eye in the body would open up and needed to be attacked with a forward stabbing motion. Each part needed to be hit four or five times.

A giant Stallfoss wielding two swords inhabited another cave. Here the aim was to dodge the attacks and find an opening to slice in with the sword at a clear angle.

Conclusion

These impressions are from playing the demo over two sessions. The first time I had difficulty with the controls as there was not enough space to swing the remote around as much as you need to. You do need to use large enough movements for the sword strikes to register. I can see where the Motion Plus controls adds new possibilities and how the puzzles will take shape that require the use of the sword and shield in this way.

The shaded art style looked beautiful, and scaled well for larger displays. This is set to be an incredible Zelda game.

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

« on: June 17, 2010, 07:51:28 AM »

Missile returns from Phoenix Wright, but as a cute Pomeranian instead of a police dog.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23426

Ghost Trick is based in a fantasy world with it own rules, in a similar manner to Phoenix Wright. The main character becomes a ghost at the very start of the game, with no memories of his life and he is thrown into the ghost world, listening to the thoughts of the ghosts around him (as ghosts can't talk) and learning about the strange situation he has been put in. This discovery continues throughout the story of the game, which has a lot of narrative mixed with gameplay.

He gets drawn into saving lives as a ghost, in each level he starts out inhabiting a particular object, and from there he can "Ghost" to move around to other objects in the same area. Selecting Ghost mode pauses time and takes you to a mode that shows you the nearby objects that can be possessed, and their "Tricks", the possible interactions when time is restarted. Using "Ghost" and "Trick" to work your way through the level, you can change fate and use actions to affect the outcome of the scene.

Each scene shows a passage through time, usually four minutes before a death occurs, and you must work to stop the death occuring. Moving through the level, you can find out more information about how to bring about a new outcome by possessing objects and seeing what actions you can use. There is an element of trial and error, and you can retry the level if you miss a cue for a trick. A lot of the time, it is important to time your trick exactly to be able to move where you want to or prevent something from happening. After you have solved one problem and created a fate change, you can restart from that point rather than from the beginning. It feels rather more like a point and click adventure at that point.

There is a text bubble at the top where you can read thoughts from the main character and those in the scene when more information is available. This gives you clues on how to approach the level and what the outcome should be, without giving too much awayon how you should go about it.

Looking at the game, with it's comic book art style and immediate comparisons to Phoenix Wright, I didn't expect the game mechanic how it was at all. I think a lot of people missed it as the first level takes some time to complete, yet there is little real gameplay as it's a tutorial and never went on to the second level. I have to admit, I didn't figure out the final solution myself. There are many items you can trick that aren't the right solution, some make irreversible changes to the level that prevent you from progressing, and some just give you a hint.

It is a really intriguing game, and I am looking forward to playing more of it.

TalkBack / List of 3DS Titles at Nintendo's Booth

« on: June 17, 2010, 10:54:18 AM »

If you're wondering what 3DS titles Nintendo is showing at their E3 booth, wonder no more.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/23419

For those curious about the 3DS games that are at Nintendo's booth this year, here's a quick list that we compiled.

Playable

Pilotwings Resort

Xevious

Star Fox 64 3D

The Sims 3

DJ Hero 3D

Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle

Steel Diver

Tech Demo: Target Shooting

Nintendogs + Cats

Ridge Racer

Face Ace

Hollywood 61

Tech Demo: 3D Jumping

Tech Demo: 3D Camera

Tech Demo: 3D Paddle Ball

Tech Demo: 3D Challenge

Non-Playable Video Demos (some have camera tilt)

Mario Kart Preview

Metal Gear Solid 3D: The Naked Sample

Paper Mario

Dead or Alive 3D

Kingdom Hearts 3D

Samurai Warriors 3D

Kid Icarus Uprising

Animal Crossing

Resident Evil Revelations

Classic Collection

Nintendo 3DS Demo

Studio Movies

How to Train Your Dragon 3D

Tangled

The Legend of the Guardian

We should have impressions of all of these by the time the show is over.

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: Nintendogs + Cats

« on: June 16, 2010, 11:41:19 PM »

Play with dogs, throw things in 3D.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23412

I played with two of the three dogs available, beagle and labrador. The environment and dogs looked the same as the ones on the current Nintendogs games. The menu was different, with a list of supplies to choose from. There were a few toys including frisbee and boomerang, and then several outfit options such as a Mario hat and sunglasses. There were no supplies for feeding or cleaning. This limits interacting with the Nintendogs to fetch and dress up, and calling the dog closer for petting.

I didn't find that the 3D made it any more interesting. There wasn't much to explore in the demo, and we will have to wait and see what happens when the more interesting activities and cats are added to the mix.

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: Tech Demo: Target Shooting

« on: June 16, 2010, 11:06:09 PM »

An impressive target shooting game that uses your environment as the background and changes it on screen.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23407

This augmented reality application was one of the most intriguing concept games on display in the 3DS area. A piece of paper with wood grain printed onto it was placed on the table, and a card with a question mark on it placed in the middle. I held the 3DS up so that the card was in the camera viewfinder and the 3DS read the distance to the card and waited until I had moved backwards until I was approximately 14 inches away from the card.

The game mode then began with the wood background morphing into a wooden box with targets placed onto it. The box came out of the wood and the sides folded up, along with the 3D effect this looked very good. Targets were placed around the box and required stepping to the side to be able to aim and shoot at them. Basically you strafed around the card on the table, following the effects shown on the 3DS screen. After the box, the scenery changed and now there looked like there was a giant hole in the table, with targets around and inside it.

The boss that appeared was a segmented dragon, and you were required to shoot each section several times to defeat it. As the dragon was moving around, some parts would become covered, and actually moving around would help to shoot at the correct piece.

If someone walked past, this would erase the image and the game would pick up again when it could find the question mark card. Moving too close would erase the image until you moved back to the right distance.

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: Professor Layton and the Unwound Future

« on: June 16, 2010, 07:50:39 PM »

Layton returns, complete with hat.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23373

The final game in the Professor Layton series follows the familiar formula we have seen in the past. The introductory video and scripts were a little longer, with a few more characters. I played up to the fourth puzzle and found only small differences to the first two games. The mystery this time is a time travelling machine, at the same time it was invented, several scientists started to disappeared. Layton and Luke are present at the unveiling of the time machine, where the town mayor is asked to assist. Things go wrong though and the machine explodes, and the investigation begins.

The tutorials at the beginning are extensive and assume you have never played the game before, so there would be no problem playing this game before the others. Within the puzzles, the memo mode has changed to include colours and a choice of line thickness for the pen.

It's a difficult game to play on the show floor, even though Nintendo provided noise-cancelling headphones so that Luke and Layton's voices could be experienced in all their glory.

TalkBack / E3 News Listing 15th June

« on: June 16, 2010, 05:23:57 AM »

All the articles in one place.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23359

In case you missed any of yesterday's news, as some stories are no longer on the front page, you can find the links below for your convenience. Our impressions and previews page both show articles by date, so you will find the newest posts from E3 at the top of the listing.

Wii Party E3 Trailer
PokePark: Pikachu's Adventure E3 Trailer
NBA Jam E3 Trailer
Ocarina of Time 3D in the Works!
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn E3 Trailer
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies E3 Trailer
Donkey Kong Country Returns E3 Trailer
Kid Icarus: Uprising E3 Trailer
Kirby's Epic Yarn Developed By Good Feel
Metroid: Other M E3 Trailer
Mario Sports Mix E3 Trailer
Kirby's Epic Yarn Trailer
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Trailer
Nintendo Press Conference E3 2010 Summary
Square Enix Announces Two 3DS Games
Tecmo Koei Announces Four 3DS Games
List of Upcoming 3DS Software
Nintendo Discusses 3DS Game Lineup
Nintendo Officially Unveils Nintendo 3DS
Retro Studios Bringing Donkey Kong to Wii
Nintendo Unveils Kirby's Epic Yarn for Wii
Nintendo Confirms GoldenEye 007 for Wii
Nintendo Announces Golden Sun: Dark Dawn for DS
Nintendo Announces Mario Sports Mix for Wii
Nintendo Names Zelda for Wii, Discusses Release Date
Nintendo E3 2010 Press Conference Twitter Feed
Tournament of Legends E3 Trailer
Tony Hawk: Shred Revealed
EA Sports Active 2 Gets a Name Change, Release Date

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: Super Scribblenauts

« on: June 16, 2010, 03:53:26 AM »

An all-round better experience.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23355

Having played the first Scribblenauts, I was excited to hear that the latest version would have refined controls, as I found the "reversed" controls of the first game to be confusing and would frequently run into holes accidentally. I am happy to say that the control option of having the D-pad for movement and stylus for looking around the level improves the experience very much, although it is a little inconvenient switching between the B button for jumping and the stylus for input of words etc.

The format of the levels has been changed, giving more of a "game" feel to it. There is no par for each level, the counter that limited to you a certain number of items per level to earn bonus Ollars, the currency used for purchasing new levels. Rather, you earn bonuses for each new item that is used in a level, more items are actively encouraged.

Most levels are puzzle based, and hints are provided in case you are stuck on a certain level. The goal is still to complete the objective and earn a Starite. For example, the first level of the demo shows a queue of people waiting to purchase the new Scribblenauts game, and you must make your way to the front without pushing, which would make you fail the level. The hints, which are purchasable, say that you need to give each person a gift. So, you need to bribe them with items that you generate. The postman took a parcel, the body builder some weights, the barbarian a turkey, and so on.

A new feature is adjectives. If you choose an adjective that doesn't work with the item you choose, A couple that worked well were "robotic" and "fire breathing" and I generated an army of friendly robotic monsters to battle, but they weren't interested in combat. The robotic dragon required befriending before I could ride it. Another useful adjective was "immovable", allowing objects to remain suspended in the air.

The game still has many hidden features and easter eggs that will take a long time to completely discover. The time machine from the title intro playgrounds is back, and this time can take you to six different levels. The final game will feature a level editor for designing your own playgrounds for the title screen.

TalkBack / IMPRESSIONS: Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

« on: June 16, 2010, 03:48:17 AM »

The next installment of Golden Sun matches up to the previous versions.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=23354

The Golden Sun demo on the show floor had two sections, each taking around five minutes to complete. The first was Adventure Mode, showcasing the puzzles encountered in the world as you go through each part of the map. The character could be controlled with either the control pad and buttons, or stylus and on-screen icons to select powers. The puzzles combine obstacles that need to be tackled to get through to the next part of the level with rescues of small creatures (Djinn).

The first puzzle was simple and requires setting fire to a sign in order to light a fuse that lowers the drawbridge. The Fireball power can be selected using the R button or by tapping with the stylus, and the direction is controllable. Next was a series of logs and a statue that needed to be moved. The Move power is used to move the statue from a distance, with a limited radius where it is effective. With a combination of moving statues and setting signs on fire, you reach the end of the level.

After completion of this level, the demo shows a small area of a dungeon where there are sections that require moving statues to create paths to reach the end.

The other mode displayed was Battle Mode, showing three battles against several monsters from the game. The format and powers are similar to those from the earlier Golden Sun games. Attacking is turn-based. Attacks, charged attacks that use up PP, or Djinn, the small creatures, are selected for each of the characters before each side launches attacks in turn. The first battle is against smaller enemies and the final battle a larger boss.

The award for winning the battles is a village area of the game where you can walk through and talk to characters. The demo concludes with this area.

The graphical style was quite detailed and matched the game style well.

TalkBack / Nintendo Press Conference E3 2010 Summary

« on: June 15, 2010, 08:56:34 AM »

Find out more about the Nintendo Press Conference. Here are most of the announcements from earlier in one convenient article.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23313

Earlier today, Nintendo's E3 press conference brought us news of new titles for Wii as well as the official unveiling of the 3DS and its.. President of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, took to the stage and started the presentation with a slide that was clearly focused at their competitors. He said that while technology is useful, it is just a tool and it is the game experience that matters.

The first game demonstrated was The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, announced for a 2011 release. Miyamoto appeared on the monitors discussing the Zelda series and what he wanted to do with it. The sword and shield from Twilight Princess made a reappearance as he described how he wanted players to be able to control Link. Bill Trinen was introduced on stage, and made an attempt to show off the new play controls. Miyamoto thought he wasn't up to the job, though, and came bursting through the wall onto stage, where he started to give a demonstration. Unfortunately, technical problems, possibly caused by wireless interference, hindered the demonstration and caused the controls to jump around when they weren't supposed to, but we were assured that the game controls worked very well and we would be able to try this out on the show floor.

Reggie Fils-Aime returned, and next came the sports title announcements. Third party games Madden, Pro Evo, MLB 2K10, NBA Jam were mentioned before a trailer for Mario Sports Mix, with a release in 2011, was show. Games in the trailer included volleyball, , hockey, dodge ball, and basketball.

He continued with sales figures. Last December, America set an all-time record for sales of any video game system of any kind in a single month. More games were sold for Wii than any other platform ever. Wii owners play their systems more often, and more people intend to buy Wii in the future than any other system. Nintendo wants to create more "bridge" games.. With this statement, a trailer for Wii Party was then shown. It is an all-new party game with many different party game modes. Board game, balance mode, house party modes were shown. There are 13 party games and 70 different mini-games. The title will be released this holiday season. Following this was Ubisofts Just Dance 2, the sequel to last years surprise hit dance title.

Back to Nintendo titles, a new trailer was shown for Golden Sun Dark Dawn for DS, stating that the games original world had been reborn in this new iteration of the RPG series.

The next announcement was Goldeneye 007, developed by Eurocom and published by Activision. Features mentioned were split-screen and online multiplayer, 8 classic Bond characters, and 16 game modes. The face of Bond in this version of Goldeneye is Daniel Craig, the actor who has been playing James Bond in the last few years.

Continuing with third party software, Disney's Epic Mickey was demonstrated on stage by Warren Spector and Adam Creighton from Junction Point. The landscape is a world populated by retired, forgotten Disney characters and attractions. Characters in the demo included Smee and the pirates from Peter Pan, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and the Enchanted Tiki Room. Mickey draws and erases parts of the world by using paint and paint thinner. The Wii Remote is used as a paintbrush. Play style matters, and quests can be solved with different solutions. Some zones have side-scrolling, platforming levels inspired by classic Disney cartoons. A Steamboat Willie stage was shown to demonstrate this gameplay element. More information can be found online in the edition of Iwata Asks with Warren Spector.

Next was a new Wii game announcement. The new Kirby game by Masahiro Sakurai game is titled Kirby's Epic Yarn. It looks very different to past Kirby titles and the main concept is that Kirby, enemies and surroundings are all made from thread that can unwind and reform in different shapes. The trailer concludes with a holiday release date.

A release date was given for Dragon Quest IX followed by a new trailer for Metroid: Other M with a release date of August 31. The next game was Donkey Kong Country Returns by Retro Studios, rumoured before the games unveiling, with gameplay very reminiscent of the Super Nintendo games developed by Rare. Donkey Kong Country Returns will be released this holiday season.

The conference moved onto handhelds with the unveiling of the Nintendo 3DS by Satoru Iwata. A lifestyle video showed how it feels to play the 3DS. It featured Satoru Iwata, Shigeru Miyamoto and Reggie Fils-Aimed being sucked into the system. The 3DS has two cameras on the outside, a 3D depth slider, 2D touch screen on the bottom, an analog slide pad, motion sensor, and gyroscope. Iwata also confirmed that the 3DS was capable of playing 3D video, and mentioned that movies from Disney, DreamWorks and Warner Bros. would be available.

Iwata then announced the 3DSs third party titles, which included , The reveal of Project Sora (Sakurai's group) soon followed. They were formed for the reason of creating a game for 3DS. That title was Kid Icarus Uprising. The trailer featured 3D gameplay while Pit himself looked like his Super Smash Bros. Brawl counterpart. Eggplant Wizard was also seen at the end of the trailer.

Other games announced included Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, Kingdom Hearts 3D, Saints Row, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Samurai Warriors, Dead or Alive 3D, Ninja Gaiden, Resident Evil Revelations, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Batman, Assassin's Creed Lost Legacy, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, Ridge Racer, and Metal Gear Solid. A video was also shown with some of the developers of these games giving their opinions on the 3DS.

Wi-fi features of the 3DS were then revealed, with communication possible in sleep mode allowing exchange of data such as leaderboard scores. The online services will have no monthly fee.

The show closed with Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and 3DS images for demonstration. More information on these can be found in our impressions, and more detail on the press conference in the E3 2010 event images, so please check out the rest of our coverage.

TalkBack / Activision Preview Event Summary

« on: June 14, 2010, 09:24:45 PM »

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=23262

Among the pre-E3 festivities today was Activision's preview event. While we will bring you coverage of the other events as soon as we can, we wanted to share these photos with you. The preview event did not follow the traditional press conference format, but promoted the games with various related artists.

Please follow the link below to find the photos and captions.

Activision Preview Event 14 June 2010 (E3 2010 Photos)

TalkBack / Nintendo Launches Probe on Foxconn Working Conditions

« on: May 28, 2010, 07:54:51 AM »

Nintendo investigates working conditions in response to recent suicides at the production firm.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23158

MarketWatch has reported that the Japanese business daily Nikkei confirmed that Nintendo will be joining companies including Apple in investigating the working conditions at Foxconn, the company responsible for assembling Wii consoles. This is in response to the recent suicides at the Shenzhen facility, operated by Foxconn Technology Group.

An article published on Times Business goes into further detail, suggesting that due to fears about company image, clients including Nintendo, Apple, Sony, Hewlett Packard, and Dell are all running investigations in parallel, with Nintendos investigation said to have started this year. There have been ten suicides over the last few months at Foxconns largest factory, with workers there under severe conditions.

Nintendo has special guidelines in place for outsourced production, and will be conducting a special survey of the factory to establish whether the factory still meets requirements.

TalkBack / Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Announced

« on: May 27, 2010, 04:36:51 PM »

The first original Final Fantasy game for DS will come to North America on October 5.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23149

Today, Square Enix announced Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light for release in North America.

This original Final Fantasy title for DS was released in Japan in October 2009, and is a classic style RPG with vibrant storybook artwork elements, bringing new technology to the traditional RPG experience. The Japanese version was sold out within two weeks of release.

The gameplay brings new features to the series, including an Action Point Combat system that allows the player to save up action points during battle for powerful attacks. This system is in addition to the random encounter, turn-based battles of the series and takes the place of magic points. Also featured is the Crown Job System, allowing players to choose from up to twenty jobs while keeping custom abilities. Multiplayer mode is included and allows up to four players to join in cooperatively.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is coming to North America on October 5, 2010, and Europe in Autumn 2010.

WRITE YOURSELF INTO THE STORYBOOK WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT ON OCTOBER 5, 2010

Square Enix Announces North American Launch of the First Original FINAL FANTASY Game for Nintendo DS

LOS ANGELES (May 27, 2010) Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that it is releasing FINAL FANTASY®: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT in North America on October 5, 2010. Developed exclusively for Nintendo DS, this role-playing game is the first original FINAL FANTASY title for the platform.

With FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT, the FINAL FANTASY series is rendered anew as an epic storybook adventure by the creators of the FINAL FANTASY III and FINAL FANTASY IV Nintendo DS remakes. Players will enter a beautiful fairy-tale world featuring illustrations and character designs by acclaimed character designer Akihiko Yoshida (FINAL FANTASY III for DS, FINAL FANTASY XII).

In addition to the vibrant artwork, this title introduces several all-new features to the franchise, including an Action Point Combat System that allows players to unleash their most powerful attacks by saving up their action points during battle. Players will also have over 20 jobs to choose from and dozens of abilities to master with the Crown Job System a system that also changes the appearance of characters as they are equipped with new weapons and armor.

The game tells the tale of a young boy who sets out on a journey of self-discovery with his friends, only to be tasked with saving the world from an unexpected evil. With both single and multiplayer modes, FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT challenges players to take on the roles of four endearing characters who do not always see eye to eye. The multiplayer mode allows up to four players to work together and become the Heroes of Light as they travel alongside their friends on a journey to save the world.

Story:
In the small kingdom of Horne, Brandt awakes on the morning of his 14th birthday. Today is the day he becomes an adult, and the custom of the realm says that he must go to the castle to present himself to the king.

Yet when he arrives at the castle, he finds the king distraught and the youngest princess missing, abducted by the Witch of the North. With no one else to turn to, the king makes a shocking request: will Brandt save the princess?

And thus Brandts adventure begins...

Features:
The first original FINAL FANTASY title for Nintendo DS brought to life by the development team behind the Nintendo DS remakes of FINAL FANTASY III and FINAL FANTASY IV. Charming storybook visuals crafted under the guidance of art director and character designer Akihiko Yoshida (FINAL FANTASY III for DS, FINAL FANTASY XII).
Combat is fun and intuitive with a battle system that operates on Action Points. Requiring nothing more than a simple selection of commands, players can dive right into a classic turn-based RPG battle experience.
The Crown Job System offers a selection of over two dozen jobs to choose from. Players can freely customize a characters abilities and magic skills no matter which crown they have equipped. The possibilities are endless!
Help friends advance in their adventure, or join forces to conquer tough dungeons. The multiplayer mode enables cooperative play for up to four players.

FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT will be available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $34.99. The official website can be found at http://ff4heroes.com/na.

TalkBack / Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva Preview

« on: May 21, 2010, 07:54:23 PM »

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=23114

Today I watched the animated feature film version of the Professor Layton games, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, at a pre-screening. It was the first time in Europe the film has been shown, and as the voice overs have yet to be recorded for the English release, it was shown in Japanese with subtitles, using the voice cast from the games.

The film is produced by Masakazu Kubo, executive producer of the Pokemon films, together with Akihiro Hino from Level-5 who wrote the script. The story follows on from the third game, and watching it from the point of view of having played the first two games, I felt I missed some of the references. It plays out like any of the games, with the Professor invited to witness a puzzling event and being drawn into the strange happenings that have been taking place, even solving puzzles to make progress. I do enjoy the stories from the Professor Layton games, and thought this worked well on the big screen. As there is so much animation in the DS games already, the characters are instantly recognisable and it's not unlike watching the game cutscenes. Of course the animation is of higher quality than in the games and at times there is a lot of attention to detail. The story stays interesting enough to keep your attention until the end, with a few comical moments here and there.

There will be an additional London screening at the National Film Theatre on the 23rd May. The European DVD release will be Fall 2010 with the original voice cast from the DS games. Yes, you can look forward to a whole hour and forty minutes of the original Luke.

TalkBack / Online R4 Retailer Sued by Nintendo

« on: May 14, 2010, 07:13:49 AM »

The cause behind Nintendo's battle is the sale of chips that enable piracy on the DS.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23078

Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against Queens, New York based company NXPGAME. According to Nintendo, the company owns several websites that sell illegal copying products. When asked to stop selling the product, the company agreed, but later continued to sell the product under a different website address.

The suit explains that customers were sent to another website in order to continue purchasing their products. Nintendo has tried several times to stop the retailer to stop selling the products, and now accuses them of "willfully infringing on the companys intellectual property rights."

Nintendo also stated that the company infringed Nintendo's copyrights by using its registered trademarks.

"Using game copiers to play unauthorized downloaded games is illegal and its wrong," explains Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of Americas senior director of Anti-Piracy.

BIT.TRIP series creator Gaijin Games also stated that 70 percent of their audience reached their games illegally, according to CEO Alex Neuse. "When their creative works are stolen and copied illegally, some companies find it difficult to survive economically," says Daugherty.

TalkBack / Nintendo: Profits Down, Still Setting Sales Records

« on: May 08, 2010, 03:33:28 PM »

While Nintendo's sales and profits have both declined since last year's report, total DS sales are now greater than total Game Boy sales.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23042

Nintendo's recent fiscal report for the year ending March 31, 2009 holds some interesting data. Notably, sales of the DS series, including the DSi and DSi XL, came to 12.29 million units in the Americas and broke the annual hardware unit sales record. Worldwide DS sales were 27.11 million units this fiscal year, bringing the total units sold to 128.89 million units.

This year's DS sales figures were in fact less than last fiscal year, but that didn't stop total sales beating those of the Game Boy (and Game Boy Pocket, and related models) and Game Boy Color, which had combined lifetime sales of 118.69 million units worldwide.

Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver's 8.4 million units sold and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks' 2.61 million units, along with the Japan-only Tomodachi Collection with 3.2 million units, have helped to increase the number of DS million-sellers to 114 from 91 as of the last fiscal year.

Sales of Nintendo hardware lagged until the holiday season. The combination of a Wii price reduction, fewer strong software releases, and appreciation of the yen meant that total sales were down 22% at 1,434.3 billion yen. Sales outside of Japan came to 1,206.6 billion yen, accounting for 84.1% of total business.

This meant that total Wii hardware sales worldwide were 20.53 million units for the fiscal year, giving a total of 70.93 million units sold to date. This is the best sales performance for a Nintendo console in history. On Wii, million-selling titles increased to 79 from 54 last fiscal year, pushed by 10-million-plus sellers Wii Sports Resort (16.14 million worldwide), Wii Fit Plus (12.65 million worldwide), and New Super Mario Bros. Wii (14.7 million worldwide).

Despite a pessimistic media reception to these sales numbers, Iwata stated that selling 20 million Wii consoles (with plans to sell 18 million more next fiscal year) was still a good sales performance that would be a "high hurdle" for the company to beat in the future.

Iwata clearly stated his feelings on the matter. "I'm not pessimistic, and this is not a pessimistic forecast."

TalkBack / REVIEWS: My Pet Shop

« on: April 29, 2010, 09:33:12 AM »

Spend your days working as the sole animal supplier and caregiver in a town where no one has owned a pet before.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=22995

My Pet Shop is surprisingly well-polished for a game aimed at a younger, casual audience. The graphical style is bright and cheerful, with characters reminiscent of those from the Cooking Mama series, and detailed pets. The game starts off with you and your mother moving to a new town from the city.None of the people have pets in this town, so it is up to your pet shop to provide the citizens with cats, dogs, rabbits, and even penguins and tigers. The main aspects of the game are collecting these animals, caring for them, and staging animal contests. Each day, you are limited to a certain number of tasks, so after the maximum has been reached you must rest and your allowance and customer bonuses are paid. You're free to end the day whenever you wish. Money can be used to buy animal clothing, food, and lure items. The fastest way to make money is by completing tasks set to you by the townspeople. At first these tasks consist of going out and catching animals from locations outside of town. Animals are randomly encountered by shaking bushes, trees, rocks, and similar. Then the catching process begins, with options to step forwards, back, or stand still, and to use food or lure items or your animal pet to help. When you have provided the right animal to each person, they return constantly to ask for you help in taking care of the animal. The care activities, such as washing, brushing, training, and walking, are basic stylus-controlled actions, simpler than those from the Nintendogs series. They will also ask you for help in the animal contests, which have similar touch screen actions. The gameplay is well thought out, with everything from the number of tasks you can accomplish per day to the locations you can search gradually expanded as the game goes on. If you cannot figure out how to move the story forward, there is an advice mode that gives you a suggestion of the activity that needs to be done. There is a lot of variety as more locations are unlocked each with different animal species, along with new items, and there is quite a lot of detail in the tasks and the town interactions. Unfortunately, one of the main aspects of the game quickly becomes tiresome. The animal fetching is actually quite difficult, especially for rare species that can take over thirty minutes of gameplay to show up once, depending on your luck. As you have no experience with new species, it requires trial and error to find out what food and tools can lure them. Rare animals are also harder to catch in the first place, as they are usually scared and run off. It's not uncommon for it to take over two hours to catch certain species. My Pet Shop is a very well-presented game that should appeal to all new gamers, not just the younger ones. People that are used to a more complex game are likely to find it repetitive and not very engaging. The difficulty of catching rarer species, some of which are integral to advancing the storyline, is a real dampener on a game that would otherwise be highly recommended to the Cooking Mama crowd.

Pros:

Cute graphics

Controls are responsive and easy to understand

Lots of variety in locations and animals

Cons:

Catching animals can be very difficult

Tasks become repetitive

The tiger could take you years to catch

       Graphics: 7.0
   The pet models in the care mode are detailed, and the cartoons of the characters and buildings give the game a bright and cheerful style.

       Sound: 6.5
   There's nothing noteworthy, but there are some nice sound effects for each of the animals. This helps in animal catching as each animal and breed of animal has a different call.

       Control: 8.0
   Everything is controlled on the touch screen with the stylus. This control scheme is very responsive and easy to understand.

            Gameplay: 5.0
   The tasks in themselves are a little repetitive, but there is a decent amount of variation in the activities included. If only it wasn't for the very difficult pet catching mode.

Lastability: 8.0
Seeing that it takes hours or even days to catch some of the animals, it will be a while before everything is completed by the average player. The gradual unlocking of components and the progression of the story line also extend the game.

Final: 6.5
My Pet Shop DS will provide some enjoyment for those that can cope with a few hours spent here and there on wild goose chases. It compares favourably to DS games of a similar style.

TalkBack / Tournament of Legends Trailer

« on: April 29, 2010, 02:45:57 PM »

Watch the Legends from Sega's upcoming Tournament of Legends for Wii.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22994

Sega has released the first in a series of videos showing the Legends from the 3D dueling game, Tournament of Legends.

This trailer introduces the Gladiator, Marcus Antonius, Hero of Rome and the Minotaur, and BraveHoof, The Defender of Nature. Marcus Antonius and BraveHoof are two of the mythological fighters you will be able to play against in 3D Weapon and Magic Duels.

TalkBack / The Sims 3 Announced for Wii and DS

« on: April 28, 2010, 10:17:15 AM »

The most recent Sims game on PC will make the move onto consoles this fall.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22993

EA announced that The Sims 3 is in development for consoles including Wii and Nintendo DS, and is due for launch this fall. It will be based on the PC/Mac game of the same name.

The Wii version will include an exclusive beach town with unique residents and characteristics. There is also the possibility of playing with friends, competing in the "Life Moments" game to earn rewards. In addition to these features, there are several adventure quests within the towns.

The DS version will be the first to allow full stylus control for building homes and customizing furniture, and for character creation in sculpting faces and choosing clothing, hairstyles, and personalities in an extended Create a Sim mode. The Story mode lets players control a family of Sims and play through challenges.

TalkBack / Metroid: Other M Delay Official, Photo Dojo Free to Download

« on: April 23, 2010, 05:28:19 PM »

Also, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is getting pushed back to late June, and a number of WiiWare and DSiWare titles are given release dates.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22957

Today, Nintendo announced an update to the summer release schedule for Wii. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor will now launch on June 27, and Metroid: Other M is now confirmed for August 31. Previously, the titles were set for a June 6 and June 27 release respectively.

Nintendo also offered release dates for several WiiWare and DSiWare titles, including the free-to-download Photo Dojo (May 10), Earthworm Jim DSiWare (May 10), BIT.TRIP Runner (May 17), Metal Torrent (May 24), and X-Scape (May 31). The full set of releases is below.

Sin & Punishment: Star Successor (Wii, June 27): The incredible new shooter game from legendary developer Treasure, Sin & Punishment: Star Successor features nonstop action with two playable characters and international online leaderboards to track high scores. Using the Wii Remote pointer functionality, the game offers unprecedented precision in the shooter genre. Broadband Internet access is required for online features.

Metroid: Other M (Wii, Aug. 31): Developed for the Wii console through a collaboration by Nintendo and the world-renowned Team Ninja, this newest installment of the Metroid saga looks at the classic franchise from a new perspective: While much of the game is reminiscent of 2-D side-scrollers, players can switch the perspective into 3-D at any time as they explore the twisting passages of a derelict space station and delve deep into a cinematic, never-before-told story of bounty hunter Samus Aran's past. This new approach uses a new control scheme in which players use the Wii Remote controller, held sideways, to battle enemies and navigate the expansive, gorgeous environments in classic Metroid fashion, then aim at the screen with the Wii Remote pointer to blast foes in first-person and hunt the world for clues and hidden passages.

Photo Dojo (Nintendo DSiWare, May 10): Get ready for some seriously fun Kung Fu action starring you! Create your own characters and record the sound effects using the Nintendo DSi system's camera and microphone. Use your imagination to set the stage for a fun-filled fight to the finish. In a special introductory offer, Photo Dojo will be available for free download via the Nintendo DSi Shop from May 10 to June 10. Starting June 11, the game will be available for download for 200 Nintendo DSi Points.

Earthworm Jim (Nintendo DSiWare, Gameloft, May 10): The classic action platformer is back with a never-before-seen feature, exclusively on the Nintendo DSi system. Run, gun, swing from hooks with your head, launch cows, bungee jump, rocket through speed levels and more, in crazy universes that offer huge game-play possibilities. Earn bonuses with facial expression-based challenges that track your face using the Nintendo DSi camera. Put on a smile, frown or make a variety of other faces to mimic Jim.

BIT.TRIP RUNNER (WiiWare, Aksys Games, May 17): Marking the first character-based adventure for CaptainVideo, the newest installment in the BIT.TRIP series features rhythm-based action platforming, more than 50 challenges to complete and a pounding chiptune-inspired soundtrack.

Looksley's Line Up (Nintendo DSiWare, May 17): In this unique take on hidden picture games, Looksley the rabbit needs your help to find inspiring objects so he can finish the story he's writing. The objects are hidden in 3-D dioramas made up of cutout layers that shift as you move the Nintendo DSi system. Unique Nintendo DSi camera-based controls let you peer deep into the game's scenes and hunt for hidden objects just by moving the Nintendo DSi.

Frogger Returns (Nintendo DSiWare, Konami, May 17): Frogger Returns takes the challenge of the arcade classic Frogger and brings it to the Nintendo DSiWare service for the first time. Classic top-down 2-D game-play is updated with colorful 3-D graphics, a new perspective, new levels, new enemies and game-changing power-ups to dodge and grab.

Metal Torrent (Nintendo DSiWare, May 24): Compete with players around the world for the highest score in this new action game inspired by classic arcade shoot-'em-ups. Convert enemy bullets into score-generating cubes. Continuously absorb cubes to create score-accelerating combos. Download replay videos from top players via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, or if you make the top five scores, upload your own video.

X-Scape (Nintendo DSiWare, May 31): Take on an epic space adventure in X-Scape. As captain of the VIXIV, a highly advanced space tank, you'll roam the surface of dozens of alien worlds, battling the forces of an empire that is out to destroy you. The touch screen makes controlling your vehicle a snap, and your helpful robot companion is there every step of the way to help you with advice and weapon upgrades.

Hero of Sparta (Nintendo DSiWare, Gameloft, May 31): Battle like the fierce Spartan warrior you are to avoid a tragic death as you journey through mythical lands and even probe the depths of the Underworld. You will fight the most phenomenal monsters from mythology, defy Minotaurs and the Cyclops, and challenge the gods themselves!

Flametail (Nintendo DSiWare, June 7): Clean up the space lanes of floating garbage with the starship Flametail. As you wind your way through the mind-bending obstacle course, your flaming tail will ignite the piles of rubbish to eliminate them. But be careful to not get caught in a dead end, or let the barrier that's following you reach your tail. This puzzle action game is easy for anyone to pick up and play.

A Kappa's Trail (Nintendo DSiWare, June 14): Guide a little mythical river spirit to the human world with your Nintendo DSi stylus in this puzzle adventure. Draw a trail, and the little "kappa" will follow. It's up to you to ensure he makes it through the gauntlet of enemies and treacherous paths of the Kappa Trail.

TalkBack / Super Mario Galaxy 2 to Have Cloud Mario, Extended Co-Op

« on: April 16, 2010, 06:40:50 PM »

A new power up is revealed and more possibilities are promised in the cooperative mode.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22917

An update on Nintendo's Japanese website for Super Mario Galaxy has revealed a host of screenshots and videos for new features. Exploring the microsite gives you a handful of screenshots of the new enemies, videos of the red, yellow and blue Yoshis and their various interations and some of the new gameplay.

As with the original Super Mario Galaxy, it will be possible for a second person to play cooperatively with an additional remote. The below image, taken from the microsite, seems to show the second player controlling a red Luma to help squash a Goomba. The text describes the two player cooperative mode as even more convenient, with more to do than before.

In addition, Official Nintendo Magazine has revealed artwork of a new power-up, Cloud Mario. This power seems to give him the ability to walk on steps formed from clouds.

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