Messages

[A spanking new Nintendo Direct takes a close look at Wii U games and services.]

601

TalkBack / Wii U Direct Nintendo Games Broadcasting Your Way Tomorrow

« on: January 22, 2013, 10:20:51 AM »

A spanking new Nintendo Direct takes a close look at Wii U games and services.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33077

NCL and NoE have announced that a brand new Nintendo Direct, which will be all about upcoming games and services for Wii U, will broadcast tomorrow.

Officially titled Wii U Direct Nintendo Games, the presentation will be lead by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in both regions. Also of note is that the presentations will be at the exact same time. Japanese gamers can tune in at 23:00 JST on this site, while European users can tune in here at 14:00 GMT/15:00 CET. Nintendo of America has yet to comment on a presentation of their own.

[Welcome to the Fantasy Zone... in 3D!]

602

TalkBack / 3D Space Harrier Review

« on: January 17, 2013, 07:14:06 PM »

Welcome to the Fantasy Zone... in 3D!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/33034

This Space Harrier remake is based on the game’s arcade version, in which digitized voices greet you with classic lines such as ''Welcome to the Fantasy Zone!'' The game takes place in the Fantasy Zone, a weird wasteland that you guide your character through. Space Harrier is a third-person shooter at heart, with the player following a strict path in every level. The player tries to defeat an array of enemies, like gigantic dragons, old prehistoric creatures, and various invading aliens. At the end of every stage, a boss tests your skills to see if you can handle the next brightly colored world. Even with age, the gameplay style holds up, and is quite a spectacle.

The 3DS version duplicates the precise control of the arcade classic. Players can use the Circle pad and buttons, or use the touch screen to move the character around and have him automatically fire on enemies. The latter option should allow newcomers to ease into the game’s difficulty, and give veterans a new way to experience the game. Players can also tweak various settings to get the difficulty, screen size, and audio levels to their liking.

The game comes with added features, including the ability to select a starting level, and to save your progress at any time. The only notable gameplay omission of this version is that of any shared leaderboards. The game’s original aesthetic lends itself well to the addition 3D, and does a splendid job of presenting the depth of each plane. There used to be an arcade cabinet that would move alongside the movement of the joystick, and the 3DS version duplicates that feel exactly. You can even add button sound effects to relive those good old days.

It seemed like a risk for Sega to take the 3D Classics approach, but this version of Space Harrier excels in every way. Its iconic gameplay remains intact, complemented by smooth controls and crisp 3D visuals, and the array of options makes it a more worthwhile version of the classic than any of its other releases.

[Wii U players have the chance to get the game cheaper for another month!]

603

TalkBack / Tomorrow Corporation Extends Little Inferno Deal

« on: January 07, 2013, 05:34:56 PM »

Wii U players have the chance to get the game cheaper for another month! 

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32920

The eShop deal in North America for the downloadable title Little Inferno, will be extended until February 1st. This is what developer Tomorrow Corporation has announced to the public.

Little Inferno went on sale on December 20th from $14.99 to $9.99 and the deal was supposed to end last Thursday on January 4th. The developer has decided to give Wii U players more time, though no specific reasons were given as to why.

For more information on the title, feel free to check out Tyler Ohlew's review of the game.

[It won't be a long wait for this sequel to the WiiWare classic!]

604

TalkBack / Gaijin Games Wrapping Up Runner2

« on: January 07, 2013, 02:43:07 PM »

It won't be a long wait for this sequel to the WiiWare classic!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32919

Gaijin Games has revealed that their upcoming title, BIT.TRIP Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, is nearly complete, according to a statement posted on its blog this past Friday.

The statement reads:

''Come Monday all art and animation will be in and 98% and ready to ship. We will spend a little time working on fixing art bugs bringing us to 100% completion and then … well, then at some point we will release the game and you can play it!''

The Wii U version of Runner2 will be fully playable on the Wii U GamePad, with no further details than that given. The game includes over 100 levels, as well as multiple playable characters, difficulty settings, unlockable costumes, and secret passageways. Runner2 also includes a voiceover guide performed by Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario.

An exact release date for Runner2 has not been set at this time.

[With the first DLC hitting the Wii U eShop in Japan, I raise some questions.]

605

TalkBack / A Tale of Tanks and Wii U DLC

« on: January 05, 2013, 10:59:54 AM »

With the first DLC hitting the Wii U eShop in Japan, I raise some questions.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/32912

Some of you may have seen a recent video in which I look at downloadable content for the Tank! Tank! Tank! Basic Set. The Basic Set allows Japanese players to buy a free version of Tank! Tank! Tank! with a few restrictions. Most notable is that the single-player campaign is locked, and the multiplayer modes have very limited options. You can only choose one mission in co-op, and one stage in Versus and Team Battle modes. You are also only allowed to play multiplayer three times, though there is a way to circumvent that.

If you purchase any downloadable content, the restriction disappears and you can play as many times as you like. If you want the single-player campaign, you have to pay 2200 yen. A separate multiplayer co-op stage is 600 yen, and a versus map is 200 yen. You also have the option to buy My Kong mode. In My Kong mode, the person with the Wii U GamePad plays as an ape and smashes everything in his path, and the players with the Wii Remotes try to defeat him. It is a lot of fun, and currently costs 200 yen, though the price will increase to 1000 yen later in the year.

Unlike Nintendo 3DS software, where a special eShop wallet overlay appears on the screen, all transactions in Tank! Tank! Tank! Basic Set are done through the Nintendo eShop on Wii U. The game doesn't even provide an option you can click in-game; you have to access the HOME menu yourself and get to the Nintendo eShop from there. After this, you click on the downloadable content button in the game's profile and choose which pieces of content you want through a checklist. I find it a bit clumsy to use, as it takes a while to load everything.

After the download completes, you are required to exit the game and let it update, so that all the needed files can be installed. Although the few seconds of updates aren't the biggest issue, if we look back at the Nintendo 3DS, it did things very differently. It would go back to the game in an instant, which makes this situation all the more surprising. I have to load up the game all over again, just to have something present in the game I was currently enjoying. It remains to be seen if other games will use the same structure, and if it will improve over time. At first glance, I am not quite as optimistic as I was with the Nintendo 3DS.

[Solange is hopping her lovely way across the pond.]

606

TalkBack / Code of Princess Will Release in Europe

« on: January 01, 2013, 05:20:49 PM »

Solange is hopping her lovely way across the pond.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32894

Code of Princess will more than likely be heading towards the European market, as an USK rating for the game has popped up this past week.

The rating reveals that the product will only be playable in English. Futhermore, the game will be published by its orginal developer and publisher Agatsuma Entertainment. All signs are pointing towards a Nintendo eShop only release, though it is too early to guess at this point in time.

This side-scrolling brawler features four playable characters, like Princess Solange, as well as characters designed by Kinu Nishimura (Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors). The game is considered a spiritual follow-up to Guardian Heroes, as the exact same people worked on Code of Princess.

The game released this past year in Japan on April 19 and in North America on October 9. Code of Princess will be getting a digital release in North America on January 3, 2013.

[Marvelous AQL's action game is hopping on the digital bandwagon.]

607

TalkBack / Senran Kagura Burst Coming to Japanese 3DS eShop

« on: December 30, 2012, 11:49:16 PM »

Marvelous AQL's action game is hopping on the digital bandwagon.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32893

Following the trend of more third-party releases on the Nintendo eShop, Marvelous AQL's Senran Kagura Burst will be available digitally on January 10, 2013, as confirmed by Nintendo's Japanese 3DS website.

The website lists the title at its retail price, which was roughly 6,000 yen. The size of the game is currently unconfirmed.

The developers hope to release the game in the West someday, though they are not sure if it will go over well.

[Get three 3DS eShop classics for a reduced price!]

608

TalkBack / 3DS Downloads Slice Their Price for New Year in Japan

« on: December 30, 2012, 11:06:35 PM »

Get three 3DS eShop classics for a reduced price!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32895

Nintendo will slash the price of three selected digital games on the Nintendo 3DS, the company announced on its website.

The games in question are Denpa Ningen RPG 2, Rhythm Hunter: Harmo Knight, and 3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure. The sale will run from 10:00 JST on January 1 until 13:59 JST on January 6.

3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure is available worldwide, while Denpa Ningen RPG 2 and HarmoKnight are schedule for international release in the future.

[Interesting things are afoot in the world of the Pocket Monsters!]

609

TalkBack / Big Pokémon News Incoming on January 8 

« on: December 30, 2012, 02:37:44 AM »

Interesting things are afoot in the world of the Pocket Monsters!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32892

According to information released on Japanese television, we might see some exciting Pokémon news on January 8, 2013. This information was brought to the world by the folks over at Serebii.net.

At the end of a trailer for Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, a teaser image confirmed a big announcement, though we aren't sure what will pop up. This could be anything related to already released products, to entirely new ones all together.

As soon as we hear more on the subject, we will be sure to let you know.

[When a year gives you a ton of games, you play them. Simply as that.]

610

Podcast Discussion / Episode 19: Canichiwa Mini-san

« on: December 29, 2012, 11:10:54 PM »

When a year gives you a ton of games, you play them. Simply as that.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/famicast/32889

The final episode of the year is upon us, but as usual, nothing stops the Famicast train to arrive at its next stop! Minoru is tagging out this month, as he is very busy with all sorts of interesting stuff. This brings the two Americans guys and the one European bloke together for some holiday cheers, and interesting discussions on the latest and greatest in Japan.

Danny opens the can, for what we only can describe as a long list of Wii U topics. They start off by discussing Nintendo Joysound Wii Karaoke U, which is application that is directly available to you upon entering the Wii U menu for the first time. Danny talks about his experiences singing Wham's old time classic, Last Christmas, while Daan takes Daft Punk's Digital Love for a spin. They discuss the various options in the product, and tell the audience how cheap the experience is. Is there embarrassing proof of their musical performance? Well, you can always watch this video of Daan singing Digital Love, which is filled with all the awkardness you need.

After that bombshell, Danny continues onward with his Wii U sword in hand and he talks to the others about Monster Hunter 3G HD version. Is he finally sold on the concept of the product, or will he never touch the franchise ever again? Listen in for the final conclusion of this long running hot topic! Finally, Danny wraps up with some Nintendo Land, as Daan asks which games he exactly played and fills in the blanks here and there. Ty follows Danny up with two games of his own: Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright and ZombiU. He talks about his time with both products, though he is just starting to grasp both of them. If you are interested in some off the cuff impressions and tales of UFO catchers, be sure to tune in for the master of all the swag.

Daan tries to end off New Business on a positive note, though it is mostly contains him being bummed. He will talk about his experiences with Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper, as he is a big fan of those sort of games. If you find that fact shocking, you will not see the twist coming where he completely trashes this product. ...We just gave it away, didn't we? Oh well! To keep some positive fighting spirit going, Daan continues to talk about Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition, which he has been enjoying a lot over the last few weeks. Though the negative side of him returns, as we start discussing his final moments with Paper Mario: Sticker Star. As much as he excited was a few months back, how saddened he is right now!

The emotional rollercoaster continues as we start digging into the news, where we look into the lastest Media Create sales and make some interesting discoveries. For good measure, we have also some Monster Hunter and Dragon Quests news in there, because Japan. Speaking of Japan, Danny will discuss a very creepy Japanese holiday story to the members of the pod. Daan makes some instant connections to another giftman and makes some very creepy remarks of his own! We end off the show with talking about some of our favourite games of 2012, which include Kiki Trick, Project X Zone, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Animal Crossing and many more!

Grab a glass of classiest champagne supermarkets can provide, and toast on the new year with these friendly folks! From our side, we wish you already a gaming filled 2013, with hopefully some great surprises along the way. Also, all the swag!

[Nintendo's classy man became even classier.]

611

TalkBack / Satoru Shibata Gives a Thank You to the Fans

« on: December 24, 2012, 09:30:02 AM »

Nintendo's classy man became even classier.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32877

Nintendo of Europe's president, Satoru Shibata, sent out his warmest Christmas wishes to everyone and thanked fans for their support in 2012 in a letter posted this past Friday.

Shibata wasn't at first very sure if people would enjoy his appereance in European Nintendo Direct conferences, saying the the following: 

''Since the first European Nintendo Direct aired this April, there have already been five broadcasts that I hosted and provided game information directly to you. As some of you know, I had seldom appeared in public before starting Nintendo Direct (because I was too shy!) and in the beginning, I was quite hesitant about hosting Nintendo Direct for many reasons. To begin with, I was almost certain that no-one would recognise me when you saw me on screen, I was worried that you might not understand my English because of my awful accent (I still get laughed-at for my English pronunciation from time to time!) and I wasn’t sure if you would even be interested in watching a European Nintendo Direct in the first place.''

Despite the initial fears, he started doing it and appreciated what the fans had to say. Later on, he seems interested in reading comments after his presentations: 

''Anyway, enough joking around. I am always reading every single comment that you kindly post on various websites after each Nintendo Direct. I jump for joy when I read that someone is excited about an upcoming game that I announced. Conversely, I feel down when I read comments such as “I’m disappointed that there was no new information” or “The release date is too far ahead!” (which was the case last time…). However, whether it be praise or criticism, I really appreciate hearing your forthright feelings towards Nintendo and our products. It may just be my personal impression, but I feel like we’ve become closer to you after every Nintendo Direct.''

Even Nintendo of Europe's president wants to join some quality gaming time: Mr. Shibata says he has the sudden urge to play a FPS, mostly due to comments from Miiverse. He never played one before and couldn't really do it well with a Wii Remote and Nunchuck, but he decided to take the challenge.

'However, I don’t want my wife to see how badly I play, so I’ve been playing quietly just on the GamePad screen. It’ll take me quite a while until I can play expertly as many of you do, but my goal is to join you one of these days!''

You can read the entire message on the European Nintendo website.

[Company tries to give hope to Nintendo players.]

612

TalkBack / BioWare Says 'Never Say Never' to Mass Effect 3 DLC, Trilogy on Wii U

« on: December 10, 2012, 04:27:53 AM »

Company tries to give hope to Nintendo players.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32756

Bioware, the company behind the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises, says to not count the possibilities of both the missing Mass Effect 3 DLC and the Mass Effect Trilogy coming to the Wii U. This is what they mentioned in an interview with gaming website GamerSyndrome.

As a response to the question if players can expect the DLC or the trilogy, the company gives the following statement:''We have a terrific company in Australia [Straight Right] who did a good job putting Mass Effect 3 on Wii U. Again, I can’t really comment on rumored speculation about the game or the franchise. Wii U is a console we feel is really cool and that more Mass Effect would look great on it, so we do have plans for Wii U but nothing to announce at this moment. '' That may not sound very encouraging, but Bioware continues to say: ''As we like to tell people on Twitter, “Never Say Never.” The same can be said about the Mass Effect Trilogy for Wii U. Never Say Never.''

Mass Effect 3: Special Edition came to the Wii U on launch day in all regions, and was recieved with mixed reactions. For more information on Mass Effect 3: Special Edition, feel free to check out Carmine Red's impressions of the title.

[Shoot 'em like crazy in this western-styled download title!]

613

TalkBack / Gunman Clive Coming to European 3DS eShop This Month, North America in January

« on: December 09, 2012, 05:42:05 PM »

Shoot 'em like crazy in this western-styled download title! 

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32754

Bertil Horberg's Gunnam Clive will be available on the 3DS eShop on December 20 in Europe, the independent developer announced on Twitter this past Friday.

Gunman Clive is a western-styled side-scrolling platformer, which uses a special rendering technique to give the world a watercolour and felt pen illustration effect. The game has 16 levels as well as massive bosses to overcome. Your ultimate goal is to help Gunman Clive save the local mayor's daughter from a group of bandits, and bring order to the west. According to the developer, the game makes optional use of the system's stereoscopic 3D.

Gunman Clive is currently available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Desura for Windows PC. According to Horberg, the game is set to release on the 3DS eShop in North America in early January.

[Pikmin 3, Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion, Fire Emblem all set for the first half of 2013.]

614

TalkBack / Upcoming European Releases Detailed in Nintendo Direct

« on: December 05, 2012, 03:20:39 PM »

Pikmin 3, Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion, Fire Emblem all set for the first half of 2013.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32728

Many of Nintendo's upcoming releases from now until the first half of 2013 were announced today during the Nintendo Direct Europe presentation.

Curve Studio's Hydroventure: Spin Cycle will be hitting the Nintendo eShop on December 13, which for those paying attention, is next week. Later in the month on Wii U, lovers of downloadable games will be able to get their hands on Zen Pinball 2.

In January 2013, there will be two more titles on the Nintendo eShop for the 3DS. Tokyo Crash Mobs from Nintendo will be available on January 17 and Picross E2 from Jupiter will also be available during the month.

LEGO City Undercover will be published by Nintendo of Europe for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. The game will be hitting the region in early 2013. Futhermore, Nintendo will also be publishing Scribblenauts Unlimited on both systems and it will be coming on February 8. In March 2013, Nintendo of Europe will go all out with a big number of titles. Luigi's Mansion, Dr. Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training: Can You Stay Focused?, and HarmoKnight will all be coming to the Nintendo 3DS in that month alone.

In April, even more love will be given to the Nintendo 3DS in the form of Fire Emblem: Awakening. Later in the second quarter of 2013, this title will be joined by Wii U Panorama View, Pikmin 3 for Wii U and Animal Crossing for Nintendo 3DS.

[The wait won't be much longer!]

615

TalkBack / Scribblenauts Unlimited Will Be Published by Nintendo in Europe

« on: December 05, 2012, 02:21:16 PM »

The wait won't be much longer!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32726

Scribblenauts Unlimited will be published by Nintendo across Europe. This was announced during the latest European Nintendo Direct, hosted by Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata.

Both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions of the game will be marketed and distributed by the company. According to Nintendo of Europe, the game will hit store shelves on February 8. Scribblenauts Unlimited was a launch title for the Wii U in North America while the 3DS version came out earlier the same week.

Check out our review of the Wii U version of the game here.

[More justice could be served, if you want.]

616

TalkBack / WayForward Willing to Add More Levels to Mighty Switch Force HD 

« on: December 02, 2012, 07:34:13 PM »

More justice could be served, if you want.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32682

More levels could be added to Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition in the future, according to WayForward Technologies level designer, Chris Schroder during an interview with Siliconera.

As a response to a question on the addition of more content, Schroder said the following: ''You know it's hard to say just yet. I mean we don't have any plans, I should say that. Then again, we didn't have any plans to add new levels for the first one. If it does well and people like it then yeah we'll keep adding stuff. We can keep on adding levels if you guys want.''

Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition is an updated version of WayForward’s acclaimed platformer, which saw release on the Nintendo 3DS's eShop late last year. As the head officer in this action packed title, the player can, at the tap of a button, move all platforms from the background to the foreground and vice versa. Using this signature mechanic, you must find all of the Hooligans in each level and reach the goal.

The game is currently available on the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U in North America, and should be coming to the European side of the world sometime in the future. For more Patricia Wagon related content, free feel to check out Zachary Miller's full review on the title.

[For rough and tough platforming, we will have to wait a little longer.]

617

TalkBack / Cloudberry Kingdom Not Coming This Month

« on: November 25, 2012, 06:40:06 PM »

For rough and tough platforming, we will have to wait a little longer.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32611

Cloudberry Kingdom, the upcoming Nintendo eShop title for Wii U, is not coming this month its developer, Pwnee Studios, confirmed.

In a response to our question of whether the game would launch this month as expected, we received the following response: ''Unfortunately it is not. Looks like we're going to delay for a bit and go for a simultaneous launch across multiple platforms.''

Cloudberry Kingdom is a 2D platformer containing an unlimited number of procedurally generated levels. Depending on how well the player performs, the game adjusts the level design to become easier or harder, so that it remains suited to the player’s current skill. Although it starts off simply, it is possible to eventually ascend to levels of such incredibly punishing difficulty that even the game itself describes them as ‘masochistic.’ Chaotic four-player co-operative play is also possible, for those who desire an extra challenge.

A new release window for the game was unfortunately not given at the time of writing. The beta was made available to its Kickstarter backers on Steam.

[Listen to some free remixed tunes of some Wii U favourites!]

618

TalkBack / Fan-made Album Dedicated to Sounds of Wii U

« on: November 25, 2012, 06:31:22 PM »

Listen to some free remixed tunes of some Wii U favourites!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32608

Dj CUTMAN, a DJ with a love for video games and chiptune music, mixed some Wii U hardware and software tunes into a nine-song package.

The album, dubbed WiiU Grooves, brings music like the Nintendo eShop theme (Gone Shoppin') and the settings music (Remain Calm & Adjust Your Settings) and gives them new layers of tunes to enjoy. There are also songs dedicated to Nintendo Land, including ''Let's All Go to Nintendo Land!'' 

The album is free and accessible from Bandcamp, though you could always decide to give a few dollars to the artist, if you so desire. The Wii U is available in North America and will be coming to Europe next week on November 30. Japan will follow shortly after with a December 8 release date.

[The game is coming in a few weeks' time.]

619

TalkBack / Nano Assault EX May Be Released in 2012

« on: November 25, 2012, 08:16:05 AM »

The game is coming in a few weeks' time.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32601

Nano Assault EX will be released in the coming weeks, and hopefully before the turn of the year. The developer has recently posted updates on their official Shinen Games Twitter account.

The reworked Nintendo eShop release for the 3DS was announced earlier this year, alongside with Nano Assault NEO for the Wii U version of the digital store, released as a launch game for North America. Shin'en hopes to have the 3DS game released for the year closes, though they can't confirm it just yet.

Nano Assault EX will boast the same 32 stages as the original game, as well as modes like Mission Mode and Boss Rush. It will also come with new features, including support for the Circle Pad Pro, an all-new survival mode, more online rankings, improved gameplay and updated graphics.

If you are interested in what we thought of the original game, feel free to read Neal Ronaghan's review.

[Why? They can't give us a word.]

620

TalkBack / Scribblenauts Unlimited Delayed for Europe Until 2013

« on: November 25, 2012, 08:09:47 AM »

Why? They can't give us a word.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32606

Scribblenauts Unlimited for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will not come to Europe before the year closes. This was revealed by 5th Cell and Warner Brothers Interactive.

Reasons for the delay were not given, but studio boss Jeremiah Slaczka gave further insight on the NeoGAF forum, ''It's due to stuff I can't talk about until 2013. Scribblenauts and Super Scribblenauts were released NA and EU the same day. Trust me. I want your money. It's due to things outside of development.''

Scribblenauts Unlimited was a launch title for Wii U in North America and came out on Nintendo 3DS earlier in that week. A new window for Europe is currently to be announced.

[Connection? Out of touch is more like it.]

621

TalkBack / ESPN Sports Connection Impressions

« on: November 18, 2012, 11:46:23 AM »

Connection? Out of touch is more like it.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressions/32533

During my latest session with Sports Connection, I played karting, tennis, and European football. The first activity puts you behind the wheel of a standard kart, which you control with either the motion sensing capabilities or analog stick of the GamePad. Accelerating, braking, and drifting are done in a very typical racing fashion (activated through the triggers on the back of the controller) and you can boost by pressing the A button. The karting game is basic racing fare; at very least, it seems like you could have a decent time in multiplayer, where you can play against up to five people.

The second game was tennis, which I soon grew bored of, not because of how the game looked, but simply because of what it tried to accomplish. In this game of tennis, you have no chance to walk or even do the slightest movement on your own. Most of the experience is computer controlled—the only thing you do on the GamePad is swipe the touch screen to hit the ball, which was at least recognized well during my session—and it makes for some awkward gameplay moments. 

In European football, you move your avatar with the analog stick on the GamePad and use the face buttons to do moves. The standard walking speed of characters on the pitch is slow, though you can hold the ZR button to make them sprint. While the core gameplay mechanics are fine, some other things, like the AI and the game’s application of some rules, aren't.

Sports Connection, known as ESPN Sports Connection overseas, doesn’t seem like a fun game by any stretch. While you could have some morbid laughs about how the game gets things entirely wrong, even those won't last, and aren’t worth it—the game feels like a thrown-together package of old tech demos and experiences.

[Maybe going to a theme park filled with Rabbids ain't so bad after all!]

622

TalkBack / Rabbids Land Impressions

« on: November 18, 2012, 11:46:16 AM »

Maybe going to a theme park filled with Rabbids ain't so bad after all!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressions/32532

I recently got to play a bit of the full version of Rabbids Land, the debut of Ubisoft’s Rabbids series on the Wii U. I had seen a selection of the mini-games before, but this was the first time I had a clear look at the game.

The game offers three different modes. The main party mode lets you play with up to four others on a circular board filled with surprises. Unfortunately, the board offers little variety; you remain on the same floors, and only the location of certain spaces changes each time you play. Your main goal in the party mode is collecting trophies by performing certain tasks and by winning various mini-games. 

The various spaces on the board serve a distinct purpose. Quiz spaces throw random questions your way; event spaces come with the promise of weird, surprising occurrences; and gift spaces give you a handy item to use on yourself or your friends, such as an additional roll of the dice and a baseball bat, which steals the trophies of every person who passes by. The person currently controlling the board uses the Wii U GamePad, while the other three players pass a Wii Remote and Nunchuk to play mini-games against that player.

The next mode is Free Play, in which you can play all the mini-games on your own after you’ve unlocked them by playing the party mode. The mini-games focus on different aspects of asymmetrical gameplay; there are 20 mini-games in all, and most are really fun to play. You can also play the mini-games on the GamePad in a special single-player mode called Treasure Hunt. Each has various levels of play and adds additional tasks for you to complete. One such task may have you play all the songs of the roller coaster mini-game, one after another, while collecting special orbs, which unlock various bonus features like artwork and funny videos you can enjoy on the TV or GamePad.

If party games are your bread and butter, Rabbids Land may be something to look into. While the mini-game selection is limited, each activity is clever and fairly interesting. You may have to go through the party mode a couple times to get them all, but they are really worth discovering and exploring. The single-player component is also rather fun, with various levels of play for each mini-game.

[Consider this one a curiosity.]

623

TalkBack / Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth Impressions

« on: November 18, 2012, 11:46:12 AM »

Consider this one a curiosity.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressions/32531

Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth hasn't had much discussion. I had a chance to take a look at the full game, and the results of my play session were interesting.

For the sake of time, I stuck to playing on the GamePad. The controls use both the GamePad’s face buttons and touch screen, which feels a little odd at first. You can choose to do basic moves with either physical buttons or those on the touch screen. Both ways work well enough, with similar results. You basically spam your opponent with attacks, which becomes kind of boring. Each character has three special attacks that best utilize their abilities. You activate them by pressing a certain direction on the D-pad or touch screen, then drawing a certain line on the touch screen. You can also use Ultra attacks, which are overwhelmingly strong bursts of power.

In the beginning, these attacks are a joy to behold, and moving your character is far from complicated. I preferred using a combination of the GamePad’s analog stick and holding the stylus in my right hand to perform certain tasks and moves. However, the game lacks any sort of depth in its mechanics. After you get used to the attacks and easy combos you can do, it begins to feel a bit too repetitive when you battle AI opponents. I have looked in the menus, and there seems to be no way of changing the difficulty, which may disappoint more dedicated players.

That said, there is a lot to do in Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth. The story mode lets you play as various characters throughout the campaign. The story is based on the Secret Invasion series of comics, released 2008 and 2009, and is told in a great comic book-like style. Playing through the campaign rewards you with new playable characters and alternative costumes. In the game’s challenge mode, you have to perform tasks in a certain way. In one mission, for example, you have to only use specific moves; in another you have survive an onslaught of different characters. I had a lot of fun with these, and they seem like a fine addition to the game.

The game also has a tournament mode, which you can play with up to four other people offline and online. The other players use Wii Remotes and Nunchuks to control their superheroes. Marvel Avengers also supports off-TV play, and its visuals looked sharp on both the TV and GamePad.

Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth certainly intrigued me, though I wonder if its various game modes can make up for the lack of depth in its combat. It certainly wasn't a bad game by any stretch, though I do feel that it’s more suited to a younger audience.

[Better than the demo? Yes. A worthwhile experience? Far from it.]

624

TalkBack / Puyo Puyo Mini Version Review

« on: November 17, 2012, 11:54:25 AM »

Better than the demo? Yes. A worthwhile experience? Far from it.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/32519

The versions of Puyo Puyo!! 20th Anniversary on Nintendo systems were fine games. While the content of each was similar, the craft put into their additional features justified the retread. Almost one year later, with a special budget version of these games coming in December, Sega felt it necessary to release a ''mini'' version of the software, the second time they have done so on Nintendo systems (see Phantasy Star Zero on Nintendo DSiWare a couple years ago). My playthrough of Puyo Puyo!! Mini version was interesting, but left a lot to be desired.

The full game, Puyo Puyo!! 20th Anniversary, features 25 stories from a variety of characters in the franchise. In Mini Version, you only have the option to just play as a single one. You play through eight stages, with each culminating in a Puyo Puyo battle against another character. At the end of each stage, you receive a rank ranging from F to S. While certainly fun to play through, Mini Version lacks much of the content of the main experience. The full game has many different types of battles, but only three appear here.

The first is just your regular game of Puyo Puyo, though giving the player as many garbage Puyos as possible seems to be main focus here. Even if you build up combos, you won't get rid of them. The second mode actually allows you to get rid of the garbage so that you can swiftly bring doom upon your opponent. The final option is similar to the second, but at random points rewards you with Fever Time, which gives you easy combos. Mini Version also includes a special four-way mode in which you have to work together in teams to burden the other team with as much garbage as possible, which you do by building up combos as quickly as possible to form a big magical attack. While this all seems fine, you can only play these games alone, and can choose from only four characters, which are same ones available in the eShop demo.

Mini Version’s gameplay is fun and responsive, but that isn't exactly anything new. The visuals are as sharp as ever, though the 3D effect doesn't add much. The music has a cheery, upbeat tone, but there are just a few songs, and they repeat quite a lot. The game also lacks any way to modify settings—20th Anniversary let you go crazy with that stuff, but Mini Version doesn't seem interested in anything like that.

Puyo Puyo!! Mini Version is a simple experience with very little to return to. This could have been a neat introduction to newcomers, as well as a chance for fans to get a better feel for the game, but while the main aspects of it are fine, playing through its limited modes is an experience I can't recommend.

[Shared downloads, individual player saves, and much more!]

625

TalkBack / Nintendo Network IDs Detailed, Up To 12 Accounts on System

« on: November 07, 2012, 07:23:09 AM »

Shared downloads, individual player saves, and much more!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/32403

Up to 12 different Nintendo Network IDs can be stored on a single Wii U system. This news was revealed during the Japanese Nintendo Direct earlier today.

To activate a Nintendo Network ID, you will needed to send a few necessary details to Nintendo, including a username, password, e-mail address, date of birth and your gender. Most features on the Wii U system require a Nintendo Network ID, so it will be necessary to set one up from the get-go.

In each of these 12 accounts, everyone will have their own list of recommendations on the Miiverse, game save data and internet bookmarks. Downloaded Nintendo eShop games are shared across all accounts on a single Wii U system, there is no need to pay and download them again. You are allowed to play the games that other people on your system have purchased.

Nintendo's Wii U system will release in North America first on November 18, and later in Europe on the 30th. Japan will get their hands on the system on December 8.