Messages

[Justin doesn't think Nintendo's currently proposed use of NFC figures is very compelling.]

201

TalkBack / AmiiBoo: The Currently Lackluster Implementation of Nintendo's NFC Figures

« on: August 07, 2014, 06:21:34 AM »

Justin doesn't think Nintendo's currently proposed use of NFC figures is very compelling.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/38237/amiiboo-the-currently-lackluster-implementation-of-nintendos-nfc-figures

We've known for a while that Nintendo has been planning to dabble in the realm of NFC figures. I mean, there is a NFC reader right on the Wii U GamePad. Last year the Big N even had a test run of sorts with Pokémon Rumble U figures.

At E3 two months ago, Nintendo blew the lid off their NFC figures, dubbed Amiibo. I've had plenty of time to think about it now and, quite frankly, I'm not impressed.

While Nintendo has confirmed that Amiibo will be used in a variety of different games, they only discussed how they will work in their debut title, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Basically, they allow the player to let computer controlled characters (the Amiibo) duke it out and to fight against or alongside human players. Playing with Amiibo characters in game will slowly raise the computer-controlled character’s to level 50, well beyond that of the level nine cap in the game.

My problem with this is that the actual implementation in the game environment is extremely boring. Most people do not buy Smash Bros. in order to play against computer-controlled opponents. Now, with Amiibo, Nintendo is asking players to pay a premium to experience this element at its fullest.

There is a possibility of Amiibo implementation in Smash Bros. taking off in some ways. It would be interesting to see Amiibo only tournaments, or team tournaments where a human must compete alongside their Amiibo. However, I'm sure if these things do happen they will become side events and not taken very seriously.

Other than their in game implementation, I also have a few concerns about the actual Amiibo figures. First, the prototype figures appear to be quite fragile. I've already seen a few broken ones in Nintendo's cases. I hope the final versions are sturdier.

Second, is the Amiibo figure packaging. Many of you know I'm a Nintendo collector. I've also spoken to a few other collectors as well and many of us are worried that it may be impossible to use the figures while they are still in their package. This would put many of us in the unfortunate position of having to either open our Amiibo for use, or to leave them sealed and useless for eternity.

The good news is the figures themselves look nice and they will work with multiple games across Nintendo platforms. Additionally, since Nintendo has stated there will be figures for each Smash Bros. character on the roster, many lesser characters could, for the first time, come to life in the physical world.

Hope is also on the side of those who want Amiibo to be implemented in a more exciting way. The truth is we currently don’t have any idea how Amiibo figures will be used in other games, or in games they aren’t from. This is extremely important for the product line since it will determine the true value proposition of each figure moving forward.

In short, Nintendo's Amiibo figures seem like a great idea on paper, but the currently proposed implementation in their first game, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, is very unexciting. Nintendo had the chance to wow me with their initial use and presentation, but they didn't. Hopefully, moving forward, the in game use of Amiibo figures becomes much more exciting. I just hope we hear about it sooner rather than later.

[Pokémon X and Y players only have a short period of time to get this one.]

202

TalkBack / Poké Ball Pattern Vivillon Giveaway Has Begun in North America

« on: August 06, 2014, 01:19:04 PM »

Pokémon X and Y players only have a short period of time to get this one.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/38235/poke-ball-pattern-vivillon-giveaway-has-begun-in-north-america

A Poké Ball Pattern Vivillon in now being given away to North American Pokémon X and Y players over the game’s Mystery Gift Internet option. Those interested better hurry though, as the promotion will end on August 12.

This rare Vivillon variety is being given out to players in honor of the re-launch of the Pokémon Center online store.

The Poké Ball Pattern Vivillon cannot be obtained in the Pokémon games through any other means, making it exceptionally rare. The Poké Ball pattern marks the 20th variety of Vivillon to date. Last month, through a similar promotion, a Fancy Pattern Vivillon was sent out in a similar manor.

Another Pokémon distribution event, giving out Heracross and Pinsir, is also scheduled to take place later this month.

[Celebrating 22 years of Kart action.]

203

TalkBack / Super Mario Kart Now on Wii U Virtual Console in North America

« on: August 06, 2014, 01:14:05 PM »

Celebrating 22 years of Kart action.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/38233/super-mario-kart-now-on-wii-u-virtual-console-in-north-america

Super Mario Kart is now available on the Wii U Virtual Console in North America. The Super Nintendo classic costs $7.99.

Super Mario Kart has been released on the Wii U Virtual Console in honor of the game’s upcoming 22nd anniversary. It's already been released in Japan back in 2013, and in Europe this past March.

[Gotta Buy’em All!]

204

TalkBack / Pokémon Center Online Store Reopens

« on: August 06, 2014, 01:08:19 PM »

Gotta Buy’em All!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/38234/pokemon-center-online-store-reopens

The Pokémon Center online store has reopened today after being closed for over six years.

The store, found at PokemonCenter.com, features Pokémon items and merchandise separated into various categories such as Apparel, Accessories, Plush, Home & Decor, Video Game, and Trading Card Game. Pokémon fans interested are encouraged to take a look at the site immediately since some items are already selling out.

[The first new Metroid product from the company in nearly four years.]

205

TalkBack / Light Suit Samus Statues Now Available for Pre-Order from First 4 Figures

« on: July 29, 2014, 07:27:13 AM »

The first new Metroid product from the company in nearly four years.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/38173/light-suit-samus-statues-now-available-for-pre-order-from-first-4-figures

Two new Light Suit Samus statues have just been put up for pre-order from high end figure manufacturer First 4 Figures. The figures are part of a new 1/4th scale line and are the first Metroid figures produced by First 4 Figures in nearly four years.

The standard version of the Light Suit Samus figure stands at 20 inches tall, costs $339.99, and is limited to 2,500 pieces. The Exclusive version, only available from the First 4 Figures site, is also 20 inches tall, but is jam packed with LEDs within Samus and the base. The Exclusive version costs $364.99 and is limited to 750 pieces.

Both figures are currently scheduled to ship in the first quarter of 2015.

[Take a look at Nintendo World Store exclusive t-shirts and more.]

206

TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 7/24/2014

« on: July 24, 2014, 05:20:00 AM »

Take a look at Nintendo World Store exclusive t-shirts and more.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/38136/nintendo-collectors-journal-7242014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

I went to the Nintendo World Store in New York City again and scored a ton of exclusive stuff. The store is a great place to get cool items and, if you are into Nintendo goods, it's a place you need to stop by if you visit the city. Of course, not all the items in today's video are exclusive, but that doesn't make them any less cool. Enjoy!

[A look at a new picture book filled with Mario games and merchandise.]

207

TalkBack / Mario Goodies Collection Book Review

« on: July 18, 2014, 08:33:29 AM »

A look at a new picture book filled with Mario games and merchandise.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/38089/mario-goodies-collection-book-review

The Mario Goodies Collection book was recently released and is has 255 full- color print pages full of Mario games and merchandise. The book’s pictures all come from Japanese Mario collector Mitsugu Kikai, who currently has the Guinness World Record for the largest Mario collection.

The book is divided into 8 “Worlds,” or chapters, that focus on different aspects of this enormous collection. The chapters are Video Games, Books, Video & Audio, Figurines & Plushies, Life Accessories, Toys, Collector Goodies, and Foreign Goodies.

As a collector myself, I was excited to see what Mario merchandise exists that I am unaware of. To be honest, you will learn that there is a lot. Mitsugu Kikai clearly has a vast concentration of Japanese-only items, many of which are probably obscure here in the West. That’s not to say there aren’t non-Japanese items in the book there are some, but you should understand that this book has a vast focus on Japanese goods.

While it always brought a smile to my face to see items I do own on the pages of The Mario Goodies Collection, I was really hoping to learn a lot more about the stuff I don’t have. Sadly, you won’t learn too much. Each page has a few sentences written about a certain items featured around the text, but it usually isn’t enough to really give the reader a true understanding of what they are looking at.

One of the weird things about this book is that it isn’t only in English, but it’s also in French. Each page has the primary text in French, and either beside or below it you will find the English translation. While I’m sure this makes the book more marketable throughout the world, I found having a bunch of text I couldn’t read to be distracting.

The Mario Goodies Collection also, sadly, has a few misleading statements, one of which I’m sure is factually wrong . However, these can easily be overlooked due to the contents of the book.

It’s because of these problems that I have a hard time recommending the Mario Goodies Collection to anyone but the most diehard Mario fan. The book does, however, make an excellent coffee table book due to the massive amount of images to be found throughout.

The Mario Goodies Collection is available in both paperback, and a limited edition hard cover known as the “Tanuki Edition.” After handling both versions I have a hard time recommending the paperback, as the hardcover variant, which is limited to a scant 150 copies, is so much nicer. Regardless, the book is available from the publisher’s site.

One thing I should mention is that I received a free paperback copy of the Mario Goodies Collection along with my purchase of The History of Mario book. This was unexpected and I don’t know if it’s something the publisher, Pix’n Love, is going to continue to do. Regardless, my statement still stands that the hardcover version of the Mario Goodies Collection is the way to go, but who can complain about a free paperback copy?

[We take a look at the long-awaited English translation of the book that covers Mario’s early years.]

208

TalkBack / The History of Mario Book Review

« on: July 17, 2014, 05:56:20 AM »

We take a look at the long-awaited English translation of the book that covers Mario’s early years.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/38088/the-history-of-mario-book-review

It’s no secret that I’ve been anxiously awaiting the English translation of The History of Mario. The book was originally released in French back in 2011 and claims to give a detailed history of Mario’s origins starting in 1981 and his rise to fame through 1991.

So now that The History of Mario has been released in English, was it worth the wait? In short, yes. The book doesn’t merely start out with a boring description of Mario’s first game. Instead, it beautifully describes the situation surrounding the arcade industry and Nintendo as a rising global company. From the first chapter, readers will learn why Nintendo’s game Radar Scope failed to be a hit in North America, like it had been in Japan, and how this led to the creation of Donkey Kong, which marked Mario’s first appearance (and was Nintendo’s first overseas hit).

It’s from that point that readers will gain a greater understanding of how the success of Donkey Kong led to Nintendo having its first marketable characters and how this changed their business operations on many levels. Why Donkey Kong, who was viewed as the star of the game, fell from the leading role and how Mario was, though in some ways forcefully, pushed to a leading role.

The book continues by describing the development and influence of several Mario titles, most importantly Super Mario Bros. I say “most importantly” because I still feel this is the most influential game ever made. However, reading this book will teach readers what games influenced Miyamoto and Tezuka’s NES masterpiece!

Finally, the book goes through the creation of Super Mario Bros. 2 (The Lost Levels), Super Mario USA, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World. Sadly, the book ends on what I consider a low note by describing the creation of, and subsequent failure, that was Super Mario Bros.: The Movie .

To say that The History of Mario only describes these things would sell it short. There is much more information within these pages and it’s not just about Mario. It really does allow the reader to take a glimpse behind Nintendo’s iron curtain and gives a greater understanding of the company during one of the most important periods of its nearly 125 year history. It’s for this reason that I don’t just recommend this book to those wishing to learn more about Mario, it’s also a great read for anyone interested in Nintendo history as well.

Despite my high praise, the book does have a few flaws. For starters, The History of Mario does have a European flair  that is unmistakable. A few of the dates given in the book can be a bit confusing since they are European, but this only happens in a few instances. This is, however, understandable considering the book was written by a Frenchman.

The book also has a few typos scattered about. The worst offender is that a chapter title in the table of contents is still in French despite having an English translation when you get to that chapter in the book, which feels like a strange oversight.

Finally, there are few minor factual flaws that I found in the book. However, they are extremely minor and only someone as anal about Nintendo history as me would probably notice and care . I also found that one of the many images in the book, claiming to depict the Famicom game Devil World, instead is of a game that wasn’t even developed by Nintendo.

Even though there are some minor flaws, The History of Mario still gets my full approval. If you are a Mario or Nintendo fan you owe it to yourself to read it. You may know some of the stories mentioned in it, but The History of Mario lays it out in such a way that you will come away understanding the cause and effect of these events and how they led to other important moments in Nintendo history. It’s truly fascinating.

Those interested should definitely head on over to the publisher’s site  and order the 426 page book immediately since the English translation is currently limited to a low print run of 500 copies. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

[The latest Club Nintendo Rewards can be seen in this week's episode.]

209

TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 7/17/2014

« on: July 17, 2014, 04:30:16 AM »

The latest Club Nintendo Rewards can be seen in this week's episode.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/38086/nintendo-collectors-journal-7172014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

This week I show off some of the latest rewards from Club Nintendo. I've been holding on to some of these for a few months waiting for the right time to release this special episode, so I hope you enjoy. The fact that the Club Nintendo 2014 year-end rewards were announced this week is a complete coincidence. Enjoy!

[Take a closer look at the two new Tanooki Mario statues from First 4 Figures.]

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TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 7/10/2014

« on: July 10, 2014, 05:00:42 AM »

Take a closer look at the two new Tanooki Mario statues from First 4 Figures.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/38035/nintendo-collectors-journal-7102014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

This week is a special episode where I focus solely on the two new Tanooki Mario statues from First 4 Figures. They are the first entries by the company in the Super Mario line of figures, so more are sure to come in the future. However, for the time being we will have to be content with looking at these beautiful new pieces. Enjoy!

[Mario Kart 8 promos, NES boxes, hardware, accessories, plush, toys, and more Nintendo goods this week.]

211

TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 7/3/2014

« on: July 03, 2014, 05:09:08 AM »

Mario Kart 8 promos, NES boxes, hardware, accessories, plush, toys, and more Nintendo goods this week.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37986/nintendo-collectors-journal-732014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

This week I show off a ton of Nintendo items such as NES boxes, hardware, accessories, plush, toys, and more. Though some of the most exciting new additions are the Mario Kart 8 promo items that were available at various retail outlets. I also have to give a very special thanks to Jared of Nintendo World Report for sending me the rare, and awesome, Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition set that was only available at the Nintendo World Store. Jared, you're the man!

[Learn all about the playable characters in the E3 2014 Super Smash Bros. demo.]

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TalkBack / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS E3 2014 Character Guide

« on: July 01, 2014, 05:32:54 AM »

Learn all about the playable characters in the E3 2014 Super Smash Bros. demo.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37623/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-n-3ds-e3-2014-character-guide

The E3 2014 demos for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS contained 24 playable characters and we here at Nintendo World Report had ample time to check out all of them. If you're curious to see what we thought of each character, whether it's an old favorite like Fox and Link or one of the newcomers like Mega Man and Little Mac then read on!

[Check out Nintendo swag from E3, Smash-Fest, and more.]

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TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 6/26/2014

« on: June 26, 2014, 05:33:10 AM »

Check out Nintendo swag from E3, Smash-Fest, and more.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37923/nintendo-collectors-journal-6262014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

This week I show off the cool Nintendo swag I managed to pick up at E3, the Super Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament, and the Smash-Fest event at Best Buy. Most of it is, shockingly, Super Smash Bros. related. I say shockingly because until these events there hasn't been much Smash Bros. merchandise. Enjoy!

[We have some of the first prototype packaging images of Nintendo's upcoming Amiibo figures.]

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TalkBack / Amiibo Prototype Packaging Revealed

« on: June 11, 2014, 09:04:28 PM »

We have some of the first prototype packaging images of Nintendo's upcoming Amiibo figures.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37780/amiibo-prototype-packaging-revealed

We have taken some of the first images of the prototype packaging for Nintendo's upcoming line of NFC figures known as Amiibo.

We managed to get prototype packaging pictures for Wii Fit Trainer, Pikachu, Kirby, Pit, Villager, and Princess Peach. Just please keep in mind, the back of these packages were completely blank, so you aren't missing anything there.

So do you like where Nintendo is going with the Amiibo packaging? Anything you wish they would change? Let's hear about it in the comments section below.

[Could this smaller game secretly be a piece of the new Star Fox?]

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TalkBack / Star Fox Logo Found in Miyamoto's Project Guard on Wii U

« on: June 11, 2014, 08:28:00 PM »

Could this smaller game secretly be a piece of the new Star Fox?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37779/star-fox-logo-found-in-miyamotos-project-guard-on-wii-u

A Star Fox logo was found within Miyamoto's upcoming game titled Project Guard. The logo, which was discovered by a NWR staffer attending E3, can be found on the top of one of the security cameras the player can control.

Images of the Star Fox logo found within Project Guard, both zoomed in and out, can be seen below.

So is Project Guard actually just a piece of the upcoming Star Fox Wii U title? Only time will tell.

[We were there, in person, to witness the madness.]

216

TalkBack / Super Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament Impressions

« on: June 10, 2014, 09:07:00 PM »

We were there, in person, to witness the madness.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37756/super-smash-bros-invitational-tournament-impressions

I'm sure many of you experienced the Super Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament through the live stream offered from Nintendo, but I'm here to tell you what it was like in person. That's right, I witnessed the madness up close.

Upon entering the Nokia theater I was handed a giant book that featured all the playable characters in the Super Smash Bros. tournament. I had no idea what this was for, but I was happy to get any sort of swag. When I sat in my seat I was immediately impressed with the lighting and stage set up. As a big Smash Bros. fan, it just felt good to be in a building with people as hyped up for the new games as I was.

I've been in some Super Smash Bros. tournaments before, and have even competed in the finals. I have heard roars of the crowd behind me as I smashed my opponent with massive attacks. Sadly, my experience pales in comparison to what the people playing the game must have felt. It was awesome hearing a giant theater filled with people cheer and roar as exciting moments happened during the competition. A cool added featured, that you may have missed when watching at home, was when a player got a Smash Ball strobe lights would flash from the ceiling all over the theater.

The book, I mentioned earlier, was actually used for voting for fan favorite characters during the tournament. Fans would also hold them up to show everyone who they were rooting for. This was a great idea and got many of the people attending the event involved in a way that allowed them to participate to some degree.

Overall, the event was fun and you could tell the fans were very into it. Sure, the tournament had a bunch of people playing a game they don't know too well, and with items, so the results were sure to be a bit random. However, that wasn't the point. The Smash Bros. Invitational Tournament was meant to be a fun experience that would bring fans together and serve as a showcase for the new games. Mission accomplished Nintendo. Just don't be scared to do this in the future because sometimes it's important to make your fans happy with events like this.

[Will this highly anticipated Wii U title be a smash hit?]

217

TalkBack / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U E3 Hands-on Preview

« on: June 10, 2014, 09:32:00 AM »

Will this highly anticipated Wii U title be a smash hit?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/hands-on-preview/37722/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u-e3-hands-on-preview

The wait is over and Nintendo has finally allowed us to get our hands on the highly anticipated Wii U version of Super Smash Bros.. At a glace, the base game is exactly how you remember it in the past iterations: Nintendo's greatest all-stars are pitted against each other in different arenas and try to knock one another off the screen.

For the E3 demo, 20 characters are available to choose from (the same characters available in the Smash Bros. Invitational) and short timed matches with items are played. All matches are also played with a GameCube controller.

You may, however, be wondering how this version of the game feels in comparison to the other titles in the Super Smash Bros. series. After playing several matches I feel that the Wii U game feels like a modified version of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but before you jump to conclusions let me elaborate. Smash on Wii U is faster than Brawl and lessens the "floaty" feel of the characters. As a result, the characters have a heavier feel to them than in Brawl. Additionally the speed of a player's character when fast falling seems to have been drastically increased.

Returning to a ledge, after being knocked off, also feels more like Brawl at this point. Recovery moves still let players "latch" to the edge of the stage and seem to be somewhat forgiving. With that said, the increased weighty feel of characters, along with the increased fast falling speed, do make it harder to recover than in Brawl. I know many people felt it was hard to die in Brawl, so this may be a healthy compromise that players will come to accept.

The demo is filled with a mixture of stages. Some are neutral, and don't seem to move too much, while others are more dynamic in ways similar to the Isle Delfino and Castle Siege stages from Brawl. Luckily, as far as I'm concerned, no Pokéfloat type levels are here, but I know they are coming.

The items also appear to be a healthy mix of new and old. The new Bullet Bill item appeared to be extremely powerful and as soon as I threw it it launched across the screen knocking out many foes in its path. Awesome.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is also an extremely gorgeous looking game. Really, the images and videos online don't do it justice and the HD graphics really put the older versions to shame.

I'm sure you're wondering about how all the characters feel as well. At the time of the writing I haven't tried them all, but I will make a few early comments. Mario feels very familiar and was a nice safe choice for beginners. Rosalina & Luma seem to be a very hard character to learn, but I am extremely interested in learning how deep this character really is. Little Mac, as predicted, is a power house with limited range and recovery abilities. Mega Man may have a ton of projectiles, but he seems to have a lot of animation delay after preforming them (he also has a Proto Man color scheme). Pikmin & Olimar's new recovery, using the Flying Pikmin, is fantastic, but the fact that he only has three Pikmin out at a time will take some getting used to.

Those wanting more in depth impressions of each playable character should keep checking back to NintendoWorldReport.com for a full impressions list coming in the near future.

Overall, this should be taken as an extremely early look at the game. Smash Bros. is not an easy title to give first impressions for considering the massive number of variables in the game, including balance, which take thousands of hours to really comprehend. Bottom line, the game is damn fun and you should all be excited to play it.

[Ten years ago, something special was brewing within Nintendo.]

218

TalkBack / Nintendo Needs Another Revolution

« on: June 06, 2014, 12:58:27 PM »

Ten years ago, something special was brewing within Nintendo.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/37620/nintendo-needs-another-revolution

Ten years ago, Nintendo started a revolution that paved the way for some of their best-selling systems of all time. At E3 2004, Nintendo held what can easily be considered their best press conference ever. The GameCube was clearly struggling and the company promised to talk about a new dual screen handheld device.

At the start of the event, a new face hit the stage. It was Reggie Fils-Aime, and he said, “My name is Reggie, I’m about kickin’ ass, I’m about taking names, and we’re about making games.”

This one line managed to reinvigorate Nintendo fans worldwide. It was a boost of energy. You see, Reggie made it seem like Nintendo was going to come back swinging at their competitors harder than ever. Even during the press event, Reggie directly bashed Sony and Microsoft. This is what Nintendo fans wanted to see and hear.

Then, not only did Nintendo showcase a ton of first and third party software across both the GameCube and Game Boy Advance, we were shown the future of portable gaming in the form of the Nintendo DS. We were told about its many functions, backwards compatibility with Game Boy Advance, touch screen, local and Wi-Fi wireless multiplayer, its games, and more.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata also took the stage to talk about how proud he was of Nintendo’s past successes, and how DS would change the industry all over again. He then went on to talk about the future of Nintendo console gaming, and how the device would create a gaming revolution.

At the end of the presentation, Nintendo revealed a new Zelda title, Twilight Princess, with more realistic graphics. This was clearly an attempt to satisfy fans that didn’t like Wind Waker’s art style, but at the same time, it told fans Nintendo was listening and ready to deliver what they wanted.

The end result was that the Nintendo DS and Wii (Revolution) ended up being phenomenally successful devices that brought great wealth and prosperity to the company. Nintendo delivered on all their promises, like them or not.

So here we are, 10 years later. The 3DS is doing all right, but the Wii U is in a worse position than the GameCube ever was. During that press conference at E3 2004, Reggie Fils-Aime also said, “It’s a new day. A new day for me, and a new day for Nintendo.” Well Nintendo, we need to have yet another new day. The fans need another boost of energy, and another revolution. Hopefully, we hear something about it at E3 in a few days.

[We lay out the remaining possible newcomers for the Wii U and 3DS versions of Super Smash Bros.]

219

TalkBack / Possible Remaining Smash Bros. Newcomers

« on: June 05, 2014, 05:01:02 AM »

We lay out the remaining possible newcomers for the Wii U and 3DS versions of Super Smash Bros.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37548/possible-remaining-smash-bros-newcomers

The NWR staff has come together and made a list of likely characters that could make it into the new Smash Bros. games. I mean, who doesn't love to discuss possible playable characters? Heck, even when a new Super Smash Bros. game isn't on the horizon, fans relentlessly discuss which characters will be playable in the next entry in the series.

Smash Bros. series director Masahiro Sakurai has stated in the past that both the Wii U and 3DS versions of Smash Bros. will have the same playable characters. Since the 3DS version will be out by the end of the summer, it won't be long before we learn the full roster of playable characters. Until then, we hope you enjoy our expert speculation.

Think our choices are great? Think we are way off? Let us hear about it in the comments section below.

Shulk

Series: Xenoblade Chronicles

Shulk, the main protagonist of Xenoblade Chronicles, is one of the few people in the world capable of wielding the almighty Monado blade. This blade has several magical-like Arts, or powers, that can be activated. If these were to be implemented into Smash Bros. gameplay, Shulk could be a very unique character.

Shulk may have more going for him as well. Many fans speculate that Shulk appears at the end of a trailer for the upcoming Wii U title X. Even if this character doesn’t turn out to be Shulk, his inclusion in Smash Bros. could be seen as a way to promote the upcoming Xenoblade sequel.

Chrom

Series: Fire Emblem

Chrom is the main character of the Nintendo 3DS title Fire Emblem: Awakening. Chrom also exists in the same Fire Emblem world as Marth, only centuries later, and uses Marth’s legendary blade, The Falchion.

While he is similar to Marth, we still think Chrom has a chance to make the roster. For starters, Sakurai seems to like adding somewhat relevant Fire Emblem characters to Smash Bros. On top of that, Fire Emblem: Awakening is one of the most successful entries of the series from a sales perspective. Translation, Chrom is probably one of the better-known Fire Emblem characters at this point in time.

9-Volt

Series: Wario

If the Wario series were going to get another playable character, 9-Volt would be the best choice. This guy loves skateboarding and also happens to be Nintendo’s biggest fan. Heck, he actually owns every piece of Nintendo hardware and software ever made! Not only that, but he appears to own pieces of Nintendo history from their days before getting into the video game business. With that in mind, the number of products 9-Volt could use as attacks to represent Nintendo’s past are enormous.

Dixie Kong

Series:Donkey Kong

If Sakurai is looking for more female representation, Dixie Kong is a good choice. While some of her moves could be the same as Diddy’s, her hair could be something that sets her apart. Her long locks have been used as a weapon in other games, so it’s easy to imagine Dixie using her hair as a helicopter spin recovery move.

Dixie may also have been close to becoming a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. You see, some people uncovered character data files in the Wii game with her name on it. Could she have been a fighter they didn’t have time to complete? We will likely never know for sure, but if they really wanted her in Brawl, she may have been given a bit more priority this time around.

Palutena

Series:Kid Icarus

Palutena, the Goddess of Light and ruler of Angel Land, is yet another possible female Smash Bros. candidate. While she hasn’t been playable in any game so far, she has had an extremely prominent role throughout the Kid Icarus series.

There is further evidence to support her inclusion as a playable character as well. First, there are some supposedly leaked pictures of her in the 3DS version of the game, though we don’t take these too seriously. Second, Palutena is no longer part of Pit’s Final Smash in the upcoming games.

One other thing to point out is that during April’s Smash Bros. Nintendo Direct, we were shown the back of a Trophy that resembles Palutena. Just when we thought this de-confirmed her playable status, it spun around to reveal that it was actually Pseudo-Palutena. Could this be Sakurai’s attempt at trolling us fans, or just coincidence?

Demise

Series:The Legend of Zelda

Demise’s spirit is actually the source of a ton of evil and villains in the Zelda series. Due to this fact, and his threatening look, we think he could be an amazing candidate for the new Smash Bros.

Demise has massive strength and his own blade, which may be the counterpart to the Master Sword. Super Smash Bros. needs more villains, and there are few Nintendo villains as evil as Demise.

Ganon (Pig)

Series:The Legend of Zelda

Ganondorf has been a playable character in the last two Super Smash Bros. games. It wouldn’t, however, be out of the realm of possibility to see Ganon appear in his pig form.

Imagine this giant beast ruling the battlefield with his amazing weight and almighty trident! He could be a mix of power and range, not too dissimilar to King Dedede. I know long-term Zelda fans would love to see this version of Ganon make it in, and we think he has a chance.

Takamaru

Series:The Mysterious Murasame Castle

Takamaru is the star of The Mysterious Murasame Castle, a game that had been exclusive to Japan until recently. Just last week the game was finally released on Europe’s 3DS NES Virtual Console after nearly 30 years. Takamaru isn’t a complete stranger to North America either though, as he appeared in Samurai Warriors 3 (Wii) and a mini game based on his game is featured in Nintendo Land (Wii U).

Releasing The Mysterious Murasame Castle in Europe could hint that Nintendo is readying the population for his eventual addition to the Smash Bros. roster. Either way, it would be nice for NOA to follow suit and release his classic NES game in North America as well for the Virtual Console.

[They may not be confirmed for E3, but here is a list of software, hardware, and more that could easily be seen at the show.]

220

TalkBack / What to Expect At E3 2014

« on: June 03, 2014, 05:50:19 AM »

They may not be confirmed for E3, but here is a list of software, hardware, and more that could easily be seen at the show.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37529/what-to-expect-at-e3-2014

E3 is only a week away. There are most certainly going to be a bunch of surprises at the show, but there are also several games we already know about.

For this Feature we compiled a list of Wii U and 3DS software titles we know are in existence in some form or another that could appear at the show. We will also have a separate section dedicated to hardware and more vague software as well.

See something we missed? Let us know and we will try to add it in. Enjoy!

[Our staff will be sharing their E3 2014 predictions throughout the week.]

221

TalkBack / E3 2014 Predictions

« on: June 02, 2014, 05:47:08 AM »

Our staff will be sharing their E3 2014 predictions throughout the week.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37576/e3-2014-predictions

It’s that time of the year again. Rumors are running rampant, fans speculation is at its peak, and Nintendo is keeping unusually quiet about a great many things. Yep, the almighty E3 is upon us.

Throughout the week the NWR staff will be posting their E3 2014 predictions. Trying to predict what kind of Nintendo news will come out of E3 is nearly impossible, but that won’t stop us from trying.

We hope you enjoy the speculation presented in this Feature and invite you to join in on the fun in the comments section below. When E3 is over it will be great to look back on this and, honestly, we don’t want to be the only ones making asses of ourselves for how wrong some of these predictions are sure to be.

[The King Nintendo Fanboy is back again with classic Nintendo cards, Pokémon goods, and a limited edition 3DS XL.]

222

TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 5/29/2014

« on: May 29, 2014, 05:10:44 AM »

The King Nintendo Fanboy is back again with classic Nintendo cards, Pokémon goods, and a limited edition 3DS XL.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37546/nintendo-collectors-journal-5292014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

This week is a bit light, but there are still some cool Nintendo items to be seen. There are some classic Nintendo cards, Pokémon toys, store displays, a poster, and more. The showcase item this week is the Disney Magical World Mickey Mouse limited edition 3DS XL. Enjoy!

[Check out merchandise from the Zelda, Mario, Pokémon, and Fire Emblem franchises.]

223

TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 5/22/2014

« on: May 22, 2014, 12:18:13 PM »

Check out merchandise from the Zelda, Mario, Pokémon, and Fire Emblem franchises.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37485/nintendo-collectors-journal-5222014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

The search for cool Nintendo goods goes on. This week I find items from the Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon franchises. I also picked up a strange imported Tharja Fire Emblem Awakening figure. Seriously, this figure is probably the most revealing item in my collection and seems very out of character for Tharja as far as I'm concerned. Enjoy!

[If you are a Platinum Club Nintendo member, check your e-mail.]

224

TalkBack / Tomodachi Life Early Access Demo Codes Sent to Select Club Nintendo Members

« on: May 20, 2014, 12:22:27 PM »

If you are a Platinum Club Nintendo member, check your e-mail.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37477/tomodachi-life-early-access-demo-codes-sent-to-select-club-nintendo-members

A select group of North American Club Nintendo Platinum members are being sent early access demo codes for Tomodachi Life via e-mail.

The demo, which has an unlimited number of uses, also promises players that they can transfer Miis they create to the full game and that they will receive a special in game bonus item for doing so.

Tomodachi Life will be released for the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS on June 6.

[Get a closer look at the Limited Edition Yoshi 3DS XL, a giant Link figure from Skyward Sword, and more.]

225

TalkBack / Nintendo Collectors Journal 5/15/2014

« on: May 15, 2014, 12:03:39 PM »

Get a closer look at the Limited Edition Yoshi 3DS XL, a giant Link figure from Skyward Sword, and more.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/37428/nintendo-collectors-journal-5152014

For those who don’t know, I’m a pretty big Nintendo fanboy. I collect just about anything that says Nintendo on it including games, merchandise, memorabilia, and more. Here I am again taking over the Mariobilia feature for Andrew.

Another week with a variety of Nintendo goods. Items include old Nintendo shirts, a Luigi backpack, fast food toys/memorabilia, Donkey Kong books, and more. I also take a closer look at the Limited Edition Yoshi 3DS XL, and an imported Link figure based on his design from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Enjoy!