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[Nintendo brings two more to the growing DSiWare service alongside the awaited Crystal Defenders R1 from Square Enix and yet another Wonder Boy title.]

51

TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads

« on: April 20, 2009, 05:18:51 AM »

Nintendo brings two more to the growing DSiWare service alongside the awaited Crystal Defenders R1 from Square Enix and yet another Wonder Boy title.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18243

 This week, Nintendo offers up two titles for DSiWare while Square Enix delivers Crystal Defenders R1 for WiiWare and Sega brings Wonder Boy III to the Virtual Console.    

Dr. Mario Express offers players the most basic Dr. Mario experience with the only Classic mode and Vs. CPU mode at players' disposal. Dr. Mario Express is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).    

Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche is the third installation of the chunked-out series to appear. This iteration will allow players to ask a series of pointed questions to reveal a truth about the participant. Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the DSi Shop for 200 Nintendo DSi Points ($2).    

Crystal Defenders R1, the only WiiWare title of the week, comes from Square Enix and fits into the Final Fantasy universe. The tower defense title was born as a cell phone game and has since come to consoles as a downloadable title. R1 features a portion of the title that came out on phones, with only a select number of unit types available. Players will strategically place units on the map in order to defend a collection of crystals from invading enemies. Crystal Defenders R1 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair is the final game of the week, and the sole Virtual Console release. Players take control of Leo and use his sword and jumping abilities to battle foes, with the aid of scattered power ups. Players can also save the world with a friend in the game's co-op mode. Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 900 Wii Points ($9).    

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR: MARIO, MAGIC AND MONSTERS - OH MY!    

April 20, 2009    

The first Nintendo DSiWare™ game starring superstar Mario™ enters the fold this week with the launch of Dr. Mario™ Express. The Master of Illusion™ Express series adds another installment that promotes portable prestidigitation. WiiWare™ users will find precious crystals to defend in CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1, while Virtual Console™ players face a classic race against the clock in Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair™. Read on to learn all about the latest downloadable games from Nintendo, then log on to choose your favorites.    

Nintendo DSiWare    

Dr. Mario Express (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Nintendo DSi Points™): Mario once again dons his stethoscope to battle the forces of illness in this downloadable version of the classic puzzle game. Use vitamins to eliminate viruses in Classic mode, or play against a computer opponent in Vs. CPU mode. Make an appointment with Dr. Mario today.    

Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Master of Illusion Express titles offer mind-bending magic tricks pulled from the popular Nintendo DS™ game. Learn the illusions, practice up and amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche asks a series of pointed questions and reveals a startling truth.    

WiiWare    

CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 (SQUARE ENIX, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points™): In CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1, you must deploy various units such as Soldiers and Black Mages to stop wave after wave of encroaching monsters from escaping the area with your party's crystals. There are many different types of units to choose from, some specializing in powerful short-range attacks, some wielding far-reaching magicks, and still others equipped with bows that enable them to bring down aerial foes. Deploy units in strategic locations to take full advantage of their traits. Each time an enemy breaches your defenses and reaches a map's exit, your party will lose crystals. When all your crystals are gone, the game is over. CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 comes complete with a plethora of exciting stages, each varying in layout and difficulty. Can you defend them all without losing a single crystal?    

Virtual Console    

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Cartoon Violence, 900 Wii Points): The once-quiet town of Xenobia is under attack from fierce and gruesome monsters. As Leo, it's up to you to save Xenobia from danger as you navigate through a series of worlds in a race against time. Use your sword and jumping abilities to battle foes. Watch for power-ups that will increase your health and add to the amount of time you have to complete your missions. Go it alone or play co-op with a friend who can take the role of Priscilla. Do you have what it takes to save the world?    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.    

Remember that both Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[With a new viewpoint, touch screen usage, and a slew of improvements to the series, Chinatown Wars makes a grand entrance on the DS.]

52

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

« on: April 17, 2009, 12:26:01 PM »

With a new viewpoint, touch screen usage, and a slew of improvements to the series, Chinatown Wars makes a grand entrance on the DS.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=18232

 The arrival of the modern Grand Theft Auto series on a Nintendo console has been long overdue. Thankfully, the wait is over. While Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is not a substitute for a full-blown Wii game in the  series’ standard over-the-shoulder third-person view, it is an excellent blend of both old and new-style Grand Theft Auto.    

Chinatown Wars stars Huang Lee, who is returning to his Liberty City home to deliver his recently slain father's sword (the “Yu Jian”) to his uncle, Wu "Kenny" Lee. Upon his arrival he is jumped by assassins, and the honorable sword (won by his father in a card game) is stolen with Huang left for dead. As the game progresses, Huang seeks to avenge his father's death and retrieve the Yu Jian by performing odd jobs for various members of the Triad gang (to which both his father and uncle belonged).    

Players familiar with any Grand Theft Auto games from III onwards will be thoroughly familiar with Chinatown Wars. Button-lock weapon aiming is still used, and driving feels mostly the same (though steering your car feels less floaty than in the console versions). The most recognizable difference is the altered point-of-view. Rather than the third-person view employed by its brethren, Chinatown Wars is a top-down, slightly isometric affair, giving players a bird's-eye view of the action. The side-effects of this change are ultimately for the worse. While this view change is likely what allows the game to run so smoothly on the DS, it also makes it hard to distinguish exactly what everything is, especially when blasting by in a car.    

Aside from the complications arising from this perspective change, Chinatown Wars is a gorgeous game. Rockstar has managed to recreate Grand Theft Auto IV's Liberty City (minus Alderney) in beautiful cel-shaded graphics. The slightly isometric perspective of the top-down view allows players to appreciate the excruciating attention to detail that was taken when modeling the city. The game stays at a firm framerate and continues to look fantastic even while moving quickly in a car.      

Aside from the viewpoint and graphical alterations, Chinatown Wars features a number of other changes. Players will first notice that the touchscreen is used heavily. It represents Huang's PDA and is used to receive emails from in-game characters, plot paths on its GPS, and provide Huang with other useful information. Later the touchscreen is also used to hotwire stolen cars, throw Molotov Cocktails and grenades, trade drugs with dealers, and complete a variety of other small tasks. The DS touchscreen usage is well-integrated, fun, and a welcome addition to the series. It streamlines many of the mundane menu tasks done via the cellphone in Grand Theft Auto IV.    

Drug dealing is another key new addition. Similar to games like Drugwars, players can buy and sell drugs around the city in order to build up their cash reserve. Players will receive random emails on their PDAs either announcing a limited-time sale or request for drugs, and they will find themselves trekking back-and-forth across Liberty City just to do their drug dealing. While there are massive benefits to playing along with this mini-game, at times it can feel tedious given the large distances required to travel just to make a few bucks.    

The final major change is to the police evasion system. You now must disable police cars (or get to a safe house or a Paint 'n' Spray) in order to avoid being arrested. Each Wanted Star represents a police car players must either smash into and disable, or outmaneuver and cause to disable itself. For instance, if a player has three stars, they must disable three vehicles to move down to two stars, another two vehicles to move down to one, and one final car to completely clear their wanted level. This change makes the game far more enjoyable, nearly turning police pursuit into a game (like Need for Speed) within a game. Unfortunately, because the top-down view makes itso easy for players to accidentally run into cops while driving, they will be forced into this mini-game quite often. Whether you’re trafficking drugs or performing one of the series' staple missions, hitting a cop car or running over an officer is inevitable.    

Though much of the game's trimmings are new, the in-game mission structure introduced by III is still intact in Chinatown Wars. As in IV, players can also take on single missions doled out by random pedestrians that are complete with dialog (though no cutscenes). Vehicle missions such as taking fares in a cab are also retained. Interestingly enough, Rockstar has even managed to retain multiple radio stations in cars while driving, though none of them are my personal Talk Radio favorites from past entries. Players will be treated to the protagonist's (Huang) unbelievably sarcastic and funny dialog in the cutscenes preceding missions, and the series’ overall tongue-in-cheek humor remains intact    

  Chinatown Wars offers a nice variety of multiplayer modes for local battling. Players can choose from six modes including Race, Stash Dash, and Defend the Base. These modes help enhance the experience, but the inability to enjoy them with remote friends limits their appeal. There is an online component, but it only allows players to instant message each other, trade information and items, and send and receive map waypoints. The ability to earn money via online flash games for use in the DS game is also planned.  The local multiplayer is definitely a positive, but it’s more of a bonus than anything else.    

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars makes for an excellent addition to the series and  the DS library as a whole. Though the top-down view creates some problems, the game is quite enjoyable overall. DS Players looking for a modern GTA experience needn't look further than Chinatown Wars.

Pros:
       

Touchscreen usage is well-implemented

 

New police evasion system is the best yet

 

Gorgeous, near-complete version of Liberty City from GTA IV

       Cons:
       

Top-down view makes some in-game elements visually difficult to spot

 

Drugwars minigame gets boring fast

               Graphics:  9.0
       Grand Theft Auto IV's Liberty City is nearly completely duplicated in Chinatown Wars. Beautiful cel-shaded graphics coupled with the slightly isometric, top-down view make for a gorgeous-looking game.

               Sound:  7.0
       While the game's sound effects will be familiar to anyone who has played a Grand Theft Auto game, the signature radio stations are absent, as well as the excellent voice-acting featured since III. The new radio stations are just a few looping generic-sounding music tracks.

               Control: 10.0
       Touch screen control is an asset to the game, allowing players to manage game flow, chart routes on the map, hotwire cars, throw explosives, as well as a variety of other things. The four button layout and triggers of the DS perfectly mimic the PlayStation and Xbox controllers, making for a similar control style otherwise.

                      Gameplay:  9.0
       Players are treated to the standard post-III Grand Theft Auto gameplay that the series has become famous for. In addition, a Drugwars-like minigame has been included (with varying success), as well as a new police evasion system which is a nice new addition.

 

       Lastability:  9.0
       Liberty City is massive, as is the mission list. While not quite the epic length of its console brothers, Chinatown Wars packs quite a large amount of gameplay.

 

       Final:  9.0
       Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is the Grand Theft Auto game Nintendo fans have been holding out for since 2002. With its excellent controls, gorgeous city, and consistently fun gameplay, DS owners of the proper age would do well to pick this up.      

[Activision shores up support for both DSiWare and the Virtual Console.]

53

TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads

« on: April 13, 2009, 09:31:58 PM »

Activision shores up support for both DSiWare and the Virtual Console.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18198

 This week in Nintendo Downloads brings a total of four titles, two for DSiWare, one for the Virtual Console, and one for WiiWare. Activision shows its support of the Nintendo services with the first third party DSiWare title and their first title for the Virtual Console.    

Mixed Messages, Activision's DSiWare title, is a two to twenty-one player game. Developed by Vicarious Visions, it is a party game that revolves around mixed-up miscommunication. Players sketch a picture to capture a sentence while onlookers try to decipher the original message from the picture. The game is not focused on winning or losing, but rather enjoying the crazy guesses that result from the depictions. Mixed Messages is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).    

Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games features a selection of card shuffle tricks from the original 2007 Master of Illusion DS release. Players can perform and learn all of the tricks with the assistance of the title. Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the DSi Shop for 200 Nintendo DSi Points ($2).    

Party Fun Pirate, this week's sole WiiWare title is based on the popular Pop-Up Pirate toy. Players take turns inserting swords into a barrel that holds your captain. The player who can manage to get the most swords in without hitting the captain wins the match. Up to four players can enjoy the madness, all while using their custom Mii characters. Party Fun Pirate is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Nintendo Wii Points ($5).    

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure marks Activision's first contribution to Nintendo's popular Virtual Console service. Players take control of Pitfall Harry Jr. who must rescue his father, Pitfall Harry, from Zakelua, Lord of Evil. Players will use both Harry Jr.'s slingshot and his father's journal through environments such as Mayan jungles, waterfalls, and deserted mines. Players must conquer thirteen levels in this Genesis version of the title. Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Nintendo Wii Points ($8).    

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: PIRATES AND PITFALLS SEND MASTERFUL MIXED MESSAGES    

April 13, 2009    

The new Nintendo DSi™ system has been on store shelves for just a week now. Today Activision's Mixed Messages™ becomes the first third-party downloadable game for the new system. Mixed Messages is a game of electronic telephone that can accommodate a whopping 21 players. On the WiiWare™ side, fans will find a game based on the popular Pop-Up Pirate™ toy that might have players sticking virtual swords into their Mii™ characters. And classic character Pitfall Harry Jr. makes his debut on the Virtual Console.    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ or Nintendo DSi Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All Nintendo Points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems. This week's new games are:    

Nintendo DSiWare™    

Mixed Messages (Activision, 2-21 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Nintendo DSi Points): Mixed Messages is the hilarious party game of mixed-up miscommunication. Sketch a picture to capture your friends' sentence, or try to figure out what in the world they've drawn. You might start with, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" and end up with "A crazy surfer outruns flying sticks of dynamite while his fans cheer!" Two to 21 players take turns writing sentences and drawing pictures to pass along a message. This isn't a game about winning and losing - it's all about the funny miscommunications that happen along the way. You'll laugh when you see just how wacky things can get. Get together with your friends and mix it up.    

Master of Illusion™ Express: Shuffle Games (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Master of Illusion Express titles are mind-boggling magic tricks pulled from the popular Nintendo DS™ game. Learn the illusions, practice up and amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games will boggle your audience members' minds as they try to figure out how you know exactly what they're thinking. Also included is the bonus Vanishing Card trick, which the Nintendo DSi system performs for your enjoyment.    

WiiWare    

Party Fun Pirate™ (TOMY Corporation, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, 500 Wii Points): Based on the popular Pop-Up Pirate toy, players take turns thrusting swords into a barrel that holds your captain captive, trying to see who can insert the most swords into the barrel. Thrust a sword into the wrong hole and you'll send your captain flying, which means it's game over for you! Unique Wii features add to the excitement, making for a fun-filled party game. Try swapping out the captain and putting your custom Mii character in the barrel for some real laughs!    

Virtual Console    

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated T for Teen - Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a side-scrolling action game in which you play adventurer Pitfall Harry Jr. in search of his father, Pitfall Harry. Pitfall Harry has been taken captive by the dreaded warrior spirit Zakelua: Lord of Evil. Armed with only a trusty sling and his father's journal, young Harry Jr. must now venture into the unknown to rescue him … before it's too late! Bungee jump and boomerang your way to safety as you battle through treacherous Mayan jungles, waterfalls and deserted mines. With 13 levels of fast, gripping action, you will need to be attentive and quick - or prepare to die …    

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[WarioWare-esque mini-games plus crazy beats equals one wacky and addictive rhythm title.]

54

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Rhythm Heaven

« on: April 08, 2009, 02:58:54 AM »

WarioWare-esque mini-games plus crazy beats equals one wacky and addictive rhythm title.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=18139

 Rhythm Heaven, known as Rhythm Tengoku Gold in Japan, is the latest formerly Japan-only Nintendo title to make its way stateside. Created by the same team responsible for Nintendo's popular WarioWare series, Rhythm Heaven is very much in the same vein, with the exception that all of the actions are now performed in concert with the beats in a song. Minor flaws aside, the game is extremely addictive and challenging.    

Rhythm Heaven is comprised of a few different parts. Mini-games make up the bulk of the game, but as players both beat the main rhythm mini-games and earn medals and perfects on them, they will gain access to the café (for listening to music), rhythm toys, and endless rhythm games.    

Playing Rhythm Heaven requires players to hold the DS book-style, similar to the Brain Age titles. Upon first booting the game, only a single mini-game is available for play, Built to Scale. In this mini-game, as with any exercise, players are given a short tutorial and practice session in which they can master the basic skills needed. As the music starts, players will see that they must perform a flicking motion on the DS touch screen in order to drive a bolt into two moving squares, each featuring a circular hole. Sounds easy, right? It turns out that it's not quite as easy as it seems. Because we so often play video games relying primarily on sight, when we must play predominantly on sound it makes the game much trickier.    

Many of the games in Rhythm Heaven can be performed with your eyes closed (after you know the proper actions from playing the tutorial). In one particular challenge where you must fuel an assembly line of robots, I actually had to close my eyes in order to be successful. Every time I had played it prior, I missed the cue to start gassing up the robot. Perhaps it was just a distracting visual cue; regardless, it was a remarkably odd experience that drove me to play the game more and attempt to sync up my vision and hearing.    

However, before I had figured out how to beat this mini-game, I was stuck in a frustrating position. Because games are unlocked one-at-a-time, I had no choice but to push on and figure out how to beat it. Eventually I noticed that the coffee cup in the bottom-right corner of the touch screen will sometimes blink when you get stuck, allowing you to skip the challenge. But what's the fun in that? A much better solution would've been to unlock games in sets: that way, players could have gotten their groove on elsewhere, and maybe after a few other successes, mustered up the ability to beat the problematic mini-game.    

As previously suggested, Rhythm Heaven is controlled entirely with the touch screen. Every game involves players either tapping, flicking, or rubbing the touch screen. For those with an original DS model, fair warning that you might experience some flicking issues due to the  seemingly less sensitive touch screen. Some of these problems are eliminated with a DS Lite (and I presume the DSi as well), but even still, because the controls are gesture-based, on occasion, your input will not be recognized properly. Such hiccups can cause you to lose a challenge or miss out on that perfect score you were pushing for.    

Fortunately, even when the game is being frustratingly hard due to your own poor timing or a mishap with the controls, it's still extremely fun to play. Whether you are pushing to either beat a mini-game you are stuck on, or attempting to get a perfect on one you feel you have mastered, there is certain addictiveness to the gameplay that will keep you coming back. The wacky style, zany humor, and catchy tunes found in WarioWare all are present in Rhythm Heaven. These aspects make the game endearing and fun, and are arguably the best qualities of the title.    

Those looking for an unconventional rhythm game or something close to the WarioWare series would do well to pick up Rhythm Heaven. Fair warning: the game is challenging, and at times you will want to throw your DS against the wall. Regardless, you will likely become addicted to the game's unique traits and simple-yet-fun gameplay.

Pros:
       

Catchy Music

 

Chock Full of Personality

 

Enjoyable, varied mini-games

       Cons:
       

Gesture based input causes occasional problems

 

Mini-games unlocked one at a time

               Graphics:  7.0
       While the game isn't pushing polygons or rendering any detailed 2D sprites, the hand-drawn simplicity of the graphics is endearing, suiting the style and feel of the title.

               Sound:  9.5
       What would a rhythm game be without excellent sound? Aside from a couple of annoying songs, Rhythm Heaven is an aural feast.

               Control:  8.0
       Controlled entirely by the touch screen, Rhythm Heaven suffers from a couple of small problems. Gestures are not quite as accurate as button presses; thus, sometimes if you don't execute the gesture perfectly (such as not flicking with enough velocity), you won't perform the desired action. Owners of the original DS might have greater trouble with this due to the seemingly less sensitive touch screen.

                      Gameplay:  9.0
       The gameplay in Rhythm Heaven is quite simple. Whether you are playing the part of a popstar, smacking dumplings into someone's mouth with a karate chop (don't ask), or taking pictures at a race, players will be tapping, flicking, or sliding the stylus on the touch screen to a rhythm. It's definitely not easy, but most players will appreciate the challenge and become addicted to success.

 

       Lastability:  9.0
       Given the plethora of mini-games, each of which is a challenge to complete, and the wide variety of toys to play with, players have plenty to enjoy in Rhythm Heaven. Even after completing a mini-game, players can go back and earn a medal by striving for perfection, and then another when they reach it.

 

       Final:  8.5
       Rhythm Heaven is an overall fun title that only suffers from the sometimes questionable DS input and the pacing in which mini-games are unlocked. Fans of rhythm games and those looking for something in the vein of WarioWare would do well to pick this one up.      

[The first week of Nintendo Downloads brings us five launch DSiWare titles alongside one for each Virtual Console and WiiWare.]

55

TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads

« on: April 06, 2009, 03:34:13 AM »

The first week of Nintendo Downloads brings us five launch DSiWare titles alongside one for each Virtual Console and WiiWare.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18122

 This week in Nintendo Downloads opens with a bang providing players with five brand new DSiWare titles, one WiiWare title, and one Virtual Console title.    

Equilibrio, this week's solo WiiWare title, is yet another ball-rolling game. Players will need to avoid deadly traps in 64 levels by navigating a ball with the Wii Remote held sideways for optimal titling. Equilibrio is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points ($5).    

Uncharted Waters: New Horizons from Koei for the SNES is this week's only Virtual Console title. Players will choose one of six protagonists, which they will use to pursue a career path. Each protagonist hails from a different country and will change the course of player's travels as they discover new and exciting things across the globe. The title is widely regarded as the best and most popular in the Japanese fan-favorite series. Uncharted Waters: New Horizons is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: SIX NINTENDO DSIWARE TITLES, ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO SHOP CHANNELS    

April 6, 2009    

This week marks the launch of Nintendo DSi™, the third iteration of the nation's top-selling portable video game system. Along with it comes the grand opening of the Nintendo DSi Shop, an online store where players can redeem Nintendo DSi Points™ for a wide variety of games and applications, including Nintendo DSiWare™ titles. Just as the WiiWare™ service does for Wii™ owners, the Nintendo DSiWare service delivers an ever-growing library of cool new downloadable content for Nintendo DSi users, with new games added on Mondays.    

For this first edition of Nintendo Download, we're pleased to highlight the latest additions to both the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel. You'll find six Nintendo DSiWare titles to choose from, including a free Web browser that lets Nintendo DSi owners access the Internet with a swipe of the stylus. Wii users, meanwhile, will see a fun new WiiWare game that's compatible with the Wii Balance Board™ (sold separately with Wii Fit™), plus a classic exploration game for the Virtual Console™.    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ or Nintendo DSi Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All Nintendo Points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems. This week's new games are:    

Nintendo DSiWare    

Nintendo DSi Browser (Nintendo, 1 player, 0 Nintendo DSi Points): Get on the Web with ease using the Nintendo DSi Browser. Powered by Opera, this simple-to-use Web browser is made specifically for the Nintendo DSi system, providing a seamless and intuitive browsing experience that makes the most of the system's touch controls and two-screen interface. Check e-mail, get the latest news updates and more – wherever a wireless Internet connection is available. Just grab your stylus and start surfing.    

Bird & Beans™ (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): In Bird & Beans, you control Pyoro, a small bird with an elastic tongue and an insatiable appetite for beans. Scramble to catch beans that fall from the sky, racking up points as you go. The farther away the bean, the more points it's worth. Beware any beans that are missed – they'll leave a hole in the ground that can't be crossed, potentially trapping Pyoro. Bird & Beans also features a second version that enables Pyoro to spit seeds at high speed, bringing down more beans than ever before. This fun and fast-paced game requires skill and strategy to master, and always leaves you wanting to play just one more time.    

Master of Illusion™ Express: Funny Face (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Master of Illusion Express titles are mind-boggling magic tricks pulled from the popular Nintendo DS™ game. Learn the illusions, practice up and amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face uses your Nintendo DSi system as a prop in a card trick. Draw a face on the touch-sensitive screen and astound your audience as the face tells them which playing card they picked. Also included is the bonus Vanishing Card trick, which the Nintendo DSi system performs for your enjoyment.    

Art Style™: AQUIA™ (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Nintendo DSi Points): Dive into Art Style: AQUIA, a fast-paced underwater puzzle game that asks you to think fast and move even faster. Help a scuba diver reach the ocean's floor by matching three or more colored blocks horizontally or vertically. The more blocks you match, the faster the diver will descend. Fail to clear blocks and the diver's air supply will start to run out, causing darkness to creep in from above and cloud your vision. Race against time in TIMED DIVE, dive deep in FREE DIVE mode or visit the AQUARIUM to view various sea creatures. Like every game in the Art Style series, AQUIA features elegant design, polished graphics and pick-up-and-play controls, creating an experience that focuses purely on fun and engaging game play.    

WarioWare™: Snapped! (Nintendo, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Comic Mischief, 500 Nintendo DSi Points): Wario™ returns with more manic action made especially for the Nintendo DSi system. WarioWare: Snapped! uses the built-in Nintendo DSi Camera to make players the star of the show by placing them right into fast-paced mini-games. Take part in wacky challenges simply by moving your face and body as you travel along four wild roller coasters, hosted by Wario and his pals. Beat the mini-games using motions ranging from large to small, or play with a friend for even more fun. Wario even has a few tricks up his sleeve.    

Brain Age™ Express: Math (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Nintendo DSi Points): In this math-focused edition of the popular Brain Age series, players can enjoy a mix of new and familiar exercises, including Change Maker, Triangle Math, Sum Totaled and Multi Tasker. A new Themes mode includes drawing, photography and voice acting challenges, letting you share your creativity with friends and family. And if you need a break from your routine, the always-enjoyable Virus Buster makes its return.    

WiiWare    

EQUILIBRIO (DK-GAMES, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): In EQUILIBRIO, you must finish a series of levels by moving a ball toward an exit. To move the ball, hold the Wii Remote™ controller horizontally and turn it to tilt the playfield. You can also play using the Wii Balance Board™ (sold separately with Wii Fit). The ball is fragile, so don't let it fall too far, and be sure to avoid deadly obstacles such as spikes and acid pools. The difficulty of the game adjusts according to your skill. Will you be tough enough to complete all 64 levels?    

Virtual Console    

Uncharted Waters: New Horizons (Super NES™, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Cartoon Violence, Simulated Gambling, 800 Wii Points): Uncharted Waters: New Horizons is a game set in the Age of Discovery, the golden era of European global exploration during the early 16th century. There are six different characters to choose from, all with different backgrounds and different motivations. Once you've chosen a character to play, you're free to sail the world's oceans as you wish, visiting a variety of exotic ports and making thrilling new discoveries.    

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[Excellent controls and addictive gameplay define this as one of the Wii's finest.]

56

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Marble Saga: Kororinpa

« on: March 31, 2009, 11:05:37 PM »

Excellent controls and addictive gameplay define this as one of the Wii's finest.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=18076

 When the second entry of the Kororinpa series arrived at my door, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had never actually played the original title, and the only point of reference for the gameplay I could come up with from watching videos was Super Monkey Ball. As a fan of that series, Marble Saga: Kororinpa was definitely of interest to me; conversations with NWR forum members also helped raise my expectations. I had heard them rave about the game's excellent controls and solid gameplay, and it turns out they were on to something.    

Marble Saga: Kororinpa is a ball-rolling puzzle (adventure?) game. At the start of each level, the player's ball is placed in the world, and players must use motion control to tilt the world to make the ball reach the goal. Along the way yellow crystals must be collected in order to activate checkpoints, and eventually the exit. Yellow crystals are just one of several collectibles scattered throughout each level. Depending on the difficulty setting, players will have different collectibles to find that have different effects on the world as a whole.    

The collectibles available on each difficulty setting tie into the game's rudimentary story. Anthony the Ant needs your help to save his colony and locate the Golden Sunflower Seed. On Easy, players are responsible only for collecting a Stump Temple piece in each level; on Normal, players must also collect the Stump Temple piece in each level, with an optional Green Emerald available for collection as well. Collection of these parts allows players to build the required ships that bring them to new areas, as well as grant them access to the Stump Temple itself (the game's final world). The Expert difficulty tasks players with collecting missing ants from Anthony's colony. As players retrieve these objects, it's clear that the storyline only serves to give purpose to the collection elements.    

Hudson has taken a unique approach to the distribution of the game's 100-plus levels across its three difficulty settings. Rather than spread out the levels into tiers of difficulty, they have instead modified each and every level to work in each difficulty setting. This is done through the removal or replacement of certain key pieces of the core level. In some rare cases, small parts were even added in order to collect an object unique to that difficulty setting. By the time players reach Expert mode (which must be unlocked via completion of Normal mode), the levels that were once familiar will look nothing like they once did. While this may seem like a lazy choice in design, in execution it is actually brilliant. What was once a mere 100 levels quickly morphs into a massive 300 levels thanks to a few small tweaks.    

While including such a massive selection of levels is great, they would be worthless without solid controls to go along with them. Thankfully, control couldn't be more precise. Players will see and feel a direct control correlation with the stage whether they use the Wii Remote NES-style or pointer-style. Simply tilting the remote rolls the marble around the stage, and players shouldn't be surprised when they need to tilt the remote nearly a full 360 degrees in order to move the ball where it needs to go. Climbing walls, flipping the stage, and a variety of crazy movements are all a part of the fun of Kororinpa. Those accustomed to the plain vanilla ball-rolling physics of Super Monkey Ball are in for a real surprise after just a few rounds. What's most astounding is the ability to give the ball a small nudge just when you need to, and to exactly the degree you intended. The degree of your connection to the in-game world via the Wii Remote is impressive to say the least.    

Balance Board control is also included for use on a subset of specifically-tailored levels. In a party situation there is potential for fun, but the mode seems like more of a gimmick than a feasible gameplay option. With such a small subset of levels and extremely tough controls, the mode should only be a short distraction for Balance Board owners; those without the peripheral needn't fret, as they aren't missing much.    

The level editing mode found in Marble Saga: Kororinpa is as robust as one could reasonably expect it to be. Recreating each and every level in the game is completely possible given the tools and level pieces provided. Interestingly, the full piece selection is not available from the start. Players unlock "Junk" as they collect extra items in single player mode across the game's three settings. This Junk is used to make new level editor pieces, filling in the gaps that once existed in the editor's library. While the editor is robust, building levels is unfortunately no easy task. Unlike the main game, controlling the level editor feels awkward and clumsy, with depth perception that's difficult to gauge when placing pieces.    

Marble Saga: Kororinpa is quite pleasing, both visually and aurally. While neither is exceptional, the graphics and sound are done well, aren't distracting, and add to the game's unique, quirky, and relaxing ambiance.    

Marble Saga: Kororinpa is undoubtedly one of my favorite Wii games. Ball-rolling has never been this much fun or this unique. The game's challenge creates for an addictive experience that will draw in players of all types and skill levels. With a large variety of extra collectibles, four-player simultaneous multiplayer, single-player trophy achievements, a level editor, and three difficulty settings, Marble Saga: Kororinpa is a huge offering in a tiny package.

Pros:
       

Fantastic, precise control

 

Engaging and addictive

       Cons:
       

Expert difficulty is extremely challenging

               Graphics:  7.0
       While the game won't win any awards for its graphical presentation, the art style and locales are appealing and varied. The game runs in 480p and looks smooth.

               Sound:  7.0
       With only a few tracks, the soundtrack of Marble Saga: Kororinpa in not particularly varied. However, the soft tunes in the background and the satisfying sound effects do a good job of setting ambiance and engaging players in its gameplay.

               Control:  9.5
       Marble Saga: Kororinpa's most engaging feature is its near-perfect controls. With a variety of balls - all with different weight and momentum attributes - each player will undoubtedly find the perfect marble for each situation they encounter. Even small nudges are recognized, allowing for interesting techniques that could never have been so accurate or effective otherwise. Save holding the Wii Remote upside-down, every possible movement is registered perfectly.

                      Gameplay: 10.0
       While the game's trimmings aren't perfect, only one word can describe the gameplay: fun. Regardless of whether you are losing incessantly or tearing up the course, you will always have fun navigating the marble around the world. It's hard to qualify in tangible terms, but playing the game draws you in and doesn't let you go; hours will pass as you play and you won't even realize it.

 

       Lastability:  9.0
       With 100-plus levels all varied across three difficulty settings, there is a ton to enjoy in Marble Saga: Kororinpa. Collectibles, junk part synthesis, time attack trophies, Balance Board mode, four player simultaneous multiplayer, and the level editor are just a sampling of the tons of extras that this game includes. Players will not be disappointed by the ridiculous value packed into this title.

 

       Final:  9.0
       When I started Marble Saga: Kororinpa, I had no idea that it would quickly become one of my favorite Wii titles. Whether you are alone or in a group, Kororinpa is a blast to play. The near-perfect control coupled with masterfully-designed levels and tons of content makes Marble Saga: Kororinpa a must-own title for all Wii players.      

[Hudson dominates the week by bringing two Virtual Console titles and one game for WiiWare.]

57

TalkBack / This Week's Virtual Console and WiiWare

« on: March 23, 2009, 04:12:18 AM »

Hudson dominates the week by bringing two Virtual Console titles and one game for WiiWare.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18005

 This week's Virtual Console and WiiWare brings three new titles to the Wii Shop Channel, all from Hudson. Two TurboGrafx-16 games will grace the Virtual Console while a single brand new title has been added to WiiWare.    

Pop'Em Drop'Em SAMEGAME is this week's solo WiiWare title. Up to four players will be able to partake in this matching block puzzle game. Players must eliminate sets of two or more matching blocks in a grid in order to score points. Clearing the entire grid will provide more points and a new layout for players to clear all over again. Multiple single player difficulty settings are available as well as three unique multiplayer modes. Pop'Em Drop'Em SAMEGAME is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points ($5).    

Bomberman returns to the Virtual Console with the sequel to the early Virtual Console game, Bomberman '93. In Bomberman '94, the title character seeks to restore peace on the planet, which has been split into five parts by an evil hand. With the help of 5 Roois and 9 Bomber family members, players can help Bomberman claim victory. Bomberman '94 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 700 Wii Points ($7).    

DETANA TWIN BEE is this week's final Virtual Console title and is a vertical-scrolling shooter "renowned for its cute and comical world." Twinbee and Winbee are on a mission to save the planet from evil alien invaders. Players can tackle the game's six stages alone or cooperatively with a friend. DETANA TWIN BEE is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 700 Wii Points ($7).    

ONE WIIWARE GAME AND TWO VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL    

March 23, 2009    

Are you immune to this season's rampant basketball fever? If so, the Wii™ Shop Channel invites you and your friends to set up an action-packed tournament of your own with a fresh crop of downloadable games. This week brings an instantly irresistible puzzle game to the ever-expanding WiiWare™ library, plus a pair of classic TurboGrafx16 import titles for the Virtual Console™ – one a vintage vertical-scrolling shooter, the other featuring the beloved Bomberman. Draw up your brackets, grab those Wii Remote™ controllers and shoot for the top spot.    

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:    

WiiWare    

Pop'Em Drop'Em SAMEGAME (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): SAMEGAME is a simple yet engrossing puzzle game where you must clear matching blocks in sets of two or more. Score high by clearing out more blocks at once. If you manage to clear the entire grid, you can keep on playing with a whole new layout. Getting rid of all those blocks is the key to racking up points. Adjust the difficulty level in a one-player game by trying different grid sizes and multiple colors. Up to four players can face off in any one of three multiplayer modes. "Fame Game," the most straightforward choice, is similar to the one-player version. "Shame Game" turns the tables by forcing players to go for the lowest score. "Blame Game" is a free-for-all as everyone vies for blocks on one big grid. Choose from different block styles, background graphics and music to customize your playing experience.    

Virtual Console    

Bomberman®'94 (TurboGrafx16, 1-5 players, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 700 Wii Points): Bomberman has arrived to restore peace on the planet, which has been split into five parts by an evil hand. In addition to the nine members of the Bomber Family, the character Rooi shows up to lend a hand. Jump on the eggs that appear from destroyed soft blocks and you can ride one of five types of Rooi. Each Rooi has different special abilities—use them well and you'll ride to victory.    

DETANA TWIN BEE (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Cartoon Violence, 700 Wii Points): It's the popular vertical-scrolling shooter renowned for its cute and comical world. Here come Twinbee and Winbee on a mission to save the planet from evil alien invaders. Standing in their way are six stages full of goofy enemies. Play as Twinbee in single-player mode, or team up with Winbee in two-player cooperative mode. With powerful attacks like Big Shot, or Twin Attack and Burst Attack in two-player mode, there's plenty of sting in their arsenal. Use your Shot to transform Bells into items with various effects. Stock up on these bad boys to expand your attack range and really have a blast.    

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

[A Frankenstein monster that is one part Resident Evil and one part Dead Rising.]

58

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop

« on: March 20, 2009, 08:03:21 AM »

A Frankenstein monster that is one part Resident Evil and one part Dead Rising.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=17994

 Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop is an odd title. The game is a Wii conversion of the 2006 Xbox 360 title Dead Rising. The story, featuring photojournalist Frank West, has not changed, and the Willamette Mall, the setting of the original, is also present and unchanged. Unlike the original, though, Chop Till You Drop is a linear title in which all of the missions from the original (both side and main) have been strung together back-to-back to provide a new gaming experience. While this change seems fairly harmless, its effect is quite profound.    

Before I explore Chop Till You Drop, it is worth mentioning what makes the original game so endearing. Dead Rising is a sandbox-style game that has an array of mandatory missions and a wide variety of side missions that you are informed of via walkie-talkie, such as rescuing trapped people in the mall. In addition to the open-ended mission structure, players are able to lift nearly every single item in the mall and use it as a weapon against your undead foes. With such an extensive selection of items, the game adopts primarily melee-centric gameplay. Finally, the game included the element of photography as a secondary means of increasing Frank's experience level, giving the game yet another freeform element.    

The Wii port has downgraded the original's controls, removing Frank's jumping and  photography abilities (an odd choice considering he is still a photojournalist). While the absence of photography is nearly negligible, jumping is sorely missed because it offered an extra element of exploration, a second set of moves for dispensing of zombies, and a maneuver for avoiding a zombie attack. The most profound change, though, are the guns, which play a much more dominant role now in comparison to the original's melee-centric fighting mechanics.    

Players familiar with Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition will feel right at home with Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop, as the game is built off of the same engine. Thus, inventory management (via an equip/unequip pause menu) is handled similarly, and just like the zombies in Resident Evil 4, the Dead Rising zombies now drop health, ammo, and money, which is displayed on the screen with the familiar colored cylinder of light. The game's camera has even been brought in over Frank's shoulder, and the controls found in the original Dead Rising have been scrapped in favor of the Resident Evil 4 control scheme.    

The changes are both good and bad. As one would expect, with so many alterations, the two games feel very different from one another, regardless of the fact that they are supposedly the same game. As mentioned earlier, a major appeal of the original Dead Rising was the sandbox-style gameplay; in Chop Till You Drop, the game has you on such a tightly linear leash that players will rarely venture outside of the safe room between missions to simply roam the mall. The control changes work well enough; however, they feel overly clunky and can often cause problems in missions. The close camera, combined with the slow turning speed, ensures that players will be successfully attacked by enemies from behind on a regular basis, which is an issue not present in the first game.    

The game's downgraded visuals also play a part in changing the general feel of the game. The mall is devoid of hoards of zombies, instead merely featuring small clumps of overly aggressive zombies. Combined with the inability to jump, this just makes the game feel even more scripted. Not only do the visuals impact gameplay, but they are downright distracting to look at. The game is a blurry mess,  featuring many low polygon models and poor resolution textures.    

Aurally, Dead Rising has not changed much. Though players won't hear quite as many angry zombies groaning in the hallway, the background Muzak and fitting sound effects set the stage well, giving the mall a very real feel. Just as in the 360 original, the in-game dialog easily stands out as the worst sound feature in the game. Awkward pauses and oddly narrated lines, in addition to the poor overall script, can make watching cut-scenes nearly unbearable.    

Just as the majority of the Wii game has been altered, the unlockables you earn upon completing the game have also been modified, though this time it is for the better. Rather than unlocking the overall boring Infinite Mode from the original, players unlock Odd Jobs, a collection of missions that require running around the Willamette Mall to do … odd jobs. These include things like fighting off a hoard of immortal zombies for a set amount of time, or defeating a collection of close-quarter zombies in an elevator. After a few Odd Jobs missions are completed, players will unlock Second Amendments, a sniper mini-game which also features a number of missions. With the Wii Remote controls, this mini-game is moderately enjoyable for a little while.    

Wii gamers looking to finally experience the critically-acclaimed gameplay of Dead Rising will be sorely disappointed with Chop Till You Drop. The many changes made to the original formula in order to use the Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition engine totally transforms the game into something new. Limited controls and technology, as well as the sandbox-less gameplay, have made the title into an average, linear zombie-killing experience. That said, the Resident Evil 4 controls provide a reasonably fun experience, even if it doesn't stand out in any way from the crowd. Wii gamers without access to an Xbox 360 are best off giving this game a rental to see what the fuss is all about, while others who have already experienced the original should skip this version.

Pros:
       

Good Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition controls

 

Contains the full Dead Rising mission set, and then some

       Cons:
       

Too linear, with downgraded sandbox gameplay

 

Visually unappealing

               Graphics:  4.0
       Very few zombies appear on the screen at a time, and the ones that do look unimpressive, as do the majority of items and characters found within the game. The graphics are passable but they clearly could've been much better.

               Sound:  8.0
       The in-game sound effects and background music give the game a very realistic feel, though the stilted dialog and poor voice acting drag down the overall package.

               Control:  7.0
       The shoehorned Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition controls work well for the new shooting focus of the title; however, the over-the-shoulder camera feels needlessly restrictive, and makes melee attacks and smooth, quick motions impossible. The lack of jumping and sluggish motion controls also hurt the gameplay.

                      Gameplay:  6.0
       Chop Till You Drop is a linear take on a non-linear game, and the melee-heavy combat found in the original has been modified into a shooter experience. The changes can be fun at times, but in many instances they feel overly restrictive. The game never feels open and accessible, and the lack of zombies definitely kills the excellent ambiance set in the first title.

 

       Lastability:  6.0
       After completing the main quest, there is little to come back to. Since players are graded on each mission, they can replay each one to obtain S rankings after they complete the game. They can also tackle both the Odd Jobs and Second Amendments mini-games, though these too only offer limited appeal. Players can always wander the mall and kill zombies, but due to their lacking numbers and the poor overall presentation, running around the mall quickly becomes boring.

 

       Final:  6.0
       Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop has a major identity crisis. On one hand it is Dead Rising, and on the other it is Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. Unfortunately the combination of the two titles only proves fun in very few instances. Those that expected a similar experience to the Xbox 360 title will surely be disappointed, as it removes much more from the Dead Rising experience than it adds, but those looking to explore the series would do well to rent the game.      

[Summer Games II for the Commodore 64 makes its debut alongside a trippy beat.]

59

TalkBack / This Week's Virtual Console and WiiWare

« on: March 16, 2009, 10:34:45 PM »

Summer Games II for the Commodore 64 makes its debut alongside a trippy beat.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17981

 This week's Virtual Console and WiiWare features yet another week of only two releases, with one for either service.    

Retro visuals and gameplay make a return to WiiWare with the awaited BIT.TRIP BEAT from Aksys Games. Players will use the Wii Remote to bounce 8-bit beats with up-to-four players in this retro throwback title. The game serves as the first in the BIT.TRIP saga. BIT.TRIP BEAT is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 600 Wii Points ($6).    

Summer Games II, a Commodore 64 title has players competing in eight different events: cycling, equestrian, fencing, high jump, javelin, kayaking, rowing and triple jump, from eighteen different countries for the gold medal. Players can both practice and compete in order in all featured events. Summer Games II is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points ($5).    

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL    

March 16, 2009    

Old-school action is the main attraction at the Wii™ Shop Channel this week. With a wealth of underground buzz already surrounding it, a brand new WiiWare™ title uses vintage-looking graphics and 8-bit sounds to create a rhythm-based game that's loaded with retro cool. Find out if you have enough skill to create order from chaos in a game that is as mesmerizing as it is challenging. Meanwhile, the latest addition to the Virtual Console™ lineup brings a Commodore 64 classic to the Wii console, proving that fans of international sports events needn't wait until 2012 to get their track-and-field fix. Even if you're too young to remember the original days of 8-bit gaming, these awesome titles provide timeless kicks.    

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:    

WiiWare    

BIT.TRIP BEAT (Aksys Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): BIT.TRIP BEAT is a rhythm game that brings retro action into the present, letting you use the motion-sensing Wii Remote™ controller to bounce beats. Retro visuals, classic game play, four-player multiplayer and an 8-bit soundtrack will get you in the zone and rock your world. The challenges are mighty, but if you can stay cool as the difficulty increases, you'll discover the beginnings of the BIT.TRIP saga.    

Virtual Console    

Summer Games II™ (Commodore 64, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): A thousand athletes. A hundred countries. Billions watching around the world as you enter the stadium, marching confidently among your nation's strongest, fastest and boldest young men and women. Your gaze sweeps the crowd as you realize the scope of your achievement. You are about to compete against the world's best athletes in a 3,000-year-old competition. This is the pinnacle of athletic achievement: the Summer Games. Summer Games II challenges your competitive skills with a series of athletic contests for one to eight players. Experience the excitement and realism of eight different events: cycling, equestrian, fencing, high jump, javelin, kayaking, rowing and triple jump. Practice each event to sharpen your skills, then choose from the 18 countries you can represent in the competition.    

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

[The improved graphics and controls boost both games to new heights.]

60

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Legacy of Ys: Books I & II

« on: March 16, 2009, 10:16:15 AM »

The improved graphics and controls boost both games to new heights.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=17975

 Many are familiar with Ys Books I & II due to their recent release on the Wii's Virtual Console. The two games were, at the time, remade and combined into one disc for the TurboGrafx CD. In a similar fashion, both games have been remade for the DS and, for North America (but not Japan), combined into one card.    

The story of Ys follows the young adventurer Adol, who is first discovered unconscious in Minea, a small town within the land of Esteria. Here Adol is called upon by the local fortuneteller Sarah and asked to find the six scattered books of Ys and stop the evil man in the black cape. Ys II picks up where Ys I leaves off: Adol once again is discovered unconscious, though this time he is discovered in the mythical land of Ys. Here Adol must return the six books to their rightful owners and unravel the mystery behind Ys in order to rid it, and Esteria, of evil.    

Although this title has had numerous remakes, the story found in Legacy of Ys is still very light. In fact, most information about Adol's quest is discovered through conversations with in-game NPCs. Throughout the majority of both games there is little guidance via the story, and more often than not, players must hope they talk to the right person at the right time.    

Though the story remains unmodified, the graphics, sound, and style of play have all been overhauled to meet current standards. The world is displayed from a top-down view, though it is rendered entirely in 3D. This is a significant upgrade over the sprite-based graphics featured in the TurboGrafx CD version. The game looks crisp and colorful, and the models are detailed enough to be recognizable and unique. The hand-drawn anime profiles used during discussions with important characters are a nice touch, and give the player a recognizable face to associate with each character.    

The game's soundtrack is also top-of-the-line. Nearly every tune in the game is catchy, and the accompanying sound track CD makes for a nice bonus that has already gotten play in my iPod. Fans of the original will notice that the soundtrack has been completely overhauled, with every track having been remixed for the re-release. Though sound effects are fairly sparse, the excellent music offers enough variety to keep players' attention.    

Those who are familiar with the original Ys games will recall that Adol once attacked by simply walking into enemies. Now players have the option of combating with enemies by choosing the Normal controls in the options menu. With the touch control scheme players still attack with the old method, though I would caution against using it: the slower and imprecise nature make it tougher to be successful. Because Adol must be dragged across the screen, and he slightly lags behind your every movement, the stylus control creates an odd disconnect. It is much easier to use the manual sword slash ability while exploring both worlds. At first players may be surprised at how small the slash range of the sword is, but they will adjust after no time at all.    

Both titles feature gameplay reminiscent of the original Legend of Zelda with added RPG emphasis (i.e. level-ups for strength and health). In order to complete the game, players must acquire better equipment from the town store or in chests scattered throughout the land. Whether exploring a dungeon, cave, or the overworld, Legacy of Ys is a blast to play. Part of this is due to the game's fast pace. There are no FMV or lengthy dialogs to slow down the experience, which can make for a very lean experience. Players are also treated to a more advanced second game upon completing the first. Magic is now available, and the game is significantly heftier, taking over three times as long as the first to complete.    

The games are not without fault, though. The player will often have no idea what to do next. There were a couple of parts where, without a guide, I would have never figured out that I needed to walk in and out of a town three times, talking to the same person every time, in order to progress. The other sore point lies in how the game determines damage when the player is hit by an enemy. Because there is no period of invincibility after being hurt and no auto-attack when using Normal controls, the player can easily get stuck on an enemy and be hit repeatedly until dead. I came across this situation twice, and both times it drained my health bar within two seconds. It is also worth mentioning that it is extremely easy to die in the beginning of both games, forcing players to save frequently to avoid needlessly replaying large sections.    

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II is truly an old-style game with a modern coat of paint. Though some aspects of the gameplay are primitive, there is no denying how genuinely fun both games are. While a guide may need to be kept handy for effective completion of obscure game sections, it doesn't dampen the experience much. Any players who are fans of adventure games such as the original Legend of Zelda would do well to pick up this title.

Pros:
       

Updated graphics look great

 

Soundtrack is amazing

 

Fast-paced and fun

 

Two games for the price of one!

       Cons:
       

A guide is necessary

 

Odd hit detection can cause instant death

               Graphics:  9.0
       The redone 3D graphics look great and definitely improve the experience. The hand-drawn anime portraits that appear during conversations are also well done and give each character a recognizable face.

               Sound: 10.0
       Both the game's music and sound effects have been retooled. The once-simple chiptunes found in the original are now replaced with catchy, full-bodied tracks. The game is shipped with a soundtrack free of cost, so players can enjoy the amazing score well after the game is over.

               Control:  8.0
       It is tough to control Adol properly with the touch screen controls, which create a significant disconnect. Additionally, they force players into using the awkward auto-slash ability to attack. Normal controls feel much more fluid and natural, and allow players to attack from a safe distance.

                      Gameplay:  8.0
       Though the game's sometimes puzzling objectives and maze-like dungeons will require a guide, it doesn't hamper the experience significantly. Additionally, the quick and easy deaths, though frustrating at times, do not sour this extremely fun game. Fans of the genre will definitely connect with the gameplay and thirst for Book II after completing the first.

 

       Lastability:  8.0
       With two Ys games in one, and four difficulty settings to satisfy all skill levels, players have plenty to tackle in their first playthrough. A time attack mode is unlocked upon completion of either title, which is great for extended play. The game also features local competitive up-to-four player multiplayer modes to enjoy with friends.

 

       Final:  8.0
       Legacy of Ys is a well crafted title that is addictive and fun from the first minute and onwards. Some obtuse design choices hold this game back, but Legacy of Ys Books I and II is a must for fans of the Ys series or older-style adventure games.      

[Gradius is reborn on WiiWare alongside a Master System classic.]

61

TalkBack / This Week's Virtual Console and WiiWare

« on: March 09, 2009, 02:14:31 PM »

Gradius is reborn on WiiWare alongside a Master System classic.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17920

 This week's Virtual Console and WiiWare features just two titles, one for each service.    

Gradius ReBirth, this week's WiiWare release, puts players back in the Gradius universe. Like Mega Man 9, the title will feature retro graphics and play style. In order to succeed in their mission against the alien enemies, players must pick and upgrade their weapons carefully. Players can compare their best scores against worldwide players with online leaderboards. Gradius ReBirth is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 1,000 Points ($10).    

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars for the Sega Master System puts players back in the shoes of the titular character for yet another adventure. In a race against time, players must find the 12 missing zodiac signs scattered throughout six unique levels. Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Points ($5).    

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL    

March 9, 2009    

Remember when Grandma used to mark your height on the wall every so often, just to see how fast you were growing? Well, if the Wii™ Shop Channel had its own growth chart, she'd be impressed at how the selection of great games keeps getting bigger and bigger each week. Take a look at the latest additions and you'll discover a pair of different yet equally engaging titles: a thrilled-packed WiiWare™ shooter and a classic SEGA adventure for the Virtual Console™. Thanks to this steady stream of new games, your own library ought to be growing up fast, too.    

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:    

WiiWare    

Gradius ReBirth (Konami, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Blast your way through levels filled with alien spaceships and otherworldly creatures in this retro side-scrolling shooter. Pick your weapons carefully and upgrade them to create a devastating arsenal of space-aged weapons that will aid you in your challenging mission. Players can post their high scores to worldwide leader boards via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and see where they rank against all the other Gradius ReBirth players. Test your skills with Gradius ReBirth and see if you have what it takes to beat this action-packed arcade shooter.    

Virtual Console    

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars™ (SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Comic Mischief, Crude Humor, 500 Wii Points): In this platformer from the 1980s, help Alex Kidd in a race against time to find the 12 missing zodiac signs hidden in six challenging levels-including toyland, the robot factory and an outer-space level-all complete with crazy enemies.    

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

[The previously ESRB-rated Ogre Battle makes its way to the Virtual Console alongside a family friendly virtual board game for WiiWare.]

62

TalkBack / The Week's Virtual Console and WiiWare

« on: March 02, 2009, 12:09:33 PM »

The previously ESRB-rated Ogre Battle makes its way to the Virtual Console alongside a family friendly virtual board game for WiiWare.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17853

 The week's Virtual Console and WiiWare update brings players a single title for WiiWare and the Virtual Console.    

The much anticipated and previously ESRB-rated Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen from Enix makes its Virtual Console debut. Players must lead their band of rebels to defeat the Zetegenian Empire in this strategy RPG through the use of hundreds of characters, magic items, weapons, and mystical Tarot cards. Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

The sole WiiWare title of the week, Family & Friends Party is an interactive team board game for up to eight players. During each turn, players will be given a one or two person challenge that must be completed to progress. Once a team completes all of the challenges, they are declared the winner. Family & Friends Party is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 1000 Wii Points ($10).    

  WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL    

March 2, 2009    

In like a lamb and out like a lion, or vice-versa? Whether March finds you digging out from a late-winter blizzard or reeling in the spring thaw, the fun is both mild and wild at the Wii™ Shop Channel. Even the littlest lambs in your household can take part in a cool new family-friendly WiiWare™ game, while strategy-loving gamers will be roaring like lions as they battle evil foes in a classic Virtual Console™ title.    

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:    

WiiWare™    

Family & Friends Party (Gammick Entertainment, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Have fun with all your friends and family as you take on some very exciting challenges. This is an interactive board game for as many as eight players of all ages. The goal is to be the first to complete a series of challenges. During each turn, a challenge will be played by one or two players per team depending on the type of challenge you've been given. (Other players on your team can still help and support you). There are six different "Single" challenges that must be played cooperatively by members of the same team. Family & Friends Party can also suggest "Versus" challenges, which must be played competitively by all teams at the same time.    

Virtual Console™    

Ogre Battle™: The March of the Black Queen™ (Super NES™, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): It's up to you to defeat the Empire. It's been nearly a quarter of a century since the Zetegenian Empire first conquered the Kingdoms of Zenobia with a wrath of fear and bloodshed. You are the leader of a band of rebels who've fought to preserve the last shred of honor in this desperate time of treachery. Manage the ranks of a full-blown rebel army, complete with hundreds of characters, magic items, weapons and mystical Tarot cards. You must succeed in ousting the evil usurpers-your fate, and that of the entire population, depends on it.    

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

[Nintendo's import-friendly Starfy series will make its North American debut, and a new addition to the Excite series will be coming to Wii very soon.]

63

TalkBack / Nintendo Reveals Two New Titles and Upcoming Release Schedule

« on: February 26, 2009, 10:14:33 AM »

Nintendo's import-friendly Starfy series will make its North American debut, and a new addition to the Excite series will be coming to Wii very soon.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17824

 This morning, Nintendo revealed their upcoming release schedule for both their Wii and DS systems. Included in the schedule were the announcements of two new titles, one for either of their systems.    

The Legendary Starfy, a localization of the fifth title in the Starfy series, puts players in control of Starfy, the legendary hero of Pufftop. This undersea adventure has Starfy assisting a mysterious, bunny-eared visitor find his lost memory. Players will use Starfy to swoop into enemies, glide over bottomless chasms, and transform into powerful creatures to help his new friend. The Legendary Starfy will be available for the DS on June 8 in North America.    

Nintendo also announced Excitebots: Trick Racing for the Wii. Players will return to the Excite universe on April 20 with their Wii Wheels in hand to perform "crazy tricks" in "unique and changing environments". Family friendly mini-games will also be available.    

Finally, Nintendo also announced a number of release dates for third-party titles, and restated their upcoming first-party offerings. New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat will release on May 4th with Punch-Out!! following closely behind, releasing on May 18th. Personal Trainer: Walking will round out their Spring release schedule, launching one week after Punch-Out!! on May 25th.    

For the full release schedule, see the Press Release below, which details each companies upcoming titles and their release dates.    

   NINTENDO'S VIDEO GAME LINEUP DEMONSTRATES GAMING DIVERSITY    

New Games Announced for Nintendo Systems    

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 26, 2009 – While everyone is still buzzing about the upcoming April 5 launch of the Nintendo DSi™ system, video game fans will have plenty of great games and experiences to keep them busy. Nintendo has an extensive, diverse library of about 120 games on the way for both the Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ systems. Upcoming Nintendo-published video games for Wii include:    

Excitebots™: Trick Racing has elements that make it one of the more unique racing games on the market. It launches April 20 and lets everyone in the family use the Wii Wheel™ accessory in unique and changing environments, play fun minigames and perform crazy tricks in a game that builds on the Excitebike™ and Excite Truck™ franchises.    

Donkey Kong® Jungle Beat™, originally made for the Nintendo GameCube™ system, launches May 4 with newly added motion controls. It's the latest in Nintendo's New Play Control! series of games.    

Punch-Out!!™ launches May 18 and brings back all of the fun of the beloved, classic NES® game that thrilled players in the early 1990s. Boxers battle as iconic hero Little Mac as they fight their way through a cast of new and familiar boxing opponents on their quest to win the coveted WVBA (World Video Boxing Association) Championship Belt.    

Nintendo's downloadable WiiWare service continues to be a showcase for new games, new concepts and new ideas. A selection of upcoming titles includes:    

• BIT.TRIP BEAT, developed by Gaijin Games and published by Aksys Games: BIT.TRIP BEAT is what you get when you mix classic video gaming with modern gaming sensibilities. What may seem like a simple "paddle" game turns into a psychedelic trip down memory lane which has you hitting "beats" in rhythm to Chiptune style music. While the game can be difficult, if you crank up the tunes and get in the zone, you'll have a great time. Performing perfectly isn't required to experience all the game's content, but the extra challenge will keep score-hunters coming back in search of each level's elusive "PERFECT" score.    

• Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, developed and published by Semnat Studios LLC: Fight your way through 13 diverse locations on your own or with up to three friends in this frenetic and stylish side-scrolling action game. Play as Eduardo and his fellow toaster buddies as you fire an assortment of pastries at all kinds of dastardly food products. Hop onto laser-mounted scooters and fly across the screen in rocket packs, and learn to cooperate with your teammates or simply annoy each other in an awesomely fun way by throwing each other around the screen. The choice is up to you.    

• Night Game, developed and published by Nicalis: Exclusively for WiiWare, Night Game (working title) is part action game and part puzzler. It invites players into a beautifully atmospheric world, where they must use real physics to maneuver a mysterious, glowing sphere through vastly different locales. Night Game pushes the boundaries of design with its unique art style, and professionally produced music score. This title is a 2009 Independent Games Festival Seumas McNally Award nominee and from the same developers responsible for Cave Story on Wii.    

• Swords & Soldiers, developed and published by Ronimo Games: Swords & Soldiers is a side-scrolling real-time strategy game, in which three distinct factions battle for the powers of the gods. The goal is to destroy the enemies' castle on the other end of the level, while protecting your own. This can be done by training powerful units or casting devastating spells. The game will feature a single-player campaign and a competitive split-screen multiplayer mode as well as several other game modes.    

Great titles are also on the way for the portable Nintendo DS system. Some Nintendo-published video games for Nintendo DS include:    

Rhythm Heaven™ is an infectious video game that has been a huge hit in Japan. Players tap and slide the stylus on the touch screen in time to the beat. This fun, stylized game launches April 5.    

A new entry in the Personal Trainer series is Personal Trainer™: Walking, which launches May 25. Personal Trainer: Walking tracks users' progress and makes going for a walk a little more fun. It comes with two pedometers that users can wirelessly connect to their Nintendo DS system when they return home.    

In The Legendary Starfy™ game, which launches June 8, players dive into a spectacular undersea adventure with Starfy, the legendary hero of Pufftop. Players swoop into enemies like a shooting star, glide over bottomless chasms and transform into powerful creatures to help a mysterious, bunny-eared visitor find his lost memory.    

In recent weeks, multiple third-party publishers have announced plans to boost their support of Nintendo systems. Between now and June, Nintendo fans will enjoy games like: The Conduit™, a first-person shooter from Sega that pits players against a terrifying group of alien invaders intent on taking over a futuristic Washington, D.C.; EA SPORTS Active™, a Wii exclusive from Electronic Arts that offers players fun, easy-to-learn exercises and activities that users can do with family and friends; and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 10, the newest iteration of the popular golf game from Electronic Arts that lets players hit the links to prove their driving and putting prowess.    

Below is a partial list of upcoming games for Wii and Nintendo DS. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.    

Wii    

2K Sports
 Major League Baseball® 2K9 - March 3
 Don King Boxing - March 31    

Activision
 X-Men Origins: Wolverine - May
 Ice Age 3 - June 30
 Transformers™: Revenge of the Fallen - June    

Aksys Games
 Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus - May 12    

Atari
 Ready 2 Rumble Revolution - March 17
 Backyard Baseball 10 - March 31    

Capcom Entertainment Inc.
 MotoGP™ - Spring    

Codemasters Inc
 Overlord Dark Legend - Summer    

Conspiracy Games
 Real Heroes: Firefighter - April    

Deep Silver, Inc.
 Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity - April
 Fritz Chess - May    

Disney Interactive Studios
 Hannah Montana The Movie - April    

Electronic Arts
 TRIVIAL PURSUIT™ - March
 MySims™ Party - March
 EA SPORTS Active™ - May 19
 Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 10 - June
 BOOM BLOX™ Bash Party - Spring
 MySims™ Racing - Summer
 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ - Summer
 G.I. JOE™ The Rise of Cobra - Summer
 EA SPORTS Tennis (working title) - Summer    

Hudson Entertainment
 Help Wanted - Summer    

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
 DanceDanceRevolution® Disney Grooves - April 2
 Yu-Gi-Oh! ™ 5D's Wheelie Breakers - May 19    

LucasArts
 Indiana Jones® and the Staff of Kings™ - Late Spring    

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc
 Klonoa® - Q2    

Nintendo
 New Play Control! Pikmin™ - March 9
 New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis™ - March 9
 Excitebots: Trick Racing - April 20
 New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - May 4
 Punch-Out!! - May 18    

SEGA of America
 Virtua Tennis™ 2009 - May
 The Conduit™ - June
 Let's Tap™ - June    

Southpeak Interactive
 Roogoo Twisted Towers™ - April 7
 Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball™ - April 21    

Zoo Games, Inc.
 M&M's Beach Party - March 10
 Puzzle Kingdoms - March 31
 Garfield Gets Real - April 7
 Pennzoil's Build-N-Race: "Speed Demons" - April 14
 Jelly Belly Ballistic Beans - April 21
 Smiley World Island Challenge - April 28
 Garfield's Pet Force - June 9    

Nintendo DS    

2K Sports
 MLB® 2K9 Fantasy All-Stars - March 3
 Don King Boxing - March 31    

Activision
 X-Men Origins: Wolverine - May
 Ice Age 3 - June 30
 Transformers™: Revenge of the Fallen - June    

Activision/RedOctane
 Guitar Hero® On Tour: Modern Hits - June    

Aksys Games
 Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles: Memories of the Past - May 26
 Rockin' Pretty - June 23    

Aspyr Media, Inc.
 Treasure World™ - June    

Atari
 Backyard Baseball '10 - March 31
 My Horse and Me Riding For Gold - March 31    

Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
 TrackMania® DS - March 17
 Tokyo Beat Down™ - March 31
 The Dark Spire™ - April 14
 Dokapon Journey™ - April 14
 Steal Princess™ - April 21
 101 in 1 Explosive Megamix - April 21
 Super Robot Taisen® OG Saga:Endless Frontier™ - April 28
 Knights in the Nightmare™ - June 2
 Shin Megami Tensei®: Devil Survivor™ - June 23    

Capcom
 Mega Man Starforce 3 Black Ace - June
 Mega Man Starforce 3 Red Joker - June    

Codemasters Inc
 Overlord Minions - Summer    

Deep Silver, Inc.
 Pet Vet: Down Under - March
 Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity - April
 Elite Forces: Unit 77 - April
 DJ Star - May
 Fritz Chess - May
 The Humans - May
 Horoscope DS - May    

Disney Interactive Studios
 Hannah Montana The Movie - April    

DreamCatcher
 Dreamer: Shop Owner - April 21
 Dreamer: Babysitter - April 21
 Dreamer: Teacher - April 21
 Prank'd - May 19    

Electronic Arts
 Zubo™ - March 10
 Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure™ - March 17
 MySims™ Party - March
 SCRABBLE™ - March
 LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring™ - March
 MySims™ Racing - Summer
 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ - Summer    

Hudson Entertainment
 Miami Law - Summer    

KOEI
 Monster Racers™ - June    

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
 Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times™ - May 5
 Yu-Gi-Oh!™ 5D's Stardust Accelerators World Championship 2009 - May 19    

LucasArts
 Indiana Jones® and the Staff of Kings™ - Late Spring    

Majesco Entertainment
 Puffins: Island Adventure - April 14
 Powerbike - April 28
 Drama Queens - May
 Marker Man Adventures - May
 Hot 'n' Cold - May
 Dawn of Heroes - June    

MumboJumbo
 Crazy Chicken Star Karts - March 31
 Crazy Chicken Atlantis Quest - April 28
 Crazy Chicken The Pharaoh's Treasure - June 2
 7 Wonders II - June 30    

Nintendo
 Rhythm Heaven - April 5
 Personal Trainer: Walking - May 25
 The Legendary Starfy - June 8    

PopCap Games, Inc.
 Peggle™ Dual Shot - March 3    

Rockstar Games
 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - March 17    

Southpeak Interactive
 Roogoo Attack™ - April 7    

THQ
 Desktop Tower Defense - April 29    

Ubisoft
 Imagine® Makeup Artist - May 5
 Imagine® Music Fest - May 5
 Imagine® Boutique Owner - May 26
 My Healthy Cooking Coach - June 2
 Petz® Fashion: Dogz and Catz - June 9
 Jake Power Soccer Club - June 16    

Valcon Games
 History Channel: Great Empires: Rome - March 17    

Zoo Games, Inc.
 Yamaha Supercross - March 10
 Hands On!: Tangrams - March 24
 Puzzle Kingdoms - March 31
 Garfield Gets Real - April 7
 Jelly Belly Ballistic Beans - April 21
 Smiley World Island Challenge - April 28
 Garfield's Pet Force - June 9    

For more information about Nintendo games and hardware, visit www.Nintendo.com.

[Stiff control, boring gameplay, obnoxious semi-static cameras, and terrible graphics make this game completely unenjoyable.]

64

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Rygar: The Battle of Argus

« on: February 25, 2009, 12:11:10 AM »

Stiff control, boring gameplay, obnoxious semi-static cameras, and terrible graphics make this game completely unenjoyable.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=17815

 For the unacquainted, Rygar: The Battle of Argus is a port of the PlayStation 2 game, Rygar: The Legendary Adventure, which was originally released over six years ago. One would assume that the game would be improved in a port to a current generation console to justify its existence. Unfortunately, Rygar has seen no improvements whatsoever. As such, the game plays, feels, and looks exactly like what it is: a port of a dated, six-year-old game.    

Rygar's story is as generic as they come. Evil (the Titans) invades the land, girl (Princess Harmonia) is captured by bad guys (Icarus), boy (Rygar) must save girl. Thankfully, the setting and characters, derived from Greco-Roman mythology, are interesting enough to keep the player's attention. Players trek through this ancient world as the story's protagonist Rygar from a third person perspective.    

At this point it seems near impossible to discuss Rygar: The Battle of Argus without mentioning Sony's popular God of War series. Though Rygar predates the series, the two share strong similarities. Both are set in a mythological Greco-Roman world, both are platformer-adventure titles, and both employ similar battle tactics. Rygar uses the Diskarmor, while Kratos uses the Blades of Chaos; both are strong weapons hooked to chains, which give them range and a unique feel. Regardless of the two games' similarities, one major component separates the two: time. During the gap of time between the original release of Rygar and God of War, many games built on the third-person action formula, polishing it to a point of near perfection. Rygar: The Battle of Argus disregards all of the progress made by games like God of War, throwing players back into 2002.    

My biggest grievances with Rygar stem from a few key points. The first and undoubtedly largest is its use of in-game cameras. Similar to other games of the time, such as Devil May Cry and Onimusha, Rygar uses a collection of semi-static cameras. As you walk around any given area, the camera follows along a strict track, never panning around you for a better view; this makes the game's fighting and platforming a constant challenge. It wouldn't be such a problem if it didn't show Rygar from the front most of the time.    

The camera problems continue thanks to the game choppily switching to new cameras on a whim. Oftentimes when walking into a new area, the new camera angle causes the player's analog controls to flip-flop, making for a confusing and frustrating battle to reach the desired area. This also causes disorientation, sometimes making it hard to realize exactly where you've ended up.    

The second major problem with Rygar involves the combat. Even after playing games from that era, such as the aforementioned Onimusha and Devil May Cry, it's obvious that Rygar's battle techniques—although the first of their kind—were both stiff and outdated. Starting a combo in a particular direction means finishing that combo in that same direction, whether you like it or not. When dealing with multiple enemies, you will needlessly take damage because you're unable to react mid-combo to dispense of enemies attacking from behind.    

The final condemnation of Rygar lies in its presentation. Graphically, the game looks awful. It is easily one of the worst-looking Wii games, thanks mostly to the fact that Tecmo apparently didn't put an ounce of effort into updating the game's presentation in the slightest. Furthermore, it does not meaningfully use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, even though it forces players to use the unwieldy setup. Considering the Classic Controller closely resembles the PS2 controller, an obvious alternate setup would've allowed players to use either a Classic or GameCube Controller. Rather than using the awkward C and Z buttons found on the Nunchuk controller, players could've used the additional face buttons to perform Rygar's guarding and jumping actions.    

Gladiator Mode stands as the lone addition to Rygar: The Battle of Argus. Players enter a small arena and are pitted against multiple waves of enemies (and eventually bosses) that they must dispense with.  Three rudimentary motions were added in place of the usual button presses found in the main game; unfortunately, these controls are actually stiffer and less responsive than the original button-based combos.    

Rygar: The Battle of Argus is a failure on all fronts. It is a port of what is, in my opinion, a poor PlayStation 2 game (even for its time) that shows no signs of improvement. Not even the obvious addition of motion control made it into to the main game, which could've made controlling the Diskarmor an interesting and unique task (though Gladiator mode speaks otherwise). Rygar: The Battle of Argus is a shameless cash-in and should be avoided. Players who feel they need to experience the game are better off rummaging through the clearance bin for a copy of the PlayStation 2 original; aside from the (poor) Gladiator Mode, it is the exact same game, after all.

Pros:
       

Greco-Roman setting is mildly interesting

       Cons:
       

Camera is unbearable

 

Stiff controls

 

Poor graphics

 

Main game contains no updates whatsoever from PS2 original

               Graphics:  3.0
       With no updates to the Wii port, the game looks like an early PlayStation 2 game ... because it practically is one.

               Sound:  3.0
       There is little to no music in the background while you are traveling through the land, and the sound effects and enemy sounds are nothing special. Terrible voice acting during cutscenes serves for some unintentional comic relief, but ultimately becomes grating as the game moves onward.

               Control:  3.0
       Controlling Rygar always seems to be a struggle. Doing combos is obnoxious because you cannot change his direction in the middle of one. When the camera switches to a new position, controls will often become flipped, causing much confusion and a moment or two of complete disorientation. Finally, absolutely no effort was put into utilizing the Wii Remote's strengths meaningfully.

                      Gameplay:  4.0
       Rygar is a mindless third-person hack-and-slash. Being a spiritual predecessor to God of War, it offers much less refined and interesting gameplay than any of the titles in that series. Rygar even pales in comparison to the PS2 original's contemporaries, such as Devil May Cry and Onimusha.

 

       Lastability:  5.0
       The single player quest will take most players around eight to ten hours to complete, and harder difficulty settings accommodate additional playthroughs, if you so desire.

 

       Final:  3.0
       There is no logical reason for players to even consider playing or buying Rygar: The Battle of Argus. It's a direct port of a six year old game, with play mechanics that are considerably rougher than those in newer titles such as the God of War series.      

65

General Gaming / Noby Noby Boy!

« on: February 19, 2009, 10:58:18 AM »

So ... this comes out today!

Totally buying it when I get home, will have some impressions up later, and will probably write an informal review as well.

Anybody else excited?

[With a price point of $169.99, the DSi is launching alongside Rhythm Heaven sooner than anticipated.]

66

TalkBack / Nintendo Announces Official North American DSi Release Date

« on: February 18, 2009, 09:29:47 AM »

With a price point of $169.99, the DSi is launching alongside Rhythm Heaven sooner than anticipated.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17783

 This morning Nintendo announced the official release date of their upcoming DS revision, the DSi. The unit will be available in North American stores April 5 with a MSRP of $169.99. The system will launch in two colors, Matte Black, a color already available in Japan, and a brand new Matte Blue color unique to North America.    

Though the GBA slot has been removed, the DSi boasts a number of new features over its DS Lite predecessor. Being a DS revision, the system will also retain the same unique features made available in the DS and DS Lite. The DSi will include a camera (with editing suite), a sound studio for recording and playing sound/music, an SD Card slot, as well as access to the DSi shop. Similar to the Wii Shop Channel, the DSi shop will offer unique downloadable games for purchase. Furthermore, the DSi will also have a unique lineup of titles that cannot be played on older DS models.    

Nintendo also revealed that their popular Japanese title Rhythm Heaven will release alongside the DSi system on April 5.    

NINTENDO DSI LAUNCHES APRIL 5 IN THE UNITED STATES    

New Portable System Offers Customized Gaming Experiences    

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 18, 2009 – Nintendo pioneered hand-held entertainment in the '80s and made it fully mobile with the Game Boy™ video game system. Now, Nintendo is transforming the way people access, experience, create and share content with the new Nintendo DSi™ system, the third iteration of the world's best-selling portable video game system. Nintendo DSi launches in the United States on April 5, 2009, at an MSRP of $169.99. The colors available at launch will be Blue and Black.    

"Ever since the arrival of the first Game Boy, consumers worldwide have turned to Nintendo for their portable gaming," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Nintendo DSi builds on Nintendo's commitment to bringing fun and creative entertainment to everyone, and will allow consumers to personalize and share their very own experiences."    

Some features that will be built into the system and ready to enjoy upon purchase include the Nintendo DSi Camera, Nintendo DSi Sound and Nintendo DSi Shop. The most noticeable feature of the slim Nintendo DSi system is its two cameras – one camera is on the external body, and the second one points at the user when the device is flipped open. As the first truly interactive digital camera in a video game system with 10 different interactive "lenses" that can manipulate your photos, the Nintendo DSi Camera offers an easy way to take and share your photos with family and friends. The cameras also present people with unprecedented ways to interact with their games while giving developers a new tool to devise creative games and experiences. If the touch screen gave Nintendo DS a sense of feel and the microphone allowed it to hear, the two cameras give Nintendo DSi the sense of sight.    

Another enhanced feature is the Nintendo DSi Sound application, which serves as both an interactive voice recorder and music player that allows users to play with their music while they listen to it. Users can access different audio filters or control the pitch and speed of recorded voice or music files to alter voices or change the tempo of a song. The mic is located between the two screens when the device is flipped open, and there is also a stereo headphone output that lets users listen to music saved on an SD card, even with the screen shut.    

In the world of software, Nintendo DSi will be the platform for the most relevant and fun on-the-go games and applications. The Nintendo DSiWare™ application will populate Nintendo DSi with software that can be downloaded using Nintendo DSi Points directly to the portable system, just as WiiWare™ has with Nintendo's Wii™ console. Developers big and small are invited to create software that makes use of the properties and functions of the hardware. Nintendo DSiWare games and applications will be available at a range of values, starting at 200 points.    

In addition to downloadable games, Nintendo DSi is able to play games made specifically for the system and sold at retail. The system can also play most Nintendo DS™ games, and will have access to a library of more than 850 titles originally made for that system.    

Also on April 5, a new Nintendo DS game, Rhythm Heaven™, will join this roster of games available for both Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS owners in the United States. Having sold more than 1.6 million copies since its July 2008 launch in Japan and still increasing sales today, this infectious game challenges players to tap and slide the stylus on the touch screen in time to original music created by legendary Japanese pop-star producer TSUNKU?. Simple gestures with the stylus combined with fun music and quirky visuals make Rhythm Heaven a completely unique musical experience for players of all ages.    

Additional features and news of Nintendo DSi will be revealed as April 5 approaches.    

For more information about Nintendo DSi, visit www.nintendodsi.com">www.nintendodsi.com.

[Point pilot Konki to the exits of twenty unique stages in the week's WiiWare title or blast your way through enemy forces in an NES Gradius spin-off.]

67

TalkBack / This Week's Virtual Console and WiiWare

« on: February 16, 2009, 10:20:41 PM »

Point pilot Konki to the exits of twenty unique stages in the week's WiiWare title or blast your way through enemy forces in an NES Gradius spin-off.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17772

 This week's Virtual Console and WiiWare provides us with two titles, one for each of the services. Additionally, Nintendo hints at some interesting news that will be officially revealed next week. Analyzing the clues, it can be assessed that next week Nintendo will officially unveil news that Commodore 64 games will join the North American Virtual Console service.    

Evasive Space, a game that bears similarities to Nintendo's Kururin series, is this week's sole WiiWare release. Players will pilot Konki's ship through a maze-like space through the use of the Wii Remote's pointer functionality. Success in the game's twenty missions will allow players to defeat Dr. Dark Matter and save the constellations, which were stolen by the evil doctor. Evasive Space is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 1,000 Wii Points ($10).    

Life Force, an NES spin-off of the Gradius series, puts players in the cockpit of the Vic Viper to destroy waves of enemies in six horizontally and vertically scrolling stages. Players can utilize a variety of power-ups, and even bring a friend along, in order to save the planet from destruction. Life Force is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points ($5).    

ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED (AND ONE SURPRISE COMING) TO WII SHOP CHANNEL    

Feb. 16, 2009    

Outer space meets inner space at the Wii™ Shop Channel this Presidents Day. A new WiiWare™ title will have you soaring across the astral plane, while a vintage NES™ shooter for the Virtual Console™ invites you to battle your way through the innards of an alien creature. Choose a hot new WiiWare game or a Gradius spin-off. It’s what the presidents would have wanted.    

In other news, the Wii-kly Update has a fun surprise coming soon for all our fans. We can't tell you the secret just yet but maybe we’ll offer you some hidden clues. From AZ to NC, if you’re a fan, your applause could rattle your walls, windows, door. You might enjoy this news whether you live in a brick house or Vanderbilt dorm. Even people living along Route 286 in rural Pennsylvania ought to be excited. It’ll feel like a bunch of birthday greetings and, really, who could ask for more? But that's about all we can say for now, so be sure to check future Wii-kly Updates.    

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:    

WiiWare    

Evasive Space™ (Yukes Company of America, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Launch a one-of-a-kind mission to rescue the stars. The universe is going dark, and it’s up to you, Konki the Stellar Guardian, to set things right. Dr. Dark Matter and his roving band of space thieves have stolen many of the Constellation Stones that make up the heavens. It's time to suit up, power up, recover the Stones and once again bring light to the night sky. Using the Wii Remote™ controller's unique pointer capabilities, simply point and thrust Konki through 20 dangerous time- and collection-based missions in the harshest of environments. Navigate through narrow, mazelike astral caves riddled with space worms, steam pipes and mining drills. Explore vast space stations while avoiding turret fire, mines and huge crushing gears. Weave through cluttered asteroid fields and gaseous planetary rings. Evade the hazards, pick up precious items and ship upgrades, and save the Constellation Stones before the night sky is lost forever.    

Virtual Console    

Life Force (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): This classic shooter, originally ported to the NES in August 1988, is a spin-off of the seminal Gradius series. Pilot the Vic Viper through six stages of intense action, alternating between horizontally and vertically scrolling environments, and take on wave after wave of enemies. Destroy particular enemies throughout the game (which takes place within the body of an enormous alien) to release power-up capsules and equip your ship with your choice of more powerful weapons, extra speed and shields. Utilize the power-ups carefully, though, as a fearsome guardian lurks at the end of each stage and won't be easily defeated. You can go it alone or bring along a friend to take on the challenge simultaneously. Do you have what it takes to save your planet?    

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

68

General Chat / How do you know your wife loves you...

« on: February 09, 2009, 08:18:07 PM »

She buys you this for your anniversary!

[IGN's touted LIT makes its appearance on WiiWare alongside a single Genesis game for the Virtual Console.]

69

TalkBack / This Week's Virtual Console and WiiWare

« on: February 09, 2009, 05:18:55 AM »

IGN's touted LIT makes its appearance on WiiWare alongside a single Genesis game for the Virtual Console.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17726

 This week's Virtual Console and WiiWare updates are light on both fronts, with only one game for either service.    

LIT, this week's WiiWare title, is developed by WayForward Technologies and comes from an idea stemming from Matt Casamassina and Mark Bozon of IGN. Players will take control of protagonist Jake, whose high school has been taken over by dark creatures. Through use of light sources, Jake will navigate thirty horror/puzzle levels in order to reunite with his girlfriend Rachel. Players will navigate through the levels and battle five bosses with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The game will also feature replay modes, and unlockables including Dark Mode for timed challenges, multiple endings, and a special character. LIT is rated E10+ by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Chanel for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS is this week's sole Virtual Console addition, and comes to us from the Sega Genesis. In this arcade port, players command a U.S. government-hired mercenary from an isometric viewpoint to suppress terrorists and guerilla groups behind enemy lines. Players will need to shoot, drive jeeps and tanks, and defeat huge bosses to accomplish their mission. Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS is rated E10+ by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Chanel for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL    

Feb. 9, 2009    

No matter what you've got planned for Valentine's Day, the latest additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel have what it takes to get your heart pounding. A new WiiWare™ game transports you to an eerie high school haunted by supernatural villains, while a classic Virtual Console™ title puts you in the heat of battle as a heroic mercenary. And remember: Just because these games are made for single-player action doesn't mean you can't share the excitement with your special someone.    

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:    

WiiWare    

LIT (WayForward Technologies, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Violence, 800 Wii Points): Dark creatures have taken over Jake's high school, and it's up to you to guide him through each classroom in order to be reunited with his girlfriend Rachael. Existing light sources must be used smartly to create bridges of light for Jake to cross. One false step and Jake gets pulled into the darkness. Along the way he'll encounter twisted versions of his school's faculty, which must be battled in order to advance. LIT is a horror/puzzle game that requires the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers. It contains 30 levels, five boss battles, replay modes and several unlockables, including multiple endings, Dark Mode timed challenges and an unlockable character.    

Virtual Console    

Wolf of the Battlefield™: MERCS (SEGA GENESIS, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Violence, 800 Wii Points): Following a rash of terrorism outbreaks and increasing opposition from guerilla fighters, the U.S. government has decided to hire a group of professional mercenaries to undergo secret missions, battling through enemy lines to go where no ordinary soldier would dare to go. Based on the popular arcade game, the SEGA GENESIS version of MERCS lets you play as a MERC and also adds an original mode, allowing players to choose from five different characters. Take no prisoners as you shoot, drive jeeps and tanks, and clash against huge bosses to accomplish your mission.    

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

70

TalkBack / Wii in 2009

« on: February 03, 2009, 02:30:29 PM »

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=17670

  After some debate sparked over Rick's blog post regarding the Wii and its shovelware, I decided to sit down and take a hard look at the upcoming release schedule of the Wii, and see exactly what we had in store for the coming year.    

With just a cursory look, I managed to identify over thirty games that I had interest in with release dates planned for this year. The list in no particular order:    

 
• House of the Dead: Overkill
 
• MADWORLD
 
• The Conduit
 
• Muramasa: The Demon Blade
 
• Wii Sports Resort
 
• Sin & Punishment 2
 
• New Play Control! Series
 
• Little King's Story
 
• Boom Blox Blast Party
 
• Punch-Out!!
 
• TMNT: Smash Up
 
• Sonic & the Black Knight
 
• Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
 
• Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
 
• Marble Saga: Kororinpa
 
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers
 
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
 
• Major Minor's Majestic March
 
• Ghostbusters: The Video Game
 
• Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus
 
• Roogoo
 
• Mini Ninjas
 
• Cursed Mountain
 
• Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
 
• Arc Rise Fantasia
 
• No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle
 
• Overlord: Dark Legend
 
• Deadly Creatures
 
• Let's Tap
 
• Spyborgs
 

   

Of course, this list doesn't even begin to cover the various WiiWare titles that are en route to the service this year. While I wouldn't expect everyone to be excited about every title on the list, there is undoubtedly a flood of solid titles planned for the year. As the year rolls on, I expect the list will grow immensely, with an equally solid 2010 lineup to follow.

[Nintendo and Hudson provide this week's WiiWare titles, while Sega rounds out the week with one for the Virtual Console.]

71

TalkBack / This Week's Virtual Console and WiiWare

« on: February 02, 2009, 01:43:12 PM »

Nintendo and Hudson provide this week's WiiWare titles, while Sega rounds out the week with one for the Virtual Console.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17662

 The week's Virtual Console and WiiWare update provides players with an ESRB-leaked WiiWare title, another WiiWare title, and a Master System Virtual Console game from Sega.    

Sonic Chaos for the Sega Master System is this week's sole Virtual Console release. Players will take the role of either Sonic or Tails in the usual quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik. As per his usual routine, Eggman has stolen a (red) chaos emerald to make a nuclear device. In turn, the other chaos emeralds were thrown out of alignment and transported to another dimension. Players will have to Strike Dash and do Super-Peel Outs as Sonic, or Spin Dashes and Fly as Tails in order to reclaim the six chaos emeralds and bring Robotnik to justice. Sonic Chaos is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points ($5).    

Snowboard Riot, Hudson's latest addition to the WiiWare service allows players to race down a white face mountain, battling contending racers with items and speed. Players will have the option to use the Wii Balance Board, and up to four players can race at the same time. Additional ranking modes are also available through the Nintendo WiFi Connection. Snowboard Riot is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 1000 Wii Points ($10).    

This week's final title, LONPOS, has already been revealed through an ESRB rating and has been available in Japan for nearly a year as it was a launch title for the Japanese WiiWare service. Players will use a set of twelve unique pieces to fill in blank spaces on a rectangular 55 space grid in this unique puzzle game. As levels get harder, players will need to fit more pieces into the grid. Up to four players can compete, or up to two players can cooperate in two single player modes. Players can also see where they rank worldwide with the Nintendo WiFi Connection. For additional information, see our impressions of the Japanese version of the game. LONPOS is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is available now through the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

  WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL    

Feb. 2, 2009    

If you've got a taste for the eclectic, check out this lively lineup of additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel. One new WiiWare™ title combines brisk winter sports with pulverizing power-ups, while another blends intuitive puzzle dynamics with various multiplayer options. Meanwhile, a classic Virtual Console™ game invites you to assume the role of a certain adventurous hedgehog. With diverse releases like these, players of all stripes are sure to find something they'll love.    

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:    

WiiWare    

Snowboard Riot™ (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): This snowboard racing and battle game can be enjoyed by multiple players and is compatible with the Wii Balance Board™ accessory. In an intense scramble for first place, guide your character down the slopes while snatching up items to attack and defend against rivals along the way. Up to four players can battle and participate in various ranking modes via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.    

LONPOS (Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Looking for a puzzle game that anyone can play, but still offers plenty to master? Look no further than LONPOS, with its straightforward premise and large variety of puzzles to solve. Each puzzle revolves around a rectangular playing field of 55 spaces. Using a set of 12 pieces, the goal is to place every piece into the playing field, filling it completely. The higher the level, the more pieces you'll need to fit correctly into the playing field. Challenge yourself with two single-player modes or bring a friend to compete against or cooperate with. When you think your skills are worthy, use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to check out how you compare with other LONPOS players or download additional puzzles and backgrounds. (Router and broadband access required for online play. For more info, go to www.nintendo.com.)    

Virtual Console    

Sonic Chaos™ (SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Play as Sonic or Tails in Sonic Chaos, which was originally made for the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM. Dr. Eggman (a.k.a. Dr. Robotnik) has stolen the Red Chaos Emerald to create nuclear weapons. This has thrown the remaining Chaos Emeralds off balance, causing them to transport to a parallel universe. As a result, Sonic's home, South Island, is sinking into the ocean. Speed through various levels in your crusade for the six Chaos Emeralds. Perform Strike Dashes and Super-Peel Outs as Sonic, or Spin Dash and Fly as Tails, and restore order in Sonic Chaos.    

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

[Unresponsive controls, boring gameplay, and lackluster graphics amount to a game that isn't even worth its budget price.]

72

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Niki - Rock 'n' Ball

« on: February 01, 2009, 03:14:34 AM »

Unresponsive controls, boring gameplay, and lackluster graphics amount to a game that isn't even worth its budget price.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=17650

 When I saw Niki - Rock 'n' Ball go up on the Wii Shop Channel, I felt compelled to give it a shot. At such a low price, I figured, how bad could it be? Famous last words…    

According to the opening dialog, Niki's story is somehow connected to BPlus' last WiiWare foray, PLÄTTCHEN - Twist 'n' Paint. None of this really matters though, because Niki's story is completely irrelevant to the game.    

Niki is a plastic ball who has the ability to roll and jump. Given his hard exterior shell, he bounces on things, and can therefore use his abilities to propel himself up walls. Players can also obtain the ZeLeLi amulet and use it to transform Niki into a rock. In this form Niki is able to defeat enemies not able to be destroyed in his standard form. Additionally, his bouncing ability is diminished, and he moves slower. Players will need to switch between his two forms in order to complete each level. Each level has two objectives: collect all of the ZeLeLi pearls, and defeat all of the enemies. Neither objective is particularly fun to accomplish, thanks to the awful controls and the completely unenjoyable gameplay.    

The control problems start with the default control scheme. Players hold the remote upwards and tilt left to right, moving Niki around room-confined levels reminiscent of Bubble Bobble. After playing the game for just a few minutes, it becomes obvious that holding the remote like an NES controller would've been a much simpler, precise, and fun way to control the game. Players will want to immediately switch to the Retro controls; unfortunately, things don't get much better. Movement becomes more precise, since you can lightly press the D-Pad instead of making swooping gestures with the Wii Remote. However, Niki will still make huge advances forward for no apparent reason at random times, which is frustrating and can often result in death.    

The jumping controls are no better. The game counter-intuitively registers a jump on the release of the jump button, and even worse, it does so poorly. When attempting to bounce off a wall, oftentimes Niki will not perform the command, regardless of proper timing. Niki is also unresponsive when you try to jump quickly after landing.    

The game's control oddities would've been tolerable if the gameplay or level design were interesting enough, yet both are bland and frustrating. As mentioned earlier, defeating all of the enemies is necessary to complete a given level. Defeating enemies is as simple as rolling into them in Niki's rock form, with no extra work necessary. More often than not, players can hold the rock transformation button on the Wii Remote and roll left to right to kill all of the enemies in the level. The combat system's lack of depth or challenge makes this objective feel like a chore. Also, given that players must obtain the ZeLeLi amulet to transform Niki into his rock form, the designers could've placed it in a treacherous spot, or created a puzzle to spice up the level. Nothing of the sort is included.    

The substandard quality of the game is also evident in both its visual and audio presentation. The in-game music is bland, and the sound effects are repetitive and grating. The enemy designs are unvaried and simple, looking as if they were constructed in Microsoft Paint. The backgrounds are just a mish-mash of color, further adding to its MS Paint look.    

The game's only redeeming factor is the co-op mode. At any point, if a second player wants to join in, all they need to do is turn on their Wii Remote and a second Niki avatar is spawned on the screen. When players team up, they can more quickly complete levels and assist each other in getting to harder-to-reach spots in the levels. The only drawback of the mode is that players must tolerate a further zoomed-out view of the stage as they move further away from each another.    

Don't be tempted by Niki - Rock 'n' Ball's budget price. The game is partially broken, uninspired, and most important of all, boring.

Pros:
       

Pick-up-and-play co-op mode

       Cons:
       

Boring combat and level design

 

Unresponsive controls

 

Bad music

 

Hideous graphics

               Graphics:  3.0
       The graphics are hideous, with low resolution environments and unvaried character designs. The game looks as though it could have been designed in Microsoft Paint.

               Sound:  4.0
       The music is uninspired and terrible-sounding. The sound effects, particularly Niki's hollow knocking, become grating very quickly

               Control:  3.0
       The controls are unresponsive and the default, tilt-based control scheme is an abomination.

                      Gameplay:  4.0
       If it wasn't for the co-op play, there would not be a single redeeming gameplay feature. Killing enemies is simplistic, and bouncing around the level is frustrating.

 

       Lastability:  4.0
       The main game itself is short (2 hours at most), and since it is so frustrating and boring to play, players won't want to go back and beat the levels quickly enough to earn medals. Those who (by some off-chance) identify with the game will have single and co-op modes at their disposal, as well as the ability to earn medals by quickly completing levels.

 

       Final:  4.0
       Avoid Niki - Rock 'n' Ball. It's uninspired and dull, and isn't worth even its budget price.      

[Known in America as Active Life: Outdoor Challenge, the family sports game crosses the million sold mark in worldwide sales.]

73

TalkBack / Namco's Family Trainer Sells Over a Million

« on: January 29, 2009, 11:00:38 AM »

Known in America as Active Life: Outdoor Challenge, the family sports game crosses the million sold mark in worldwide sales.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17644

 Namco Bandai announced recently in a Japanese press release that their Family Trainer title, known in America as Active Life: Outdoor Challenge, has crossed the million sold mark worldwide. According to Namco Bandai's sales figures, the title moved 140,000 units in Japan, 540,000 units in America, and 320,000 units in Europe.    

The title is a revival of the Famicom Family Trainer series which made use of the Power Pad peripheral. The most recent edition of the game uses an updated version of the Power Pad called the Active Life Mat made specifically for Wii. The use of a stepping peripheral drew comparisons to Nintendo's Wii Fit title; however, according to Nintendo World Report, "Active Life: Outdoor Challenge separates itself from Wii Fit as its own game, and succeeds quite well at it."

[The cell phone tower defense game has just been ported, modified, and released in Japan.]

74

TalkBack / Square Enix Releases Crystal Defenders on WiiWare

« on: January 29, 2009, 06:08:07 PM »

The cell phone tower defense game has just been ported, modified, and released in Japan.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17643

 Square Enix announced early last week that their cell phone tower defense game was receiving a port to the downloadable services of all of the current generation systems. The WiiWare version, which was released just two days ago in Japan for 1,000 Wii Points, is titled Crystal Defenders R1 and is a downgraded port of the Final Fantasy Tactics themed game.    

Crystal Defenders R1 features fewer characters than in its iPhone source material. According to Square Enix, the game was designed for first time players to learn how to use the game's basic towers. As such, the berserker, hunter, and tinker towers have been removed from the title with only the soldier, black mage, white monk, archer, time mage, thief, and dragoon towers remaining.    

R1 is not a direct port of the first piece of the Crystal Guardians series, W1, as it includes the dragoon tower, an addition found in W2. Though not officially announced, the R1 appendage to the name likely indicates that Square Enix will release future expansions to the title.    

The rival Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 releases of the same game will instead be enhanced ports and will be titled simply, Crystal Defenders. These versions will include all of the Crystal Guardians series, W1, W2, and W3, plus additional content, and will be released sometime in the spring.    

Currently there is no official announcement for release outside of Japan, but given the title's existence on iPhones worldwide, an eventual worldwide release is likely.

[A leaked online video reveals that the once rumored Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 title is now coming to Wii, DS, and "PlayStation."]

75

TalkBack / Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings Coming to Wii and DS

« on: January 29, 2009, 03:58:09 PM »

A leaked online video reveals that the once rumored Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 title is now coming to Wii, DS, and "PlayStation."
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17642

 Late last week, a leaked video has revealed that Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings will be coming to Wii, DS, and "PlayStation." Late last August a listing appeared on the ESRB website for the game, rating the PSP and DS versions. The video revealed a release date of spring 2009.    

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings must have been under wraps for quite some time now to release as early as this spring. An Indiana Jones title made its debut at E3 2006 as an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game called simply Indiana Jones, but nothing has been heard of the project since.    

The video depicted only a staged video featuring Indy traversing through various landscapes, and avoiding and attacking various foes. None of the footage featured gameplay.    

CORRECTION:  This story originally referred to the XBox 360 and PS3 project as Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, which was incorrect. The project was simply known under the working title Indiana Jones. A game titled Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb was released in 2003.