Hopefully some of you know of the excellent downloadable game for 3DS, Pushmo. It was developed by Intelligent Systems, the makers of Fire Emblem and Paper, as a puzzle game with a twist, blocks can only move forward and backward, and you must clamber across them to reach the top. Now, Nintendo has released the sequel, Crashmo, which introduces gravity and a whole host of other gameplay ideas into the equation. I’ve only spent a few hours with it, but it’s already been an absolute blast. It also features the return of the level creator, so you can make your own puzzles and share them via QR codes. If you have a 3DS, make sure to check it out! Read more…
Well today is finally the release date of Nintendo’s Wii U, their successor to the incredibly popular Wii. It’ll be exciting to see how well it sells and if Nintendo will be able to keep up with demand. Will it become the hot commodity this Christmas, much like the Wii did? Or will it end up being a bit more on the Gamecube side of things? Only time will tell, but at the very least, the launch lineup seems solid. If you’re picking one up, the day one update is out, so be sure to grab that to activate all the online features. Going to go digital? A full list of retail games available digitally is below! Read more…
The Wii U arrives tomorrow, November 18th, and I’m sure many of you are getting one. It looks to be a fun system and I like the direction Nintendo is taking with it, although I’m unsure how mainstream audiences will react to it. One of the biggest selling points for casual audiences (and perhaps gamers too) is using the Wii U Gamepad as, essentially, the best and biggest universal remote ever. You’ll be able to control your TV via the pad, including input switching and all the basic features. Combined with TVii, Nintendo’s app that will unify many streaming services (like you cable, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video) it could do wonders for streamlining the living room experience. But bad news: it won’t arrive until December. Read more…
If you’re a diehard fan of the Animal Crossing series, then you’re sure to be very excited by the recent Japanese Nintendo Direct video released online by the House of Mario. It’s a 47-minute long video promoting the new features of the upcoming 3DS version of the game, which arrives in Japan this November, and early 2013 here in the US. While it’s all in Japanese, NeoGAF member StreetsAhead (who is definitely streets ahead) has translated much of the video here. Some of the highlights are below the break. Read more…
Monster Hunter may be very popular in Japan, but it hasn’t always gotten its due in the West. It has a loyal fanbase, but not every installment of the game has made it across the pond. So considering the fact that the Wii U’s Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is an upgraded version of the Wii’s Monster Hunter Tri, it’s cool that Capcom is still bringing it out in America. Cooler still? The game is getting some solid technical upgrades. Read more…
What’s this, Nintendo is giving away a game if you buy some other games? The last time I got something from Nintendo in a deal like this was the Gamecube’s The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition, back before Nintendo realized how much their old games were worth. While the game on offer isn’t anywhere near as awesome as Zelda, it is somewhat rarer, since it has never been released in America before. Read more…
Remember Project P-100 from E3? Platinum Game’s upcoming Wii U game directed by Hideki Kamiya features super heroes that recruit ordinary citizens into their growing posse of super-individuals, and use them to create larger-than-life guns, hang gliders, or swords. It’s a little bit of Pikmin mixed with the aesthetics of Viewtiful Joe, which in my book is a big win. The name of the game is now The Wonderful 101, and Nintendo is showing off a new trailer – and it still looks great. The Wonderful 101 is coming out sometime after the Wii U’s launch, but before March 2013, so it won’t be too long of a wait! Read more…
There’s anime of nearly everything. World leaders in high school? Check. Ancient Japanese warriors as teenage girls? Check. Demon fighters powered by breast milk? Also check. Now we’re getting an anime adaption of the old-school Nintendo/Sega console wars. Based on an existing manga called Aoi Sekai no Chushin de, it features two warring states, Segua and Ninterudo, fighting over the land of Consume. Marcse (Mario) is the powerful overlord of Ninterudo, but the main character is Gear (Sonic), who rises up to take him on. Seems ridiculous? Yes. But also hilarious. Read more…
Yesterday Nintendo announced that their upcoming system, the Wii U, will release on November 18th this year, in two SKUs. One will contain the Wii U system in white, along with the new controller, for $299, while the deluxe version will feature a black Wii U with additional accessories and Nintendoland packed in. While I think that perhaps they should’ve run just a bit cheaper, I think that Nintendo might be on to something. Their advertising and presentation of the Wii U is still horribly muddled – many people still seem to think its an add-on for the existing Wii system – but word of mouth helped sell the original Wii, and I think there’s a possibility it’ll work here. Read more…
I’m liking this Nintendo Direct thing that the Big N has been releasing over the past year. It’s shows Nintendo is willing to actually tell gamers about the games it will be releasing, unlike the tight-lipped Nintendo of the past. And even if some of the presentations cater directly to the Japanese market, there’s still usually some interesting stuff for those of us in the US. Last night was one of those Japanese-only editions, but there was still some interesting news, so here’s a quick rundown of what was announced. Read more…
One of the earliest US gaming magazines is finally going out of print. Nintendo Power, the official magazine of Nintendo, will no longer be published. Circulation has dropped as much as 10% in the first half of 2012, and with other once-popular game magazines like EGM and GamePro disappearing from newsstands in the past few years, it’s just not a good time to be in print. Read more…
In spite of all the problems they have, fans love crossovers, and I’m no different. I conveniently ignore the fact that crossovers often contain cheesy catchphrases, obvious confrontations, and a cliche team-up plot, usually about saving the world — all in the name of making fans giddy with excitement. The stakes might not be that high in Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, but that doesn’t make the crossover any less enticing for fans of the two cult DS series. Read more…
The Pokémon train keeps rolling, with Nintendo releasing the first numbered sequels in the series this fall, Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2. However, no matter how diligent fans were at catching them all in the original Black and White, there is no way they actually managed to catch all the Pokémon coded into the games. Why? Because some Pokémon are only distributed at special events, and it’s about time for another one of those! Read more…
Yesterday, Nintendo announced a new 3DS revision to be added to their lineup. This came just after Miyamoto stated a week ago that Nintendo wasn’t working on 3DS revision (probably because it was already done). But of course, keeping in tradition, the 3DS XL was announced for the US, Europe, and Japan. It’ll arrive August 19th on our shores, for $199.99 (in blue and red), but Japan and Europe are getting it next month on July 28th (with silver and white). Essentially it’s just a bigger 3DS, with 90% larger screens and matte finish, so it’ll fit in my hands better and won’t leave as many fingerprints, but I can’t help but wonder if that larger screen will pixelate the games too much? Read more…
Nintendo has decided to promote the upcoming Japanese release of Pokémon Black & White 2 with a lengthy animated short. Like the Final Fantasy XIII-2 DLC trailer we posted earlier this week, the audio is in Japanese only, but the animation itself is pretty gorgeous and worth watching. Japan’s getting their hands on both sequels next month, but we’re stuck waiting till fall for own localized copies. Before you ask, no the game won’t feature any animated cut-scenes like this, but that’s alright since we’re getting to view this online free of charge. I just hope Nintendo of America takes the time to dub the short in the months leading up to our North American release later this year.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Apr 12, 2012 in Videogames
A few months back, Nintendo stunned us all when they announced a direct sequel to last year’s Pokémon Black & White, instead of opting for a new set of colors. Today, a few more details have emerged regarding the upcoming sequel. Set in the same region as the first game, Pokémon Black & White 2 will start in a new city located in southern Unova, featuring an entirely new cast, and story. Two new protagonists, male and female respectively, have also been announced, both clad in the usual active-wear, with the female protagonist reportedly sporting Princess Leia-esque hair buns. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jan 12, 2012 in Tech, Videogames
This is kind of cool news for those of you like me who can’t stand heavy handhelds. Nintendo’s Masahiro Sakurai recently revealed that the upcoming 3DS title Kid Icarus Uprising will come packed with a special stand to help keep the system steady while you play. Truth is, I love the concept behind Nintendo’s 3DS, even if I don’t really own too many games for it, but unfortunately, the system is a bit hefty, especially when I want to play for any extended period of time. Although I wasn’t looking forward to Kid Icarus Uprising so much, having played a demo at last year’s San Diego Comic Con International, this little addition might just change my mind. Keeping the system balanced could potentially improve the gameplay, and I’m sure I’ll be making use of the stand for future titles.
This has got to be the most fashionable handheld to date — Konami’s upcoming limited edition Metal Gear Solid 3DS. There’s been no official word on the pricing or availability just yet, but those details will be announced later this month. Hideo Kojima has, however, confirmed via twitter that the unit will feature the embossed snakeskin pattern pictured above, and that it isn’t just a removable skin, or case. It might be worth mentioning that the last Konami 3DS bundle to be sold never made it stateside, so there’s a good chance you’ll have to import one.
Given that it’s Metroid’s 25th anniversary this year (poor Samus gets overshadowed by Zelda), it’s great to see somebody else giving our favorite video game bounty hunter some love. If you’re more in the mood for something sexy, Good Smile is releasing a 1/6 PVC of Zero Suit Samus in June 2012. More interested in functional? Max Factory is bringing a figma of Samus in her trademark outfit sometime in 2012. Both of these figures are fantastic, so no matter which one you get (or both!) you can’t go wrong. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Dec 20, 2011 in Videogames
The Legend of Zelda isn’t the only Nintendo franchise to celebrate its 25th Anniversary this year. Although its hardly their most popular, Metroid is among the most successful franchises to ever grace Nintendo’s catalog. The series is also having its 25th anniversary and, while I’m uncertain as to why Nintendo failed to shine a spotlight on it, fans have taken to crafting their own musical tributes to the franchise. Today, Bad Dudes Music released a limited edition arrangement album, entitled simply Metroid Arrange 25th Anniversary Album to commemorate the occasion — for the record, I contributed to an arrangement of my own to the project.
Perhaps all the clamoring and petitioning from fans earlier this year was worth it: after Nintendo stated earlier this year that they had no plans to release the fan-favorite and critically-acclaimed Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles in the US, gamers rallied to support it. Sadly, Nintendo declined to indulge their enthusiasm and remained silent. Until now, that is. The game now has a general release date of April 2012, but will not be getting a wide release. Instead, the only places you’ll be able to purchase the game will be either Gamestop or Nintendo themselves, via their website. Still, that’s better than no release at all. Read more…
I honestly haven’t had many reasons to pick up my 3DS in recent months. It’s not that it’s a terrible platform by any means, but Nintendo’s 3D handheld is currently suffering a bit of a dry spill. There isn’t much in the way of software, and while they’ve shown us plenty of exciting titles at recent trade shows, almost all of them have yet to be released. There have been a few good offerings so far, but most of those are just updates of classics like Star Fox 64 and Zelda: Ocarina of Time — experiences we’ve already had. So what do we have in the meantime? So far, its been Netflix and a handful of virtual console/DSi ware releases. Fortunately, you’ll finally have another reason to pick it up, and some of you can even dust off your Wii while you’re at it. Hulu Plus will be headed to both platforms by the end of the year, allowing you to stream hours of anime, television, and film such as Persona 4: The Animation and the critically acclaimed Criterion Collection for only $7.99 a month.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Sep 13, 2011 in Videogames
As I’m writing this, Nintendo is currently holding their 3DS Pre-TGS press conference to discuss some of their upcoming titles for their handheld platform. While everything is looking very impressive, its a shame that some of these amazing titles may never be localized. I fully expect to see games like Monster Hunter 4, or Super Mario 3D Land, make their way stateside, but the chances of the next Culdcept titlemaking its way overseas remain slim to none. I won’t give up hope, though and it’s nice to know that the console has a future, especially after the sub-par launch it experienced earlier this year. Aside from Monster Hunter, some of the more impressive looking titles included Mario Kart 7, Fire Emblem and the latest Hatsune Miku game, Project Mirai. I bet Danny Choo can’t wait to run a cross-promotion with that one.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jul 13, 2011 in Videogames
Back in the early ’90s Nintendo’s dominance of the handheld market went practically unchallenged. Sega’s Game Gear barely put up a fight while Nintendo gave us entries from popular franchises like Super Mario Land and Metroid. With that kind of success, you’d think they’d be willing to take a few chances by localizing all their titles, but in 1992 Nintendo released Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru, or For the Frog the Bell Tolls — a title that never made its way overseas. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. Thankfully, some dedicated fans have decided to take it upon themselves to localize the game for you. It may be nearly two decades old, but this old gem might be worth firing up your favorite emulator to play. Developed by the same team that brought us Metroid II and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, For the Frog the Bell Tolls is an action-adventure title with a twist. You play the role of young prince charged with finding the frogs that inhabit a Kingdom and delivering an important message while attempting to save a princess from peril. The game’s humorously-scripted and has some fantastic music, so it’s sure to be at least somewhat entertaining. You can download the patch for the game here, though you’ll have to obtain your own rom and emulator to play it with. If you’d rather just watch the video above, you’ll get a pretty good idea of how the game plays. Read more…
