Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | 1 Comment

Wiikly Update: 7/7/08

WiiWare: SPOGS Racing, 1000 Wii Points

This unorthodox racing title challenges you to not only win races, but to destroy your opponents in the process. As you zoom by your opponents, you can crash into them to damage them, and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to steal spare parts to upgrade your own SPOG (Sports Player Object Gyros). SPOGS Racing features three control schemes and support for two-player multiplayer.

Neo Geo: King of the Monsters, 900 Wii Points

If you ever watched Nick Arcade as a child, you’ll remember this beat-em-up title. King of the Monsters has you playing as one of six giant monsters, as you battle across seven cities in Japan, destroying your enemy and the city around you. Use your special moves to break down the opponent, then pin him for the win. This game also features one-on-one multiplayer or two-on-two tag team battles.

I know pretty much nothing about either game, but I may look at videos of SPOGS Racing on the Nintendo Channel.

 

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Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo DS | 5 Comments

Square-Enix Opens Chrono Trigger Teaser Site

Square-Enix’s Japanese site recently put up a page featuring the Nintendo DS logo and an all-too-familiar ticking clock. In addition to the visual teaser, the site’s URL ends in the letters "CTDS". All signs point to a DS version of the world-renowned SNES RPG, Chrono Trigger, but unfortunately nothing is confirmed at this time. Feel free to visit the site above and speculate to your heart’s content; more details will be posted as they emerge.

I’m rather surprised that Chrono Trigger has managed to avoid being ported or remade for so long. This evidence hints rather strongly, though.

[UPDATE] – Square-Enix has officially announced the game is indeed Chrono Trigger.  It will be updated with features for the DS such as touch screen functionality and a Wireless Play mode.  According to the company it will be available for US consumption for the holidays.

 

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Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Mega Man Kicks It Old School

The 20th-anniversary issue of Nintendo Power (August 2008) offers up information on the next game in the original Mega Man series – the one that started out on the NES. Mega Man 9 is being developed by the Mega Man Zero team with those original six games in mind, and is going to have the same look, sound, and feel as the original games. As in previous games, Dr. WIly has unleashed eight Robot Masters on the world (including Magma Man, Tornado Man, and Splash Woman), and Mega Man will have to defeat each one in order to get to Dr. Wily, collecting their powerups in the process.

In trying to keep the game as close to the original series as possible, the game creator, Keiji Inafune, confirmed in the included interview that the game will feature no motion control, played with the Wii Remote tilted sideways like a NES controller; the game will also have music similar to the sound of the original games. Inafune noted that WiiWare was an ideal way to deliver an old-school game like this in "the grandiose and expansive world that the consumer gaming industry has become", and that Mega Man 9 will "get back to basics". Lastly, he notes that he would prefer to make many more games in this manner, and thus requests consumer support for Mega Man 9, which has no set release date. Check page 20 of the August 2008 issue of Nintendo Power for the full story and interview.

This is going to open the floodgates for gamers requesting sequels to all their favorite NES and SNES games, but I think it’s a pretty neat idea. Gamers are definitely going to appreciate this, myself included. It’s a fun use of WiiWare.

 

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Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Wiikly Update: 6/30/08

WiiWare: Magnetica Twist, 1,000 Wii Points

Nintendo’s DS puzzler hits the Wii Shop Channel. As colored balls slowly make their way toward the black hole in the center of the field, you’ll twist the Wii Remote to turn your marble shooter, and fire marbles at the advancing string. If you manage to match colors, you’ll make some marbles disappear. The game includes five game modes, including multiplayer.

Neo Geo: Fatal Fury 2, 900 Wii Points

This sequel preserves the gameplay of the original Fatal Fury, while adding a couple of new additions. One notable addition is the ability to perform powerful desperation attacks when your health is low; another is the ability to move into the opposing lane, or knock your opponent into that lane, in order to make full use of the field. This title also takes advantage of the Neo Geo’s original four-button controller, adding strong and weak attacks.

I’ve heard that the "twist the Wiimote" gameplay of Magnetica Twist causes some wrist problems.

 

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Posted by David Craig in General News, Nintendo Wii | 3 Comments

Castlevania: Judgement Announced for the Wii

Rumors have been swirling about a possible Castlevania Wii release for a while, but no one saw this one coming. According to the latest issue of Nintendo Power, Castlevania: Judgement is currently in development, and it’s a 3-D fighter.

Among the characters already confirmed to be playable are Dracula, Alucard, and Simon Belmont. Classic subweapons such as holy water will be present as well.

No release date is set yet, but this will surely be a title lots of people will have their eyes on.

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Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Wii Headed To Hospitals

As part of a long-standing partnership with Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, Nintendo has updated the Starlight Fun Centers to include a Nintendo Wii.

Since 1992, Nintendo and Starlight have been working together to bring these centers to children’s hospitals across the U.S. and Canada; Nintendo will be making 1,250 of them in its first run, and Starlight hopes to have placed 500 of them by the end of the year. The first two were donated to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at a launch event on June 25, based on Super Mario Galaxy. Linda Garcia, of CHLA, commented that "through this…children learn about cooperation, positive thinking and problem-solving skills," while Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight, said that "the Wii technology can be used to encourage children to do physical therapy and motor coordination exercises."

I think this is a very good idea, especially given the "play together" nature of the Wii these days. Additionally, Penny Arcade’s Childs Play foundation does something similar by sending lots of gaming equipment to hospitals every year.

 

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Posted by David Craig in General News | 3 Comments

Nintendo Dates Four New Titles for North America

Nintendo today announced four new games set to be released later this summer in North America.

First up is Mario Super Sluggers, the sequel to Mario’s mediocre baseball debut on the Gamecube. The release date for this one is August 25th, so make sure you wear those wrist straps (sweat from the summer heat + swinging the wiimote like a bat = lots of broken televisions).

On September 8th, Nintendo releases Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir for the Nintendo DS. This puzzle game has you searching for hidden items and solving logic puzzles to solve a mystery.

Next up is Wario Land: Shake It!, a new 2-D platformer for the Wii starring Wario. You’ll be holding the Wiimote sideways for this one, much like Super Paper Mario. It releases on September 29th.

Also popping up on September 29th is Kirby Super Star Ultra, a remake of Kirby Super Star for the Nintendo DS. This game will feature all the original modes from the SNES classic, plus a few brand new ones – all in one cute and colorful package.

I can’t wait for the Kirby and Wario games! I just hope I won’t be disappointed.

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