New Super Mario Bros. Wii Intro Video

This video was too good to not post on the site.  I'm really, really excited about this game coming out. 

New Screens and Gameplay Footage For New Super Mario Bros. Wii

More screens and a video for New Super Mario Bros. Wii.  This game will be in stores on November 15th.

You can see more screens on our Flickr Page.

LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias Hits WiiWare on Monday, October 19th

16th October 2009, Cambridge, UK. - Frontier Developments Ltd. (‘Frontier’) today announced that LostWinds®: Winter of the Melodias will be released on Monday 19th October 2009 by Nintendo of America on the innovative WiiWare service.

David Braben, Frontier’s Chairman and Founder, said: “The original LostWinds was embraced by the US, and the sequel has major new gameplay features and improvements across the board. After the incredible reception in Europe for Winter of the Melodias, we’re excited to see what the American reaction will be.”

The eagerly awaited follow-up to last year’s best selling, award-winning WiiWare launch title has received high praise across the board in Europe including:

IGN UK 91% “With satisfyingly challenging puzzles expertly woven between engaging platforming and a thoroughly charming narrative, Winter of the Melodias represents an essential purchase. It’s not simply the best WiiWare title on the market, but one of the best Wiiä games full stop”.

Eurogamer 90% “If this is the kind of thing WiiWare can do, let’s have some more of it, frankly.”

Vandal Online 93% “LostWinds was probably one of the most attractive and interesting games on the Wii (not only WiiWare), and Winter of Melodias completely surpasses it.”

zConnect 96% “Even if you’ve never played the first game, make sure to pick up this wondrous little gem.”

Videogamer 90% “the game’s overall aesthetic is so powerful that Winter of the Melodias might well be one of the most beautiful games ever created.”

Once again puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand, as you experience Toku and Enril’s new adventure to save Toku’s mother, lift an ancient curse and thwart the evil Balasar. The elemental powers of Enril the Wind Spirit are used to protect and guide the young boy Toku - power his jumps and glides, suspend and smash new enemies, and explore all-new expanses of the stunningly presented, magical land of Mistralis.

Players can instantly transform Mistralis between Summer and Winter, harnessing the brilliance of nature: frozen Winter ponds and waterfalls become deep, teeming Summer pools and chambers in which to dive and unlock secrets, enemies can be frozen or doused, and the very air itself used to form snowballs or moisture-laden clouds. Other amazing new abilities include the cyclone, which can be used to transport Toku, smash powerful enemies and even drill through the rock of Mistralis’ diverse, richly interactive Chilling Peaks and Melodia City areas.

With production values to match the very best Wii disc titles, LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias will be available to download directly to the living rooms of millions of families in the Americas exclusively via Nintendo’s WiiWare service.

Price: 1000 Wii Points.

See http://lostwinds.frontier.co.uk/ for more details including latest video footage, screenshots and exclusive content.

Source: PR Email

More Fresh Screenshots From Cooking Mama 3

EDISON, N.J., October 16, 2009 - Everybody recognizes Mama's moxie with meatloaf, her prowess with pizza and her gift with Gazpacho. But many players have not seen her deftness with doughnuts or her competence with candy apples. To give them a peek at what delectable desserts Mama has in store in Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop, Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL) today released some "sweet" screens showing a few of the Nintendo DS™ game's tasty treats. Scrumptious desserts are just a tiny portion of the 80 new mouthwatering recipes available in the latest addition to the popular cooking simulation series that has sold more than 5 million copies.

Mama is back in the kitchen whipping up 80 new recipes - including mushroom quiche, tulip chicken and more. Players use the stylus as an all-in-one cooking utensil to chop, grate, roll, slice, spread, sprinkle and more through over 200 manic mini-games. Eight gameplay modes allow them to shop for fresh ingredients, create custom culinary concoctions, compete with up to three friends in timed challenges and more. Additionally, players can send friends items they grew in Gardening Mama and use them to make meals in Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop!

Developed by Cooking Mama Limited, Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop for Nintendo DS™ is rated E for Everyone and will release October 20th for the SRP of $29.99. For additional information about the Cooking Mama line of video games, please visit http://cookingmama.com/.
 

Source: PR Email

New Epic Mickey Details

Hey guys. Game Informer this month that TONS of new details about Epic Mickey from Junction Point Games and Warren Spector.  Here are just a few plus the shot of Mickey's new look, which is VERY retro.

The sorcerer Yensid (Disney spelled backwards; nickname from “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” in Fantasia) creates a world for all of his forgotten creations, with Oswald being its first inhabitant. This world is very similar to a Disney theme park and sits on a table in the sorcerer’s study as an intricate model. Mickey Mouse steps through a magic mirror in his house and ends up in Yensid’s study. Mickey, the troublemaker that he is, becomes fascinated by this set and when Yensid leaves, he plays around with it and accidentally spills paint and paint thinner all over it. Mickey hears the sorcerer returning and rushes to clean up and return home, and he soon forgets what happens and lives his life of fame and glory.

Mickey’s accident causes a terrible consequence and turns Yensid’s world into a wasteland controlled by a monstrous being named the Phantom Blot. Oswald and the other cartoons try to fight off the Phantom Blot, but it overwhelms them and turns their land in a twisted mockery of Yensid’s original dream. Mickey Mouse remains oblivious to all of this until one day the mirror he stepped through before comes alive again and the Phantom Blot pulls him into this twisted world. Now, Mickey Mouse must escape the Phantom Blot, find Oswald, earn his trust, and manage to defeat the corrupted menace so he can escape the Wasteland.

So how do you play the game? Mickey Mouse has a paintbrush that he brings into the Wasteland. The world can be created or destroyed with the swipe of a brush using the Wii Remote. Buildings, platforms, and items can be painted in and walls and enemies can be swept away with paint thinner with the Wii Remote. You can play the game as you like, either restoring things or destroying everything. You can be The Hero or The Scrapper, and the Game Informer issue goes into detail on what would happen if you pick a certain side. Mickey’s appearance will even change a bit depending on which side you choose.

There are some other interesting tidbits as well. Donald Duck animatronic pieces are scattered throughout part of the game and if collected, he will be put back together. Gremlin Village is similar to “It’s a Small World”, where you can even hear an eerie version of the music. You enter movie screen transitions to move from level to level where you are put in a 2D world and you revisit some of Mickey’s old cartoons. Collect “E-Tickets” to enter rides and use them to buy power-ups. Some of the characters in Epic Mickey include The Gremlins (led by one named Gus, they work to help Mickey against the Phantom Blot), The Bunny Kids (children of Oswald and his girl, Ortensia), The Buddies (animatronic versions of Mickey’s friends), The Mad Doctor (created The Buddies for Oswald, since Oswald wants to recreate Mickey’s life), Blotlings (the spawn of the Phantom Blot), and Beetleworx (creations of the Mad Doctor that build and fix this world). Oh, and here’s a cool little story. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger went to NBC/Universal (who owned the rights to Oswald for 80 years) and traded Al Michaels (human sportscaster) for the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

I don't know about you, but I think this game sounds amazing.  I'm really excited for this title and these new details make me that much more interested in what's going on with this.  The fact that it's Wii exclusive just adds a bit of sweetness to it.  You can check out the latest Game Informer for an in depth look as well as a ton more art.

Source: WiiNintendo

Retro Redux: Super Mario Bros. 2

Super Mario Bros. 2 is the first game in the series that has really caused a large amount of debate in the community. It’s one of those games that you either really like, or really don’t like. I, personally, happen to fall in the camp of those that don’t like the game. Before I talk about that, though, let’s discuss the game a little bit.

Super Mario Bros. 2 is the first game in the Mario franchise that was not a truly original Mario game, rather it was a redesign of a Famicom game known as Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic. That game centered on a family that was trying to rescue two children from Mamu, who would be known as Wart in the American redesign. Those family members were replaced by Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach, who was known simply as Princess in the game. Each of the characters had abilities that made them different from each other. Mario was the all around character who was pretty good at everything. Luigi was able to jump very long distances, Toad was smaller, but was very fast and Princess Peach had the ability to hover in the air for short periods.

This game came about famously because the executives at Nintendo during that time thought the original sequel to Super Mario Bros. was too hard for American audiences and decided, instead, to redesign Doki Doki Panic for the west. The original sequel would be released in America years later on the SNES in the compilation game Super Mario All-Stars under the title Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels. This America version of the game was released in Japan under the title Super Mario USA. Because the game was not a true entry into the Mario franchise it featured a number of characteristics that had never been seen before and many that would be carried over to the Mario franchise. Rather than having ? blocks above your character you would instead pull vegetables out of the ground that you could then throw at enemies. Sometimes these plants held surprises such as doors to secret areas. Other power ups would randomly appear during game play that you could catch and take advantage of.

Many of the characters in the game would see their roles moved over to the Mario franchise. Enemies like the Shy Guy made their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. 2. You could not jump on a lot of these enemies that you had been able to, so instead you had to throw the vegetables you pull out of the ground at them. Some of the enemies, such as Wart have not been seen again, but are highly sought after by fans of the series to make a return.

The game featured eight worlds with three levels each, rather than the four seen in Super Mario Bros. This made the game’s length shorter than its predecessor, but the game was also a bit more difficult. Many of the levels contained a mini-boss, usually in the form of Birdo, that had to be defeated before you could finish the level. This game also set the precedent of having to hit an enemy three times in order to defeat them, a trait which has carried over into a number of games outside the Mario world and is a staple in the game industry that continues to this day. There were warps areas that you could access by finding a hidden rocket ship that would shorten the game even further. You also had the ability before each level to choose which character you would use and that added a bit of strategy to the game. Some of the levels were better suited to the abilities of a particular character. For example, one of the worlds features a large area where you have to dig down through layers of dirt and this was one of Toad’s best abilities. He was much faster digging down than the other characters so it was best to have him while playing that level.

The music was one of the most memorable parts of that game and was used in a number of different ways by Nintendo. The soundtrack would be used prominently in the live action Super Mario Bros. Super Show, starring Danny Wells, and Cpt. Lou Albano. It’s still to this day, outside of the themes from the original Super Mario Bros., some of the most well remembered themes.

This was the second game in the main Mario series, but it’s one of the few games that I just didn’t like. The departure from the formula set in the original, and returned to in Super Mario Bros. 3 was too off putting and I just couldn’t get into it. It did feature some things that I really do like, and would like to see brought back such as the ability to choose different characters. The introduction of some new enemies that have become huge additions such as Shy Guy and the first sightings of Bob-ombs, though they didn’t walk yet are some of the aspects I really like about the game. The differences allowed Nintendo to explore the Mario franchise a bit more than they did with the Japanese version of the game, which was essentially a slightly enhanced graphical overhaul of the original. It’s not a bad game, by any means. It controls well, had some memorable levels, a catchy soundtrack and some really welcome additions to the franchise, but I’m one of those people that says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I thought the original Mario game was about as close to perfection then as you could get and they fiddled with it. I do own Super Mario Bros. 2 and do occasionally pop it in and play it, but when deciding on a retro Mario game to play it usually is a choice between Super Mario Bros. or Super Mario World.

If you have any thoughts on this game, or want to tell me how wrong I am, leave me a comment or head on over to the forums and let me know. Are there any games that you would like to see featured? Leave me a comment and let me know that as well. There’s a good chance it could show up here in the future.

Chronos Twins DX Screens

The folks over at EnjoyUp sent over some screens for their upcoming WiiWare game Chronos Twins DX.  Check out the rest over at our Flickr Page.

Enter into the original world of Chronos Twins DX, where you'll live a fantastic adventure full of innovative ideas never seen before in any game. Thanks to its Dual Gameplay game system you'll be able to control Nec in two temporary scenarios at the same time. Chronos Twins DX mixes action, platforms, adventure and puzles that will challenge your intelligece and ability.

If you like game that mean a real challenge don't doubt it, Chronos Twins DX is the game you're looking for.

Special Features

• Dual Gameplay, new game system where you control the Player Character in two worlds simultaneously.
• Explore an unknown world where you'll discover endless hidden secrets.
• 19 levels of fantastic atmosphere fully packed of alien beings and spectacular final bosses.
• Play in two worlds simultáneously to progress and solve challenges that would be impossible to finish in only one world otherwise.
• Fantastic 3D graphics, with particle effects, fog and bloom.
• Get the power of SPLIT, that will allow you to stop past and present.
• Change the past moving items, defeating creatures... and present will change accordingly in real time.
• Check how time passes by as you progress in your adventure.
• Solve incredible temporary puzles.

Classic Video Games Invade Tulsa, OK

Tulsa, OK – August 1, 2009– Classic video games will once again rise from history as mid-America's one and only OVGE returns the sixth Oklahoma Video Game Exhibition.

On October 24, 2009 video game collectors and enthusiasts from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and even further will come together at the Spirit Bank Event Center in Tulsa to celebrate the history of the video gaming industry. “Before the OVGE, people from the surrounding states had to travel across the country for an event such as this,” said Jesse Hardesty, founder and organizer of the OVGE. Doors will open to the public at 9:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. Cost of admission for ages eight and above will be $5 dollars at the door.

In 1972, the video game industry began with the release of the Odyssey by Magnavox, the first multi-video game system for the home. However, in the early ‘80s an overflow of games and poor sales forced many companies to close resulting in drastic drops in prices for their merchandise. Companies still in business could not compete with the low pricing and lost money from their over stocked inventory causing the great crash of the video game industry in 1983. Since the rebirth of the industry in 1985, with the introduction of the Nintendo Entertainment System, video game sales have flourished.

Still, many video game players are returning to classic video games. With the advanced graphics of today’s video games, why are so many people fascinated with the classics? “Even though modern game systems have amazing graphics and sound, the most important aspect of any video game is that it actually be fun to play. Because classic game systems, like the Atari 2600, had very simple graphics, game designers had to focus on the game-play. Those same games that were fun in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s are still just as much fun today,” stated Albert Yarusso, modern video game programmer and co-founder of AtariAge.com.

"With video gaming being today’s main form of home entertainment, the history behind it should not be forgotten,” said Hardesty. “The Oklahoma Video Game Exhibition is providing the youth and their parents a chance to visit and interact with that past.” Numerous video game systems, computers, and arcade machines, will be set up for the public to play. Vendors and exhibitors will have memorabilia on display with many items for purchase.

The OVGE is organized by a group of gaming enthusiasts who want to share their hobby and passion for classic and modern video games with the public.

For more information, visit http://www.ovge.com/.

Source: Press Release

Two New Characters Revealed for Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars

This just came across my inbox.

Today we're announcing the final two playable charcaters for Tatsunoko VS Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars ... Joe the Condor and Zero.

Tatsunoko's Joe the Condor comes via the Gatchaman series (joining teammates Ken the Eagle and Jun the Swan). He's got some stylish attacks as well as a powerful gun/grappling hook sidearm.

Next up is Capcom's very own Zero from the Mega Man X/ Mega Man Zero series of games. Zero comes equipped with his trusty Mega Buster, Plasma Sword and some very speedy moves. And stay away from his Ultra combo, that Plasma Sword is no joke.

Check these guys out when they join the fight in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars next year.

Top 20 WiiWare Titles: Week of October 12th

This week’s Top 20 WiiWare titles are based on the information from the week of October 12th, 2009 (parentheses indicate the previous week’s rank).

1 Contra Rebirth (1)
2 Reel Fishing Challenge (2)
3 My Aquarium (3)
4 World of Goo (4)
5 Tetris Party (5)
6 Texas Hold’Em Poker (6)
7 Dr Mario Online Rx (10)
8 Driift Mania (12)
9 Word Searcher (N/A)
10 Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (8)
11 My Pokémon Ranch (9)
12 Arkanoid Plus! (11)
13 You, Me, and the Cubes (7)
14 Sexy Poker (13)
15 Defend Your Castle (14)
16 Family Mini Golf (17)
17 Brain Challenge (16)
18 Water Warfare (15)
19 BUST-A-MOVE Plus! (18)
20 Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1 (19)

There was absolutely no movement with the top 6 titles this week. They all held firm and kept away the new titles, but there was one new addition this week in Word Searcher. Family Tennis fell off the list this week because of that addition. Also because of that, most of the movement we do so, with a few exceptions is down. The biggest loser this week was You, Me and the Cube falling 6 spots.

My Sexy Poker watch continues this week with that title falling one spot and getting ever so close to being off the list. The old classics Dr. Mario and Tetris continue to show that you can’t beat a solid game, no matter how old it is.

Come back next week for another riveting edition of Top 20 WiiWare Titles or head on over to the forums to discuss this week’s list.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Review

Bowser, he's the one villain in the Mushroom Kingdom that's been universally loved by all. He's also one of the few characters who's never starred in his own game. That is until now with the release of the third game in the Mario & Luigi series also known as Bowser's Inside Story. The game put the Koopa King in the limelight for the first time and he takes that opportunity and runs with it.

For those unfamiliar with the series Mario & Luigi is Nintendo's attempt at putting the plumbers in their own RPG's and the series really started back with Super Mario RPG on the SNES, but has really gotten big with the advent of this set of games. They have starred the brothers alone in Superstar Saga and the past and present version of the titular two with Partners in Time. This third act in the series has the brothers come back in a bit of a supporting role, though they see their fair share of screen time.

The game's story centers on a new disease to the Mushroom Kingdom known as the Blorbs, which is a disease that has caused the Kingdom's residents to balloon to massive size. During this outbreak Bowser is tricked into eating a Mushroom by the villain Fawful that causes him to inhale a large number of things, including Mario, Luigi, Toadsworth, Peach and a new character Chippy. It's because of this we get the clever title and the dual action of adventuring through the world with Bowser and through Bowser with the Mario Bros. who are attempting to rescue everyone who is trapped, discover the source and cure of the Blorbs and stop Bowser all at the same time. The two different adventures with mingle with each other many times throughout the course of the game where actions that one group takes directly affect the other.

Each of the characters is controlled with the D-pad and a set of buttons. The A button controls Mario's actions. The B button controls what Luigi does and Bowser has the X&Y buttons mapped to his actions. IF you are in control of Bowser on the top screen of the DS, but need to switch to the plumbers just hit one of their action buttons and the game switches to the lower screen where their adventure takes place. The same goes for Bowser if you are controlling Mario & Luigi. During the course of the adventure Mario & Luigi will gain access to additional actions that can be used with a quick hit of the R button, which cycles between all the available actions. It's the same style of game play we've seen in the series before and it's very easy to use and keeps the number of buttons you need to access at any one point to a minimum.

During certain parts of the game Mario & Luigi must help Bowser accomplish his tasks by completing a mini game that will affect Bowser in a number of ways. You can clear pollen from his nasal passages that will create a seriously powerful sneeze by swiping your stylus left and right to knock pollen particles on to the walls of Bowser's nose. Riding a raft through Bowser's rump region and shooting the correct colored orbs will cause Bowser to grow to enormous size and lift huge objects off of him. Timing hammer swings to knock electrons into Bowser's muscles will give him super strength to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. Many of these mini games will be easy to accomplish, but sometimes break up the flow of the game a little much during high action sequences.

The bright visuals have continued and the DS is taken full advantage of. All the characters are amazingly detailed and animated. Even though Mario & Luigi don't have much to say you always know what they're thinking and their actions are exaggerated to help really get the point across. Other than a few grunts, growls and speedy Italian all the story is presented through traditional text bubbles and be prepared to read a lot during this game. The opening takes about an hour to get through and most of it involves reading conversations. The music is probably the best in the series and really helps hammer across the different stories. Battle sequences have the usual fast paced action soundtrack with the appropriate victory fanfare. It's easily the best soundtrack in the series and worth really paying attention to.

Each of the different NPC's in the game has some unique quality to them that really sets them apart from everyone else. There is a quirky French vendor who will sell you items along your journey and he is obsessed with blocks, him being a block and all. The villain, Fawful, has amazingly well scripted dialog that is reminiscent of the poorly translated games from the NES era, spouting phrases like "I have the chortles".

The Mario & Luigi RPG series has been one of the most successful spin-offs to the Mario franchise and Bowser's Inside Story is the latest and is a worthy successor to Partners in Time, which by the way is still my favorite game in the series. RPG fans and Mario fans alike will find something in this game that they will enjoy. It's got all the deep RPG elements like leveling up and item balancing that RPG fans want with the funny dialog and zany situations you've come to expect in Mario's travels. Giving the lead role to Bowser was a stroke of genius on the part of developer Alphadream. The game will take you somewhere between 20 and 30 hours to complete the story alone and there are tons of side quests that you can then go back and complete and I would not be surprised to see many people getting 50+ hours of enjoyment out of the game.

There's no denying that Nintendo knows how to handle their characters and they've really done a great job with this latest adventure. It's well worth picking up if you own a DS and are looking for a solid story and a lot of fun game play.

Final Score: 5/5 Excellent

Game was purchased at Gamestop.

R.I.P. Cpt. Lou

There are few men in this world that inspire a sense of nostalgia in me more than Cpt. Lou Albano.  Growing up, even before I was a fan of Nintendo I was a HUGE wrestling fan and I remember being really fond of Cpt. Lou Albano.  There was just something about seeing that man with the little rubber band in his beard and the different men he accompanied to the ring.  A few years later I would be introduced to the world of Nintendo and remember when the Super Mario Bros. Super Show came on and how excited I was to see Mario on my TV screen. 

Cpt Lou brought a life to all the characters he portrayed whether they were in a wrestling ring or on a TV screen.  He will be hard to replace and will be sorely missed.

Rest In Peace, Cpt. Lou.

July 29th, 1933 - October 14th, 2009

New Footage for We Cheer 2

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today released a new batch of assets for We Cheer™2 for Wii™. The new set of assets includes gameplay videos and screenshots that demonstrate the vast array of character customization options available, as well as samples of individualized characters in action. In We Cheer 2, players have access to limitless customization for both their character and their entire squad with an increased range of options for creating characters from hair color and style, skin tone, eyes, brows and more.

We Cheer 2 brings the upbeat fun of cheerleading into the home with its entertaining adaptation of the challenge and spirit of the competitive sport. Utilizing the Wii Remotes™ as virtual pom-poms, players follow on-screen prompts for choreographed routines that utilize a full range of arm and body movements. We Cheer 2 is the only cheerleading video game to offer a hit soundtrack of licensed music and features a brand new lineup of 30 rockin’ songs that will get players energized and ready to cheer.

We Cheer 2 for Wii will launch November 3, 2009 with an MSRP of $39.99. For more information, please visit www.namcobandaigames.com.

Check out more screens at our Flickr Page and more video on our YouTube Channel.

Cake Mania 3 Ships

EDISON, N.J., October 14, 2009 - Pre-heat the oven and have the icing close at hand as Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, and Sandlot Games Corporation, creator of the Cake Mania franchise and the world's leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced that Cake Mania 3 for Nintendo DS™ has shipped to retailers nationwide. With more than 100 million PC downloads and 650,000 units sold worldwide of the handheld versions, the Cake Mania series has proven to be a fan favorite that keeps the bakery chaos fresh in each iteration.

In Cake Mania 3, disaster strikes baker Jill Evans as she prepares for her wedding day. A mysterious "time bender" has crashed into the bakery and caused her loved ones to disappear. To rescue them in time for her ceremony, Jill must travel through time and use her cake-making magic on everyone that she encounters - or risk losing her friends and family forever!

Cake Mania 3 puts players in Jill's shoes as they serve 30 hilarious new customers, including Medieval Wizards, Ancient Egyptian Mummies and more. The game's 84 levels of baking bedlam stretch through six different themed environments that each includes its own unique cake style. In addition, players can customize Jill's kitchen with 50 unique upgrades including new appliances like the Fridge and Hot Drink Machine. For the first time in the series, Cake Mania 3 also includes three new mini games that will further challenge a baker's speed and accuracy.

Developed by Digital Embryo, Cake Mania 3 is rated E for Everyone and will be in stores this week for the suggested retail price of $19.99. For more information about Majesco's games, please visit the official site at www.majescoentertainment.com.

New Footage of Smackdown vs Raw 2010

The fine folks at THQ passed along some new footage from Smackdown vs. Raw 2010.

Harvest Moon: Sunshine Island Release and Pre Order Bonus

NATSUME TO BRIGHTEN THE LIVES OF GAMERS WITH NEXT MONTH'S RELEASE OF
HARVEST MOON: SUNSHINE ISLANDS

Pre-order Now To Receive A Special Edition Harvest Moon Plush Pig!

Burlingame, Calif., October 14, 2009 - Natsume Inc., a worldwide
developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced
today that Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands for the Nintendo DS has gone
gold. The next entry in the popular Harvest Moon series will launch
November 10 for an MSRP of $29.99, and is rated E for Everyone by the
ESRB.

In Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands, players rejoin all of the beloved
characters from Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, and meet some new
faces as well! Years ago, a powerful earthquake struck the Sunshine
Islands chain, and most of the islands sank forever...or did they?
It's up to the player to find the magical Sun Stones and raise the
sunken islands. As they do, they'll meet new characters, harvest new
crops, and befriend animals such as ducks, monkeys, and badgers.
Players will grow their farm, care for animals, mine, fish, and
compete in festivals in their quest to restore the Sunshine Islands to
their former glory. With a little luck, they may even find true love
and start a family along the way.

"Just in time for the holidays, Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands is a
wonderful game for players of all ages. You get to meet some great new
characters, train your pets in fun minigames, and grow a huge variety
of crops. It's the best Harvest Moon yet!" said Hiro Maekawa,
President and CEO at Natsume. "Whether someone is new to the Harvest
Moon series, or a long-time fan, Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands is a
great game with tons to offer."

Players who pre-order the game at GameStop will receive an exclusive
bonus gift: a limited edition plush pig. Supplies are limited, so be
sure to place your order early!

For more information on Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands, please visit
www.natsume.com.

Black Wii Remote Available November 16th

New Color Puts Nintendo’s Wii Remote and Nunchuk in the Black

Nintendo’s iconic Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers are getting a new look, just in time for the holidays. Ever since the Wii™ system launched in November 2006, the controllers have been available only in white. On Nov. 16, Nintendo introduces new black versions.

The new black Wii Remote controller will be available packaged with a black Wii MotionPlus™ accessory, which brings enhanced precision to games. The package will be available at a suggested retail price of $49.99. The black Nunchuk controller will be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

“The Wii Remote revolutionized not only how people play games, but also who plays them,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The new color lets people customize their setup, and the controllers make great stocking stuffers for players of any age.”

For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.Nintendo.com.

Gravitronix Review

Medaverse Studios opened shop in 2002 as a site dedicated to fiction writing.  They soon moved over to dedicated gaming news and finally decided they wanted to try their hand at a bit of game development.  The first fruits of that endeavor are now available on WiiWare in the form of Gravitronix, an arcade style action battle game.

Gravitronix at its heart is pretty simple.  Capture one of four different types of projectiles and fire it at your opponents in an attempt to whittle down their shields before finally dealing the final blow.  To do this you tilt the Wii Remote, or the nunchuk left or right to move your gravity platform.  Pressing the A or C button will cause you to repel any objects that get close and a press of the B or Z button will capture the projectiles.  If you are holding one of them you will move slower but you'll be allowed to aim your shot.  There are four different projectiles that can be captured.  The sphere is the middle of the road shape that you will use most often.  The cube is heavier and slower, but is hard to deflect and will cause more damage.  The shard is a very light and very fast projectile that does not cause damage to opponents shields but can be used for a quick knockout once their shields are down.  The pyramid is unique in that rather than flying in a straight line after being captured it will fly towards the middle of the field and the turn 90 degrees.

There is a campaign mode that encompasses 21 levels that can be played either single player or cooperatively.  You may want to find a friend, because after the first few tutorial levels the game will get very hard and it will do it in a hurry.  The computer opponents tend to gang up on the human player and having a friend along for the ride might make things a bit easier.  If you can adjust to the difficulty it shouldn't take very long to finish the campaign, which you have to do in one sitting, there is no save feature.  That fits with the arcade nature of the game, but feels a bit out of place in today's gaming world.

The multi-player portion of the game is definitely Gravitronix' strong suit.  There are a large number of features that can be customized and you can have up to eight human players playing together.  During the review I was never able to get that many people together, but the game is a lot of fun if you're playing against another living being.  You can change the game to one of six different play modes, as well as the number of projectiles, what type of projectiles there are as well as adapting the A.I. level.  The options for multi-player are huge and there will be lots of opportunity to find the game type that is right for you.

Presentation wise the game is a bit sparse.  Gravitronix is presented in 4:3 mode with no support for wide-screen.  There are six different tracks that can be switched on the fly during game play with a quick press of the + button.  Each  of the game's eight characters have a couple of phrases they will spout after a match depending on whether you win or lose.  There is no difference between these characters in Gravitronix and they're just to give you an idea of which gravity platform belongs to whom.  The developers have said that these characters will feature prominently in future games so there is more chance to flesh them out in the future, but you have none of that in Gravitronix.

Overall the game is a solid first effort from Medaverse Studios and if you're into fast paced, arcade style action you'll find some enjoyment in this game.  The amount you'll get will vary depending on whether you're playing alone or with friends and how forgiving you are to tough A.I. opponents.  Gravitronix does have a very nice asking price, at only 500 Nintendo Points so it's definitely worth checking out.  There's nothing else like it on the service.

Final Score: 3/5 Average

Review copy of game provided by Medaverse Studios.

Nostalgia Screenshots

These new screenshots of the DS RPG Nostalgia are courtesy of RPG Gamer.com