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Nintendo DS News is a News and downloads site for All Nintendo Handhelds and Consoles including the Gameboy, NES, N64, Snes, Gamecube, Wii, WiiU, NDS, 3DS, GBA and Snes, We have all the latest emulators, hack, homebrew, commercial games and all the downloads on this site, the latest homebrew and releases, Part of the
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February 23rd, 2007, 16:02 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via pocketgamer
The release date for Disney's Spectrobes game is getting closer, and we've managed to get our hands on one of the character cards that will extend your playing experience come March.
You'll get four cards free when you buy the game, and other packs will be available for purchase in the shops.
You'll want to get your hands on them – or swap them with your mates – because by placing the card on the DS' touchscreen and then tapping the numbered holes in the correct order, you'll be able to unleash more spectrobes into your game.
There are 500 types to collect in total, although you'll be able to uncover most within the game itself. You can customise them with various in-game items too.
In the example above, our card will provide a Grildragos Drafly, which is the most evolved form of the Grilda spectrobe (each spectrobe passes through three stages).
To input it into your game, you simply have to tap the sequences of holes – from 1 to 7 in this case – using your stylus and the game will recognise the spectrobe you've unlocked and add it to your in-game library.
Spectrobes is released globally on 16th March. Click 'Track It!' to be alerted when we review it, and check out previous Spectrobes screens and stories.
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February 23rd, 2007, 16:00 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via pocketgamer
No one ever seems to have a good word to say about the men from the council. They're either increasing our taxes, setting up road calming humps, or fining us for putting envelopes into our paper recyling sack (by mistake, we didn't mean it!).
If it was a Ninja Council, we assume the level of compliance from the local population would improve somewhat.
The first Naruto on DS (the previous two titles being GBA games), we don't imagine the latest in the manga spin-off series involves going around cleaning up graffiti or dealing with noisy neighbours. Instead, you'll work your way through 60 missions using a fluid attack system that enables you to combo the jutsu techniques from over 20 characters.
Plot-wise, headstrong ninja-in-training Naruto Uzumaki and classmates Sakura and Sasuke will be doing their best to learn the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, and beating crap out of their enemies – all under the watchful eye of their teacher, Kakashi.
And after you've attempted to battle your way to the top as your favourite character from the TV show, you'll be able to relax with your friends via the four-way multiplayer battle mode.
Due a 2007 release in the US, there's not yet a confirmed European publisher for Naruto: Ninja Council 3. Let's just hope it can repair the damage to handheld ninjitsu's reputation following the lamentable Shinobido on PSP, which we reviewed earlier this week.
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:58 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via pocketgamer
Most of us at Pocket Gamer are supposedly grown up, which occasionally makes us wonder if we should put childish things away. Then a box set of Futurama or perhaps Family Guy will beckon us into their warm embrace, and we may as well be 14 again.
Fair enough, you think – but surely SpongeBob SquarePants is a step too juvenile? So my guilty secret is out. If I'm honest, I actually enjoy the antics of Bob of the spongey pantaloons, Patrick Star and Eugene Krabs.
Whether that enthusiasm will transfer to the latest SpongeBob SquarePants game remains to be seen, however. There have been plenty of previous game examples – mainly on the GBA, but a couple on DS – and they haven't been too impressive. In fact, most have been downright pants.
This time, as the 'and Friends' part of the title informs us, Bob and Pat will be joined by their Nicktoons chums in the battle against an evil spirit from the Ghost Zone, who plans to destroy their island paradise.
So as well as the SpongeBob SquarePants dudes, you'll be able to choose playable characters from some ten other Nicktoons series, including Danny Phantom, The Fairly OddParents and Jimmy Neutron. There'll also be an option to play through the game in a co-operative two-player mode.
Not surprisingly, the action itself will be strictly of the 2D action platforming and exploration variety, as you make your way up the dreaded volcano, disposing of various cartoon villains as you go.
Until we hear more about why this game will be different from previous examples, we'll not be too excited. But perhaps there's still time to get some good news from publisher THQ: SpongeBob SquarePants and Friends: Battle for Volcano Island isn't due for release until June.
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:57 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via nintendojo
Long before Mario got a fresh New paint on DS, an actual sequel to Super Mario World was released; and yet, many things about Yoshi's Island -- from its place in the Mario universe to the visuals and gameplay -- made sure that it was separated from the rest of the series. Having been a cult classic for a decade, Yoshi's Island finally has a real sequel. Forget Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Island DS is what fans have been waiting for.
visuals
The soft, hand-drawn pastels of the original return in the DS follow-up, but the intoxicating beauty of the first game seems to have been muted in the transition to a handheld. Perhaps subtle details are too hard to convey on a smaller screen; or it may have something to do with the visuals resembling a cartoon as opposed to a child's drawing. Whatever the case, the storybook charm that made Yoshi's Island so memorable did not arrive intact.
That isn't to say the game is ugly. Far from it, in fact. The worlds, while familiar settings from the first game, are vibrant and colorful. Even more attractive is the complete lack of any permanent heads-up display. This cleanliness combined with two screens for the field of play creates a strong sense of freedom within each level. Just because the visuals aren't quite up to snuff with one of the best looking games on the SNES doesn't mean it isn't nice to look at on its own merits.
audio
Developer Artoon managed to capture most of the original's visual experience, but the music was not so lucky. The intensely hummable music of Yoshi's forbear has been replaced with mediocre and forgettable tunes from the annals of Satuday morning television. This isn't altogether new for a portable game, but the series pedigree had set the bar incredibly high. Rounding everything off are the typical Yoshi grunts and yums that Nintendo has been using since Yoshi's Story. In short, nothing here hasn't been heard before or is worth hearing again.
gameplay
Yoshi's Island DS doesn't stray too far from the core gameplay that fans loved. The saddled dinosaur still jumps and floats through levels, swallowing enemies and using them as egg ammo against other opponents. Even the world maps are the same as Yoshi's last outing, complete with spinning level portraits. Were it not for one crucial addition, Yoshi's Island DS would feel like more of an expansion pack than a real sequel.
In the past, Baby Mario had exclusive dibs on the Yoshi ride, but now a few more infants have joined the fight for that spot. Baby Peach, Donkey Kong and Wario take turns in the saddle, each of which have unique abilities. Peach can use her umbrella to float upwards with gusts of wind, Donkey Kong can climb on vines and Wario can use his magnet to move platforms and suck up coins. Naturally, it is sometimes necessary to switch between the babies to overcome obstacles and progress through the game, but sometimes it comes down to preference. For instance, eggs thrown while Donkey Kong is riding explode on impact, while Baby Mario's got a knack for the ricochet.
Other than Yoshi's increased babysitting duties, not a lot has changed. This isn't a problem, however. Like New Super Mario Bros., originality is forgone in favor of fundamentally solid platforming gameplay. Nintendo was founded on this type of gameplay, and Artoon has shown that they've done their homework. It starts out simple enough, but the difficulty level spikes starting with the fourth world. Hardcore vets who love the first game should be in heaven, but tykes may get frustrated that they haven't developed the motor skills to complete the game. Though the levels get a good deal harder, the bosses at the end of every castle are almost always pushovers; but they're fun to vanquish nonetheless.
Developers have tangled with the dual screens on more than one occasion, particularly the space between them. This dead area provides a problem for games like Sonic Rush and Metroid Prime Pinball, wherein the two screens represent one continual space. Likewise is the case with Yoshi's Island DS, where sometimes platforms and enemies disappear within the vacuum. For much of the game, Artoon makes use of this area, hiding extra lives among other bonuses within it. The real pain comes with the auto-scrolling levels, where the progress is forced and the player's only hope is luck or clairvoyance. Otherwise, level memorization is the only answer, and one that players shouldn't have to swallow.
multiplayer
N/A
Overall
Many were skeptical when it was announced that the developer of the ill-recieved Xbox franchise Blinx: The Time Sweeper were at the helm of the Yoshi's Island sequel. Yet, it looks like that their worries are put to rest with the resounding quality of the end product. Fans should be content with the challenging main game and incredible amount of unlockable content similar to the original game. Younger players might have fun with it for a while, but all but the most determined munchkins will be stymied by the later levels. Everyone else looking for a solid platforming adventure to satisfy them after New Super Mario Bros. won't go wrong with Yoshi. He is, after all, a plumber's best friend.
Final score
8.5/10
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:54 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via kotaku
I just heard back from Neal Mueller and Chris Grubb, the two guys who brought along DS's on their climb up Mt. Everest. It's pretty cool how this works: I send my questions to a contact in New York, who then sends them on to the Base Camp on Everest. When Mueller and Grubb are back in camp they answer the questions, then shoot back their responses in the opposite direction.
I tried to ask the best questions that you guys sent me. So here goes--Mueller did the answering this time around:
Where are you now?
We are in the country of Nepal on the South side of Mount Everest. We are about 35 miles from the nearest town, Namche, and only connected to this town by a dirt walking trail used by Sherpas, tourists and yaks. We are writing to you from Mount Everest Base Camp where we are spending some time between acclimization climbs up the mountain. We only have access to email while at Base Camp, so while we carry with us and play the Nintendo DS systems up on the mountain, all of our contact with the outside world comes while we're resting and recovering at Base Camp.
Have the extreme temperatures been a problem with your DSs?
The systems have performed extremely well, even in the extreme conditions. When the systems get very cold, there is a slight flicker of the screens and the battery life is dramatically decreased (this is an issue with any battery powered electronics in extremely cold temperatures). These issues are easily resolved, however, by storing the DS systems in our sleeping bags with us at night, or by warming them up in clothing pockets next to our bodies before each playing session.
Does the Wireless play seem to work for you in tent?
The Wireless play works very well when two people are in the same tent. We usually share a tent up on the mountain and always eat in the same tent, so this is the most common scenario for when we choose to play against each other. We have run into some issues with Wireless play between tents, but we believe that it is due to the metal alloy poles used as part of the tent structures and not due to a limitation on the range of the machines.
What games did you guys bring with you?
We brought Mario, Metroid Prime, Madden Football and a multi gamepack that has a number of smaller games contained on the same cartridge.
Do you have a favorite yet?
Our favorite at the beginning of the trip was Madden Football because it is a multi-player game and has excellent graphics and funny voiceovers from Madden. After several dozen Madden games we looked into Mario64 a bit more and loved the depth of the game. We've been racing for the past couple of days to see who can rescue the Princess first... a noble challenge.
Have you had a lot of time to play during the climb itself? I would imagine you would be pretty bushed at the end of each day.
During the climb, we spend almost the entire day climbing, preparing food and melting snow and ice into water. You're right that there isn't a lot of time and that we're completely beat at the end of each day, but we can't imagine a better way to get our minds off of our aching bodies than an intense game of Madden Football! During rest days at Base Camp, we have time to explore the 15 levels in Mario and really get into the games to a much greater extent than we're afforded while on the mountain.
Any plans for planting a DS at the peak?
A pretty funny idea. We could leave a system for the next gamer that makes it to the peak. In reality though, every ounce that you can save in your pack on summit day increases your chances of making it to the summit and we're already looking for ways to cut even more weight from our packs. We are planning on bringing the systems to the South Col, however, which is above the "Death Zone" and at an altitude where life is impossible to maintain for more than a few days at a time.
How do you recharge the DS? Do you have a hand crank or solar panels?
We run everything off of solar power at Base Camp, including charging the DS systems when the batteries are getting low. We had a scare yesterday since it had been cloudy and snowing for two days and hadn't been able to charge the systems, but we woke up to sun this morning and were able to get everything fully charged again to survive another string of bad weather if necessary. I like the hand crank idea, but it would be tough to use the touch screen while concurrently charging the batteries... maybe a foot crank though?
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:52 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via vggen
Atlus’ ever-expanding library of quirky, Japanese-flavored games has grown a little today, as Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja is now available for the Nintendo DS. In the game, you play as a female ninja, Izuna, who angers the gods, getting a town cursed in the process, and must find a way to right those wrongs. We’ve included the oh-so-brief press release below:
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — FEBRUARY 20, 2007 — Atlus U.S.A., Inc., a leading publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced that Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja has shipped to North American retailers and is in stores now!
Finally, a dungeon RPG strong enough for a man… but played as a hot chick! Bust out those nunchucks and get back to the old school, hardcore, monster bashing we all grew up on! See if you have what it takes to conquer the impossible levels and gruesome bosses. After all, does it get any better than the feeling of cold steel at the palm of your hands?
Here's just a taste of what's being said about this eagerly-awaited title!
“Izuna is a retro-esque action-RPG that stays true to its heritage of fast-paced gameplay, while injecting a much-needed dose of humor along the way, something that is often in short supply in RPGs.” ~GameAlmighty
“ The joy is in the witty comedy. It's not just that the lines are funny, but that they seem completely out of place in this Japanese dungeon RPG. It acts almost as a spoof and is a welcome change to a genre filled with the same stories year after year. ”
~Nintendojo
Izuna Key Features:
* Deep, challenging labyrinths that change every time you enter!
* Use Talismans to cast spells or power up your equipment!
* Customize and power up your weapons, which gain strength over time!
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:45 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via vooks
In an interview by GameDaily, Spin Master Perrin Kaplan talks about the Wii, its online features, third party support and the GameCube. Kaplin talked about how in the upcoming months between January and June, there will roughly be 27 games coming too Wii and that’s not including the oldies scheduled for the Virtual Console.
Perrin then went on to discuss the Wii's online services stating that "“Some of that friend code stuff (for online game play) is really built for the mass consumer, not just the gaming world…" she then she had this to say "I think we feel pretty confident about our position; at the time online comes [to the Wii] I think people will be pleased with it." After that she talks about how the "hardcore" gamers aren't happy with anything and can't have it come fast enough.
She also talked about how the Wii's third party support is the best Nintendo has seen since the SNES. Why are all the 3rd parties jumping onboard the Wii train? "I think they’re inspired by the remote and I think they’re inspired by the simplicity and fun of what it is we’ve been able to do, and I’m sure out of that comes some learning. We all learn from each other."
Probably the most interesting part of the interview would be the fact that Perrin tells us that the GameCube is discontinued. Yes, you read right, the GameCube is officially dead. Nintendo aren't planning to build any more GameCube consoles and after what is in their current inventory is sold, that’s it, no more Cubes unless you find one second hand.
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:43 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via hexus
Play as 14 different characters
In Mario Party 8, a whimsical ringmaster has invited Mario, Peach and the rest of the crew to his carnival. Mario Party 8 keeps the surprises coming with minigames that draw upon the Wii Remote's motion, pointing and button control in a variety of ways. Players always know how to jump into the action by watching an animated tutorial that shows how to use the Wii Remote.
Following tradition, Mario Party 8 takes the social, strategic game play of board games and adds breaks for quick, action-oriented minigames. In the main mode, players travel across six boards in search of Stars, landing on spaces that are helpful (example: giving coins) or a hindrance (example: sending Bowser in to mess with the player). Several variations for these boards tweak the main goals to enhance game play for solo sessions, two-player games and three- to four-player games.
In addition, Mario Party 8 includes four more minigame-infused kinds of board games, such as Tic-Tac Drop, where players earn the right to put the next mark on the board by winning a minigame.
Check out these new screenshots!
Screens via comment
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:39 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via dailytech
The Wii may see a hardware revisions sooner than expected
Video game consoles are essentially a closed platform. Once the hardware is finalized, the specifications usually remain the same throughout the lifecycle. There have been little tweaks here and there with the more home consoles towards the end of their life cycles, such as slimmer and smaller PlayStations, but game systems usually keep the status quo.
Handhelds are a different story, however, as Nintendo has written the book on how to reinvent and redesign portable systems. Nintendo clearly realizes the profit potential of incrementally improving its hardware—not so much as to introduce new functionality, but to increase usability—so that customers may even buy the same system twice.
The most recent example of this is the Nintendo DS, which saw an initial release form of a bulky, sturdy folding brick, and later reinvented into the DS Lite, a sleek, shiny iPod-like fun machine. Considering Nintendo’s great success with this strategy, it should not be surprising to learn that the games maker is plotting a similar strategy for the Wii, perhaps even earlier than most expected.
In an interview, GameDaily asked Nintendo of America VP Perrin Kaplan if the ‘hardware revision model’ would applied to the Wii, to which she replied succinctly, “Sure, absolutely. You'll see the ways in which we do that.”
Kaplan’s assertive, but tight-lipped answer points to more than just adding something like DVD video playback. In fact, a DVD movie-enabled Wii has already been announced for release later this year. Kaplan comments on the DVD playback as something minor in the scheme for Wii: “I think it's just to give them a choice. We've not yet come out with a firm date; we haven't talked about it too much. It's not the top thing on our list.” When asked if DVD video capability was part of the plans for a new Wii hardware revision, Kaplan says, “There are always lots of things in the future.”
The Nintendo marketing VP isn’t showing any of her cards, but one thing is for sure: there will be another Wii. The obvious things that Nintendo would do to make the Wii more attractive are add new colors, increase its internal flash memory, include rechargeable batteries for Wii Remotes and component cables. There isn’t much merit to making the console any slimmer or lighter, and high definition support isn’t likely to happen.
The Wii is attaining mass-market appeal, much like the iPod. It may only be a matter of time before Nintendo adopts Apple’s hardware redesign strategy.
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:37 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via hexus
Nintendo are expanding their Wii Virtual console by adding two new formats to the existing ones. Games for the NEO GEO and MSX formats will be available for download this Spring in Japan. Currently, Nintendo haven't confirmed whether the formats will be available in the US, UK or Europe.
According to the Japanese Nintendo site, the first two games made available will be Eggy and Aleste.
Amongst those games that we could be looking forward to are the Fatal Fury series, Metal Slug and Neo Bomberman on NEO GEO and Metal Gear, Dragon's Quest and Final Fantasy for the MSX.
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:35 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via fortwayne
Video games are usually a solitary pastime. But that doesn’t mean that gamers are anti-social misfits, any more than readers, knitters or crossword solvers.
We have friends, siblings, spouses and kids, and when we’re not off saving the world on our own, we enjoy playing games with our loved ones.
No one has emphasized the social aspect of gaming more than Nintendo. The company named its new machine “Wii” (pronounced “we”) to emphasize “this console is for everyone,” with the double-i meant to symbolize “the image of people gathering to play.” Wii games like “Wii Sports,” “Rayman Raving Rabbids” and “Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz” are undeniably more fun to play with a crowd.
That’s not to suggest that the Wii has a stranglehold on multiplayer action. Particularly in the sports and fighting genres, there are plenty of PlayStation and Xbox games that thrive with two or more players. But Sony and Microsoft haven’t reached out to non-traditional gamers the way Nintendo has.
•“WarioWare: Smooth Moves” (Nintendo, for the Wii, $49.99): “Smooth Moves” is a collection of more than 200 “microgames,” each about five seconds long, that require you to use the Wii’s remote control in different ways. You may be asked to hold it like bicycle handlebars, a barbell or a telephone; as the events get sillier, you hold it in front of your nose or on top of your head. You’ll find yourself flapping your arms, swiveling your hips, squatting and jumping.
Each round consists of 10 to 20 microgames that seem to come faster as the game progresses, and half the battle is figuring out what the game wants you to do before time runs out. The main multiplayer challenge is like a game of hot potato in which you pass the remote each time a new game starts. There’s plenty of irreverent comedy, with tasks ranging from zipping up a guy in a panda suit to helping granny put her dentures in, which makes “Smooth Moves” almost as much fun to watch as it is to play.
•“Wii Play” (Nintendo, for the Wii, $49.99): The “Wii Sports” disc that was packaged with the Wii attracted a lot of players to the new console, and I still find myself returning to its sweet bowling simulation. Fans have been clamoring for more, but “Wii Play” is a letdown. It consists of nine games, only one of which – billiards – has any real staying power. Most of the remaining games – shooting, table tennis, laser hockey, a tank battle and cow racing – show some promise but just don’t have enough meat on them. And the final three, including fishing and two observation games where you have to find and manipulate your “Mii” avatar, are just annoying.
The main draw for most Wii maniacs is that “Wii Play” comes with a controller, which normally costs $40. So, for an extra 10 bucks you’re getting a fairly decent demo disc. And since Wii controllers have been in short supply, it may be a bargain that’s too good to pass up.
•“Fuzion Frenzy 2” (Microsoft, for the Xbox 360, $49.99): With “Fuzion Frenzy 2,” Microsoft has tried to muscle into the party-game market by hiring Hudson Soft, the developer of Nintendo’s popular “Mario Party” franchise. Unfortunately, “Frenzy” substitutes the charm of Mario and his gang for an irritating intergalactic game show. There are 40 different minigames, ranging from lame (gravity-defying slam dunks) to somewhat amusing (smashing your opponents with a hammer), but there’s nothing you’ll want to play more than once.
“Frenzy” is also marred by a confusing scorekeeping system and a dumb gimmick that allows losers to play cards to steal points from the winners, killing any desire to play skillfully. Still, “Fuzion Frenzy 2” is the only thing of its kind on Microsoft’s console, so it could be an adequate rental for Xbox 360 users desperate for a party game.
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February 23rd, 2007, 15:33 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via philly
Sure, there are some great games like Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but I'm especially impressed with Nintendo's foray into online connectivity. While Microsoft's Xbox Live service proved during the last console generation that Bill Gates and company had online gaming mastered, no one could have predicted that Nintendo would do so well with its first serious attempt to connect a console to the Internet.
While Nintendo's previous system, the GameCube, could get online via either broadband or dial-up adapter peripherals, there was practically no reason to bother. Only devotees of Sega's Phantasy Star Online role-playing game had the need to reach cyberspace. It's an entirely different story with the Wii, which is equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity right out of the box, allowing it to go online through your wireless home network. Wii owners who lack Wi-Fi support can buy a $29.99 LAN adapter to connect to a standard wired network.
Once online, Wii gamers can check out news and weather information or surf the Web using a Wii-optimized, beta version of the Opera web browser. Parents who are concerned about their children's Internet use - and who isn't these days? - should take note of parental controls built into the Wii set-up menu. These can be used to limit access to the online environment as well as block children from playing inappropriate games. Without the parental controls activated, I readily accessed social networking site MySpace as well as the Playboy Web site through my Wii - all in the name of research, mind you. Thankfully, it only takes a minute to configure the parental filtering.
The Wii Shop Channel lets gamers access old-school games, for a fee. Some of the most beloved titles from retro systems like the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx are available for download, and more games are being added on a regular basis. Nintendo calls this feature the "Virtual Console." Just be aware that you'll need an additional controller to play the older games. GameCube controllers will work with some of the retro titles, but others require Nintendo's Classic Controller, which sells for $19.99 but can be hard to find. The latest addition to Wii's online menu is the Everybody Votes Channel, which allows gamers to have their say in online polls.
If there's a gripe concerning the Wii's online component, it's that, as of now, there are no actual games featuring online play. That means you can't play a Wii game against an opponent who isn't sitting next to you on the couch. The first wave of online multiplayer-enabled Wii titles should become available by summertime, so we'll have a better idea of the system's multiplayer capabilities by then. It would be great, for example, to play the new Smash Bros. title, scheduled for a late June launch, against opponents from around the world.
In the meantime, I'm amusing myself with Wii Play, an amusing game that builds on the casual, fun style of Wii Sports. Players can choose one of nine mini-games, including Fishing, Laser Hockey and Shooting Range. All are easy to learn, but challenging nonetheless. My favorite is a battle between toy tanks that shoot it out with cannons, missiles and mines, all while navigating a wooden maze. Want to play against a friend? Nintendo makes it easy by including an extra Wii remote inside the Wii Play package.
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February 23rd, 2007, 09:17 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via Cubed3
The Virtual Console has gradually been building up a stronger and stronger library and now one of the best games of all time has launched on the system, Zelda: Ocarina of Time from the N64. Here is the official Press Release:
"Gamers are in for a treat on Wii’s Virtual Console this week as Nintendo releases two new classics to download. Every generation, certain titles set the standard for all others. With stories so enveloping and gameplay so addictive that they define the generation. One such game, heralded by many as the greatest adventure game ever made, was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time released on the Nintendo® 64.
Launched in Europe in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was developed by the legendary creators Shigeru Miyamoto (Producer) and Eiji Aonuma (Director). Featuring a quest of epic proportions, ground breaking 3D graphics and a host of exciting sub-missions and minigames, this game quickly became the most popular title in the already prestigious series. Now nine years after its launch, Wii owners can experience the adventure again for 1000 Wii Points.
This week Wii owners will also get to enjoy the popular NES title, Kid Icarus. Some twenty-years after its original release, Nintendo is bringing the classic platform title back to the Virtual Console for gamers old and new to enjoy. Players take on the role of a young angel called Pit in his struggle to defeat the minions of darkness and free the Goddess of Light from her prison in the underworld. Kid Icarus is available to download now for just 500 Wii Points.
These great games will join the list of over 50 classic titles already available for the Virtual Console in Europe."
And if that was not enough, Nintendo is truly celebrating the re-launch of Ocarina in style, just in case there are people out there with no knowledge of the game:
"Wii’s Virtual Console allows gamers to re-experience some of the great moments in gaming history with downloadable classics from the 80s and 90s. Today, both Zelda fans and gamers who enjoy a good adventure are in for a treat with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which has often been referred to as “The Greatest Game of The 20th Century” and which has sold over 7.6 million copies globally is making a welcome return on the Virtual Console. Intrigue, excitement and the adventure of a lifetime await you in a quest that will captivate and inspire players old and new.
As the first fully three-dimensional title in the Zelda series, players must take on the role of a young boy with a grand destiny growing up in the Kokiri village. The young hero, Link, soon finds out that something is afoot when he is despatched on an epic adventure by the Great Deku Tree. On his travels Link discovers he is destined to become the Hero of Time and save Hyrule from the evil Ganondorf. His travels take him across a vast and colourful continent as he battles through challenging dungeons - ranging from the eerie Forest Temple to the fiery caves of Dodongo Cavern. With hours of exciting gameplay this title is sure to keep even the most dedicated player busy for weeks.
Unique to the Zelda series, Ocarina of Time sees players taking on both the role of child Link and his young adult form. When he begins his journey, Link is an eight year old boy in an as yet untainted Hyrule. However, when he uncovers the fabled Temple of Time and the legendary Master Sword Link is too young to take on the role of Hero of Time so is transformed into a young adult. During this time Hyrule radically changes into a darker and more dangerous place.
The equipment at our hero’s disposal changes as he grows from boy to man. As a child, Link is able to use items including the Slingshot and Boomerang, but when he is fully grown these items are of no use to him and must be replaced by items like the Hero Bow and Hookshot. Link can also tame and ride his very own horse called Epona who returns as Link’s mount in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on Wii.
When it was first released in 1998, this game struck a chord with Zelda fans across the globe, partly due to its dramatic and involving music. Not only does the game feature a playable musical instrument, The Ocarina of Time, which players must use to solve puzzles and unlock secrets, but it also features one of the most atmospheric soundtracks in the Zelda franchise. From calm and quirky background music in the field, to dramatic crescendos of sound in boss fights, this game will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is available on the Wii Virtual Console across Europe from 23rd February 2007 for the price of 1000 Wii Points and will join over fifty top games from Nintendo’s back catalogue already available."
And remember, at least Zelda is still only 1000 Wii Points, unlike in Japan where is was nudged up to 1200...
Stay tuned for more updates!
Original Story: This week's virtual console releases in Europe are small in quantity but big up on quality. Wii owners can download Pitt's debut adventure Kid Icarus (NES) or Link's first N64 outing, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
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February 23rd, 2007, 07:21 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via devmaster
Paris, France, February 22, 2007- Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the preview of a new Virtools solution for faster and easier developments on Nintendo’s new Wii™ console. The versatility of the Virtools platform, combined with 14 years of experience in virtual reality, allows faster and easier development on the Wii console.
“By delivering innovative solutions for the Wii, we are providing a powerful solution to developers, game designers and graphics artists, boosting all aspects of game development creativity” says Virgile Delporte, Virtools vice president of Electronic Entertainment for Dassault Systèmes.
Thanks to this new solution, especially the Wii Remote™ building block and Wii Remote client, Virtools components which allowing the access of Wii controllers on PCs with Virtools 4, authorized Wii game developers are now able see results in hours and tune their game play on the fly. Virtools technology is the most adapted platform for creative game development whileNintendo’s Wii console represents the perfect console for game developers to unleash their creativity. Virtools powerful render engine is currently being ported and optimized for the Wii console.
Dassault Systèmes’ Virtools will be present at the Game Developer Conference 2007, which is being held in San Francisco, March 5–9. To see demonstrations of this new technology, visit Virtools at booth 454 WH.
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February 23rd, 2007, 07:19 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via nintendojo
The director of PlayStation 2's soon to be released God of War II recently received a Wii as a gift from his design team, and spent some time getting to know Nintendo's shiny white console. His final verdict?
Cory Barlog has played better.
"I must be honest it was not everything I had hoped it would be. It was fun… but the wow factor wore off fairly quick," said Barlog of Wii on his blog. Barlog mentioned his perceived inaccuracy of the Wii Remote during his play time with Trauma Center. He went on to question how much longer people would keep buying into Wii's motion sensing capabilities, referring to Wii as essentially a slimmed-down version of GameCube.
The GoW II director didn't completely bash Nintendo's console, praising the aforementioned slim form of Wii. "Very petite... I kind of like that since there really is no space left in my home theater cabinet," stated Barlog. "Big ups on that one Nintendo!"
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February 23rd, 2007, 06:30 Posted By: shadowprophet
As you know Sonic and the secret rings is out and burning up the charts with its wild fire of traditional and new elements of game play. The folks over at IGN have already given it a score.
Be warned. Hard core sonic fans should take this with a grain of salt. As IGN is known to be blunt, direct and in rare cases even flat out mistaken. ( Recalls a certain negative kingdom heart 2 interview)
Anyhoo here is what IGN had to say about Sonic and the secret rings.
"Sonic and the Secret Rings is my favorite entry into the franchise since its 2D roots. That's high praise for some, I'm quite certain. Bearing that in mind, if you really liked the Sonic Adventure titles for Dreamcast or GameCube, I think you will find much more to be excited about in this Wii-exclusive undertaking. I can tell you that the experience is more fun and more beautiful than any other – at least, as far as I'm concerned. But that being true, there are still flaws – big ones – and I'm less willing to tolerate and forgive them now that 3D games have fully evolved and we've seen exactly what great developers can do in the third dimension. Sonic Team has taken a giant step in the right direction here, and of that there is little doubt, which is why I hope that more time and attention goes into the camera system and level designs for the inevitable sequel.
I want to take moment to specifically explain the score. For me, Sonic and the Secret Rings offers moments of greatness where I find myself caught up in the intensity of the experience and, oppositely, moments where I want to pull my hair out or throw the Wii remote down because of imprecise control or insulting design choices. I think that some gamers, particularly diehard Sonic fans, will be able to get past these drawbacks and enjoy the great times, which are also in supply. However, for me it's really pretty simple. Call me harsh, but I don't believe you should be forced to deal with the bad to enjoy the good and hence, I've scored the game with that in mind. "
IGN
Giving Sonic a overall passable grade of 6.9.
Still us true sonic fans know. An IGN grade of 6.9 equals out to a high 8 in "the land of reality"
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February 23rd, 2007, 03:09 Posted By: JKKDARK
via MCV
Spong reports that whilst Nintendo still sees a place in the market for its struggling last-gen machine, manufacturing efforts have now shifted over to the likes of Wii, DS and Game Boy Advance.
“Are we producing any more GameCubes? No,” Nintendo of America’s vice president of marketing and corporate affairs Perrin Kaplin explained in an interview with GameDaily. “But do we have the inventory there for people to still purchase? Yes.
“Just like the PS2 sold really well this past holiday, GameCube is a great starter system – price, ease, games. Every one of the consoles has had its cycle and every single one of them has become a great starter system at the last leg of its cycle, and that's where GameCube's at.”
Kaplan also went on to confirm that Nintendo will not release any new games for the system – a decision reinforced by the company’s recent change of heart in relation to Super Paper Mario. That platformer was announced for GameCube at last year’s E3, but has since gone on to become a Wii-only title.
“If you're a core gamer you wouldn't buy a GameCube,” she continued. “It's not aimed at you anymore. But for new people as a starter system, how many games are there for them to pick from? Plenty.
“I mean, I wasn't the first to buy an iPod. By the time I bought it, it came to a price where I wanted it to be and looked the way I wanted it to look. So we're not selling GameCube to the people who are hardcore players and want all the gadgetry – we're going after the people who never really bought a system before now it’s finally at a price that they can afford for their family.”
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February 23rd, 2007, 02:34 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via cubed3
With developers watching the Wii's userbase grow at a rapid rate, various studios have recently announced a shift in production to try to meet the demand for their games on Nintendo's system. In a recent call with investors, Midway announced an increase in Wii production.
According to Gamasutra, Midway had been "bullish" toward the Wii since the console's launch, however will "look more significantly at the Wii going forward", with two currently unannounced projects in the pipeline for Q3/4 2007.
The added Wii support, officials noted, was due to an increasing userbase and lower development costs in comparison to the two powerhouses Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.
Positive news for Wii, hopefully bringing some Midway titles with meat instead of mediocre brand tie-ins.
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February 23rd, 2007, 02:32 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via indystar
Families who have been cutting their gaming teeth on "Wii Sports" will be a little disappointed with "Wii Play," Nintendo's newest collection of easy-to-learn minigames.
While the "Wii Play" games will turn the Wii controller into a fishing rod that you pull up on to hook fish or a pool cue to smack balls on a virtual billiards table, the nine games just aren't as much fun to play as those found in "Wii Sports," and they lack depth. Touted as a follow-up title to "Wii Sports," "Wii Play" also misses the boat for group play by limiting the multiplayer option to two people instead of four.
However, like "Wii Sports," "Wii Play" does offer easy entree into playing video games and encourages those new to video gaming to give it a try. And for families who haven't bought enough controllers, "Wii Play" comes packaged with one at a reasonable price.
"Wii Play" offers nine games in either single- or two-player mode. By playing the games in order, you unlock them. The first is "Shooting Range," a game of point-and-shoot target practice involving balloons, clay pigeons, soda cans and UFOs. Four of the games are adaptations of common activities: table tennis, fishing, billiards and air hockey. Two others involve matching Miis (Miis are on-screen characters generated by the game and that you create to represent you). In "Find Mii," you scan other Miis' faces to match pairs or triplets. With "Pose Mii," you twist the Wii controller to make your Mii match the position of the silhouette floating in a bubble. A cow-racing game and a strategy game called "Tanks!" round out the selections.
Our kid testers, avid fans of "Wii Sports," excitedly put the "Wii Play" game through its paces. The Wii controller turned out to be a responsive paddle to send the puck flying across the "Laser Hockey" table. When turned on its side, the controller was an effective way to control the cow that was racing down the road in the game called "Charge!" Tilt the controller forward and the cow goes faster, yank the controller up rapidly and the bovine jumps over obstacles. Tilt it left or right, and the cow veers in that direction. Testers had some trouble with the billiards game, because the controls were sometimes nonresponsive. The "Find Mii" game reminded them of hunting for people in the "Where's Waldo" books.
Our testers enjoyed the novelty of exploring all nine games, but they would rather play "Wii Sports" because those games have more depth and provide endless game play. When playing a tennis game in "Wii Sports," the game is always fresh because it depends on your finesse to add topspin or a slice to the ball. With "Wii Play," the similar game of table tennis is lackluster because you simply place your paddle to hit the ball back (as in the arcade game "Pong") and you can't add spins or fancy serves to keep the game interesting. The "Wii Play" games got old quickly.
Here's the bottom line: "Wii Play" costs $50 and comes with a Wii controller. That additional controller is worth $40 so the cost of "Wii Play" is really only $10. If your family could use another controller, this collection of games will provide some short-term entertainment.
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
Best for ages 6 and up
From Nintendo, www.nintendo.com, $50, Nintendo Wii.
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