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NMS08: Joystiq impressions roundup
Nintendo offered press a look at upcoming Nintendo (and third-party) titles at last week's Nintendo Media Summit, and Joystiq's Zack Stern was all up ons. He got a look at two of the most highly anticipated third-party DS games, and one surprise that we didn't realize Nintendo would put their marketing muscle behind.Zenses: Ocean is a casual puzzle collection from publisher The Game Factory designed to be relaxing. It features an ocean theme (a second game will be rainforest-themed) and a mellow soundtrack (even including headphones in the package). The games described include block-matching and a "connect the dots" game that is basically Puchi Puchi Virus. Zack was perhaps a little too relaxed by Zenses, in that he didn't find it particularly fun.New information about Guitar Hero: On Tour was revealed in a presentation. For example, as expected (but not previously confirmed) it can be played right- or left-handed. Star Power is activated by humiliating yourself yelling.Faithful readers will already know plenty about Space Invaders Extreme, but by all means check out the post, because it's stuff about Space Invaders Extreme.%Gallery-20612%%Gallery-19362% %Gallery-14613% Read: Impressions of Guitar Hero: On Tour Read: Hands-on with Zenses: Ocean Read: Hands-on with Space Invaders Extreme
NMS08: Crosswords DS impressions
One surprising gem of the Nintendo Media Summit was Crosswords DS, Nintendo's most recent puzzle game. Not letting itself get overshadowed by all the other stuff at the convention, Crosswords DS managed to rack up favorable impressions from many a gaming site. IGN found the title to be "awesome," and was very impressed by the diversity in the game. Even though it's called Crosswords DS, there's more to it than crossword puzzles. The game also includes word searches and anagrams. According to the site, the controls are very intuitive, and even easier to understand because of the great interface.Game|Life also enjoyed the software, finding the anagram mode to be even more addictive than the crosswords themselves. From what we can tell by Game|Life's comments, the anagram puzzles look almost identical to those in the online game Text Twist, which this blogger can confirm to be the computer equivalent of crack cocaine.GoNintendo describes this title as a "must-have" if you like crosswords. RMC reported that the puzzles are challenging (although the ones shown in the gallery must be from the "easy" setting), so don't worry about a dumbed-down experience. Also, don't be put off by the game's lame box art -- it seems like this title is definitely something to look forward to!%Gallery-4773% Read: IGN's impressionsRead: Game|Life's impressionsRead: GoNintendo's impressions
Samba de Amigo missing some much-needed shake
Samba de Amigo on the Dreamcast was the most relentlessly cheerful game ever, and the Wii version won't be toning down the exuberance -- just looking at this latest batch of art and screens from Sega's shake-'em-up almost brought light to the recesses of our dark, cynical hearts. But there's something gnawing at us, something that prevents us from getting all giddy over Wii Samba: the controls.Apparently, we're not alone in this respect. A number of the recent "hands-on" articles that have appeared in the wake of the Nintendo Media Summit mention how Gearbox hasn't yet nailed this aspect of the game.We've already discussed Joystiq's experiences (choice quote: "[...] the Remote and Nunchuk just don't feel the same as the original maracas."), and Go Nintendo felt similarly ("Unfortunately, there are still some control quirks. There are times when the Wiimote/Nunchuck will lose your positioning. This didn't happen too often, but it happened enough to make note of it.") Meanwhile, GameSpot's Ricardo Torres was perhaps the most forgiving, claiming that "the control is on its way toward being solid." Call us demanding little so-and-sos all you like, but we want solid! Not "on its way toward being solid."The general feeling seems to be that the title is shaping up well, but that the maracas are sorely missed. If you're reading this, Sega, you know what to do.Read: Joystiq's hands-on impressionsRead: Go Nintendo's hands-on impressionsRead: GameSpot's hands-on impressions%Gallery-20601%[Screenshots via press release]
My Weight Loss Coach boxart: Lazy or fitting?
We loaded up My Weight Loss Coach's product page on Amazon earlier today and received two surprises: $39.99. We're used to seeing that sort of markup only on Square-Enix titles and almost never on casual titles, but we suppose that bundled pedometer comes at a price. That price being ten additional dollars. Its stark, untraditional packaging art. At first, the cover seemed like an apathetic production, reminiscent of the Konami's Best box design, but perhaps this simple, almost Apple-esque approach will draw in weight-concerned adult casuals, Ubisoft's target audience. If they really want to bring in the big bucks, they'll shoot a commercial of someone pulling the case out of a manila envelope while Yael Naim sings the lyrics to "New Soul."If you're one of those strange people who like to judge a title by its actual content and not its cover, jump into our gallery below to see new screenshots of the get-in-shape software. %Gallery-15787% [Via NeoGAF]
NMS08: Joystiq hands-on with the future of Wii
Big-brother blog Joystiq's own Zack Stern got a little face time with some of the biggest games of your fanboy future at last week's Nintendo Media Summit, and mostly, the verdict is good, even in some surprising places. We've linked all of the hands-on impressions below, but will offer a quick recap here: Rock Band for Wii is not quite a complete travesty; improvements made to the original Rock Bands are present here, and apparently, there is at least discussion of how to handle the online play/DLC problem, but whether or not that will be managed as a later add-on or reserved for a sequel was not said. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows .... Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is the opposite of Rock Band, however, in that it sounds even better than we expected. Zack spent some time in the Wii-specific multiplayer duel mode, and it sounds as though the level of depth (and sheer fun!) to be found there will make Wii owners and Star Wars fans very happy. We're looking forward to it! BOOM BLOX may seem like a simple game, but while we're on the subject of depth, this is another title with a lot to explore and discover, and we know a lot of you are excited about it -- so much so that you'll challenge the bloggers to steel cage matches and all. It's cool. We like to know you care. Samba de Amigo both is and ain't the original. It looks and feels like the Dreamcast game, but Wii remotes just aren't maracas. We did get our wish, though you can use two Wiimotes instead of a Wiimote and a nunchuk if you want, to get your samba on. Wii Fit is fun, with a lot of enjoyable mini-games, but Zack felt they might get repetitive after a while. Then again, what exercise routine doesn't? That's why they call it a routine, amirite? Read: Joystiq hands-on with BOOM BLOX Read: Joystiq hands-on with Rock Band Wii Read: Joystiq hands-on with Samba de Amigo Read: Joystiq hands-on with Star Wars: The Force UnleashedRead: Joystiq hands-on with Wii Fit
NMS08: Square Enix talks Space Invaders Extreme
Gamespot got a chance to talk with Square Enix PR guy Klee Kuo about Space Invaders Extreme back at the Nintendo Media Summit, taking care to film the whole thing so that we may all watch. Included in the interview (if people talking isn't your sort of thing) is footage from both the DS and PSP versions of the game. We don't have to tell you all which one looks superior, of course.There's also a few other trailers up of just gameplay, which we've gone ahead and embedded past the break.%Gallery-14613%
NMS08: Rock Band 'bonus' simply PS3/360 dregs
The mystery of our Rock Band's "bonus" tracks has been solved -- and the songs are nothing you haven't seen before, especially if you've been following the available DLC for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the title. Here's your extra content, Wii owners. Merry freakin' Christmas. "Dirty Little Secret" - The All American Rejects "Roam" - The B-52's "Don't Look Back in Anger" - Oasis "Roxanne" - The Police "Rockaway Beach" - The Ramones %Gallery-19119%
NMS08: Strong Bad's Cool Trailers for Attractive People
Hot on the heels of news yesterday regarding a certain answerer-of-emails and WiiWare, Nintendo's distribution service for downloadable games, comes our first peek at Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, along with some more details on what to expect per your buck and the bang it will entitle you to. IGN has uploaded a pair of trailers, the first of which you can catch above. It provides a sneak peek at the first episode of the game, which is due out this June.IGN also confirmed that each episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People will include at least one small micro game that the player can enjoy via an in-game computer. Fans of Strong Bad won't have any trouble picturing how this will work. As if that weren't enough, you can also piece together your own Girl Squad comics by collecting cards in-game. Head past the break for the other trailer, which shows off even more gameplay footage. We just hope that come June we'll be attractive enough to be allowed to play this game.%Gallery-20307%
Telltale brings Strong Bad to attractive people
Wow, we never thought we'd be writing about Strong Bad twice in one week on a Wii blog. Yet, Telltale finally announced their oh-so-secret WiiWare game, which will feature everyone's favorite Homestar Runner mascot. Titled Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, this series will consist of five episodes that will come out on a monthly basis. (As it turns out, the "actual gameplay footage" at the end of the Strong Bad Gameways video is actual gameplay footage!)Like Sam & Max, this game will be in the adventure genre, involving humor, puzzles, and point-and-click goodness. Telltale has also added some neat time-wasting extras, like checking Strong Bad's emails, making prank phone calls, and playing arcade games styled after the ones on Homestar Runner's site.Between bringing this and Sam & Max to the Wii, we're so in love with Telltale right now. If you're excited, too, make sure to check out the official webpage for SBCG4AP, which just went live (and has a gameplay trailer!).(Note: Sorry for the delay in putting this news up; we were waiting for Telltale to release assets for the game first, to make this post as thorough as possible.)%Gallery-20307%[Via press release; also, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Boom Blox dated May 6th
EA previously had the entire month of May blocked off for the release of its Steven Spielberg collaboration Boom Blox. They put a finer point on things during a presentation at Nintendo's Media Summit in San Francisco today, knocking 30 blocks off their May calendar, leaving a proud May 6th standing tall. We'll be checking out the game in, what we can only assume is, a near final state and have our impressions up as soon as we can, okay?%Gallery-15449%
NMS 08: Mario Super Sluggers sliding into homes this year
The first news out of this year's Nintendo Media Summit is that the Namco Bandai-developed Mario sports game Super Mario Stadium: Family Baseball will see a U.S. release "sometime this year" under the title Mario Super Sluggers.Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen demonstrated the game for press in attendance, showing unique fielding mechanics in which shaking the Wiimote signals the fielders to go, and a throwing motion sends the ball to the correct base. Pitching and batting seem to be pretty much what you'd expect! According to IGN, the cast will include the usual suspects: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, the Wario Bros, Donkey Kong, Baby Mario, Toad, Toadette, Boo, and a Shyguy. More details about Sluggers should come out sometime next week.[Via Joystiq; press release available here]
