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Fire Emblem to venture online?
Don't get too excited, though -- they're talking about games that will follow Goddess of Dawn, which is already out in Japan. Still, from the way several of the franchise's producers talked about online content, it seems that fans of the series have a lot to look forward to in the next installment, like downloadable maps and possible online multiplayer. Now if only we knew when we might be able to expect that next game. For that matter, it would be nice to know when we might see a localization of Goddess of Dawn. Apparently, they hoped to add some online functionality to Goddess of Dawn, but there just wasn't time. Nintendo's Hitoshi Yamagami also said something that may answer some of our questions about a lot of the earliest Wii titles; according to him, it was pretty late in the game before developers even knew what would be included with the Wii, controller-wise. While it makes us wonder if maybe things were a little rushed -- after all, we've heard versions of that before -- it also gives us hope for all the possibilities that will open up as developers become more and more comfortable with the Wii.
Japanese pop star shows us some Smooth Moves
The Japanese pop star is none other than Ayumi Hamasaki, who is (according to her Wikipedia page) one of the country's most famous singers. Well, for how famous she is, she's not used any of her wealth or free time to master the minigames in WarioWare: Smooth Moves. She flops many of the minigames, including using the tennis racket to bounce a ball and shaking a puppy's hand. Not only that, but she's just about the worst at the chaffeur boss stage we've ever seen. Still though, the video is worth a laugh as just about anyone looks like a total idiot when they're playing this game. Be sure to keep an eye on Wii Fanboy as we're set to give away a copy of WarioWare: Smooth Moves to one lucky reader. [via Codename Revolution]
Even more Fire Emblem video
While this video suffers from some pretty severe watermarking issues (everyone just has to leave their mark, eh?), there's still a lot of amazing awesomeness that Fire Emblem fans won't want to miss. And yes, amazing awesomeness is a very technical phrase used to identify everything that's happening here in combat. You can thank us later for expanding your vocabulary. For now, just go watch the video, and if you missed the ones we put up last week, check 'em out.
Amazing Fire Emblem videos
These two new Fire Emblem videos are guaranteed to rock your socks. Behind the jump, we've got the full opening movie for Goddess of Dawn, and as expected, it's stunning. But the opening cinematics should always look good, and that proves almost nothing. So while the movie is not to be missed, it's the second video that's truly impressive, because it offers close looks at each of the units. The character models, as they will appear in combat, look fabulous.
Panel de Pon DS announced
Panel de Pon, aka Tetris Attack aka Panel de Pon, is a game we've loved in many guises. We loved it on the Super Famicom, with its fairies and pixie music (nothing to do with Frank Black); we loved it on the SNES, when it became Tetris Attack; and we even flirted with the GBA version in Nintendo Puzzle League. What we really need now is more Panel de Pon -- and according to Nintendo's latest release schedule, we're going to get just that. The Japanese version of Panel de Pon DS lands on April 26, with wi-fi multiplayer and -- as seen in these screens -- some very funky backgrounds. No news of a Western release as yet, but we can't imagine why it would be a Japanese exclusive.%Gallery-1738%[Image credit: Famitsu]
New Super Paper Mario Wii screens (in our favorite ratio)
Since its announcement at E3 2006, Super Paper Mario has made a format shift and still managed to keep a suspiciously low profile. It's a game that has been developed in the shadows, with only occasional flashes to give the poor gaming press anything to write about. At last, though, Super Paper Mario is coming out into the open. Nintendo today confirmed an April 19 release for Japan, which means that Super Paper Mario (like the Wii itself) is going to debut in North America. The new 16:9 screens here show how beautiful the game has become and, although Wii Remote functions are yet to be properly explained, Famitsu reports that Peach's umbrella can be used to access secret areas. (Here come the Super Mario Bros. 2 flashbacks.) We're intrigued to see how Super Paper Mario can flit from 2D to 3D at the press of a button and retain some sort of consistency. America can discover on April 9 whether Intelligent Systems' ambitious project has succeeded -- and more importantly, find out whether Bowser ends up marrying Peach. The horror.%Gallery-1722%[Image credit: Famitsu]
Fire Emblem astounds and amazes
The official Japanese Wii site has updated with a new Fire Emblem video that is bound to bring a smile to the face of even the coldest and most hardcore among us. The girl test-driving the game -- classic controller in hand -- demonstrates exactly how we tend to feel when caught up in trying to puzzle out the details on Goddess of Dawn: enthralled and focused, with a slight dash of WTF. The game releases in Japan later this week, and we've got our fingers crossed for more footage. To see the video, just head over to the Wii site in the source link.
Fire Emblem Wii TV ad focuses on Classic Controller
One of Famitsu's criticisms of Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess, which is released in Japan this Thursday, is that the game makes no particular use of the Wii's Remote. This could have been a GameCube release. But it's not, and yet there remains a perfectly adequate way to play Fire Emblem: get a Classic Controller (which is just what the girl in Nintendo's latest TV ad has done). Click through to see the TV spot and notice the girl's surprisingly honest facial expression -- does Classic Control mean profound boredom?
Wii's Wario wary of widescreen
Weally. In posting his impressions of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Chris Kohler at Game|Life adds yet another title to his 4:3 Hall of Shame. Joining Rayman: Raving Rabbids and Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Wario's waggle-fest only supports a 4:3 display ratio, generally known as fool fullscreen. While it's easy to agree that the lack of proper widescreen support doesn't impact on the game's fun, it still remains an annoying oversight, especially for HDTV owners. The Wii's shunning of HDTV support is an understandable topic (and already debated to death), but inconsistent EDTV and widescreen support just seems lazy in the year 2007. Several Gamecube and PS2 games provided different display modes -- heck, a widescreen mode is one of the selling points for the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Come on Nintendo, put things in perspective here.
Metareview - WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Smooth Moves is certainly no 'Game of the Year,' but it's hard to imagine a Wii owner who won't be adding this game to the collection. It's almost a necessity, as it unlocks all of the wonderful, albeit odd, potentials of Wii's technology. WarioWare is a madcap tutorial tool. It's unfortunate, as Eurogamer seems to allude below, that Smooth Moves has been billed to be more than what it is (a series of microgames). This is Wii's first significant title of 2007; and Smooth Moves will have to carry the associated burden for months to come. As such, the game will surely lead to disappointment for some. Still, there's no denying that WarioWare is capable of offering the premiere Wii experience.
Notable GameCube games for new Wii owners
For whatever reason, GameCube "best of" lists were all the rage last week on Digg. And since Wii hardware is heavily modified GameCube hardware (with exception to the controls of course) full backward compatibility for Wii comes standard. Hence, new Wii owners could breathe some life back into the all but dead and infamously drought-laden GameCube. With that, the editors over at Wii Fanboy have compiled their top five picks of the best GameCube games over the life of Nintendo's fourth generation console. Top three honors go to F-Zero GX, Eternal Darkness, and Resident Evil 4 (no Zelda or Mario, eh?). Click onward for the full set of recommendations. See also: A real list of the top GameCube games for new Wii owners 40 Essential GameCube Games
WarioWare multiplayer video
Siliconera breaks down the 12-person gameplay of WarioWare: Smooth Moves on the Wii, including a video of the various games. The main multiplayer matchup requires players to pass a controller between the up-to-12 players when it's the next person's turn. (That seems to make more sense than trying to divide four controllers.) The video shows the process in action, with quick glimpses into hula-hooping, whack-a-mole, grabbing fish, and many other mini-games. WarioWare could be a fun party game, but we're holding our applause until we try the game at home; we can't always predict which games will keep our gamer and non-gamer friends engaged. See the video after the break. [Via Aeropause]
12 player multiplayer in WarioWare: Smooth Moves
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Nintendo_Wii_How_about_a_12_person_multiplayer_game'; Siliconera has uploaded a video explaining how twelve person multiplayer is going to work. First, everyone makes an angel, then the game randomly chooses an angel and makes them play a minigame. In full-on elimination style, the last angel standing comes out the victor. We've embedded Siliconera's video into the post, past the jump.
New Smooth Moves trailer excites
In this latest video for WarioWare: Smooth Moves (which is embedded into the post past the jump, as always), we get a good glimpse at one of the game's lengthier minigames. A rhythm-based, dancing exercise, this minigame looks pretty fun. We already knew that we would be picking this up, but it's nice to find more positive things to say about the game. We can't be the only ones excited for this game, amirite? [Via Go Nintendo]
New WarioWare Smooth Moves video
Coming at us again with yet another video from their local Nintendo Fusion Tour stop, the guys at Go Nintendo take a crack at WarioWare Smooth Moves this time around. A few minigames have already been revealed, however most interesting is the Japanese equivalent to Driving Miss Daisy in boss fight, minigame form. Continue into the post for the video, which is embedded after the break. [Via Go Nintendo]
Fire Emblem: First details
European sites seem to have all the good Wii info lately. A German site, GamesCathedral, is posting freshly gleaned details (from where, who knows) on the mysterious Fire Emblem Wii. As you'll remember, this game's brief, anime FMV appearance in the E3 press conference made many feel all glowy and warm, yet no further details could be pried from the lips of Nintendo's faithful (ninja) executives. Apparently, the newest incarnation of Fire Emblem will feature two protagonists, one male and one female. The male, interestingly enough, is Sothe...the very same Sothe of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance fame. A direct sequel, perhaps? PoR was critically acclaimed for all kinds of rocking, and a continuation would hardly be ill-received. The female lead is a bit murkier, though it might be Ilyana from the same game. Finally, the article states that the game might be in full 3-D, a first in the Fire Emblem series. No more isometric view? Oh, our minds ache already.
Paper Mario says, 'OMG the GameCube isn't dead yet!'
Let's face it, Nintendo's GameCube got smoked in the current-gen console wars. But, that doesn't mean the little-box-that-could isn't going to go down without a fight -- the final nuclear bomb could be Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. There are a smattering of unique and great titles for the little lunchbox and, in October, Super Paper Mario is poised to blind side unsuspecting gamers everywhere. Go Nintendo has found some new YouTube videos -- taken at the World Hobby Fair in Japan -- of this new take on the venerable Paper Mario franchise. They're ... well, they're just beautiful. Really, have a look for yourself. On a side note, since the game is not slated to come out until the fall, wouldn't it be nice if they added a little Wii functionality? [Via 4cr]
Wii impressions: WarioWare Smooth Moves
Smooth Moves is aesthetically identical to its handheld predecessors. The demo saw us fumbling through a dozen or so of the new microgames, all motion-controlled (no button presses) with the Wiimote. The fickle connection between the Wiimote and its sensor was immediately apparent. It took several games -- granted, only about 30 seconds of gameplay -- to even register our motions on screen. Smooth Moves shouldn't have a steep learning curve, but technical limitations can make it difficult to play. This is not to say we didn't start having fun. Using the Wiimote to lineup grandma's dentures and then thrusting forward to jam them into her mouth elicited some big grins. Holding the controller to our hip and dancing the hula was another highlight. It remains to be seen how Wario Ware will hold up on a non-portable platform. Smooth Moves begs to be played in a party atmosphere and we don't see it holding the attention of solitary gamers for long.
WarioWare with the Wiimote
TIME recently spent a "hot minute" with Wii's WarioWare. It's more of the same, that is, "manic five-second mini games ... [with] a zany, cartoonish, game- show bent," but now it's all controlled with the wiimote. Just imagine the (reinvented) possibilities: Swat flies Squat-thrusts (weightlifting) Turn a key in a lock Catch a fish Drive a car Sauté some vegetables Balance a broom on an outstretched hand Color in a circle Fence with a foil Dance the hula [Via Lexis-Nexis] See also: Time magazine previews Wii, Wario Ware, and Zelda: TP
Get Paper Mario for free, sorta
The catch, you ask? Well, there's always a catch, isn't there? In truth, the deal will cost you the price of a stamp-currently 37 cents. And yes, you'll end up with a $20 EB gift voucher-but hey, you're bound to spend that at some point... To score your free game, go to EB and cop Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the low-low price of $20, pick-up the May catalogue, and then mail in the $20 rebate. It's that simple! Enjoy. [Thanks, John]
