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Warioware DS review round-up for lazy people
If you've been looking forward to Warioware DS, then stand in line. The original for the GBA was a hit with the fans and the reviewers (and the spouses of fans and reviewers). Its frantic pace was addictive and set the bar pretty high for any sequels. This review round-up (a sequel to our last round-up) seems to show that there are good and bad things about the title. It still sounds like a worthy buy. Especially since there's nothing else new available for the DS, at least here in North America. ShackNews (8.5/10) Gamespot (7.2/10) IGN
New WarioWare gets fondled early
It'll be another two weeks before WarioWare Touched! is released into the (Western) public's hands, but seeing as the Japanese version has been around for a hot minute, a number of critics have already gotten dirty with the next great DS title. Mostly cheers from the crowd-perhaps a few gripes. But there is a lingering disappointment that Nintendo didn't push this one far enough past its predecessors, failing to take proper advantage of the DS's unique features. Below, is an up-to-date round-up: Games Radar UK - 100 Nintendojo - 85 Planet GameCube - 85 Gamer.tv - 80 Siliconera - 80 Eurogamer - 70
Hands-on with Wario on the Nintendo DS
Computer and Videogames has touched the Nintendo DS' Wario Ware Touched!, and found it worthy. They're claiming it will be the new staple of the handheld device. According to the piece, the 180 minigames packed into the cart are addictively fun and amusing - much like all the previous Wario titles. Hopefully, this is the one we've been waiting for; a fun game that only could have been made for the Nintendo DS. Registration is required.
Warioware Touched issues
Gamespot is reporting a pretty annoying glitch with Marioware Touched in Japan. Apparently, on some units, you can't complete the game as certain minigames require you to do things that simply can't be done due to an apparent hardware glitch. This fault is on a small number of the units, and the big N will be replacing the game for those suffering the glitch, starting December 24th.
VE3D's list of 2004's best console games
Voodoo Extreme lets loose with their version of 2004's best and brightest. They break it down by game platform and then give you a chance to vote from a pre-selected list. Their top Playstation 2 game is Katamari Damacy, so they get karma points for not choosing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. I'm sure our own Steve Parsons will have a thing or two to say about Burnout 3 being #3. Blasphemy! We'll have our own lists to parade around before the end of the year, so get your knvies sharpened.
Paper Mario 2 unfolds on the GameCube
Mario returns to his 2D comfort zone in Paper Mario 2: The Thousand-Year Door. It's been more than three years since we last visited the paper realm, and while PM2 certainly doesn't break the mold, it offers the level of fine-tuning and polish that we've come to expect from Nintendo's sacred franchises. As with many of Nintendo's titles, PM2 is unique in that it appeals to both kids and adults, offering a good 30 hours of classic (and nostalgic) Mario RPG goodness. The battle system is exceptional, and the new "audience" feature is a nice touch and guaranteed to provide more than a few laughs. Still, the developers could have done more to bring out the paper-theme in the visuals. And c'mon, where is the voice acting?! If you can manage through the slow start (a ton of text reading), you'll find Paper Mario 2 to be a refreshing addition to this fall's gritty lineup.
Paper Mario 2, official site launches
Yes, we know, it's (almost) all in Japanese. But c'mon, it's more fun that way. Poke around and you can find, well, I'm not exactly sure, but it looks like a lot of screenshots/development stills. Be sure to check out the trailer too (just use the link, it can be tricky to find...). Enjoy. And if anyone can read kanji, hiragana of katakana, feel free to fill us all in!
