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Nintendo unveils new WarioWare, Mario & Luigi, more
Not content with announcing a new DS iteration and a few franchise updates, Nintendo has used its Japanese press conference to reveal approximately 3 bajillion more new titles, including new editions of WarioWare and Mario & Luigi. Highlights include:DS (Expanded List, Video) Mario & Luigi RPG 3 Made in Wario/Wario Ware Wii (Expanded List, Video) Pikmin remake New Punch-Out!!! Sin and Punishment 2 Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Another Code (Trace Memory)
It's a WARIO World: Transformations
We couldn't help ourselves--Mario fashion is so last Friday. In case you didn't notice, maybe because you were too busy getting domineered by the formidable boss roster of Mega Man 9, a little game called Wario Land: Shake It! landed at retailers on Tuesday. And you can bet we've been shaking it all week (besides listening to Charles Martinet ham it up, of course). What better way to welcome this momentous release than to dedicate our humble gallery to the big scoundrel himself? It is appropriate that we have transformed this feature to accommodate Wario's oversized rear end. Transformations are Wario's speciality; whether he is provoked by status-changing characters or influenced by elements of his environment, Wario relies on his many forms to effectively navigate level design. Adopting forms that range from animal to mechanical, this rude evil genius is unquestionably a Master of Disguise. Let's take a look back at the numerous transformations Wario has undergone in our new gallery chock full of yellow, purple and poor manners. It's-a WARIO World is a weekly feature in which the ubiquity of Nintendo's EVIL GENIUS is celebrated: We'll incessantly ruminate about mustache wax garlic pizza, debate the curious whereabouts of the princess MY treasure and covet troves of gold. Check back here every Friday to find out what strange and wonderful thing has got us tipping our caps shaking our butts.
We just noticed: Rhythm Tengoku Gold coming to Japan July 31
So between following things like massive survey leaks and price drop rumors and generally preparing for next week's big trade show, we've been a little preoccupied here at Joystiq's massive, 50-story headquarters. So preoccupied, in fact, that we haven't really been keeping up with the recently-announced sequel to one of our favorite crazy Japanese imports, Rhythm Tengoku.Luckily, our friends over in the DS Fanboy shack have been keeping up with Rhythm Tengoku Gold, which hits Japan in just a few short weeks on July 31. Like the Game Boy Advance original, Gold takes WarioWare style minimalist graphics and simple mini-game-fueled play and adds a much needed sense of rhythm to the proceedings. 1UP has some more details on the new title's 50 toe-tapping tasks, which include "keep[ing] a ping-pong rally going, taking pictures as a cameraman, running a choir by opening and closing your mouth at the right time, dancing with birds, attracting a lizard mate by using your maracas-like tail to shake to the beat," and more. Really, how can you not love a game that includes lizard mating?The chances for a domestic release for this quirky title are probably somewhere between slim and none, so if you're looking for some more rhythm-infused craziness, hit up your favorite importer. You do that while we go back to our reguarly-scheduled pre-E3 madness. Gallery: Rhythm Tengoku Gold
Wii Warm Up: Recommended
If you're anything like us, people are constantly hitting you up for Wii game recommendations. And we don't necessarily mean other gamers, to whom you can squeal, "Metroid Prime 3 OMG," but often, these people aren't gamers at all. You can pass off Super Mario Galaxy, because nongamers get Mario, but what else do you recommend? How much do those recommendations differ from those you offer other hardened gamers?
Cha-Ching! WarioWare: Smooth Moves for $25
This item has been going in and out stock all morning, so it will require a bit of patience and providence to take advantage of this one-day deal at Amazon. If you don't mind spending the rest of your day watching the product page, however, WarioWare: Smooth Moves could be yours for only $25 (s/h included), half of its regular price! Just think of it as another minigame -- every click on your browser's reload button is another opportunity for you to win! Bwahahaha! [Thanks, Adam!]
Playing Wii on a PSP
Looks like PSP users are so keen to get in on the excitement that is Wii that they'll even put up with a six second lag, just to get in on the action. You can't buy desperation publicity like that.No, we kid. While we do like to poke fun at everyone who isn't us, this is actually pretty interesting. Owner of what is apparently a PSPwii combo, obiwan222222 (the extra pair of twenty-twos is what makes it original) essentially set up his PSP as a monitor to continue the quest to meld everything with the Wii. Next up? The toaster!Check out the video on PSP Fanboy to see this one in action. We would have liked to have seen him try to actually play the Wario Wario he was spinning in the video, if nothing else. Lag would translate to a very short playtime experience there ... or a very challenging one.
Wii Warm Up: So how 'bout the games?
Many of you are just getting your hands on a Wii (at last!) and others are just settling in for more in depth play on your games, so we figured it was a good time to ask: what have you played? What have you skipped? Which games have you liked most so far?This particular blogger has only been a little disappointed with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, due to the controls. Everything else has been pretty engaging. Twilight Princess, Wii Sports, and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (skateboarding games are a longtime habit a girl just can't shake) have gotten the most play on this Wii, though we're always happy to throw down on a variety of other games. More recently, it's been extensive sessions of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves. But hey, we figure everyone's got different tastes ... so how about you? Don't be shy -- tell us what you've liked so far!
Friday Video: A little friendly competition
What with all this noise about Wii parties, it seemed fitting to turn this week's spotlight on a video that showcases just that sort of thing -- friends getting together and gently kicking each others' asses, Wii style. Sure, it's nothing new to get together with friends and play video games. We've been doing it for years, and if you're here, it's likely that you are, too. But this deal with everyone scheming on our Wii, that's new. The system has become the focus of so many gatherings of gamers that today's video just seemed, well, familiar. Check it out after the jump. If any of you guys are taking Wii footage of your friends and family as well, let us know! We'd love to feature entertaining videos made by the members of our own community.
Japan not in love with Twilight Princess?
Since the release of the Wii in Japan, sales have been high on several games, such as Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Wii Play, and Wii Sports. But Twilight Princess has been less popular than many would have guessed. While it's not exactly tanked (Link's bringing home the yen, as ever), it has consistently lingered nearer the bottom of the top 20 charts. What's really surprising is that, when it comes to the Zelda franchise, it looks like this trend has been developing for years. Sales of Zelda titles continue to go down. Many factors could be at work here, and we're hesitant to say that it's the decline of the franchise. When The Legend of Zelda first hit, it was an unparalleled phenomenon, so much better than most other games of any type that it's no surprise that gamers gobbled it up. But in the twenty years that have passed, both games and gamers have diversified, and lower sales numbers could be a result of that rather than a lack of love for the Link. Regardless of the reason, the sales charts do make for interesting reading. Let the speculation begin! [Thanks, Andres!]
The good, the bad, and the OHGODWHEN
There's an interesting feature over at CVG detailing ten games to watch for on the Wii this year (similar to what we did for the DS). Now, as this is a list from the UK, they've included some games with which we American gamers have already been blessed, but the rest of the lineup is interesting indeed. Of course, they highlight Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (we so can't wait for that), but the lion's share of the list goes to the most obvious -- and long in coming -- games for the Wii, like Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy (and the less talked about, but also cool Disaster: Day of Crisis). Of course these are going to be great games, but on what shall we pin all our hopes and dreams between now and the oblivion of year's end? It hurts to see so many great games on this list when we know they have no firm release date. Reggie promised us that there'd be no drought, but things are looking a little dry from the vantage point of this list. Potentially awesome, yes, but a little dry all the same.
Upcoming release schedule for Europe
NoE put out a list of their upcoming games for the European market, and while it may not be quite as filled-to-bursting as the DS list there's certainly plenty to be excited about. Upcoming with a quickness is the exquisite Wario Ware and -- ooh! we're jealous -- colorful Kororinpa. Loads of titles undated as well. Check after the jump for the full list.
New HOT PXL trailer
With WTF come and gone, another game must fill its shoes. HOT PXL attempts to emulate Nintendo's successful Wario Ware formula by adding an Atari twist. With its expanded media profile, and skateboarding attitude, does this game have what it takes to stand out in an ever-growing crowd of genre clones? Well, watch the trailer and judge for yourself.
HOT PXL really takes advantage of the PSP
Wario Ware-styled games seem to be all the rage these days. We had a look at WTF a few days ago, and although HOT PXL also uses an all-capitalized abbreviated title, it has an interesting feature set that may help distinguish it from its competitor. Firstly, it has a 150 game off the bat, and is one of the few games that takes advantage of one of PSP's greatest features: downloadable levels. Atari plans on making at least fifty available to download. In addition, Atari is going to leverage the weight of its incredible catalog of games, and will bring out some quick retro remakes of their classic titles.Not only does HOT PXL feature an incredible breadth of game content, but it appears like it will feature tons of multimedia content as well. In addition to an original licensed soundtrack, the game will feature videos, and some kind of podcasting ability. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but it appears like this game will finally utilize all of PSP's unique capabilities. Unfortunately, the game won't be available until next February, so WTF may have to satiate you until then.Read - Gamespot's Hands-OnRead - AMN's Hands-On
WTF fun in English
WTF, the darker, more sinister Wario Ware-ripoff, is heading to the states in September. The original called Baito Hell was fairly Japanese (read: crazy), but how does the English translation of the game fare? According to Gamespot, pretty well. Their description of the game sounds a bit too much like my life: "From chopping wood to performing contract killings to trying to get a girl's phone number, WTF ostensibly has it all..."Check out Gamespot for some new videos from the American version of the game.
