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Dragon Quest, Super Mario, Boy and Girl in Itadaki Street DS
Itadaki Street DS apparently didn't have enough characters to choose from-- the entire Mario and Dragon Quest casts are just too limiting, you know? Besides, nobody can relate to wacky characters like a plumber and a plumber's brother, who is also a plumber. Square Enix has nicely included some characters who will do less to draw players' attention away from the serious business of strategic board game play: "Boy" and "Girl." They look just like we would if we were three feet tall and didn't have noses!We've got some screens of Boy and Girl, and of Itadaki Street in general, after the break. And check the link for character art and a few board layouts.
Blowing on the DS sucks (or: the huff-and-puff games)
MTV News' Stephen Totilo has discovered the first video game innovation he's ever hated: "blow control" on the Nintendo DS. When he was commanded to literally exhale air at the system's built-in microphone in WarioWare: Master of Disguise, Totilo decided, "I don't see the point. What I see is embarrassment at having to hyperventilate over my DS while riding the subway." That seems like the point to us.Press the Buttons' Matthew Green agrees with Totilo, and calls Diddy Kong Racing DS the worst offender of the "huff-and-puff" games. "I did so much huffing and puffing to try and beat the clock that I made myself dizzy and had to go lie down for a while." From DS hyperventilation to Wii elbow, Nintendo really loves making gamers get in touch with their doughy, neglected bodies. Wii Yoga, anyone?
WRUP: Master of Disguise edition
No, not that Master of Disguise, we're talking about Wario: Master of Disguise. That's right, we plan on playing that all weekend. What will you be playing this weekend? Will you be playing Wario: Master of Disguise, as well, or perhaps you had your eye on another release this week, perhaps Rayman: Raving Rabbids? So, what will it be?Previous posts: What were you playing?
Metareview: Wario: Master of Disguise
The reviews are coming in and they're all over the place for Wario: Master of Disguise. We've grown to expect innovation and even brilliance from Mario's unruly counterpart, but the thing about innovation is that it's a risk ... and often, opinions can vary, as we see below.GameSpot: 61% - "...the game's real problem is that it stops being interesting after about an hour. Cutting down a chandelier with a laser is cool the first couple of times you do it but not the 100th time. By the third or fourth episode, you've interacted with the same objects and experienced the same set of eight minigames so frequently that the process of switching costumes and using the stylus becomes rote."
DS releases for the week of March 5th
Here in the U.S., the best system ever DS might not have had much going on last week, but this week's release of Wario: Master of Disguise is likely to make up for all that and more. Everyone's favorite anti-Mario is one of the most anticipated games this year -- and so we can already guess what you'll be playing this weekend!DS releases in the U.S.: Rayman Raving Rabbids Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing Wario: Master of Disguise For the rest of the world's releases this week, check out the lists after the jump. It's a particularly good week for (almost) everyone! For those of you in Australia ... well, next week looks huge for you, so bide awhile.
WRUP: everybody votes that the Everybody Votes channel sucks edition
If we aren't critical, who will be? Seriously, many have voiced their opinion at the lack of substance from Nintendo involving the Everybody Votes Channel. Sure, it has promise, but everything has promise. Instead, something that could be used, by Nintendo, to keep their finger on the pulse of the community is instead something very different.Regardless, it's the weekend (TGIF!)! With that comes: sleeping in playing games What else is there? For us, there isn't anything else, so we ask again: what are you playing? Will you, like us, go back through Twilight Princess and finish those side quests you missed (we finally beat the game!), or will you enjoy some minigame goodness with WarioWare: Smooth Moves? Let us know!Previous posts: What were you playing?
Yet another 'games to watch' list
We can only guess that it wasn't enough for the DS to steamroll everything and everyone in 2006. Nintendo wants to own 2007, as well. Not that we're complaining; after all, we are total slaves to our beloved handheld. But it just seems altogether crazy that there could be so many lists predicting great games in the coming year, and that the lists could vary so much. No matter your pleasure, 2007 is bound to be packed with more DS games than you can possibly afford. And in celebration of our future indecision, IGN has offered a list celebrating ten of the best coming games for the year. We've included the full IGN list after the jump, and we'd love to hear how it compares to some of the other lists you've seen since the end of last year, because there's been a ton. We've even dipped a toe into the list-making process ourselves.
A double dose of Wario trailers
In the pair of embedded videos, available past the post break, we're shown two different gameplay segments of the upcoming Wario: Master of Disguise. The first video is a drawing minigame, much like the ones that have been featured in Wario's series of WarioWare games, demanding the player color in the segments before the bomb's fuse finishes burning. The second video shows a matching minigame where the player must match objects with their corresponding containers. Items include gold, diamond and ... poo.
Yet another Wario: Master of Disguise commercial
Not completely unlike the first commercial, this latest one is brisk and shows some of the abilities available to Wario in his many disguises. The video even shows Wario taking on one of the game's bosses, so if you do not want that ruined for you, avoiding this video is an option.We've embedded the video past the post break.
Japanese release day highlights: 01.18.07
Korea gets the DS Lite today, while Japan just gets a couple of excellent new DS games. Where's the justice in that? We've already been lured by Wario the Seven's new Japanese TV ads and, of course, by its utterly stupid name. Now it's time to burn our Yen in the name of big moustaches. We'll also be lighting our notes for these newcomers/latecomers: Gears of War (we heard something about this game being "popular" in America; Xbox 360) Excite Truck (better late than never; Wii) Sekaiju no Meikyuu (Atlus' woody good RPG; DS) Shining Force Ikusa (no need to take turns; PS2)
Wario shows off his mastery of disguise
The official site for the upcoming Wario: Master of Disguise has been updated with a shiny new video you won't want to miss. It does take a while to load, so head outside, wash your car or take a quick trip across the country, and when you return, it should be loaded. Probably.It's worth watching anyway! But you'll have to head to the site to see it.
Wii releases for the week of January 15th
It's been too long since we've been able to post about games releasing for the Wii, but finally we have reached the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel. There's only one game releasing this week, however it has been one of our most desired titles: WarioWare: Smooth Moves Who else is going to storm their local retail store to pick this up with us?
Wario: Master of Disguise screenshots magically appear
By way of Jeux-France, we've got some new images of Wario: Master of Disguise to present. These new shots, obviously, give you a look at all of Wario's kickass costumes, which give him a whole bunch of different abilities. We found out, while watching the recent Japanese commercial for the game, that one needs to use the stylus to transform Wario into his different forms. We've stolen included all of the screens into the post, past the post break. Screenshot get!
Mastering disguise in new Wario DS
Siliconera has posted a series of diagrams detailing the stylus inputs that will make up the core gameplay of Wario: Master of Disguise. The game launches in Japan next week (as Kaitou Wario the Seven) and sees Wario returning to his platform roots with some added DS gimmickry. Players will draw symbols on the touch screen to change Wario into his seven disguises, including a graffiti artist, dinosaur, and doctor.Aside from the d-pad, Master of Disguise will be entirely stylus-controlled. The US release is scheduled for early March.
New TV commercial for Wario: Master of Disguise
A new commercial for Wario: Master of Disguise (previously known as Wario: The Thief) has hit You Tube, giving us all a glimpse, although it is short, into the new game. The video also reveals the 7 new disguises available to Wario, as well as how we'll be switching outfits. Hint: it's with the stylus.As always, the video is available past the post break.
2007: the year of the DS (again)
2006 was a banner year for gamers, particularly DS gamers. We've got it all: a rainbow of system colors, an incredible library of games, and powerful studios clamoring for a piece of the action. Our favorite handheld consistently rocked out, thundering over the competition -- all the competition -- for the entire year. The DS avalanche of awesome can't possibly continue at this rate ... and yet, when we look at the forthcoming year and the incredible parade of titles set for the year, it seems that the DS will, in fact, continue to dominate global gaming. And we're totally okay with that. Just so you know. If you're still scrambling to finish some of the titles from the latter half of 2006, play harder -- no matter who you are or what you like, you're sure to find at least ten games this year that are must-haves, and that's just among the games we know about right now. What's worse (or is that way, way better?) is that most of them are slated for the next few months. So run through Portrait of Ruin and put aside the hard rockin' Elite Beat Agents (your fingers will thank you for the break), and check after the jump for a few of the games that will drain your free time in 2007.
Wario The Thief magazine scan
A scan for Wario The Thief has shown up over at French gaming site Jeux-France. The scan, which originates from Famitsu, popular Japanese gaming mag, and shows some of Wario's new costumes for the game. Featuring what is being called as Space Wario, Graffitti Wario and Doctor Wario, each costume gives Wario special abilities.Obviously, each of these special abilities will be necessary to pass the game's many obstacles. Currently set for release in January of the next year in Japan, nothing has been said in regards to a release in other territories.See also: Wario gets his theft on Wario The Thief Wi-Fi compatible?
Wario gets his theft on
French gaming site Jeux-France has posted a video of Wario The Thief in action. During the video, you can see Wario run through all of his new moves, including touch-screen functionality, as well as his attempts at cracking open a treasure chest. The video is a little unstable (see: shaking), however it should be noted that its contents are worth the slight chances of nausea.See also: Wario the Thief WiFi compatible? [Via Go Nintendo]
Wario Ware Twisted finally goes to Europe
Yes, that's right ... the GBA's Wario Ware Twisted, relesed in 2004 in Japan and 2005 in the US, is finally making its way (officially) to Europe. Is there anyone who wants this two year old game yet that hasn't already imported it? And likely for less than the price it's sure to have when it streets. The real story on the game's rather delayed EU release is somewhat mysterious. Everyone seems to have a different reason for the delay -- manufacturing issues, lack of interest in the European market, legal restrictions. Can you add to the pile of conspiracy theories? Tell us what you've heard.Wario Ware Twisted is set to finally hit Europe in December.
Smooth Moves through smooth video
OK, we enjoy the quick, pick-up-and-play style that the WarioWare games have presented in the past, but Smooth Moves might be taking things a little too far in terms of content. We've watched this video several times and are certain that a minigame does, in fact, ask you to spray down naked men with champagne.Yes, you read that right.While it isn't gratuitous and we assume the video is safe for work overall, just a word of warning to some of you who are incredibly scared at the prospect of shaking a bottle of champagne and letting it loose upon unsuspecting, naked men.
