Nintendo Gamer Thoughts

Video Game Music of the Week: Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force

2012-02-18T08:25:00.000-08:00

Back in my younger days I used to play Club Penguin. I don't anymore but sometimes I pop in the DS game for some nostalgia. Here is the main menu theme:

Blog on Vacation from February 19-26

2012-02-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

Just letting you folks know I'm taking a break from blogging from February 19th to the 26th. I'll be back the 27th. In the meantime be sure to vote on the poll have a nice week.

Funniest Nintendo Gamer Thoughts Spam Vol. 1

2012-02-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

As this site as continued to grow so has the amount of spam it has received. The funny thing about spam is that it tends to be nonseneical. So I thought "this would be an easy blog post, all I have to do is copy and paste and maybe add a stupid picture of a guy in a SPAM can. So far my favorite is this:

"I watch the trailer of Mario and Sonic Olympics 3DS Game. According to me this game will be rock."

Leave a comment and tell me if you would like to see more posts like this.

The Greatest Nintendo Franchise Poll

2012-02-16T05:03:00.000-08:00

Will he win? Maybe...

There is a new poll on this site that will determine the fate of the world. OK it won't but it is pretty fun. Starting now you can vote on your Favorite Nintendo Franchise. Be sure to vote and have all your friends vote and everyone else. You can also e-mail me at zdkapl@gmail.com to state your case for what is the greatest franchise and I'll feature it on the site. Voting ends on March 18th (my birthday) and the winner will be announced.

Top 5 Wii Series Games That Should be Made

2012-02-15T05:18:00.000-08:00

Though the Wii is coming to an end with the pending launch of Wii U I still think there is room to release one more game in their Wii Series. In case you don't know the Wii Series consists of games like Wii Sports, Wii Music, and Wii Party. Here are 5 Wii Series games that should be made after the break.

5. Wii Race:
You are a world renowned racer who has come to Wuhu Island for the biggest racing competition in the world. Chaos ensues.

4. Wii Universe:
Explore space as your Mii. Its like a single player MMO, think Old Republic in terms of scope of the game.

3. Wii Game:

In this game you would play as your own Mii running a fictional video game company. You would have the chance to create games as well as sell them. Promoting games will be tough because you will have to speak in front of crowds at Mii3 expos and make crucial interviews with top game journalists.

2. Wii Island:
Sims meets GTA but with Mii characters. It would be a virtual life game like the sims but you would directly control your character in a 3rd person view in an open world like GTA. The game would take place on Wuhu Island as you decide what your Mii should do with his or her life. Want to be a chef? Sure. Want to be a pilot? Sure, anything you want, there would be many vehicles to control and many side activities.

1. Wii RPG:

A grand RPG were you control your Mii and fight dragons, take on sidequests and save the world. It would be a mix of games like Dragon Quest IX and Skyrim.

Somthing like this but on the Wii

What kind of Wii game would you want to be made?

Mario Tennis 3DS May Have a Title and Release Date

2012-02-14T04:43:00.000-08:00

According to a GameFly listing Mario Tennis on the 3DS may be called Mario Tennis Open and have a release date of May 20th of this year. This news comes from Nintendo World World Report which you can find here. So could Mario Tennis be coming out so soon? I hope so. 2012 is turning out to be a great year for Mario fans with Mario Tennis, Paper Mario, Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics, and for fan's of Mario's brother; Luigi's Mansion 2. Be sure to stay on the look out for future posts regarding all these great Mario games and more. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Disney and Nintendo: Seperated at Birth

2012-02-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

Disney and Nintendo share a lot in common. Each have characters known around the world. Both have music that will stick in your head. They also are very protective of their copyrights. How can one Japanese company and one American company be so similar? I have some thoughts on that matter to share with you after the break.
Walt Disney and Shigeru Miyamoto both have something in common; their creativity. Both have created worlds that people live their lives by, and fan bases which stretch beyond your wildest imagination. Don't believe me? WDWradio.com has a massive following with thousands of users chatting about Disney. Gonintendo.com is the same way. Why are they so similar, what draws people to love both these companies? Well, it is because of the worlds Walt and Shigeru created. Disney has a talking mouse with theme parks were you go inside these worlds. Nintendo gives you the chance to interact with their worlds. Only Disney lets you explore a world full of pirates and thieves, while safely in your own boat. Nintendo lets you run across Hyrule field, searching for secrets and on a quest to rescue a princess.

One of Nintendo's many worlds.

The creativity from Disney and Nintendo allows us to be creative, to think, feel, laugh and cry. I may be biased to the topic I am discussing but I just don't care. Good chance if you are reading this one of these worlds have effected your life. Both have effected mine. I am both an uber Nintendo and Disney geek. Maybe the reason I feel like these companies are related is because I feel related to them. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Video Game Music of the Week: Nintendo Video

2012-02-11T08:09:00.000-08:00

The catchy song from the 3DS app:

Nintendo Gamer Thoughts Stats

2012-02-10T04:42:00.000-08:00

Nintendo Gamer Thoughts view count has been growing at a faster rate recently and I thought some people may be interested in my sites stats. You can see them after the break.
This blog's first month December reached a decent viewership of 1,311 views. January had more then double at 2,801 views. At the time of me writing this (February 9th) Nintendo Gamer Thoughts has had 923 views. My top 5 most popular posts are:

1. My Freakyforms Creation: Sulley (871 views)
2.Winnie the Pooh Mii (862 views)
3. Pushmo Review (253 views)
4. Mickey Mouse Mii (199 views)
5. Ten Great Upcoming 3DS Games of 2012 (188 views)

Many people from many different countries visit the site. Here are some of them.

United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Germany
France
Australia
Mexico
Italy
Spain
Netherlands
Sweden
Serbia
Denmark
Portugal

Also:
Most Commented Post: Super Mario 3D Land Review 7 comments
Most Used Web Browser: Chrome 35%

Tell me what you think of this post. Was it stupid, interesting, or just derp? Leave a comment and let me know!

NES Open Tournament Golf Review

2012-02-09T04:37:00.000-08:00

This is a short review, not a lot to say about golf. If you ask me personally I think golf is boring. If you ask Mario he'll be to busy to respond since he is driving a go-kart while preparing for the Olympics. NES Open Tournament Golf does what you expect it to do. Be a good golf game on the NES. Though not in the name you play as Mario and compete in golfing tournaments. The game has aged quite nicely. The graphics are colorful and look really good for a game on an 8-bit system. This game also plays surprisingly well. Gameplay feels fluid and putting is performed well with a tap of a button.

There are various modes that will keep you playing along with prizes/money to earn. Even a game as old as this one still has the Nintendo polish we have all come to expect Altogether this is a good golf game.

My Score: 7/10

I Love the Circle Pad Pro

2012-02-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Recently, as in yesterday, I picked up a copy of Resident Evil Revelations along with the Circle Pad Pro. At first I was not sure if I needed it but after using it I'm in love with it. The Circle Pad Pro offers a level of comfort that could not be achieved if the second circle pad and extra buttons were included with the 3DS in the first place. I'm not sure if this was Nintendo's plan but I like this more then having it including because of its great grip and the shear fact that you can take off the bulky add-on when you are not using it. You can read my thoughts about a 3DS redesign by clicking here but right now I highly recommend you pick up a Circle Pad Pro if you plan on getting any games compatible with it.

Sonic the Hedgehog Plush

2012-02-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

I picked up somthing awesome and blue at Barnes and Noble and it was this cool Sonic the Hedgehog plush:

Fluidity Review

2012-02-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

Fluidity is a high quality WiiWare game about water. Want to find out more? Read after the break.
Fluidity does what some of the best Wii games still can't do, show why motion controls work. In Fluidity you control water and solve platform puzzles to destroy the Influence, an evil power. To do this you must collect rainbow drops. The game is controlled by tilting the Wii Remote and most of the time it s responsive. The screen tilts in the direction of the Wii Remote in order to let the water flow threw obstacles.The Game is split up into 4 chapters with multiple rainbow drops to pick up in each one. At first you only play as water but later on in the game you unlock two other forms.

Depending on which way you tilt the Wii Remote, the screen tilts with it.

A block of ice and a cloud. Each form has its own unique abilities which allow you to collect more rainbow drops and destroy the Influence. Fluidity has a high level of polish we have all come to expect from Nintendo games and its graphics resemble reading a story book. For only 1200 points this game is a must have.

My Score: 9/10

Video Game Music of the Week: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: The Kikwi

2012-02-04T08:42:00.000-08:00

The the most awesome species from Zelda have a pretty cool song:

50 Possible Name Replacements for Wii U

2012-02-03T04:35:00.000-08:00

In case you don't know, there are rumors afloat that the name Wii U is going to be changed in order to make consumers see that it is a whole new system and not just a new version of the Wii. So I made up 50 name replacements for Wii U after the break:

Wuu
Yuu
Mario Fun Box
Touch Screen Bring Much Happiness System
Nintendo Entertainment Wii
Wii Boy
Wii Girl
Wii Person
Link 3000
Kirby in a Box
Tom Nook's DLC Device
Samus System
Miyamoto Fun Time
Nintendo Makes Bank
$$$:)$$$
Mario Likes Feeling U
The Great Deku System
Wii 64
Wii 128
WiiCube
WiiTouchU
UTouchMii
Wii Joy
Wii Hope
Wii Sad
Mii Mad
MakeMiiaSandwich
Zelda+Link Stream Netflix
WiiCDi
Wii XL
Wii Advance
Wii Advance Sp
Wii Color
Power Wii
Mii and U=Wii
Reggie Hugs
My Body is U
8.5 Out of 10 U
Wii Moo
Wii Lou
Wii Shoe
Wii Boo
Pengiiun
Wii U Sports (Cuz' Whats the Only Game Casual Gamers Will Get)
Iwata Bang His Head if This Sells Bad
Bag O' Wii
Wii U (Kirby) Sucks
Nintendo Has Given Up on Names so They are Naming it This Sentence.
UWii
Wii 64 DD

Burger Time Deluxe Review

2012-02-02T04:34:00.000-08:00

Do you like burgers? I like burgers. I once had a friend who was vegan, he did not like burgers. No matter what you like or dislike when it comes to eating you will probably like this game. Burger Time Deluxe is a fun arcade game now on the Game Boy which involves you playing as a chef, making burgers, and destroying giant hot dogs and eggs. The story is this, you play as a Chef Peter Pepper who is trying to avoid enemies being sent by a rival restaurant owner. The gameplay consists of you running over pieces of a hamburger. The goal is to have those pieces drop to the ground and form a hamburger. This means you are going to be running on items like burgers, buns, and cheese. What makes the game challenging is the multiple food based enemies trying to get in your way. Mr. Hot Dog, Mr. Egg, and all the other food based enemies don't let up easy. To destroy them you need to have a piece of the burger smash them. More will come through doors though. You can also stun enemies using spice in order to get buy them. You only have a limited amount so use it wisely. All in all Burger Time Deluxe is a fun game that is worth your eShop dollars.

My Score: 7/10

E3 1999: Episode I Racer

2012-02-01T05:16:00.000-08:00

The Phantom Menace 3D comes out really soon, or if your are reading this in the future a while ago.This comes from E3 1999:

Freakyforms: Your Creations Alive Review

2012-01-31T04:40:00.000-08:00

Freakyforms: Your Creations Alive is one of the best 3DS games you've never played. Though everyone and their brother has been singing the praises of Pushmo, which is a fine game, they have neglected Freakyforms. Freakyforms is one of the best eShop games. Want to find out why? Read after the break.
First thing you should know is that this is a weird game. The people who developed this also developed Chibi-Robo! In Freakyforms you create your own Formees and explore your own ever expanding planet. The creation procces works quite well. It is simple but it still allows for some really detailed formees. I made a Mickey Mouse formee which you can check out by clicking here. After you are done creating a formee you get to choose a voice and give it a name, then you explore your planet. I named my planet Epcot, in case you don't know I'm an uber Disney nerd on par with my Nintendo fandom. So on Epcot Mickey walked around and ate food. The formees walk really funny so expect a few laughs your first time. After eating a certain amount of food he laid an egg. These eggs are cracked at the end of your time on the planet, you only get a certain amount of time, and you receive coins and other special prizes. As you continue to make more formees your planet will grow. As I am writing this my planet currently has a city, meadow, ocean, and cloudland.

In Freakyforms you have an ever-expanding planet to explore.

By exploring your planet and taking up quests you can unlock new items like scenery. What makes this game so fun is the level of customization. I wanted my Meadow to be in season so I added snowmen, replaced the clouds with snowflakes, and changed the grass into snow. This game may seem simple at first but it becomes a rather deep experience. The game also features creation challenges and the ability to take pictures with AR cards. If you are only going to download one game for your 3DS download this game. At only $6.99 it is a great value too.

My Score: 9/10

Video Game Music of the Week: The Simpsons Road Rage

2012-01-28T07:28:00.000-08:00

This comes from the GBA version:

Kid Icarus (Original) Commercial

2012-01-27T06:40:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to take a look back at how the original Kid Icarus was advertised in Japan:

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron Review

2012-01-26T07:11:00.000-08:00

Battlefront on the DS? Who would have seen that coming. Even more surprising, it is really good. Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron on the DS is a fun Star Wars top down shooter that manages to bring the fun of Battlefront into the palm of your hand. Want to find out more? Read after the break.

With Phantom Menace 3D coming out I thought it would be fitting to discuss Star Wars games! First off is Elite Squadron on the DS. While not as fully featured as the PSP version, this game still has Instant Action which will add hours on to your play time.

Top down view is an interesting take on Battlefront.

The campaign features an interesting story about two clone brothers. The story starts around the Clone Wars era and ends post Return of the Jedi. Some may find the story entertaining while others may think it kinda lame. It really depends on your own opinion. Elite Squadron plays really well. Blasting away battle droids has never been more fun and the top down perspective makes it a unique take on Battlefront gameplay.

Not much to it but it is nice looking.

Space combat is pretty looking but not to deep. You mostly move left or right not up or down. The graphics blow me away with how much they look like there counter parts in the Star Wars universe. Altogether this is a must own for any Star Wars fan who owns a DS.

My Score: 7/10

The Future of Nintendo Gamer Thoughts

2012-01-25T04:42:00.000-08:00

So Nintendo Gamer Thoughts has been live for two months. Originally I posted at my other blog The Four Parks so I have been blogging constantly for at least 6 months. In December I got 1,311 views and so far this January I have received 2,043 views. I'm not sure if these numbers are really good enough to continue blogging but I don't plan on stopping at the moment. Right now in the pipeline I have 5 reviews written and ready to be posted. I wanted to find out what the readers think. Should I continue blogging and if so what could be done to improve the site? Two more things: 1.did any of you notice I changed the Mii on the banner? 2. With Resident Evil, Metal Gear, and Mario and Sonic coming to the 3DS this February which would you like to see added to the banner for their release? Thanks for reading!

Want to Work for Nintendo in 1991?

2012-01-24T04:32:00.000-08:00

One of the great things about the internet is the ability to find great old videos. With a search on YouTube of "nintendo training video" I found this:

James Noir's Hollywood Crimes Review

2012-01-23T04:25:00.000-08:00

James Noir's Hollywood Crimes is a solid game. Not bad, not great, just solid. You can read my thoughts on the game after the break.

The game takes place in 60s Hollywood and is very similar to the Professor Layton games. In Hollywood Crimes you play as yourself solving puzzles to figure out a series of murders. In the game you become a contestant on the TV show The Incredible Puzzle Masters. All the people being murdered where champions on that show. Now lets get on to how it looks.Visually this game is okay. Some times environments look good but sometimes they look like cardboard cut-outs. Now the characters are what creeps me out. They are animated really weird in this real person animated look. This game reminds me a lot of those old Sega CD and 3DO games where the FMV (full motion video) was special.

In motion it is funny looking.

I do have to give them credit for sticking to the 60s theme with everything looking like something out of that time period. This game is viewed in a first person perspective and they do a good job immersing you into the game world with events like your character looking in a mirror and seeing the image of yourself. Now,the gameplay. Like Professor Layton this is a puzzle game. There are many puzzles to solve and all can take time. There is not much else to say. Altogether this is a solid game.

My Score: 6.5/10

Video Game Music of the Week: Resident Evil 4

2012-01-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

This week is the music that plays while you save your game in Resident Evil 4:

Mario and Sonic Have a New Trailer for their Olympics 3DS Game

2012-01-20T13:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a new trailer of the long named Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games on the 3DS. I plan on reviewing the game when it comes out.

5 Nintendo Related Star Wars things to do While Waiting for Episode I 3D

2012-01-20T04:29:00.000-08:00

Can not wait!

In case you don't know I am a die hard Star Wars fan. I love Star Wars as much as I love Nintendo. Read after the break to find out more.
I love the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy, the Clone Wars, the books, the comic books, video games, and everything else related to Star Wars. I am very sad about Lucas's retirement, but I am still beyond excited for The Phantom Menace in 3D. To make the wait easier I have been reading Star Wars books and comic books nonstop. As you definitely know I'm a huge Nintendo fan. You may even know I write about it on a blog. I was thinking "What are some Nintendo related Star Wars things to do to make the wait go by faster?" I decided to share my ideas with you. I'm usually not a big fan of top 5 kind of lists but this is the best format for this post.

1. Read a Star Wars post on Nintendo Gamer Thoughts: I am working on some Star Wars related articles to post on the site that I think you will enjoy. A great way to pass the time is read about Star Wars games right here at Nintendo Gamer Thoughts

2. Play a Star Wars 3DS/DS game. There are many Star Wars games to choose from on the DS and one high quality one on the 3DS. Whether you want to play The Force Unleashed or Battlefront or have some Lego Star Wars fun your DS or 3DS has you covered. You can choose from these games:

DS:

Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Lethal Alliance
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

3DS:

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

3. Play a Star Wars Wii game: Just like the DS and 3DS there are a lot of good choices of Star Wars games to play on the Wii. You can choose one of them here:

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

4. Play a Retro Star Wars Game: Over the years there have been many Star Wars games on Nintendo systems and here are some of the best to choose from:

Super Star Wars SNES
Super Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back SNES
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi SNES
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire N64
Star Wars: Episode I Racer N64
Star Wars: Rouge Squadron N64
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter GCN
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (video game) GCN
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast GCN
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader GCN
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike GCN
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game GCN

5. Fan-Art: With a quick search you will be able to find many great Nintendo Star Wars mash-ups. Looking at the good ones, and the bad ones, will keep you entertained.

So are you excited for The Phantom Menace 3D? Are you a Star Wars fan? Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

VVVVVV Review

2012-01-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

VVVVVV is an indie game originally released on Windows/MAC/Linux enabled devices. Now it is available to all 3DS owners on the eShop. You can find out my thoughts on the game after the break.
VVVVVV, which I will just be calling V for time's sake, is a good game plain and simple. It might not be for everyone though. The game is hard. Very hard. game. V is a 2D platformer where you explore a space station of some sort after something goes terribly wrong on the Captain's ship. The game has such a strange title because there are 6 characters in the game and all have a name beginning with the letter V. As the Captain you must save your five other crew members through difficult platforming challenges. Like I said earlier this game is difficult. This is a hard game, a very hard game. Not only will you die a lot but you will say to yourself "Well how the hell am I supposed to do that?" You can take a quick look at this video to see some of the challenges you will face

There is a lot of trial and error but thankfully checkpoints are abundant. It also is never unfair. Because of the many checkpoints you will find yourself constantly trying again because you know that you might just get it this time. The visuals in this game hearken back to the days of the Commodore 64 along with even having a very similar loading screen. There are some really weird visual items in this game like the strobe light elephant (it blinks a lot) and many floating words that kill you with just one touch.

Yes, I was not kidding about the elephant.

The music is good, with an awesome retro vibe you will find yourself constantly turning up the 3DS in order to hear it better. There is a lot of value to this game with many bonus levels included. At only $7.99 it is a great value. Buy this game!

My Score: 9/10

Protesting SOPA

2012-01-18T04:28:00.001-08:00

There will be no posts today and the header has been censored to protest SOPA. Contact your local Representative and protest with us.

Kirby and his Friend Finger

2012-01-17T06:31:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else remember this creepy commercial?

Video Game Music of the Week: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: Groose's Theme

2012-01-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

I have fallen in love with the soundtrack to Skyward Sword and Groose's theme is no exception:

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins Review

2012-01-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins on the eShop Virtual Console, and originally Game Boy, is a good game. You can read my thoughts after the break.
The thing is though it is only just good. This title does not exactly reinvent the wheel but what it does do is offer a great Mario experience on the Game Boy. First off the visuals. The graphics in this one are night and day when compared to the original Super Mario Land.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Super Mario Land

In this one Mario is a much more detailed sprite which travels around a much more detailed environments in a deeper platforming experience. The graphics in the original Super Mario Land are quite primative espically when compared to this. The enemies you encounter have just as many detail as Mario. You can tell that when this game was made they put a lot of work into making it look nice. Sadly there are no exploding Koopa Troopas like last time. The gameplay is like most Mario games and is clearly well thought out. The platforming feels silky smooth and provides standard Mario fun. The music is good but in my opinion nothing is as memorable as the original Super Mario Land theme. There are different power-ups in this game, the best one being the carrot that turns Mario into Rabbit Mario. He receives the ability to flutter with his ears somewhat similar to the Tanooki suit. Rabbit Mario can actually change the game up. Some levels you can use it to soar above enemies but if you are not paying attention you might hit an enemy when you fall to the ground. Other levels have spikes on the ceiling so you have to be careful when timing your jump off of a platform. Altogether this is a solid Mario game that is worthy of any 3DS owner's Virtual Console collection.

My Score: 7/10

I'm Back

2012-01-13T13:13:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone I'm back. I'm feeling better and not in the hospital anymore. Expect posts soon but it may take a little bit.

Blog Posts Delayed Until Further Notice

2012-01-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hey guys I'm very very sick right now. I'm not going to be able to post for at least a week if not longer. I would just like to say I'm sorry.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins Commercial

2012-01-04T04:34:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be releasing a review soon, but to hold you off, here is a commercial of the game.

Catrap Review

2012-01-03T04:29:00.000-08:00

Interested in a fun and cheap Virtual Console game on the 3DS? Read on to find out about one.
Catrap on the 3DS is what the Virtual Console should be, inexpensive hidden gems. Catrap, pronounced cat-trap, is a puzzle game where you play as either a brother or sister "cat person" and solve puzzles by defeating monsters. The trick is that you rewind time to fix your mistakes. For example, you can not jump in this game so if you fall into a pit you just rewind time and end up where you started. This game mechanic was used recently in Pushmo. With 100 puzzles you won't be done in a few minutes. They start off easy but pretty soon you may just be screaming in anger at your 3DS. Finishing puzzles is rewarding and the game manages to stay fresh through it all. What really seals the deal is the price. For only $2.99 this is a must buy. Download your copy today.

My Score: 8/10

Ten Great Upcoming 3DS Games of 2012

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

2012 has just started and now is as good of a time as ever to take a look at 10 of the best upcoming 3DS games this year. Well, probably this year, you can never tell if they'll be delayed You can read about them after the break:

1.Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games:
Though the Wii version may be out I am holding out for the 3DS version. With 50 mini-games this is looking to be a good value.

2. Rayman Origins:

Rayman Origins is bringing all of its platforming fun to the 3DS. It will be coming out in Q1 of 2012

3. Crush 3D:

A remake of a well reviewed PSP game.

4. Kid Icarus: Uprising:

Pit has been mostly unsused for a long time but now he is back in an all new adventure only on the 3DS

5. Resident Evil: Revelations:

Coming this February is the first game to use the Circle Pad Pro, Resident Evil Revelations. This game features some of, if not the best graphics on the system.

6. Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D:

Awesome Metal Gear stealth action is coming to the 3DS this year in a 3D remake of Metal Gear Solid 3. Like Resident Evil this game will also be compatible with the Circle Pad Pro.

7. Luigi's Mansion 2:

The sequel to the GameCube launch title. This game will be Luigi's time to shine.

8. Animal Crossing:

The newest entry in the Animal Crossing series will feature swimming and pants. Exciting. Plan on seeing a review of this game

9. Paper Mario:

The newest entry in the Paper Mario series only on the 3DS.

10. Lego City Stories:

A new open world Lego game only for the 3DS and Wii U. Not much is known about this game.

So those were 10 games I'm looking forward to. Leave a comment and tell me what games you want this year, 3DS or otherwise

A New Year for Nintendo Gamer Thoughts and 2011 Game of the Year

2012-01-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to Nintendo Gamer Thoughts after my extended vacation. Expected posts daily except for Sundays. And the game of the year goes to...
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword feels like an almost perfect game in every way. The beautiful graphics, fantastic music, and near perfect gameplay make this a game not to miss. You can read my full review here.

Blog on Vacation

2011-12-21T07:55:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let the readers of this blog know I'm taking a break from this site for the holidays and will be back January 1st. Look out for the first post for 2012 then.

Why the Circle Pad Pro does Not Mean Automatic 3DS Redesign

2011-12-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

Don't cry, no one says you have to buy me.

Ever since the announcement of the Circle Pad Pro, some gamers have been freaking out, shouting in the digital streets that the "3DS redesign is near, repent your sins!" (maybe not the second part) and I would have to disagree.You can read more after the break:
Before I get started it is worth noting why this is not trolling or link baiting. This is my honest opinion. I write a Nintendo blog so the only company I would ever complain about is Nintendo. I am not tying to incite rage but point out why I may be right or otherwise why you may be wrong. Now back to the editorial: First off, in North America it is a GameStop exclusive. That means if they started making games that require having it GameStop would profit while all the retailers would get pretty angry at Nintendo. Also the Circle Pad Pro is somewhat thick. Releasing a redesign with it built in would make the 3DS bulky, something people accustomed to mobile games would complain about until no end. Now you are probably thinking "how would it still be bulky if it was not an add-on?" Well I''ll answer that question: because of the shoulder buttons it adds on. Not only does it add the circle pad but it adds more buttons. You can remove the bulk this will make at any time by removing the Circle Pad Pro from the 3DS. The original DS did not have the option to take off the ugliness. This device does not mean a redesign within the next few months because it is unnecessary. No games require it and no Nintendo 1st party games use it. You can't play Skyward Sword on the Wii without Wii MotionPlus so they added that built into a new controller. No 3DS games require it. Games like Metal Gear and Resident Evil can be played on the 3DS without the add-on. If there only had to be one reason why the Circle Pad Pro does not equal a fast redesign is because it would be against the people who already bought a 3DS. Nintendo already made up for the price drop with twenty free games, I don't think they want another situation like that again. You may agree or disagree with me but leave a comment. I'll be purchasing the Circle Pad Pro knowing that a new 3DS will not be announced the next week.

Thoughts on Snowpack Park

2011-12-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

Snowpack Park on WiiWare is a fun and creative game were your main goal is to find penguins and make them happy. This is not going to be a review but just some thoughts about it. This game is weird and it should be since it is made by the makers of Captain Rainbow. Playing as your Mii you must go on a quest to find and take care of many adorable penguins. Why do you find these penguins? Because you can! I have always been a fan of Nintendo downloadable games and this one is no different. It also does not hurt that I love penguins. The game is mostly split up into two parts. The first part is finding penguins. You have to be careful not to scare them and you can avoid that by walking instead of running to them and giving them fish to eat. The second part of the game is playing mini-games. One example is a a mini-game where you socre points by throwing penguins through a basketball hoop. Don't tell Peta, if you think they got mad about Tanooki Mario, well they would not be to happy about this. Snowpack Park is available for 800 points on the Wii Shop Channel today.

My Freakyforms Creation: Sulley

2011-12-19T04:29:00.000-08:00

So I have still been enjoying the 3DS eShop game Freakyforms and I decided to share with you another one of my creations. This time I made the character Sulley from Monster's Inc.. I think it came out decent, you can compare the two images and leave a comment to tell me what you think.

Video Game Music of the Week: Wii Sports Resort

2011-12-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

I'm actually a really big fan of this game unlike some people. Nintendo does a good job of making a casaul game a good one. Here is the theme:

GBA Games Out Now in North America

2011-12-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

Just letting all my readers know that you can now dowload you free GBA games if you live in North America. You can read about it by clicking here.

Free Club Nintendo Games Also Give You Coins

2011-12-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

So I checked my Club Nintendo account today and found that you also get points for your free Club Nintendo games. Or at least the 3DS ones. I downloaded Xevious.

The Greatest Video Game Commercial of All Time

2011-12-15T04:24:00.000-08:00

The commercial speaks for its self:

Full Ambasaor Game List Revealed for Japan and the UK/ Coming this Friday

2011-12-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

Here is the list:

F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island
Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Metroid Fusion
Wario Land 4
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames

I'll be sure to update it when they are announced for North America.

3DS/DS Game Collection

2011-12-14T07:01:00.000-08:00

I decided to take a few pictures with my 3DS of my 3DS/DS game collection. I thought some may be interested to see what games I have. You can see a list on the game collection page. I currently own 21 3DS games and 50 DS games. Here are the pictures:

Behind The Scenes Interview of Dinosaur Office

2011-12-13T04:42:00.000-08:00

Rawwr!

I was lucky enough to interview on of the creators of Dinosaur Office Kevin Corrigan. In case you don't know, Dinosaur Office was a series of YouTube videos that became animated shorts exclusively for the Nintendo Video app on the 3DS.You can read the interview after the break:
First of an introduction from the man himself:
"First, a little background on how I was involved with the project. My name is Kevin Corrigan, I'm a writer and editor here at Collegehumor. I worked on several of the Nintendo videos that Collegehumor produced. I, along with a few coworkers, wrote Dinosaur Office, BearShark and Pizza Quest."

After that I asked a few questions:

How was Dinosaur Office chosen to be on Nintendo Video?
"Nintendo approached Collegehumor a while back about producing videos for the 3DS. We pitched them a lot of ideas, with the understanding that they would buy pilot episodes of several of them to be shown on the system. Then they'd pick one of those pilots for more episodes. We produced five pilots: Dinosaur Office, BearShark, Pizza Quest, Next Level and Duel. Dinosaur Office was the one Nintendo chose for more episodes.
Before the 3DS deal, some coworkers and I (Caldwell Tanner and Brian Murphy) had been making Dinosaur Office videos for youtube, on our own outside of work for fun. We hadn't even bothered pitching it to Collegehumor originally because we thought it was so weird that we were the only ones that thought it was funny. Some of our other coworkers were the ones that convinced us to pitch it for 3DS video."

Do you own a 3DS and if so what is your favorite game?
"I don't personally own a 3DS, but we do have an office 3DS that a few of us take turns borrowing. I love all the first-party Nintendo games. Super Mario 3D Land, Ocarina of Time and Mario Kart 7 are all great."

How long does it take to make the average animated episode for the 3DS?
"That's a tricky question, because there are so many steps that go into producing a Dinosaur Office video, and a lot of people involved. Caldwell, Murph and I wrote all the scripts for the six episodes being released now in two weeks. We worked on them for 2-3 hours a day during that time. Then Caldwell drew storyboards and we recorded all the dialogue to make something called an animatic. An animatic is like a slideshow that shows animators what they're supposed to do. We sent that off to a company called Buddy Systems, who do all the claymation work on Dinosaur Office. I don't know too much about their process, but we finished writing in late September, and episodes started coming out in late november, so I guess the animation took about two months for everything. "

What is the future with Dinosaur Office and Nintendo?
"As of right now, Nintendo is releasing this batch of six Dinosaur Office episodes once a week. We're not sure what the future holds beyond that, but Caldwell, Murph and I love making Dinosaur Office, so I'm sure we'll be making more in some capacity in the future."

Thanks and I can't wait to see more Rawwwr!

Did you live the interview. Leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Pushmo Review

2011-12-12T04:31:00.000-08:00

Pushmo is a new downloadable game exclusively for the 3DS and boy is it good! In Pushmo you play as this weird sumo wrestler looking guy named Mallo who needs to help Papa Blox rescue children who were trapped inside Pushmos by some jerk kid. To find out what I think read after the break:

Save the Children!

Maybe I should have told you but a Pushmo is a special type of puzzle, and is the type of puzzle you will be solving in the game. Pushmos are solved by pushing and pulling blocks to get to the top or where ever the location of the desired child is. The game plays very well and their are no problems with the controls. A good thing for such an addicting game. There are 250 puzzles in the game and you can get more by scanning QR codes like this:

You can also design your own levels and share them with the world through the QR codes. The graphics have the Nintendo polish we have all come to expect and the 3D is perfect fit for this game due to the its shifting between the foreground and background to solve the puzzles. I have been reviewing so many good games recently which has resulted in high scores and yet again this is another great game. For $6.99 it is a steal.

My Score: 9/10

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Review

2011-12-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy is a 3DS exclusive game related to Assault Horizon, the recent console game, in name alone. Ace Combat on the 3DS is one of the many reasons that make me happy to own the system. Along with Ace's bad dialogue it also contains its smooth gameplay and slick graphics. Said graphics go for photo-realism and it mostly succeeds. The ground can sometimes look ugly but thankfully this a flight combat game, not a crash into the ground game. The planes themselves are sleek and look how you would expect them to. Some of the best examples of the graphics are when you are flying over the water. The water has this great shine to it that makes you feel like you are actually piloting a plane over the ocean. The 3D is nice but it does not add much except for maybe a little help aiming and making the game prettier. Thought I play most of my games in 2D because it is just my personal preference. The game controls really well even with only one circle pad. Combat feels great and literally nothing is better in the game then when you are heading right towards your enemy and shooting him or her down with your machine guns. The combination of the enemy's plane starting to smoke and then exploding is quite impressive. The story is well...ermm... there is a story. Basically it is about the evil Rebellion against the Allied Forces. No real places are used in the game unlike the Assault Horizon. The story is interesting enough that I don't skip over the mission briefings because I want to know why I am doing what I am doing. Though the game has no multiplayer it makes up for it with a lot of replayability. With many unlockable planes and extra mission you will not be done after your first playthrough. Altogether I recommend this game to anyone looking for a fun flight combat experience on 3DS who already owns Star Fox.

My Score: 8/10

GBA Ambasador Games Confirmed for 2011

2011-12-09T04:39:00.000-08:00

I emailed Nintendo to check if the GBA games are still coming. This is the response I got:

"Thanks for writing and for your patience in waiting for a response during this busy time of year. I can certainly appreciate your interest in the exclusive Game Boy Advance titles that will be offered through the Ambassador Program! In answer to your question, regardless of rumors you have heard, the Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games are still scheduled to become available sometime before the end of 2011. I know you were hoping for a more definitive timeframe, but please rest assured that more details will be made available closer to when the titles are ready for release.

To be sure you are notified about the games as they are available, please be sure to download the Ambassador Certificate from the same place you downloaded your NES games. You will also need to make sure that notifications for this application are enabled. When we release the titles, any updates regarding this program will be sent via notifications for the Ambassador Certificate"

So I guess we are still getting them!

Circle Pad Pro to have 480 Hours of Battery Life

2011-12-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

The 3DS Circle Pad Pro is going to have around 480 hours of life before you have to change the battery. I guess I will not have to buy a big pack of AAA batteries. This news has now convinced me to buy one since it does not require frequent charging and it is comfortable to hold. You can read more about it here.

Video Game Music of the Week: The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony

2011-12-08T04:23:00.000-08:00

This comes from the CD included with first run copies of Skyward Sword. It is a wonderful version of Gerudo Valley:

Leave a comment and tell me what you would like to see.

Link's Awakening Nintendo Character Cameos

2011-12-07T04:32:00.000-08:00

This picture will make more sense in a moment.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening features many Nintendo characters not privy to the Zelda series. Read after the break to find out more:

There are many cameos but I am going to focus on what I feel are the most interesting ones:

Anti-Kirby: Anti-Kirbys are Kirbys plain and simple. They even attack Link by sucking him up. Take a look at this picture of one:

Goombas: There are many Goombas throughout the game than can be destroyed by sword or by Mario style stomping. Here is as video of said Goombas:

Yoshi: Well, it isn't exactly Yoshi but it is a Yoshi Doll which you can win as a prize and give to a mom in need of one for her baby.

Link's Awakening is available on the 3DS's eShop's Virtual Console and you should purchase it it in... NOW!

Mario Kart 7 Review

2011-12-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

Recently I have reviewed two of Nintendo's biggest games this year Skyward Sword and Super Mario 3D Land. But there is still one left and that is Mario Kart 7. Read after break to find out what I think:

Mario Kart 7 is great plain and simple. I'm not going to focus on the gameplay mechanics because I think we all know how well it plays. Instead I'll be focusing on all the new stuff. There are many new additions to Mario Kart 7 that make this a worthwhile purchase. First off is kart customization. This new feature allows you to tailor make how you want your kart to perform and look. Though the feature is not extensive it does add a nice touch to the Mario Kart experience and makes it feel more personal. You unlock new parts by collecting coins throughout the races. Next up is the underwater and gliding segments. While not huge in the game it does change up how you drive. Depending on whether you are in the water or the sky you have to adapt to how you handle your kart. There are a few new characters and items in the game. The new characters are Wiggler, Metal Mario, Honey Queen, and Lakitu. You can also play as your Mii which almost makes infinite possibilities.

Yes Mii, get excited for this game.

Mickey Mouse vs. Mario here I come. While not as many characters as Mario Kart Wii it is respectable since it is not a console game. There are 16 new tracks and 16 old ones. The old ones have been updated with better graphics, 3D, and gliding and underwater segments. So far my two favorite tracks are the two new Wuhu Island ones. I have always been a fan of Wuhu Island (maybe I'll have to write why sometime) and these tracks are good at showing the enhanced capabilities of the 3DS. The 3D in the game looks good but does not compare to the 3D in Super Mario 3D Land. The graphics in general are pretty though. One of the biggest parts of the game is online and boy is it great! The frame rate remains the same while online keeping the game looking spiffy (I have said great to many times). Online matchmaking is quick and painless and as always the races are quite fun. In total this is a must-own game for a must-own system.
My Score: 9/10

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Review

2011-12-05T04:23:00.000-08:00

For many years people have said that there is no such thing as perfect. I had believed that. I had thought nothing could come close to perfection since nothing can be perfect. Well, still nothing is perfect but The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword comes really close. To find out why read after the break:

There is no way I can sum up this game in one review but I'm gonna try anyways. Also I will not be covering the story in order to be spoiler-free. What makes this game great is what makes Super Mario 3D Land great. Everything comes together. I was not sure about motion controls for the game but after playing it I like it a lot more then the usual combat in Zelda games. There are 2 things that make the combat fun:

Wii MotionPlus: Wii MotionPluss gives this game the ability to have 1:1 motion controls and can be fun just to move the sword and see Link move it the same way. Twist your wrist, Link twists his wrist. That goes for everything. When in combat the motions for hitting enemies are canned but it is a good thing or else it could be nearly impossible to finish the game.
Smart Enemies: The opponents you face in this game are anything but mindless. Go in waggling the Wii Remote and Link will die. One example of this is when facing a Deku Baba. The plant like creature has to be slashed in the mouth to be killed. But it changes from its mouth being vertical or horizontal. You then have to adapt to that situation. All combat take thought and makes combat focused both on your skills and your brain.

Beautiful visuals only add to the experience.

The game is filled with content, to the point that you don't know how human beings could have made the game. There are many side quests in Skyloft the main area in the middle of the overworld. The characters you meet will make you laugh or cry but either way you will develop attachments to them. The overworld is not nearly as big as the sea in The Wind Waker but you will find yourself going back again and again to explore for treasure. The games visuals are beautiful with fantastic design of characters and environments and great animation. The art style mixes Wind Waker and Twilight Princess in the best way possible. In total I could go on and on about how much I love this game but my fingers would fall off from typing. If you have a Wii get this game. If you don't have a Wii, buy one and get this game. This game is already in my top 5 games of all time and it just may end up in yours too.

My Score: 10/10

Mario Kart 7 is Out Today

2011-12-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna be to busy playing Mario Kart 7 to write so I'll just remind everyone to buy their copy. Mine is pre-ordered and ready to go!

Mario Kart Then and Now

2011-12-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

With the tomorrow's release of Mario Kart 7 I thought it would be fun to compare the new comercial to the one for the original handheld Mario Kart, Mario Kart Super Circuit. First off the orignal and then the brand new commercial:

Super Mario 3D Land Review

2011-11-30T08:23:00.000-08:00

An outstanding game

The tanooki suit is both helpful and super cute.

Super Mario 3D Land is not only the best game on the 3DS, but one of the best games ever. Do you want to find out why? Read after the break:

Super Mario 3D Land follows the story everyone knows: Peach is kidnapped and Mario saves her. As always the characters and levels themselves are charming and Mario in his tanooki suit is just plain cute along with fantastic environments that provide fun platforming challenges. I don't think I need to say any more since it is a Mario game that plays like a Mario game. 3D Land also packs in a lot of content. In order to complete Super Mario 3D land there are 8 worlds and then another bonus 8 that are much more challenging along with many star medals to find and clearing every stage with Luigi just to finish the game at 100% I think, there is so many things to do I am not even done yet. That does not include the levels you will be going back to just to play for the pure fun of them. Throughout the game you get to use many fun suits both old and new to help Mario, the best is the tanooki suit thought. Players having trouble will have help from an invincible tanooki suit that appears after dying 5 times and a P-Wing that takes you to the end of the level after dying 10 times. The graphics look great and only scratch the glossy surface of the 3DS's capabilities. There is not one thing the makes this game great but many. Each part of the game works together to make one fantastic experience. Leave a comment and tell me what you think about the game.

My Score: 10/10

Muppet Gear Solid

2011-11-29T04:40:00.000-08:00

I just had to share this nugget of gold I found. Combines Metal Gear Solid and the Muppets. What could be better then that?

Hey! Listen! Nintendo is Going to be OK

2011-11-28T09:06:00.000-08:00

Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda Skyward sword came out only within the past few weeks and they have been doing huge numbers.

Super Mario 3D Land has sold over 500,000 units making it the fastest selling handheld Mario game
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword has sold 535,000 units making it the fastest selling Zelda game

Things are also looking up for the 3DS and Wii:

Sales of the 3DS increased 49% the week of Super Mario 3D Land's release
Sale of the 3DS during Black Friday and the rest of that week were tripled at 325%
On Black Friday the Wii sold 500,000 units making it the Wii's biggest black Friday

So things are really looking up for Nintendo! You can find the original story by clicking here.

Video Game Music of the Week: Super Mario Galaxy 2

2011-11-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

This week listen to some music from Super Mario Galaxy 2:

A Brief History of Muppet Video Games

2011-11-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

The Muppets are not well know for quality video games. But I thought it would be cool to take a look at some of them anyway. Most of these I don't own but I'll still write about them just because I can! You can see them after the break:

Pigs in Space for the Atari 2600:
This is not a very deep gameplay experience and there are no good videos to show you of it. I also do not own this one so I don't have a lot to write about. But here is the cover art at least:

There is not much to say about the game besides that it was really more like a collection of 3 games and one of them is a parody of Space Invaders.

Muppets CD-Rom: Muppets Inside on the PC:
I don't own this game so I don't have a lot to say about it. The only this I do know is that Muppets Inside is a parody of Intel Inside. Here is a video:

Muppet RaceMania on the PS1:
This is a Muppet kart racer. Not much more to say about it. Here is a video:

Muppet Monster Adventure on the PS1:
This is a 3D platformer that is kinda like a monster movie? I really don't know again this is another game I do not own. Here is a video:

Muppet Party Crusie on the PS2 and GameCube:
The next game Is Muppet Party Cruise one of the Muppet games I own. The premise of the game is that the Muppets are going on a cruise vacation but through a miscommunication they end up on deck 1 instead of 1st class. The gang then goes on to play various mini-games in order to go up various decks. The game is fun to me because of the nostalgia of playing it but in reality it really is not that good of a game. Here is a video of the end credits song Kermit's Rap:

The last game is The Muppets: On With The Show for the Game Boy Advance. I also own this one basically it is a collection of Muppet themed mini-games based around The Muppet Show. The only thing that sticks out to me is that is was one of the many GBA games that used password saves which always annoyed me. Well, here is a video:

These are only some of the many Muppet video games released. I plan on reviewing some Muppet video games not mentioned here that I own. Maybe someday we will get a new good one. Sadly that day is not today.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is Out Now!

2011-11-20T06:27:00.000-08:00

After literally years of waiting Skyward Sword is finally here. I will be picking up my copy that I preordered at GameStop. Leave a comment and tell me if you are getting the game today.

My Freakyforms Creation: Mickey Mouse

2011-11-19T08:23:00.000-08:00

The 3DS exclusive eShop download game Freakyforms: Your Creations Alive lets you create your own characters. Being the Disney fan I am I decided to make a Mickey Mouse one as shown at the top of this post. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

The Simpsons: Funtendo Zii

2011-11-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite moments from a recent Simpsons episode:

The Video Game Episode of Muppet Babies

2011-11-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

Gonzo as Mario

Yes they did one and here it is after the break:

10 Reasons Why Mario Kart 7 is (Going to be) Awesome

2011-11-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

Super Mario 3D Land is out so that is all for big 3DS games this year right? Wrong! Mario Kart 7 is coming out soon, December to be exact, so here is a list of 10 reasons why Mario Kart 7 will be awesome. Usually I try to stay away from list type articles but I thought this would be the best way of writing this particular post. You can see the 10 reasons after the break

1. It Uses Mii Characters: This will be the second entry in the series to allow use of Mii characters and it provides an almost endless amount of character to play as. That means I can race alongside Mickey Mouse and Mario!

Count Mii In!

2. You Can Customize Your Kart: The new kart creator feature allows you to tailor-make how you want to drive.

3. Underwater: Now your kart can travel underwater. Your not just a landlubber anymore!

4. Glide: Now you can fly with your kart. Take to the sky in a Nintendo game that isn't Pilotwings.

5. Old Tracks With New Tricks: Old courses have been updated to not only take advantage of the 3D but let you glide and dive through them as well.

6. Expansive Online: This game allows you to find a community to join and compete against the other members. It also uses SpotPass and downloads ghost data automatically which you can receive in the Mario Kart Channel then race in the game. It also takes advantage of StreetPass.

7. First Person View: You can now race in first person while controlling it by tilting the system or just using the circle pad.

8. Official Site: You can find all sorts of information right from the horse's mouth by clicking here.

9. New and Old Items: Plenty of classic items along with new items like the Super Leaf and Fire Flower.

10. It Comes Out in 2011: In less then one year of the 3DS's release it receive a Mario Kart game along with a Super Mario game and plenty of other fantastic ones like Tetris Axis and two fine remakes of classic N64 games.

Are you buying Mario Kart 7? After reading this I don't see how you couldn't. Leave a comment and tell me your thoughts on Mario Kart 7.

Super Mario 3D Land is Out Today

2011-11-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

The wait is finally over, Super Mario 3D Land is out today! What are you waiting for? Go buy it! I am picking up my copy I pre-ordered from GameStop along with the free Tanooki Mario keychain that comes with it.

Playing Sonic the Hedgehog for the First Time

2011-11-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

The original Sonic the Hedgehog has been around for twenty years but I have only just played it for the first time a few weeks ago. Honestly I had not really played much Sonic so it felt new and fresh like it did for some in the 90's. I had purchased the game in Sonic Classic Collection for the DS because I wanted to prepare myself for Sonic Generations. I felt that I should not dive into this new game celebrating Sonic's lineage without playing the original. What stood out to me was how different it was from other platformers, being that it feels unique and not generic in the slightest. Though personally I still don't think it is as good as Mario, Sonic's speed adds an interesting gameplay mechanic. After playing the game I plan on purchasing Sonic Generations for the 3DS this year. Also I really love the theme to the Green Hill Zone:

Why Steel Diver is One of the Best 3DS Games You've Never Played

2011-11-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

The dark horse of 3DS games

Steel Diver was one of the Nintendo 3DS launch titles. This title had been in development for multiple years and was first shown at E3 during the unveiling of the DS.

The game was scheduled to come out on the DS but was switched to the 3DS to take advantage of the 3D effect. I'm not going to write too much about the development history but you can read about it by clicking here. This game got at best mixed reviews. But I really like it because it is a change of pace. It offered a unique control scheme and a new kind of game and I appreciated that. Some people say their is not much content but I would disagree because of its Steel Commander mode, Time Trials, and an unlockable higher difficulty. What I think makes this game special is that with this game special on the 3DS is that it rounds out a group of experiences. What I mean is that you can explore the land in a kart (Mario Kart 7), fly your own plane (Pilotwings Resort), travel through space (Star Fox 64 3D) and of course take an adventure underwater in Steel Diver. If you own a 3DS I recommend you give this game a chance. If you don't, think about picking up a copy if you get one along with the two Mario games.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 Review

2011-11-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

With Super Mario 3D Land coming so soon, I thought this would be an ideal time to review the last 3D Mario game.
Super Mario Galaxy 2, the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy, is a great game. While it may not win awards for creative names, it is deserving of all the praise for the game's originality. Super Mario Galaxy 2 manages to change your thoughts on what a game can be while wowing you with its beautiful visuals and stunning music. Here is a video of one of the recording sessions:

From a gameplay standpoint this game defies what you think is possible in a game. For example some levels challenge you with shifting fields of gravity:

The game also bring in many different power ups and the ability to ride Yoshi which changes how many levels are completed. The game is not light on content. To finish the game you need to get around 70 stars to go on to the final boss battle with Bowser. To completely finish you need 120 stars. After finding all 120 stars you are really only done with half the game since green stars are added. In total there are 242 stars. Collecting all will insure a 100% completion. This game is a must have if you own a Wii and a reason to purchase one if you don't already. This game manages to do everything right while being challenging but not frustrating and just an all-around mind-blowing experience.

My Score: 10/10

Mickey Mouse Mii

2011-11-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Another day another Disney Mii, today from miicharacters.com we take a look at a Mickey Mouse Mii:

You can learn how to make your own or can the QR code with the 3DS by clicking here.

Video Game Music of the Week: Skyward Sword

2011-11-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the great theme from the upcoming Zelda game:

Legend of Seinfeld: Ocarina of Nothing

2011-11-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

Just a great mashup video from the world of YouTube:

DSi 3rd Anniversary

2011-11-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 3rd birthday of the Nintendo DSi being released in Japan on November 1st 2008. I loved my DSi so much that I sold it to buy 3DS games! But really looking black on the DSi I think about is DSiWare. Their were many good games on DSiWare but what really held it back was the awful menu. You can look only at two games at once, no joke. Thankfully that problem has been remedied with the much better eShop. So thanks for the fun, though next time try to make your transfer tool app for bringing DSiWare games to the 3DS a little bit faster, thanks.

Super Mario 3D Land: The Waiting Continues

2011-10-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

I have not written much if not at all about Super Mario 3D Land so I am going to solve that problem now.
I am excited for this game. Excited beyond belief. I have always loved all the Mario games but my favorite ones are the 3D ones like 64 and Galaxy. At first I was a little worried how this game would compare to Galaxy 2 with its insane level of content but new details have emerged that have silenced that fear. Those details can be read from an Iwata Asks article, which you can find the highlights of here ,That information has settled that worry. Now all I have to do is play the waiting game. Here are some videos of the game to keep us from going insane while waiting:

Disney Universe Out Today

2011-10-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Are you getting Disney Universe? I might but not today though sadly.

The Legend of Zelda Animated Series: Excuse Me Princess

2011-10-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well excuse me if you don't like this post:

The really funny thing is that the Zelda TV series only lasted 13 episodes!

Nintendo Holiday Season of 1990

2011-10-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

As this news segment reports:

Video Game Music of the Week: The Legend of Zelda: Spirt Tracks

2011-10-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

This music comes from the DS Zelda game Spirit Tracks:

Mario's Picross Review

2011-10-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

Mario's picross is the first in the series of fun puzzles on Nintendo's handheld systems. Picross is played by having numbers lined up on the x and y axis. Using the numbers you mark and remove squares from the grid using the information given to you by comparing numbers and using logic. It is a lot more fun then it sounds! While it is called Mario's picross Mario is mostly just in the top left corner of the screen reacting to mistakes you make. Also there are some different Mario themed puzzles like a Goomba made out of the squares.The game is excellent packing a good amount of content with challenging puzzles. You can download it on the Nintendo eShop for only $3.99.

My Rating: 8/10

Nintendo Cereal System

2011-10-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

This was a cereal Nintendo used to make:

15 Years of Nintendo 64: Kirby Then and Now

2011-10-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

It may be Zelda's 25th but this year has been good for Kirby. With two games what Kirby fan would be upset about that. This years marks 15 years of the Nintendo 64 so I thought I would take another look at how the games were advertised after my Super Mario 64 post. First of N64:

Now Wii:

Though the N64 one was made for TV I can't help but feel they could show more gameplay. Though it is nice to see that 15 years later Kirby is still being used.

Kirby's Dreamland Review

2011-10-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

Kirby's Dreamland on the Game Boy marks the first appearance of the lovable pink guy back in 1992. Except back then he was a white ghost looking creature due to the Game Boy's monochromatic screen. The game is short but it features a more difficult mode after your first play through. It is a sidescrolling platformer and features fun gameplay and great Kirby animations. This was the only Kirby game without Kirby's ability to copy enemies powers,which did not come until Kirby's Adventure which you can read about here. The game is availbe for only $3.99 on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. I recommend you suck this one up and spit it back out(if you are not fimilar with Kirby that is one of the ways he attacks enemies) today!

My Rating: 7/10

15 Years of Nintendo 64: Star Fox 64 Nintendo Power VHS

2011-10-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

To celebrate 15 years of Nintendo 64 let us take a look at how Star Fox 64 was promoted. Nintendo Power used to promote games by sending a VHS like this:

Too bad they rarely send anything with Nintendo Power, though it would be pretty funny if they sent out a VHS instead of a DVD with an upcoming magazine.

Video Game Music of the Week: Pilotwings Resort

2011-10-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

Here is some great music from Pilotwings Resort, a launch game for the 3DS:

15 Years of Nintendo 64: Super Mario 64 Commerical Comparison

2011-10-14T06:07:00.000-07:00

Since this year is the 15th anniversary of the Nintendo 64 I thought I would look at the differences in the commercials for Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS You can read it after the break.

First up Super Mario 64:

Here are the instructions for video game commercials of the time:

Kid talking about game.
In your face.
In your face.

Yes I said in your face twice, and the second commercial fits all three. Now Super Mario 64 DS:

Okay, that one is terrible. This one follows the steps for a bad video game commercial:

Lack of information about the game.
Little video of gameplay.

That is it. Those are my two pet peeves when it comes to video game commercials. So it turns out commercials have not gotten any better. But thankfully the games are still great.

Winnie the Pooh Mii

2011-10-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

From miicharaters.com here is a mii of the lovable Disney bear Winnie the Pooh. You can go on the website to get directions for the Wii or scan the qr code with a 3DS.

Wii Redesign Coming to North America

2011-10-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

As reported on nintendolife which you can read here, the new design of the Wii is coming to North America for $149.99 and comes in black with a Wii Remote Plus controller, Nunchuck controller, Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack, and New Super Mario Bro. Wii. It can not play GameCube games and will be released on October 23rd. If you have not bought a Wii yet, I highly recommend you do even with the Wii U coming out. It sounds like a good value to me.

3DS Slider Pad Add-On Box Art

2011-10-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

So from Nintendo Everything is box art for the slider pad add on in Japan. You can see more picture of the attachment on my previous post about it here.

Kirby Mass Attack Review

2011-10-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Kirby Mass Attack is a fun game that delivers on all levels. Essentially the plot is that Kirby has been split into 10 Kirbys and he goes on a quest to defeat the villain who did it and restore his body. The game is all controlled by the touch screen. Usually I am not excited by that but it works really well with this game. Occasionally it can be a problem when controlling 10 at once though. The game looks great. It is a 2D side scroller that has great backgrounds and character animations. It can be funny seeing all the Kirbys toppling over each other or pummeling an enemy. The music is fantastic. You can read about that in a previous post here. The game offers a good challenge and the medals will keep you coming back for more. With the aforementioned medals you can unlock mini-games like a Kirby pinball game and a Kirby space shooter. Altogether Kirby Mass Attack is a great game and I recommend all DS and 3DS owners pick it up. The 3DS can play DS games so it really is just another great game to play on the system. So go buy it!

My Rating: 8.5/10

Spider-Man: Edge of Time Review

2011-10-08T06:20:00.000-07:00

Spider-Man: Edge of the Time on the 3DS is a great games that showcases how far narrative experiences have come in games, and how the 3DS can have a great multi-platform game and not a watered-down experience. You can read my review after the break.

The story of the game is somewhat complex. You play as the Amazing Spider-Man (Peter) and Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel). In the game the the villain Sloan from the future travels back in time to make his company Alchemax more successful and himself more rich. Sloan alters the timeline causing Peter to have had a different past and having him be killed. Both Amazing and 2099 Spidey set out to stop this from happening. The game starts off with the tutorial, but is done much better then in most games. The tutorial also serves as an epilogue and actually makes sense. After a cut scene that features great voice acting you see the opening credits while playing the game as shown in this video:

That video is from the 360 version but the 3DS version looks very similar and holds up quite nicely. The game controls well, but has camera troubles at some times. The combat is fun and the 3D effect is effective. This game could be a dark horse of the 3DS library.

My Rating: 7/10

Video Game Music of the Week: Steel Diver

2011-10-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Here is some music I love from a 3DS launch title:

Tron Atari 2600 and Intellivision Commercial

2011-10-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

There were many Tron games released in the 80s. To see a commercial of some of them read after the break.

Here is a great old commercial for the Tron video games on the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision:

If I could track down copies of these games, and the systems they were on I would definitely play them.

Disney Has A Newly Registered Video Game Trademark

2011-10-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Disney recently trademarked Castle of Illusion. This was originally a game on the Sega Genesis. Could this be a new game? Or a virtual console release? Or involving Epic Mickey 2? Or is it just another trademark being made which is done often by big companies? I guess we will just have to wait and see. If it is a new game, I doubt they will advertise it like this:

Spider-Man: Edge of Time

2011-10-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

I am super excited for this game and already pre-ordered it. It comes out tomorrow. Here is the trailer:

Better Late Then Never: Cars 2 on 3DS

2011-09-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

Cars 2 Is coming to the Nintendo 3DS. It is somewhat odd it took so long but it is the same deal with the Captain America game. From the press release:

"BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Interactive Studios today announced that Disney•Pixar’s Cars 2: The Video Game is fast on its way to becoming the ultimate spy adventure. Since the game’s release on June 21, 2011, game critics have praised the title for its widespread appeal to both a younger and older audience, stunning visuals, and action racing gameplay fueled by multiplayer capabilities for up to four players. The next addition to this international game of espionage is expected to come this holiday with Cars 2: The Video Game for Nintendo 3DS™."

and:

"Available this holiday, Cars 2: The Video Game for Nintendo 3DS will offer the very best in eye-popping gameplay through the system’s stereoscopic 3D display. The game will take advantage of StreetPass™ communication, allowing players to unlock and share new skins. Multiplayer action with up to four players will also be available."

You can read the original story here and here.