Prontesser Lernton and the Bumground Suture

Wait, what?

Behold!  In case you haven’t had the pleasure yet, enjoy the trailer for the upcoming Professor Layton game: The Unwound Future!



Pretty sweet, eh? I think so! The game will be released on September 12th!  Go get on that crap!

Finally, a reason to buy Rock Band

The latest trailer for Rock Band 3 has an interesting teaser at the end.

As you can see, there is an icon for a piano on the right.  What could this mean?  If it means you can use an actual keyboard to play these music games, sign me up right now!  But, considering the “guitars” have a whopping 5 frets, I’m not gonna hold my breath.

But I guess you never know.  I think they could package it with at least a simple keyboard, which would be really fun.

Maybe Jim and Pam were right!  Rock Band Billy Joel does exist!

Let’s Party!

Today, Nintendo announced Wii Party, which appears to be Mario Party without Mario.

  The game looks to copy the board game/mini game collection series, but letting players use exclusively Miis instead of the Mario Bros.

Apart from a couple of screenshots, we don’t really know anything about the game, other than it’s similarity to previous Party games.

It does appear that you’ll be able to use the Balance Board.  Heck, you might even be able to use Nintendo’s not-yet-released Vitality Sensor.  Who knows.

The game is expected to ship sometime in the next year or so.  I’m predicting Holiday 2010.  You heard it here first.

-benjamines

Didn't expect that...

So, apparently, some franchises are too popular to not make video games out of.

Here's the official trailer for an upcoming PC/DS game.  You can form your own opinion about it.



So I guess we'll see.  It's hard to get excited about movie/TV show-based games because they almost always suck.  I hope they prove me wrong, cause I love this show.

-benjamines

Nintendo News: May 05, 2010

So apparently, everyone’s favorite oddball little brother Luigi will be playable in Super Mario Galaxy 2.  You could play as Luigi in the first one, but not until you beat the game as Mario.  This time, you can switch between Mario and Luigi on certain levels, and he can use all of the same powers that Mario can.  It’s not quite co-op, but still pretty cool.  That guy’s got mad hops. [via Kotaku]

The newest entry in the Metroid series, Other M, has been delayed and will hit stores on about August 31st.  The game is closer to the original 2D-style Metroid games, and is played primarily by holding the Wii remote sideways.  There are also some first-person sections thrown in.  The game has been promised to delve deeper in Samus’ largely unknown story.  And for all you timeline buffs, the game takes place between Super Metroid (SNES) and Metroid Fusion (GBA).

Namco has announced that the next big Pac-Man evolution will be unveiled at E3 in June.  This will coincide with the pellet-eating orb’s 30th anniversary.  Expect announcements for games on every console and game-esque device on the planet. [via Joystiq]

-benjamines

New Games for May

It’s official: this year is gonna be awesome.  This month sees the release of some fantastic new must-play games.  Let’s get to it!

Nintendo's flagship franchise is making a return on the Wii!  Super Mario Galaxy 2 is releasing on May 23rd!  It's the sequel to the incredible Mario Galaxy.  For those unfamiliar (and I pity you), it's a 3-D game in the style of Mario 64, but you're in space!  Each planet has different gravity, enemies, and obstacles.  It's an enormously varied environment, full of surprises and twists and of course, fun.  Don't forget all of Mario's new powers (drill, cloud, etc).  Plus, this time Mario's faithful dinosaur friend Yoshi makes an appearance.  Can't wait!

Trauma Team is the next release in the hit Trauma Center series.  Play as a doctor and help save lives from all kinds of problems and diseases, both natural and man-made.  This game adds a new twist by letting you play as 6 different specialists, including diagnosis, surgery, and forensics.  It's all the trauma center fun with a bunch of new and cool abilities!  Look for it around May 18th.

Also releasing this month are a few movie based games, such as Iron Man 2 and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands.  Don't hold your breath on Iron Man, but Prince of Persia might be ok.  They've been pretty good in the past.

Well, that's all the good ones.  Stay tuned for more news on upcoming games, especially with E3 coming next month!

-benjamines

Not that long, maybe!!

Greetings, friends! I know that it has been a very long time since my last post, and that the last few months have seen very few posts, but I am thinking about fixing that problem… at least until something more shiny and new catches my fancy. In the meantime, watch for updates on new games, new systems, and new news. Plus, don’t forget old games, old systems, and fun features like Terrible Turdsday and Mondownloaday! See you right here, dangit!

-benjamines

Currently Playing: WarioWare D.I.Y. (NDS) , Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (NDS), Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (NDS)

What the crap?!

Nintendo did this morning what it always does: it blew my mind!

Last night around midnight, they announced a new system: the Nintendo 3DS! That's a tentative title, but it may very well stick, for good reason. Here are the known specs thus far:

• 3D without glasses
• Gamecube-level graphics
• Around 4" screens
• Rumble
• Joystick
• No gap between screens
• Everything else the DSi has

3D?! I know! Apparently, the screens have similar technology to what upcoming 3D TVs will have: you can see things in 3D without using glasses. I'm not real clear on how it works, but it sounds exciting!

The system will sport the new Intel Tegra processor, which can handle much sweeter graphics than any portable seen before.

And that's about all we know so far! When I first read the news this morning, I was a little baffled, but the more I think about it, the more I want it! If it were any company besides Nintendo, I would be skeptical, but we're talking about the greatest video game company in the world here!

There will be more information at E3 (mid-May), so until then, we'll just have to imagine the awesomeness. They say it will release sometime between now (not happening) and a year from now. My guess is November.

Anyways, I'm gonna go back and lapse into my Nintendo-coma and dream of the future! Bye now!

-benjamines

Now Playing: Sam & Max Season One (Wii), Lunar Knights (NDS), Perfect Dark (X360)

What in the shredded wheat?

What's this? A new post? Yeah, right!

So, here's the poop: There are some cool new games coming out.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: This one is actually already out. And it looks amazing! I cannot wait for to play it! It's like the DS one, but you can play with four-players simultaneously. Plus, the best part is, you can play as Toad! Woo-hoo! Sounds great and I can't wait. Thanksgiving break is the perfect time play the heck out of this game.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: This one looks fun, too. It's like Phantom Hourglass, but instead of a ship, you control a train. Sounds amazing! It'll be all-stylus controlled like last time, but I think it will be ok. Besides, you can shoot animals with a train cannon. All aboard for me!

Super Monkey Ball Step and Roll: A new Monkey Ball for Wii! And you can use the Balance Board! Granted, it's probably really hard to control and monkey in a ball by tilting the world via a weight-sensor based peripheral, but I still can't wait. It comes out early next year.

Ace Attorney Investigations: Finally, a new Ace Attorney game! This time, you control Miles Edgeworth, the Prosecutor with an attitude. The game is focused more on the investigation than the trials, but it still looks like good fun. Can't wait!

Ok, so that's all I can think of right now. Plus, I have to go eat lunch. It's cold out, so soup I shall eat. Away!

-benjamines

Currently Playing: Scribblenauts (NDS), TMNT Smash-Up (Wii), Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (NDS)

New Games On The Way!

Last Thursday, Nintendo released a large list of games to be released between now and June for the DS and Wii. Why June? Probably because E3 is on June 1st, so they are undoubtedly saving the big announcements for then.

For those that don't know, E3 stands for the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and it's usually held in LA around May or June. This year will be special, because they are going back to the gigantic, stellar, and awesome format. The last two years, they decided to make it a small affair, and as such, many companies decided not to come. They have obviously learned from their mistake and returned it to the most humongous gaming event of the year. Expect big announcements from Nintendo and others. More on that in a minute.

In any case the list Nintendo released on Thursday had some interesting titles on it. First and most importantly is the inclusion of The Legendary Starfy for DS. Legend of Stafy (note there is no 'r') is a popular franchise in Japan, whose games are similar to Kirby. And finally, after years of wishing, it comes to the USA! Hooray!

The next big title on the list is Excitebots, which is the mystery game announced by Monster Games a few months back. It is a racing game that builds on the Excitebike and Excitetruck games. I'm interested to see what the bots will add to the experience, but I'm sure the game will be fun, considering every Excite game ever has been amazing.

Of all the games that make great use of the Wii Remote motion capabilities, Boom Blox was one of the best. And, just over a year after the first was released, the sequel, Boom Blox Bash party, comes crashing back. The most exciting part is the enhanced level editor, which lets you set the points needed for bronze, silver, and gold medals. It is expected to be released some time this summer.

Also on the list are Punch-Out!!, the awesome revival of a great arcade boxing franchise, and a couple a Sega games, namely Let's Tap and The Conduit. Let's Tap is a game where you don't even touch the controller. Instead you set it on the box and tap the box for input. Very strange, yes, but it will be less expensive at launch ($30-ish, I believe), and it does look fun. The Conduit is a FPS game built from the ground up for Wii. I'm not usually one for FPS games, but this one does look pretty good. I'll have to see if it's worth buying when June rolls around.

Oh, and there's one more game that needs mentioning. On April 5th, the same day as the DSi is released, Nintendo will release Rhythm Heaven along with it. It's a music games where you tap along with the music of various levels and strange things go on around you. Think of it as a mix between WarioWare and Elite Beat Agents, two amazing games.

So there are definitely some great games to look forward to as the summer nears. And now, I'd like to take this time to give you my predictions of games that will be announced at E3. I could be wrong, but this post is a way for me to prove to some people in June that I was right. So, here we go!

F-Zero (Wii and/or DS)

• F-Zero and Starfox are the only major Nintendo franchises that have not been given a Wii game.
• The DS had Starfox, but not F-Zero. Honestly, this is long overdue.
• That picture I made on the right makes me sad that the games doesn't exist, cause it'd be AWESOME!!!
  

Starfox (Wii)

• Starfox games aren't quite as fun as F-Zero, but they usually sell well.
• I'd be surprised if this didn't show up at E3.

Pikmin 3 (Wii)

• Pikmin has gained a loyal following, especially since Captain Olimar (the main character) was included in Smash Bros. Brawl.
• This has technically been announced, but I think we'll see some nice juicy details.
• I expect this will be released sometime next year.

Paper Mario (DS)

• There were some rumors last year that Nintendo was remaking Paper Mario 64 for the DS.
• While I would prefer a brand-new game, Paper Mario 64 us one of the best games ever, and my personal favorite RPG.
• Paper Mario has been released on every system since the franchise started (except GBA, but it couldn't really handle the graphics), so it makes sense that they would make one for DS.

Kirby (Wii)

• There was a Kirby trailer shown about 5 years ago for a really great-looking gamecube game. Then it quietly disappeared.
• Later, a rumor surfaced that Nintendo was making it for the Wii instead.
• Nintendo Japan's release list had Kirby Wii for a November 2008 release. Obviously, that didn't happen.
  
• Things have been quiet since then, but I'd be surprised if it's been totally scrapped.

Professor Layton (DS)

• Easily one of the most charming and entertaining games for the DS.
• Japan already has three games released.
• This is long overdue.

Legend of Zelda (Wii)

• Twilight Princess was released about 3 years after it was announced, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a sequel this soon.
• Miyamoto has suggested that we could see a new Zelda game sooner than we might expect.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 (DS)

• Just thinking about this game makes we wet myself.
• Even though the original still sells quite well, I can see Nintendo making a new one in the next year or two.
• Don't be surprised if it has elements from Super Mario 2 (NES), such as throwing vegetables and what not.

Captain Rainbow (Wii)

• It's already been released in Japan, and it looks awesome.
• Just translate it and send it over!
  

So those are some games that definitely could be seen at E3. Here's a list of some other games that would be awesome, but there isn't much evidence to suggest they exist.

• Meteos 2 (DS and/or Wii)
• New Chibi-Robo (DS and/or Wii)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong 3 (DS and/or Wii)
• New Mario Party (most likely Wii)
• Metroid (DS)
• New Monkey Ball (DS and/or Wii)
• Viewtiful Joe (DS and/or Wii)
• Mario Golf (DS and/or Wii)
• Links' Crossbow Training 2 (Wii)
• New Trauma Center (DS and/or Wii)
• New WarioWare (DS)
• New Elite Beat Agents (DS)
• New TimeSplitters (Wii)
• Mario Sunshine remake (DS)

So there you have it. In a perfect world, these games would all be nearing completion. Unfortunately, very few of those exist. In any case, I think some of my predictions will be accurate. If I don't get any right, then I will play Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga all the way through without using any cheats. Ouch.

-benjamines

Currently Playing: My Japanese Coach, Super Monkey Ball Adventure, Okami

Slough of New

Hello all! This last week was chock-full of great new gaming news! There's like a billion games coming out soon! Like, seriously! A billion!

First of all, Nintendo has announced a new Play on Wii series. They take classic Gamecube games, add Wii motion controls, and poof! Instant awesome! The first to be released will be the original Pikmin. Other titles will includes Pikmin 2, Metroid Prime 1 & 2, DK Jungle Beat, and Chibi-Robo. They all sound awesome. But I'm not so sure about DK Jungle Beat. I mean, it's a great game, but you just need the bongos to make it work. It's just not the same without all that tactile feedback. Either way, at least the Pikmin games and Chibi-Robo will finally get the attention they deserve.

Also, Nintendo showed a video with TONS of new games for both the Wii and the DS. Some of the Wii games include Punch-Out!, a remake of the NES Classic with cel-shaded (cartoony 3-D) graphics and motion controls, and the sequel to the fantastic DS title Trace Memory. It was one of my first DS games, but also one of my favorites.

The new DS games coming out are also awesome. They include a new WarioWare (you can't get enough of those), a new Mario & Luigi RPG, and a crazy-cool looking 3-D Picross. Also coming up is the Phoenix Wright spinoff starring his best friend/arch nemesis-in-court Miles Edgeworth. Details are sketchy, but it has something to do with running around with Detective Gumshoe and collecting evidence or something. Either way, I call dibs.

Also, there is more news on the DSi. At first, I was a little disappointed since I just got a new DS and it's coming out in less than a month in Japan. But after further review, I have decided it's ok now. First off, it won't be released until well into 2009, so possibly summertime-ish next year. Plus, it doesn't have any better hardware, so it's not an upgrade, just a redesign. The only thing about it I really want is the Virtual Console download thing they'll be doing. But I know that they will probably be releasing Gameboy and Game Gear games for it, the majority of which I either already own, or do not want. So, in short, I am excited for it, but I haven't decided whether I want it on day one or not yet. We shall see.

So there you go. Proof that there are a billion games coming out soon. And don't forget previously announced games like Animal Crossing for Wii and a new Strong Bad episode every month for the rest of the year. Awesome. Just awesome.

Don't forget to vote in the new poll! And by the way, you can vote multiple times if you use a different browser or computer each time. Hoo-hah!

-benjamines

Currently Playing: Megaman Battle Network 5 DS, Wario Land Shake It!, Nintendogs

Come and Upping Games!

I just finished my run-through of the newest Nintendo Power magazine and boy, are there some good games coming out soon. Behold! A preview!

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS, October) - The excellent Castlevania franchise returns to the DS for it's bi-yearly outing. The controls should remain the same as the previous games, and of course, expect some crazy bosses and insane monsters. One change is that the main character collects Glyphs, which can combine to create more powerful moves using combinations of weapons and magic. Looks to be a great continuation of the DS Castlevanias. I myself preferred Dawn of Sorrow over Portrait of Ruin, but they were both fantastic games. Let's hope this one continues that tradition.

Metal Slug 7 (DS, November) - Metal Slug is, in my humble, yet undeniably correct opinion, the greatest run-and-gun franchise ever made. Not that there are that many of those type of games. Metal Slug just has a gory, testosterone fueled charm that many violent games simply lack. In any case, this November will see the release of Metal Slug 7 for the DS. Built from the ground up, it's an all-new Metal Slug with more bad guys, more weapons (like the new Electricity Cannon), and more giant vehicles to squish people with. When I have a bad day or need to take out some frustration, nothing lets me get the anger out of my system like a good Metal Slug. Let's hope the new one doesn't disappoint.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS, Q1 2009) - This is not a game I would normally blog about, but it's the first GTA for DS and who knows how it will compare with the others. I may decide to get it, but it depends on how much it is like the other GTA games. I like the driving parts. Some of the other stuff is just silly. In any case, Rockstar games is building this one from the ground up just for the DS, complete with touch screen minigames, such as hotwiring a car and tattooing a member of the Triads. It looks like it's done well. Now we'll just have to see how it rates content-style.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (DS, October) - Sonic is soon going to be starring in his own RPG! While I am usually not a big RPG fan, this one has captured my interest. Especially when I learned that some of the battles involve Elite Beat Agents-style stylus movements. Plus, they say it's not an extremely long RPG, which gets bonus points in my book. Characters include, Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, the adorable Chao, and many others from the semi-vast Sonic universe. It seems counter-intuitive for the faster hedgehog on the planet to be confined to a turn-based battle system, but hey, ya gotta slow down sometime, right? Or something? Anyone...

Sonic Unleashed (Wii, November) - If there's one thing Sonic needed, it was a return to the 2-D style of gameplay he was famous for back in the early 90's. Believe it or not, for a while there, Sonic was a more recognizable character than Mario. He has since falling very far from the tree. Hopefully this one will return him to his former glory. Obviously, the game stars Sonic the Hedgehog. In this game, he turns into a werewolfy type hedgehog and beats people up. That sounds like a recipe for success to me. The blue blur will control differently depending on which character you are. While regular Sonic focuses on more puzzle solving and quick maneuvering, werewolf Sonic simply wants to beat the crap out of people. Sounds like it could be good. We'll just have to wait and see.

Sam and Max Season 1 (Wii, October) - I think I talked about this one once already, but the release date got pushed back, so I'll mention it again. Made by the same awesome people who are making Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, Sam and Max is the point-and-click story of a Detective Duo of a Dog and Rabbit-esque thing. Expect plenty of laughs and fun. The entire 5-episode season drops October 7th-ish. At least, that's what I'm hoping. Last time I mentioned a release date for this game, it never showed up. I had dinner ready and everything. Wait, what?

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (Wii, October - December) - SBCG4AP will be gracing us about once a month through December. Simply put, the games are awesome, they contain plenty of hilarious Strong Badian style put-downs, and best of all, they're only $10 apiece. Such greatness has seldom been achieved. I've had a great time with the 1st episode so far, and I hope to get the second one soon. Long live SBCG4AP!!

Samba de Amigo (Wii, Now) - Apparently, this one has already been released without my knowledge, and without my permission. Those jerks. Just kidding! The game is based on the 2000 Dreamcast title of the same name. You shake your maracas (which can be a wiimote and nunchuk, or two wiimotes) to the beat, and try to score big points. I hadn't thought much of it, but now that I've seen some video, it looks like a lot of fun. Go buy it! Now!

de Blob (Wii, Now) - Sheesh, I guess this one's out already, too. You play as a colorful blob, trying to add color and eye candy to an inky world. But watch out for the inky police! The goal is to make things colorful. I hear it's kind of a sandbox type game, where you can just kinda do your thing. But I haven't played it yet. While it does look interesting, my guess is that it will hit the baragin bin before too long. Then I'll snatch it up!

Well, there are more games than that coming out this year, but these are the ones that interest me most. Therefore, they are the most interesting games! But, if there's another game coming out soon that I failed to mention, lemme know! Also, new poll!

-benjamines

Currently 90% Finished With: Kirby Super Star Ultra

Obsessive Compulsive Dream

So, last night I had a dream I was playing the Monk video game for the DS. Which is funny, cause, ya know... there isn't one. It was kind of interesting, though. In the dream, I was explaining to some friends why a Monk video game wouldn't work, but I was also playing the game at the same time, so it was a rather counter-productive argument. Now don't get me wrong - Monk is one of my favorite TV Shows. I'm just not sure how good the video game would be. In any case, it wasn't real, so there ya go.

Well, now that that's out of the way, here's a look at some upcoming Nintendo games:

Nintendo Wii

Mario Super Sluggers [1-4 players, Sports]: This follow-up to the excellent Mario Superstar Baseball (Gamecube) looks to combine the entertaining Mushroom Kingdom style of play with Wii Sports style swinging and pitching. It ships on Monday (Aug. 25), so you should see it by Wednesday in stores.

Sam & Max Season 1 [1 player, Adventure]: The creative masterminds at TellTale Games (SBCG4AP) are releasing the popular PC point-and-click adventure for the Wii. Be prepared for hilarious police hijinks and random breaking-out-into-song. Look for it around September 9th.

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, Episode 2 [1 player, Adventure]: Chapter 2 of the hilariously awesome Strong Bad point-and-click comes around the 15th of September. Be prepared for more Homestar beating-upping and King of Town over-eating.

Nintendo DS

N+ [1-player, Action]: This game is a sequel to the cult online flash game N, where you control an extremely quick and agile Ninja-esque character, trying to weave his way through insane traps and pitfalls. Look for it on Wednesday (Aug. 27) or so.

Line Rider 2: Unbound [1-player, Arcade]: Yet another flash game makes its way to handhelds and consoles. The original Line Rider is a fantastically entertaining game where you create unreal hill and jumps for the ill-fated sledder to ride on. It slides in on September 16th. (Also available on Wii)

So, gaming fans, get on out there and play some games. It's ok to play outside, too. Just remember there are lots of princesses that need saving (and they sure as heck better not be in another castle!)

-benjamines

Can't wait for: Mario Super Sluggers, Warioland: Shake It!