New Super Mario Bros Release Date- Nov. 5 (US)

In a recent press release Nintendo announced the US release date for New Super Mario Bros: November 5. Which is the same release date as a well known little FPS.

Also announced in the press release was a Wii price drop. It's been said that PAL regions won't get a price drop but will instead get Wii Console Game bundles. Although this is a rumour.

Super Mario 64 Review

Ask anyone what their favourite game of all time is and chances are its Super Mario 64; the game that revolutionized the platforming genre and introduced gamers to the third dimension.
Super Mario 64 DS is basically an updated version of the classic N64 game. You’re probably wondering why Nintendo didn’t just make a sequel to it on DS. But the benefits are clear. Super Mario 64 wasn’t perfect so making a portable version that fixes its mistakes and adds more levels is like music to any Mario fan’s ears!

Jump Past the break to continue reading the review!





The game starts off in similar way to the original. Peach sends a letter to Mario telling him that she baked a cake for him. Of course, being the overweight stereotypical plumber that he is, Mario rushes to the castle. Only this time his underappreciated brother (Luigi) and his morbidly obese arch nemesis (Wario) accompany him.

The three beloved Nintendo Characters get lost and it’s up to Yoshi to save each one of them so that they’re playable throughout the quest.
Since each character has certain traits (Luigi can walk on water for some unexplained reason!), the level opportunities have increased adding a lot more thought to the puzzles. Despite this, Mario is still the most used character.

The game now has 30 more star missions than the original, making a total 150 star missions. This means that this may end up staying inside your DS card slot for months. But don’t get too excited.


The original Super Mario 64 was heralded for its perfect controls for the move into the third dimension. The analog stick had a precise level of control that meant that if you lost you definitely couldn’t blame the controls. SM64DS is different though. The NDS doesn’t have an analog stick and using the D-pad for a game like this often makes you wish you were playing the original. It just doesn’t cut it. There is an option to control your character with the touch screen but that gets annoying after five minutes.

Also included with SM64DS are the minigames. It’s a good thing too because this was one of the only launch titles to not feature stylus control as its main feature. The minigames are stylus based and at least they give first time DS users a chance to see what all the fuss is about. The minigames are fun for the most part but some are more pointless than others. (Remember kids, gambling is good for you!)

Finding all the stars in the game is where the fun is though. The sense of accomplishment you get once you collect every star is only rivaled by the sense of accomplishment you get once you beat The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. But believe me, getting every star is no easy task but it is definitely worth it in the end.

Super Mario 64 DS has gotten a welcome graphical upgrade. Character models are much smoother, colours are much more vibrant, and textures are much better. It’s like the sequel it never had! As always the music is spectacular and memorable as well.

Super Mario 64 DS isn’t completely different to its predecessor. But for what it lacks in uniqueness, it more than makes up for in playtime. Sure the controls are frustratingly suited for 2D games, and some people would argue that this kind of gameplay is dated; but by golly Mario is back baby!

Gameplay: 9.5
Story: 8.7
Presentation: 9.0

OVERALL: 9.0

“Must have DS game for hardcore gamers”

Nintendo E3 2009

It's that wonderful time of year again! Once again the Electronic Entertainment Expo delivered many surprises from all gaming companies. And one company that pretty much gave fans (almost) everything they want. Nintendo.
Head Past the break for full E3 coverage
 

Super Mario Galaxy 2

The biggest game revealed by Nintendo was once again explained to the audience, similar to the original Super Mario Galaxy.

The trailer sees the return of the Bee suit and more themed levels (snow, big things (left), etc.). But the biggest surprise was Yoshi's return! As seen in the trailer there will be many gameplay mechanics that can be used while riding Yoshi. It apears that when Mario is riding Yoshi, shooting star bits with curser is replaced with shooting Yoshi's tongue at enemies and hooks. Also shown in the trailer was a new suit that drills into planets.










New Super Mario Bros Wii

Also announced at E3 was the sequel to the very popular DS game of the same name: New Super Mario Bros.

At first glance it looks like a prettier version of the original, but the cooperative multiplayer component looks promising












Metroid: Other M
Nintendo announced another continuation of the Metroid Series with Metroid: Other M. The title is intriqueing. The whole game is intriguing actually. The game is being developed by Team Ninja, the company responsible for the Ninja Gaiden series. This change in direction definitely shows with a completely new look and art style, coupled with retro style gameplay (sidescrolling).






For full coverage head over to http://www.e3expo.com/

Game and Watch collection coming to Australia

Game and Watch collection has been rated by the Aussie OFLC ratings board witch means this Club Nintendo exclusive is going to be available in Australia.

The game is a Collection of three or more classic Game and Watch games except reworked a little bit to suit the DS. This being such a small game it's ideal for a prize and Club Nintendo to reward Nintendo fans.

But Australia is the only country that still doesn't have a Club Nintendo, even though it was announced for us before America.

What is Club Nintendo?

Club Nintendo is a prize service that rewards customers for buying Nintendo games or products. Every eligible game has a special Club Nintendo card which has a unique code. Once you enter this unique code on the website, you will be awarded with points. With this points you can buy prizes of the site.

Here are some great prizes available on the Japanese and European Site

Official Super Mario Galaxy Soundtrack

Your custom Mii engraved on you Wii remote battery cover

Mario Statue

Official SNES Classic Controller

Link Statue

Whether Club Nintendo is started in Australia anytime soon is questionable.

BLING BLING! It's that Mario Thing!

This Mario pendant covered in 14.5 carrats of round cut diamonds in Mario colours is worth $11,000 dollars! But you can buy it now for $7000.

It's not unusual to see strange things on eBay, but the fact that someone put so much effort into making it just see it being sold on a website where people usually sell toenail clippings and ghosts is fairly extravagant!

Wanna buy it? too late the item has ended.

here it is!

Poll Results 2

This poll was more of a quiz from the last poll.

I just thought of it as I was playing Super Mario Bros 2 on the virtual console.


In Which game did the Shyguy first appear in?

Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros 2
Yoshi's island
Yoshi's Story

The correct answer is Super Mario Bros 2. The American Version that is.
Allow me to explain,
Nintendo created Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan and saw that it was incredibly difficult, probably too difficult for America. So when Nintendo found a perfect game that edit a little bit and use, the used that. And that game was called Doki Doki panic!
All Nintendo did to change the game to suit being called Mario bros 2 was put in the characters, Mario Luigi Peach and Toad. They titled the game Super Mario Bros 2 and were done with it.

But many people found out that the real Super Mario Bros. 2 was only available in Japan.

This is the original Super Mario Bros. 2












This is the Doki Doki Panic version




















It's obviously not the Super Mario Bros you remembered.

But if Nintendo hadn't used Doki Doki Panic to create Super Mario Bros.2, then there would be no character such as the Shyguy. Because Doki Doki Panic was the only game to have a Shyguy until Super Mario Bros 2 came along.

When Super Mario All Stars came out on the Super Nintendo, there was a problem. There had to be a compilation of past Super Mario Bros games but there was clearly two Super Mario Bros. 2's.
So Nintendo named Doki Doki Panic Super Mario USA, and Super Mario Bros 2. the Lost Levels. This also confused a lot of people.


I see most of you got this poll right, with 66% of you locking in the correct answer and the other 34% of you getting it wrong.

I still love Super Mario Bros. 2, even if it isn't the real version!

Announcement

tomorrow, There will be no posts. No updates. Nothing.

Tomorrow. IS MARIO KART WII!!

Nothing will get in my way of playing the game I've been waiting for, the review should be done by this weekend.

I just can't wait!

The countdown on the left is counting until 12:00 tonight, which means it's not entirely correct.

And here's a video to help ease the pain of waiting.

Mario Kart Wii's Battle mode fleshed out

The video above (made by Wii Folder's Josh Thomas) is a spoiler free look at the battle mode of Mario Kart Wii.
I was waiting for his coverage for a while now, and I think it's a bit too late because it's coming out this week, and he got the Japanese copy a while ago.

But it's still a great video anyway so have a look.

(The changed balloon battle is a little disappointing)

Bikes over Karts

Mario Kart seems to be turning into Mario Bike!

Ever since the introduction of the the bikes I was worried.
Any change to the classic Mario Kart franchise could break it's formula.
But everyone who has it seems to prefer using bikes. The majority of race times appear to be done using bikes.
I guess I'll decide which is better once I get it (5 more days!!!).

Rumor or News: Paper Mario on DS

I've been awaiting this franchise to visit the DS, but it could just be a rumor.

According to (the translated version of) a Ruliweb post about a note in the latest issue of CoroCoro Comic, a DS version of the Nintendo 64 Paper Mario is on the way

A port?I would've liked a new game but whatever.
I have never played the N64 Paper Mario so I'm looking forward to it.

It's a real life Mario Kart!

Well, it's more like a beetle but whatever.

This car looks totally awesome!

UK retailer GAME has offered this awesome mario kart themed Volkswagen in a forthcoming Mario Kart Wii competition!
All you have to do is pop along to one of the thirty participating UK stores on April 5th and get the fastest lap in the country. Easy!

There other prizes as well. One being the chance to play Mario Kart Wii a whole week early!

Too bad I'm not in the UK...

Classics- Mario vs Donkey Kong

it's truly a handheld achievement to remember!

I just felt like playing one of the classics! :)
If this game isn't perfect, then I don't know what is!

Mario vs Donkey Kong referenced back to the first game Mario Appeared in: Donkey Kong.
The game even features the classic start tone of Donkey Kong.
Mario Vs Donkey Kong was a very good looking game boy game. It had 2D characters and objects, that somehow, looked rendered in 3D! It looked great.
Mario Vs Donkey Kong also featured 3D pictures. That was basically the equivalent of the first cutscene.



Donkey Kong has to settle some differences with Mario, when Mario's Mini Mario toys get sold out everywhere.
Donkey Kong storms into Mario's company building, and steals all the mini Marios!
Mario must chase Donkey Kong around the building, to try and get his precious toys back.

The game makes you feel as though your running after Donkey Kong (and that's a good feeling).

This game is definitely a classic and should be remembered as: Portable Genius!

SCORE- GRAPHICS-89/100 STORY- 87/100 CONTROLS- 92/100 OVERALL- 95/100

"It's truly a handheld acheivement to remember"