Gamesugar

November 18, 2010

Return of the WiiWare Demo

Filed under: News Feed — Tags: , , , , , — Jamie Love @ 12:17 pm

WiiWare Demos
While other companies are offering discounts on digital software during the month of November, Nintendo has opted to treat us to the return of Demos for a selection of WiiWare titles. Starting November 22nd, gamers can sample Bit.Trip Fate, And Yet it Moves, ThruSpace and Jett Rocket, with additional demos being added each Monday and remaining available for “a limited time.”

Admittedly the title selection is nod worthy, but sometimes Nintendo reminds me of that relative that always gets me socks for Christmas. Sure socks are useful, but come on Big N, where’s the love?

Anyway, I’ll be optimistic today and hope that this demo idea catches on, I really believe it has potential.

November 16, 2010

Bit.trip Beatdown

Filed under: Editorial Rants — Tags: , , , , , — Jamie Love @ 6:26 pm

Bit.trip Fate
Over the last few days I’ve spent time catching up with the fifth installment in the Bit.Trip series, the shooter that straps Commander Video to a physical rail that rises and falls to create a roller coaster ride through an aptly named game, in the sense that it was inevitable that Gaijin Games would evoke the shooter spirit as a part of this series given it’s role as a fundamental pillar of the medium.

I’ve also spent a ridiculous amount of time fighting with the mechanics of the game, wanting to rip the Commander free of his structural chains to reclaim the mobility of the shooter. Conscious and continual effort became a concern, the focus on minding the heights of the rail behind and ahead of my position while simultaneously gauging the space between the bullets covering the screen for a chance to push ahead without piercing the Commander’s hitbox heart – the visibility of that ticker fading in and out to test my memory.

The game forces a level of concentration that makes me feel lazy, which I probably am, I do in fact spend a lot of time these days wondering how modern gaming so subtlety fed slothful habits that leave me resenting any game that requires me to sit up and pay close attention. Perhaps as a result, my fingers want for the option of taking the long road around a cluster of bullets, but Fate demands finding a path through the mess of small blocks, and I can’t deny that I initially resented the commitment.

Fate still knows how to tickle the shooter sensations, with power-ups that make a player feel like a golden bullet spewing God and boss patterns that require one earn the chance to shoot the core.

Making a long story short, or at least more relevant to the moment, this latest installment kicks my ass with fresh vigor, leaving me thinking less about controls and more about how I deal with rules. That said, there’s still something sticking in my teeth about this game, I’m just utterly clueless as to what exactly that is.

November 15, 2010

Your Monday Dose of Zen

Filed under: News Feed — Tags: , , , , , — Jamie Love @ 9:57 am

Derby Dogs
Aksys Games brings the dog track to WiiWare with Derby Dogs this week, entirely important because it reminded me of the greatest sport ever imagined within a videogame – of course I’m speaking of poison chihuahua racing.

If you’re unfamiliar with the sport, you can catch some video after the break, or consult the nearest available copy of God Hand.

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November 10, 2010

It’s On Like Donkey Kong

It's On Like Donkey Kong
But only if Nintendo says so.

The company filed a request with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in order to trademark the phrase, which they word as “in honor” of the approaching release of Donkey Kong Country Returns. At no additional charge the same PR spiel cites the pop-culture nature of the phrase’s use in music, television and film, which I would naively think reason enough toward why Nintendo shouldn’t be able to trademark the phrase.

Keep in mind I ain’t no lawyer or anything, just a dude walking the wasteland of gaming.

November 8, 2010

Q&A – Konami Talks No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise

No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise
No More Heroes led a series of unique and alternative experiences offered by the Wii when it released in 2008. The story of Travis Touchdown’s quest to survive the streets of Santa Destroy in order to rise to the top of the United Assassins Association, if only to get the girl, represented a wave of punk sensibility rarely seen in the industry and also exclusive to Nintendo’s console.

Marvelous Entertainment broadened the chance for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners to share in the bloodletting with the Japanese release of Heroes’ Paradise this year, and many of us have patiently waited to learn which publisher might plan to bring that HD love our way.

Recently it was revealed that Konami would answer the call, announcing a Move supported PlayStation 3 version. Not unlike starving dogs, we hungered for more details.

Luckily for us, both Marvelous and Konami production team’s Tak Fuji have merged forces not only to bring Heroes’ Paradise to North America, but also to answer our most pressing questions – as well as leaving us all with one I know many of you will offer answers to.

Get your Heroes’ Paradise fix after the break.

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November 6, 2010

Review – PokéPark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure

Filed under: Reviews — Tags: , , , , , , — Jamie Love @ 9:56 am

PokePark Wii: Pikachus Adventure
Caught between the release of HeartGold & SoulSilver this year and the waiting game for the new Black & White editions next year, Pikachu and the gang have opted to get away from rigorous training and stat grinding for some relaxation on the Wii via the PokéPark. It’s a vacation easily labeled and largely written-off as kid friendly, a description that earnestly sounds a bit ridiculous given the number of children I’ve watched swarm handheld stations at events for the more portable offerings the house that Pikachu built is known for.

Perhaps we could label this release more free-range, with players turning the WiiMote sideways to take direct control of Pikachu, exploring the zones that comprise the PokéPark and grasping at another opportunity to touch the franchise by different means.

The priority of the PokéPark isn’t to catch them all, rather to meet them all, and if possible to become friends with them all. Certainly that touchy-feely angle sounds more childlike, but the label is more properly grounded in the simplistic design and approach, from the controls to the specific objectives on Pikachu’s todo list.

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October 28, 2010

Let’s Unbox – No More Heroes 2 : Hopper’s Edition

No More Heroes 2: Hopper's Edition
First-rate Sugarfiend Ujn Hunter had an import order placed for Marvelous’ swagged-out Japanese edition of No More Heroes 2 before they even knew they were making it.

Marvelous’ description of what was inside and on the discs left some questions, so with the release upon us, I’ve been nagging him for two days straight to rip it open and give us a tour, and he did, which is why we now know that The Hopper’s Edition has a motion styled / voice-acted comic, among other treats.

Catch some pics after the break.

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