Wii Party U – Impressions Part 2

As my time with Wii Party U continues, I had some time to play more of the GamePad-only games. I still have a bit to go before I get a well-rounded view of the entire game. Until then, I will keep posting periodic impressions. This specific update will solely focus on the mini games that play off-TV.

Mii-in-a-Row
This is kind of like Connect 4 mixed with Othello. Your goal is to create Mii characters on a grid, using heads, torsos, and legs. The trick is that you don’t know what piece you will get, and you’re going back and forth with an opponent. Every five rounds, you will compete in a mini game to allow the winner to flip one of their opponent’s pieces to your color. This was challenging and fun, as it created some strategy to the large lineup of other games that were faster, action games. The mini games you play in-between, though, were quick and over in no time. This is definitely a game I will go back to again.

Tabletop Baseball
If you have ever played those old-school baseball games in the arcade that function similar to a pinball machine, you will have an idea of what this is like. One player flings an analog stick to pitch the ball, while the other player flings another one to hit the ball. You do not have to field the balls, as the hits all depends on where the ball goes. Hit it in a pipe, and you are out. Hit one that sits in the field, and you get a single. This was quite fun, and I was surprised at how much I wanted to keep playing this simple game.

Tabletop Gauntlet
The Tabletop Gauntlet is all about mazes. You can compete in one of two modes — the first allows you to move your group of three marbles through each section of the maze in order to score higher points, while the second mode has you controlling one marble all the way through the maze for the fastest time. You will use both the analog stick to manipulate the platforms, and the R button controls plungers and flippers. I found the one I liked the most is the timed runs, as I kept trying to beat my fastest time. This is definitely one that is fun to play by yourself.

The group of games available to play on the GamePad are actually very good, and they take advantage of the screen and buttons well. All the mini games in this collection are really simple, in terms of controls, so it does not surprise me that they all use only one or two buttons. This could make some players very comfortable, but advanced players could get frustrated by the lack of control options. Still, I believe the simple controls allow for more people to play, but there still some challenge there for veterans to improve their scores and times.

More to come later, in part 3…

If you missed part 1, click here.

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Wii imports to Europe discontinued, Wii Mini lives on

by Sinan Kubba on Oct 25th 2013 10:00AM

Europe won't receive further Wii stock, leaving the original form of the Nintendo console discontinued across the continent. Nintendo UK told MCV there'll be no more Wii imports in Europe, although the company noted that the Wii Mini remains available.

The news follows confirmation the Wii is still alive and kicking in North America, despite being discontinued in Japan recently.

Wii shipments finally reached the 100 million mark this summer, underlining just how popular a console it was. With the Wii U nearly a year old and the 3DS overtaking the Wii's lifetime sales in Japan, now's as good a time as any to let the Wii catch some Ziis.

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Lovefilm arrives on Wii in the UK, coming to Wii U 'shortly'

AMAZON'S LOVEFiLM LAUNCHES ON Wii WITH LAUNCH ON Wii U COMING SOON

LOVEFiLM, an Amazon company, launches on Nintendo's Wii home console today with a launch on Nintendo's new HD home console Wii U to follow shortly, transforming the movie viewing experience for up to eight million UK Wii users who will now be able to select and instantly stream movies and TV shows with a wave of their Wii Remote.

The launch will bring the LOVEFiLM Instant service into the homes of more film fans than ever before, enabling them to watch unlimited movies and TV series instantly through their Internet-connected Wii console and all from as little as £4.99 a month.

Blockbuster films to enjoy from launch this December include Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, director Christopher Nolan's mind-bending Inception and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 starring Robert Pattinson. There's great TV too including every season of Downton Abbey – the most critically acclaimed British TV series ever made – and seasons one to seven of American medical drama Grey's Anatomy which has received 25 Primetime Emmy Award nominations so far.

LOVEFiLM members who have a Wii console are able to download the LOVEFiLM application from the Wii Shop Channel for free today. Once installed, members can watch, search, browse, rate and review titles from the LOVEFiLM Instant catalogue – all as part of their existing membership package.

LOVEFiLM Instant is now available on a complete range of living room devices including Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, PlayStation®3, iPad® and Xbox 360 in addition to the Wii, plus a growing number of Blu-ray players and Internet-connected TVs.

Unlimited streaming packages start from just £4.99 a month – the lowest of any comparable subscription service.

Shelly Pearce, Marketing & PR Director for Nintendo UK said:
"We are thrilled to be partnering with LOVEFiLM to offer Wii owners and soon Wii U owners on-demand film and TV content to enjoy. LOVEFiLM has a proven track record of success and innovation in film distribution and is a very welcome addition."

Jim Buckle, Managing Director at LOVEFiLM, said:
"Launching on the Wii, combined with our impending arrival on the Wii U, is great news for our members. The Wii is a console for the whole family and with our vast catalogue of kid's and family-friendly films and TV shows there's more for everyone to enjoy at LOVEFiLM compared to any other subscription service. We offer our customers a great selection at exceptional value and the huge array of platforms we're now available on means it's never been easier or more convenient for our customers to access what they want to watch, however and wherever they choose."

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RUMOR – Bayonetta 2 release window/date to be revealed soon?

As the title suggests, this may be a rumor or this may be a reveal of some kind.  Last night Hideki Kamiya the producer of the epic Wonderful 101 and also producer of Bayonetta 2 revealed that the release “date” would be announced next week, in game magazines.  Even though this is from the man himself, it should still be taken with a grain of salt since he could be “trolling” us followers.  What do you think, is there anything legitimate in this post?  Let us in know the comments and in the forums.

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REVIEW – Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (3DS)

A Game Review by Greg Dabkey

Game – Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Version – 3DS
ESRB Rating: ‘E10+’ – Everyone 10 and up
Price: $39.99
Release Date: 8/11/2013
Obtained – Courtesy of my wallet

Will this game be a giant snoozefest or will it be the RPG of your dreams?  Read on to find out how this one stacks up!

Story/Plot

Mario, Luigi, Peach and residents of the Mushroom Kingdom were invited to the Pi’illo Kingdom to improve relations with their kingdom.  On their journey over, Luigi falls asleep and has a nightmare when Antasma invades him dream.  It makes the ship lose control and crash land, thankfully just outside the Pi’illo kingdom.  They discover that some new residents reside in the Pi’illo kingdom as the Pi’illos mysteriously disappeared many years ago.  Mario and Luigi find the ancient Pi’illo artifact and come to discover it was a petrified Pi’illo.  They learn that Antasma had shattered a Nightmare stone and caused the Pi’illos to be encased within their dreams.  They rescue a few different Pi’illos before Bowser arrives.  Bowser then travels to the Dream world and teams up with Antasma and helps him escape the dream world and they both capture Princess Peach.  Can Mario and Luigi save the day again and restore the Pi’illo kingdom and save Peach?

Gameplay & Controls

Mario and Luigi: Dream Team brings back the same RPG gameplay, and controls.  Fans familiar with the series should feel right at home already having a leg up on the controls and how the game works.  Basically the player controls Mario and Luigi and they traverse through the Pi’illo kingdom.  There are enemies in which triggers a battle sequence when either Mario or Luigi touch the enemy or if the enemy touches them.  The combat is simple and pretty interactive, like the rest of the series.  They have a basic jump and hammer command and the bros attacks also return.  For those that don’t know the bros attacks use bros points (BP) which acts similar to magic points in an RPG.  Basically they are a much more powerful attack.  The combat hasn’t changed, but to those new to the series, you can deal additional damage by using the A (for Mario) or B (for Luigi) buttons at the perfect time.  The game gives you plenty of practice at the beginning to learn the timing.   You can also counter particular enemy attacks or able to dodge if the buttons are pressed at the ideal time.

One of the main things with this game was the excessive hand-holding.  Every time something new is learned it takes you to the pause screen or the demo or some sort of menu.  They also remind you at every opportunity you can review it at any time.  It would be ideal to be able to disable these controls, since afterall this is the 4th game in the series.  Anyways, another new feature to this game is the dream world.  Luigi and lay down on a petrified Pi’illo or at a dream point and instantly fall asleep.  Mario then enters the dream world.  He is then joined by dreamy Luigi.  The ‘real’ world is more 3D, and the dream world is only 2D platforming.  Combat also occurs in the dream world, but dreamy Luigi merges inside of Mario for some additional attack power.  Mario’s attacks also includes Luigi clones if the buttons are timed right and receive a “Great” or “Excellent” causing additional damage.  Instead of bros attacks, Mario learns Luiginary attacks which are basically bros attacks, but with dozens of Luigis replacing the single Luigi.  Also at specific times there is the Dreamy “mega” Luigi battle where they do the epic sized battles found in Bowser’s Inside Story.  Mario acts as a helper and assists Luigi do his attacks, and these are done with the stylus with the 3DS turned on it’s side.

Basically the same gameplay is brought over for Dream Team with the intriguing story line.  The same bean collection and moves return (hammer, small Mario, twirl jump.  The game does include a modified tall jump where the bros become a ball to reach higher platforms.  Also Luigi gets a drill spin move to break rocks and do a quick horizontal twirl.  The bros also can get additional equipment by upgrading their ranks at particular levels, in addition to other custom options.  Overall the gameplay is mostly the same, but it is also very fun as I can’t seem to put the game down.  This added in some particular puzzles that had the player think a little what to do.  There are also a variety of mini-games for additional prizes to be one.  My favorite addition was the expert challenges, causing the player to be on top of their game.  There are three types of challenges and are completed throughout the journey.  There is the No Hitter, where you basically have to win a battle against each and every type of enemy without taking damage, but the enemy must be granted 1 turn to attack you.  Next is the dodge 10 where the player must dodge 10 attack rounds in a row (can be multiple battles) for battles within that region.  If the player misses a dodge, the counter resets and the player must begin again.  Finally there is the excellent 10 where the player must perform 10 excellent attacks in a row (can be multiple battles), this one is also region based.  There are items that increase your attack or defense based on your expert challenge completion.

Visuals & Sound

The visuals are pretty solid for the 3DS and the same text bubbles are shown throughout.  The 3D can make some pretty cool effects, particularly in battle with some of the bros. attacks.  It is not required to complete any part of the game.  All of the characters have plenty of details and the backgrounds fit the environment very well.  It’s the same typical Mario areas that provide the exclusive environments to each region (Mountain, Desert, Water/Beach, Lava, and Forest).  In terms of sound and music,  many of the same sound effects also return in this one.  The music I did not find anything special, but it also was not anything awful to listen to.  Mario and Luigi’s gibberish also returns in this game as well, which I have always enjoyed.  Unfortunately this game is not really voice-acted and has plentiful text bubbles.  Mario and Luigi have very limited sayings (excluding the gibberish), and none of the new characters have a voice.

Conclusion 

Overall the game is very entertaining and can easily take many hours to complete, especially if you are going after all the challenges, rescuing each and every Pi’illo and the famous beans are hidden throughout the many grounds.  It’s an awesome factor that the collectibles are numbered per region, but some of the expert challenges will be up to the player.  While the game isn’t anything spectacular in the visual or music department, they do provide an engaging environment as the story is pretty solid compared the latest Paper Mario entry.  Finally, it’s the suburb controls that remain in this one giving the player plenty of practice with the bros. attacks, achieving “excellents” and plenty of items to assist with healing, bros points, conditions and other needs.

Final Score: 9 out of 10

+ Excellent story
+ New Expert challenges
+ Returning excellent engaging gameplay
+ Fun humor element remains and fresh
+ Giant boss battles are still fun
+ Dream worlds provide some puzzle solving elements
- Mediocre music selection
- Game is easy, and makes you beat it to unlock “hard mode”

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Nintendo Bringing Some Big Games to New York Comic Con

Will you be at the New York Comic Con October 10-13, 2013? So will Nintendo! They will be bringing games like Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2, Sonic Lost World, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Also, speaking of Zelda, producer Eiji Aonuma will host a speaking session. If you are around the NYC Comic Con, you should definitely stop by that session.

Check out the press release below for more information.

—————

PRESS RELEASE

Nintendo Takes Big Games to the Big Apple at New York Comic Con

Speaking Session by Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma and Special Kid’s Day Activities Lead Nintendo’s Presence

New York Comic Con 2013

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo is bringing a wide variety of activities and games to this year’s New York Comic Con event. In addition to having a booth with playable versions of many unreleased Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games, as well as the new Nintendo 2DS system, Nintendo is hosting a must-see speaking session with Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for Nintendo 3DS and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD for Wii U. Other unique events include special activities during Kid’s Day on Oct. 13, competitive video game tournaments, artist demonstrations and giveaways (while supplies last).

“Our games really show off the capabilities of Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, and consumers love hands-on opportunities,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “We have a commitment to offer fans both value and variety going into this holiday season, and with our activities at New York Comic Con, we are out to show why Nintendo offers the most fun experiences available.”

On Friday, Oct. 11, Mr. Aonuma will host a special speaking session focusing on the just-released The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD game for Wii U and the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds game for Nintendo 3DS. The event will take place in room 1A06 at 2:45 p.m. ET and is open to all New York Comic Con attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors to the Nintendo booth (#1436) will have an opportunity to get hands-on time with Nintendo 2DS, Nintendo’s newest hand-held system, as well as the following Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games:

Wii U

• Super Mario 3D World from Nintendo

• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze from Nintendo

• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD from Nintendo

• Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games from Nintendo

• Bayonetta 2 from Nintendo

• Sonic Lost World from SEGA

Nintendo 3DS

• Pokémon X and Pokémon Y from Nintendo

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds from Nintendo

• Mario Party: Island Tour from Nintendo

• Sonic Lost World from SEGA

• Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

• Skylanders SWAP Force from Activision Publishing

On Sunday, Oct. 13 – Kid’s Day at New York Comic Con – some of Nintendo’s youngest fans will be happy to take part in a wide variety of kid-friendly activities for the new Nintendo 2DS hand-held system, including taking photos with a Mario costume character in a holiday-themed setting and speaking with Mario himself through the “Mario in Real-Time” service. Attendees that sample Nintendo 2DS on Oct. 13 will also receive an exclusive cinch-bag featuring artwork from both The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour (while supplies last).

In room 1E02, various competitive tournaments will take place, pitting players against each other in classic Virtual Console games from the Nintendo eShop. The room will also feature the following recent and upcoming Nintendo eShop games for free play.

Wii U

Toki Tori 2+ from Two TribesBIT.TRIP Presents…Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien from Gaijin GamesQ.U.B.E. Director’s Cut from Toxic GamesShovel Knight from Yacht Club Games

Nintendo 3DS

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse from WayForwardRetro City Rampage from Vblank EntertainmentSteamWorld Dig from Image & FormPhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies from Capcom

The Nintendo booth will also host the Nintendo World store, where visitors can purchase select Nintendo software, hardware, apparel and merchandise. Games like Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, The Wonderful 101 and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will be available for purchase. Nintendo 2DS hardware and the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y games will be available for purchase starting Oct. 12. Visitors who purchase any Nintendo hardware in this location will receive a Nintendo 2DS carrying case as a free gift with purchase.

Once visitors to the booth are done checking out the games, the Nintendo fun continues. A sandcastle artist will be sculpting a recreation of Windfall Island from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD out of sand at the Javits Inner Roadway, directly in front of the Javits Convention Center. The completed sandcastle will be available for viewing on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13.

New York Comic Con runs Oct. 10-13 at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan. The Javits Center is located at 655 West 34th Street. Nintendo will be in booth No. 1436.

For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com. Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about these and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu and http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games TM IOC/SOCHI2014/USOC 36USC220506. Copyright © 2013 International Olympic Committee (“IOC”). All rights reserved. This video game is the property of the IOC and may not be copied, republished, stored in a retrieval system or otherwise reproduced or transmitted, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means whatsoever without the prior written consent of the IOC.

All other trademarks and copyrights are properties of their respective owners.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.1 billion video games and more than 655 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

[PR Email]

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GameStop nabs Disney Infinity Jack Skellington figure

GameStop "Infinity Day": Celebrate the Arrival of Jack Skellington

Families and fans of Disney Infinity can come experience the joy of Disney Interactive's largest video-game to date as GameStop will be hosting "Infinity Day" to celebrate the release of the Jack Skellington figure. Jack Skellington is a timed-exclusive and can only be found at GameStop stores on October 5th. All U.S. GameStop locations will be hosting the event and in nearly 100 GameStop stores Nintendo team members will demo the game live.

The event includes:

• GameStop exclusive early access to Jack Skellington figure

• The first 50 customers will receive a free Jack Skellington poster

• Save $10 on the Disney Infinity official strategy guide when you buy a starter kit or Jack Skellington figure

• Swap "Power Discs" with fellow gamers

• Live game demo's (In select stores)

Visit http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/events/DisneyInfinityDay/Default.aspx for more information about events at participating stores.

Disney Infinity is available on the Nintendo 3DS, Wii™, Wii™ U, Xbox 360™ game and entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

For more information on Disney Infinity and the Jack Skellington figure please visit http://www.gamestop.com/collectibles/toys/disney-infinity-jack-skellington-figure/111380

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Wii Sports Club Eshop WiiU New Images

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Taiko No Tatsujin Wii U Version WiiU New Images

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Nintendo Download: October 3, 2013

Welcome to Thursday, all you Nintendo fans. You know what time it is. It’s time for the Nintendo Download – the time when we are either pleased or slightly confused at what Nintendo releases for download this week.

Let’s start with Wii U. TNT Racers – Nitro Machines Edition hits the eShop today, and Just Dance 2014 is coming on Tuesday. Over on the 3DS, though, there are quite a few more options. Family Bowling 3D, Halloween: Trick or Treat 2, Happy Circus, PICROSS e3, and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure all hit the eShop today, along with a free demo of Witch & Hero. If none of those work for you, maybe you can get excited about Jewel Quest 5, which hits the DSi Shop and the 3DS eShop today.

For those not interested in new games, Nintendo has also launched a couple sales. Starting today, you can get Final Fight 1, 2, 0r 3 in the Wii U eShop, and then get another fighting game for 50% off (until October 10). And for those who have not picked up Little Inferno yet, the price will be 50% until October 9.

That is it for this week’s Nintendo Download. Be sure to check out the full list of all the releases and prices below, along with the official press release information, straight from Nintendo of America. And be sure to let us know what game(s) or apps get you excited to play. Let us know in the comments below or in our forums!

Nintendo eShop on Wii U

Just Dance 2014 ($TBD) *Starting 10.8.2013*TNT Racers – Nitro Machines Edition ($7.99)

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS

Family Bowling 3D  ($4.99)Halloween: Trick or Treat 2 ($7.99)Happy Circus ($TBD)PICROSS e3 ($5.99)Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure ($TBD)Witch & Hero – demo version (FREE)

DSiWare on DSi Shop and Nintendo 3DS

Jewel Quest 5 – The Sleepless Star (800 Points / $7.99)

Sales and Discounts

Final Fight™ Promo – Starting today, buy Final Fight, Final Fight 2 or Final Fight 3 in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and get 50 percent off the purchase of another fighting game, like Street Fighter II’ Turbo: Hyper Fighting and other selected games. This offer is good until 9 a.m. on Oct. 10.Little Inferno – Burn flaming logs, screaming robots, credit cards, batteries, exploding fish, unstable nuclear devices and tiny galaxies in an adventure that takes place almost entirely in front of a fireplace. Starting Oct. 3, download Little Inferno in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U at 50 percent off until 9 a.m. PT on Oct. 9.

——————————–

PRESS RELEASE

[PR Email from Nintendo of America]

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Nintendo Attempts to Reach Young Children & New Gamers with Nintendo 2DS

This Saturday, Nintendo will venture into a market they have often been accused of targeting – young children. The upcoming launch of the Nintendo 2DS could be an incredibly smart move for the company, or it could be something no one will understand.

Not only does the device’s existence make it seem as if Nintendo has given up, at least to some degree, on the third-dimension, but it also seems strange that they abandoned their clamshell design that has been popular over the past several years. Sure, this device is geared toward young children, who may break the hinge of a traditional Nintendo DS or 3DS, but you also have buttons and screens that are more susceptible to damage.

As the old saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. So, while many may not understand this move, just as they did not understand the Wii Mini, only time will tell if it pays off for the “Big N.” The Nintendo 2DS will launch at an MSRP of $129.99 alongside Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, which could help its sales.

Find out more in the press release below.

Nintendo Reaches out to First-Time Gamers with New Nintendo 2DS Portable System

New System Launches Alongside Pokémon X and Pokémon Y on Oct. 12 for $129.99 MSRP

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Nintendo 3DS family is about to get a fun new addition. Launching on Oct. 12 at a suggested retail price of $129.99, the Nintendo 2DS system is designed specifically as an accessible entry point into the exciting world of Nintendo hand-held video games. The Nintendo 2DS system maintains many of the same hardware features as Nintendo 3DS, like touch-screen controls, StreetPass, online multiplayer functionality and the ability to download games.

The Nintendo 2DS system is comfortable and fits easily in the hands of people of all ages. Without any hinges, the durable Nintendo 2DS is an especially perfect first-time system for kids. Available in red and blue, Nintendo 2DS plays all Nintendo 3DS games in 2D, including recent hits like Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, as well as upcoming games The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour (both launching Nov. 22). In addition, Nintendo 2DS is backward compatible and can play the huge existing library of Nintendo DS games. Two sturdy and soft carrying cases in either red or blue will also be available at launch for a suggested retail price of $12.99 each.

Nintendo 2DS launches on the same day as Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, the next installments in the world-famous Pokémon series, ensuring that Oct. 12 will be one of the most talked-about video game days of the year.

“The Nintendo 2DS system expands the Nintendo 3DS family,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “At such an attractive price, and with such a huge library of games, it’s a great gift, no matter who you’re shopping for this holiday season.”

Remember that Nintendo 2DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/2ds/.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.1 billion video games and more than 655 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

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ALBUM REVIEW – World 1-2: The Complete Collection

Album review by Steve Cullum

Album – World 1-2: The Complete Collection
Artist – Various Artists
Label – Koopa Soundworks
Obtained – Review Copy from Scarlet Moon Promotions

What would you say if I told you there was a collection of 34 tracks from various video games available via download or a three-disc set? What if I told you that list included songs from Mario, Sonic, Metroid, Zelda, Fire Emblem, and more? What if I told you many of the tracks are performed by the original artists? If you’re getting excited, you may want to read on to find out what Koopa Soundworks’ “World 1-2: The Complete Collection” is all about.

Content

I must start out talking about the sheer size of this collection. It brings past projects in with new ones into a massive 34 tracks from various games throughout history. It ranges from Tetris and Mega Man X3 to Street Fighter II and Metroid Prime. The collection itself is quite vast. Despite your favorite game genre, platform, or composer, most listeners will find something they enjoy. In fact, if you are like me, you will also increase your preference list as you listen to the rest of the track list.

From a Nintendo standpoint, they did a great job of collecting songs from the top franchises. You have first-party games like Super Mario World, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid Prime, Fire Emblem, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You also have third-parties like Mega Man (3, 5, & X3), Tetris, and Street Fighter II. Not only did they pick popular franchises, but they also chose some of the popular songs from each game. You will definitely recognize the songs from Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and Mega Man, for example. All in all, it seems that any Nintendo fan will be delighted to hear tunes from their favorite game.

(The full tracklist is available at the bottom of this review.)

Production Quality

While this is a collection, meaning that many different artists and groups have come together, the overall quality is extremely high. Many of the songs have a full orchestra, while others seem like they are composed using computers. Either way, they all sound fantastic. Many of the songs are even remixed, in order to add their own syle and flavor to the popular tune. Sure, some fans may not enjoy this, but I believe most will be very pleased with the outcome. It will be hard to complain about the quality of the music and the overall production value in World 1-2.

Value

With 34 tracks, it is easy to assume this collection will cost you over $30. It is, however, lower than that. You can grab the three-disc set for $24 (USD), or you can download the entire collection for a mere $16. For those of you math fanatics out there, that is about 47 cents per track. On top of that, they even give you the option, via BandCamp.com, to download the songs one-at-a-time for $1 per track. Honestly, I believe downloading the full album is the best value. Even though $24 might not seem like a large sum of cash, it is significantly more than the download-only price. Still, it might be worth it for those who want higher than mp3-quality sound or those who want a limited-edition package. In the end, all the options make it a great value for any video game music fan.

FINAL SCORE: 9.5 out of 10

World 1-2 is a great collection of video game music from a long list of fantastic composers and artists. Fans of Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and Fire Emblem will certainly be pleased with this collection. In fact, it may even get them, if they haven’t already, to broaden their tastes for all video game music. If you are looking for a large collection that will not break the bank, go ahead and order World 1-2: The Complete Collection from Koopa Soundworks.

+ Large and vast collection.
+ High production value.
+ Remixes add new flavor.

- Remixes might be too much for some fans.
– Not enough Nintendo music (only halfway kidding; we are a Nintendo site, after all).

—————

Full Tracklist

Andi Bissig – Waldfest 02:16Manami Matsumae – One Shot, One Kill 02:52ABSRDST – The Cold Ruins of a Once Great City (Metroid Prime) 05:53Chipzel – Tokyo Skies 03:54Agent Whiskers – Resurgence of Hope 03:56Benjamin Briggs – Driving Upwards 05:16Marius Masalar – Maybe a Time of Miracles (Sworcery) 06:14Eirik Suhrke – Corrosion Jam (Spelunky) 02:40Keiji Yamagishi – Memories of T 02:18Danimal Cannon and Zef – Legacy 05:15halc – Blooper Reeling (Super Mario World) 03:17Akira Yamaoka – Rose Cat 05:13Jessica Curry – Twenty One 02:51Circles (feat. Tina Guo) 03:30Mosaic (feat. Cory Johnson) [Tetris] 05:19Benjamin Briggs – Trolls! (Trolls) 04:38halc – Dubsection (Final Fantasy Tactics) 03:23Module – The Night Fighter (Street Fighter 2) 03:23Eiko Ishiwata Nichols – Miasma Rising 04:42Video Game Orchestra – Victory (Captain Tsubasa 2) 07:29Monomirror – Descent (Metroid) 05:21Nightswim – A Crook Man’s Eyes (Mega Man 5) 03:38Cory Johnson – The Gerudo Ritual (Ocarina of Time) 03:55Manami Matsumae – One Shot, One Kill (Revisited) 03:12Video Game Orchestra – Full Focus (Super Hexagon) 04:20halc – Blast Radius (Mega Man X3) 03:10ABSRDST – Unified (Fire Emblem) 06:06Agent Whiskers – Wrath of the Tiger (Captain Tsubasa 2) 04:14Ben Prunty – Hot Machine, Cold Surface (Metroid Prime) 03:34Insert Rupee – Lost Our Marbles (Sonic The Hedgehog) 04:03AES – My Kind of Blues (Mega Man 3) 05:25The OneUps – I Do It for the Faeries (The Legend of Zelda) 03:58Benjamin Briggs & Theory of N – Pride of Nations (Captain Tsubasa 2) 03:07Xavier “mv” Dang – Primal Perspective (Parasite Eve) 06:55

Purchase/Listen to the Complete Album

You can currently listen to the album in its entirety, view photos of the limited edition packaging, and purchase the collection on Bandcamp:

http://koopasw.bandcamp.com/album/world-1-2-the-complete-collection

About the Koopa Soundworks

Koopa Soundworks is a label founded in 2012 with the primary goal of bringing together artists from across the globe to create high-quality collaborative projects that adhere to the simple and succinct motto, “Good Music.” While based in Kuwait, Koopa Soundworks also hosts top-class sound engineers and composers from Switzerland and Japan, making it an international music house influenced by artists all around the world.

NES-era legends Manami Matsumae (of Mega Man) and Keiji Yamashigi (of Ninja Gaiden) joined the team Koopa Soundworks as composers and co-planners, and were most recently joined by some of the most well-respected composers from the East and West–as well as the top talent from the chiptune, game music remixing, and game music tribute band scenes–to create the hugely popular World 1-2 album and its follow-up, Encore.

The team is currently busy working on new and exciting projects, which you can learn more about on the label’s official website: http://koopa.tv/.

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Wii production shutting down soon

by Earnest Cavalli on Oct 1st 2013 6:00PM

Though the Wii stands as Nintendo's top-selling console, it appears that the device is not long for this world.

Nintendo of Japan revealed the news on its official Wii website (courtesy Kotaku translation), stating that Wii "manufacturing is scheduled to end soon." It offers no firm date after which the company will cease building Wiis, nor any official word on whether this move is exclusive to Japan or if it applies globally. We've reached out to Nintendo for clarification.

As Engadget points out, this decision should come as little surprise. Nintendo released the Wii's successor nearly a year ago, and has long since turned its PR efforts toward the new machine. Further, the Wii U has been able to play Wii games since day one. Its most recent update even allows players to enjoy Wii software on the new system's portable GamePad screen.

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Pac Man Museum Eshop WiiU New Images

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Super Smash Bros WiiU New Images

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Super Smash Bros WiiU New Images

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The Speed Gamers return with another 72-hour marathon for charity

by Jordan Mallory on Dec 6th 2012 3:00AM

Texas-based marathon-gaming group The Speed Gamers is preparing for its annual winter charity drive once again, this year raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through extensive exposure to Mario and his various exploits.

Starting at 7 p.m. Eastern on December 14, the group's non-stop 72-hour gaming session will work its way through a respectable block of Mario games, spanning the vastness of the plumber's body of work, both new and old. The whole event will be streamed live on the group's official website, where viewers can donate to not only help a worthy cause, but to also win prizes and play practical jokes on the marathoners.

So far this year, The Speed Gamers has already raised $59,324.36 for charity, thanks to its insane 168-hour Pokemon marathon last June. In total, the organization has accumulated $369,304.15 for various causes since it was founded in 2008.

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Cars Platforms Eshop WiiU New Images

These are some new images of the Nintendo WiiU game Cars Platforms Eshop

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Club Nintendo – October 2013 Games Update

Club Nintendo has added four new games to the rewards list for October 2013.

The Legend of Zelda (3DS) – 150 CoinsTouch Solitaire (3DS) – 100 CoinsSuper Mario Kart (Wii) – 150 CoinsThruSpace (Wii) – 150 Coins

Grab the download codes for these games at club.nintendo.com.

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Wii Fit U WiiU New Images

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The Legend Of Zelda The Wind Waker Hd WiiU New Images

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Now Playing: October 7-13, 2013

by Steven Wong on Oct 7th 2013 6:00PM

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Nintendo Download: October 10, 2013

Another Thursday and another Nintendo Download. What do we have today? We’ve got two Virtual Console games on Wii U, four retail titles hitting the 3DS eShop, one new 3DS download-only title, and one DSiWare game. Let’s jump right in.

The biggest news is probably that Pokemon X and Pokemon Y will both hit the 3DS eShop on October 12. Other than that, you can also get Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked and Super Black Bass 3D now on the eShop. The one new download-only title is Aqua Moto Racing 3D. Over on the Wii U side, we get the two NES games – Tennis and Golf. Finally, there is one new DSiWare title this week in Zombie Blaster.

That is it for this week’s Nintendo Download. Be sure to check out the full list of all the releases and prices below, along with the official press release information, straight from Nintendo of America. And be sure to let us know what game(s) or apps get you excited to play. Let us know in the comments below or in our forums!

Nintendo eShop on Wii U

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS

Pokemon X  ($39.99) *Starting 10.12.2013*Pokemon Y ($39.99) *Starting 10.12.2013*Aqua Moto Racing 3D ($5.99)Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked ($39.99)Super Black Bass 3D ($TBD)

DSiWare on DSi Shop and Nintendo 3DS

Zombie Blaster (TBD Points / $TBD)

——————————–

PRESS RELEASE

[PR Email from Nintendo of America]

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Just Dance 2014 – Complete Song List

Just Dance 2014 launched today with over 40 songs. If you have been wondering what these songs include, you have come to the right place. Sure, the list will increase over time, through DLC, but here are the songs available with your purchase of the game:

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA
The Way – Ariana Grande Ft. Mac Miller
Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley
Isidora – Bog Bog Orkestar
Fine China – Chris Brown
Limbo – Daddy Yankee
Get Lucky – Daft Punk Ft. Pharrell Williams
Moskau – Dancing Bros.
She Wolf (Falling To Pieces) – David Guetta Ft. Sia
Prince Ali – Disney’s Aladdin
It’s You – Duck Sauce
Turn Up The Love – Far East Movement Ft. Cover Drive
The Love Boat – Frankie Bostello
Careless Whisper – George Michael
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani Ft. Eve
Feel So Right – Imposs Ft. Konshens
Wild – Jessie J Ft. Big Sean
I Kissed A Girl – Katy Perry
C’mon – Ke$ha
Applause – Lady Gaga
Just Dance – Lady Gaga Ft. Colby O’Donis
Just A Gigolo – Louis Prima
Blame It On The Boogie – Mick Jackson
In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry
Pound The Alarm – Nicki Minaj
Starships – Nicki Minaj
Troublemaker – Olly Murs Ft. Flo Rida
Kiss You – One Direction
Feel This Moment – Pitbull Ft. Christina Aguilera
Gentleman – PSY
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.
Maria – Ricky Martin
Where Have You Been – Rihanna
Candy – Robbie Williams
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke Ft. Pharrell
99 Luftballons – Rutschen Planeten
Miss Understood – Sammie
Nitro Bot – Sentai Express
Flashdance…What A Feeling – The Girly Team
Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In – The Sunlight Shakers
Y.M.C.A. – Village People
#thatPOWER – will.i.am Ft. Justin Bieber
Follow The Leader – Wisin & Yandel Ft. Jennifer Lopez

Note: Katy Perry’s song, Roar, is also available via free download.

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Cocoto Magic Circus 2 WiiU New Images

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New Super Mario Bros U WiiU New Images

These are some new images of the Nintendo WiiU game New Super Mario Bros U

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NF Community: Pokemon X and Y

In this feature, some of the NintendoFuse staffers have collaborated to tell you what we want to see in the newest Pokemon games, available on October 12. Many of us have been hiding from spoilers, so some of our answers may have already been confirmed/refuted by leaked content. If you want to have your thoughts featured in an upcoming NF Community article, keep your eyes on the forums, as we’ll sporadically put out requests there. As always, you can share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

Alexandre Trottier

-Increased Difficulty: I’ve never had an issue with the low level of difficulty in the Pokemon games, especially since they are designed to appeal to people of all ages, but I wouldn’t mind a more difficult postgame similar to the one found in Pokemon Black and White. Special trainers with smarter AI and cunning strategies would definitely add to the experience.

-The Return of Pokemon Contests/Secret Bases: Pokemon Contests were a great part of the third generation of Pokemon games. It gave moves an entirely different set of abilities on the Contest scene, and caused trainers to consider the impacts of their moves beyond simply battling with them. Unfortunately, Contests have not appeared in their original form since then, and additions like the Pokemon Musical were incredibly disappointing in that there was virtually no challenge or reward in participating in it.

-Unique Pokemon in Every Area: With over 700 Pokemon to choose from starting with X and Y, it would be nice to see completely different Pokemon in almost every area of the game. Fighting the same Pokemon, including Lilipup and Purrloin, in the first few routes of Black and White with the occasional different ones made it difficult to try out different team combinations until later on in the game when a wider variety of creatures became available. To me, part of the fun of the game is building a team from the very start and letting them grow with me as my adventure progresses. As such, I’d like to see a wider variety of Pokemon available from the get-go!

-An Alternative to HMs: Hidden Machines were an interesting part of the first few Pokemon games. By teaching your creatures certain moves, they could perform tasks like surfing on the ocean, cutting down trees, and moving large boulders. In many cases, it could become quite a hassle to find a Pokemon that could learn the specific HM you needed, and then fill up one of its precious move slots with an attack that you may not have wanted. Since Pokemon are naturally equipped with certain skills, like Scyther’s sharp claws, wouldn’t it make sense if they could just remove the trees without having to learn a special move?

-(Another) Compelling Story: Pokemon Black and White had interesting stories. They weren’t particularly amazing or mind-boggling, but they presented a realistic issue in the morality of capturing Pokemon, and developed a narrative around it. As the new games will feature more side-characters than ever before, I would like to see more character development, plot twists and a deeper story. Even a shake-up to the formula like allowing NPC’s Pokemon’s levels to scale with the players could allow the game to be opened up in such a way that the gyms could be beaten in any order, making the whole adventure far less linear.

 

Hassan Ahmed

-No HM’s: I like that they reduced HM’s and their limitations in recent games, but removing them completely would be great for me. Maybe instead allow for certain types of Pokemon to perform abilities, which would make for a more interesting game play idea.

-Unique story: Every game so far has had the standard beat 8 gyms and then challenge the Elite 4 plot. I’d like to see something new to change up the game play and make it fresh. They don’t have to remove gyms, but maybe more of an emphasis on stopping the evil villain team in the game. Make that the primary plot and it could get interesting.

-More new battle types: The addition of double and triple battles was great and a lot of fun. I would love more of those in the game. I’m especially interested in the new sky and hoard battles in X and Y because of this. Anything to make the game play fresh is cool in my book.

-Orchestrated music: There are some great tracks in the Pokemon games. If we had orchestrated music, the battles would be more exciting and the story more engaging. I realize that would be a major feat, but it’s one that would benefit the game if it were implemented.

-MMO feel: There are plenty of arguments as to why a Pokemon MMO won’t happen. But if I were to walk around in the game and see other trainers battling and catching Pokemon, that’d be sweet. They don’t have to make it an actual MMO. But make the game feel immersive by having NPC’s walk around and act like normal people rather than just stand there or walk back and forth. That would be amazing to see and would make me feel so much more invested in the Pokemon

 

Steve Cullum

-Enhanced Online Play: I want to see Nintendo and Game Freak giving people more of a reason to play online. Until now, some people jump online to trade with their friends and battle, but I want to see that expanded. Online cooperative play would be fantastic, but maybe they could take that even further with an MMO-style of play. A Pokemon universe would be a great addition, where trainers run around, battling with each other, doing missions together, and just having more fun together.

-Full Pokemon Game on Wii U: Not only would I like to see a full Pokemon game be playable on the Wii U in glorious HD, I would love for that game to be completely cross-platform with the 3DS. I want to play the game on my TV and my GamePad, but I also want the ability to take that same game with me when I leave the house. Similar to the Pokewalker, you could carry a number of Pokemon with you via your 3DS, level them up, and then use them or trade them with others while you are out. Then, when you arrive back at home, you hop right back to your Wii U and play with those Pokemon on your big-screen.

-Orchestra music: (See Hassan’s post)

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REVIEW – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (3DS)

A Game Review by Greg Dabkey

Game – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Version – 3DS
ESRB Rating: ‘E’ – Everyone 
Price: $29.99
Release Date: 9/24/2013
Obtained – Courtesy of GameMill

Will this game be all clear skies and fun, or will it be cloudy with a chance of not being so good?  Read on to find out!

Gameplay & Controls

The gameplay of this game may be quite familiar if you played Fruit Ninja,  or Cake Ninja.  Basically the player will have a starting time of 1 minute and various items will be tossed on the screen.  The player must ‘slash’ the food items, and avoid the red clocks or flaming marshmallows.  The touch screen will show a grey version of the food and where to slash and if it’s one of the bad items, it will be entirely red.  However, the player will need to keep an eye on the top screen as further along the player gets bonus points for slashing in the food item in a particular direction (shown with an arrow).  Also, throughout the session, some random gifts are tossed and often travel quite fast  which if slashed awards either an item for an invention, or some type of unlock-able.  There are also bonuses such as extending the time by a couple of seconds.  If the player slashes the flaming marshmallow the level is ended immediately.  When the level ends, the score is calculated and the player is given a 0-3 star rating.

There are 6 ‘worlds’ each with 6 levels.  There are also some challenges which are unlocked when the player gets a certain number of stars.  These are more endless modes for some practice or just setting a high score.  The unlock-ables are just characters to use their voice during the main story mode, or some blue prints to unlock inventions.  The story mode also has some variety where the player may have to slash a particular food 10 times (while still collecting other food and items), or to complete the level without missing more than 3 food items.  But mostly, it is just going after the food and avoiding the negative items.  There are some items that take multiple slashes and bonus items that need to be slashed repeatedly.  I was only able to build one of the inventions despite unlocking all 4.  The special items required for building them do not seem to appear very often as I completed all 36 levels and replayed some numerous times for the 3 star rating.

As for the controls, nothing is used besides the stylus.  The stylus is used to slash the food during the game and also used to select the mode.  I would like to point out that the slashing is entirely too sensitive.  If there’s a food item tossed near one of the red items, it becomes incredibly difficult to get the item.  I’ve noticed on numerous occasions where I thought I had a clear shot at the item and the game said I hit both.  Oftentimes it is the item that gives the instant game over forcing me to replay the level.  I understand it is trying to be a little tricky and difficult, but I’ve usually played most of the levels looking at the bottom screen to attempt to avoid the red items on the harder levels.

Visuals & Sound

This section goes half and half for the overall enjoyment of the game.  First off, the good.  The graphics for this game are very well done and each item is filled with detail.  The 3D effects are also very enjoyable and really make looking at the top screen enjoyable.  Now for the not so good part, the music and sounds.  Each of the 11 characters has one particular saying and whenever you slash one of the objects or unlockables, you have to listen to them repeat the one line which can get on the annoying side.  Some of the characters have weird accents or sayings where they get more annoying then others.  Also the music variety is nothing too memorable either and easily forgettable.  The sound effects of the score adding up and the end-of-level options bouncing down also gets on the annoying side as well.

Conclusion 

Overall the gameplay may have that familiar style to other games, however, the theme changes and the food tossed changes.  While there are several unlockables to acquire, some seem somewhat rare making it harder to collect all the inventions.  With the music and sounds more on the lacking side and the controls being somewhat difficult the game could have been better.  The graphics and mode variety try to help distinguish it from similar games and make the game more enjoyable to play.  I would recommend this game to fans of the toss and slash type of gameplay, or even those that are fans of the movie.  The concept is simple enough for anyone may enjoy it and makes it easy to play in small bursts.

Final Score: 7.5 out of 10

+ easy pick and play type of levels
+ variety of modes
+ beautiful graphics and 3D effects
+ plenty of unlockables
- limited sound clips
- sensitive controls
- limited items for inventions
- limited amounts of levels, game is a little short

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Super Smash Bros WiiU New Images

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Retro City Rampage – “One Year Anniversary” video

Check out the “One Year Anniversary” video of Retro City Rampage that highlights the progress the game has made over the past 12 months. This includes game footage, sales data, and even footage of an 8-bit prototype called “ROM” City Rampage.

If you still haven’t picked up the game, or want to own it on multiple platforms, be sure to stay tuned for more information about the 3DS version, slated to come out later this year!

(or here if the embedded video isn’t working!)

______________________________________________________________________________

Alexandre Trottier is incredibly excited for Retro City Rampage on 3DS, and hopes you are too. The WiiWare version didn’t sell very well, and he wants Brian Provinciano to know that Nintendo fans care about his game! You can follow Brian on Twitter @BriProv and Alex @NF_Alexandre. Check out the NintendoFuse forums to tell us what entices you the most about this indie title! Don’t forget to “like” the article, and share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Call Of Duty Ghosts WiiU New Images

These are some new images of the Nintendo WiiU game Call Of Duty Ghosts

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Toys'R'Us hosts Skylanders: Swap Force launch event with exclusive figures

TOYS"R"US® TO SERVE AS THE GLOBAL RETAIL DESTINATION FOR SKYLANDERS SWAP FORCE ™

Portal Masters Can Experience Brand-New Innovation – Swappability – Along with the Return of Exclusive Legendary Line, Special Events and More

Toys"R"Us Stores in the U.S. to Open Early on Sunday, October 13 to Welcome Eager Fans*

WAYNE, NJ (October 7, 2013) – Toys"R"Us® stores worldwide and Toysrus.com are poised to become the global retail destinations for consumers eager to explore the Swappable. Unstoppable. ™ world of Skylanders SWAP Force™, the highly anticipated follow-up to Activision Publishing, Inc.'s acclaimed Skylanders Giants™ and Skylanders Spyro's Adventure® gaming experiences. Set to debut on Sunday, October 13, this new video game combines the franchise's signature gameplay and collectible "toys to life" experience with an all-new, innovative play pattern – swappability – allowing Portal Masters to swap the top and bottom halves of Skylanders® figures to create their own unique characters. The game, which was named as one of the "Fabulous 15" on the company's 2013 Holiday Hot Toy List, will be available on the Nintendo Wii™, Wii U™, 3DS™, the Xbox 360™ game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, as well as the upcoming Xbox One™ and PlayStation®4 when they debut next month. Once again, Toys"R"Us will be the only place fans will find the limited edition Legendary Series of toys, including alternative versions of new SWAP Force characters, such as Free Ranger and Night Shift, both of which feature enhanced in-game powers and are available for preorder now at Toysrus.com/SkylandersSWAPForce.

"Activision has been a pioneer in the toy and gaming world, and with the highly successful launches of Skylanders Giants and Skylanders Spryo's Adventure, the virtual and toy worlds collided to bring toys to life – much to the delight of its now incredibly devoted fan base of kids. Skylanders SWAP Force now takes that innovation a step further, offering this concept with a whole new twist – customization," said Richard Barry, Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "As evidenced by its place as one of the 'Fabulous 15' on our Holiday Hot Toy list, we believe that Skylanders SWAP Force will be one of the most sought-after products to hit the market this holiday season. Once again, we applaud Activision's ingenuity and are proud to continue our strong global partnership with the brand, allowing us to bring the game to millions of enthusiastic young fans around the world."

Skylanders SWAP Force introduces 16 completely new Skylanders characters and 16 new swappable versions of fan-favorite characters from Skylanders Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders Giants, which players can turn into more than 250 unique in-game characters by swapping the top and bottom halves of the toys.** Fans can also play Skylanders SWAP Force with their entire collection of figures from both Skylanders Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders Giants, ensuring all stats and customizations remain intact. To help fans build their collections, Toys"R"Us will have the largest selection of Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, Skylanders Giants and Skylanders SWAP Force characters available – just in time for the holiday season.

"From the very beginning, Toys"R"Us has always believed in the magic of the Skylanders franchise. And they've helped us make it one of the hottest brands in all of entertainment," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "Just as we have taken the franchise to a new level of innovation with Skylanders SWAP Force, Toys"R"Us has also taken their support and commitment to the brand to a whole new level as well. We look forward to working with this key partner to bring the excitement of swappability to fans around the world."

Toys"R"Us Times Square to "Mix it Up" with Skylanders SWAP Force Launch Activities
As part of "SWAPtober," the month-long celebration of the launch of Skylanders SWAP Force, on Thursday, October 10, Activision is partnering with Toys"R"Us to bring the Skylands to life with "SWAPtoberfest." This fan festival in Times Square will provide kids with the opportunity to play the game before it's available, receive giveaways while supplies last, take photos with Skylanders characters, as well as take part in additional Skylanders SWAP Force-themed activities.

On Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13, the Toys"R"Us international flagship store in New York City will celebrate the launch of Skylanders SWAP Force with one-of-a-kind, in-store experiences. Street teams in Times Square will distribute informational cards throughout the weekend to build excitement and awareness of the upcoming launch. Customers who visit Toys"R"Us Times Square from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday will have the opportunity to be among the first to play the new game at dedicated kiosks throughout the store and receive complimentary giveaways, while supplies last.

Toys"R"Us U.S. Stores to Open Early for Game's Debut, Unveil Exclusive Toys
As the game debuts on Sunday, October 13, Toys"R"Us stores in the United States will open one hour early, at 8am, making Toys"R"Us the must-stop destination for Portal Masters ready to experience the game and exclusive figures.* In addition, select locations will be open from midnight to 1am on Sunday morning to accommodate super fans eager to get their hands on the game the moment it becomes available for sale. To view the full list of stores opening at midnight, customers can visit Toysrus.com/SkylandersSwapForce.

Also, at midnight on Sunday, October 13, parents will be able to browse and shop all Skylanders SWAP Force products online at Toysrus.com/SkylandersSWAPForce.

The following two exclusive Skylanders SWAP Force toys are available for preorder online at Toysrus.com/SkylandersSwapForce and will be available only at Toys"R"Us stores in the U.S. at launch, beginning Sunday, October 13:

Legendary Grim Creeper (Lightcore) from Activision Publishing, Inc.
Kids will be excited to take home this brand-new Toys"R"Us exclusive SWAP Force character as part of the limited edition Legendary Series. Legendary Grim Creeper is an alternative version of the new SWAP Force character with unique, enhanced in-game powers. Grim Creeper is considered to be one of the best reapers ever to swing a scythe in his quest to defend the Skylands. Whether using his scythe to eliminate enemies the easy way, or employing his suit of armor to produce a mega hard attack to triumph over even the toughest adversaries, kids are sure to love this undead Lightcore character. No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up.

Legendary Free Ranger from Activision Publishing, Inc.

Along with the same abilities as the new, original Free Ranger, this exclusive Legendary version features more lightning fast power. Fans will be taken on a high velocity adventure with Free Ranger as he battles with earth, wind and fire to protect the Skylands and reach his destiny as the greatest storm chaser in the land. Free Ranger is known for his ability to chase hurricanes, spin inside tornados and ride lightning, as well as for his catchphrase, "Whip Up a Storm!" No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up.

Following are additional Skylanders SWAP Force toys that will be available only at Toys"R"Us stores and online at Toysrus.com later this fall:

Legendary Night Shift from Activision Publishing, Inc.
For Portal Masters looking to add to their assortment of Skylanders SWAP Force figurines, this Toys"R"Us exclusive is a Legendary version of the new character soon to be famous for his massive uppercut and fighting spirit. The undefeated phantom-weight champion of Skylands, Night Shift stays true to his motto to "Roll with the Punches." This boxer is well-equipped to help the Skylanders protect their world, no matter the challenge, making him a must-have character for Portal Masters determined to prevail against evil. No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up.

Legendary Zoo Lou from Activision Publishing, Inc.
This Legendary version of the new Zoo Lou character is every bit as in tune with nature as the original, but with even more enhanced powers. A descendant from a long line of shamans, Zoo Lou traveled the Skylands far and wide to become a master in the art of communicating with nature and summoning animals. Known for his catchphrase, "Nature Calls!" and single-handedly freeing his lands, Zoo Lou's caught the eye of Master Eon who brought him to the Skylanders. No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up.

Dino-Rang (Skylanders Spyro's Adventure) from Activision Publishing, Inc.
This popular character from Skylanders Spyro's Adventure returns as an exclusive Toys"R"Us SWAP Force Skylander who, despite his calm and cool demeanor, is back to protect Skylands. No matter the battle, Dino-Rang has what it takes to win, whether it's using his earthen boomerangs to attack his opponents or summoning pillars of earth in the form of fists to blast away his foes. No batteries required. Ages 6 years and up.

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Skullcandy Announces Special Edition Assassin’s Creed IV Headset

Would you like a new special-edition Assassin’s Creed IV headset to go with the game at the end of this month? If so, maybe you’ll be excited about Skullcandy’s brand new SLYR headset with Assassin’s Creed artwork and a custom-tuned audio profile developed by Ubisoft? The platform agnostic Skullcandy SLYR AC IV Black Flag Edition gaming headset is available for purchase now – directly through the company’s website at www.skullcandy.com for $89.99, but you can also order it online at GameStop, Target, and Best Buy.

Find out more in the press release (below the images).

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PRESS RELEASE

SKULLCANDY ANNOUNCES SPECIAL EDITION ASSASSIN’S CREED® IV BLACK FLAG™ SLYR GAMING HEADSET

Skullcandy SLYR Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Edition Features Unique Color and Animus-Inspired Artwork; Custom Tuned Audio Profile Developed by Ubisoft®

PARK CITY, Utah – October 10, 2013 – Skullcandy, Inc. (Nasdaq: SKUL), a high-growth, performance lifestyle audio brand, today announced the launch of the Skullcandy SLYR (“Slayer”) Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Edition gaming headset. The studio’s first officially licensed gaming headset, the Skullcandy SLYR Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Edition will feature a new and unique custom color as well as artwork inspired by the game’s iconic Animus virtual reality machine. In addition, Skullcandy has worked directly with Assassin’s Creed® publisher Ubisoft to develop a custom tuned audio profile with three distinct EQ settings designed to greatly accentuate the dynamic audio environment, story and action found within Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.

The Skullcandy SLYR AC IV Black Flag Edition gaming headset is now available at select retail stores in the United States and Canada and at www.skullcandy.com. Ubisoft’s highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag will be available on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Nintendo’s Wii U™ system on October 29, 2013, Windows PC on November 19, 2013 and as day one launch titles for PlayStation 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Xbox One.

“Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is easily one of the most hotly anticipated games of the year and we’re thrilled to be able to offer our unique perspective on audio fidelity and gaming style to the legions of fans who stand behind the Assassin’s Creed franchise,” said Sam Paschel, CMO of Skullcandy. “The Skullcandy SLYR AC IV Black Flag Edition represents our first partnership with a major gaming publisher and we’re aiming to make a lasting impression with gamers everywhere. We’re supremely confident gamers will be blown away by what we’ve been able to accomplish — a truly authentic Assassin’s Creed experience combined with a level of audio performance and value they’ve never seen before.”

The Skullcandy SLYR AC IV Black Flag Edition was designed from the ground up by Skullcandy and ASTRO Gaming engineers to deliver a unique combination of high quality audio performance, cutting-edge features and a stylish aesthetic for gamers worldwide – all at an affordable price. The Skullcandy SLYR AC IV Black Flag Edition provides Assassin’s Creed fans with precision stereo gaming audio with cross-compatibility with Xbox 360®, PlayStation® 3, Wii U™ and PC as well as most smartphones, tablets and MP3 players. Additional features include a stashable boom mic; the GMX in-line mixer with volume and game-to-voice balancing controls; and, of course, a unique new color and graphic treatment as well as custom audio profiles developed by Ubisoft to ensure the game’s audio is experienced exactly as they intended.

Throughout the development of the Skullcandy SLYR AC IV Black Flag Edition, Skullcandy engineers worked closely with Ubisoft to effectively enhance the subtle details and audio cues found within the dynamic Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag game world. The engineering team created three customized audio profiles that greatly enhance the game’s immersion and overall auditory experience. The Bass Mode elevates the thundering explosions and battle cries during action sequences to terrifically loud levels – all without dampening the highs; Precision Mode emphasizes environmental effects such as water, wind and the all-too-familiar whispers; and, Supreme Mode applies Skullcandy’s now-legendary full-frequency response to the entire Black Flag environment.

The Skullcandy SLYR AC IV Black Flag Edition gaming headset is now available directly through the company’s website at www.skullcandy.com for $89.99. Retail partners include Gamestop, Target and Best Buy online. For more information about Skullcandy, please visit www.skullcandy.com/gaming.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 29 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About Assassin’s Creed

About Assassin’s Creed: Initially launched in 2007, the first five Assassin’s Creed games have sold more than 57 million units worldwide, and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series ever. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into other entertainment experiences including comic books, mobile games, novels, as well as a feature-length movie currently in development.

© 2007-2013 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Black Flag, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii U is a trademark of Nintendo. © 2012 Nintendo

About Skullcandy, Inc.

Skullcandy is a global designer, marketer and distributor of performance audio and gaming headphones and other accessory related products under the Skullcandy, Astro Gaming and 2XL by Skullcandy brands. Skullcandy became one of the world’s most distinct audio brands by bringing color, character and performance to an otherwise monochromatic space; helping to revolutionize the audio arena by introducing headphones, earbuds and other audio and wireless lifestyle products that possess unmistakable style and exceptional performance. The Company’s products are sold and distributed through a variety of channels in the U.S. and approximately 80 countries worldwide. Visit skullcandy.com, or join us at facebook.com/skullcandy or on Twitter @skullcandy.

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Disney Infinity WiiU New Images

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REVIEW – Scribblenauts Unmasked (Wii U/3DS)

Game – Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure

Versions – Wii U & 3DS

ESRB Rating – E 10+ – Everyone ages 10 and up

Price – $59.99 (Wii U), $39.99 (3DS)

Release Date - 24/9/2013

Publisher –Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Obtained – Review copies courtesy of 5th Cell and Forty Seven Communications

Scribblenauts Unmasked allows the player to solve puzzles and fight villains with the superpower that is their imagination. Is the game truly limited to what your mind can create, though?

Story/Plot

      Scribblenauts Unmasked puts players in control of Maxwell, a young boy with a magical notebook that allows him to create any object he can imagine. By combining his gift with his sister Lily’s globe that could transport her anywhere she wanted, they were able to travel to Gotham City, where they found that Maxwell’s arch-nemesis Doppelganger had teamed up with various villains in order to seek out the mystical Starites to use their powers for unknown evils.

Although this story never amounts to anything adult gamers would find particularly interesting, it does take Maxwell through areas inspired by some of DC’s key characters including Gotham City, Metropolis and Atlantis. In these areas, Maxwell can either help civilians with their problems, or progress the story by taking on missions. Typically these missions involve a superhero teaming up with Maxwell to fight one of their signature foes and Doppelganger. DC fans will probably be disappointed by the lackluster dialogue and array of featured foes, but the motion comic-styled cutscenes that open and close the game are admittedly quite beautiful, and it’s a shame there weren’t more throughout the game.

Gameplay & Controls

As with every Scribblenauts game, the player can create a vast variety of nouns, and couple them with adjectives that modify their behavior in order to solve various puzzles and complete tasks. For example, I needed to get up to a higher ledge so I created a “giant winged sonic beaver” and was able to fly there quickly. A woman was choking, so I made boxing gloves and repeatedly smacked her until the objects came flying out. I wanted to make my own super hero so I went into Hero Creator Mode, gave an octopus alligator heads on each of his tentacles and sent him out to fight crime under the alias “OctoCroc”. In some ways, the humorous puzzles and solutions compensate for the lack of an interesting story as incentive to progress through the game.

One issue with the series was always that the player might drift towards the same objects to complete their tasks, but in Unmasked repeating words will cut the amount of points you receive in a mission, and “Mr. MXYZPTLK” challenges double your points by changing way you approach puzzles. For example, he might change all the characters on the map into zombies that try to attack you, or he may restrict you to only creating animals and adjectives. These additions shake up the Scribblenauts formula and make it all the more entertaining and challenging.

The DC franchise adds even more depth to the gameplay. Most puzzles do not require any extensive knowledge of DC comics, but coming up with special solutions to puzzles (like knowing that Bizzarro characters are vulnerable to Blue Kryptonite) can certainly satisfy one’s inner comic book fan. For those who aren’t as familiar with the many faces of DC, the Batcomputer that can be accessed at any time and gives brief background information for each hero and object, in addition to allowing players to search for and discover new characters. Although Scribblenauts Unmasked might seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with the DC franchise, the game does an excellent job of accommodating those players as well as entertaining aficionados.

The main issue with Scribblenauts Unmasked’s gameplay arises during combat. Fighting one foe is manageable, but as soon as you get a group of enemies on screen it becomes a jumbled, confusing mess. If other heroes and villains are in the area, they will likely enter the fray, and if you accidentally hit one of the heroes you spawned he will turn on you and start to attack. In a game where you usually have so much control of what’s going on, these battles are an unwelcome, hectic mess.

“I… THINK I’m winning?”

Visuals & Sound

     Scribblenauts is known for its very cutesy, minimalist art style, and it looks even better in high definition on the Wii U. Everything is crisp and clear, and there are some lovely visual effects in the backgrounds of popular DC locations. As a result, browsing through the catalogue of DC heroes just to see what they look like is entertaining in and of itself. Of course, the 3DS version is inferior in terms of visuals, has slightly choppy motions and also does not allow for zooming in and out on the map, which can help the player to find objects and missions far faster. Some gamers may be disappointed to know that the 3DS version has no 3D effects apart from the title screen and two motion comic cutscenes. It’s a shame it wasn’t included beyond that, because it looks great for the total of four minutes that you’ll see it for.

Oa looks pretty gorgeous on the Wii U

The game features some good tracks that capture the feeling of being in a superhero-themed video game. Orchestral sounds that swell up and down are reminiscent of many superhero movies, and keeping the sound on definitely adds a lot to the game. The narrator of the introductory and concluding cutscenes also does an excellent job, and as with the motion comic cutscenes it’s a shame the player doesn’t get to hear more of him.

Final Score:  7.5 out of 10 (Wii U)

                         6.5 out of 10 (3DS)

As with most Scribblenauts games, the true appeal doesn’t lie in the story, but rather in coming up with crazy solutions to different puzzles, and simply messing around with the game’s incredibly vast library of objects, characters and adjectives. If you come in expecting an epic story that caters to DC fans and deep, engaging missions you’ll likely be disappointed, but if you see it as a means of testing the limits of the game’s engine, creating your own objects in the Hero Creator and harnessing imagination, you’ll have plenty of fun. The Wii U version is noticeably superior in terms of visuals, which bleeds over somewhat into gameplay, especially when being able to zoom out of the map can make navigating each level far easier.

+ Huge library of objects, adjectives and DC characters

+ New means of challenging the player to come up with unique solutions

+ Some humorous, silly missions

+ Big, cinematic soundtrack is reminiscent of comic book movies

+ Hero Creator mode makes for unlimited creativity (Wii U)

+ Looks nice in HD (Wii U)

- Fighting mechanics are messy

- Game’s logic can be confusing sometimes

- Simple story will likely disappoint DC Comics fans

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Alexandre Trottier had always wanted to fight crime as a gigantic, golden puffer fish and thanks to Scribblenauts Unmasked his dream can finally come true. He did an extensive amount of research into the DC Universe before playing the game, and ultimately decided that his favourite character is Topo, Aquaman’s pet octopus, because he can play 5 different instruments simultaneously and is a trapeze artist, among other neat things. You can follow him on Twitter @NF_Alexandre, check out the NintendoFuse forums, and tell us your favourite super hero/object to create in Scribblenauts Unmasked in the comments below! Don’t forget to like and share the article!

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