Previews: Apollo Justice, Brain Assist, Dinosour King, Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts, Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest, The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return, Insecticide, Mushroom Men, Robo-Revolt: Robocalypse Now, Sega Superstars Tennis, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Super Dodgeball Brawlers, SSBB, WWII Aces

Alone in the Dark

– Edward Carnby – mysteriously transported to NYC
– Technique – momentarily clear your vision
– First/third person perspectives
– Switch to third person for action-oriented gameplay
– “Episodic” feel to the game
– Different control schemes which depends on context/actions
– Items available through Edward’s pocket, not inventory screen -> can combine items
– Puzzles present
– Can drive some cars – hot-wire mini-game occasionally


Okami

– “Great story,” many weapons, upgradeable moveset, side quests, puzzles, mini-games
– Celestial Draw ability – can hurt enemies, change enviroment
– Watercolor graphical style
Developer Interview:
– Progressive scan/wide screen “on the top of the list”
– PS2 bonus content appears to be back on Wii

Lost in Translation article – products that have not come out in America that are the cream of the crop

– Jump Star series
– Daigasso! Band Brothers
– Densetu no Stafy 4
– Ouendan Series
– Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland
– GBA Classics – Rhythm Tengoku, Mother 3
– Club Nintendo Exclusives – Game & Watch Collection, Zekkyo Senshi, Tingle’s Balloon Fight

Magic Moments (Super Mario Galaxy article)
– NP brought up particular topics relating to Super Mario Galaxy, and director Yoshiaki Koizumi provides feedback on each

Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles

– Altair on a mission to obtain “the chalice.”
– 3D graphics, but cities are smaller/linear and there are more platforming opportunities
– More action than in console versions
– X and Y buttons are used for heavy/light sword attacks
– R button – “draw less attention to yourself”
– A button – swiftly annihelate opponents
– Mini-games present – investigating mini-game

Another “20 Years of Nintendo Power” article

Interview with Takashi Iizuka – Head of the Sonic team

Clay Fighter – Retro Playback

Review scores:

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin – 8.5
One Piece: Unlimited Adventure – 6.5
Endless Ocean – 7.5
Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (DS) – 7.5
Bomberman Land Touch! 2 – 6.0
Professor Layton and the Curious Village – 8.5
Nanostray 2 – 6.0
Nitro Bike – 3.5
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity – 7.0
River King: Mystical Village – 7.0