Reviews

Reviews:

• Super Paper Mario: 8, 9, 9 [Game of the Month]
• Cooking Mama: Cook Off: 7, 8, 7.5
• Medal of Honor: Vanguard: 4, 4, 6
• Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo …
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Developed by EA Sports BIG, SSX Blur aims to set the standard for snowboarding games on the Wii. SSX Blur is a change for the series in many ways, especially the fact of the controls on Wii-exclusivity. Normally, SSX games are multiplatform titles and EA usually doesn’t focus on a single system for the series. I’m glad EA did depart from their multiplatform past, and I think EA is too from the great reception it has received at retail.

Starting off, you’ll find you have many game modes open to you. The Tutorial mode is definitely one to try before you take to the slopes in the Career mode. The Tutorial goes through all the basic moves including carving, jumping, and even more complex maneuvers like Uber Tricks. The game does have a learning curve, but it usually only takes 30 minutes of play-time to get used to carving and the basic moves. Uber Tricks, on the other hand, take a lot more work to land. The Uber Tricks require some fast precision. It involves ‘drawing’ on the screen various symbols for executing different Uber moves. Some of the symbols are basic drawings like a circle, while others require both hands. Doing Uber moves in the Tutorial are much easier than in the regular game because you aren’t required to fill your Uber meter up. It keeps the meter up as a handicap for getting used to the Ubers. The real test will come when you encounter the Career mode.

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What started out as a series of tech demos, has turned into a compilation of games complete with a free Wiimote. Wii Play is not as verbose as Wii Sports even those it has more minigames. The 9 minigames are as follows: Target Practice, Find Mii, Pose Mii, Table Tennis, Laser Hockey, Billiards, Fishing, Charge!, and Tanks!

Wii Play really focuses on helping people get used to using the Wiimote. The minigames highlight pointing, tilting, and general motions with the Wiimote. Wii Play also allows for Mii characters to play and gain medals in each of the minigames. Most of the minigames are very simplistic and really don’t offer too much of a challenge. Other games like Tanks! and Billiards offer pretty deep experiences. There are tons of levels and difficulty in the Tanks! minigame and Billiards offers a truly innovative Pool experience.

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The Need for Speed franchise is one that has a lot to live up to. The series has been a benchmark for all racing games and has set the bar for racing games on the Wii. Need for Speed Carbon is technically a game developed simultaneously for almost every system imaginable, but the Wii version has its unique features. The game features Wii-specific controls with various options to choose from.

Starting off, you’ll recognize some similarities to the previous version of NFS, Most Wanted. The game picks up where the Most Wanted left off. You’ve been gone from Palmont city and you’re just getting back onto the street-racing scene. You’ll see some familiar faces as you progress through the game. The cars in the game range from Tuners to Muscle, and even Exotics. There are tons of cars to pique your interest, and with the customization features; there are many, many options to choose from. The game’s ‘Autosculpt’ is another cool feature. It allows you to customize per pixel each part on your car. What to add a little more flare to your exhaust tips? Or make the air scoop a little wider? No problem. The inclusion of this new feature adds even more customization to your vehicles.

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Hey all you Nintendo fans! Would you guys like an opportunity to show your love for Nintendo on this site. Well three lucky winners will be able to do just …
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This video was posted on youtube in response to reviews for SSX Blur that said the controls were “impossible”. The player in this video aims to debunk those claims …
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This is pretty normal when it comes to Wii game reviews. The same thing happened with the DS when it first came out. bipolar game reviews!!! Here are …
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Rayman Raving Rabbids, developed by Ubisoft, is a title that came out of left field. It was a game that I knew little about when it was launched with the Wii in November 2006. Every trailer that I saw for the game only confused me more about what the title was actually about, or how it was even played.

A couple friends bought the game at launch and the word of mouth showed me just how great the game could be. I bought the game when Circuit City was running their $20 off sale on RRR. I began playing through the game, and it is one of the most fun and unique games I’ve ever played.

First off, this is not your traditional Rayman platformer. It is essentially a series of minigames that follow a loose storyline. Rayman is captured, along with some friends, and it is his job to prove himself in several ‘arena’ type games to get his friends back. The minigames range from sports, workout games, precision, and dance. There are dozens of minigames and they all utilize the Wiimote and nunchuk in unique ways. The sports games are themed from various sports like Soccer/Football as well as others. The workout games are ones that will probably make you sweat. They require more fast physical activity like running with the controller or spinning it around your head like a lasso. The precision and dance games are some of the more enjoyable minigames.

The precision games are ones where you throw plungers at the Rabbids. It sounds a little ridiculous, but IT IS TONS OF FUN! I walks you around in a first-person view in different motifs like Wild West or Space levels. It’s a zany take on the first-person genre. The dance games are my personal favorite. I’m no dancer by any means, but it doesn’t take that much to be good at dancing.

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The latest issue of Nintendo Power is now out on stands, and we have the scoop on all the latest information straight from the source.

Most Wanted (Wii)

1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
2. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
3. Super Mario Galaxy
4. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers
5. Fire Emblem

Most Wanted (DS)

1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
2. Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
3. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
4. Wario: Master of Disguise
5. Mega Man Star Force

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Sims for Wii is going to be a topic of discussion at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco. Here’s the quote about the presentation:

(Hunicke) “examines the …
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CoD 3 is a great game with fast-paced first-person shooter gameplay. When utilizing the Wii’s motion sensing capabilities; CoD 3 rises to the occasion. It incorporates a lot of moves that you can execute with both the Wiimote and nunchuk. You can do everything from reloading weapons, picking up items, taking control of gun turrets and tanks, and duke it out in hand to hand combat with enemies.

The single-player in CoD 3 is a great experience; and, unfortunately the only experience since there is no multiplayer. But I think focusing on making a compelling single-player experience really was better for the developers to do. I’d rather have an engrossing single-player and no multiplayer, than mediocre versions of single and multiplayer.

Anyways, the story mode starts off in the European theatre in France. You’re a new recruit and they put you right into the thick of battle. The missions gain in complexity and difficulty as the story progresses. Your superiors will give you more and more responsibility as well. They figure if you haven’t died yet, that you may be able to lead others to do the same. The gameplay revolves around taking out enemies from both far and short distances. Sometimes the battles are extremely fierce (especially in hard mode) when you’re in an open area. You literally have to duck and cover whenever you get the chance; otherwise, you go down fast!

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Over Christmas break, I decided to splurge and buy myself a Christmas present. I wanted a DS homebrew card that would serve all the basic functions and then some. My …
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This is some interesting news coming from gonintendo. It seems Nintendo had an invite-only Metroid event to play the latest build of the game. Both GameInformer and Gamepro magazines …
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Madden NFL 07 is the first Madden game I’ve owned. It was one of the titles I had been interested in for quite some time. I was never much for sports games, but there was something different about this iteration in the Madden franchise. The Wii controls really make the football experience worthwhile.

Madden plays host to a few different game modes. There is the single-player Franchise mode, and the Multiplayer modes: 2 on 2, Kicking combined, and Y.A.C Attack (I’ll just be highlighting 2 on 2 and Y.A.C. Attack) The single-player mode has everything a football connoisseur could want. There are drafts and even fantasy team customizations. The single-player is pretty much the same as it has been for the Madden franchise. You can play through a single exhibition game, or go the whole season route.

The multiplayer in Madden really makes the game fun–especially when combined with the Wiimote’s unique features. 2 on 2 is the first of the multiplayer modes and allows for up to four players to match their skills in a short game of football. Each team is made up of only a quarterback and a receiver for the offense. The defense is made up of 2 players, one to rush and one to cover the receiver. This is a lot of fun especially when you have four friends playing.

The next multiplayer mode is Y.A.C. Attack. This mode’s name stands for “Yards After Completion”. The goal is get as many points by throwing completions for either lots of yards, or a touchdown. The more yards you run after completion the better with a TD giving you the most points. But a player can also receive “Bounty” points on defense. These points are rewarded for good coverage, great tackles, and forced incomplete passes.

The heart and soul of the game’s value comes in the way of the Wii controls. The Wiimote is used for passing, kicking, and some running maneuvers. The passing is done using a throwing motion of the Wiimote. The speed of your motion will determine if the pass is more of a lob or a bullet. The kicking is done with a swinging upward motion as if your arm was your leg. There are also a couple other functions for stiff arm, pump fake, and spinning. The nunchuk is used mainly for the running game. The analog stick is used for all movements in the game and you can motion left or right for juking left or right.

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