Wii Game Players

Filed under: News, Peripherals, Screens

IGN, those lucky mofos, got their hands on the new wireless Les Paul guitar and from the still shots we’ve gawked at, the thing is a beaut. Although it’s only the Xbox 360 prototype, it still gives us a good idea what to expect when it comes to how we’ll be rocking on the Wii (removable neck and faceplate should make its way to that guitar, as well). But, most importantly, it looks awesome. Don’t act like looking good while pretending to play songs in a video game isn’t the most important thing ever. Because it is.

See also: First Guitar Hero III footage hits the net

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

EA has revealed that they intend on bringing forth a new game into this wonderful world, which is a new installment in their racing franchise Need for Speed (surprise!). Titled Need for Speed ProStreet, the game is going to focus mostly on street racing, but according to EA will feature more customization options for players. EA says we’ll get our hands on the game come Fall 2007, but in the meantime we’ll have to settle for the teaser trailer after the break.

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We’re sure we don’t have to tell you, but those aren’t Wii graphics.

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Virtually Overlooked

Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren’t on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.

Last week, I asked for reader suggestions for this week’s Virtually Overlooked. One reader suggested The Guardian Legend, and I thought that was a perfectly reasonable suggestion. The Guardian Legend was one of the biggest sleeper hits of the NES era, and something that is definitely worth checking out, especially for fans of Ys and Faxanadu.

It was only later that I realized that I was thinking of Legacy of the Wizard. I get those two mixed up a lot. They both fall into that “sleeper” category, they were both published by Brøderbund, and they both have “Leg” in the title. They’re practically the same game, except that one’s a hybrid vertical shooter/Zelda-style adventure developed by Compile, and the other is a side-scrolling action RPG from Nihon Falcom. But other than that, the same game.

Inspired by my inability to keep two similar things separate, I thought this week we could look at some more NES games I get confused about, either because they’re so similar or because I’m so dumb.

Kickle Cubicle and Adventures of Lolo

Both of these are top-down tile-based puzzle games with adorable characters. I should be able to remember that Kickle Cubicle is the one with kicking, but I never can. I always hated these character puzzle games, which is why they all run together. I’m sure I’ll get kicked out of Nintendo fandom for not liking Lolo.

This is just not fair. Look at the hats. I’m never going to be able to get these straight. I think Mystery Quest was specifically designed to confuse people into thinking it was Milon’s Secret Castle. Maybe Taxan figured that was the only way it would sell. Anyway, saying I get it mixed up with Milon’s Secret Castle is probably the nicest thing I can say about Mystery Quest. That’s like complimenting someone’s hair by saying that you confused it for your neighbors’ 14-year-old cat.

8 Eyes, Magician, and Faxanadu

Faxanadu is a genuinely good game, but it also looks just like every other side-scrolling RPG ever put on the NES. Maybe a little browner. 8 Eyes is kind of unique in its non-uniqueness: it’s actually a Castlevania clone that also manages to look like these other games. I actually don’t remember Magician at all, except for the fact that I rented it at least twice when I meant to rent Faxanadu.

Kabuki Quantum Fighter and Phantom Fighter

These games aren’t similar in the least– they just happen to both be side-scrolling action games that involve East Asian themes (kabuki in the former, jiangshi in the latter). Also they both end in -um Fighter.

I hope someone out there sympathizes with regard to at least one of these. Otherwise, I’ll feel stupid and very exposed.

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

The LA Times is reporting that many seem to have doubts about the staying power of the Wii as their latest article suggests Nintendo’s newest console could be dropped by casual gamers in the long run. Some analysts, including Van Baker, a consumer technologies analyst with Gartner Inc., are thinking that the nature of going after casual gamers means they could leave you just as easily as they love you. “Its appeal is primarily to casual gamers, and there’s a serious question about how long casual gamers will stay engaged with the platform,” he says, adding “It wouldn’t be surprising to see them lose interest after a relatively short amount of time.”

But after a little over 5 months of being on the market, Nintendo is consistently doing well and the Wii console is still being snatched up as soon as it finds itself on a retail shelf in some areas. No one can predict the future, but we feel this trend will only continue, especially with big titles like Metroid Prime 3, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Strikers: Charged and Pokemon Battle Revolution coming this year. We’re not worried.

What do you guys think?

[Via 1UP]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Imports, Video

Dude, we had no idea pachinko was so cool! We knew Japan was all into it, but we always thought it was some boring gambling thing. Turns out it’s all a bunch of big people with huge chest muscles beating the crap out of each other in a post-apocalyptic wasteland! Man, when that guy punched the other guy like a hundred times really fast, that was some awesome pachinko! And then the other guy like exploded into a beam of yellow light! And the cool pachinko music was playing, and it totally got us pumped about pachinko!

We know the graphics aren’t totally next-gen (look at the cardboard hair), but it must be super tough to render realistic pachinko visuals! We are going to buy Jissen Pachinko/Pachislot Hisshouhou! Sammy’s Collection Hokuto no Ken Wii RIGHT. NOW. We’re totally ready for some pachinko mayhem! Watch the totally cool pachinko video after the break, and you’ll feel the same way! PACHINKOOOOOO!

[Via Siliconera]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

Take 2 has let loose a flurry of new details on their upcoming Wii slugfest The BIGS, revealing a number of songs that are to be featured in the game, as well as revealing some of the unique characteristics that come from having your game on the Wii. Utilizing the Wiimote’s unique control scheme, players will be able to exhibit their own unique swings, as well as pre–at-bat waggles.

On the mound, players will be able to control pitch speed and variation, depending on wrist and arm movement. Not only that, but fielding and base running will also be affected by use of the Wiimote and nunchuk, allowing the player to perform a variety of Baseball’s most common moves in an uncommon way.

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Read - Features for The BIGS
Read - Soundtrack info

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News, Video

Pollen Sonata is a game that a small team of Danish developers is hoping will interest a publisher enough to pick it up. A small teaser trailer is also available online (embedded past the break, for your convenience), giving us a glimpse into the oddly serene environments and gameplay of the proposed title. We’d play it.

Let’s hope a publisher will pick it up so we can some day.

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[Via Joystiq]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Fan stuff

Capcom is offering up the chance at winning some goodies for its Japanese fans, namely a lucky 25 of those fans, themed after Biohazard 4. These items are some sweet pieces of gear, if we might say so, including a jacket modeled after Leon’s and a pair of “Engineer Boots.” Getting to this super-secret section of the website requires clicking on those little red blood cells floating around, but in the interest of saving you time, we’ll just offer up a direct link to the page.

[Via Famitsu]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

Capcom’s adorable treasure-hunting adventure Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure uses the Wiimote in context-sensitive orientations and movements to solve puzzles. Different items use the Wiimote in different ways. The trick is that it doesn’t seem to tell the player how the Wiimote is to be used in a particular situation.

In this example found on GAME Watch, players are asked to insert a crank handle into a mechanism and then operate the crank. How you get the thing in there is a matter of figuring out which side goes in and then manipulating the Wiimote in some way to make that happen. Rather than just telling us how to do it, GAME Watch gave readers the choice above for the proper method. We’re guessing temporary swinging. This example seems simple enough, but we can see how not knowing how to use the Wiimote will amplify the difficulty of some puzzles.

We’ve also filled our gallery with new treasures from the game. Yarrr.

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Video

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Word on the tubes is that these videos (one above, one past the break) are for the Xbox 360 version of the game, but they still exhibit some of the changes the franchise has received and showcase two of the new confirmed songs in Weezer’s “My Name is Jonas” and Foghat’s “Slow Ride.” These changes include a revamped HUD, new chain gauge telling you how many notes you hit in a row and a series of lights replacing the old Star Power meter.

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[Via Joystiq]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy