E3: Nintendo brings on the pain

Reggie Fils-Aime comes on stage because he wants to change the way you view the word "technology". "It shouldn't be about HD, Blu-ray, but it should be about the experience. Great technology married to great design is an experience like no other."

Ninty brings out the big guns, "an experience you've been waiting for". Yes, it's The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Semi-cel-shaded, semi-Twilight Princess. Wow.

Shigeru Miyamoto suddenly appears on a green screen dubbed in English, explaining the history of Zelda development circa 2004.

Wii MotionPlus was apparently key to the development of this new game, and Miyamoto calls for someone to demo the game's new controls. And fails.

Miserably.

Now that things in Nintendo land aren't looking quite good, Miyamoto comes to the rescue!

They're touting 1:1 motion tracking, and it's also failing badly. Hey Shigeru, this game isn't obviously ready for primetime.

Knowing Nintendo though, this game is going to be controlling quite well by release. Maybe there's lag due to the big screen being used, but even with that, the game's obviously still a work-in-progress.

Even with that, I like how you can actually control a few objects more granularly, in the sense that bombs can either be thrown or rolled. Miyamoto's blaming these snafus on Wi-fi interference though, and this is really Steve Jobs of them.

New gadgets include a beetle you can fly around with which is really cool. It'll kind of let you fly around a level to inspect and pick up unreachable items. Another item of interest is a whip you can use. A whip. Your dominatrix Zelda fanfiction just came true.

Seriously though, that whip is cool.

I know what's in store for this conference, but if I were actually watching this keynote for the first time, I would have my expectations lowered, if only because of these technicalities.

Reggie Fils-Aime goes back on stage to announce a new Mario game. No, it's not Galaxy 3, it's a sports game. Has volleyball, hockey, and basketball, all glorified with that arcade style Mario's known for. Coming in 2011, it's Mario Sports Mix. Might be fun, who knows?

Fils-Aime addresses some criticism for Wii, how it has waned in popularity and how games are sold less as time passes. "They're false assumptions," says Reggie. He then goes on to enumerate a lot of first-party games, thus somewhat making Reggie's claims pointless.

He then segueways to Nintendo's next "bridge" game: Wii Party.

In the spirit of Wii Play, it's pretty much another social game that's full of mini-games.

Next, Just Dance. Ubisoft's freaking everywhere.

I don't care much for it.

Fils-Aime goes back to the hardcore gamers by addressing the somewhat brief mention of a Golden Sun game for the DS last year. Now, it's getting a full-on trailer, along with a subtitle (Golden Sun: Dark Dawn). Looks really good.

I'm so loving my DS. Arrives "this holiday season".

Next comes a sudden segment talking about a new Goldeneye game. That's... very surprising! And the graphics look bad, a deliberate homage to the N64 days, or low production values?

I love that it has Daniel Craig in it, and it actually looks exciting. Activision's making it though. Hmm... well, maybe not Treyarch but yeah. It "arrives this holiday".

Epic Mickey is next on the pipeline, and I'm excited to see some really unique gameplay.

Warren Spector, the much-storied designer for Epic Mickey is called on stage to demo the game.

It's a 3D platformer with a catch: you can manipulate the world with your paint and paint thinner. You can draw things and erase the world.

Masahiro Sakurai is being featured by Reggie, and wait for it: Kirby's finally getting a new game in a console! The first time in seven years!

It's called Kirby: Epic Yarn, and the game looks astoundingly unique. This looks like art. Wow. Looks like it supports multiplayer. Releasing "this fall". That's a lot of blockbusters in one year!

Next game: Dragon Quest 9 for the DS. It's out in Japan, with 120 mini-quests (with more on WiFi), the ability to link with up to three DS's in an adventure and an lot of random treasure maps, this RPG is a huge craze over there. A localized version will be released on July 11.

Next, Metroid: Other M.

A return to 2D with FPS elements, it's pretty much Metroid with a new coat of paint.

Next, Retro Studios is working on a new Donkey Kong game. Yes, Donkey Kong Country is back. More specifically, it Returns.

Excellent.

Next: "3DS is on the way".

Satoru Iwata takes the stage and holds the new 3DS on his hand. The top screen is widescreen, and displays 3D without glasses.

There are a lot of cameras on the device. The cameras on the back are actually capable of taking 3D pictures: a nice touch. Also, Iwata reveals a new Slide Pad located above the d-pad. It will play some 3D movies from content providers like Disney, Warner Bros. and Dreamworks.

Next Iwata reveals Project Sora being worked on by Sakurai. What is it? It's Kid Icarus Uprising. Holy freaking crap.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Wow. Talk about a great graphical upgrade for a handheld.

Another feature of note Iwata is introducing is a new way for games to communicate to your system. Basically, the old DS would have Nintendogs running, and under a Wi-Fi access point, another Nintendogs owner would be able to see you and wake your dog up, but the connection would stop when the cartridge was removed. Now, even without the cartridge, a 3DS can be communicated to. Does this mean that any software stored in the 3DS is finally separate from the hardware? Does this make the software downloaded from the DSi Store assigned to a user ID rather than an individual system? There are a lot of questions surrounding the specifics, but I hope Nintendo can sort all of those issues out.

Also, the launch lineup includes Nintendogs + Cats, as well as a lot of third-party titles from developers like Warner Bros., Atlus, Hudson, Marvelous, Ubisoft, SEGA, Harmonix, EA, Capcom, Bandai-Namco, Konami and more.

DJ Hero 3D, Professor Layton, Saint's Row, Madden NFL, Dynasty Warriors, Resident Evil, Kingdom Hearts, Batman, Assassin's Creed, Ridge Racer and here's a coup: METAL GEAR SOLID.

Bombshell, much?

A video about the Nintendo 3DS is shown.

I'm willing to bet that 5th Cell won't be leaving the DS any time soon.

In the end though, I'm so glad that Nintendo is going back and appealing once more to the hardcore. As Iwata said, "we've established the install base, now we want to make compelling games".

Another video is shown though featuring Satoru Iwata, Shigeru Miyamoto and Reggie Fils-Aime this time.

So far, this is really the only 3D display technology I've felt compelled to buy. And I really like how Reggie Fils-Aime got burned.

Reggie summons his echelon of booth babes to demonstrate the power of 3DS. I really want to see how the "3D sensation" will work. "No more glasses" should be the way of the future, really. Sony and Microsoft are working on 3D gaming but they have glasses. Nintendo is a step ahead.

Sounds fanboyish, but it's not.

P.S.

Other notable 3DS launch titles: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is being remade, along with Star Fox. That's awesome.

This Time in Games: Pre-E3 Rock Band Orga...nizing

Do you know what a bombshell looks like, aside from the obligatory Jessica Rabbit picture?

It looks like this:

What you're seeing here is the plastic prototype keyboard-slash-keytar-hybrid that'll work with yes, Rock Band 3.

And I couldn't be any more excited.

Aside from that, there are the obvious gameplay enhancements of vocal harmonies, pause counters, drop-in drop-out, and more. Top that up with even better graphics, animations and lighting effects and you've got yourself a day-one purchase.

Notably, there is also a DS version coming out. Puzzles me that a PSP version is not present this time around. Hopefully, the DS version will bring some Amplitude style gameplay, which I really, really loved when I got my hands on it.

Unexpectedly so, Harmonix has also included support for real true-blue instruments that can be connected to your computer as a MIDI instrument. No really, you can get your real electric guitar/keyboard/drums and connect it to Rock Band. It's all made possible by the little adapter below:

How, one will wonder, will a real instrument translate to the game? To answer your question, there's a new Pro mode for all the hardcore fans out there.

It'll be a note-for-note representation of the real song, so basically, there will be a lot of actual keys on the screen that you can really play from in real life. Not only does this make Rock Band 3 a fun game, it can also be a bonafide learning tool.

Harmonix is also offering its own six-stringed guitars ($150) and drum cymbals ($39) for those who don't own a real guitar but are interested in PRO mode. They will all be compatible with your computer as MIDI devices if you want to start composing your own songs.

A lot of things are a given on the 360 and PS3 side of the coin, but the Wii side, well, there are still a lot of unclear details. I won't get into them though.

There will also be smaller touches, like Facebook/Twitter connectivity, song filters and setlist creation tools, that make the game a lot more usable and quick to set up.

But I'm not all about Rock Band 3, there's been some buzz about a Mortal Kombat Rebirth movie pitch that's been distributed around the interwebs, and quite frankly, the results are positively shocking!

It's rumored to have been a pitch for Warner Bros., and I can't believe how much potential this kind of has. Still, I can't say much more since video game adaptations have a history of being really bad. Maybe this video will live a great life as a viral short, but as a full-blown movie, it might just suck ass.

More serious are the former guys of the dissolved studio Midway (now dubbed NetherRealm Studios) who are working on a real Mortal Kombat game that looks really fun for once.

It marks a return to its 2D roots, but with polygonal characters (you know, like Street Fighter IV). What's different though, is the fact that the game will also feature tag battles much like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 famously did. In addition, the good ol' fatalities return, along with "environmental fatalities", and perhaps even "brutalities". All in all, it's likely to feature much gore and brutal action.

Ed Boon, one of the original creators of MK, is once again working on it with a team in Chicago.

Games As Art?

It's a huge gray area right now- video games being a medium of high art, that is. I'm a bit of a gamer myself so I guess it was high time that I gave a bit of my thoughts on the matter. Much attention has been given towards Roger Ebert's thoughts on the matter, and while I usually agree with most of Ebert's opinions, I just can't shake the fact that, yes I'm saying it, Ebert knows almost squat about video games. Simply put, he probably already doesn't know what he's saying about the matter.

Really, it's all a matter of defining what these words are and understanding these words in the correct perspective. Modern video games exude a lot of adjectives that range from "overly sexualized" to "gorgeously interactive". Like any form of media, the video game has its ups as well as its downs, and in that sense, if you call the motion picture and the TV show forms of artistic expression, bastardizations and all, then video games are definitely a part of "art" in that respect.

A painting is considered art, but that painting could either look really good, or be extremely bad. Perhaps, some paintings can only be appreciated by having an acquired taste, just like how there are movies that engage viewers of another demographic. They inspire debate, they inspire conversation, and they just simply inspire. Video games, in all counts, do the same, if not in an even more escalated form.

Perfect example of an escalated point of conversation comes in the form of most any Rockstar game, really. Grand Theft Auto, for all its pointless violence and hot beverages, is a video game that allows its makers to express their satirical views on society's deranged perception of personalities like homosexuals and immigrants. This series of video games make an effort to get a message out and be relevant, but in a way that they almost become cloaked in a blanket of overexposed media coverage about its violence and sexual themes. Art, by definition, portrays the culture that surrounded its creator/s- our progenitors; and Grand Theft Auto is very much a good example of that. More recently, another Rockstar video game, Red Dead Redemption, also covers some solid ground despite its Spaghetti Western themes.

In the aesthetic viewpoint of art, a huge load of video games already achieve a certain level of artistry that can rival the "modern art" that comes with strange sculptures and modern photography. In fact, some games achieve the effect of being a throwback to the art of old times passed. Okami, which is about Japan's sun god Amaterasu, is practically a traditional Japanese painting from start to finish. This game uses cel-shading techniques that would just look tacky in other media formats like movies, and achieves an engrossing effect that can't be found anywhere else. Arguably, its painting effect outdoes Sin City's, even though their art styles are radically different in contrast.

Hell, how about Assassin's Creed 2? The creators had to go around Europe and research on its landmarks, as well as estimate the state they were in during the Renaissance. As a result, some of the landmarks in the game are in a state that's still in construction, and the realism with the execution of the world is astounding. You won't be able to look at any singular detail in a movie unless you have the time to sit down and rewind through footage. While attention to detail is much appreciated in that medium, it's so much more appreciated in video games, because the player can actually approach something and admire the hard work that went into, say, the area around Florence, Italy.

That said, there's another side to the coin; the other edge of the sword, if you'll allow, to this debate. Some professor of philosophy named Barton Odom said that video games are simply not art, because they do not endure; they date easily, and you'll dump them when the next generation of consoles come out. A lot is true about that statement; it's true that many people don't bother playing their Nintendo 64's anymore, when they have a PS3. But how is it that up until now, the more than 20 year old Super Mario Bros. is still making such an impression on pop culture? Practically everyone knows the layout of its iconic first world, affectionately called World 1-1, and about every other single outlet of medium that is considered art- movies, TV, even paintings and sketches- have at least one example of an allusion to this very video game, even if you do eliminate the horrific disaster that was The Mario Bros. Movie.

More and more people are even appreciative of their old Nintendo Entertainment Systems or their Sega Genesis because they've actually collected a bit of value; and I'm not just talking monetary, but nostalgic as well. Let's put this in movie talk, then. The first time you were able to watch Star Wars, it was revelatory. You watch it a few years later and it seems a bit dated, perhaps a bit cheesy, but the nostalgia value is just oh-so awesome. The same thing applies to games like Zelda or Wolfenstein. The latter even got a re-release, and it was done for a reason. Any creation, when done with love and likewise received with the same affection, can endure the test of time. In a decade or two, people will still know what World 1-1 is, people will still know what Metroid is, and people will most definitely know what the hell a NES is.

And yet, shooters are simply a hard example to back up in this argument (barring Bioshock and Half-Life), because they simply don't have the same level of emotional involvement that comes with other media. Racing games, simulation games and action games, with some exceptions, apply as well. Then again, there's absolutely zero emotional involvement (in a man's part, at the very least) when you go see Sex and the City 2 either. That movie is also as shallow and as masturbatory (in the sense of wish-fulfillment) as the next Leisure Suit Larry game.

Ultimately, someone may dismiss video games as something far from an art form because it's just pretty images and a person sitting down on a couch pushing buttons (or waggling like hell). If that's the case, wouldn't movies ultimately be a person (or a number of people) sitting down on a couch and staring at images? Case here is that people's perceptions about video games may be a tad bit too dumbed down. Movies, people will argue, offer an emotionally invested medium of entertainment and thought-provoking storytelling, and so do games, but in that case, the player is in control of the story, and it makes him even more emotionally invested; even more challenged- physically even.

There's a strong case to be made with the gray area of video games becoming a form of art, and yet, there's something about them that just doesn't feel like art. Not yet.

But why should we even care about video games becoming art? Why can't video games be video games? As in, video games should not be the tertiary group of a primary classification, why can't they just be a new form all its own that operates alongside art and technology? It shouldn't have to be a derivation of a singular form, it can always be its own form; its own identity.

"It's not 'art', it's a 'video game'."

Yeah, I like that sound of that.

This Time In Games: It's a-me...

From perfect scores on reviews to unique gaming concepts, "This Time In Games" recaps the recent happenings and the hottest titles of the gaming industry.

This time in games:

Rockstar releases Red Dead Redemption.
And it seems to be the best Western game ever.

It follows the tradition of open-world games, but this one is, of course, set in a town with cowboys and epic gunbattles. For now it's for the 360 and PS3 only but I suspect that it will be available for the PC in some time.

A lot of review outlets think that Red Dead Redemption does redeem itself from its less raved predecessor.

Wii gets an epic week, too.
From Super Mario Galaxy 2 to Trauma Team, a lot of Wii owners have reason to burn their pockets, because a lot of really good games are starting to come out, and I suspect that it won't stop.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 has been proclaimed as "not just Super Mario Galaxy 1.5, but a game that rivals even its genre-breaking progenitors". In short, it's longer, larger and more streamlined than the first Galaxy, which is largely a good thing.

Also getting good reception is Bit.Trip.Runner, the first platformer of the rhythm game series. This WiiWare title has Commander Video jumping from point A to point B to a rocking soundtrack and retro visuals.

Lastly, there's Trauma Team which is a large departure for the surgical series of games. Instead of just a surgeon, you gain control of 6 different people, ranging from an orthopedic surgeon, surgeon, forensic investigator, diagnostician, first aid volunteer, and a doctor of endoscopy, all of which feature several distinct gameplay styles.

The anime style visuals and sound effects keep things interesting, and so far it's been getting raves as well.

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

A game that complements the movie adaptation, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is a bit of a throwback to the last generation of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time games. It doesn't really follow the movie's storyline and instead bridges the gap between the happenings in the first Sands of Time and the somewhat controversially "emo" Warrior Within.

Within its package contains the original 2D Prince of Persia game, as well as zero Jake Gyllenhaal, which is probably a good thing, for the sake of uniformity.

Sonic 4 for iPhone and iPod touch, confirmed!
The "reboot" SEGA is releasing for Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare and PSN is also going to the App Store. It has yet to be known whether the controls will be as bad as the emulated versions of Sonic that are on there, but the game is looking pretty good.

Could this be Sonic's first great game since... forever?

This video.
Trauma Center, the original DS game, was released ages ago but this parody was too insane not to notice, as it pretty much takes the over-the-top scenarios of the game's story and runs away with it.

Metroid: Other M surprises

Last E3, one of the biggest highlights of the Nintendo conference was the epic trailer that got Nintendo fans in a tizzy: Metroid: Other M. The opening sequence revealing the developers was all it needed to gain an absurd amount of hype, and that's because it was Team Ninja on the helm of this adventure, probably with a bit of Nintendo assistance as well.

Today on the Nintendo World Summit, the big N opened up a brief demo of this much-anticipated third-person/first-person shooter hybrid, and quite frankly, a lot of the design choices that were made are quite shocking.

The previews refer to the control scheme as "extremely different". Basically, the controls do not rely on the Nunchuk to work; you'll have to use the Wiimote sidewards ala New Super Mario Bros. Wii. However, the game comes with a few more tricks up its sleeve.

I'm sure Metroid Prime fans will be glad to know that the game does have a bit of a first-person perspective. You can point the Wii remote at the screen and the game will shift from side-scrolling third-person mode, to the first-person shooter mode where you can accurately assign targets for your lethal shots. This game also has the Search mode which can be initiated through pressing the B button.

Also, by tilting the Wiimote upward (like an umbrella), there seems to be a "concentration mode" which replenishes Samus' supply of missiles and a bit of health. That seems quite weird for me, since it might render Samus immobile especially during a fight, but we'll see what happens when the game actually comes out with its final build.

I'm not sure the Wiimote's d-pad is the best way to control a fully-rendered 3D game, but from what I've read, the controls are pretty workable. Frankly, the thing that will truly matter is the exploration. If it offers much exploration and unlockables, as well as some pretty epic boss battles, then I'm all for the game.

It is set for a pretty exciting launch date of June, but until then, there's Super Mario Galaxy 2 to hold me off in the month of May, maybe some Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands if it actually manages to be any good. The art direction seems to make the game look much better than Rival Swords.

And didn't I mention Red Steel 2? How about Sin and Punishment: Star Successor? Damn, that one looks good.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii First Impressions

Video games, how I have missed you!

In student life, it's hard to maintain that balance of work and play, and for weeks on end I have only depended on my iPod touch to give me those short bursts of entertainment, but a capacitive touch screen can only get you so far...

For so long have I wanted to just touch a controller-- any controller-- but since I only have the Wii for a primary console, I didn't really have many games to choose from.

Maybe I could just play Rock Band again. Maybe I could complete the Luigi levels of Super Mario Galaxy. A versus match online in SSBB? As if I could find anybody to play with!

No, I needed something new.

So I got New Super Mario Bros. Wii. And it's frigging awesome.

Granted, I've only gotten past the first world, and while I'm not playing it right now, I sure am craving to get into the game again.

It's easy to get into the groove of things, I mean, come on, it's a traditional Mario game! Anyone who can't familiarize themselves with the classic control scheme must be living in a friggin cave. Basically, you hold the Wiimote sideways and control it as you would control the old NES games. Still, since it has Wii in the title (as well as a glaring lack of Classic controller and Gamecube controller support), motion control is bound to be an integral part of the game. The new propeller suit requires you to shake the Wiimote so you can fly for a short period of time, some platforms are operable by you tilting the Wiimote left or right, they can carry stuff by you holding the 1 button and shaking the Wiimote, and inspired by Super Mario Galaxy, the boys now have a spin attack.

But what are controls for if there wasn't smart level design?

This early in the game, a sense of something special already simmers in me. There is some ingeniously brilliant level design, and I have yet to even get into the second world. Surely, things can only get better from here?

Rock Band DLC: QUEEN!!!1111

It's been overdue, but you know what they say, better late than never.

This is so full of win.

But "Another One Bites the Dust" isn't the only Queen song on offer, in fact, there are 10 songs on offer, and this is just one huge varied setlist that's sure to put fans in for a treat. In fact, it even offers Under Pressure which until now has been a Guitar Hero 5 exclusive.

The setlist:

Another One Bites the Dust
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
One Vision
Fat Bottomed Girls
I Want It All
I Want to Break Free
Killer Queen
Somebody to Love
Tie Your Mother Down
Under Pressure

Games I Want: September Edition

NOTE: I've decided to start a new monthly blog post called "Games I Want" (as if there weren't enough of these), so technically, the games I will list monthly must excite me. Otherwise, even if the omission is glaring or not, I will not include them here. To note, I only have a Wii, a DS and a PC for gaming so there will definitely be some glaring omissions. You'll note that Final Fantasy: Dissidia will not be in the list below, but in my humble opinion, it still has enough multi-platform games to keep your interest.

This was originally intended for my other blog in Gamespot, but I found it to be something I wanted to share to everyone else instead. For now, I've copy and pasted the entire post verbatim. Enjoy.


I just noticed that I have a lot to be excited about in September, not only because my birthday strikes on the first, but also because of a lot of major game releases. Yes, people, fall season is almost here... consider the summer drought over.

So I'm gonna make a little recap of the exciting properties overseeing release throughout the month (that I'm excited about), so it will definitely be a bit more Nintendo-oriented since I only own a Wii and a decent gaming PC.

The major releases I'm looking forward to are:

Muramasa: The Demon Blade
This Wii game has a particularly stylish traditional look that reminds you of other games like Viewtiful Joe and Odin Sphere, and that's because the game's developer is the same as that of the latter. VanillaWare looks like it's gonna do a really good job with this Wii-exclusive button-mashing title, and I'm gonna be first in line to get this.


Guitar Hero 5
Granted, I prefer Rock Band 2 tons more, but any numerical Guitar Hero release is most likely major. I'm not likely to go buy this in an instant 'cause I'm gonna wait till people say "It's compatible with Rock Band 2 Wii instruments". I know, I should've bought the GH ones since they're more durable and stuff (ironically, there were quite a lot of issues last year which led me to buy Rock Band 2 in the first place) but hey, it's been 2 incompatible GH games since then, and I demand that Activision give this one some Rock Band instrumental love since Rock Band 2 already supports every GH instrument compatible with the Wii. If that happens, I might buy it... the drop-in drop-out system is actually quite compelling for me... the setlist is kind of okay too.


The Beatles: Rock Band
Speaking of rhythm games, I'm surprised at myself for being excited for this Beatles game. I never grew up with their music, I've only heard snippets, but somehow I feel compelled to buy it. When news of this came out, I would coincidentally hear their music all over the place, and I would in turn develop a strong appreciation for them, which must be the reason why. For fans, the Beatles and all the unreleased exclusive content coming along with the game are enough to justify what seems to be a really steep price for the special edition. Of course, I'm shelling out for the disc only so I can save money. 1 set of instruments is enough.


Wet
While it's only overseeing release in the Xbox and the PS3, I have no doubt that it will eventually come out in the PC since this is Bethesda we're talking about. Gameplay and art direction both look insanely great, but I feel that waiting for the reviews of the console editions is a bit more of a rational thing to do for now. I still have doubt if Rubi can manage to hold a gamer's attention for more than 30 minutes because quite frankly one can have the tendency to get sick of automatic Matrix-esque slow-mo shootouts.


Need for Speed: Shift
After a few underwhelming additions, EA is putting its famous Need for Speed franchise into the pit for a bit of a tuning. The product of this tuning? This game. It looks so pretty, damn it! It's been so long since I've last played a serious racing game too. Judging from what I've seen, it's gonna be pretty cool.


Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC Edition)
The Dark Knight has never really found a serious video game to call home, but Arkham Asylum may be it. I've only heard tremendously good feedback for the game so far, so I can safely say that I'm excited for it as well.


Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Loved the first one, second one looks awesome as hell, and... Stan Lee's in there. I didn't know why I said that. Anyway, while I'm not really much of a comic book fan (I have yet to read one. Ever.), I still love a lot of these characters, and believe me, there's quite a lot. I know it's just some beat-em-up but there's a lot of customization, a lot of RPG elements, and there will be quite possibly a pretty good story behind it. I mean, people are making a big deal about this "Civil War" thing. So yeah, a lot to expect, a lot to be excited about, and the best part is, you just know that they'll be able to deliver. Aah, if only it had a PC version.


Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
I love the Mario and Luigi RPG series, and it seems that it has yet to lose any of its charm. I don't think anything else new has been added though, but we may soon see when the game comes out. Come on, it's a full-fledged Mario RPG. Nothing will probably go wrong... except for the fact that maybe Bowser should've just eaten the whole Mushroom Kingdom in the first place instead of, you know, the same shtick he does over and over again. I mean, how do Mario, Luigi and Peach shrink anyway? Bowser's not that big (except for that last part).


Scribblenauts
When I first saw the God vs. the Kraken video on YouTube, I just said to myself, "I'm so gonna buy this," and for good reason: you put any noun you can think of in your head and it will possibly appear. Granted this is a rated E game so there's none of that stuff, but when you think about it, there's possibly nothing else like it. You're forced to use more creative ways to solve puzzles, and truly I like how they think.


PC versions of Red Faction: Guerilla and Resident Evil 5
I've put the two together for the reason that I don't know whether I'll buy them or not. I know for a fact that Red Faction does look like an awesome game, but I don't think it's compelling enough for me to buy yet. RE5 I might get when I actually get to finish RE4!

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
I am a fan of the KH series, I'm not ashamed to admit (but I'm not particularly a fanboy since I've become a bit lost on the lore), so I am very much looking forward to the DS installment of the franchise. While Chain of Memories on the original GBA was decent, this one doesn't look like it will feature that bullcrap card battle system (and thus, for me, will be very, very good). While the card battle system did offer a bit more strategy, I prefer the excessive real-time button mashing-ness of the series, it just feels "un-Kingdom Hearts" without it. I don't particularly care much about the story since it's become a tad convoluted for the sake of making more games for more money, but I don't know, it just looks too good to pass up. And hey, The World Ends With You was a perfectly awesome Square handheld RPG, so why not give it a chance?


Dead Space Extraction
I have yet to play some real Dead Space, but I've heard that it was an unexpectedly good time. Now that it's a name that's bankable, EA has gotten the same developing team to make a Wii-exclusive prequel. This would've sounded awesome if only they just let the player control the character! That's right, Extraction is apparently another on-rails shooter ala the Resident Evil Wii games. I'm not saying that on-rails on the Wii isn't fun-- far from that-- but it's getting a bit... tiresome, don't you think? I'd regret saying this but the graphics also make the atmosphere a bit less scary... but at least there's a flamethrower which is awesome! It's hard to say that I'm particularly optimistic about this title, but I'm giving it a chance and expecting it to offer at least a quarter of the greatness the full-fledged game was said to have. And come on, it has more strategy than the House of the Dead because of the dismemberment thing! Think about it!


I've saved the best for last, and that is...

Deca Sports 2
The holy grail of Wii sports games, Deca Sports is a franchise any gamer should ever miss... and yep, I'm saying it's underrated. Now that there's a sequel, I'm sure to join the frigging bandwagon 'cause it's so totally awesome!


NAH, just kidding. Just total BS, that game. If I wanted to play a compilation of sports games, I'd go back to Wii Sports Resort. It is fantastic (except for cycling, canooeing...)!

Nintendo caters to "adults"

When Nintendo swore on the mantra of "Everybody's game.", they probably really meant everybody. Today, GameSpot has reported on a new patent Nintendo has made detailing a man sitting on a cushion... that vibrates.

The real intention for Nintendo with this device is to simulate horse-back riding with the Wiimote and Nunchuk as your reins.

The patent also describes that the cushion will have accelerometers to detect if you're... bouncing on it and it may apply some haptic feedback while you're at it.

Gaming porn may just see a revitalization yet. Custer's Revenge Wii here we come! (Wow, I have issues.)

Rock Band Network: Don't wait for the third one

One of the major features people talk about when comparing the lasting value of Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 is the music creator (GHTunes) of the former. While it makes for a little bit of amusement, the amusement doesn't really last long what with the decidedly un-user-friendly creation interface. Now, the arguments can be put to rest, because Harmonix has announced something even better: the new Rock Band Network.

Aimed as both a promotional tool for independent labels/artists and a DIY DLC creator for established labels, the Rock Band Network is the place where the artists themselves can create both the song and the Rock Band chart, then upload them to the community for evaluation. They can set their price (.50c-$2) and they'll get a share of that profit.

Nobody said creating the crap was easy though, and that's because one will need an account before they gain access to the same tools Harmonix uses. So no, it's not the same consumer-oriented composer tools Guitar Hero offers, but the real deal. Now it won't have to sound like a ringtone (unless your song sounded like a ringtone intentionally).

Perhaps one deal-breaker to this new tool comes with the current incompatibility with other consoles-- namely the PS3 and the Wii-- but Harmonix says that they're "working on those versions" as well.

I envision Rock Band Network as one of the biggest promotional tools the music industry can exploit. I mean, since a creator can simply release the song/s on a date he chooses, labels could say, simultaneously put out Rock Band DLC and a new album.

For the interested musicians out there, you better have a 360 if you want to participate in the beta. You'll also have to get your e-mail address and type it in the site though.

Punch-Out!! Review (Wii)

Punch-Out!!

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo, Next Level Games

In today's gaming world, it's all about online multiplayer, first-person shooters, and photorealistic sports simulators. So it's quite astonishing to even see a game like Punch-Out!! be so much the same as its NES counterpart yet so freshly fun at the same time.

What sets Punch-Out!! apart from games like Fight Night or God forbid, Facebreaker is that it's still the same pattern-based, reflex-dependent game that baby boomers reminisce so much about. Despite the nostalgic value the game holds, it also holds up well with the jaded audiences of today. The sheer accessibility and challenge makes this game a perfect example of a reboot done well. Not only does it have a sort of "pick-up-and-play" control scheme (or schemes), it doesn't feel dumbed down either, making this game a great way to unite casual and hardcore gamers.

But how do you even play this? You can use either just the Wiimote and orient it to landscape to make it play like the old NES version, use the Wiimote and Nunchuk so you can punch using your hands (but dodge using the Nunchuk's analog stick), or use the Wiimote, Nunchuk and the Balance Board- although I've heard that Balance Board support sucked. As for the actual controls, they're very much simple: when your opponent flashes red, that means he's about to attack you. Dodge the right direction (up, right, down or left) and you get the chance to pummel the opponent down with a combo. Simple, right? Well, how about we also add a "super-punch" mechanic into the mix? Punch your opponent in the right time and you get a star. A star allows you to activate the super-punch by holding the A button and punching. Still simple, yes?

It does all sound too simple, but just wait until you actually play it. True, the first opponent you encounter (Glass Joe) is easy as croissant, but succeeding opponents aren't so forgiving. To give you a hint on how hard this game can get, I have an embarrasing 14-31 record. For those who aren't into sports, that's 14 wins and 31 losses. Yes, 31 freaking losses. That's how hard the game can get. Even with all the visual and aural cues, you'll still find yourself sweating and swearing in frustration due to dodging in the wrong direction, among other human faults.

That said, the game is still tons of fun. Even if you win after, say, 12 attempts at the same opponent, you'll still feel this sense of joy-- it feels rewarding to win. That feeling can probably be attributed to the human psyche's dream of being able to conquer people who are bigger than him (WTF am I saying?!) because the presentation of the game has you feeling so small and the enemy so big.

The cel-shaded aesthetic, however, is very much welcome. Even though aiming for photorealism is the norm for sports games, the decision to use cel-shading very much benefits the game as it adds to the charm of the already charming characters. True, the characters can get a bit too stereotypical- croissants will fly over Parisian Glass Joe's head, for instance- but the "happy" overall feel of the game will probably make you dismiss it as something done out of sheer fun.

The single-player mode (Career mode) pits you against 13 different boxers with several distinct fighting styles. Obviously, your approach will be different with each one. There seems to even be a new character in the Punch-Out!! roster called Disco Kid. If homoerotic moans get you creeped (crept?) out, I suggest you to not take them seriously.

Each fight starts with a 4 picture slideshow of your adversary. That basic slideshow gives you an impression of each fighter's backstory. But trust me on this when I say Punch-Out!! has never been about story, so don't expect much from these slideshows.

But the career mode doesn't exactly end after you beat the 13th boxer, you'll be able to go through all of them again to defend your title, but they come in with more moves and sometimes protective gear that will force you to change your strategy again. It's very varied, which I like, and it very much pushes replay value.

Even Glass Joe's fragile head gets protection.

Adding even more to replay value is the local multiplayer aspect of the game- a first in the franchise. It operates on nearly the same principles as the career mode, but it offers a twist: punch your enemy enough and you'll become as big as all those other guys you fought-- in short, Giga Mac. The player who gets left behind as Little Mac will be able to see all those red flashes that the boxers in Career mode will emit when they get ready to throw a punch, and the same mechanics with all the combos and stuff in the Career mode apply as well. This makes for a varied and extremely fun twist on the formula- and it also makes for very fun 2-player split-screen sessions.

While there is no online, nor any photorealistic graphics, Punch-Out!! for the Wii is still very much a lot of fun- and it is very much worth a buy even when you don't have any nostalgic feelings toward it.

Rating: 8.5/10

E3 '09: The Two In Nintendo

Yes, I'm using yesterday's format for reporting the E3 news. No bolding or italicizing, sorry.

--------------------------------

Nintendo starts it off with a video that reaffirms its focus on the casual market. Cammie Dunaway comes back on stage this year and boasts about the expansion of gaming into the mainstream marketplace. Hmm, gaming in general, I think.

"Today we will bring you the leap forward in game control and put in places you may not expect." she then hints on a Mario game, and a retrospective comes out detailing the NES, SNES, N64, DS and Wii adventures.

"Four is the key to Mario's next surprise," she hints again, "a Mario game that's never been possible before- New Super Mario Bros. for Wii". Bombshell already?

Someone gets called to demo New Super Mario Bros. Wii, "we add more players," he said. The four rotate the Wiimote NES-style. Graphics look exactly like the DS version?

One box automatically makes 4 items appear. New Propeller power-up revealed. Somehow reminds me of LittleBigPlanet, still looks fun. (Cross-reference: GiantBomb says final game may get 80 levels!!!!)

Carrie talks again, confirms Holiday 2009 window. No online? That would be a big draw.

She hints at the rumored Wii Fit Plus. Is it true? Hints at sales figures of the Wii Fit... shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

There ya go, it's true. Wii Fit Plus is true. "This next version moves in an added direction. Find an exercise routine that fits you. 6 new Yoga and Strength exercises and combine in any order you want as well as repeat ones you think are helpful. It will keep track of calories burned. But there are 15 new balance games because Nintendo flavor isn't there if it isn't fun." Basically they're addressing common criticisms of the original.

Personally, the platforming game in Wii Fit Plus is the only that looks kinda fun. "Will support existing Wii Balance Board and ship with it"

A video of the Wii is shown... but for what?

Anyway, Reggie Fils-Aime goes on stage. He talks the good about Wii and free publicity through word of mouth, etc.. He's pleasing the shareholders.

He points out Wii MotionPlus. Old news, man. Nothing to see here. "Wii MotionPlus adds precision control" then a video comes out. -yawn- Ping pong... basketball... swordfighting... archery... golf (again?)... jet skiing...

JUST RELEASE WII SPORTS RESORT ALREADY. We get it... although I guess the basketball and the swordfighting look pretty cool.

Reggie punches Peter Molyneux in the face, "With video you can do anything". Now they demo the actual game... AGAIN. Did Nintendo erase all memory of last year's E3 conference?

But wait a sec, SKYDIVING?!

Looks really NOT fun. Seriously, but I guess Project Natal won't be able to do this either. But I guess my brother thinks it's cool.

Now archery gets demoed. -sigh- He's embarrassing himself by sucking. Fine Nintendo, I'm gonna buy Wii MotionPlus but for Red Steel 2 and all those other games that will obviously use it.

Next, Reggie gets invited back out on stage so he can co-op with the demoer whoever he is. What game are they demoing again? Oh, basketball. Side shots only? Lame. Looks tiring in long runs. Reggie wins, probably demotes demoer for actually "trash-talking" him.

July 26 is the release date for Wii Sports Resort, but Reggie points out EA's other games. Tiger Woods and Grand Slam Tennis, both by EA, will come packed in with the accessory, as well as SEGA's Virtua Tennis 2009.

"Every little mistake you make in the real world will be faithfully reflected in the game." Great, more reason to embarrass myself.

Reggie points out the Red Steel 2 will only play when you have MotionPlus. -raspberry- Lame. No demo?

"Let's go to the RPG. It allows devs to vary their approach and this means a new world for Square Enix in the FF franchise" Bad voice acting and script are shown in a trailer for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers. It might suck.

Then Kingdom Hearts 358/2 for DS is shown as well. Kairi in Organization wear? Many other familiar characters from the world are shown, and it looks pretty good. Pretty faithful to the PS2.

"Bowser really does suck. But in a good way." Latest Mario and Luigi RPG shown (in Japan it's Mario and Luigi 3, here it's Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story) and the premise is shown. Basically, the two get sucked into Bowser's stomach. I'm excited as hell for this, but because I loved Mario and Luigi Partners in Time. Wow, the Bowser segments look epic. Fall is the release window.

One more RPG is shown. What is it? ZELDA? ZELDA? ZELDA? ZELDA? ZELDA? ZELDA? ZELDA? Oh wait, it's not. Golden Sun is this franchise they're talking about. I'm not familiar with it, but it looks pretty damn good.

Carrie goes back on stage and boasts about the install base. AGAIN. Can't there be more games? Oh God, what the hell is this Women's Murder Club crap? Ugh... lame. Stick to books James Patterson.

C.O.P. The Recruit is shown, and it's a Ubisoft game. Judging from Ubi's track record in the Nintendo arena, I think it'll suck. Maybe the GTA clone will actually NOT suck?

What is this pre-teen crap now? Style Savvy. Spare me. Well, at least it has an online component unlike... NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII... Damn it, all the online in the all the wrong games.

Another "Everyone's game" video comes out, and it's about the DSi. Ugh... bla bla bla, 1 million units, bla bla bla, 400000 units for the DS Lite, bla bla bla.

Now they're talking about the DSiWare. A flipbook game, a Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! game (in which one can make levels) and WarioWare DIY (in which players can design their own microgames) are exclusively for download. WarioWare DIY is the only one that interests me.

Carrie announces a new feature for DSi. Basically, you can upload pictures to Facebook so you can make new enemies by editing your friends' faces.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is now featured. No footage? Ugh....

ANOTHER EVERYONE'S GAME VIDEO. GAH.

Satoru Iwata goes on stage. No one's clapping. He's talking in English, and wants the "Maybe?" gamer group to be able to finalize their stance on gaming. This "Maybe?" = 149 Million people round the world. Fine. So what? Ugh, is this speech even worth listening to?

I think he's talking about the hardcore and the casual and how they're so divided or something like that. Maybe he wants to stick two and two together through a really good casual-hardcore game? Who knows?

Yeah, I'm sensing a new kind of game that caters to both audiences. New Super Mario Bros., Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort are those games, he says. No they aren't.

He's gonna announce a new IP? Stop teasing... Oh what's this? Wii Vitality Sensor? You stick your finger inside it and... what? It looks creepy. It's like sticking your finger onto a little stapler. Some practical uses, please? "A new way to relax"? WTF. WILL GAMES EVEN USE IT? IS IT EVEN A GAME TOOL? COME ON, DON'T LEAVE IWATA.

HADSlSJFO:IAJDSOIUHEFGIUHSGILSUEHF)W(RU*WFOSDNCJS

Carrie goes back to the stage and points out the Mario games that were announced of which there are several. Now, she's gonna reveal "the first second full 3D Mario title on a single Mario console". YES, IT'S SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2!

It seems you can now be controlled by Yoshi ala Super Mario World. As usual, it looks really good visually, hope they screw the rolling segments though. I doubt that.

Whatever, it looks really good. But I'm still not a fan of swimming.

Reggie says that all of those were "innovative and surprising". Well, it sure was surprising. That Vitality Sensor sure looks like crap.

"Let me offer third-party examples for Wii that you'll be able to play before the year's end." He shows The Conduit by SEGA which gets out in a few weeks (or was it days?), Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles by Capcom which is basically RE: Zero in light gun format, as well as Dead Space: Extraction by EA. Old news, all of them, and only three games? That kinda sucks, although Dead Space looks pretty good. Or not.

"Third party developers are drawn by opportunity, and Nintendo provides a lot of it." Yeah, opportunity to put shovelware and make a cheap buck.

Team Ninja and Nintendo?! What the? Holy... Project M... what is this? It looks good... SAMUS? METROIDDDDD... WTF IT LOOKS PRETTY... Pretty... pretty.. what the hell did they DO TO IT?! Third-person?! Samus looks badass as always though. Who is the scientist lady? 2010, huh?

No one clapped at that?! I need to know more!!!!!!

But the excitement ends... ugh... more everybody's game crap. UGH... that kinda sucked, but not as much as last year. And why didn't they even say anything about any new Zelda? Miyamoto had to confirm it in private?!

E3: Games I'm Excited About

E3 is a gamer's haven because it constantly is not without any news of some kind of great thing, be it a console, a game, or just an earnings report. With just about 16 hours (as of this writing) before the new, reborn E3 starts, I just felt like listing down the games I'm excited about that will appear in this year's E3.

In no particular order:

1) The Beatles: Rock Band

To my surprise, I'm kind of excited to learn about what the game has to offer- basically the setlist. What fan favorites and unreleased recordings are there to be heard in this psychedelic spin-off?

2) Brutal Legend

Fine, it's been revealed a long time ago, but despite that, it's still gonna be rockin' in the show. I was pretty damn skeptical at first, what with the "using your axe as a weapon" premise and all, but after reading positive previews from various sources, I'm pretty excited for this game. Even cooler is that it uses album art from various metal bands to create looks for boss characters, backgrounds, etc..

3) God of War III

My lack of a PS3 doesn't really have to factor into the equation for me to be excited about this game- the series is that good. Now Kratos has to fight the freaking Titans, so obviously a lot of epic stuff is gonna be shown in E3.

4) Bayonetta

A vixen is gonna hunt people down and kill them with her... hair? From the creators of Devil May Cry, this action game looks just as frantic and just as crazy as its demonic counterpart- which is a good thing.

5) Final Fantasy XIII

Now that this game is getting to the 360, it's also likely that it's gonna get ported over to the PC- which is probably the primary cause of excitement for me because I don't own neither a 360 nor a PS3. And hey, this is Final Fantasy, and it's been in development hell for far too long now. Maybe a release date will suffice?

6) New Mario or Zelda game

The Nintendo fanbase has been calling out- and it's time Nintendo got the door. This E3 most likely has at least one of these games up their sleeves- if not, they also have Star Fox, or Kid Icarus to show, among others. Last year's E3 was such a disappointment for Nintendo that they'll surely do something to make everyone less bitter about it.

Rock Band 2 Review (WII)

Rock Band 2: Special Edition (Wii version reviewed)

EA Games, MTV Games, Harmonix, Pi Studios

It's not always when Harmonix screws something up. True, the LEGO mashup may be one case, but Rock Band (1) for the Wii is another.

You see, the first iteration of the franchise for the white dude had a lot of features stripped from its beefier 360 and PS3 counterparts: character creation, online play and most importantly for me, the online music store.

Fortunately, Harmonix has made up for the disappointment of the multitudes of Wii owners by offering a bigger, better, badder Rock Band 2. It's simply nearly identical to its big brothers from the art direction to the myriads of clothes on offer in Character Creation mode.

It's a rather massive game now in comparison to that of the first iteration, so I'll just sift through some of the major ones.

Graphics and Presentation

The departure of pre-rendered videos is very welcome, as it's very cute to see your own character miss notes when you do, as the "concert" that happens while you play is now rendered in real-time. Some frame rate issues do occur, but it's only noticeable when you are the singer in the band. Other than that, the characters and animation have very impressive art direction and fluidity. You'll even love how, at times, the avatar of the guitarist would sing along and share the mic with the singer.

The flexible character creation even lets you create some of the most outrageous avatars you'll find in a rock game, and they are all rendered flawlessly. Subtle uses of your characters in loading screens (as well as your band's name) also look extremely cool to boot. Hell, the only issue I'd have with the presentation of Rock Band would have to be the fact that it isn't in HD!

Instruments

The quality of the instruments is pretty solid. I personally would've liked the guitar to have better fret buttons, as well as some more responsiveness, but overall, I think the included instruments (1 set of drums, 1 guitar, 1 USB mic) will last very long. 

You'll need 3 AA batteries (included in the box) for drums and guitar for they are wireless, but you'll only probably exchange them every 2 months or so. We bought Rock Band 2 during the last week of February, and yet the guitar still lives on without a single battery change. The drums on the other hand, has just received its first battery change 2 weeks ago. Take note though, that battery life will still depend on how long you play in one sitting.

Drum sticks get black quick though, as they are made of actual wood and not plastic.

Gameplay Mechanics

Gameplay is relatively easy to pick up with drums as the color coded rings of the real instrument reflect the colors of the notes that will appear on screen. Guitar on the other hand, handles like a real one. You can hold the fret buttons, but you'll have to strum using the strum bar first before the game accepts it. (For training and more information about contorls, one could be able to go to a very detailed tutorial or just train on any part of any song)

Singing is radically different beast, obviously, but it's not just karaoke- it also detects correct pitch. No, actually, it's more pitch than words, so if you don't know a part of the song but you know the tune of it, you can just hum your way to victory. Some parts of a certain song where the instrumentalists go solo are supplemented with "clapping sessions". Basically, the vocalist will also have to clap to the beat- as indicated by scrolling black circles overlapping a stationary white circle.

When someone is doing miserably, a team member can use stored energy (which can be received through playing grey notes or singing yellow phrases correctly) to go into "overdrive". Overdrive is basically Rock Band's answer to Guitar Hero's "Star Power": it can "save" the troubled band member from failing, or even ressurect a band member who has already failed. One would know if failure is imminent by checking out a green/yellow/red meter on the left corner of the screen. When someone is going down that meter, it means he/she is doing badly or missing notes. When he/she reaches the bottommost part of that meter, he/she fails and must be "saved" through the Overdrive of the other bandmates- and fast because the meter turns yellow and later, red when someone fails. Basically, a failed bandmate will take the rest of you down with him, and if the others don't rush to save him (or are too late) they'll all fail the song; this mechanic definitely encourages teamwork and some frantic moments.

But of course, failing just sucks, doesn't it? This is why you can choose to activate a "No Fail" mode which effectively removes all chances of failure- as well as the ability to save your progress in Tour (aka, Career) Mode.

High Score OCD

Much of the replay value present in these types of games lies in the basic "I want to beat that high score" psychology- if you could call it that. This is why Harmonix also put "Solo" and "Rock Ending" mechanics. The former basically adds bonus points depending on how well you play a guitar/drum solo while the latter gives the players bonus points when an ending is successfully executed. 

Let me delve more into these "endings". The notes suddenly look like spreaded jam, meaning that you could just do anything with your instrument- and yes, that means strumming any fret, banging any part of the drum, and screaming/speaking gibberish into the mic- and after that part, the points will be given to you depending on just one condition: will the instrumentalists be able to play the last few notes? When they are able to not miss the last note(s), the points are given to you. Otherwise- when the player screws up on that last note- no bonus points for you!

Online

The actual experience of Rock Band lies in the number of people you have at your disposal. If you play it with a full band, a certain feeling surfaces- and that abstract, indescribable feeling is pretty much the thing that makes Rock Band so good and dare I say it, magical. Still, your friends or family aren't always around- they have lives too- so online is here to cure your loneliness.

There are two major online modes: Online Tour and Battle of the Bands. Online Tour enables you to find other people who are lonely too, and they could serve as one (or all) of the missing members of your band.

While I have yet to be able to find a full band online, I was able to find several guitarists, and the song I picked was Joan Jett's Bad Reputation. It doesn't replace real people who are there with you, but it's close.

Searches would take long depending on the time you go online and the number of people who are actually on and/or already playing, of course..

Personally, I haven't actually tried the latter- Battle of the Bands. Basically, its premise is that you can connect your entire band online and fight with other bands who are online.

Music Store

For the first time in the Wii edition, Rock Band gets its own Music Store where you can now download 20 free songs out of the box as well as purchase more famous songs. Each song costs 200 Nintendo Points or $2.00, and while the 630 song-catalogue is not yet complete in the Wii, it's getting there. New songs added in the 360 and PS3 are currently being added alongside the songs that play catch-up. So while there's no My Sharona yet, you could now get the newly added Spongebob songs.

Now Go Party!!!

Wii owners (or PS3 and 360 owners for that matter) who are fans of the rhythm genre (or just like to conduct parties in general) will consider Rock Band 2 a no-brainer. Personally, it's even better than Guitar Hero: World Tour even if its drums have those (unintuitive) cymbals and just 2 more songs than Rock Band 2. When you pop this in and you start playing with several friends, you're just gonna be so elated. It's just a gratifying experience with others- and Rock Band's ability to make people feel this way is unsurpassed, thus making Rock Band 2 (or the franchise in general) one of the best rhythm game(s) of all time.

Rating: 9.3/10