Top 10 Reasons to (and not to) buy Wii Fit

BUY IT!
5) The perfect gift
Somehow Nintendo has always managed to market its products (such as this) to its intended 'blue ocean' successfully thus always getting a boost in its profit. Wii Fit, especially with all the pre-orders filling up (and some even cancelling them) and the May 19-21 release date controversy, is of no exception. So if the comments and testimonies of fellow gamers can attest, their mothers and fathers are the people who are rooting for this new, somewhat revolutionary product.

4) Humiliate your enemies
If you're looking for the right time to come along so that you can humiliate your enemies, you can just invite them for a weigh-in and there's a chance that they'll either be traumatized (if they're 10) or just plain humiliated. Of course, it's expensively juvenile, but hey, revenge is ice-cold and sweet- perfect for summer.

3) Save some money!
It's a cheap (and not so) viable alternative to gym. Picture it: You pay 90$ for the software for one time as opposed to paying a PS3 monthly every 300 visits with a trainer?

2) Get your ass in gear
Like Dance Dance Revolution before it, Wii Fit aims to make exercising fun. And though it doesn't entirely succeed in that endeavor, it doesn't really fail either (and that's due to the non-automatic fitness programme thing).

1) The Balance Board!!!
And though Nintendo really developed the accessory for the game, the accessory itself has a lot of potential for a lot of games. Currently, the games being made with the Board in mind are the recently released We Ski from Namco which emulates real skiing with the Wiimote and Nunchuk as your sticks and the board as your board; and EA's pending Skate It.

Forget it!
5) If you're just gonna cheat...
Find ways to cheat the very, very precise Balance Board accessory will not be worth the 90 bucks. Although there are definitely ways, those ways aren't really applicable to any of the exercises, therefore, making you waste time finding them.

4) 90 bucks?!
Yeah, 90 American dollars. It's no Rock Band (or freaking Guitar Hero World Tour!) but it's still pretty expensive. Then again, the prices of just a normal game at our country is already equal to that, so it should come as a bargain if you were to find it at just 90 dollars.


3) Doubtful results
It should come as no surprise that the viability of the Wii Fit as a serious work-out and gaming machines is very doubtful. Who knows? Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't. Regardless, you'll have to wait 6 months to find one anyway.

2) If you're waiting for the great titles, or you just want the accessory...
Then wait until 1) there are really great games designed for the Balance Board or; 2) when Nintendo sells the balance board separately.

1) If you've got a gym membership...
...forget it! You are simply better off doing your crunches and working your biceps in a real gym than being tempted by the nearby refrigerator (and possibly that bag of chips lying near your sofa) while cheating the balance board (yes, it's still possible!).

WII SPOTLIGHT: Getting fit (or fat) PLUS a review

Wii Fit
Though people will definitely leave room for doubt, Wii Fit has no doubt become a sensation in Japan, selling over a million copies and assisting Japanese all over the country in their conquest to get the body they've always wanted. Now, the time is nearing for English speakers worldwide to see why the Japanese love it so much, and who knows? Maybe it could help America lose some pounds!

This is how it works: you input your birthdate, height and the new balance board accessory will measure your weight and see if the weight of your body is distributed in each foot properly. After that, it calculates your BMI and sets goals for each day that you turn it on depending on whether you should gain or lose weight. If you fulfill the tasks needed in one day, you can put a stamp on its calendar (much like Brain Age) and end the session (or not).

It features a slew of Yoga poses, as well as Muscle Training activities. Though they sound tedious, it seems more fun than it looks in a way, because the game rates your balance during the duration of the pose and bypasses it if it senses that you're not even trying!

As you progress through each stage of each exercise, you unlock more. Same goes for its games which you control using the balance board. For example, one game tasks you to dodge the stuff that aren't soccer balls, and by shifting your weight from left to right, the character on-screen will move to that corresponding direction. It looks fun, really.

Personally, I'm not really compelled to buy the title because it probably costs a Rock Band (at least in a few certain countries) and... I don't know.

However, the balance board, in a perspective, has potential to become a huge peripheral for a lot of various games: skateboarding, snowboarding... the possibilities are almost endless!

Still, it's expected that this game is gonna be a big, unexpected blockbuster. And with Shigeru Miyamoto supervising, what could go wrong?

REVIEW: Super Mario Galaxy
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo

In a nutshell: Branded by most as the best Mario game in years, Super Mario Galaxy exceeds my expectations and presents itself with tight gameplay and controls, beautiful graphics, and superb production values.

I haven't had the chance to play what they say is the defining platformer of the 90's- Super Mario 64- but at least I was lucky enough to play Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii instead of the critically panned Super Mario Sunshine from the last console generation. And when you see a classic, you just know it's a classic.

"Inventive" kidnap
When you start a new game, the title presents you with information regarding this certain "Star Festival" which is held every 1000 years and now, Mario is going near the Mushroom Kingdom's castle to take part in that specific festival. However, Bowser is back and he just can't resist kidnapping the Princess Peach and giving Mario his purpose in life. But it's not any ordinary kidnapping, he gets a huge crane of sorts and lifts the castle out of the ground and into outerspace and Mario gets dragged into some other planet.

Cheating on Peach
Mario then meets the mother of the so-called Lumas- Rosalina- and she tasks him with collecting the so-called Power Stars to generate the lost electricity of her starship. As Mario collects more Power Stars for Rosalina- no, they don't fall in love- Mario just gets closer to the center of the universe to where his sweet Princess is, along with her kidnapper.

Graphics
If you ask me, despite the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy's graphics are still the one to beat, and it proves that if you don't underestimate the Wii's power, you can cook up something that could look and feel next-generation. See the cover art? It's how the graphics in-game looks like.

The cutscenes aren't pre-rendered either and use the game's majestic in-game engine so that everything has a uniform feel- and I actually like it this way because it feels very epic and breathtaking.

Gameplay
In a Mario game, story isn't important, it's the gameplay.

You use the Wiimote and Nunchuk to control Mario. The analog stick of the Nunchuk is obviously for movement, the Z trigger for crouching, the A button in the Wiimote is still jump, the B button underneath shoots Star Bits to stun enemies or feed Hungry Lumas, and shaking the controller makes Mario do a Spin Attack or transport himself to another part of the galaxy by way of Star Cannons.

The controls are very accessible, intuitive and easy yet tight, and it just feels right.

Besides the controls, the levels themselves could initially be too easy, and suddenly they can get very maddeningly difficult, especially in some of the coin-collecting variations of a few levels. Yeah, you could be laughing right now, because... it's coin collecting for crying out loud! Yeah, you're gonna say that now, but when you play some of those levels, you'll never view coin collecting quests the same ever again.

The levels, nonetheless, have some of the best level design ever found in any 3D platformer ever, if not genius, because it plays with aspects of gravity, physics, and a lot of other things.

Sound
The game has a legendary soundtrack and features a mix of new content and nostalgic ditties. Now, however, most of them are orchestrated (and sometimes, there's also a synth here and there). I have nothing else to say about its audio because it's just so damn great.

Value
It depends on you. Me? Well, I could claim all 120 stars again using Luigi to unlock a bonus galaxy but... I don't know. Maybe another time.

Transformations
The new transformations in this edition of Mario include the cute Bee Mario costume which enables you to fly for a specific period of time, the Boo Mario costume which- when you shake the Wiimote- lets you pass through certain walls and attract fellow ghosts, and Spring Mario which lets you jump really high.

They surprisingly mesh well with the older costumes, which are equally cool with Ice Mario making water into ice, Fire Mario shootinh fire when you shake the Wiimote (and melts snowmen), Rainbow Mario rendering Mario invinsible to anything (except holes) and a lot more.

Cons
It's not all perfect. Swimming, despite likewise tight controls, sucks anyway, although there is not much requirement to do that except if you're the so-called completist. Another aspect that needs improvement is Spring Mario: if you want to go to a precise spot, it's kinda hard, and well, the jumping just never stops!

Plus, when you quit to the title screen, no matter how many lives you accumulate, your lives always get reset to merely 4. Yeah, it's in the manual but come on, who reads it?

Overall
Despite those problems, they're fairly minor compared to the game as a whole.

If you're still in doubt as to whether you'll want to get Super Mario Galaxy or not, you shouldn't be! It's a FREAKING CLASSIC, no contest!

Rating: 9.8/10

Must-have Wii Games!

I've been feeling that there's a bit of a shortage on my own collection of Wii games. It's not that I'm sick of the unit and the games I have in possession. I mean, I'm not actually sick of any of the games yet! But if you here the prospect of me only having 10 games at present, it's actually a bit of a small number now at almost 3 months of possession.

So now, I'm gonna put must-have Wii games, not only for me to remember what good games are out there, but for other Wii owners as well. So here are the titles I'm currently jumping at excitement for:

Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games - Yes, it's more focused on kids. But the showdown 20 years in the making between two mega gaming mascots is an offer that's irresistible, especially between those who closely followed said competition in the 80's. It may not be as fierce as you want to be (It's rated E for Everybody!) but at least it will finally happen. I have my inhibitions, though (Nintendo is not creating it, Sega, the creator of lame games like Shadow the Hedgehog, etc., is. But maybe there will be a fresher perspective that way?). Still, it looks like a great family/party game, the graphics look as good as pre-rendered video, and at least it puts Mii's to good use... But wait a sec, a fat plumber versus a fast hedgehog in a foot race?! You gotta be kidding! (UPDATE) Good news! Shigeru Miyamoto, legendary game designer is supervising! If he thinks it's too indecent to his perfectionist standards, he'll scrap everything and do it all over again if he wants to!

Zelda: Twilight Princess - OK, it's a Wii launch title and everybody with a Wii already has this. But I don't, solely due to defects of the Greenhills copy.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Most everyone with a Wii has already been craving for it ever since before the Wii's launch. But it has unluckily been once again delayed for next year but its huge fanbase is willing to wait. And what this fighter, as the title apparently indicates, offers is the match-up of classic Nintendo characters, famous and obscure, as well as third-party characters such as Snake from Metal Gear Solid and the more recently announced, Sonic the Hedgehog. The game provides manic action that probably inspired a little imitation called Digimon Rumble Arena 2. If the predecessor was heavily praised and commercially successful despite the GameCube's flop, why should this be any different?

Bleach: Shattered Blade - As I have said before, I'm not much of a fan of anime versus games. But the moves here are cool looking and I might as well give it a shot. It's Sega developed too, though.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn - What's life without a little strategy? This challenging strategy game gives you control over troops in a battlefield. A.I. will probably be tough so don't expect easy ways to get done with a chapter in this acclaimed Nintendo game!

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - I've been a fan of Guitar Hero ever since the PS2 era, then during the high of Frets on Fire. Now, the Wii gets a piece of the shredding action

Super Mario Galaxy - Of course, Wii owners are looking forward to the biggest Mario event since Super Mario 64! You can traverse through different planets and jump on shrooms along the way as well as experience physics and gravity defied (or at work) in different types of planets. The exhilarating feel of being catapulted to another planet is a big plus. Of course, there'll be bound to be lots of surprises in this new Mario game... especially if the influential Shigeru Miyamoto (creator of Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong and other Nintendo heavyweights) is on the helm.

(UPDATE) Trauma Center: New Blood - I can't believe I forgot this! This game will totally rock! But before I get more excited about this, let me shed some light on this game (unless you remember that other post a long time ago). It's about a doctor, two doctors actually (in this installment), who work together and in a hospital to save patients via surgery. The special thing about them is that they have an ability called the healing touch which slows down time to save patients in their most critical condition. The Wii motion-sensitive controls come into play perfectly in this second Wii release of the franchise and it simply looks great! Can't wait 'till November!

Noticeable, but not (yet) recommendable

The Simpsons Game (PS3, X360, Wii) - Past Simpsons games haven't fared very well under VU Games' development arm (excluding Hit and Run) but this time under EA, the game takes a turn for the good (or so it seems) as it injects humor upon different gaming conventions and satirizes with sarcastic humor similar to the TV series and hit feature film these said conventions. For example, Comic Book Guy would comment on moves using different gaming cliches. Say, a double jump. Instead of saying, "You've learned the double jump! Once in mid-air, press this button again to perform.", he'll say, "The double jump. How original.". Yes, to gamers it'll be funniest but some of the more hardcore crowd of gamers will know where the game references this one to- "You can't swim until the sequel."- or something like that...

It features great cell-shading and the hopes are high in the gameplay aspect. Hopefully it's not all flash and humor but substance as well, but Marge Simpson using a megaphone to detest gaming violence? Pretty awkward in an adventure format...

VIDEO CAPTION: This Simpsons Game video spoofs the over-energetic-ness of Japanese games, most noticeably in its game shows. Heck, the head is most probably a spoof of Dr. Kawashima in Brain Age!

Wii Fit (Wii, duh.) - The Wii certainly has lots of potential left in it. And Nintendo is on a journey to harvest all of it. The video below certainly says all... and it's pretty cool what Nintendo's trying to do. I guess all gamers can't be couch potatoes anyway. Oh and if this counts as an enticement factor, Shigeru Miyamoto also thought of this as well...

VIDEO CREDITS: GAMESPOT

Woo! Walang pasok bukas!

Tomorrow is another day full of Flashing yet again for it is a suspended-classes day! Woohoo!

Igudesman and Joo: The new Rush Hour duo!

Move out Greg Patillo, the new classical musical sensation in the net has arrived! It's acclaimed pianist Richard Joo and Russian violinist Igudesman to the rescue. And if you think classical music is boring, think again. Combining slapstick, wit and sheer silliness, the duo never fails to get a laugh out of you whether you're a music buff or not.

CAPTION: Maksim Mrvica should take a note from these two...

LittleBigPlanet, and other innovative video games

If Hollywood has a fetish for churning out sequels, so does the video game industry. But can't it take a fresh new concept? Of course it can. And here are some of them...

1) LittleBigPlanet (PS3) - Combining cute visuals, stunning 3D, user-friendly level creation/customization and great gameplay, this platformer looks like a must-have in terms of innovation. Heck, this might be fated to become one of the PS3's saving graces. Add online functionality and this could be king of modern platformers!2) Jam Sessions (DS) - If you think you got the guts to create your own music, Jam Sessions is the perfect way to do just that by just strumming virtual guitar strings that appear on the touch screen using the stylus. Boy, is the DS shaping up to be more innovative as it matures...

3) Rock Band (X360, PS3) - Most hyped about in this year's rhythm game, Rock Band enables you to create your own band, literally. It has high-quality accessories and a solid setlist as well. If you've been dreaming of creating your own band, this is your (expensive)

chance. This game will probably pwn all other related rhythm games, though. So why not go all-in-one?

4) Heavenly Sword (PS3) - If LittleBigPlanet is the

platformer that may save Sony's butt, Heavenly Sword may well be the protector and retriever of most of Sony's low rep. This promising high-action, graphics-intensive game may well become the PS3 bestseller when it releases in September.

5) Assassin's Creed (PS3) - From the Ubisoft studio in

Montreal comes their new effort- Assassin's Creed. It was a disappointing no-show at this year's E3, but judging by the latest footage, it might as well be on the right track. It has elements of Splinter Cell and PoP, which are its trademark games but set in a completely different story and character. It features the mechanic of being able to blend in a crowd and a whole lot more.

6) De Blob (Wii) - The world's color has been drained and

the Blob has to put it back. In this game, you get to ricochet, bounce and swing through Chroma City and literally paint it red, pink, blue or whatever!

7) Wii Fit (Wii) - Of course, why should I forget Wii Fit? It's the only fitness game with a dead-on focus on it! And the peripheral it uses is quite cool to boot and has potential for other uses aside from this. Heck, who can't resist a game made by THE Shigeru Miyamoto? Not me.

8) Boogie (Wii) - It may have flopped bigtime but you have to admit, it was a bold undertaking especially if the developer happens to be the 2 big letters E and A. It was supposed to be a party game of dancing and singing but it was "repetitive, short and it got old fast" (Gamespot review). "...even it's unique art style won't excuse the sucky gameplay!"