Retro News

July2009

  • Review Golf (Virtual Boy)

    Simple name. Simple game?

    The Virtual Boy's Golf places you on to an 18-hole course as you compete against 47 opponents to try and win the tournament. That's pretty much it. Compared to, say, the latest Tiger Woods MotionPlus offering it doesn’t offer much, but does the opportunity to tee-off in 3D make it worth a try? Perhaps more than any other...

  • Review Deadly Creatures (Wii)

    Every arachnophobe's worst nightmare brought to life...

    Deadly Creatures got a lot of attention in 2008 due to the novel scenario of putting the player in control of a creepy-crawly arachnid, rather than the usual space marine or swashbuckling hero. Why this hasn't been done more often in the post 8-bit gaming world isn't clear - maybe all the...

  • Review Geometry Wars Galaxies (Wii)

    A blast from the past!

    For those among you who are fond of arcade classics such as Robotron 2084, you might have heard of a little title called Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. It was one of the first premier downloadable titles for the Xbox 360, and was later expanded with the Wii/DS-exclusive Geometry Wars: Galaxies created by British game developer...

  • Review Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Wii)

    The world's most famous wizard returns for his second Wii adventure

    After being so pleasantly surprised by Harry Potter’s previous Wii outing we approached this latest title with a fair degree of expectation. Promises of realistic potion-making, intense Quidditch matches and generally improved presentation echoed through the office as the disc was...

  • Review Pulseman (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)

    Will Pulseman's quality shock you?

    Ask yourself this - what games have Game Freak actually developed? Many people will probably only answer with "Pokémon," but the truth is, before Pokémon was even created, Game Freak was responsible for a handful of unique titles of their own. Pulseman was strangely only released in Japan originally. It was...

  • Review Brain Challenge (DSiWare)

    Make your grey matter

    The DS is rightly lauded for introducing many new gamers to the fold, and it’s pretty much single-handedly created the “brain training” genre - whether that’s a good thing or not likely depends on whether you’ve played more than three games on your DS in the past four years. Gameloft already had a crack at the genre...

  • Review Bit Boy!! (WiiWare)

    Will you want to join Kubi on this totally crazy pixellated retro journey?

    There has been a fair amount of hype surrounding the release of Bplus’ Bit Boy!! which is understandable as it taps into our love of retro gaming in much the same way as Mega Man 9 and Bit.Trip Beat did. Bit Boy!! offers a puzzling experience not unlike Pac-Man and adds a...

  • News Gold Nintendo World Championships Sells for $17,500

    But parting with that much cash wasn't the only tough thing the buyer had to face.

    You might remember that someone recently listed a gold Nintendo World Championships NES cartridge for sale on eBay for a whopping $25,000. Well that cart has finally sold, albeit for a bit less money, and it seems the buyer had to go through quite an ordeal in order...

  • Review Mario Kart DS (DS)

    Let's-a-go!

    The Mario Kart series started on the SNES, and it has since become one of Nintendo's best multiplayer options, right alongside the likes of Smash Bros and Mario's many sports outings. With that in mind, Nintendo coded up another Kart game for their highly successful DS system. They could have easily coughed up a Mario Kart that...

June2009

  • Review Silver Star Reversi (WiiWare)

    It’s Reversi on WiiWare: what more do you want to know?

    Similar to its sibling Silver Star Chess, the latest game from Agetec is a decent but barebones take on a classic board game. The game of Reversi dates back to late 19th century England and has been known in modern times as Othello. Two players take turns placing black and white dots on an 8...

  • Review Reel Fishing Challenge (WiiWare)

    Keeping it reel.

    There are some sports that seem tailor-made for video game translations, but fishing is arguably not one of them. A pastime that centers around patience rather than action or skill does not seem like the sort of thing that most people would be interested in experiencing indoors. Yet strangely enough the genre has existed for some...

  • Competition Retro Game Championship Contest Details

    Do you have what it takes to win big?

    JJGames has just announced their upcoming Retro Games Championship video game competition that will be hosted in Denver, CO on Saturday, July 18th. Players will get a chance to square off on two of the absolute rarest NES game cartridges in existence. All contest details are below for you to check out including...

  • Review Water Warfare (WiiWare)

    Fill up your super soakers and prepare for a drenching in Hudson’s second WiiWare FPS game.

    Earlier this year, Hudson released Onslaught, WiiWare's first FPS which proved that Japanese developers can actually make good FPS games! One of the only complaints with Onslaught was that it only featured online co-op and versus modes; there was no...

  • Review Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Wii)

    Don your proton packs and answer the call.

    For years, many of us had childhood dreams of being a Ghostbuster. We longed to don a brown jumpsuit, strap on a proton pack and take down some ghosts - and get paid for it. The days of dreaming are now at an end - besides the getting paid part, Ghostbusters: The Video Game allows us to finally live a day...

  • Review The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)

    Has the Hero of Time’s style withstood the test of time?

    Twilight Princess is Nintendo’s last Zelda game for the Gamecube and also the first for the Wii. Although the Wii boasts technical improvements over the Gamecube in terms of its processor and graphics hardware, in this case the Wii version is essentially a port of the Gamecube game and...

  • Review Let's Tap (Wii)

    Definitely a tap you'll want to leave running

    Miyamoto might not see the appeal in playing a game without holding a controller, but ex-Sega genius Yuji Naka can certainly think outside the box – or, more accurately, think on top of the box. For his first game since leaving Sega five years ago, Naka has crafted a game played entirely by tapping a...

  • Review Puzzle Bobble Plus! (WiiWare)

    The third Bubble Bobble series remake to hit WiiWare. Is it any good after the somewhat disappointing Rainbow Islands?

    Puzzle Bobble - or Bust-A-Move as it's known in North America - is perhaps the most well-known game in the Bubble Bobble series. Almost everybody's played it in some way or form, with multiple versions and a ton of rip-offs over the...

  • Review Sudoku 50! For Beginners (DSiWare)

    Less points, less puzzles, same difference?

    Sudoku 50! For Beginners is, in essence, a scaled down, dramatically easier version of the recently released Sudoku 150! For Challengers. It seems a little odd that Hudson decided to release the more difficult game first and not release both titles together, but nevertheless Sudoku 50! For Beginners offers...

  • Review Art Style: BOXLIFE (DSiWare)

    Thinking outside the box is strictly forbidden.

    If there's one thing that can be said about Nintendo's Art Style series, it's that no two games are alike, and we wouldn't have it any other way. BOXLIFE is certainly another unique entry in the franchise: box 'em up and ship 'em out! Greeted by a cute little theme song you will immediately notice - if...

  • Review Altered Beast (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)

    Welcome to your doom!

    There’s no two ways about it: Altered Beast is a terrible game. Even here, in a perfect conversion of the arcade original, it’s so horrendously stodgy and repetitive that it makes you wonder quite why anyone holds it in the slightest bit of regard. For those lucky few amongst you yet to engage in a little beast altering,...

  • Review New Play Control! Pikmin 2 (Wii)

    Olimar comes back for second helpings

    New Play Control! – a series of games that seems to have sparked many mixed views. Pikmin is probably at the forefront of these debates: Nintendo saw it fit to re-release both the Gamecube Pikmin games with a new series of controls designed for the Wii, and then announce Pikmin 3. The first NPC Pikmin was good...

  • Review Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Wii)

    Will Wii MotionPlus help EA land this golf franchise on the green, or is it just a sand trap for your wallet?

    The Tiger Woods games are the current ‘serious’ golf games for PCs and consoles, but let's be honest: how seriously can you take a game of golf that you play with a keyboard or analogue sticks? Tiger Woods 10, (the 12th game in the Tiger...

  • Review Drill Sergeant Mindstrong (WiiWare)

    Look alive, maggot!

    The best way to describe Drill Sergeant Mindstrong would be to liken it to a military boot camp version of Brain Training. The game presents you with four basic mini-games, each with its own unique military theme complete with a Drill Sergeant barking commands and insults at you on a nearly continuous basis. While these...

  • News Retro Game Challenge Needs to Sell 100,000 Copies to Justify Localizing Sequel

    The guys at XSEED set the record straight regarding Retro Game Challenge 2.

    To say that the original Retro Game Challenge has a loyal following might be the understatement of the year, but unfortunately that following isn't quite large enough to justify XSEED localizing its sequel Retro Game Challenge 2. Of course this hasn't stopped the flood of...

  • Review Space Squash (Virtual Boy)

    Think 3D Pong, and you're halfway there...

    Space Squash is one of those games where the premise is so simple you could write it on the back of a postage stamp and still have room to spare. You guard one end of a tunnel and your opponent guards the other as you both float around smacking a spiked ball between one another. Get it past the opposition...

  • Review NEVES Plus (WiiWare)

    Does this age-old puzzler still have what it takes?

    Silhouette puzzles have been around since the early 18th century, and chances are if you're old enough to read this article, you're likely to have played one at some point in your life. The original Neves, which built an entire retail title around these silhouette puzzles, was released on the...

  • Review SimEarth: The Living Planet (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Put the weight of the world in your hands...

    The simulation genre has come a long way - maybe not so much in the area of depth, as that's always been there. Where it has really progressed is in presentation: nowadays it’s no longer up to the player to have enough imagination to fill in the gaps left by technical limitations. Unfortunately, those...

  • Review Family Mini Golf (WiiWare)

    A little golf for the whole family.

    The "Family" series of games has developed a reputation of being, well, a bit crap, really. They're bare-bones, budget versions of sports games you probably already have better versions of elsewhere, making you wonder why Arc System Works even bothers making them. This only serves to make the fact that...

  • Review Waterworld (Virtual Boy)

    Surely it can't be as bad as they say...

    A lot of negative stuff is written about the Virtual Boy, but whilst it has its defenders no one seems to want to stick up for Waterworld. It has a bad reputation, with some claiming it’s the worst game ever (and not just on the Virtual Boy). But is that fair? Is it really that bad? Or are people just...

  • Review Grand Slam Tennis (Wii)

    It's got the courts, it's got the players and it's got MotionPlus support. Does Grand Slam Tennis provide the definitive Wii tennis experience?

    It's here, people. After months of feverish anticipation, Wii MotionPlus is upon us. Finally, Wii owners the world over will have access to the kind of precise, fluid and nuanced motion controls that...

  • Review NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (WiiWare)

    Will you be a kindred spirit with NyxQuest or a mortal enemy?

    WiiWare has introduced us to a lot of talented developers who seem to have sprung out of nowhere. Think of the likes of Gaijin Games with their Bit.Trip series, Ronimo Games with Swords & Soldiers, and of course 2D Boy with the sublime World of Goo. From the moment that NyxQuest:...

  • Review Princess Maker - Legend of Another World (Super Nintendo)

    Overall, a pretty regal experience.

    The Princess Maker series by Akai/Gainax isn't all that well known in the West – which is hardly surprising. Besides one failed translation project by SoftEgg in 1993, the franchise has never reached Western shores, and while the game may be considered by some as catering to a niche market, it is in fact a...

  • Review Virtua Tennis 2009 (Wii)

    The new world number one

    The first question you might ask when playing Virtua Tennis 2009 is “why has it taken so long to make a great tennis game on Wii?”. Ever since we saw the first videos all those years ago it seemed the console was destined to become better than the real thing when it comes to sports, yet it’s taken years for anyone to...

  • News GameCenter CX To Hold 24-Hour Gaming Marathon

    Show taking fan requests.

    Shinya Arino, star of Japanese TV show GameCenter CX (which served as the source material for the stellar Retro Game Challenge), is no stranger to long and torturous gaming sessions. Good thing then, because he's got another one coming up! A really long one. According to the show's official blog (via Kotaku

  • Review Mario Calculator (DSiWare)

    Even with the Mario theme, this calculator application still doesn't add up.

    First there was the Animal Crossing Calculator and now Nintendo brings us the Mario Calculator for fans of the famous Italian plumber. While the functionality of the actual application is basically identical to that of the Animal Crossing Calculator (well duh, it's a...

  • Review Galactic Pinball (Virtual Boy)

    That Virtual kid sure plays a mean pinball!

    Launch the ball on to the table and use flippers to stop it falling out of the playing area, smacking it around the table over ramps and against targets to get points. That’s how pinball works in amusement arcades and it’s how it’s worked for the many computer and video game versions released over...

  • News Luigi WAS in Super Mario 64

    For a bit.

    Shigeru Miyamoto's been harping on about a multiplayer Mario for ages, but in a recent interview with Wired.com he revealed there was planned to be two-player support for Super Mario 64, but that it was scrapped. Miyamoto: With Mario 64, we had an experiment that took advantage of the idea of the screen growing larger and smaller...

  • Review Mario Clock (DSiWare)

    A waste of time

    We've already seen Animal Crossing Clock released on the DSiWare service, so a Mario Clock was a foregone conclusion. Not much has changed really; Nintendo has basically taken the very same clock functions available in the Animal Crossing Clock application and tossed in a Super Mario Bros. theme over the whole thing. While the entire...

  • Review Eduardo the Samurai Toaster (WiiWare)

    Let there be toast!

    One of the benefits of digital media distribution is the chance developers get to stretch their limbs and explore some creative paths often overlooked or avoided. Step in Eduardo The Samurai Toaster, a game with a concept very much out of the ordinary. It’s in good company though, as Wiiware has certainly had its share of...

  • Review Let's Catch (WiiWare)

    Let's not...

    When Prope revealed Let's Tap to the world everyone though it would be yet another gimmicky Wii motion-based mini-game collection -- which it was, although a pretty good one. After that turned out surprisingly well, expectations of Let's Catch were a bit mixed: playing catch on your Wii sounds a bit goofy, but could it be a hidden gem...

  • News R-Type Boss Molded in Plastic

    Someone had a lot of spare time on their hands.

    Ever wondered what that enormous third stage boss in R-Type looked like as a whole? Tired of trying to picture it in your mind through screen after screen of scrolling? Well wonder no more. It seems someone decided to put together a garage kit of the ship and judging from the picture of the model, it's...

  • Review Asphalt 4: Elite Racing (DSiWare)

    Quick off the grid.

    For all Nintendo’s innovation in creating its DSiWare download service, it can’t be helped noticing that the Big N’s contribution to the line-up is pretty lacklustre – its calculators and clocks are derided, and for every Art Style there’s a Master of Illusion Express. They would do well to learn from Gameloft, who are...

  • News Play Super Mario Bros. With...A Theremin?

    Takes motion controls to a whole new level.

    Music controllers are all the rage nowadays, thanks to your Rock Bands and your DJ Heroes, even your GameCube Jungle Beats. Now, some whiz has managed to hook up an obscure instrument for some retro action. The theremin is known for its spooky sounds and for being the only instrument you can play without...

  • Review The Legendary Starfy (DS)

    The Legendary Starfy ultimately lives up to its name.

    The Starfy series has enjoyed a great deal of success in Japan over the years, but Nintendo's release of The Legendary Starfy in North America marks the first time that many gamers outside of Japan have had the chance to experience the game's unique charm. The developers obviously didn't want to...

  • Review Disgaea DS (DS)

    Demons make work for idle thumbs.

    For those unaware, Disgaea DS is a remake of a PS2 turn-based tactical RPG that's gained cult classic status over the years. It follows the story of youthful demon, Laharl – the son of the late overlord – on his quest for dominance in the Netherworld. Held in high regard by many PS2 owners, Disgaea has finally...

  • Review Super Smash Bros. (Virtual Console / Nintendo 64)

    Does the original Super Smash Bros. still knock out the competition these days?

    Nintendo's most popular (and only!) fighting franchise started off quite strangely - in fact, it originally didn't even have any existing Nintendo characters! Created by Kirby Creator Masahiro Sakurai of HAL Laboratory and Satoru Iwata, the game was originally called...

  • Review Line Rider: Freestyle (DS)

    Line Rider slides from a PC Flash game to the consoles: will it ride to success or crash into failure?

    Line Rider was originally a simple Flash game where players could freely draw slopes for their sledder to ride down. Even though the game had little structure or goals, it gained considerable popularity among PC gamers, which resulted with many...

  • News Compose Chiptunes On The Go With 8Bitone

    iPhone/Touch app lets you craft your very own NES-style symphonies.

    Dig chiptunes? Got a creative side just itching to get out? Hope you've got an iPhone or iPod Touch then, because a new app is out that may float your pixelated boat. 8Bitone is a full-blown retro synthesizer and sequencer with both feet firmly planted in the NES-era. It's so...

  • Review Sudoku 150! For Challengers (DSiWare)

    Does this add up to the 500 points asking price?

    The Sudoku craze began a few years ago and since then the quaint Japanese number puzzle has become cool, whether on the train, chilling at home or simply in need of something to occupy your time, Sudoku offers a relaxing alternative to the crossword puzzle and a break from hardcore gaming. With its...

  • News Stride Gum Offers Steve Wiebe Consolation Prize

    Sometimes second place ain't so bad after all.

    Even though Steve Wiebe didn't crack the DK record at E3, falling short a relatively measly 60,800 points below Billy Mitchell's whopping 1,050,200 score, he's still got something to show for it. Stride Gum, who originally offered Wiebe $10,001 in quarters and a year's supply of their Uber Bubble gum as...

  • Review Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (SNES)

    Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!

    Koei's 'Universal Ruler' simulator lets you live the life of the Mongol legend himself. You'll go where he goes, defile what he defiles and eat who he eats. But before you misjudge this game as an indecipherable Japanese take on medieval Mongolian life, understand that Genghis Khan II is actually a conquer the world style game...

  • Review Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (DSiWare)

    Is it a shameless cash-in or a worthy expansion of its forbearer?

    Some have already voiced their concerns as to whether Minis March Again! is a shameless cash-in by Nintendo, simply copying Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis and not really providing us with extra content or even new stages at all – which is certainly not true. What they...

  • News Street Fighter II's Bonus Stage: Live Action Spectacular

    How to destroy a car in just over a minute

    Remember the bonus stage in Capcom's Street Fighter II where you had to rip a car to bits within a set time limit using nothing but your fists and feet (and a few fireballs if you were Ryu and Ken, of course)? As far as vehicular violence was concerned it was pretty sweet, but we also thought it was a bit...

  • Review Knights in the Nightmare (DS)

    Strategy-RPG goes bullet-hell in this unique and thoroughly demanding game

    Let me put a word to you, folks: hardcore. That's right, hardcore. It's a word used to describe something overwhelmingly tough or resilient, something that crosses a perceived threshold of difficulty and endurance and reaches a level that few others can hope to match. Within...

  • Review The Munchables (Wii)

    Who would have thought eating your fruits and vegetables would be so much fun?

    We've already seen some strange stuff from Namco-Bandai in the past with their Katamari Damacy releases, but they appear to have outdone even themselves with their latest oddball outing for the Nintendo Wii console. The Munchables carefully weaves a zany world full of...

  • Review Art Style: KUBOS (DSiWare)

    Another fiendishly addictive Art Style puzzler joins the DSiWare library.

    Art Style: KUBOS is the fifth game in the popular Art Style series to hit the DSiWare service. Series developers SKIP Tokyo have once again built a game around a creative and abstract puzzle concept; they really seem to have a knack of making simple games that are fiendishly...

  • News Steve Wiebe Fails To Crack Donkey Kong Record At E3

    Legendary gaming icon still manages to clock a respectable 989,400 points, though

    Algebra teacher and King of Kong star Steve Wiebe has failed in his attempt to wrestle the Donkey Kong world high score record from current champion Billy Mitchell. Wiebe made his attempt live at E3, where he had three attempts and chalked up a best score of 989,400...

  • Review Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (WiiWare)

    Does this title retain the magic of the original 16-bit release?

    We've already seen companies like Capcom and Konami resurrect classic franchises on the WiiWare service, many using the classic 8 and 16-bit visuals found in the original titles to give them even more retro appeal. So it should come as no surprise that Square Enix has also seen fit to...

  • Review Mighty Flip Champs! (DSiWare)

    Is Mighty Flip Champs the DSiWare service's first must-have title?

    It's no real secret that the majority of DSiWare releases to date can be described as uninspiring at best. DSi owners have had to sit and watch as one mediocre DSiWare title after another has been released on the service with nothing truly unique or original in sight - at least until...

  • Review PDC World Championship Darts 2009 (DS)

    Bullseye? Perhaps not.

    PDC World Championship Darts 2009 from Oxygen Games brings all the, ahem, "excitement" of darts to the Nintendo DS, offering four different modes of gameplay as well as a local tournament mode. Being a game based on arguably not the most active of sports, and indeed one which is most often associated with an older...

May2009

  • News UK Retro Computer Museum Open Day

    We paid this commendable UK-based event a visit. Our thoughts lie within...

    While it's not directly related to Nintendo, the Retro Computer Museum open day recently took place and we decided it was our duty to pay the event a visit. If you've not heard of these guys before then listen up: they aim to create a permanent display of retro gaming...

  • Review Fish'em All (WiiWare)

    A game about fishing that isn't actually a fishing game. A worthwhile catch or the one that got away?

    WiiWare's already got a fishing game - Cocoto Fishing Master, which isn't exactly very exciting. So when another one was announced, we couldn't help but hope it'd be a bit better. It seems like our prayers fell on deaf ears though, because although...

  • Review Space Harrier (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)

    An interesting slice of gaming history for fans of early 3D games.

    Space Harrier is notable for being one of the first arcade games to use a motorised cabinet in its sit-down version, and in the realms of sprite-based third-person 3D shooters it's certainly at the more advanced end of the scale. It was highly popular back when it was released in the...

  • Review Art Style: NEMREM (DSiWare)

    The latest instalment in the Art Style Series - NEMREM.

    As soon as you fire up the game you're greeted with a visually very pleasing welcome screen that demonstrates a great example of the unique graphical style we have come to expect from the Art Style series. On the stage selection screen something resembling Morse code is “played” in the...

  • News Mega Man Meets Super Paper Mario

    If only this were real. Might we one day see a Mega Man 2.5D?

    There is no denying that Capcom’s recent NES styled Mega Man 9 was a great tribute to the series. We loved it but let’s be honest it was just treading old ground. Might Capcom try something new in the future to excite fans of the blue bomber? If they do try something new then we hope...

  • Review Densetsu no Stafi 3 (Game Boy Advance)

    The third time is the charm for the Densetsu no Stafi series.

    After the success of the first two Densetsu no Stafi releases, TOSE obviously wanted to knock one out of the park with their third and final Game Boy Advance Stafi title. To say that they were successful would be a huge understatement, as Densetsu no Stafi 3 offers up the type of...

  • Review Vertical Force (Virtual Boy)

    Old school fun blasting fun from the experts at Hudson

    Out of all the games available for the much-maligned Virtual Boy, Vertical Force is possibly the most conventional in terms of game design. It's a vertically scrolling shooter (clue was in the title really) where you fight your way through swarms of enemies before facing a boss character to...

  • Review Photo Clock (DSiWare)

    Is Nintendo's second clock application an improvement over their first release?

    Photo Clock is actually the second time keeping application to see a release on Nintendo's DSiWare service and isn't really all that different from the first one when you get right down to it. This time around, instead of an Animal Crossing theme, you get to decide what...

  • Review Punch-Out!! (Wii)

    Fighting fit

    It's hard to believe, but it's been 15 years since a Punch-Out!! game was released. Perhaps this is due to the fact that even though the games were made by Nintendo, naturally situated in Japan, they never really found an audience over there. When the Wii came out this was even more of a shame; a new instalment in the series would fit...

  • Review Personal Trainer: Walking (DS)

    Nintendo brings fitness gaming to their portable DS system.

    With the success of Nintendo's Wii Fit release for their Wii console last year, it comes as no big surprise to see them release a fitness title on the DS system as well. Personal Trainer: Walking takes the simple task of walking and builds an entire DS title around it, allowing you to...

  • Review Panic Bomber (Virtual Boy)

    Boom blocks!

    With any new hardware release people look forward to new games, but are also excited to see what will be done with an existing game series. Due to the short amount of time the Virtual Boy was around before Nintendo gave up on it, very few series received an entry on the system, although Tetris managed two. This is a shame, as its unique...

  • Review Densetsu no Stafi 2 (Game Boy Advance)

    Densetsu no Stafi 2 kicks things up a notch.

    The original Densetsu no Stafi started a series that features a unique blend of platforming and puzzle-solving elements to form one of the more unique Game Boy Advance titles, and certainly one that's become quite beloved by platformer fans the world over. Its sequel, Densetsu no Stafi 2, picks up where...

  • Review Pop Superstar: Road to Celebrity (DSiWare)

    This one definitely goes through to the next round!

    The premise is a common element of Saturday night television: a young hopeful with aspirations of stardom and a desire to perform on one of the seemingly endless “talent” shows. Previous games, especially on the handheld platform such as the 2003 Gameboy Advance title Pop Idol (American Idol in...

  • Review Dragon Warrior Monsters (Game Boy)

    Does this monster-hunting spin off live up to the Dragon Quest name?

    It's always a risky proposition when you create a spin-off of an already established and popular franchise, so when Enix decided to take the theme of their hugely popular Dragon Quest series and build a monster-hunting title around it, some RPG fans were more than a little...

  • Review Densetsu no Stafi (Game Boy Advance)

    Densetsu no Stafi kicks the series off in grand style.

    Before the Densetsu no Stafi series made an appearance on Nintendo's DS system, it started off with three amazing Game Boy Advance releases. The game creatively combined platforming elements with underwater puzzle solving game play to form one of the most unique and engrossing games available...

  • Review Boom Blox Bash Party (Wii)

    Spielberg's block-based baby is back for another helping

    The original Boom Blox - a collaborative effort between big-shot Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and Electronic Arts - proved to be both innovative and enjoyable, especially when playing with friends and family. Due to the success of the original, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise...

  • Review Crystal Defenders R2 (WiiWare)

    Does this second Crystal Defenders release bring enough new material to the table to warrant a look?

    Whereas the Xbox Live Arcade and iPhone releases of Crystal Defenders came in one package, Square-Enix has chosen to split the WiiWare release into two separate parts. We've already seen Crystal Defenders R1 released on the service and now we've...

  • Feature Legendary Starfy 101

    A little history lesson on Nintendo's adorable platforming star.

    Since many gamers outside of Japan are not terribly familiar with the Densetsu no Stafi series of games, not to mention the fact that The Legendary Starfy is set to be released in North American on June 9th, we thought it would be fun to take a look at the history of the series...

  • Review Silver Star Chess (WiiWare)

    A silver star for a second rate Chess game.

    As the world’s oldest game (except perhaps bowling...see the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri for a compelling argument that Bowling was invented by cavemen), Chess is the ultimate in public domain properties. Amazingly, Silver Star Chess is the first variant of the pastime on WiiWare and so...

  • Review Art Style: PiCTOBiTS (DSiWare)

    DSiWare goes to bits and pieces.

    Creating a killer puzzle game is a difficult task these days, mainly because pretty much all of the decent ideas have already been taken. However, Nintendo (along with developer Skip) have succeeded in cooking up an entirely fresh take on the 'falling block puzzle game' for DSi, and in doing so they've proven that...

  • News Nintendo: The Game Boy Advance Is Alive And Well

    Just under half a million units sold in the past year

    When Nintendo revealed the DS all those years ago it spoke about a grand 'three pillar' strategy; the idea was that the DS would not be a replacement for the ridiculously successful Game Boy Advance and instead would exist alongside it and the GameCube, giving the company a trio of potential...

  • Review Guitar Hero Metallica (Wii)

    Scraping the bottom of the barrel or taking the franchise to new heights?

    Whenever a developer stumbles onto a gold mine, they usually start milking the franchise for all its worth. While Activision certainly falls into that camp with the Guitar Hero series, they’ve managed to maintain the quality of their titles from one installment to the next...

  • Review PDC World Championship Darts 2009 (Wii)

    Does the Wii's latest darts title hit the target or fall flat on its face?

    Another year, another video game adaption of the PDC World Darts Championship from publisher Oxygen Interactive. Although this is only the third entry in the series with the first game releasing in late-2006 and the 2008 sequel receiving average critical acclaim, new...

  • Review Swords & Soldiers (WiiWare)

    Has this much-hyped title been worth the wait?

    The strategy genre has gone quite ignored on WiiWare. Aside from the launch title Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King the only other game was the recent Crystal Defenders R1. With Swords & Soldiers, Dutch developer Ronimo Games has taken a stab at bringing the RTS (real-time...

  • Review Minon: Everyday Hero (Wii)

    He may be an everyday hero, but Minon certainly isn't ordinary...

    The Japanese have a rightly earned reputation for releasing oddball game titles; it's not so much that the gameplay is unusual, but the content itself. Minon: Everyday Hero (Go! Go! Minon in Japan) is a prime example, seeing as the titular super hero does mundane things like helping...

  • Review MotoGP (Wii)

    Is this two-wheeled racer quick off the mark or does it experience some trouble before leaving the starting grid?

    Before we get stuck into the review, it's time for a little history lesson. Back in 2006, when Disney bought the Climax racing studio (who produced some excellent MotoGP titles for the Xbox), the MotoGP license went exclusively to...

  • Review Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)

    Double the usual number of exclamation marks means double the fun!!

    Mario…perhaps the most multi-faceted video game hero since MacGyver. He can make fireballs out of flowers, plays tennis and baseball professionally, balances two careers (carpentry and plumbing), and even has two girlfriends. Okay, maybe MacGyver wasn't actually a video game...

  • News GoldenEye Designer Backs Virtual Console Release

    Martin Hollis would love to see 007 on the Wii...but also admits it's a legal minefield

    The man behind GoldenEye - one of the most beloved N64 games of all time - has admitted that he'd love to see the game make it to the Virtual Console download service. Martin Hollis, formerly of Rare and now plying his trade at his own company Zoonami (Bonsai...

  • Competition Stride Gum Offering Socks Full of Quarters to Steve Wiebe

    That's no monkey business! HIYOOOOOOOOOO!

    Steve Wiebe doesn't need more reason to shatter Billy Mitchell's Donkey Kong record other than to wipe that grin off Mitchell's smug face, but lo and behold, here's another one. Or, another 10,001 reasons. According to GoNintendo, Stride Gum has stepped up to offer Wiebe $10,001 if he can break Mitchell's...

  • Review Family Pirate Party (WiiWare)

    Does this new party title set sail for glory or is it forced to walk the plank?

    Although some would argue that it flies in the face of common sense, Aksys Games has decided to continue their "Family" franchise with the release of Family Pirate Party. Previous games in the series received unanimous criticism. Unfortunately, Family Pirate...

  • Review New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (Wii)

    Um Bongo

    Donkey Kong has traded in his bongos for a Wii Remote and nunchuk - will he still be able to collect all of his coveted bananas or will he make a monkey of himself? Prior to Super Mario Galaxy, Nintendo EAD Tokyo had their hands full with Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. This title was quite innovative for its time due to its unique control method...

  • News Watch Contra ReBirth In Action

    Explosions, shooting and hilarious-looking storyline accounted for

    Announced mere days ago, the wait for Contra ReBirth could hardly be described as excruciating for owners of a Japanese Wii. Everyone else, on the other hand, will have to make due with excited air-punches and YouTube videos to get their fix until the title is unleashed in their...

  • Review Star Trek: Conquest (Wii)

    It's time to boldly go where no man has gone before...

    Back in the olden days (the nineties) there were a plethora of game choices for Star Trek fans. Most notable for fans of strategy games were Birth of the Federation and Star Trek: Armada. These games were essentially clones of earlier, better games. But they were redesigned with a Star Trek...

  • News Speed Gamers Blasting Through Mother Series For Charity

    Money raised will go to breast cancer foundation

    Between Child's Play and The Speed Gamers, gamers have raised quite a bit of money for charities. This weekend, that trend continues with one of Nintendo's most acclaimed (and desired) series' at the center. Starting at 6 p.m. CST on May 15th and going for 72 hours, The Speed Gamers will play through...

  • Review Deca Sports 2 (Wii)

    Go on, be a sport!

    Following quickly after Hudson's Job Island is the sequel to last year’s Deca Sports imaginatively titled Deca Sports 2 (Sports Island 2 in Europe). The follow up is instantly recognisable and extremely similar to the original game with the same visual style but with ten new sports to play. If you haven't heard much of the first...

  • Review Mario Clash (Virtual Boy)

    Is this overlooked title worthy of a second chance?

    Many reasons have been given for why the Virtual Boy failed so badly when it was released in the mid '90s. One of the more convincing arguments is that the lack of a 'proper' Mario game meant that hardcore Nintendo fans ignored the console; while it's hard to accept that this is the only reason, it...

  • Review Fantasy Zone II (Virtual Console / Master System)

    Does Opa-Opa's second adventure feature the same unique charm of the original?

    The original Fantasy Zone release kicked off a series of shooters that's still quite popular to this day. When the game was released on the Sega Master System, it immediately became one of the more beloved titles for the console so it was pretty much a given that a sequel...

  • Review Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! (WiiWare)

    Is there a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow?

    So there you are, transformed from a bubble-blowing dinosaur into human form again, ready to start your life afresh – maybe get a flat, a new car and settle into a good routine. But then, before you can say "9 to 5", you gain the ability to fire rainbows and have to use this skill to...

  • Review Klonoa (Wii)

    Does Namco's Klonoa remake manage to capture the magic of the original Playstation release?

    Before true 3D platformers became all the rage, 2.5D platformers began showing up on Sony's Playstation console during the 32-bit era. These games featured 3D visuals, but kept the player on a 2D pathway through the game. This would allow developers the...

  • Review NASCAR Kart Racing (Wii)

    Can NASCAR Kart Racing raise the bar previously set by Mario Kart Wii?

    Mario Kart Wii has been on the market for over a year now and is regarded by many as the best racer on the platform. Due to its success it’s no surprise that some developers have tried to make their own clone of the game. While many of those clones have ended up pitifully,...

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