The overall point is that Nintendo does stricter quality assurance, and that is true. But you could say the same about Nintendo vs Sony...or you could say this in Sony's favor vs Nintendo handheld (especially last gen-DS had a lot of fluff).

I dislike comparisons like this, though obviously someone working for the company needs to have pride and "sell" his view to us. I just don't find them to be very apt. If I want a jRPG or a shooter (or bullet hell) I have two robust folders on my iPod and iPad. I think I have 3-4 shooters downloaded from the eshop and find RPGs to be in very short order (especially ones that aren't in that Korean-style Zenonia mold). And if you LIKE that KRPG style, app store has 4 Zenonia sequels, oodles of competitor clones, a port of Secret of Mana and a spiritual successor/imitator Mage Gauntlet (which honestly should come to the eshop). One of my favorite eshop titles, Gunman Clive, is an appstore game. I hear Dragon Fantasy may show up on here, which is exciting but also...appstore. I wish Dark Incursion would show up on eshop, it would be a solid fit. As far as ports, Appstore has Metal Slug 1-3, King of Fighters, Final Fantasy 1-5, Tactics, and Dimensions, Lunar, multiple Dodonpachis, Raystorm, Max Payne, Spectral Souls, Civ Rev, Earthworm Jim, Doom, Sim City, Call of Duty Zombies, Space Invaders Infinity Gene, there's a Contra coming, and console clones like Starfront (Starcraft), Star Marine (Contra), Nova 1-3 (Halo), Modern Combat (CoD).

I'm not here to argue controls, though options exist for the physical button purist, as they sell bluetooth controllers and controller shells for most devices and needs. I'm also not going to argue the quality of each title, as that is subjective. I personally find Modern Combat shallow, while others love it. Yet the man interviewed loves Sakura Samurai, which I wanted to enjoy but wound up not caring for.

I'm simply saying, they quality experiences on offer aren't THAT different, and the eshop could maybe learn something. With the re-touched Final Fantasy V having splashed, we could very well have a time where FF6 launches on iOS and 3DS is maybe, MAYBE offering Final Fantasy Adventure for the Gameboy.

I have this pre-ordered through Amazon, have for awhile. Can't wait!

Scratch that, it IS coming to iOS and Android. Head scratcher.

Seems like a mistake to me. More exposure = more sales. And a retro platformer would fit right in on handheld. I wouldn't be surprised if there's an iOS port within a year.

Oh, and to the haters- I prefer my 3DS and Vita as well for gaming. But if you think iOS provides no solid gaming experiences then you haven't looked hard enough. Keep in mind, I don't prefer touch-based gaming (even with the stylus on DS/3DS. But I have a lot of fun with some games. I'll throw a list to check out if you have an iPhone/iTouch/iPad of what I play.

Pro Zombie Soccer Apacolypse
Sonic & Sega All Star Racing (only tilt game I enjoy)
Epoch
Into the Dead
Draw Slasher
Superbrothers Sword and Sworcery EP
The Walking Dead (prefer it to console)
GTA Chinatown Wars and Vice City work surprisingly well
Gunman Clive
Dark Incursion
Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
Dofus Battles 1 and 2
Plants vs Zombies (much cheaper than on consoles)
Crystal Defenders
Defender Chronicles
Infinity Blade 1 and 2
Batman: Arkham City Beatdown (IB clone with Batman characters)
King of Fighters-i 2012
Papaer Monsters
Shantae ported really well on ipad
Oscura
Rayman Jungle Run
Polyroll (Sonic/Mario fusion clone that surprised me)
Cut the Rope
Tetris
Spymouse
Spy vs Spy
The Hacker
TWEWY Solo Remix
Mage Gauntlet (Secret of Mana inspired ARPG)
Horn
Final Fantasy Dimensions
Penny Arcade 3
Cthulhu Saves the World
Lunar Silver Star Story Touch
Dragon Fantasy
Saturday Morning RPG
Any Cave bullet hell shooter
Zombie Gunship
Phoenix HD
Galaxy on Fire II
Organ Trail (classic Oregon Trail with zombies)
King of Dragon Pass
Sky Gamblers Air Supremacy (Ace Combat clone)
Arc Squadron and Star Battalion (Star Fox clones)
Ravenmark (EXCELLENT strategy game with awesome lore)
iWesnoth
Hunters 2
Starbase Orion
Mecho Wars (Advance Wars Clone)
Partia (Fire Emblem clone)
War of Eustrath (Super Robot Wars style SRPG)
Final Fantasy Tactics
Spectral Souls

I think of it less as a portable gaming console and more as a portable PC. And like the PC, I dont prefer it for gaming but I do have dozens of games over the years that are fun to fire up when the mood or need arises. That's just my library (and not nearly all of it), which is more than enough to qualify a decent system.

iOS port, I'd bet my bottom dollar. Here is why-

First, the trend. Chrono Trigger and TWEWY both had mysterious teaser sites ultimately pointing to mobile ports.

Second, there were early rumors of the game having an upcoming iOS port back during development. It was even covered briefly on Touch Arcade (an iOS gaming site). And Square Enix recently put out a music game featuring classical music that uses Theatrhythm's gameplay almost exactly from what I could tell.
Lastly, it is the poster child for DLC. Something previously unseen on Nintendo consoles, but the a standard on iOS.

So we have a proven trend of iOS reveals for a game that was rumoured to be in iOS development even before release, featuring an engine they have used with another iOS game and sporting a DLC model that just screams mobile IAP.

If anyone counts all that up and thinks sequel, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would love to sell you. When was the last time they announced a sequel by putting up a teaser site for an already released game? If you answered "never," I have a cookie with your name on it.

EDIT: That was quick- Theatrhythym dropping tonight on iOS.

Poor Conker...his move with Rare makes my in-universe geek mind spasm. He appeared in DKR, so he knows Diddy Kong. So in a roundabout way, he exists in the Donkey Kong Country 'verse. But he can never again grace a Nintendo console, while the DK crew will never appear on Xbox. He's a squirrel out of time

Nothing this week...waiting on Ninja Gaiden. US VC really is a trickle.

What is up with devs and these editions! Same deal with Konami and MGS. They put out a portable version of Snake Eater (yay) and then soon release a...portable version of Snake Eater bundled with portable Sons of Liberty on the competitor.

I don't know how the new one is, but the first Silent Hill was a pretty decent film that captured the feel of Silent Hill. Not a direct adaptation, but more or less kept the spirit, feel, and even music.

I also kind of like the first (and ONLY first) Resident Evil, and Doom, on that B scifi/action level. Not good game adaptations, but decent "heavily armed ppl stuck with monsters" popcorn flicks.

For me, that's about it on the VG movie scale. So I'll check this out.

Media machines with emulator support is nothing new. Heck, if this is a "console killer" than so is the PSP!

Im holding out hope, and here is why- remember when Sega's financials were leaked, and they denied it...then shortly after admitted it? Until the day and date that higher ups allow it, reps can NOT talk about things like this. So if Nintendo hasn't green lit an announcement, they can only say they have no new plans or no comment.

I'd say if you haven't seen them, watch them however you can. Sure, we who grew up on them get tired of Lucas' tinkering. But is a new fan with NO nostalgia going to really care about the half second difference of who shoots first? The Rancor not looking like crap might make up for it haha.

Man, I want these games re-released. But you know what else (unrelated, but a proud spot on my gaming shelf that scratched a similar itch)- Robotech: Battlecry.

I agree with a 3, this game's horrid. I had this game when it was NEW. I played it in that kind of stockholm syndrome mentality of "portable Castlevania" until I could get back to my TV and have ACTUAL fun. The sequels were MUCH better. Why do some of you think the review needs to mentally transplant to the days when the game was fresh? It wasn't great then, just a novelty that...hey...'vania in your pocket! Like so many iOS games now that wouldn't pass muster except for the "OMG its on my PHONE" factor. But in the modern sense, maybe someone wants a Castlevania game. Maybe they have a PSP or Vita, and enough to buy Dracula X Chronicles. Or just Symphony of the Night. Maybe a local store (or Amazon) has cheap copies of Dawn of Sorrow, or the GBA Castlevanias. It is entirely relevant for them to know that this game will not likely scratch a series Castlevania itch, and more or less should only be bought by people who have nostalgia for the game (maybe, I do and...I'm not) or the curious.

Honestly, they remade this on Wii's shop, and it is FANTASTIC. If you want portable Castlevania on your 3DS, wait for II or Legends, or score a used copy of DoS, PoR, or OoE.

I've been itching to finish this game. But given the utter Neglect they show to Fatal Frame here in NA, I may just look for a used copy of FF2 for PS2. Can't be that expensive at this point. Ah well, I'd love to throw my money at Nintendo, but they aren't givin' me the love I need lol

Reminds me of PSP and PSX downloads. Sometimes you have well over a gb, but sometimes it is only a few hundred mb.

They can't do 1 because Microsoft has the rights. They should b putting out a port of the PS3 version of 2 though, to be honest.

And just to add, the club has offered some questionable ds titles. This is one of the better ones.

Anyone who says pass, if you dislike tower defense types then fine. But if you like them, GET it. I've had this since it came out on DsiWare. It is one of my favorites. The graphics are simplistic but it gives the game charm. Hard to explain, but screenshots don't look like much. It flows really well, and is challenging.

@19Robb92 Spot on. I own a Wii and 360, and they serve different functions for me. It isn't about "innovation," as all games should strive to do so. And the recycled franchises that stifle the market get crappy Wii ports (and soon, not-so-crappy Wii U ports), so that's a different topic. But the stable of titles is different between the two sides of the console battle. PS3 is similar to 360 and the only reason I may get one in the future (cheap on Amazon if I can) is to have a BluRay player that can play MGS4. But I've heard rumors of potential porting of MGS4 to Vita or 360, so who knows. See what I mean though? 360/PS3 comes down to secondary media-playing function and maybe preference on a handful of exclusives. Nintendo's library stands apart.

I do miss the old days when they had third-party support and the slickest audio and visuals around though (SNES). Hope the Wii U is a return to form.

Ha sorry, I messed up my reply quote. But yeah, I certainly hope the processor is better. I don't need water to look any wetter. But the appeal of the next gen to me will be how much more the games can crank out. My concern with Wii U is that while it stands to reason that the tech should be, we have all these comments about needing to balance costs of the console with those of the tablet. So it is possible they are running with 6 year old Xbox/PS3-ish tech to keep costs manageable. It is the same reason the controller is single-touch. In a world where tablets are everywhere, e-readers have become tablets themselves, and most phones are mini-tablets, that will be noticeable.

@fortius54 "360 hardcore gamers? don't make me laugh."

This attitude is insulting. It is as bad as the comment from Spencer that has you riled up. No, I'd say worse.

I've been a hardcore gamer since the NES, and Nintendo has always been the first system I've bought in a given console generation. But this notion that the other consoles don't = gaming is ridiculous.

Really, it's funny. During the SNES era, Nintendo stood head and shoulders over the competition in terms of raw power. And we Nintendo fans reveled in it. And now we say things like "we don't need graphics, we have gameplay!" This insinuates that no other company besides Nintendo is making "games" and also ignores the time when Nintendo simply had the best console in ALL respects.

Really, if I break out Super Turrican 1 and 2, Cybernator, Contra III, etc then any gamer nearby will comment on how awesome these were, some of the best ever made. But if I switch my shooting into first person and play anything that isn't Wii's Metroid Prime offerings, apparently the modern Nintendo fan believes I am not truly "gaming." This kind of detestable elitism is the same thing we would often claim others of doing. Food for thought.

@BulbasaurusRex I can't speak for motion control lag. My Wii is mine and hooked up to my older TV in my room. My Xbox is more the family device (I'm the only gamer in the house, so everyone else uses it for DVDs, running video off USB or streaming, music, and maybe Rock Band 3) in the living room, but I never bought into that Kinect nonsense. But on the issue of cost- it is actually a great time to take the plunge. Last year at black friday we upgraded our living room set to decent-sized HD set for under $200. I used to say the same thing as you, that the difference did not justify the cost. But the $400-500 investment for even a low-end TV are gone, and you can get a nice one on the cheap around holiday sales times.

What's better about the Wii version of TFU? The motion slashing? Honestly I wasn't that impressed. Not saying it is a poor game or disparaging it due to graphics (though I don't know why he holds his saber wrong). But I found it to be a little loose compared to the 360 version. And the camera is horrid. Honestly, I don't have a major problem with the Wii version, but this notion of 360 being all eyecandy and Wii being the true "gameplay" system always seems to boil down to "this version plays via wrist-flicking- INNOVATION."

I'm surprised Spencer's getting so much ire from these comments. He wasn't even really mean. Obviously not blown away or overly threatened...but what do you expect? The competition to suddenly bow down and start talking about how blown away they are? He has a point, btw. There is cool stuff being touted for Wii U, but do you expect Microsoft to care when half of the press we see for it is along the lines of "Arkham City, Mass Effect 3, and eventually Aliens Colonial Marines at some point later than Xbox will have it!" If the competition was putting out my system's games a year later, I'd say that's good for their customers. But I wouldn't freak out or start heaping praise.

To me the best and yet most disappointing thing about Wii U is going to come down to processing power. It isn't really about graphics. Compare Oblivion to Skyrim. There's still juice to be squeezed out of this gen. How wet does water need look, ya know? But you need to be able to render these enviroments and process the world. The "next-gen" to me holds the possibility for more experiences like we see in RPGs now taken to the next level of interaction. A Bethesda RPG where your exploits and choice of home shape the politics and economy (beyond the superficial or quest-specific ways they do now). A Bioware RPG that spans generations, crossing a bit of sim territory (like Agarest War, but not lame). I dunno, just a few thoughts. Not gonna lie, it's hard to stay as interested in Wii U when the relevant excitement from me is "Oooooh another New Super Mario Bros!" And I want the 3DS game more. Oh, and not even getting Lords of Shadow 2 for Wii U? Lame.

@Skotski A pokemon game being a long tutorial for its meta-game? Surely you jest

I kid, I kid

I can only imagine how horrid original DS games are going to look...

@GazPlant
I didn't think it contradicted ME 1 at all. I think the cutscene AFTER you make your decision was haphazard and smacked of "we ran out of time." Probably did, due to the leak a few months before the release. But the actual revelations? Sovereign discusses what could be seen as his views on it, and the mini-Reaper you can talk to in 3 goes a bit into it and sets up the revelations from the end.
Sovereign (ME 1, for those worried im doing ME 3 spoilers)-
“...your civilization develops along the paths we desire. We impose order on the chaos of organic evolution. You exist because we allow it, and you will end because we demand it.”
"We are eternal. The pinnacle of evolution and existence."
"The cycle cannot be broken...The pattern has repeated itself more times than you can fathom. Organic civilizations rise, evolve, advance, and at the apex of their glory they are extinguished."
"We are each a nation."

And a lot of people wanted Chrono Trigger-esque multiple endings. But to be fair, all three games end on a somewhat similar mechanic. Final encounter, a choice or two, and stock end sequence. ME3 is a fantastic game, and while the end may not have lived up to the hype it was, at least, consistent.

They can price however they want, and it isn't unprecedented. Vita downloads are the same price (though it is nice that you get the manual with the software). And Steam, sales aside, is the same. If you want Modern Warfare 3 or Skyrim, these will run you $59.99 on Steam, though they'll probably randomly go on sale for like 40% off at some random time or another.

What irks me here is that...he didn't really address it. The response to "there are less inherent costs in digital releases as opposed to physical ones" deserves an explanation. Not some random mumbling about "some people price lower, some price the same, life's all about options right?" I'd respect it more if he said "look, there's server costs and bandwidth to maintain which mirrors the costs of producing a physical disc." One, it is true. Two, it doesnt smell like spineless BS.

This is a tricky proposition for me. I do not enjoy this game very much. Not that it is terrible but...OK in what universe am I going to put down DoS, PoR, OoE, or Drac X Chronicles (just keeping it portable) to play THIS. On the other hand, they are testing the waters...so I'll probably buy it. Why? The next two GB games I DO enjoy somewhat, and I would also love it if they get around to putting GBA titles in the store. Circle of the Moon was my first GBA game and would be a day 1 download for me.

Very glad to see this!

Too bad it wasnt designed with Circle Pad Pro support as an option. It looks like from screens (and control complaints) that it REALLY wants to be a dual stick shooter. Like that one series on Xbox Live (I think its just called Zombie Apocalypse or something), or Dead Ops Arcade in CoD: Black Ops.

Too bad it wasnt designed with Circle Pad Pro support as an option. It looks like from screens (and control complaints) that it REALLY wants to be a dual stick shooter. Like that one series on Xbox Live (I think its just called Zombie Apocalypse or something), or Dead Ops Arcade in CoD: Black Ops.

Rare's best post Microsoft purchase title was the Conker remake lol
And most Conker fans prefer the original

I want the Circle Pad Pro because it is removable. I was thinking of holding off on a redesign, then I realized that centering the unit with two analogue sticks would require an XL-sized unit. Which really cuts down on the portability. There's a reason why my gaming unit of choice is this and not the upcoming Vita lol

Shiryu, this is actually a remake of AC2 (which I think rocks). So the Nagase/Edge in this game is actually the original Edge from AC2 who shares the same name with the AC 5 character (and another character from AC 4 lol).

One thing that I think is funny is how many reviews take issue with the lack of multiplayer. While a fun multiplayer mode in general would be cool, I don't see it as a detriment to Ace Combat. First off, the game this one is based on had no multiplayer (AC 2). Second... MOST Ace Combat games don't have mutltiplayer. I think just the two current-gen console titles, the second PSP game, and a local split screen versus mode in Ace Combat Zero right? Someone correct me if I left something out. But really, AC6 is the only one I spent quality multiplayer time with, so I'd say the vast majority of my time with this franchise is spent on single player. I'd go so far as to say it is why I play the games- the flight combat and story. Multi is just icing on the cake, if it happens to be there.