@3dbrains Oh I don't know, I think the Wii-mote (and motion control in general) still has a lot to offer. Imagine if people in 1990 said, "I'm done with this D-pad and buttons thing" after only one true generation of its use. Hopefully devs will keep exploring how to use smartly implemented motion control using Motion + and/or Wii U's tablet. I have a feeling the tablet's sensor bar will prove to be a brilliant stroke of forward-thinking on Nintendo's part..... ever if we're all not quite exactly how they'll use it.

Notice that his answer is in the present tense: "If by ‘lasting universe’ you mean to ask if there's a sequel, the answer is no." If there IS a sequel. Right now. And of course there's no sequel right now. As someone else stated, KI:U just came out. Let it sell and see how it does and then we'll talk about the next one. Sheesh. Patience is a virtue, y'all.

@Donjwolf You and me both, good sir. Any word on when Farsight finally polishes up TPA for eShop? I'm sure the Zen and Marvel games are good, but something about playing real, physical tables in video format feels better to me. And there's always a chance you can find one around somewhere and be able to play the real deal after practicing a bunch in virtual form, whereas you'll never see a "Excalibur" table at an arcade... if you can even find an arcade anymore <<sheds tear, limps away>>

I might have said this before, but I REALLY like the fact that they include the slight 3D enhancement to the screen when in full resolution mode. It just feels better, seeing the screen set back into the system, just as it was in the original GB. Fantastic attention to detail, N has.

I have a 360. But I would buy this on Wii U, just to keep the series on Nintendo platforms. Tried BIT.TRIP BEAT on my girlfriend's iPhone and the control didn't work for me. Gaijin Games, keep the love flowin'...

For people wondering why anyone would buy one of these when the 3DS is out there, I'm one of those potential buyers and I already have a 3DS. It would be a total luxury buy, totally unnecessary, but damn if those huge, beautiful DSiXL screens don't call to me with their siren song.... I don't love buying DSiWare on my 3DS 'cause of the resolution difference, and I have a handful of DS games I still haven't put time into (FFIV, Advance Wars Days of Ruin, Dementium). I'd much rather play those on a DSiXL than on my 3DS. And with the price hovering around 100, I might just take the plunge. If I ever get a coupon or there's a sale that knocks 30 bones off the 129.99, I'm in.

Okay. I really have to buy this game. Less than two weeks until my self-imposed embargo on new games is lifted....

@hydeks @Malic As much as I love my fav NES/SNES/N64 games, I'd probably say the Wii has been my favorite system of Nintendo's too. It definitely re-ignited my interest in the industry after a decline of excitement during the Gamecube era. They shook things up, gave us something different. I own more Wii games than any other system I've had before. (Much of this has to do with my being older with more disposable income. But still...) Anyway, I'm with both of you that hopes for a nice balance btwn mature/modern games and classic/magical Nintendo games. Come on, E3. Arrive already.

It's too bad that the most recent DSiWare/eShop "original" games are both iOS knockoffs: I Must Run = Canabalt, and Bird Mania sounds an awful lot like Tiny Wings. I get that game companies will copy what is popular elsewhere, but I wish the actual games would be released on Nintendo platforms. Must be the high dev kit cost? Or...? Not sure.

The perfect game for downloadable. Brain Age 2 was one of the first games I picked up for my DS Lite when I got it finally a few years ago, and I ended up addicted to Sudoku on my subway commutes to work for quite some time. Am very curious how they've tweaked the game to make it new, interesting.... Love the Devil Doctor.

That... was pretty awesome. Hot damn I love the original's soundtrack. I would buy a 3D Classic: Star Fox or Star Fox HD for WiiU yesterday. Make it happen N.

That... that was pretty amazing. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been a popular game that subverted the formula and made you go left the entire way. The WarioLand games are clever in that you have to progress backwards to finish the stage. And of course Metroid, I believe, was one of the first to play with the convention, forcing you to eventually go left and find the morphball before you could advance. But I can't think of a game that is all left, all the time. Huh...

If I cared about Assassin's Creed, I'd be freaking out about the tease there at the end.... but I don't care about Assassin's Creed.

Origins was pretty good, though I think it looked and sounded better than it played. I love that it even came out in the first place — a new 2D platformer that isn't purposefully retro-styled? In 2011? Keep 'em coming. And the fact that this sequel exists, even when the original didn't sell very well, is a great, great sign. (I guess it's a good way to make up some dough on all the assets already in place for Origins... a return to 16-bit style sequels with new levels and characters a la DKC! I'll take it.)

My patience has finally been rewarded! I've been waiting to buy the WiiWare version forever, but I've loved the simple 3D parallax backgrounds of games like Kid Icarus (3D Classic) so I think I've just found my winner.
And to all you complaining to Nicalis because you bought the game a handful of times already... um, that's not their fault?

If you're at all interested in this, check out comments #9 and #24 for alternate takes on the game. I played this at PAX East, and even in just about the worst possible environment for such a game (blaring music, bright lights, thousands of people milling around) I totally got sucked in. At home, with no one around, I think this would be a cool little unique experience. Should have released at $19.99, maybe.

This is a feature of the game, according to the website: "Perfect synchronization with known English speakers."
Good luck, Pixonauts. But my support will be pledged elsewhere.

@metafaniel I agree that I want my castlevania closer to I-IV or Dracula X and further away from SofN. Loved being able to play the PC Engine-only Drac X after all these years on Virtual Console. Then downloaded SotN on XBLA and... just couldn't get into it. Ditto with Portrait of Ruin. Just give me the straight-ahead jump-and-whip action of the earlier games with amazing 3D parallax and new weapons/monsters/levels. 3D Classics Castlevania 3??

What, no love for Son of a Pitch?

As for 3D Classics KI, I bought it from Gamestop and was pleasantly surprised. Never played the original much but I really got sucked into this. The backgrounds actually look great I think... though the first screenshots of them looked horrible. I like how you can tell when you're getting near the top of the vertical stages due to the slow progression of the environment. Started a new game right after finishing. Oddly addictive and love the 'float' mechanic to help with jumps. A nice tweak on the original and worth your time.

@retro_player_22 Wait, wait... a tomato isn't a vegetable??
Bye bye, Beamdog. Bonne chance a vous.

The one number no one is talking about on here is, to me, the most surprising: 175,000 Wiis sold in March 2012? That's astounding to me. Tells you just how far away the mainstream consumer is from the gamer that "follows" the industry. The Wii might be dead to your 360-loving pal at school, but to Nintendo, it's still very much alive. I'm playing Rhythm Heaven Fever and LOVING it and still have a number of older games to play. Will be playing my Wii up until the WiiU launches this holiday, for sure. Long may you run...

That made me happy. Good show, sir.

I sort of agree with those who are not keen on the new art style. But I can see why they'd want to get away from the simplistic Atari style... I talked with the artist at PAX (is that Roush?) and he thought he'd squeezed out all the creativity he could on the first 6. Plus he said they felt they were getting typecast a bit. Which would be a bummer.
But yeah, not super keen on Runner2's art. I think if this was a different game, I'd be down with it, but since this gameplay is so aligned with the BIT.TRIP original, it's hard to make that change.

Weeiiirrddd....

This is quite cool. The only problem is that when you'd actually be using it, replace the absolute solitude of the woman in the video with a crowded hallway bustling with international tourists. Not quite as peaceful then. I'm impressed the Louvre and Nintendo got together on this. Would love to see it for other museums in the west.

@Tech101 I feel your pain. But it's a good pain...

Was skeptical, but played it at PAX with a stranger and two-player was pretty fun. The special modes (esp. NES SMB mode) look great.... please be 29.99? Otherwise I'm waiting on this one.

@Dreadjaws: Now I really want a Mario vs. Predator game. Imagine Mario falling into the goop from Sunshine, only to cover himself with it to prevent the predator from seeing him... yeah.

The actual Yahoo "news" story is pretty bad, the way they jump to conclusions about an unreleased console based on quotes from unnamed sources. Um, yeah. It's a shame a few people will actually read that article and dismiss Wii U from the get-go. The comments section is actually quite heartening; most recognize it's the game and not the graphix that win the day.

I'll be buying Mario Tennis for GBC on the eShop when this comes out. Show my preference for the expanded single-player mode of the earlier portable games. Vote with your $$, people. (Although I must say the Super Mario Tennis mode sounds like a good bit of fun.)

@Shworange: Thank you for that. My ghosts have now been busted for the coming day.

I have a sudden urge to get this. Maybe it's the coming of spring. Maybe it's realizing that skip ltd is an amazing and underappreciated developer. I feel you SKTTR. One North American is about to buy this, so fret no more.

@WhiteTrashGuy: That makes a lot of sense. Release it a bit earlier, let the hardcore fans swoop in and early adopt... then be ready to reload stock for families buying gifts for holiday. Of course, if early adopters choose NOT to adopt, then you've got a problem of poor momentum going into Christmas. A risk. I bet it is 11/18.

Ooh I can't wait for the festivities to begin. I moved to town for grad school 6 or so years ago... very happy Penny Arcade picked our fine city for its east coast home. Hope to see you strolling through the convention center soon.

I will take pride in this on my 3DS Home Screen, but only as a reminder of the Twitter Contest I won to score a free download code from NLife. Thanks again!

Anyone who hasn't already should try You, Me, and the Cubes. Love the atmosphere and oddity of that game. And it gets hard! Nifty little touches all throughout the presentation.

What about the return of Seaman on 3DS?? But srsly, this is sad news. Even if I'm not much of a Sega fan. (Sorry James.)

I feel the same way about Tetris GB as many of you feel about Dr. Mario... even though there's a superior product on DSiWare (Tetris Party something), I'd be more inclined to get the original. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but there's something to be said for nostalgia and charm, I guess.

How does Castle of Illusion stack up to Magical Quest on SNES? 'Cause I just played that and it was a fun lil' game... and definitely excited for 2D platforming by DreamRift on 3DS. Sort of wish it was a new IP. But if it sells more with Mickey, that's good for the devs, which is good for us.

Boy do I not care about DLC or 100% "gamerscore." But demos are nice, and an online store that's pleasant to browse (as the eShop is) should be good enough for me.
Notice how on 360 the dashboard is silent? I like the little bkgd tune that Nintendo, on the 3DS or even on the Wii, always employs, either on their shop or just on the main home page. Makes it feel more like an experience just "being" there. Microsoft's feels more functional, pragmatic. A bit colder. Hope WiiU doesn't try to "Play it Loud" too much and lose that charm.

@aaronsullivan Good idea about the tablet being used by the "helper" in the room... hadn't really thought about that. But yeah, I'm less enthused about what ports will do with the WiiU controller, since they're constrained by what other versions of the game will need to be able to do on the more traditional gamepads. Frankly I don't give a lick about a map or one-touch weapon swapping or whatever. I'm just waiting for the exclusive, built from the ground up for WiiU games that really uses the controller for something more interesting than inventory.

They just stomped the competition by releasing a console with 2001 tech but an innovative, compelling input method. What would make them say, "Hmm, that was a mistake. Let's go for pure power, price and audience be damned!" They'll release a console with current-gen specs but with a new way to control your experience (tablet controller), make more profit, keep prices low to sell to broader audience, bring in curious onlookers, make Nintendo fans happy. Sure, some tech-fans will yell about the graphics not being up to par with eventual Xbox 720, etc., but 1080p will stand up to whatever comes next much better than the Wii's SD graphics did. Anyway, hardware means very little. It's all about the games.

Never played a FE game until Sacred Stones for the Ambassador Program... I'm a fan. Almost finished with it, but my team may die a horrible death before the end.... which I'll be okay with, personally. I played how I played, and I love that there are real consequences. The end of "my" game will be the end of the game, regardless of whether I win or lose. Can't say I've ever felt like that before. So please bring Awakenings over. Much more interested in a portable version than the Wii or GC games...

Ooh... my interest in this game just doubled with the news of it (possibly) being a 2D side-scroller. Never played Epic Mickey but the most intriguing sections for me were the classic platforming sections

I think a different shape is more important than a different color. Right now it looks waaaay too similar to a Wii. Make the store-shopper stop in their tracks and say, 'What is that?" instead of them passing it by saying "Oh a Wii with a screen-thingee."
And I'm a proponent of the single color for a console, at least at launch. It helps keep production efficient, keeps the retail display simple. A single SKU. Nothing to choose. Nothing to consider. If someone thinks a split second between whether to get black or white or green, they may just walk away without getting it. But if there's one choice, and they think they want it, there's nothing to make them pause.

@WolfRamHeart Missed opportunity not releasing on Wii U? Well, considering the install base of the Wii is, what, over 90 million... and the Wii U's is a big round zero, I think it's a decent decision.

Anyone skeptical about this game should listen to Episode 23 of the WAHP podcast (Warning! A Huge Podcast is approaching...). It's some game journalism vets from EGM and GameFan talking about Japanese games, and one of 'em is loving this. It actually got me somewhat excited for it, even though I'm not a FF guy. But I really hope this succeeds and becomes a series. Theatrhythm: Super Mario? Fire Emblem? Please and thank you.

You guys crack me up.

Cool. I wish they sold physical cards in the store, though, like they do for XBLA and PSN. Makes for a good wrappable present.

I'm honestly almost most interested in KI: Uprising for the stand, since it'll be an excellent tripod-y thing to use with stopmotion videos and such. Perhaps now I'll just wait for the solo release....