MussakkuLaden

Nothing for me this week. DKCR is surely quite good, but I have the original. Plus, I didn't even download SMG2 the week before, as I would need to buy a new eShop card for it and in spite of the seductive price, I have so many other games waiting to be played...).
DK King of Swing was quite nice when I played it briefly a decade ago, but even 7 euro seem a bit expensive for it for me personally...

I think I'll opt for the smaller one.
Reasons:
1. Even with the original 3DS XL, I always had the feeling the screens were a bit TOO big for a handheld console, as much as the console itself.
2. Lower price and infinitely superior design (even if it wasn't for the face plates).
No matter what, both models deserve praise for finally convincing me in terms of hardware (whereas the 3DS software was convincing enough a long time ago).

It would at least not be unlikely if Bandai Namco involves characters from other games for making this new game exciting for certain existing an bases.

The Super Mario collection looks a bit boring... They could surely have done more interesting things with it.

The WiiU may no longer become a great success (and we know, the 2013 sales were surely low, so that the 25% rise is no great success either), but it's certainly nice to see that it's going upwards! With the amiibos now really gaining momentum and some more great titles coming (among them a few which will address audiences for which MK8 or SSB were not necessarily must buys), the year 2015 may continue the upwards-trend.

I am surprised they are releasing DKCR now – as the 3DS version isn't too old. This may also be the reason why NoA is holding it a bit back...
I am wondering if the 4th, 5th, and so on, release is also starting with one week discounts, or if that applies to the first 3 titles only.

@ToneDeath Do you mean Re-Volt?

Even for what it is, the graphics don't really look good. Look at the trucks on the first screenshot for instance... HD aside, a Wii game had not really looked worse. However, it may show a bit more love than some other eShop releases.

In fact, WiiWare offers some great games of this genre: Konami's almost unknown "Driift Mania" and the amazing "Rush Rush Rally Racing". Unfortunately both a price rather high (well, RRRR was a sort or retail-game originally).

May get Axelay. For some reason it was absent on the European VC on the Wii (thought this wasn't such a big problem, with so many other great shoot 'em ups released), and with the new save feature of the Wii U VC, old-school shoot 'em ups are finally a little less challenging, so that I may actually see more than the first few levels.

In my head I heard Bowie singing instead...
But down in the underground
You'll find someone true
Down in the underground
A land serene
A crystal moon, ah, ah...

It's always fun to see people complaining when other players don't play the game in the way those people want them to play it...

This cross-compatibility is surely nice and a great reward for those who already own one or a few of the amiibos, yet I think the for a lasting success Nintendo will need some game comparable to Skylanders or Disney Infinity In fact, the most logical step from a commercial perspective may have been to release SSB for free and let people use only these fighters whose amiibos they have, but of course that would have cause horrible, and justified, hatred from the fans. For the same reason, Nintendo cannot simply ground any existing series' title essentially on amiibo functionality. It can only be something entirely new, so that fans don't perceive it negatively. The question is if Nintendo has anything at hand for 2015... A new Animal Crossing may be a possible choice as far as existing series go, as it could easily include additional content related to almost any figure. But it doesn't seem so likely. A kind of sequel to Nintendo Land may be a possibility too, and could finally offer some true second-screen usage again. But... Well, I don't see something obvious coming. But if amiibos remain forever little more than gimmicks in the form of unlocking some skin or so (no matter how many games are compatible), the interest may fade soon enough.

@Froggievilleus Certainly the 3DS would be capable of emulating those GBA titles, but I guess Nintendo intends to offer different platforms on the 3DS and the WiiU respectively, in order to make people buy both systems. The GBA titles seem to be quite a success on the WiiU and I guess Nintendo is aware that the success may be even greater on the 3DS, but this doesn't seem to be the priority now. At the moment, the release of classic DS games is only announced for the WiiU too, though the 3DS would be the more natural choice (irrespective of the fact that the originals can be played on it anyway). On the other hand, I would highly appreciate if the GB/GBC titles available on the 3DS-eShop would arrive on the WiiU – but again it seems that Nintendo wants me to buy a 3DS to play them.
I certainly don't welcome this policy, but as to the "why", it really isn't so mysterious.

@AlphaLink Wise words. I mean your last sentence in particular. A shame no one really seemed to give it some thought...

Great expectations, greatly disappointed. Meh.

Limited quantity, great quality.
Nice to see Fire Emblem SS arriving rather soon after its predecessor. If the latter succeeds in re-igniting my interest following a period of boredom (which I never experienced when playing the Wii U version; I am around mission 25 or so now), then I'll surely get the sequel too.
Having played F-Zero MV already back in the days, I was already waiting for Grand Prix Legend to turn up on the VC, as it's totally new to me. I don't feel in the mood for it now, but it's nice seeing such a lot of GBA titles arriving in the past weeks.

This confirms again one among the many things I always liked about Iwata as head of Nintendo: That he – different from Yamauchi and so many, many other presidents or managers – has professional insight (as well as true personal interest) into the products for which he is responsible.

Super MK: Never liked it, but perhaps that's because I played MK64 first.

MK64: Amazing game for its time, but a bit outdated from today's perspective.

MKSC: Decent. Rather boring, but for me still more fun than Super MK.

MKDD: Bad. Almost broken. And boring. BUT it had probably the best battle mode.

MKDS: Simply amazing. Maybe the second best of all MKs. However, the online mode had its problems.

MKWii: Practically perfect. Local MP was problematic, in my opinion, but everything else simply without the slightest flaw. Greatest track selection (or second greatest, MKDS had a great one too).

MK7: Played it only some minutes. Wasn't impressed at all. Lacked the typically MK feeling.

MK8: Uhm-hm. Somewhat lacks the typical MK feeling too, but it's still a great game for what it is. Unfortunately, the track selection is (together with MK DD) one of the worst of the series.

1. MK Wii - 9.5
2. MK DS - 9.3
3. MK 64 - 9.0
4. MK 8 - 8.9
...and then for a long time nothing.
5. MK DD - 7.0
6. MK SC - 7.0
7. Super MK - no rating
8. MK 7 - no rating

Mario Kart Wii.

I need to spend 4 euro more to get another code, while currently having 8 euro in my account. I was planning to get a GBA game, but now that Child of Light is discounted, that'll be the better choice. Then I get the code and can still get a GBA game next year (as I don't really need one now, being busy with Fire Emblem). It'll be my third code. I didn't really download so much, and I had gotten one code less if it wasn't for the MK8 promotion, from which I got a lot of points for the Wind Waker download.

Wow, great stuff. Great offers from Ubisoft, I'll get Child of Light (and would get more if I had the time and space). And so many VC titles, especially for the GBA. Kuru Kuru Kururin! Finally!

Looking at that cover, it's fascinating to see what high quality games were released across platforms back then. Pretty much every single title mentioned is still being well remembered more than 15 years later.

The Zelda one looks great, but will only be noticed as what it is by Zelda experts - of which I don't know many. From that perspective, the Mario one looks more interesting and will be my choice when I can order one.

Mario and Pac-Man are to most interesting characters to be re-imagined in art anyway. But while Pac-Man is almost only associated with drugs and fear, Mario receives a more diverse treatment among which there are great things (and here one of few that succeed in re-imagining Peach too).

I. Have. Never. Even. Heard. Of. This. Film. Before. Nor. Of. Any. Game.

In order to pursue a somewhat coherent strategy and to ensure backwards capability as far as possibility, it would certainly not be surprising, if Nintendo makes once again THE SCREEN the innovative feature of the new hardware. Admittedly, in contrast to the glorious days of the DS, the focus on screen-related innovation with the 3DS and WiiU was not really that successful, but this does not need to be a bad omen for the future. Firstly, an handheld will need a screen anyway, so it's certainly not a bad idea to pursue innovation in an element that is obligatory (in contrast to the second screen of the WiiU), also because it has become almost impossible to introduce something entirely new (like the touchscreen of the DS or the motion controls of the Wii). Furthermore, with other companies having taken the lead as regards virtual reality, both visual and in terms of moving controls, it seems unlikely that Nintendo would make those domains the focus of their expected innovations.

If Another World gets the reduction in Europe too, I'll get it.

Pretty great week! The South Park tables are a must buy for me and RE Revelations is finally being sold at an interesting price. PKMN Pinball might be interesting too, but there are many other great GBA titles which I still haven't downloaded...

If the demand is there and the prices create a sufficient profit, it'd be stupid to discontinue anything. Not really surprising.
I guess most rumours about discontinued figures or hardware originate from people who want to make a profit by re-selling stuff which is currently unavailable.

"The author also said that IGN will be posting the official news on the cancellation tomorrow (5th December)."

Well, that much has already been untrue.

@Angelic_Lapras_King Thanks! Then it's a must buy for me. )

4,99 EACH or both together!? That would either be rather expensive or suprisingly cheap... o.O

No matter what, I find this a great announcement! Especially the "normal" table looks amazing. Just yesterday I've been playing South Park 64 and Chef's Luv Shack on the N64, and it's nice seeing that a Nintendo console finally receives some South Park treatment again.

Well, other franchises survived such tie-ins rather unharmed... But then, when was the last time that Pac-Man appeared "cool"?

I like the settings of this one most. By contrast, I hated the second for its settings, especially the first couple of levels.

I didn''t actually remember how Midna looked in TP. Now I'm not surprised that she left no impression: looks generic and boring, almost ugly in my eyes.
But the new costumes for Link and Zelda are surely great!

No matter how good the gameplay, it's rather sad that for more than one decade no publisher has taken the efforts to surround the core gameplay with something as ambitious and beautiful as The New Tetris on the N64 delivered.

Not a bad week for the Wii U.
Ittle Dew arrives late in Europe. I wonder if they managed to fix the technical issues which you highlighted in your review in the meantime?

SSB simply isn't for me anymore.

I may buy one in the near future, though I have no immediate plans to buy SSB soon. If I'm satisfied with the quality and some games that support them, I may buy more over the course of time.

My favorites:

1. Super Mario 64
2. Super Mario Sunshine (despite the blue coins)
...
3. Super Mario Bros. 3.
4. Super Mario Bros.
...
...
...
...the rest.
I'm really not a fan of Mario platformers, apart from the ones mentioned.

It may not say a lot about the quality of the game yet, but the visuals in that video look quite horrible. If it wasn't in HD, one could nearly expect that on the Gamecube (compare it with some Crash Bandicoot game for instance). Ouch.

The first traditional in quite a while. And as we already know SSB so well, I guess this will bring some new surprises!

I believe that from today's perspective, Majora's Mask is the better and the more original game. But I still find the last sentence of NL's review somewhat unfair. At the time of its release, OoT was at least as ambitious as MM was about 2 years later. Only many things it introduced have become so common now, whereas MM remains fairly unique. But this is nothing you could blame OoT for.

Err, well. Given the praise NL already gave this game in their feature some days ago, its appearance on this list may not be so surprising. But a 10 out of 10? Wow. Okay, time to give this one a try.

So tomorrow there'll be Zelda OoT. Or not? Considering the last couple of days, everything seems to be possible.

Ah, well. I suppose this own had deserved to get more attention. The cover is horrible, though. Doesn't give a hint of the great art style Wipeout is famous for (see the cover of the Saturn version for instance).

Well then, 3 games left... I think we all know that OoT will be #64.

While I absolutely appreciate that NL included some underdogs in their list, some great games will necessarily be missing... Only 2 of the following can make it:

1. Some multiplattform titles. Rayman 2!! And, indeed almost as good, Tonic Trouble. The once highly praised Shadow Man (though in my opinion a relict of the past, like Turok 2). The superb Star Wars Episode 1 Racer (the best thing the film produced). Resident Evil 2, well, better known on other platforms. Harvest Moon 64 - imo the best HM ever. Ogre Battle 64 - forgotten, in spite of its Virtual Console release. The New Tetris - best tetris ever. WWF No Mercy?
2. Nintendos own games. Ridge Racer 64 - okay, will not make it. Kirby 64 - doesn't deserve it, I think. But Yoshi's Story absolutely does.

My guess for the last 3 games: Shadow Man, Yoshi's Story, Zelda OoT. In this order.

Dear Nintendolife,
when the list is complete, please add an option to the overview, by which the list can be ordered alphabetically. That would make it much easier to find a title.
Thanks.

I don't doubt the qualities of the game, but personally I don't like its setting. Back in the days, I absolutely hated the first couple of levels on the pirate ship. That's why, for me, DKC3 is the more interesting game, though "objectively" it may be a bit weaker.

Nice! Nothing more, nothing less.

The idea is great indeed. I found it great back then, but never go the chance to play it until recently. Where it's still a great concept. But then..., the gameplay reaches its limits fairly quickly and then is plainly chaotic.

@TG1 That is not entirely true. The seal did involve some degree of true quality control back in the time. It's true that the NES had a lot of bad games, but compared to open home computer platforms, a certain standard was met. This surely didn't mean that the games allowed to be released were necessarily "good", but they were quality and they met certain criteria Nintendo saw as important. This is still the case today, seal or not. Hence, while the seal ensured some degree of quality, I guess a game with a comparable "quality" as Arrow Time may still have been allowed to be released even then.

@Specter_Twilight But you misinterpret just what you quote. The quote precisely says EVALUATED and licensed. Whereas it does certainly not mean, like you say, that Nintendo had distributed it.

@thaantman True, but I think Nintendo does that already. Games like this, you do not see them advertised in the eShop, but merely mentioned on the list of new releases. Considering that many games like this do not even get one rating, they do not seem to sell so well. Good games, by contrast, are fairly prominently presented in the Shop. That is a big difference towards the Wii Shop Channel, where each release was presented in pretty much the same way. Now, bad games like this appear almost invisible anyway. Therefore I consider the problem to be much smaller than some people make it.

Not a bad week, but nothing for me personally.