Ren

I have to say I really loved luigis mansion when it came out and if anything it looked like more of a start to it's own franchise. Mario Bros. quickly became about Mario with Luigi tacked on as a cameo or second string. The new play style and design are just what I've wanted in a regular mario game forever but Nintendo isn't willing to take that chance. LM wasn't perfect but just that it was such a departure from Mario and still had the Nintendo polish was incredibly refreshing, I'm super excited for the next one, especially since it means I still don't need a silly WiiU to play it. If it featured mario I'd gladly call it a re-boot since mario is WAY overdue for a real re-boot.
Probably hard to follow prime with anything, really, the prime series was just too good. seems like this is trying to keep with this generation but I think the most divisive game that could be called a re-boot would be Wind waker. The story fits in with the others but completely re-imagined the design and did it incredibly IMHO. technically, storywise each zelda uses a new kid to take on the Link persona so they're designed to reset the story for each game. I was floored by Wind waker. Style wise Mario 64 was kind of a re-boot and probably the most influential one ever. Be nice to see an article covering all the classic Nintendo "re-boots" style and storywise. Style alone is a big one for many games.

what someone said at the top; these aren't really re-boots.
and Kid Icarus was terrible in my opinion, but I'm just pretentious about bad cut scenes and voices. If I wanted the worst of anime for tweens I'd... well, rent it or play more jrpgs.
A mario re-boot would be if they had made an HD mario with some kind of visual style that is an actual departure from the last 25 years of mario. the stuff here is more "re-hash" than anything. Metroid maybe, but more like "end of contract with the last cool series but theres still millions to be made here so lets grab someone else people like to do a random one with some whiny cut scenes"

wait it's going to WiiU without pointer controls? that's too bad. I don't care about difficulty really. I guess I'll get it for another console then. I love the 3DS one, but I'm not about to get a WiiU for this without pointer controls. Great game, but it looks like it was prioritized for other consoles and ported to Wii U if theres no Wii-mote pointers. (am I the only one who doesn't give a rat's a@# about having inventory on a little screen at all times?)

what was just said above. I too would re-consider with a price cut; AND some worthwhile exclusives. the E-shop is nice but no longer anything special when you consider what the other consoles have at theirs, including most of the same games with more features. I'm now only a 3DS user (and retro rampage/other Wii classics) but WiiU is just not an option while I have another HD console with cheaper and often better option already. Why would I "upgrade" without really huge incentive? I love gaming but not enough to make EVERY console a priority at once. Now they really are an entertainment hub so I use my main console for movies, TV, and games, I don't want 2 different things for all that.

a 9 from me. this absolutely the swansong for Wiiware to me. this game captures the spirit of retro gaming, gaming as an art, and even surprisingly the mechanics of what makes basic fun gaming. I was expecting a slightly funny game that's annoying to play and just not there in it's "fun" controls and sound-wise but it is absolutely as much or more fun than any HD game I've played this or last year. I'd buy it again if I could. I only regret not having a classic controller for it, the wiimote is annoying to use with it, I'll have to get the xbox version or a classic controller. If it's even a consideration for anyone, don't hesitate. Get it!

gee, this sounds like a shimmering example of the kind of software that make the WiiU a must-have "next gen" console. games like Retro City are the only reason I haven't given up on video games all together, Nintendo needs to bribe someone for some real exclusives or something.

surely, It's a game made for fanboys and anyone who grew up with those games in the periphery. It is remarkably well designed, while the gameplay does feel tight and modern and the graphics are 8 bit but varied and funny. This is specific parody of many NES games of the time (and pop culture/movies) so it really does largely speak to 30-somethings right now, so if you were born in the 90's some of it may well miss you a little. For me it's like it was made with me sitting there the whole time saying exactly what I want.

great attitude from him, he deserves all the praise he gets. I'm usually a cynical jerk around here but this game has totally blown my mind; screens and videos just don't do it justice, buy it today and set aside some time to nerd out like the old days with all the modern design touches in 8 bit mode. ooh, wait theres xbox version too? sold. I'd buy this 10 times over, it's that good. easily a 9 from me. I might have to get a classic controller just for this.
funny thing is I played this for hours last night at my office and went out to find my real car had been stolen! I guess it was payback for my in-game atrocities, but nothing could ruin my excitement for this game.

this game is way huger than sliced bread. totally amazing, get it now.

i want almost all of these, this is perfect. 3DS is now doing what WiiU should be, but it took a little while, I hope theres still hope for it based on these great 3DS games.

theres nothing naive about expecting to buy an HD console (WITH proper storage and working entertainment and online options at launch) for less than 300 dollars TODAY. Of course 3-4 years ago that would be silly but it's NOT 3-4 years ago; theres no defending this botched launch. 3DS came around, though, I'm plenty happy with that. It's too late for last gen catch-up and it'll be too late when the others come out. Is there anything WiiU has that other consoles don't right now? (besides a touch screen controller; reminds me of dreamcast)

So glad I didn't get a WiiU. It's going to take a mean zelda for me to get one now, so I'll just have to get the new xbox thingy if it doesn't come by then. Sounds like everyone else is bailing on WiiU; Too little, too late. I would say it's sad as a lifelong Nintendo fan but the competition is so great my thumbs have long since gotten over it.

This is NOT a repeat of the Wii thing. As soon as people started playing the Wii and it was impossible to find in stores all the developers saw the money there and tried some things with it, as weak as it was in comparison; the motion controls were intriguing and are still awesome.
The WiiU, not so much. It's out, we've all tried it and uh... it's ok, but it's barely matching the current gen ports right now; that doesn't look promising. Sure it's a new system made by arguably the best game software developer on the planet so theres some neat things, but does it really represent the "next gen". time will tell. If you're investing in game companies you have to look at these things and be realistic; It's plain to any consumer that the other current consoles are doing the same things now that the WiiU is doing so why buy a whole new console with a fraction of the game selection? Investors can see that as well.

It's not JUST games, sure that's annoying but there are so many things wrong that I could see coming a mile away. Before it launched I played demos and it just wasn't enough to pull anyone from the HD systems that are already great, with big libraries, cheap games, and lots of other great WORKING services. once again Nintendo has misjudged the market. Now people finally DO use these things for movies and other media and they've all but shut out (or released unready) the media stuff (no disc player, late movie services). Also now that storage is cheaper and it's expected with so much DL content they release a machine with hardly any? And the marketing has the same cheesy families and people playing with Wii remotes? what did they think would happen? I waited a long time then gave up and got an xbox, and now I'm almost more willing to wait for the inevitably better next system since nintendo was so late to HD. I was ready for HD almost 2 years ago and I still waited, but finally gave up on it. I'll reconsider when it's cheaper and theres more stuff for it.

weird. Because commercial advertising is where we all turn for the most honest and good natured, fact-based representations of everything as it is in the world. I don't get what they're hoping to accomplish here.

I'm with the early poster that is disappointed in this for the first time. I wanted to want it so bad, went to the "experience" before launch, followed all the hype, but I finally got an xbox about 6 mo ago after waiting so long, and it just does everything the WiiU does (short of a touch screen) and from what I hear some things are better. Not to mention that the Kiosks have no actually playable games besides Rayman; how is that advertising? They even tried to jump on the bandwagon with the "entertainment center" thing, but none of it was ready, loading times are long and it won't even play DVDs? Like a lot of people I prefer to download content now, netflix, movies, and the best games at a reasonable price (not 50+$). I got rid of my DVD player a while ago and now besides the sound system all I need is the xbox for everything (and the old Wii for some stuff). why should I get another console that doesn't out do either of these things and can't actually handle all the media we want to use now without 50 attachments and hacks? It looks pretty because it's new, but just buy the console and what can it do? Not much. No storage, expensive games, few killer apps, no disc player, purchases tied to console, apparently slow loads and updates, and some heavily monitored 'chat' functions. Oh and some cool ports of games at double the price on the consoles they already came out on before. To match the cheaper consoles you need to spend at least $400 and then another at least $50 for each game; no way. I'm prepared to be proven wrong when they wake up and lower the prices and get it up to speed with everything else. If they had gotten smart about online stuff with the Wii long ago this may not have happened. I'm setting up my new office and sadly there won't be a WiiU there like I had envisioned a year ago.

cool, but then I'd have to buy a WiiU to play it with. I can already play all the good games without the WiiU add-on.

wow, that rules! I would buy that if it was for sale

Wow, I guess I'm just getting old. I played a little bit of Kid Icarus and after about 30 minutes I just couldn't do it anymore. It was the worst of cheesy voice acting and old fashioned overwraught video game cheese story with the added modern float around in a circle-and-blast stuff mechanics. Why would I want to do that for hours on end?

loved this, on of my favorite wiiware games. I'd get it again but then if it's on the phone I'll just get it there, nothing it can't handle and probably cheaper.

which of these things is it? all of them. This is the first launch I didn't buy at because I could see the poor overall launch coming a mile away. I learned my lesson from the 3DS launch. Lazy launch titles, missed opportunity between Thanksgiving and Christmas (not everything working in time), bad advertising, retail demo units everywhere that you can't actually play (even now!), and still high prices even on the download games, including the download only smaller ones. I have hope for the future but it's going to have to pick up steam, games-wise or see a price drop.
I had predicted a price drop and I'm sure it'll come in maybe 6 months. I'll look at the lineup and get one then.

There is no defending this. And if you're a big Nintendo fan this is not the place to bring up Apple, because like it or not that stuff loads lighting fast; those i-devices are arguably the reason we have all become so accustomed to instant load times.

Oh, I see why she's mad. She uses a Mac so she's not used to a crappy OS that crashes and loads everything so slowly. If you're a PC user you're probably used to it so it's no big deal.

Video games do encourage unthinking domineering violent behavior without responsibility in an already dangerously irresponsible gun culture. To completely disregard extreme violence in media is just naive. Of course no ONE thing is to blame but people still need to take responsibility for some of the hateful crap we spend so many hours engaging in for 'fun'. We're not talking about the responsible, smart parents here it's the others that will always be out there and with guns so freely available troubled kids will get them and use them and the way they "play" them in games doesn't help. I know we like video games but come on.

I'll bet if this one breaks you can at least recover your downloads with your user account.

uh, isn't that the whole point of this system (sort of). If it's just a "maybe" now and not a plan from day 1 then it'll never happen. Why is it these kinds of ideas with Nintendo are always like "oh, maybe people are going to be interested in this one day so we'll think about it" while the rest of the world is well past it. See: anything internet related on a Nintendo.

well said Adam AND Bengals76
this is a ridiculous excuse. I'm sure they were working tirelessly to ensure it could not work online to optimize 'ecouraging' local multiplayer. seriously?
This attitude also says to me they really don't want us players who have been with Nintendo since the begining; it really is for the young players. Thankfully now I can choose not to come back if it doesn't get better.

Sooo, when's someone going to stick the lan adapter into this and check it out? We're all waiting with baited breath, N-life. You're getting a first impressions ready now, please check that out for it! Clearly we know everything else it does already and what it looks like so thats the big question here.

of course no one cares about 'online' gaming, we're complaining because some of the best Wii experiences come from download WiiWare games and Virtual console. In todays world anything 'mini' almost universally means 'lots of online everything' to keep the hardware side small/cheap, so it's pretty strange to see this now. It's like getting a cell phone that only works indoors, because "phones are really home calling devices" right? Even 3 or 4 years ago this would have made a lot of sense; Now? not really. It's as if Nintendo has to stubbornly fulfill it's itch to stay in the past so they can justify the WiiU's ability to try some real online functions.
like a stubborn old man with emphysema sneaking a cigarette just so he can still feel like he didn't really give in to the young peoples demands, even though he had to to stay alive.

weird. it really has so little, but it looks so nice. even the reduced resolution makes this pretty sad. Great if you live under a bridge, but I can't see this as anything more than an accidental purchase by a parent during the holidays, but disappointing for any kid that just wanted a new console. really only worth it for that controller. Seems like they could have still included everything but GC support and still kept it almost this small and cheap. With the redesign a machine like that would sell like hotcakes, I'd rather get one like that than a WiiU! This is NOT like the "dogbone" NES redesign, since that didn't take out functionality, and worked better. Just the time factor makes it all cheaper to produce so long after it's release, why skimp on so much?

Hey just be glad it's not Corbie or they'd be 7's.

and we all complained when PS3 launched at about 500$ WITH a HDD, and some pretty similar features to this including a disc player. I didn't get one of those either, a bit dissapointed with the "basic" set being so badly gimped, so I'im skipping it until later notice. If I did I wouldn't buy another game either. I like downloading but theres no space for that so add another 50-100$ to that, plus exorbitant DL prices. It's 3DS all over again, so I'll wait for the price drop, then reconsider.

I can't get past the ridiculous character models in this stuff. Looks like junior-high nerds fantasy scribbles, even more than most games.

Ahh, if Zelda can come close to this kind of experience with good controls, I'll be excited for WiiU, til then I'll be happy with the other consoles for this stuff. I know it's just me but I tired of the Mario re-hashes.

I'm finishing this up on XBOX now, so I'm not about to get a WIIU for it. But I'll surely get it later when I have one and it's cheaper.
It may be knit picking since I also believe that the WIIU will eventually be far ahead of the others on some basic things but there really isn't any excuse for ANY part of this running any worse than any other current consoles at ALL. It's an older game for older consoles, why is it that Wii U should get a pass for running it sluggish at all?
Probably the second screen, I hope developers find good ways to stream it to both better without frame rate issues soon, or I may just wait for the other consoles all together.

Not a surprise. Launch excitement always makes EVERY launch title seem to add up to "lots" when 3/4's of it is just bad launch cash-ins. I was burned hard by the 3DS launch so I'm waiting on this one until it's actually all working and has some good games out. Also I agree with someone that we may be approaching a lul in the industry; the other consoles are HD and great and soon there'll be "superHD" consoles or whatever. the model for all of it has to shift somewhere new, and with tech the way it is now, like it or not it may just be moving to a cheaper more 'mobile' device model. I'm sure it won't happen without a fight and some time but the console stuff is just so expensive, is it really worth getting a new one every 2 years now that every device has some pretty good games (other consoles, apps, etc, etc)?
All that media center stuff is great but EVERYTHING else has it, and all you guys laughed at it on PS3 when that launched, now it's the bees knees?

whoa that was bad-ass. I too hope it's easy to get onto a Mac. I wouldn't use a PC to even check the time for fear of it crashing, but then I don't game on a PC so I wouldn't bash it for that. shouldn't be hard for someone to port it over.

Wow, Monster hunter would sell this console for me, even if it's a little tied to the older visuals. Cool.

wow, that looks amazing. keep this stuff coming. It's more than enough to keep me occupied until the WiiU is worth while.

who cares? Awards shows and ceremonies are, by their nature, measures of popular trends; what makes an awards show "legitimate"? The Oscars are the same studio pandering, commercial junk, go to a neighborhood watch awards show if you want "legitimate" or something.
It's pure entertainment.
And why is it a surprise that popularity for the Wii has waned so much and the Wii's launch didn't make massive waves? It's too early.
And the Walking Dead is indeed an incredible game well deserved of the title. If you haven't played it through, you don't know what your trolling about. There has NEVER been better voice acting and writing in a game than that; I like games but have never felt anything come so close to the feel of a great film (so it's not action packed, not that kind of game); My girlfriend was genuinely hooked on just watching it play through like any other great TV series, and she HATES video games. I can't wait to go back and try another path.

duh, of course we want it. It seems the the console marketing stuff always assumes, or at least hopes that their console will be the one machine to dominate your home entertainment; by extension there's no reason any game with a number next to it should ever start on a console higher than 1. if it does, find a way to get that number out of the title or those of us who decide to really try and stick to one console will always feel left out.
Maybe I've gotten too jaded but good ports of "hardcore" games are one thing I really look forward to for WiiU that's why I haven't gotten one yet; when there are more options like this one I'll be really excited.

Jeez people. big deal. He's not that far off, I think. I'm just going to wait and see. Why is that such an affront to everyone?

oh, so if I"m ever lost I can just have a look and then instantly I'll know: "Oh yeah! I'm at home within 10 feet of the console!". Baby steps, I guess.

I see their using previous "gen" camera tech too. though this is probably an old picture.

what would you save on there anyway? Yeah, this is silly but like some here said, it's not for us. Seems a little expensive for nothing more than a "Wii Disc Player".

This is nice, but considering how light the pad is there is indeed no reason why Nintendo can't just start including a little bit bigger battery with it. Even a couple more hours would be worth a tad more weight. Most games don't have you holding it up right very much if at all. This and a little more flash memory will be how all the patient ones will win when there is a new model in a year or less; mark my words.

very nice. I don't have one yet and I never thought twice about it but it sounds like they knocked this one out especially considering their past attitude with Online functions. I can't wait to try it.

agree back at you, Brooks. I largely play Wiiware and VC as well, and having to switch to "Wii mode" is ridiculous for tiny games that have always been downloadable and SD.
Maybe there is some tech issue I don't understand, sure, so just take the time to put all those games into the new shop then and find which ones are owned through the account, re-download if needed. But the tethered account makes this a further mess. There should be a way, though, at least through the system transfer to see which ones are owned and then get new E-shop versions. Why is this not a priority like all the other obvious things that consumers want?

I spent a lot of money on Downloads for Wii and they didn't get any message that I want a good DL system and hire some tech grunt to spend a year or 2 getting all that crap to run on WiiU natively. They apparently don't want my money this time, or I'm the only one who wants to buy stuff online and just click it and play it. whether you like Apple or not they've proven that practical functionality is a BIG part of selling machines, console manufacturers often don't see this, especially when the thing is selling anyway, just on brand loyalty.

I'm not a fan of the useless achievements like on xbox but if some companies are going to use them to unlock real game rewards like this than it's still something that should just be part of the system. Clearly Nintendo's not that interested in keeping up with the Jones', though. Normally I don't mind, but this apparent "trailblazing" attitude at Nintendo leaves a little to be desired for people who want all the basic HD gaming stuff to just work. Can't wait until this WiiU is all patched and up to speed in 6 months or so. Just pretend the launch is actually about 6 months after the real one and you'll get the best Nintendo launch Ever; and no lines.

not a big surprise but doesn't bode well for the future especially if they made any money off this. Looks like something from the promising end of the PS1's life. ouch