edcomics

@Linkstrikesback

Thanks. Never actually owned one of the games, though I've played through a few stages when I've had the chance. My closest contact with Star Fox was the comic in Nintendo Power all those years ago. Good stuff.

So wait — What's a Lylat?

I wouldn't suggest joining PETA: http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

After picking up a copy at retail, I was thinking about starting up a subscription for the first time since the 90's. It's a fun magazine. It'll be a shame if it disappears.

As a kid, I actually preferred Luigi due to his color scheme. The red and brown Mario from SMB never did it for me. In any case, Luigi's fine as Player 2, or in a game like SMB2, where you can select him right from the start of the game. Was a solo Luigi game necessary? I would say "no," and I would say we certainly didn't need "Luigi's Mansion." The entire concept is so off-putting to me. It's a Ghostbusters ripoff, complete with gun and backpack. I'm surprised nobody sued Nintendo over that. If we're to be given a Luigi game, though, why not just have something more like a traditional SMB game, but in a world unique to Luigi, with unique characters and settings that Mario will never encounter? It would have been a great way to freshen up the "New SMB" franchise, as the next two games just seem to be somewhat unimaginative rehashes of the two we've already had. How about a game where Luigi fights a Koopa invasion in the real world? Better yet, how about Nintendo stops watering down the Mario franchise and tries coming up with something new?

Another piece of software I bought at full price goes on sale. I'm starting to feel like a sucker.

I recently bought the original SMB, so now I wish I'd waited a few weeks. It's not a big deal, but they should really just lower prices across the board permanently. They'd probably see a lot more sales on their Virtual Console games if they did that.

Rated M for Mature? Somehow I can't see this game even being released in the USA, just for the theme, but I suppose it's possible. I guess everyone's desensitized these days.

I thought the headline said "new environments." I liked NSMBW, but this just looks like a slight variant of that game. The music is identical. The game looks nearly identical. Sure, it's a handheld, but... sigh, I don't know. I was hoping for something a little more different. A little more "New" perhaps.

@BestBuck123
This is how I see it, and I don't think there's any other way to see it. Nintendo has been playing this game for decades. It's nothing new. Open your wallets, kids.

What's the conversion between UK stars and US coins? Regardless of that, those are some nice rewards. I like having something tangible from a video game. While Mario Kart isn't my cup of tea, these trophies look great all on their own. (Granted, this is likely an airbrushed photo) I hope the United States get to see some rewards like this in the near future. I cashed in some coins to get a small present for a friend's birthday, and the best thing they had was Mario shoelaces. dies One of these trophies would have been so much better.

I finally picked up Epic Mickey for Wii, but I just couldn't get into it. The controls and camera controls were actually really frustrating, and those cinematic scenes kept getting in the way of me playing the game. Maybe I just don't have the patience I used to have, or maybe everything else just seems sub-par after playing Zelda. I don't know. Might try the 3DS Epic Mickey, though.

People love being snobs and announcing how great they are at games. The fact is, not everyone enjoys games the same way. Difficult stages can be aggravating for people who aren't hardcore gamers. They paid good money for their game, and they just want to have a fun time with it. If a super-suit power-up helps them do that, then great. The snobs can just snub the power-up and continue impressing the ladies with their video game prowess.

I just see this as a wasted opportunity to do something really special. Sure, the Platinum and Gold rewards are free, but it feels like Nintendo's not really trying anymore. The cards don't even seem to feature new artwork. I feel like if they're not going to try, they should just not bother at all. Save the paper. Save the plastic. Save the ink, shipping costs, time, etc... If we hadn't been spoiled with the statuette a couple of years ago, maybe people wouldn't be quite as perturbed about this year's rewards. Expectations are in place, though. The reward-giving is a great opportunity to do something creative, surprising and memorable. Nintendo's done it in the past. There's a precedent for excellence. They set the bar — not the fans.

Someone made a good point/suggestion on another site: Smash Bros. cards would be much more exciting. The Mario thing is getting a bit worn out. They need to mix it up a bit... or a lot.

How about a Reggie stress relief doll? When you squeeze it, he could say "We have no plans for localization at this time." Wait, that might create more stress.

Weak. I have no use for either the posters or cards, but I guess the cards are at least somewhat unique. Remember that Mario statue from either last year or the year before? I wish we were getting something like that. A little statuette with Samus, Kirby, DK, etc would have been so cool. Oh well.

@Samholy
Yeah, that's pretty much how it's been for me with N64, Gamecube and even Wii. Zelda games always draw me in and justify the purchase, but what after that? There are a few gems here and there, but there needs to be more. I suppose that's a different issue than graphics and power, though. If Nintendo was cranking out more blockbuster-quality material, it would be easier to overlook graphical limitations.

I don't think Spencer's off-base here. The difference between Wii and Xbox 360 or PS3 is similar to the difference between the NES and SNES. Nintendo's allowed itself to be left behind on graphics and power, while focusing on gimmicks. While those gimmicks are fun, few games truly make the most of them. Thus, we're brought back to a comparison between the consoles. When The Force Unleashed came out, the Wii version was essentially the PS2 version of the game. PS2. PS2. For someone with only a Wii, they're getting an inferior version of the game because of the Wii's limitations. Since the WiiU isn't making a huge leap in the trouble areas, Nintendo may get left behind once again. Iwata seems to underestimate future advances in HD graphics — just as Nintendo underestimated the desire for HD in the first place. Nintendo just seems to be content with being adequate these days.

This looks to be right up my alley. I just hope the controls don't get in the way of having a good time.

Nice-looking Tron game Just based on the photo, this will benefit from HD. WiiWare just isn't practical anymore. Nintendo: The industry leader in last-gen tech.

It seems like a bit of a slap in the face to people who bought the regular 3DS, just on principle alone. The first 3DS buyers paid up the wazoo for the system. Then Nintendo dropped the price big-time. That's slap number one. Now there's already a new iteration of the system. Slap #2. Eventually there'll probably be an iteration of the 3DS that features a second control pad, so that's a potential slap #3. Nintendo does that with its handheld systems, and even products like the Wii Remote (planning for the eventual Wii Motion Plus attachment, and later releasing a version with WMP built-in, when it should have been so at Wii launch). I could be wrong, but I think Nintendo actually banks on serious gamers buying multiple versions of the same product, whether it's controllers, games with new play control, or even entire systems. It's a shady way of doing things, and I feel like Nintendo never seems to give the customers all of what they've paid for or been promised. Nintendo seems to have a corporate strategy of holding things back until later, and that's just insulting.

I have to agree that the zombie thing is worn-out. When is this trend going to die? The Killer Freaks images look more interesting, but now we're getting just another zombie game. It's getting old. No, it got old a long time ago.

I doubt Nintendo will risk confusing customers with different WiiU packages at launch. You know, people who don't visit gaming websites or read gaming magazines on a regular basis, if at all. Understanding which package you want actually requires research and decision-making, and I think a lot of people just want a simple decision such as "Should I buy a WiiU or not?" without having to ask "If I do buy it, which version should I buy?"

There are a lot of people who derive a great deal of pleasure from seeing wonderfully impressive graphics. There's a big difference between SD and HD. It's silly to pretend there's not. The best thing Nintendo has going for them is their IPs like Mario and Zelda. There's also the price, which means more parents will buy the cheaper gaming system for their kids. If you want to be blown away by a game, though, Nintendo rarely delivers. Skyward Sword, for example, is unfortunately very ugly on a modern television. Nintendo didn't think ahead graphically when they produced the Wii. The Wii U seems to be Nintendo playing catch-up, but surely they'll be left behind again.

People are saying "graphics aren't everything," but what else is new about these Wii U iterations of Rayman and Mario than the graphics? So far, the gamepad is only proving to be a gimmick. Nintendo seems only interested in doing just enough to stay afloat, without going the extra mile, and I feel it's insulting to loyal fans.

Does this include Turbo? (Pardon my ignorance) Furthermore, does anyone know if the Virtual Console release of Super Street Fighter 2 includes Turbo? Back in the day, I had a copy of SSF2T on PC, of all things, but I don't know how it worked for SNES or other systems. I'm really not interested in the game unless there's Turbo. The regular speed is just a little too slow for me.

I played it at NYCC and enjoyed it. While it's definitely an upgrade, with better graphics and 3D, it is still very familiar and probably not worth the asking price for a new game. If it ever drops in price at Gamestop, I'll think about picking it up.

Bizarre. If they dropped the price (including the game) to $125 or so, I could understand it. This just doesn't make sense. They're competing with their own product (the 3DS). Just imagine all the kids this Christmas who wanted a 3DS, but will instead get this DSi bundle. Sigh...

Might actually be fun.

They probably just forgot about the Mole Mitts, along with the Gust Jar and Roc's Cape.

Wow. I haven't seen that Eurosport logo since 1996 when I moved back to the US from Switzerland.

I'm not sure if I owned Simon's Quest, but I definitely owned Blaster Master.

I was able to play the Dungeon demo, and it was quite enjoyable. I found the controls to be a bit tricky, but that may be due to having to stay far too close to the sensor bar. Figuring out the enemies' openings is a little tricky in general. If your hand is on the right and the opening is on the left, you inevitably swing left and cause the enemy to block. Everything seems to be in order as far as Zelda games go. The addition of dashing is interesting. The motion controls for the flying beetle item feel a bit gimmicky, and the limited flying time is a nuisance. My biggest feeling after having played the demo and watched others play the boss battle demo is simply that HD would have made the visuals so much better. The jagged, pixelated edges are very annoying on the HD screens. I guess "it is what it is," though. Lack of HD polish aside, the game looks to be fun and full of some fresh ideas.

I don't see how giving away free games would make people want to pay $5, $10, or $15 for another game. I think the big reason mobile games are so popular is not only that they're inexpensive, but that they're often bite-sized. Angry Birds is a perfect example. It's easier to play a few rounds of Angry Birds between classes or while waiting for a friend than it is to trudge through a dungeon in Shantae. Sure, you could cite Mario vs. Donkey Kong as a similar pick-up-and-play experience, but that game costs much more than Angry Birds on the iPhone.

I think Nintendo should offer cheaper games that feature in-game advertising, similar to Anarchy Online and its in-game billboards for random products. I wouldn't mind Pepsi logos in the background of a game I'm playing, or maybe full-screen ads during loading time if it makes the game more affordable. Monster Hunter Tri's loading screen could easily say "McDonald's - I'm Lovin' it," rather than the generic placeholder image. I know that's Capcom, but you get the idea.

I played the original, and it was surprisingly addictive. The fossil cleaning activity really breaks up the RPG gameplay and makes for a unique experience. I have a friend who also enjoyed the original, so I'll probably pick up a couple of copies for some multiplayer action.

Looking forward to this, but NOA doesn't update their stuff until later in the afternoon. It would be nice to have this as a morning treat. Still, if it's free, I guess I shouldn't complain.

Getting tired of waiting for this game...

Those numbers can't possibly include used game sales or trades. I think that's how a lot of people buy their DS games.

If Nintendo wanted to, they could support the Wii with new software for another two years. Hardcore gamers might be used to buying a new console every few years, but the new casual audience Nintendo worked so hard to attract isn't used to that. They already have their Wii. Why should they buy another? Why doesn't Nintendo just make new games for the console they have? Those are the types of questions people are going to have. After all, the ultra-casual gamers (parents, grandparents, old maids) who purchased or were given Wii systems probably don't even know about the Wii U yet. All they're going to see is new Wii U games and they won't understand why they don't work on their Wii. The Wii still has life in it. Nintendo should squeeze out every last drop before moving on. They really aren't good at doing that, though.

I bet Nintendo will be releasing Pandora's Tower, Last Story and Xenoblade in North America now. Gotta make up all that lost money somehow.

I don't know. That first tweet was pretty clear.

I'm really looking forward to this game. It's definitely set to be released in the USA, right? It'll be nice to have a solid game to play on the DS before it's completely abandoned in favor of the 3DS.

I only made Gold this year, so I get the disappointing calendar. The pins would have at least been something more usable, but can't compare to last year's amazing statuette.

If they abandon the Wii this early, I'm not buying a WiiU. That's all there is to it.

When did it become "core" instead of "hardcore?" ...because those have two different meanings. Maybe I'm just an idiot... or maybe it's just a Nintendo thing. Someone want to enlighten me?

GOOD. I'm not reading the spoilers. All I have to say is that I've grown sick and tired of the same old same old Zelda story. It's about time they tried something different. In fact, I would totally be in favor of a Legends of Hyrule series, rather than the repetitive Legend of Zelda. That world has grown so much, there are better stories to be told than "Links saves Princess Zelda... again..."

I don't even need the games to be dubbed. Subtitles will do just fine.

Yeah, there's a lawsuit in this. Shame, shame, shame...

Regarding graphics and power, the Wii U will basically be on the same level as PS3 and Xbox 360. The Wii itself was more like a Gamecube 2.5.

It only makes sense to bring Virtual Boy games to the 3DS Virtual Console. At least they'd be able to finally make some money off of the VB at this point. Do it, Nintendo.