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I HAVE LITERALLY NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING EVER

Good. I don't want it bundled, I hate having boxless games in my collection. I can't bring myself to throw them out, they just sit awkwardly on the shelf like an unwanted bastard child.

Also his development technique is throwing things at walls. Very unsettling.

...I'll start, then. The one thing that immediately jumps to mind is set pieces during local multiplayer, the play could be orchestrated on the gamepad without your opponent being able to see what you're going to do. But other than an at set pieces, I'm not sure how you could integrate it at all because when the ball is in play you simply have to be looking at the main screen. Constantly.

Congratulations James, you deserve it :] for me you're the best games journalist around, I'm sure it won't be long before you're climbing the ladder at NoE. Good luck!

Excellent news, although hardly surprising.

All they need to do is retexture Melee for HD and add online capability. We could have it by next year and they could sell it for $25.

Sorry about that. Tekken it is then!

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Yeah, I can't see this supporting Wiimote/Nunchuk. The gamepad seems too integral. Disappoints me too Sean, because I'm not fond of dual analog and the gamepad stuff isn't what's selling me on the game, but it's not a dealbreaker for me.

I'm also now very interested to know the structure of this game. I'd love it if it was purely an arcade style how-long-can-you-survive mode with no levels or checkpoints. However, if it's going to be structured like the typical single player FPS campaign I'll probably give it a miss. I'll have Colonial Marines or Black Ops 2 for that, one of which I'll be buying anyway for some traditional online deathmatches.

Sounds awesome.

Very happy about this :]

Oh, for God's sake.

It's not a next-gen console, it's a current-gen console. It doesn't look to be as powerful as a PS3, and since it's been designed and manufactured seven years later the production cost of that level of technology should be far cheaper. A PS3 is under £200 now, the Wii U should cost under £250. The only excuse for it being any more expensive than a PS3 is the tablet controller.

Just wanted to say I absolutely love this game and it deserves a 10/10 for the amazing philosophical message you get on completion. That message inspired me throughout my childhood. Solid 7/10 from me just for the gameplay, but that message bumps it up to a 9.

Argh how can we not be getting Black Ops II?

I'll buy the console on day one even if it's only available in the colour of faeces with a pink swastika on the top, but yes, ideally I would like a black one >:[ especially after they got my hopes up by showcasing it at E3. The source here doesn't seem too solid so hopefully this is a rumour that will soon be quashed.

This article isn't funny, I saw the headline on Twitter and was actually moaning in ecstasy until the link loaded. I love your writing, Mike, but you've crossed a line here.

Great article. I'm pretty sure this is aimed at the same crowd Wii Sports went for. Who else could it be aimed at? It's not going to be a system seller for people like us, nor for MS/Sony gamers. Like Mike says, it's not intuitive enough. Could cost a lot of sales.

I'm just totally confused by the whole concept.

Please tell me all that touch screen stuff is an optional co-op feature and not the main control scheme for single player?

ooh cool

Are the highlights likely to be on YouTube afterwards? I'm going to miss this >:[

They shouldn't be allowed to do this, I've already scheduled my whole week around the pre-arranged Nintendo shows and I'm supposed to be out with a friend tonight. Now I have to try and change that at the last minute.

The only one I might miss the start of is the last one, I work Wednesday nights in a bar and I'm not usually home until after 2am (UK time). Hopefully I can get the landlord to finish my shift from 1am so I can go home early.

Quite a big blow for me, the one thing I've constantly lamented in being a devoted Wii gamer is the lack of FPS games, and Metro 2033 in particular looked awesome, so I was excited for Last Light on Wii U. Ah well, we'll have Aliens, Killer Freaks and I'm assuming Black Ops II?

Couldn't care less, just put ReBirth on the VC.

I'm just so happy that I'm finally going to have the option to play these games.

@C-Olimar We don't get Spike, and MTV2 was replaced by MTV Rocks a couple of years ago. I'd also like to know if it's going to be televised at all here, as that would be much nicer than streaming it on my laptop.

The last time Nintendo really nailed the hardcore market with a Mario game was 64. They should reboot that... Have an identical hub world (in HD of course) and remake 5% of the actual levels from it. 95% of the game can be original. I know a lot of ex-Nintendo gamers who've since moved onto other consoles that would still freak if they saw Mario jumping into a painting.

Personally, I'm not too bothered about the Mario platformer franchises. I'll always buy them but the big guns for me are Mario Kart and Smash Bros, those are the titles that keep me sticking with Nintendo every generation.

Sonic The Hedgehog on the Master System remains the greatest ever Sonic soundtrack. Bridge Zone is my favourite VGM track of all time, and Jungle Zone and Scrap Brain Zone were also amazing.

Holy ****... I like my old-school-hard 2D platformers but that's a bit much?! A couple of those sequences looked incomprehensible. Definite purchase, but I'm scared.

Also, not sure what all of the rocketbox, tiny bob, fat man stuff is about? I don't think this genre benefits from extra gamemodes, or even multiplayer at all. Six difficulty levels also seems a bit silly, I've never seen the need for more than two or three.

I hope this is the actual launch line-up. I only want to play two of those games so I wouldn't have to choose.

I was a Sega kid and loved this game. I actually prefer it to Castlevania, although that's possibly due to nostalgia. The music is great although somewhat repetitive as Takosuke said. The overall atmosphere is definitely better than Castlevania's imo, it feels a lot more realistic. The fantasy elements.are a lot more subtle and the Victorian setting is pulled off really well.

Brilliant review

@BudrSbastig Yeah man, I loved Rayman Origins 100%'d that and Kirby's Epic Yarn over Christmas. Still haven't played DKCR though!

Definitely more likely to get this thanks to the exclusion of RPG elements and power shots. I'd sooooooo much rather see Mario Golf, though.

I'd much rather have a sidescroller than a 3D game. I've never really been into 3D platformers. I completed Galaxy 1, and don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, but I still didn't bother getting Galaxy 2. I thought Sunshine was pretty awful and I never bought SM64. It's just not a genre I'm into, I prefer my 2D platformers.

Not that I'm bothered, but I'm guessing this means the Wii U will not be significantly more powerful than the 360 or PS3? Surely if it was going to be a big step ahead of current-gen they'd have mentioned it in this statement.

Just to reiterate so no-one jumps on my back, I really don't care. Hopefully it'll mean a nice affordable launch price :]

That screenshot has just sold me a 3DS.

Yeah you're right there actually. I guess I was responding more to the people in the comments here lamenting the advent of digital media domination. It'll happen within the next two console generations. Mark my words, TBD. Mark them.

Sad but inevitable. Digital media is going to consume physical media, whether you like it or not we may as well start accepting it. I don't mind, personally. It's a shame for the staff though, the people in my local store are really nice.

What are FIBs and how does having a large enough lead help? Does the blue shell only travel so far?

Also, does it always hit whoever is in first place when it "arrives", or does it target whoever is leading when it's fired, even if they then drop to 2nd or 3rd place while the shell is en-route?

Personally I don't like the blue shell, for the same reason as Corbs. Occasionally you pick up a mushroom in second place, overtake and have it ready, but it's rare. If you're getting a star or Bullet Bill then you're pretty far behind and need to use it immediately.

Anyone know nearby hotels and how much it would cost to stay for the weekend? Also how much are the expo tickets usually? I'd like to go.

@DictatorJumpMad haha, well said

I have never wanted anything so much

Cheers Corbie, I wasn't going to bother with this game but will do after reading your review. Get Steel Diver reviewed man, I'm really psyched for that

This has been my most anticipated 3DS game from the start, it looks great.

Demos definitely make me buy more games. If a game reviews at about 6/10 then I'm probably not going to buy it, but I'll still try a demo. I've done this countless times on the PS3 and it's resulted in me buying a lot more games than I would have. I don't know many people that would be satisfied with merely playing through a demo of a game if they actually enjoyed it.