Today's Special Archives: October 2009

News Archives Index Nintendo Announces DSi XL, Out in North America in 2010 [ Nintendo of Japan ] Today, Nintendo confirmed rumors with the announcement of a new version of the Nintendo DSi, called the DSi LL (XL outside of Japan). The console will be larger than the current DSi, with 4'' screens. It will also be packed in with two styluses, one larger but as thin as the current sylus, and another shaped like a pen. However, the rest of the console's features will remain the same. The console will also be packed in with three Brain Training DSiWare titles and will come in three colors, dark brown, wine red, and natural white. It will retail for 20,000 yen, and will release in Japan on November 21st. Nintendo's European and American branches have also confirmed that the console will release outside of Japan in Q1 2010. We'll have more as it breaks. Click the source link to see Nintendo's Japanese website and see images of the new handheld. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, October 30 2009 0:21 AM [Top] New Excitebike Racing to WiiWare [ Nintendo ] Admittedly, Nintendo's weekly "Nintendo Week" program has been somewhere in between cheesy and God-awful, but this week, our friends Gary and Alison have actually revealed something worthwhile. In the latest installment, currently available for viewing on the Wii's Nintendo Channel (or below via YouTube if you're lazy), the not-very-dynamic duo confirm a WiiWare update of the NES classic Excitebike, called Excitebike World Rally. Set for release on November 9th, Excitebike World Rally is a souped-up version of the original classic, complete with 3D graphics on a 2D or isometric plane. The game's track editor makes a return, plus new motion controls to go along with the also-available Wii-Remote-on-its-side classic control scheme. But best of all, the game will feature online play over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Hopefully online track-sharing will be available as well, but the video makes no such announcement. Video: Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 26 2009 17:53 PM [Top] Pirates, Ghosts, and Zombies For Download Monday [ Nintendo ] WiiWare Ghost Mansion Party Publisher: Gameloft Players: 1-4 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence Price: 1,000 Wii Points Description: Fazzy the ghost has been locked out of his mansion by some evil spooks, and he's willing to give his treasure to anyone who can chase them out. Work cooperatively and competitively with friends and family to defeat the ghosts and discover a huge hidden treasure. Travel around this wild mansion in board-game fashion, landing on mini-games that everyone can enjoy. You'll even engage in challenges on the board itself as you try to collect magic scrolls and hints to reveal the secret word that will open the doors to the treasure. Get your Wii Remote™ controllers ready - you're about to play with them in ways you've never imagined. Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3 Publisher: Telltale Games Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) - Comic Mischief, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes Price: 1,000 Wii Points Description: In the third Tales of Monkey Island chapter, Guybrush gets in deep - literally - as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes a scenic detour through the guts of a giant manatee. Our hero encounters a surprising band of castaways, including the long-lost explorer Coronado De Cava. Can the Mighty Pirate win the suspicious De Cava's trust? Will sexy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay prove to be a ruthless enemy or an unlikely ally? Will the group find La Esponja Grande in time to save Elaine from the rampant Pox of LeChuck? And will the world be crushed by the gnashing teeth of a certain demonic skull? Tales of Monkey Island's moist and absorbing third episode, "Lair of the Leviathan," will answer some of these urgent questions and raise even more as the five-month adventure builds to its epic climax. Virtual Console Zombies Ate My Neighbors Publisher: LucasArts Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence Price: 800 Wii Points Description: You will play the game as one of two brave kids: Zeke or Julie. Both kids use the same control scheme and have the same characteristics. If you're playing in two-player mode, each player must pick a kid. You can't have two Zekes or two Julies. Each player starts with three lives. When your life bar runs out, you lose a life. There are hidden 1-Up bonuses in the game. You may also earn bonus lives if you have 10 victims left when you finish a level. Get ready to conquer 48 levels of giant ants, mad scientists and big babies. Find seven bonus levels (look for the question marks), earn points and stockpile your water pistols and other weapons. Golden Axe Publisher: SEGA Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Fantasy Violence Price: 900 Wii Points Description: In this original arcade game that launched the popular Golden Axe series, the evil Death Adder has invaded your land and taken the king and princess prisoner. Three mighty warriors step forward to bring the villain to justice: powerful fighter Ax Battler, Amazon warrior Tyris Flare and mighty dwarf Gilius Thunderhead. They will use their weapons and magic to fight their way through Death Adder's hordes. Along the way, they'll mount fearsome, fire-spitting beasts to help even the odds. Team up with a friend and enjoy two-player simultaneous game play for a better chance of survival. Nintendo DSiWare PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1-4 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Aristocratic opponents square off in PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff, a game of strategy and deceit. Compete for points by adding or subtracting colored chips from rows on the game board and trying to guess each of your opponent's secretly assigned chip colors. Once you're confident in your deduction, issue a Call Out attempt to earn bonus points - at the risk of giving your opponent an extra point if you're wrong. Three modes of play (Tournament, Free Play, DS Wireless Play) offer a variety of options, from facing off against an assortment of computer opponents to competing in a wireless match with up to four players. Throw Trick Cards into the mix and you've got a winning combination of tactics and trickery that's sure to score points. SUDOKU Publisher: Electronic Arts Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points Description: SUDOKU offers hundreds of number-crunching puzzles that will stretch your brain power to the limit. Take it even further by playing in the exclusive Newspaper Mode. Add a daily puzzle from your favorite paper and build your very own collection. From Easy to Insane, a total of five different levels are available for novices and masters alike. Enjoy a host of grid designs that will keep you coming back for more. This worldwide phenomenon delivers an exhilarating game of logic that's not only challenging, but also surprisingly relaxing. It's everything you want for a quick puzzle getaway. Make life easier by taking advantage of smart features like automatic annotation for effortless calculation of your achievements. Stumped? Get help with error-checking tools and friendly cell hints. Track your stats and test your reaction time with the in-game timer. This addictive brain game has been polished to perfection and renders a sleek design that's easy on the eyes. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 26 2009 11:13 AM [Top] Martinet Teases New Mario [ Twitter ] Charles Martinet, the voice behind the mustache, has hinted at a new Mario game coming out. What'd Charles have to say? From his Twitter: Awesome new Mario Game! And it's not NSMB Wii, and it's not Galaxy 2, but it's going to be crazy fun! Best guess is that, since Nintendo is always incredibly secretive, an official announcement can't be far off, and we're psyched to find out what it takes for Mr. Martinet to call something "crazy fun." We'll keep you posted, of course. Hit the source for this and other Tweets from Mr. Mario. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, October 19 2009 16:48 PM [Top] Winds, Discs, and a Whole lot of Domo-Kun for Download [ Nintendo ] WiiWare LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias Publisher: FRONTIER Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence Price: 1,000 Wii Points Description: LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias is a sequel to the award-winning WiiWare launch title LostWinds. Enril the Wind Spirit returns to protect and guide young Toku by powering his jumps, aiding his glides and smashing his enemies. An evil adversary binds the fate of Toku's mother, Magdi, and the ancient Melodia civilization. To save Magdi, Toku and Enril must face new foes, enlist friends old and new, and wield incredible new powers - including the ability to switch the very seasons themselves - as they explore the diverse, richly interactive Chilling Peaks and Melodia City areas of the magical land of Mistralis. This enchanting, exhilarating, explorative game play experience is bursting with new ideas that make exceptional use of the Wii Remote controller. The awesome power of the Wind is back in the palm of your hand. Shootanto: Evolutionary Mayhem Publisher: Hudson Entertainment Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) - Crude Humor, Mild Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes Price: 500 Wii Points Description: Battle for the future in a world governed by the law of the jungle. As you move through the stages, your character evolves and your weapons and shooting abilities change. First, throw weapons by hand, then proceed to use tools and different types of projectiles. A cooperative two-player mode is also available. The controls are simple: Move the character with the control stick, adjust the crosshairs with the Wii Remote controller and shoot down targets while dodging enemy attacks. Getting hit by an enemy bullet or touching an enemy close to you will count as a miss. With each miss, you'll lose one heart; losing all hearts will end the game. Nintendo DSiWare Crash-Course Domo Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points Description: In Crash-Course Domo, you'll guide Domo across the finish line in six increasingly difficult bicycle races. Steer Domo around other racers and patches of rough terrain, pedaling as fast as his stubby legs will allow. Hard-Hat Domo Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points Description: In Hard-Hat Domo, Domo is a construction worker trying to get to the top of a building. Match ladder colors to floor colors - using cans of paint, if necessary - to earn points and continue climbing higher. Reach the top floor to clear each of the four levels of difficulty. Pro-Putt Domo Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points Description: In Pro-Putt Domo, Domo hits the green in an effort to win the world putt-putt golf championship. Domo competes to finish with the lowest number of strokes in either the nine-hole Small Classic or the 18-hole Big Open tournament. Along the way, he'll collect coins and earn bowls of meat-and-potato stew while avoiding bunkers and water hazards. Rock-n-Roll Domo Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points Description: In Rock-n-Roll Domo, you'll control Domo as he takes the stage in search of fortune and fame. Hit the right notes in rhythm (using the touch screen, if desired) to rock the house. If your timing needs work, use the mixer to practice songs. Complete five different songs at a series of increasingly larger venues to help Domo become a superstar. White-Water Domo Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Take control of Domo as he hops into his kayak and races the river rapids in White-Water Domo. Jump and paddle as you steer Domo through the treacherous rapids in an effort to cross the finish line as quickly as possible. Finish with one of the top three times to proceed to the next stage. Virtual Console RYGAR Publisher: Tecmo Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Fantasy Violence Price: 600 Wii Points Description: The year is 19XX A.D. and the human race has been brought to its knees by the resurrected ancient Beast Lord. The people have brought legendary warrior Rygar back to life in order to save the human race. Armed with Diskarmor, a weapon that extends, you'll also make full use of your jumping abilities to venture through and clear all 27 stages. Appearing at arcades in 1986 as a side-scrolling action game, RYGAR received high acclaim for its beautifully rendered graphics, including waterfalls and a setting sun. As extra features, players can collect the five Powers of Indra to obtain special bonuses or gain 1,000,000 bonus points for finding hidden items. Also, the number of lives and the level of difficulty can be altered. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 19 2009 10:21 AM [Top] Two New Trailers; New Super Mario Bros [ YouTube ] New Super Mario Bros Wii trailers. What more need be said? Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, October 16 2009 17:38 PM [Top] Wii Remote and Nunchuk Go Back in Black on Nov. 16 [ Nintendo ] Nintendo's iconic Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers are getting a new look, just in time for the holidays. Ever since the Wii system launched in November 2006, the controllers have been available only in white. On Nov. 16, Nintendo introduces new black versions. The new black Wii Remote controller will be available packaged with a black Wii MotionPlus accessory, which brings enhanced precision to games. The package will be available at a suggested retail price of $49.99. The black Nunchuk controller will be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 14 2009 10:20 AM [Top] Pinball, Gravity, and Fighting for Columbus Day Download [ Nintendo ] Nintendo DSiWare Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Pinball takes on mythological proportions in this Nintendo DSiWare exclusive. Choose from two modes of play (Regular Game or Daily Game) and begin your journey to becoming a pinball champion. Conquer mythic quests, collect gifts from the 12 Olympians, and push your skills to the limit by facing Medusa, the Sirens and more. Your portable pinball table will give you a quick adrenaline rush as you watch the steel ball fly through ramps and carom off bumpers all over the playing field. Rack up combo points, open specific game modes and enlist the Oracle for some help. Will you accept Zeus's challenge? Virtual Console Final Fight 2 Original platform: Super NES Publisher: Capcom USA Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) – Violence Price: 800 Wii Points Description: It's been several years since peace settled in Metro City. With Cody and Jessica on vacation and Guy resuming his training out of town, everything seems to be in order. But Haggar is feeling uneasy after learning that Mad Gear was not completely destroyed. Once again, the Mad Gear Gang has emerged, and this time they want revenge. They've kidnapped Guy's master, Genryusai, and Genryusai's daughter, Rena. Now Haggar must travel the globe in search of Genryusai and Rena. Hopefully, with the help of Maki and Carlos, the reign of the Mad Gear Gang will be destroyed. WiiWare Gravitronix Publisher: Medaverse Studios Players: 1-8 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 500 Wii Points Description: It's time to claim your rightful place as the champion of the Gravitronix arena, but get ready to deal with up to seven other players who are all shooting for the same title. Vanquish your opponents with four different projectiles and the powerful beams of your gravity platform. Intercept attacks and take careful aim at exposed vulnerabilities. Deflect incoming projectiles or capture and charge them with energy for devastating explosive attacks. Team up with a friend and battle through campaign mode, or recruit up to eight players on a single Wii system in versus mode for an all-out battle. Customize your matches with a variety of different options, such as flooding the arena with projectiles or making the game insanely fast. No matter how you like to play, grab your friends and have a blast. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 12 2009 10:30 AM [Top] Red Steel 2: Wanna Play? [ Ubisoft ] Direct from Ubisoft and YouTube, here's the latest trailer for the upcoming Wii MotionPlus actioner Red Steel 2. Showcasing just how precise the sword and gunplay can be when using MotionPlus, the trailer shows a bunch of new moves and displays how smooth switching from gunplay to swordplay and back can be. Check it out, you might even see some Jedi-style bullet blocking. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Saturday, October 10 2009 21:33 PM [Top] Wars, Words, and the First Fantasy for Download [ Nintendo ] Virtual Console FINAL FANTASY Original platform: NES Publisher: SQUARE ENIX Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence Price: 500 Wii Points Description: The world lies shrouded in darkness. The winds die. The sea rages. The earth decays. But the people believe in a prophecy, patiently awaiting its fulfillment. "When darkness veils the earth, four Warriors of Light shall come...." After a long journey, four young travelers did at last appear, and in the hand of each was clutched a crystal. Nintendo DSiWare Thorium Wars Publisher: Big John Games Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence Price: 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points Description: In Thorium Wars, you must stop the Thorions, a super species of Thorium-based machines, from destroying mankind. Blast through waves of Thorions by controlling an arsenal of tanks, skyfighters, hovercrafts, gunboats and starfighters with either the standard or touch-screen controls. In 12 exciting missions, navigate through a variety of combat environments while viewing 360 degrees of the battlefield, fully rendered in 3-D. Toggle between first- and third-person views to destroy the terrifying army of Thorium beasts, from swarms of Redeye Drones to the bone-crushing Manticore Walker. This man-versus-machine battle proves to be the ultimate test for the survival of the fittest. WiiWare Word Searcher Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc. Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 500 Wii Points Description: You'll need a sharp eye and a quick mind to complete 100 themed word-search puzzles. Word Searcher contains fun words from multiple categories including anatomy, world cities and U.S. presidents. With a huge assortment of subjects to choose from, there's sure to be a puzzle for everyone to enjoy. Help improve your vocabulary, memory and problem-solving skills with these engaging puzzles. Track and try to beat your own play-through times again and again—words are scrambled every time you play. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 5 2009 11:15 AM [Top]