Nintendo Land

Game: Nintendo Land
System: Wii U
Genre: Party
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: November 18, 2012


Pros: Exciting use of GamePad, lots of different mini-games, five-player local multiplayer
Cons: Some games better than others, easy for veteran players


If only there was a real Nintendo Land, a theme park designed around the worlds and characters of Nintendo Company. Since that dream has yet to be fulfilled, Nintendo fans everywhere will have to survive with the virtual equivalent of a Nintendo theme park: Nintendo Land for Wii U. Bundled with all Wii U Deluxe systems, Nintendo Land is meant to do what Wii Sports did for the Wii in 2006: prove the usefulness of the brand new controller. While Nintendo Land isn't as accessible and revolutionary as Wii Sports, and thus not as successful as a hook for new buyers, it's a deeper, richer, and all around better game.

Nintendo Land takes place in  theme park hub, around which sit twelve Nintendo-themed mini-games. Some of these games, like Donkey Kong's Crash Course and Yoshi's Fruit Cart, are meant to be played solo. Others, like Mario Chase, Metroid Blast, and Pikmin Adventure, can be played competitively or cooperatively with up to five players. This is where the genius of Nintendo Land emerges. Being able to play with up to five friends and family on a single television is great fun, especially with some of the better mini-games. Take Mario Chase, for example, arguably the best mini-game of the bunch. The player who holds the GamePad is the target; it's his job to evade up to four other players who need to tackle him before the time expires. Each of these four tacklers controls his or her Mii with a traditional Wii remote and can see only a fraction of the game field. The target, using the GamePad, can see the entire field.

It's all about asymmetrical gameplay, which Nintendo advertised as last year's E3: several people play the same game, but experience it in different ways. A lot of critics have derided the GamePad as a solution to a problem that never existed, and in a way that's true. Video games can still be enjoyed with traditional controllers. But Nintendo Land proves that a video game experience built around the GamePad can be inventive, surprising, and fun.

As with all mini-game collections, some games -- in this case, attractions -- are better than others. Mario Chase, The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest, Metroid Blast, and Luigi's Ghost Mansion are all stand-outs. Others, like Yoshi's Fruit Cart and Takamaru's Ninja Castle, are less interesting.

Together, however, the attractions form an impressive virtual theme park: twelve games with lots of replay value. When players aren't testing their mettle in the mini-games, they can unlock prizes and interact with other players from around with world through Miiverse, the social networking site on Wii U. Nintendo Land is a solid pack-in game for the Wii U overall, not nearly as earth-shattering as Wii Sports but certainly more rewarding.

Activision Blizzard to Gain Independence

Video game publisher Activision Blizzard will gain its independence from French conglomerate Vivendi, five years after the company purchased a controlling stake in Blizzard. Best known for publishing Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Skylanders, Activision Blizzard announced early today a group of investors,  including CEO Bobby Kotick and co-chairman Brian Kelly, will buy back over 600 million shares owned by Vivendi.

As a result, the group of investors will own just under 25% of the company. Kotick will remain CEO and Kelly will assume the duties of Chairman. Vivendi will retain approximately 83 million shares (12%) while the majority of shares will be held by the investing public. The deal should close by the end of September.

Said Kotick:

"These transactions together represent a tremendous opportunity for Activision Blizzard and all its shareholders, including Vivendi. We should emerge even stronger—an independent company with a best-in-class franchise portfolio and the focus and flexibility to drive long-term shareholder value and expand our leadership position as one of the world’s most important entertainment companies. The transactions announced today will allow us to take advantage of attractive financing markets while still retaining more than $3 billion cash on hand to preserve financial stability.” 

Activision is expected to report net revenue of $1.05 billion for the second quarter. Full results will release August 1.

Mario Kart DS Review

Game: Mario Kart DS

System: Nintendo DS
Genre: Racing
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: November 14, 2005


Pros:Great graphics, wifi and wireless multiplayer, inspired track design, huge replay value
Cons: Repetitive single-player campaign

The Mario Kart series has become a valuable asset for Nintendo over the last few generations, arguably surpassing other Nintendo IPs like Super Mario and Pokemon. Mario Kart DS, the subject of this review, has sold more than 22 million copies. Mario Kart Wii, the most recent console installment of the series, broke 33 million copies sold. Mario Kart 7, with less than two years on the market, has sold over 8 million units -- and shows no signs of slowing down. So it's a cash cow. But it's also a critically-acclaimed series. And Mario Kart DS is no exception. It's one of the best handheld racers ever produced, and it's one of the very best Mario Kart experiences available.

As with other Mario Kart games, the DS version features several familiar modes: Grand Prix, Time Trial, Versus, Battle Mode. What makes Mario Kart DS such an amazing game is the high level of customization available in most modes, and the inclusion of "game rankings," both of which provide the game with huge replay value. Versus mode, for example, can be played with up to eight others in local wireless mode, or played alone. In single-player versus, players can customize engine class, CPU difficulty, the way courses will be chosen, and the rules to win the race.

Mario using a Bullet Bill, a new item
introduced in Mario Kart DS.

If players get bored playing computer-controlled racers in Versus Mode, they can try their luck against the world's best in Wi-Fi Connection Mode, a first for the series. Players can compete against regional, continental, and even worldwide rivals using a (preferably high-speed) wireless connection. This mode is a big part of why Mario Kart DS made such a splash with consumers and critics.

Apart from the modes, the rankings, and the unlockables, Mario Kart DS shines simply as a pure racing game. The racers are well-balanced, the controls and tight, responsive, and intuitive, and the tracks are expertly designed. There are a total of 32 tracks in Mario Kart DS: 16 brand new tracks and 16 recycled from older Mario Kart games. Standouts include Luigi's Mansion, Waluigi Pinball, and Airship Fortress.

Yoshi faces off in a boss battle.

Last but not least is Mission Mode, a brand new mode for Mario Kart that provides different challenges to players. These challenges include driving through gates, collecting coins, destroying item boxes, and boss battles. It's a welcome break from all the straight-forward racing modes, and it makes Mario Kart DS a deeper, more varied, and more rewarding experience.

Overall, Mario Kart DS is the complete package. Graphics, play control, track selection, and character balance are all exemplary. Plus, there's enough content crammed into the game to keep a single player busy for weeks. If that same player is looking for a bigger challenge, he or she can take the race online using the Wi-Fi Connection.

Epic Mickey Review (Part II)

Game: Epic Mickey
System: Wii
Genre: Platform
Developer: Junction Point Studios
Release date: November 30, 2010


Pros: Lots of content, great for Disney fans, fun combination of 2D and 3D platforming
Cons: Mediocre camera, inconsistent early game direction

Beth

It took me a year and change, but I finally beat my first Wii game: Epic Mickey. Evan bought me Epic Mickey for my birthday last year after months of my pestering him to play the game. He enjoyed it so much he bought it for me, and we made a promise that by the time he returned from Iraq, I would finish. I was a little overdue on my deadline, but only because I enjoyed this game so much that I took the time to complete all the side quests, double back for bonus content, and root around for collectible film reels.

Evan reviewed Epic Mickey for Wii on Don't Blame the Controller last year, and I think that he summed up the heart and soul of this game in one sentence: it's a love letter to Disney. The player controls Mickey Mouse as he goes on a quest through Wasteland, making friends (or enemies, depending on how you play), and finding a lost world of forgotten, once-loved Disney characters. In this world, it's not Mickey Mouse who runs the Disney world, it's Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

The Dumbo ride has seen better days.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt Disney's first creation and was meant to be the "Mickey" character that we know today. However, when Mickey's popularity took off, Oswald was left largely forgotten. Such is the fate of the characters of Wasteland, and it is up to Mickey, armed with his magic paintbrush, to create and repair the world of Wasteland using paint, or to defeat enemies and conquer his way through the world using paint thinner. The choices you make in this game effect its outcome, and as a Disney lover, I opted for the paint/friend-making mode. I wasn't disappointed.

In addition to the 3D platform mode, the game features side-scrolling action levels that take place in familiar worlds (think jumping around in a Steamboat Willy cartoon). These side-scrolling levels are a fun distraction from the story-driven component of the game, and give the player a chance to collect goodies and explore a different gaming element.

Mickey leaps through classic Disney cartoons.

Overall, Epic Mickey is challenging, rewarding, and beautiful. The depth of color, and the attention to Disney detail is remarkable (I wish they'd added a find-the-hidden-Oswalds component like the find-the-hidden-Mickeys at Disney World). Most of all, the story is great, and the characters are compelling. Though the game had some glitches -- namely camera control and poor early-game direction -- I would agree that this is one of the best games for Wii, and a worthy tribute to Walt Disney and the world of Mickey Mouse (and Oswald).

I enjoyed this game so much, I know own one of these.

Miyamoto Teases New Nintendo Franchise

In the latest issue of Famitsu, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed he is working on an entirely new franchise, unrelated to any existing Nintendo IPs.

Famitsu: So, starting with Pikmin 3, you've got a lot of new Wii U titles planned up until the holiday season.

Miyamoto: With the recent version upgrade [of the Wii U], we've worked on the system side of things and we're planning on further system tweaks ahead, but even as is, [the Wii U] has become a useful item for the living room. However, it's pointless to talk about other features, no matter how fulfilling, without releasing games of our own, so we hope you'll look forward to the games to come. Next Spring, with the release of Mario Kart 8, we'll have a general selection available, so I've been thinking it would be a good time to bring out a new franchise.

Famitsu: A new franchise! An all-new title that you would be working on?

Miyamoto: I can't say too much in detail right now, but I've been pretty busy with this title these days.

Apart from Nintendo Land, there aren't really any new Nintendo-developed IPs on Wii U. Upcoming games like The Wonderful 101 and "X," while new, are only being developed in partnership with Nintendo. What could this new Miyamoto IP look like? Something accessible and innovative like Wii Sports? Or something more traditional with a steeper learning curve like Pikmin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.