Daily Nintendo

Review - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized (DS)

2009-12-10T09:13:40Z

Is Mobilized all flash and no bang?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the recently-released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been making waves on current generation consoles. Taking advantage of Modern Warfare 2’s popularity, Activision has simultaneously released a similarly-titled DS version. There’s good reason to be wary of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized; it’s the handheld edition, so people expect it to be watered down. Is Mobilized just a flash in the pan, or is there a worthy shooter lurking under the pretty sheen?

Since Metroid Prime: Hunters, first-person shooters on the DS have employed mostly the same control scheme. The camera/crosshair is manipulated on the touchscreen; movement is through the directional pad, and shooting by way of the L shoulder button. Other commands (iron sights, reload, etc.) are mapped on the touchscreen, and while they take a bit of getting used to, the layout is reasonable enough. What doesn’t work very well is the need to tap up or down twice to sprint or crouch, especially in the heat of a furious firefight. Another inherent problem with DS shooters is when dealing with enemies from far away. Obviously, they’re harder to hit, not only because of the distance, but because of the small screen. It certainly doesn’t help that enemy hit boxes are smaller as well.

Riding a tank is sometimes fun. Note: "sometimes"

The biggest culprit that saps all the fun out of the experience is the complete absence of AI, especially among your teammates. For some reason, these soldiers can’t shoot enemies standing right in front of them—you’re going to have to shoot these enemies yourself. But hey, this should be fine because you wouldn’t want your teammates to play the game for you, right? It gets better. Your companions would sometimes rush headlong into an ambush, or in other occasions, they insist on staying behind and let you walk up to foes lying in wait. This however isn’t the problem. When bullets start flying, these “helpful” buddies would suddenly scramble to your aid, only to block off your path and preventing you from getting to cover. The result, you get shot down needlessly. The worst part: it’s not an isolated case. This happens every single time.

Don’t let the pretty visuals fool you—when the shooting gets intense, the framerate starts stuttering, leaving you vulnerable to enemy fire. This happens mostly in open areas; thankfully, some environments are smaller than others, so there would also be stretches when the graphics would impress. Mobilized is fully voiced, which is quite impressive for a DS game. Admittedly, Mobilized is a shooter so it isn’t as verbose as an RPG, but squeezing in all the spoken lines into one tiny DS cart is an achievement nonetheless.

If you somehow had the stomach to finish the single-player campaign and want to extend the game’s shelf life, there’s always multiplayer. All you have to do is find five other friends who each own a copy of Mobilized and frag each other over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Better yet, you can stick to local matches for smoother play. The modes are pretty standard—there’s deathmatch, capture the flag, and other similar assault-type games. Of course, the game’s multiplayer can’t be compared to the console versions, but it’s not bad for a handheld.

Do yourself a favor—stick to Modern Warfare 2 on the consoles. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized is a wasted attempt in putting together a compelling experience on the DS. The controls may be generally sufficient (except perhaps a couple of missteps), but the action is marred by terrible AI and an inconsistent framerate. Mobilized may be coated in an attractive luster, but not everything that shines is gold.

6/10

Reviews Surfing - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)

2009-12-09T18:06:32Z

Link and Zelda team up in Spirit Tracks!

There’s no denying it—the biggest DS game right now is The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. You may be a bit disillusioned with the last Legend of Zelda because of a certain recurring level, so you may not be your usual Zelda-loving self. It’s perfectly understandable! But good news—Nintendo has learned its lesson in Spirit Tracks, and has ditched the punishing design of the previous game.

Despite this improvement, Spirit Tracks‘ overall rating is slightly lower compared to Phantom Hourglass. But you know what? I’ll take a slightly-lower score over better overall design any day. Here’s what the critics think of Spirit Tracks:

IGN: (9.3/10) “While Spirit Tracks has some obvious deja vu elements and can drag on from time to time, Nintendo’s latest pocket Zelda trumps the first game hands-down, delivering amazing bosses once again, now complemented with impressive dungeons, a truly epic challenge in the Spirit Tower, and a substantially longer adventure overall. Nintendo fans now have two must-play Zelda offerings on DS, as Spirit Tracks is an adventure not to be missed. Pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.”

1UP: (A-) “I suppose it’s pretty much a given that Nintendo fans are always going to buy the latest Zelda game, but Spirit Tracks doesn’t simply coast along on its legacy. Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, it’s a direct follow-up to a recent release that exceeds its predecessor in every way. And while it may not hit the soaring heights of Mario’s latest, it’s a fine game in its own right.”

Eurogamer: (9/10) “Spirit Tracks is, like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a straight rehash, a derivative sequel of the kind the company used not to make, and based on a decades-old template. You could easily mark it down for that. But that would belie the fact that it’s also a tighter and more rounded game, crafted with more care, than not just Phantom Hourglass but most modern games for grown-up consoles. As an all-ages adventure with a spring in its step and a twinkle in its eye, it’s hard to beat. All aboard!”

Giant Bomb: (4/5) “Though parts of Spirit Tracks are a little disappointing, most of those low points are offset by its terrific puzzle design and a great, fun story that feels noticeably different from the standard “save the princess” saga that series fans are used to seeing. Plus you can blow the train whistle, at will, whenever you’re on-board. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

While the average rating of this Zelda game is oh-so-slightly lower, the overall reception is much more positive than its predecessor. Chalk the lower score to déjà vu if you will, but what’s most encouraging about The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is its better design as a whole. We can’t wait to get our hands on it, so expect a review soon.

Silent Hill Wii remake shows lots of promise

2009-12-08T17:45:29Z

Shattered Memories might just be the next great third-party Wii game.

Just when you’re about to give up on third-party games on the Wii, a promising new title pops up and tells you otherwise. Such is the tale of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a reimagining of the first Silent Hill that scared our socks off a decade ago. Check out the two latest trailers and you’ll see that the game seems to be doing many things right.

Here’s the first trailer:

Video Games | Silent Hill: Shattered Memories | Exploration Gameplay

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

And the second:

Video Games | Silent Hill: Shattered Memories | Freak Beasts Gameplay

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Here are some things that make Silent Hill: Shattered Memories very promising:

Dynamic lighting;
Occasionally-flickering flashlight;
Constant mind screwing;
Sharp visuals and great audio;
Contextual comments by the protagonist;
Appropriate motion controls;
Smart monsters–at least they looked smart in the second trailer;
And best of all—no weapons and combat! You’re going to have to run like hell.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories has just come out today. If you’re looking for a great Wii purchase not named Mario or Zelda this holiday season, then you should really give this game a hard look.

Contra gets the 3D treatment but something is missing

2009-12-06T17:21:50Z

See Contra in 3D. NAO.

Fancy some Contra? If you owned an NES back in 1988, you’re probably getting misty-eyed from the nostalgia. Since its original release, Contra has occasionally returned to punish/entertain the hardcore fan. Machinima recently came out with a different kind of Contra—a Half-Life 2 mod, to be exact. The result: You get to see the entire jungle stage in 3D, but instead of the machine-gun toting Billy or Lance, you get Gordon Freeman, the Half-Life protagonist.

It sure is impressive to see a faithful recreation of the level (you’ll forgive the absence of the one-hit kill), but I had to ask—where is the Spread gun? Sure, the creator placed in a machine gun (which is actually the HL2 submachine gun) and a Fire rifle, but not every weapon is in there. In fact, even the Laser is noticeably absent.

Look, I’m glad to see a 3D version of Contra’s first level, but would it be too much to ask to see the appropriate weapons? These weapons made Contra enjoyable. Let’s face it; it’s not entertaining to repeatedly get killed as a result of getting shot by a hard-to-see bullet or being touched by a random alien.

Nintendo cuts back on Wii production

2009-12-04T16:41:26Z

Nintendo is cutting back on making Wiis.

Naysayers say the end of Wii dominance will arrive soon enough, but it may have already arrived. A Nikkei report revealed (through Kotaku) that Nintendo has started cutting down the number of Wiis being manufactured. According to Nikkei, Wii parts suppliers Mitsumi and Hosiden are facing huge revenue losses this year, thanks to the Wii’s recent decline.

Naturally, Nintendo’s orders for Wii parts have also dipped. Mitsumi and Hosiden are now looking at its net profit plunging by over 50%. That’s huge. Of course, we have to remember that overall, the Wii is still on top of the console heap despite the Wii’s current problems. Then again, Nintendo might not remain in the #1 spot for long. MCV reported that Wii sales are showing a year-on-year decline across the board—so much for the anticipated post-Christmas lull theory.

Is this scaling back of Wii production an omen of things to come? Would Nintendo end the console wars on top, or is it destined for the second (or even third) slot? We’d love to hear what you think.

Review - The Beatles: Rock Band (Wii)

2009-12-03T18:34:45Z

This is one music game that's jaw-droppingly PURDY.

Band-specific music games aren’t new, but the arrival of The Beatles: Rock Band on consoles (and the Wii, in particular) gives the stagnating genre a much needed lift. Strangely, the game doesn’t really bring anything significantly new to the table, but it can’t be denied that what The Beatles: Rock Band does, it does with flair. Like the quartet this music game is based on, The Beatles: Rock Band is nothing short of fantastic. Today, we tell you why.

The Beatles: Rock Band is very similar to last year’s Rock Band 2, save for a few new tweaks. Since this is a music game, it’s all about playing the notes shown onscreen by way of a plastic controller in the shape of an instrument. The more consecutive notes you play correctly, the more points you earn. If you mess up your act, your performance meter drops. Once the meter is empty, it’s game over. The difference here is that if you do fail, there won’t be any boos—heaven forbid the Beatles get booed. Instead, the screen would just display “song failed.” The freestyle jam sessions, character creation, and band customization options are gone too, because it’s all about The Beatles. The major addition comes in the form of vocal harmonies, a style the Fab Four is known for. All the songs have up to three vocal parts, so you can use up to three microphones. If sung correctly, the results are awesome.

The Beatles: Rock Band is the best music game this year.

Of course, not everything is peachy. The biggest disappointment is the number of tracks in the game–there are only 45 of them. Naturally, you have to consider that band-specific music games usually feature other performers in addition to the featured group. Then again, this number is merely half of Rock Band 2’s catalog. Here’s another minor hiccup: if you’re looking to get your digits deformed by sheer difficulty, you might be disappointed. The Beatles: Rock Band is quite easy, but that’s because the group’s music isn’t terribly complex to play. Think of the game as a short and sweet journey through the Beatles’ musical career. An incomplete journey, that is.

Presentation is where The Beatles: Rock Band truly shines. From the jaw-dropping intro cartoon to each lovingly-designed menu, the game reeks of an artistic style that evokes the band. The caricatures of each Beatle is eerily similar, particularly the gesticulations that they make when performing. What’s more, the blank stare prevalent among avatars in previous Rock Band games isn’t here. The kicker in The Beatles: Rock Band is its music. The selection of songs is a bit eclectic, but like I said earlier, not all the classics are here. Where’s the iconic “Help,” or “Hey Jude”? Well, there’s always DLC if you want more. While all the timeless favorites aren’t here, the lineup is great nonetheless. Fans would buy this game for the music, and they won’t be disappointed.

The Beatles: Rock Band presents us a rose-tinted overview of the group’s history. That alone should convince you to own a copy of the game. Additionally, the music is topnotch while the visuals are a cut above “typical” music games—what other reason do you need? If you must have one music game this holiday season, you MUST own The Beatles: Rock Band.

9/10

Reviews Surfing - Bit.Trip Void (WiiWare)

2009-12-02T18:50:30Z

You'll be sucked in the Bit.Trip Void.

Highly anticipated games are great, but sleeper hits are just as agreeable. Today, we’ve found another one for the WiiWare called Bit.Trip Void. What’s surprising about this under-the-radar quality title is that it’s already the third in a series of games. The first is Bit.Trip Beat (released last March), while the second is Bit.Trip Core (came out in July). Like its predecessors, Bit.Trip Void is generally liked by critics. See how it fared with the reviews:

Nintendo Life: (90%) “Every few months a Bit.Trip game is released, and it reminds us all of what’s so great about WiiWare: It’s original, it’s inexpensive and it’s fun. Void is a perfect addition to the Bit.Trip series and is, arguably, the best of the batch so far, retaining the addictive charms of the previous two titles while carving out a strong and unique identity of its own.”

Nintendo World Report: (80%) “Overall, if you loved the first two BIT.TRIP games, then BIT.TRIP VOID should please you. It retains about the series’ penchant for easy and accessible gameplay wrapped in a retro package. Its simplicity and lack of additional modes could harm long-term enjoyment, but BIT.TRIP VOID is brimming with creative ingenuity that shouldn’t be missed.”

ZTGameDomain: (80%) “Bit.Trip Void is yet another unique entry into the series and one worth picking up if you enjoyed the past games. Gaijin continues to do a wonderful job of meshing new gaming ideas and trance music with the look and feel of classic gaming. Void is not the most immersive or innovative title you will ever play, but it goes a long way at standing out in the crowd of me-too shooters and platform wannabes.”

Destructoid: (80%) “After playing BIT.TRIP Void, I felt that this is a solid entry to the BIT.TRIP series. The game excels at creating an atmosphere where you may find yourself “zoning out” during a heated session of the game by integrating great music, simple, yet effective gameplay, and a unique graphical style. The point that I am trying to make here is that whether or not if you have heard of the BIT.TRIP series, this is a great game that will entrance and entertain Wii owners of all ages.”

GameSpot: (80%) “With each step the Bit.Trip series takes, it manages to radically redefine itself while somehow hanging on to the core audio and visual elements that thematically tie it together. Bit.Trip Void’s unique void mechanic and risk-versus-reward system puts a refreshing spin on the bullet-hell genre. Though you’re still unable to share your high scores with your friends through online leaderboards, Void surpasses its predecessors in terms of fun and addictiveness. If you’re looking for an exciting, fair, and accessible challenge on the Wii, you should definitely let yourself get sucked into the Bit.Trip Void.”

If you still have some Nintendo Points, Bit.Trip Void and its predecessors may be something that would keep you busy. But honestly, for all this game’s positive traits, it would be tough to ignore all the other big names coming on the Wii and DS this holiday season.

Lufia II trailer shows plenty of action

2009-11-30T11:30:38Z

You know the hero in Lufia II is going to be badass.

If you’re an RPG fan, then you may have observed that the DS is in dire need of more action RPGs. Notice that for every Lunar Knights, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Phantasy Star 0, The World Ends With You, and Mario & Luigi, there are months (or even years) of waiting between them. And beyond these games, there aren’t that many options in the subgenre worthy of your hard-earned money.

The next action RPG you should be looking forward to is coming, but again, you’re going to have to wait. Lufia II, as revealed in the new trailer, is coming to Japan on February 25, 2010. Alas, no North American release date has been announced, so all you can do for now is watch and drool at what Lufia II is going to offer.

The DS version of Lufia II (or Estopolis, as it is known in Japan) is a remake of an SNES game that was released way back in 1995. If you’ve played the original, then you’ll notice that the two games are quite different. The SNES version is a turn-based affair similar to Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja, while the upcoming DS remake is going to be (as you guessed it) an action RPG, complete with puzzles, platforming, combos, big boss fights, and a whole lot of other stuff that doesn’t go with your typical DS RPG.

Do you feel the ache yet?

Now that you know about Lufia II, it’s time you forget it. The action RPG is set to arrive in Japan next year, and who knows when an English version is going to come out.

Fils-Aime: Chicks dig the Wii

2009-11-27T19:03:23Z

There's something about the Wii that the women love.

The Regginator is again making headlines. This time, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime asserts that 9 million female gamers play the Wii. Guess what? According to Reggie, this 9 million stands for 80% of the 11 million “primary players” from all corners of the globe. The “primary players” are those main users of the game consoles.

MCV said these main users described by Fils-Aime don’t include casual or non-gamers, like moms playing casual PC games or young girls that own DS handhelds.

Reggie also claims that this figure “didn’t happen by accident,” and that it was a deliberate effort to “expand the market.” I guess Nintendo’s definition of “expanding” the market is flooding it with shovelware.

Review - Phantasy Star 0 (DS)

2009-11-27T17:35:01Z

Yes, like other console RPGs, this one has a "magical" girl.

If there’s one common characteristic of the console RPG subgenre, it’s this: combat is usually detached from the real action. Fighting is carried out by choosing options from a menu, and the only tangible feedback shown is the damaged character blinking. Apparently, someone from Sonic Team has been taking notes, and has crafted Phantasy Star 0 for the DS. Interestingly, Phantasy Star 0 plays a lot like Phantasy Star Online, a Dreamcast game released almost a decade ago. The difference—you get to play Phantasy Star 0 on the road.

This handheld Phantasy Star puts you right in the thick of the action, and lets you attack the way you want. You can string together combos and dodge enemy attacks. There’s probably still some number crunching under the hood, but this is probably limited to the amount of damage you inflict and/or receive. Here, your survival isn’t dependent on your character’s stats. It’s all up to you.

Of course, the game is still an RPG so you still have to choose a race, character class, equipment, and weapons. Your class determines what weapons you can use, and this choice changes the way the game is played. Some classes focus on long-range weapons like rifles and bazookas, while others require you to use blades for hurting your enemies. Like any RPG, Phantasy Star 0 lets you customize your equipment by way of grinders, which enhances them with different elementals like ice, fire, or dark.

Phantasy Star 0 is packed with action.

Customization can also be made on the action palette, an interface menu on the lower screen that contains the different moves that you can do during the game. At the default settings, the palette contains the button layout for your two different attacks, plus one dodge button. The palette comes with a second layer that is accessed by toggling the R shoulder button, allowing you to put in even more shortcuts. You’ll have to manage the shortcuts and decide which actions stay or go, depending on what you need during a mission. This can be changed at any time, but it’s best to do while there are no enemies about.

Like its predecessor, Phantasy Star 0 is obviously built for multiplayer. Here are a few indications: A) The game comes with a built-in chat system similar to Pictochat; B) The boss fights are overly long and require a certain amount of teamwork to beat, something that your obtuse AI companions cannot provide. C) There’s no pause. D) The levels play the same; the only difference—your mission objective. E) There’s also a matchmaking option for random players, but a lot of limitations were imposed to keep relations “friendly.” You can team up with your pals, but you’ll have to deal with friend codes.

On the production side, this game is quite the looker. Unlike many console RPGs, Phantasy Star 0 uses 3D graphics for its environments and well-proportioned characters. During dialogues, the game resorts to the familiar static character pictures and text. An occasional anime sequence is thrown when important moments occur, but the in-game music and ambient sound is generally unremarkable. The anime sequence comes with voice acting, and while some characters are convincing enough, not all are that well made.

Phantasy Star 0 has done many things right, especially the action and combat parts. The fights are engaging, especially when playing with other people. You’ll probably forgive the AI since this is a multiplayer-focused game. Unfortunately, the game’s lazy level design has somewhat dampened the overall experience. If you’re looking for a deep and challenging RPG that you can also enjoy with your friends, then Phantasy Star 0 should be a good candidate.

8/10