Daily Nintendo

More mod madness: The NES doorbell for ding-a-lings

2009-07-03T17:47:41Z

Nintendo doorbells go ding-dong.

More Nintendo modifications coming your way. This one’s a bit more practical than an NES purse or SNES toaster that doesn’t really toast bread. We present you : the NES doorbell. It’s pretty simple, really. Some guy took a wireless doorbell and NES controller and put the two gadgets together.

I wonder what happens when you input the Konami Code on this sucker.

Nintendo buys TV show to promote DS games

2009-07-03T17:00:10Z

Nintendo promotes its DS games through the boob tube.

With all its money from Wii and DS/DS Lite/DSi sales, Japan-based Nintendo decided to buy its own British TV show on channel Five. According to MCV, Nintendo has struck an advertiser-funded programming deal for the program “Britain’s Best Brain.” Nintendo plans to promote DS games on the show.

There’s a hitch: commercial product placement is illegal in British programs. However, Nintendo will enjoy exclusive sponsorship credits around Britain’s Best Brain.

How much is a British TV show these days, anyway? The deal cost Nintendo £2 million smackeroos, and will result in eight one-hour shows, which are scheduled to be for October. Britain’s Best Brain will challenge contestants to take on five tasks that have something to do with coordination, memory, numeracy, risk, and recognition.

Unfortunately, that’s all there is to the show. If you’re looking for Super Smash Bros. Brawl matches, Mario Kart races, or even G4TV-like reviews, you’ll have to look someplace else.

Tips and Tricks - Punch-Out!! (Wii)

2009-07-03T16:31:54Z

This week, it’s Bear Hugger’s encore at Punch-Out!! for the Nintendo Wii. If you recall, your first encounter with Bear Hugger wasn’t overly difficult. But beware! This pugilist’s new attacks in title defense are designed to grind Little Mac into a bruised and flattened stump in no time. We’ll teach you how to level Bear Hugger.

Here are Bear Hugger’s moves and the necessary counters:

When Bear Hugger raises his right arm (your left side) to strike you, sidestep quickly and counter with a couple of punches to his face.
Pay attention to Bear Hugger’s new bonnet. When he raises the bonnet (revealing a small squirrel inside), you can punch him in the face and get a star.
When Bear Hugger cocks back his left fist (your right side), you can punch him in the face before he attacks, gaining you a star.
When Bear Hugger raises both arms and says “Need a hug?,” you can immediately punch him in the face as he turns yellow, giving you another star.
As Bear Hugger raises his right arm and says “I’m gonna stump you,” the squirrel would peek from under the bonnet. You must sidestep after Bear Hugger says the phrase. After sidestepping, counter with punches to the head. If you have a star (or three), just give him one regular punch, then activate the star to knock the big fella down. If you have all three stars, Bear Hugger is knocked down even if he still has a lot of life left.
When Bear Hugger raises both arms and says “Catch and release,” DO NOT try to punch him. You must press down to command Little Mac to duck from the two-fisted attack. After ducking, give Bear Hugger a couple of punches to the face.
When Bear Hugger cocks his left arm backwards (your right side) and screams “Aaah!,” you must sidestep to avoid the hook, which goes from your right to your left. If you do manage to dodge, give him a couple of punches to the face.
There’s a variation of Bear Hugger’s left arm hook—instead of screaming, Bear Hugger would grunt. However, this hook is pretty much the same. It goes from your right to your left, so sidestep then deliver the necessary counters.
If you deliver a one-star punch, Bear Hugger would spin in place. While Bear Hugger is spinning, you can squeeze in a few more punches to the face. Doing this would stop Bear Hugger from spinning, but it lets you inflict more damage.
Here’s another variation to Bear Hugger’s bonnet-raising move: As Bear Hugger raises his hat, he’d say “Hat trick.” As he turns yellow, smack him in the face for another star.
Sometimes, when Bear Hugger prepares to bring down both fists and says “Need a hug,” it’s merely a decoy. He’d then say “Fooled you.” As long as Bear Hugger doesn’t land any attack, you’re fine.

If Bear Hugger somehow lasts until the third round, you’ll likely knock him out. As long as you play defensive and study his moves, you’ll do fine. The title defense against Bear Hugger isn’t particularly difficult, as long as you keep your nose clean. Good luck, Little Mac!

Review - Samurai Shodown Anthology (Wii)

2009-07-02T15:52:54Z

Samurai Shodown Anthology is brimming with old-school action.

During the Street Fighter II mania of the 1990s, arcade maker SNK released a different kind of fighting game that came with unique mechanics, changing the way fighting games are played. The game was Samurai Shodown for the Neo Geo. Fifteen years and close to 20 games later, SNK Playmore released Samurai Shodown Anthology, a compilation of six Samurai Shodown games for the Nintendo Wii. Samurai Shodown Anthology features the best that the series has to offer. Is it worth your hard-earned cash? That’s what we aim to find out today.

SNK Playmore squeezed the following games in the Wii collection: Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III, Samurai Shodown IV, Samurai Shodown V, and the rare Samurai Shodown VI. Alas, there’s no sign of Samurai Shodown RPG.

The Samurai Shodown series was responsible for pioneering several genre conventions that you might not be aware of: weapon-based fighting games, multi-tiered arenas (from Samurai Shodown 64, which isn’t included in the anthology), animal companions, and a specialized type of blocking where an attack is blocked at the last possible instant, causing the attacker to be stunned briefly. If you’ve played any of the games in the series, you’ll notice that the pace of the battles here are more methodical—just like those old Akira Kurosawa movies.

Can you guess which part this game is?

The Samurai Shodown games are also known for their difficulty and it carries over here. Don’t expect to finish the game if your main strategy would consist of mashing buttons and nothing else. Battles require strategy and deliberation, and would likely frustrate casual gamers. All the fighters are equally balanced, while the combat itself contains layers of intricacy that takes patience to learn. The games may have aged visually, but its workings are comparable to current fighting games. The Wii version has a tendency to slow down, particularly in Samurai Shodown IV, which makes the game almost unplayable because it messes with your timing and execution.

The Wii version can be played using the Classic Controller for that much-needed precision. If you insist on using waggle, you can test your gaming skills with an exclusive mini-game for just that. Chances are, you’ll be playing Samurai Shodown Anthology for quite a while. Mastery of one game would take a considerable amount of time. Multiply that by five (minus the unplayable part IV), and you’re set for months.

That is, of course, if you can stand the aged visuals. The 2D graphics might not be as attractive as it once was, but the artwork still manages to be pleasing. The character designs withstand the test of time and still manage to look impressive. Strangely, the overall look of the older games seems more pleasing to the eyes. Audio uses a mix of traditional Japanese tunes and chugging rock riffs, while throwing in the announcer’s occasional spoken phrase.

Samurai Shodown VI alone is already a great reason to own Samurai Shodown Anthology since it never made it to the U.S. before. Add four more working games and a package worth $30, and you’ve got yourself a steal. Samurai Shodown Anthology is a must-own for classic arcade fans, old-school Neo Geo devotees, and hardcore gamers in general. If you’re looking to complete your Samurai Shodown collection in one fell swoop, then get a copy of Samurai Shodown Anthology for the Wii.

Reviews Surfing - Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (DS)

2009-06-30T16:20:23Z

Are you tired of SRPGs on the Nintendo DS? Not your fault, considering that there’s a dearth of such games on the handheld. But would you be willing to give a well-received game a try? Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a new SRPG in DS town, and it’s been getting good reviews. See what the critics think:

1UP: (91%) “while Devil Survivor never quite transcends those quirks, it features enough substance to appeal to hardcore tactics nuts — and enough creativity to sway skeptical MegaTen fans who may have been turned off by the (let’s be frank) completely terrible character designs. Devil Survivor is a tough but rewarding game, a welcome addition to DS despite the system’s RPG glut — and it’s a great opportunity to spend another week in Tokyo, too.”

Devil Survivor is a tough DS game.

GameSpot: (90%) “Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a thoroughly enjoyable role-playing game with a ton of atmosphere and style. By streamlining many of the series’ trademark features and making them more accessible, Atlus has crafted a gameplay experience that longtime fans and relative newcomers alike can enjoy; by weaving multiple subplots into the overall narrative that can’t all be explored in a single play-through, they’ve left plenty to do on subsequent replays. If you’re looking for a riveting portable adventure, then look no further: Devil Survivor will take over your life and leave you begging for more.”

Destructoid: (90%) “If you’ve got the strategy chops and don’t mind a bit of a challenge, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a fantastic role-playing experience on the DS. Its time-based, branching story and clever blend of both strategy and turn-based game play styles make for a highly original title.”

RPGamer: (80%) “Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor has a lot going for it. Fans of tactical RPGs will enjoy the game’s solid and original combat, which will also appeal to those that have grown tired of playing the same old thing. Even those RPGamers who are generally turned off by tactical RPGs might find this new hybrid combat system enough to offset the things that normally turn them off from the subgenre. Lovers of the SMT series will enjoy the branching storylines and tons of choices that are tossed at them throughout the game, even if the overall plot is fairly straightforward. The power to save the world is in your hands if you choose to take it, but if you’re too scared to try, you can always turn tail and run. The choice is yours. I survived once and am excited about doing it again.”

Hybrid combat system? Tough but rewarding? The new Shin Megami Tensei for the Nintendo DS is sounding mighty interesting, especially for hardcore fans looking for something a bit more different. Color us curious, but we’ll look into Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor and see what makes it tick. Expect a review soon in Daily Nintendo.

New trailer for Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo shows colorful gameplay

2009-06-29T11:16:24Z

The new Wii Dragon Ball stars Son Goku.

There’s a good chance that Dragon Ball fans are getting tired of fighting games. After all, if you look at the franchise’s storied past, majority of its games in the past decade are mostly fighting games. When news of a new Dragon Ball game wasrecently released, we can’t help but feel a bit skeptical. Thankfully, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for the Nintendo Wii is no fighting game. It’s a 2.5D adventure/platformer so there’s reason to be hopeful. Check out the series of colorful Japanese commercials right after the jump.

It appears Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo is going to have a number of fights. Based on what the commercials have shown, the combat behaves like a beat-em-up, which should please old school Dragon Ball fans. While we haven’t played Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo on the Wii just yet, the upcoming game is already showing some promise. We just hope this Dragon Ball game performs as good as it looks.

By the way, a DS version of Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo is also confirmed. Check out the end of the video in case you missed it.

Tiger Woods, Jimmy Fallon duel with Wii Golf

2009-06-28T08:47:14Z

Late night host Jimmy Fallon is on a roll. After playing Punch Out!! with Elmo on the Wii and taking on Project Natal, Fallon has beaten Tiger Woods at his own game. Fallon recently dueled with Woods in Times Square for a round of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the Nintendo Wii. As you may have heard, Tiger’s new game uses the Wii Motion Plus, so watch it in action here.

Was it homecourt advantage, jitters? Or just the plain old reason of gaming having no connection to its real-life counterpart? Good thing Tiger Woods was a good sport amidst all the heckling.

By the way, the Woods-Fallon showdown didn’t end there. Tiger was a guest in Jimmy Fallon’s show later that evening, probably to make up for his embarrassing Times Square defeat. Fortunately, after a round of gnarly golf, Tiger “wins” by getting a bogey, while Jimmy Fallon gets a double bogey.

Nintendo DSi back on top in Japan

2009-06-27T07:52:09Z

Nintendo's DSi is still #1 in Japan. Yawn.

The world is back to normal, at least in Nintendo’s eyes. Kotaku revealed that after a few weeks of declining sales, the Japanese console hardware market has finally gotten out of a funk. You know what that means: Nintendo is still on top, and its products are selling like crazy. Of course, this rise is pretty minor compared to typical year-end numbers, but up is up and you can’t argue with that.

As always, the Xbox 360 is behind all three current-gen consoles, but somehow the Microsoft product sold more than the DS Lite and PlayStation 2.

Here’s a breakdown of the Japanese hardware sales:

Nintendo DSi - 40,464
PSP - 27,884
Wii - 19,386
PlayStation 3 - 10,359
Xbox 360 - 6,734
Nintendo DS Lite - 5,531
PlayStation 2 - 3,770

The Wii trails the PSP in overall sales, but the DSi’s success makes up for that. However, Wii owners have reason to look forward to be happy—several heavy hitters are coming to the console later this year, like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Resident Evil Archives, and Dead Space Extraction. Holiday season is the best time to own a Wii.

Tips and Tricks - Punch-Out!! (Wii)

2009-06-26T15:54:16Z

Time to beat up Piston Hondo.

This week, the Punch-Out!! Wii title defense spotlight falls on Piston Hondo (formerly Piston Honda in the NES version). Piston Hondo has a few minor tricks up his sleeve, but it’s nothing drastic like King Hippo’s manhole cover or Glass Joe’s helmet. Being informed would make this title defense a breeze.

Here are Piston Hondo’s moves:

The first thing Hondo does is bow, so give him a punch to gain a star.
Piston Hondo’s eyebrow-moving sign is back. When he does that thing with his brows, throw a punch at his face. Doing this will cause Hondo to dodge your punch and throw you a punch to your right side. Dodge it, and then smack him in the face for another star. Don’t forget this move—Piston Hondo will repeat it several times during the match.
If you’re lucky, or if you’ve perfected Hondo’s patterns, you will be able to land the punch when Hondo nods his eyebrows. However, this would only land one punch and no chance for a combination.
Here’s a new move: Piston Hondo will scream, crouch on either side, and then throw a nasty uppercut right to left (your right to your left). You know the drill when this happens—dodge sideways, then counter with punches to his face. If you still have stars, you may use them to great effect.
Piston Hondo’s left-to-right uppercut (your left to your right) can be a bit trickier because he likes to put in a little delay by moving his arm in a circular motion before throwing the punch. Don’t be fooled and wait until Hondo turns red. That’s when you’ll know he’s going to throw a punch.
Another new move: while standing, Piston Hondo would prepare his right arm for a hook, which would travel from your left to your right. Again, just sidestep and counter with a few punches to his face.
Here’s an old move that was noticeably absent during your first encounter with Piston Hondo, but was a staple move of the boxer in the NES: Hondo would step back, move left and right, then move towards you and throw a continuous combo of punches, left and right. If you recall, you’re supposed to throw him a punch to the belly as he moves in to hit you. Hitting him once during this move could knock him down, but not always. In any case, doing this would prevent Hondo from continuing the combo.
After a knockdown or two, Hondo would add more fakes to his move. He will crouch and lean to the left or right, trying to throw you off. Remember: wait until he turns red—that’s when he will throw a punch.
While Hondo crouches and fakes, you may try throwing a punch at his belly. If you’re lucky and it lands, you get a star.
At the beginning of a new round, Hondo would bow again but he’s prepared this time. You may try throwing a punch as he bows, but there’s a good chance he’ll dodge this, then throw a straight of his own.

If you follow these tips and keep your nose clean, you just might come out on top. Watch out for more tips next week. If you’re wondering who the next opponent is, it’s Bear Hugger.

Review - Ghostbusters: The Video Game (DS)

2009-06-25T14:43:26Z

The Ghostbusters make their way to the DS

During the past decade, Ghostbusters games were limited to mediocre tie-ins for Nintendo handhelds, probably because the franchise didn’t have a major installment, other than a moderately-successful animated show. The release of Ghostbusters: The Video Game on several platform marks the 25th anniversary of the original film. Does the Nintendo DS version meet our ghost-busting standards?

Ghostbusters on the DS is a mix of action-RPG and resource management. Unlike the console versions, the DS installment does away with the nameless Ghostbuster and lets you control all four original members. During missions, the touchscreen lets you select and control any of the four and move him using the directional pad. At default, the other three Ghostbusters would follow you, but you can have them attack ghosts on sight by toggling an icon on their portrait. Busting ghosts is pretty simple: tap the screen using the stylus and the Ghostbuster would zap the spot. When the apparition’s life is drained, press the L shoulder button and tap the spot where you want to deploy the trap.

Beware the Ecto-1 driving sequences.

Unfortunately, the action isn’t perfect. For starters, there’s no way to manipulate the camera. When your team standing is against a wall at a certain position, you won’t be able to see them. Secondly, quick-moving ghosts would usually be outside your field of vision so your team would occasionally get hit with flying objects.

Remember though, Ghostbusters DS isn’t all about the action. For the first time, a Ghostbusters game has managed to portray certain behaviors of its protagonists. You’ll see this not only in funny dialog sequences, but also with each Ghostbuster’s abilities. Winston, for instance, is a great support character who’s able to ignore damage when AI-controlled. Ray is friendly with the ghosts, but is susceptible to possession. Egon provides bonuses to research and other science-related skill. Peter’s humor extends to his abilities, like his knack for restoring a teammate’s courage through his “comic relief.”

The game also managed to squeeze in other facets of the Ghostbusters’ everyday life, particularly the downtime at the firehouse. There, you can control several aspects of the ghost-busting business like researching new gadgets and weapons, production of healing items and researched devices, loading of items into Ecto-1, and upgrading of each Ghostbuster’s skills. More importantly, you can slide down the poles. You can also conveniently switch between members while inside the firehouse so you don’t have to run around the whole place. To get back into the action, you may select missions on the bulletin board near Janine’s desk. Once you choose one, the whole team drives off.

Beware: the driving sequence is when the game gets really ugly. The city of New York has never been this dark and you can barely see anything in front of you. As a result, expect to periodically run into obstacles. When this happens, Ecto-1 gets damaged, causing the vehicle to move slower. What’s worse, the drive towards the mission has a time limit, sucking out all the fun within minutes. If you encounter a ghost along the way, good luck catching it. Given the bad draw distance and stupid time limit, you won’t even bother.

The missions themselves lack variety. You’ll either bust ghosts in a restaurant, hotel, museum, or cemetery. That’s it.

For a DS game, Ghostbusters packs quite a punch on the production values. The DS version’s stylized look is roughly the same one used in the Wii version. The environments are quite detailed; shoot it with equipment and certain parts break. The visual effects from the Ghostbusters equipment look spot-on, especially the proton streams from the neutrona wand and the light from the trap. The only weaknesses in this department are the limited draw distance during driving sequences and a minor dip in framerate when a lot of things are happening onscreen.

Audio is bona fide Ghostbusters, from the menu’s piano track to the Ecto-1’s siren. The music is also authentic but given the limited selection, things can get really repetitive. Good thing there’s an option to turn off the repeatedly played Ghostbusters team—just hit the Select button for sweet relief.

Admittedly, Ghostbusters on the DS still needs a lot of tweaking, especially with its isometric camera and driving portions. The game manages to surprise with its unexpected depth, but it’s still hard to recommend Ghostbusters: The Video Game on the DS, unless you’re a true blue fan. If you’re determined to get a new Ghostbusters adventure that you can bring with you, then you can certainly try the DS version. It’s not perfect, but it has its moments.

6/10