Nintendo Nation

Review: Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

2012-02-10T18:07:00.001+11:00

Xenoblade Chronicles was something that didn't pass my mind originally, until I actually knew what this game was like.

From the moment the game loads up, Xenoblade has you hooked. You are instantly thrown into the world of the Bionis, who, living on an old giant robot, are constantly being attacked by the Mechonis. Dunban, the holder of the Monado, disobeys orders and attacks with Dickson and Mumkhar. Mumkhar is killed and Dunban, although defeating the invading Mechons, is then unable to use his right arm.

Then you meet Shulk, who is then attacked by a crab-like monster. He is rescued by Reyn and head back to the field near Colony 9. Later on you meet Fiora, who also joins your team. Other characters also join your team over time.

You spend most of your time in Xenoblade Chronicles in the field. The controls are easy to understand if you use the Wii Remote/Nunchuck combination. You can also use a Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro for the added RPG effect.

The gameplay and storyline are excellent. The battles are fun but require a lot of strategy. You can use arts which give you the upper hand over opponents, but for the added difficulty they must cool down after use. The game automatically attacks for you if you get close enough to your opponent, but arts are your lifeline. You also have to be close enough to your opponent to attack them, and sometimes you have to be attacking from the rear or the side to defeat your opponent quicker with arts. In some cases this can cause a lot of rage-quitting moments. However, there are party attacks which lets your team unite their efforts at once for an ultimate path of destruction.

But it's not all about the battles. In town after mining ether crystals and crafting them into ether gems they can be sold to people for money. There are various shops as well and you can have heart-to-hearts with other characters to try and boost their affinity level. This then assists you in battle where you can encourage and revive your team. Later in the game you will be able to use the important Monado blade to help you battle the approaching Mechons.

This game is really what I expected it to be. A fun and exciting but also challenging JRPG. If you love stuff like Final Fantasy I suggest you go out and buy this one!

Club Nintendo and the case of the rotten outline

2012-02-03T10:06:00.001+11:00

You'd think they would be careful enough to avoid this, wouldn't you?

Club Nintendo Australia has goofed up one of the posters in The Legend of Zelda: 25th Anniversary poster set. On the Skyward Sword poster there is a flaw with the outline on the right loftwing.

Those who purchased the posters (like me) was sent an email letting us know that we would get a replacement poster for free in two weeks. Thankfully being only 45 or so kilometers from Nintendo AU's headquaters I got mine within 3 days, and, yes, they fixed the loftwing's outline.

Hey, you could be Capcom.

3D Classics: Kid Icarus download codes are out now

2012-01-30T14:49:00.000+11:00

If you took part in the It's a me, Mario! competition through Club Nintendo Australia, you will be happy to know that the 7 day wait is over.

Yes, it actually took 10 days, not seven, but you can now redeem those codes in the eShop, by selecting Menu > Settings/Other > Redeem Download Code. Enter the code, select download (or download in sleep mode if you prefer) and check out the game.

A review may come, but I've already got two titles in the queue. Plus I might get escapeVEKTOR for free if my Mario Kart 7 skills are up to scratch.Which they kind of aren't.

Interview: Operation Rainfall about The Last Story Month

2012-01-30T10:28:00.000+11:00

They've won the battle to get Xenoblade released, now Operation Rainfall are moving to get The Last Story released in North America. The Strikester talks to Ryan, Operation Rainfall's co-founder, about their movement.

NN: Congratulations on getting a release date for Xenoblade Chronicles! What was your first reaction when you heard the news?

OR: Well first I should probably start off by saying that we don’t take credit for getting Xenoblade Chronicles released in our region. I’m sure we played a part, but how big of a part we just don’t know, and we’ll likely never know. Ok, now that that has been said, what was my first reaction? I was in a bit of shock to be honest. I first stumbled across the GameStop rumor circulating on the message boards. I wanted to believe it but I just couldn’t let myself. Then, once Nintendo of America posted the Xenoblade pictures on their Facebook wall, that is when the shock set it. After 5 months of hard work, it was finally happening. After the initial shock, I was of course excited and happy; all the staff was. It was like a party!

NN: Of course, there are still two games left - The Last Story and Pandora's Tower. What is special about each game and how are you going to try and get them released?

OR: To answer your first question, I’ll start by explaining why we feel The Last Story is special. The Last Story is the latest game from Hironobu Sakaguchi, known for his work in the Final Fantasy series. Being that this is Hironobu Sakaguchi’s first game that he has personally directed since Final Fantasy V, that makes it pretty special. The game takes a new approach to JRPGs with its more action oriented game play and also features a great Wii-mote based combat system. Famed music composer Nobuo Uematsu also did some music for The Last Story

Pandora’s Tower is something unexpected coming from Nintendo. It is dark and not exactly the normal family-friendly fare Nintendo usually publishes. It involves a girl that gets cursed and as a result, she has to eat the flesh of monsters to survive as she searches for a cure. However, behind that darkness lays a charming story about a man, trying to save a woman he cares for. The game also features a great Wii-mote based combat system. There is not anything else on the Wii quite like it. To answer your second question, how we are going to try and get the two games released is by drawing attention to the games. On January 27, we encouraged all of our supporters to contact Nintendo of America en masse via Facebook, Twitter, mail, email, and by phone. The idea was to let Nintendo of America know there is a genuine interest in The Last Story. From January 27 through February 24, we are having what we are calling The Last Story month. The month will be packed full of news, tidbits, videos, screenshots, and more, all geared toward spreading awareness of The Last Story. The month began at the anniversary of The Last Story being released in Japan and will end on the day the game is released in Europe. On the last day, February 24, we will once again be asking our supports to contact en masse Nintendo of America. We are also planning a Pandora’s Tower month between the end of April and the end of May.

NN: Getting back on topic to The Last Story. This excellent game has got the Australian release date of February 23, 2011. When do you think The Last Story will come out in America if it does?

OR: Well we don’t know anything more than anybody else does, we can only speculate if and when The Last Story is getting a release. We really think that what ultimately will determine if the game is released is by how well Xenoblade Chronicles sells in America. This is why Operation Rainfall will continue to focus on Xenoblade, even during our ‘The Last Story’ month. It is important that as many people as possible know about Xenoblade Chronicles and buy it. There isn’t much information out there regarding current pre-order numbers of Xenoblade in the US, but what we have seen, looks promising. We can guess and nothing more. They’ll likely want to wait to announce The Last Story after the release of Xenoblade Chronicles. This is because they’ll likely want to analyze how well Xenoblade sold and if there is profit to be made by releasing The Last Story. So, if an announcement came in April or May, we can guess a release sometime in the fall, perhaps in August or September.

NN: Finally, what time is it?
OR: Let me just check my watch…. Why, it’s REYN TIME! It’s always REYN TIME isn’t it?!

Thankyou to Ryan for answering our questions. Give your support for the cause at http://oprainfall.blogspot.com.

MK7 Community Race #1 LIVE NOW

2012-01-30T09:34:00.000+11:00

Join us NOW!
Our community code is 67-4610-5227-0133

For our first ever race we have decided on a Monday for the race. Because a large portion of our readership reside in the United States, this falls on Sunday evening.

The official times are listed below:

Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra (Australian Eastern Daylight): 9:00am Monday - UTC+11
Adelaide: 8:30am
Brisbane: 8:00am
Darwin: 7:30am
Perth: 6:00am
New Zealand: 11:00am
New York (American Eastern): 5:00pm Sunday
Los Angeles (American Pacific): 2:00pm Sunday

In all other places please use a time converter.

Good luck and hope to see you there!

Details for the Nintendo Network revealed

2012-01-28T14:30:00.003+11:00

The anonymous source was on the ball, as Nintendo president Satoru Iwata reveals details for the new service.

The service will be available on the Wii U at launch, as well as on the Nintendo 3DS. The service will allow DLC to be purchased on both, with the first Nintendo 3DS game with DLC to be Theatrythm: Final Fantasy.

Instead of Nintendo's usual 8/12 digit friend codes, the Wii U will optimize a personal account system. Iwata has said that it will become easier to share the system with multiple users, however we are yet to know more about this.

In regards to the Wii U, we are expected to hear more between now and E3 2012.

Wii U out by Christmas in all regions, may also get a rebrand

2012-01-27T08:27:00.001+11:00

Iwata has told reporters that the console will be out in North America, Europe, Japan and even Australia by Christmas.

But there is a question that remains. What is the future of the name Wii U?

Sources have told CVG that a rebrand may be considered, because of confusion over the DS and the 3DS, which has led to two UK retailers to rebox Nintendo 3DS games to make it more obvious that Nintendo 3DS is not DS, and, of course, they don't want the same mistake with the Wii and Wii U (or whatever they are going to call it).

Another problem is price. A placeholder on the EB Games Australia website list the price for the console as $598. Surely that is just a placeholder, right Nintendo?

The Last Story is coming to Australia

2012-01-26T10:13:00.003+11:00

Australian Operation Rainfall-ites rejoice, The Last Story is coming to Australian shores on February 23.

The game, which was given an M rating for "fantasy violence", is the second out of the three Operation Rainfall games. The game has been devolped by Mistwalker, recieved good reviews from Edge, Famitsu, and Bordersdown.

Next in line is Pandora's Tower, and then Operation Rainfall has succeeded (well, in Australia at least)

Demos hit Australian 3DS today

2012-01-23T18:18:00.002+11:00

The service is currently live with demos for Resident Evil: Revelations and Cooking Mama 4.

Each demo lasts for 30 plays, and then stop loading. Fortunately, Revelations is coming out here on February 2, so there's only a little time to wait. Cooking Mama on the other hand, well, we don't really know.

Nintendo has said that demos will be coming for Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the near future.

Nintendo Network logo spotted on Theatrythm's box art, domain name registered

2012-01-23T18:11:00.002+11:00

Has Nintendo come up with an online service to rival the likes of the PSN and Xbox 360?
All we know at this stage is that the logo for this service, which is either a new service or a rebrand of the old Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, was spotted on the cover for the 3DS game Theatrythm: Final Fantasy. Remember that the Australian/PAL copy of Mario Kart 7 did say "Connection to Nintendo Network" when Online Multiplayer was selected in the menu.

There have been also fresh rumors about the service from "Nintendo enthusiast" about the new service.

“A source that wished to remain anonymous has told us that Nintendo will launch a website accessible from any web browser that will handle configuration of your Nintendo Network account for use on the Wii U or 3DS. He also stated that Nintendo Network will include many new features that haven’t been used before by Nintendo. According to his accounts: Nintendo Network = Sony PSN = Xbox Live.”

And to top off the rumors Nintendo of America have registered the domain http://nintendonetwork.net, which redirects to http://nintendo.com. Who knows, maybe it will be a step forward for Nintendo and the online gaming community?

Win these awesome Mario-themed 3DSes with Club Nintendo

2012-01-20T18:11:00.001+11:00

All you have do to is redeem two Nintendo 3DS games and go in the draw!

You also get a free download code for 3D Classics: Kid Icarus, which you can use on your current 3DS. If you are one of the 150 lucky ones who one then you'll be glad to know that it also does come pre-installed with 3D Classics: Kid Icarus.

Also, if you redeem 4 eligible games you can enter twice, and if you enter 6 eligible games you can enter three times. Cool, eh?

Here are the eligible games:

Dead or Alive Dimensions
Mario Kart 7
nintendogs + cats
Pilotwings Resort
Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
Star Fox 64 3D
Steel Diver
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Pokémon Rumble
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition
Tetris
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

PIPA and SOPA how about NOPA

2012-01-19T12:04:00.000+11:00

Hi it's The Shadow and I haven't been posting lately but today the (18th of January) I have to address a pressing matter.

In the US a bill know as Stop Online Piracy Act (AKA SOPA) and Protect IP Act are soon going to be passed on congress. They are basically acts to stop piracy from places like Youtube, Mediafire, Facebook, Wikepedia, Reddit, Blogger and many others and to do that they block the website entirely. And thats not if say you post a youtube video that breaches someones copyright 3 times you may face a jail time of 5 years. Yes you heard correctly 5 years. Now the main problem with this bill is that is you can still type in the ip of the site with a simple 'ping (url of site)' in your computer terminal and that means that its basically does nothing. Today most major websites are shutting down there websites in protest of this bill Wikipedia, Minecraft, Reddit and a couple other I am not aware of. So our US viewers may not be able to see this blog ever again if this bill passes along with many others. And although I'm Australian doesn't matter because knowing our government they try to make to use it here.

They are taking our freedom of speech!

You can make a difference by going to this url you can learn more and contact you local member of congress or send them a e-mail. Many youtube stars have said also expressed their resentment of SOPA/PIPA like Phillip DeFranco, Smosh, Layne Pavoggi and also obama dosen't like some parts of this bill.

Be a boss Make a difference

Review: Mario Kart 7 (3DS)

2012-01-16T09:10:00.001+11:00

Mario and the gang are back and at it again with Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS.

Mario Kart 7 is home to many a new feature. From customisable karts to gliders and propellers and the return of coins, there is something for everyone with Mario Kart 7.

There is no real big change to the formula. You start with 8 characters, and another 8 that you unlock throughout the game. You also start with 3 karts, 3 sets of tyres and 1 glider. The difference here is that every character gets the same karts and can change the kart's tyres and the kart's glider. More of these are unlocked by obtaining coins, which can be found across the tracks in the game.

Mario Kart 7 has 32 tracks. 16 of them are entirely new, while the other 16 are remastered tracks from Super Mario Kart through to Mario Kart Wii. What really stood out I think is the variety of tracks in the game, and the nods to other Nintendo games. For example, the flagpoles and 8-bit bushes in Piranha Plant Pipeway, and the Tikis in DK Jungle.

Then there is the items. Three new items become available. The Tanooki tail allows those ahead of the pack to dodge bananas, shells and other players. The fire flower lets the player shoot out fireballs over the track, and the Lucky 7 gives the player a revolving set of 7 items, which can be used when the player likes. These and the other items are fine, except one that really annoys me. The Spiny Shell. It's back to it's original form of rolling across the track which means innocent racers can get hit. There's also more of them and that can ruin a crucial moment in, say, a mirror mode race or during a WiFi race. Simply, it's frustrating.

On a much happier note Nintendo have made online communication a whole lot better. There is now the ability to create and join communities, which can be set up to battle friends or even a whole blog community. I've had some great races in Infendo's community, and hope to do so in our very own.

This game is definately good for your dollars. I actually recieved this for Christmas but with the game as cheap as $68.00 with a stylus pack, you'll be sitting for way more than 10 hours trying to get three stars in each cup. And, with the Prima Game Guide, you'll get a glimpse into some hidden unlockables too.

I could really go on about Mario Kart 7 for centuries. It is such a great addition to the series, which I hope continues well into the future on the Wii U. Apart from some tense moments with blue shells, this game really is a must have for true Mario Kart fans.

UPDATE: Nintendo Australia's fix for Skyward Sword's game-breaking glitch

2012-01-13T14:22:00.000+11:00

Update: Nintendo Australia has finally launched the Sava Data Update for Skyward Sword Channel, just like the rest of the world.

Original Story (with updated press release): Nintendo Australia jumps on the Skyward Sword game-breaking glitch bandwagon with support for Skyward Sword owners.

Nintendo is offering customers to copy broken save files to an SD card and send it in for it to be repaired. Here is the full press release if you are affected by this.

PRESS RELEASE

Nintendo Australia | December 16, 2011

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Information concerning the order for completing the Song of the Hero quest after meeting Levias
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was released for Wii on the 24th November 2011. It has since come to our attention that if you happen to follow a specific procedure then it can result in not being able to play any further through the game. Below we will explain how you can avoid this. We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused by this issue and ask you follow the procedure below when you play.

How to avoid the issue
The quest for the Song of the Hero should be completed in the order: Faron Woods -> Eldin Volcano -> Lanayru Desert (or, alternatively: Volcano -> Woods -> Desert). If you have gone to the desert before doing both the woods and the volcano parts of this quest, then after you have the Thunder Dragon's Song make sure you go on to the other areas without speaking to a Goron called Golo at the entrance to Lanayru Mine.

The issue that prevents you from playing further
In the quest for the Song of the Hero, after you get the Thunder Dragon's Song in the desert, the cutscenes that start the sequences to get the songs in the volcano and the woods won't occur and so you won't be able to get any further in the game.

Cause of the issue
Speaking to a Goron called Golo at the entrance to Lanayru Mine after getting the Thunder Dragon's Song in the desert will clear the conditions for triggering the cutscenes for the other areas. As a result, you won't be able to get any further. (If you already have the songs from the woods and the volcano then no problem will occur.)

What to do if the issue has occurred

If your Wii console is connected to the internet

If your Wii console is connected to the internet, it is possible to repair the save data using the "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Data Update Channel

Please follow the steps outlined below to install "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Data Update Channel" and repair your save data.

Visit the "Wii Shop Channel" and select "Wii Channels". Download "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Data Update Channel".

Once completed, "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Data Update Channel" will appear on the Wii Menu. Launch this Channel and follow the instructions displayed on screen.

NOTE:
Only the save data for "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword" stored on your Wii system memory can be repaired.
If your save data is stored on an SD Card, you will need to move it to the Wii system memory first.

If your Wii console is not connected to the internet

If your Wii console is not connected to the internet, you can send your save file to Nintendo Customer Service for repair.
For details on how and where to send your save file, please contact Nintendo Customer Service on one of the following telephone numbers:
Australia: (03) 9730 9822
New Zealand: 0800 743 056

[Hours of operation: 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday (Australian EST)]

Below you will find a description of the steps required to get the save file from your Wii console or SD Card onto your PC. You will also find a description of how to move the fixed save file back to your Wii console after Nintendo Customer Service has processed your request.

How to move a Wii save file to an SD Card
1. Open the SD Card slot cover and insert an SD Card into the Wii console's SD Card slot.
2. In the Wii Menu, access the Wii OPTIONS (the round button in the lower left corner) then select DATA MANAGEMENT, then the option SAVE DATA and then select Wii.
3. Locate your The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword save file and select it.
4. Select MOVE and answer the question MOVE TO SD CARD? with YES.
5. The save file is now moved to the SD Card. Note that some SD Cards can be locked to be read-only - please make sure that the SD Card isn't write-protected.
6. Insert the SD Card into an SD Card reader on your PC.
7. The save file is located in the folder privatewiititleSOUP of the SD Card. It is named data.bin.
8. Follow the instructions provided by Nintendo Customer Service.
9. Nintendo Customer Service will take care of your request and send back your fixed save file.

How to return a Wii save file from an SD Card to the Wii console
1. Insert the SD Card to which you have moved the save file into an SD Card reader on your PC.
2. Overwrite the save file data.bin in the folder privatewiititleSOUP of the SD Card with the fixed save file sent to you by our Nintendo Service Centre.
3. Insert the SD Card into the SD Card slot of the Wii console.
4. In the Wii Menu, access the Wii OPTIONS, then select DATA MANAGEMENT, then the option SAVE DATA and then select Wii.
5. Select the tab SD CARD (located in the upper right corner of the screen).
6. Locate your The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword save file and select it.
7. Select MOVE and answer the question MOVE TO THE Wii SYSTEM MEMORY? with YES.
8. The save file is now moved back to the Wii console and the issue is solved so you can continue playing the game.

Alternative solution to the issue
Also we are planning on releasing a program that will repair save data for those who have their Wii console connected to the internet. We are currently working on preparations for release and details on how to download and use it will be made available on our website once the release date has been decided.
We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your continued support of Nintendo's products.

We'll update you when we get more information

Kid Icarus: Uprising now works for left-handers!

2012-01-11T08:31:00.000+11:00

Nintendo has added support for the Circle Pad Pro to Kid Icarus: Uprising, meaning left-handers now have the chance to play the third installment of the series.

In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Masahiro Sakurai has explained that the although the Circle Pad Pro can be used, the controls will not change.

"The way we are using the Circle Pad Pro in the game is to provide support for left-handed gamers. We've made it possible to use the right Circle Pad in place of the left one."

Join our MK7 Community!

2012-01-09T16:18:00.001+11:00

Up for a challenge? Why not participate in a Mario Kart 7 race with us?

We are going to start preparing community nights for those interested in taken on myself, The Shadow and the rest of the Nintendo Nation community.

The code is: 67-4610-5227-0133
If you are interested in a race, give as a yell in the comments. See you later!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR (Update: I'm back!)

2012-01-01T09:45:00.001+11:00

Christmas has gone and so has 2011 (at least, in Australia).

At the moment I'm on a holiday break until January 8 so there won't be any major updates until then (most likely).

For now, a question - what Nintendo related gifts did you recieve this year? I was lucky enough to get a stack of 3DS games, and even Nintendo Monopoly. Oh, and Xenoblade Chronicles.

(I'm back now and NN is off its hiatus. -TS)

Nintendo to show Wii U at CES 2012

2011-12-20T08:35:00.000+11:00

Nintendo will be showing the Wii U at CES 2012, however, the games will be the same demos we saw at E3.

Regardless, the rumors still fly on and we may get more details on the technical side of the console. This includes the rumored two-tablet support which Nintendo are on two sides about.

Nintendo Nation Podcast: Episode 3

2011-12-18T10:24:00.001+11:00

Welcome to this year's last podcast! I discuss the latest in Nintendo news and topics!

This week's song break is City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2. It's a special instrumental I found on YouTube.

Enjoy!

GBA Ambassador games out now

2011-12-17T17:35:00.000+11:00

The second load of 3DS ambassador games have arrived, this time from the GameBoy Advance.

The titles available for download are

F-Zero: Maximum Velocity

Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island

Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Metroid Fusion

Wario Land 4

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$

Site Promotion: The big sofy's games

2011-12-13T12:36:00.001+11:00

Hey guys,
thebigsofy here and I am posting about a new blog: thebigsofys games where the strikester and I speak about all the latest news and hot topics in gaming. Not focused on any genre of game in particular the big sofy's games has a wide range of reviews, previews, trailers and more. check it out the link to the blog is here:http://thebigsofyssgames.blogspot.com/

Review: Sonic Generations (3DS)

2011-12-13T08:21:00.000+11:00

What a great game for Nintendo Nation's first ever review - Sonic Generations for the Nintendo 3DS.

The game's plot starts when Sonic meets up with Tails, who is throwing him a suprise party, but no-one has turned up. Then, while waiting, a mysterious time hole comes and sucks Tails in. Sonic then wakes up in a strange dimension known as the White Space, and has to go to rescue Tails and all of his friends!

In each zone there are two acts and a special stage. In Act 1 you play as Classic Sonic from such games as Sonic the Hedgehog while in Act 2 and the Special Stage you play as Modern Sonic from games like Sonic Colours. As much as this was wildly advertised there really isn't much difference in the gameplay between the two, apart from Modern Sonic's 3D levels. Classic Sonic even learns homing attack a while into the story.

GAMEPLAY
Sonic Generations is home to some interesting gameplay. There are a huge variety of levels and the designs are generally OK, however there are some cheap deaths and levels which are impossible to complete without smashing your 3DS against the wall, buying a new one and consulting a game guide. The formula for Sonic Generations is simple - strip Sonic down to what he's good at - being fast - and mix in some 3D gameplay and you've got a Nintendo 3DS game.

One thing that does annoy me is that there is no stable difficulty level. The classic levels can be game-rage style hard while those with Modern Sonic are a thousand times easier. It's fine to have hard levels, just make both acts hard!

VALUE
In total there is only 8 levels and a couple of bosses meaning it's short. You may get a bit of replay value out of it trying to get your rank as high as possible but if you're looking for something with more replay value check out Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land. For $58 it was worth the money but newer Sonic gamers might want to start out with Sonic Colours (now going cheap) or even a Sonic Flash game!

MULTIPLAYER
The way multiplayer works in Sonic Generations is similar to Mario Kart Wii in a way. You get partenered with another player and - like Mario Kart Wii - each choose a track. Then by random a track is selected and you battle it out in a ghost-race. I can't blame the game but I definately had some connection issues with online multiplayer, and that did put me off a bit!

EXTRA FEATURES
The game does come with some cool extra features. There are missions that, when completed, unlock clear bonuses in the collections. These vary from art to sounds to character models. There is also a time attack mode where you can waste endless lives trying to get the perfect time. Also for the multiplayer gamer there is a feature called "Profile Cards", where you can customise your favourite Sonic character, game and how long you have been a Sonic fan for, as well as the card's background. When you play online, your card is copied to your opponent's 3DS for them to view. It's a nifty little feature that shows off some of SEGA's little quirks.

OVERVIEW
Sonic Generations isn't Sonic's best outing, however it certainly isn't his worst. Some of the levels suffered from bad design while others had better design. I'd like a bit more of a stable difficulty level across the levels and more Classic Sonic gameplay.

12 Days of Christmas: Nintendo Edition

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000+11:00

As a bonus Christmas treat, here is a Nintendo related Christmas song, with a tune you already know.

And being 12 days until Christmas, I thought I would amaze you with my Nintendo version of The 12 Days of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the second day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
2 ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the third day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the fourth day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the fifth day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the sixth day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
6 3D Classics,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the seventh day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
7 Mario Karts,
6 3D Classics,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the eighth day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
8 Tanooki Leaves,
7 Mario Karts,
6 3D Classics,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the ninth day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
9 Pandora Towers,
8 Tanooki Leaves,
7 Mario Karts,
6 3D Classics,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the tenth day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
10 Monado Blades,
9 Pandora Towers,
8 Tanooki Leaves,
7 Mario Karts,
6 3D Classics,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
11 Rolling Gorons,
10 Monado Blades,
9 Pandora Towers,
8 Tanooki Leaves,
7 Mario Karts,
6 3D Classics,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

On the twelth day of Christmas, Iwata gave to me,
12 Mini Marios,
11 Rolling Gorons,
10 Monado Blades
9 Pandora Towers,
8 Tanooki Leaves,
7 Mario Karts,
6 3D Classics,

5 SKYWARD SWORDS!!!!

4 Last Specters,
3 3DSes,
2 Ocarinas
and a Yoshi in a Koopa tree

Would you like to see me have a go at Nintendo-ifying another Christmas song? Let me know in the comments below!

(Image from The Tanooki)

COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED (Mario Cap Speed-run Competition)

2011-12-12T13:19:00.001+11:00

A month has passed, and the entries are in. Congratulations to......

HOLLY FELLMETH, USA

Holly completed World 1-1 of Super Mario Bros. on the Wii Virtual Console in 12 seconds (end time of 348), faster than any of our competitors. Congratulations, Holly!

Also, thankyou to everyone for entering and supporting the blog since our launch as Project Reality in March 2011. We've grown a small community over the last 9 months and that has been my motivational point! Thanks again!

(Side note: Holly also runs a Nintendo blog, Nintendo Lifeline. Check it out now!)

(NB2: By December 12 I was reffering to 12:00am AEDT December 12, not 12:00am American time. Sorry if that wasn't clear ;)

VGA 2011: Zelda inducted into hall of fame

2011-12-12T13:09:00.000+11:00

It may not have gotten game of the year, but Zelda has been inducted in to Spike TV's Video Game Awards first ever Hall of Fame.
The award was accepted by the ever humble Shigeru Miyamoto, who made a suprise appearance to accept the award.

Video below!