4 Reasons To Get The WiiU

With the WiiU fast approaching in a matter of days, it's an exciting time for gamers indeed! I'm sure many of you have been setting aside a good amount of cash - or even pre-ordered the system in advance - and are prepared to wade through the crowds at your local Walmart or Best Buy to receive Nintendo's newest gift to mankind. (Or open your mailbox on Sunday morning if you're one of those online buyers.)

On the other hand, I know a good portion of you readers are still uncertain about making such a hefty purchase early on. And while I could ask, "What the hell is wrong with you!?" like a good Nintendo fan, it's perfectly understandable that you'd feel that way. It's new, experimental, the game library hasn't developed yet, and it doesn't toast waffles. Following the Wii and the massive game droughts it had in-between its life cycle, there's more than enough reason for gamers to be cautious this time around.

But that doesn't mean Nintendo hasn't learned from their mistakes; they've gone out of their way to apologize for turning away the so-called "hardcore" gamers for the casual crowd, and they've promised that this generation will be a welcome back to their truer fans. A lot of people are quick to dismiss that as a broken oath after the reveal of the WiiU and its tablet controller gimmick guaranteed to bring in another five years of shovelware. They're blind to the fact that yes, Nintendo is doing everything in their power to make this next generation a good one for hardcore Nintendo fans.

Here are four big reasons why gamers should be excited about the WiiU, and why U should look into getting one, too.

Unearthing Two Treasures

This lucky sap from GamesRadar has gotten ahold of Just Dance 4 and Rabbids Land and has the nerve not only to unwrap open such sacred items, but also to record and post it to the Internet. Such envy he inspires! Thankfully, the WiiU and many of its launch games will be out on November 18 (in America). Stay strong until then, Nintendo gamers!

The WiiU Is... a Controller?

The advertising campaign for Nintendo's WiiU console started in America yesterday, with the television commercial above.

I'm sorely disappointed in Nintendo of America's marketing department on this one. Unlike the old 3DS ad that made it clear that it was a separate experience from the DS, the entire one-minute and six seconds is spent on the GamePad. It's important to market the system's main selling point, but nothing saying 'this isn't Wii, this is WiiU' is just asking for monumental confusion among the less-savvy casual gamers. There isn't even a proper close-up of the console itself! It's as if Nintendo wants people to believe the GamePad is just another controller peripheral. On top of everything, the music is also pretty bad. A glitchy sounding electro song over people playing and laughing in poppy, multicoloured rooms? It sounds like the next video in the series of unfitting music videos on Youtube.

When they decided to keep the Wii name I expected Nintendo to be more cautious about advertising, after the mass confusion between the 3DS and DS. Heck, they even acknowledged that as one of factors attributing to the former's poor launch sales. I doubt it'll happen to the same degree as some venues are already completely booked in pre-orders, which is actually very exciting. Still, if Nintendo doesn't up their game this time, the WiiU will soon be known as the Wii Tablet Controller.

The Worst Disappointment in Mario Kart 7?

I can live without single-player VS mode, but really, excluding the character that was made for the sole reason of being kickass in the Mario spin-offs? Something's not right.

Did we really need Honey Queen? Definitely not. Wiggler can stay, though, because he's actually been a relevant enemy for more than one game.

An Unchained Universe

Anyone who's ever owned a Nintendo system, starting with the DS, knows well about the horrors of Friend Codes. A 12-character string of random digits that are unique to every game you play, and have to be entered for every single one of your friends for every game. Now Nintendo's been known for being kid-friendly and (sensible) people can see we're the coming from with this system, but for most people (aka those who aren't small children) it only makes adding friends more a hassle than a delight.

The 3DS has made things marginally better at present, with a friend code unique to each system instead of each game copy. Entering in a line of digits is still troublesome but only adding it once for each friend is much better. (And it allows you to use any username you want, instead of having to add arbitrary numbers/characters to it. No more names like xXxName3248xXx!)

Well, now Nintendo's upcoming WiiU console will bring things one step further by allowing users to befriend strangers in the Miiverse who share similar tastes in games. Friend codes are still in place some way, but from the looks of things it seems that a simple button press is all that's needed to add a guy with the same taste in Japanese Rhythm Games to your Friends List. More importantly, it'll hush all those naysayers banking on Nintendo's child-centric security system, because now it's easier than ever before to add random people with phalluses in their profile picture.

The full word on the matter from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata:

Also, on Nintendo platforms up to this point, in order to become friends with people on the same system (specified people with whom you could exchange data), you were required to mutually enter numbers called “Friend Codes.” This was set in place in order to prevent negative gameplay experiences caused by a few people who might derive pleasure from anonymously harassing strangers, so that games could be played without that worry. On the Wii U, you can become friends with people who share your tastes through the Miiverse, so increasing the number of people to enjoy games with is its critical mission.

He doesn't really go into how you'd add them this way or even under what circumstances Miiverse will allow you to do so, other than that they have to "share your tastes." (Which is, in retrospect, supported by the Miis congregating around specific titles in images like the one above.) As with a lot of other unknown details about the WiiU, I expect more information as November 18th looms ever closer.

Ally Or Traitor?

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward, the sequel to highly-acclaimed Visual Novel 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors on the DS, was released in North America this Tuesday. Anyone who's played the first should certainly look into getting the next game; for those of you haven't tried 999, I strongly urge you to give it a a go. (Unless you're adverse to reading, in which case I pity you because you're missing out!)

You can read more for my thoughts and analysis on the English animation above.
Beware of spoilers for 999 if you choose to continue.

Poll Sunday: Blades and Bows and Clubs, Oh My!

Due to real life complications I should have seen beforehand, Poll Monday will be changed to Poll Sunday.
Each poll is still open for seven days, though!

This week: Best Kid Icarus Weapon Class?

No matter how diverse a player is in playing style in Kid Icarus: Uprising, everyone has a preferred weapon type. From the ranged speedster set-up of Orbitars, to the brutal melee focus of Arms, each class has significant differences from the rest. Of the nine, which one do you value the most?

3 NDS Games That Need Sequels

The DS was a monster of a handheld. Everything, from its seven-year reign of the market, to the humongous library of titles it has, and the fact that people nowadays still confuse it with its 3D-capable successor, speaks volumes about the impact it had on gaming.

Maybe I'm just too young - and therefore older handhelds didn't leave as big a mark on my gaming career - but I wouldn't shy away from saying that the DS was the best handheld gaming device to ever grace our beloved planet. (And I pray I'm not the only one with such an opinion.) The dual-screen design, to me, was ingenious (and would supposedly pave the way to the concept of the WiiU) which, combined with touch controls, allowed for cleaner-looking games that played in a newer, more intuitive way. Not only that, but it also received the greatest third-party support of a Nintendo system since the SNES, only rivaled by this gen's 3DS and WiiU. In fact, when I picture some DS games, Ace Attorney, Trauma Centre and Final Fantasy IV spring to my mind quicker than New Super Mario Bros. or Metroid Prime Hunters!

There was just something about the DS that gave third-party developers the incentive to experiment with games in a way they haven't done on a Nintendo console in years. Some new series were big hits, like Professor Layton, Scribblenauts, and Ace Attorney as I mentioned above. Others weren't quite as successful even among the enormous DS audience, either because they were too obscure, too niche, or both. If they did poorly, they often didn't receive sequels - truly a stab in the heart to each game's cult following. Here, I'll detail some of the best original titles from the dual-screened developer's system and why they deserve another instalment.

Don't Default Yet

A generous Japanese blogger received the Collector's Pack for Bravely Default: Flying Fairy just recently and shared some photos of their treasure. (More of which you can see by reading more below.) They look gorgeous, but I can't help but be disappointed that Bravely Default still isn't confirmed for a localization - the 3DS is in serious need of RPGs in the Western market.

However, Tomoya Asano of Square Enix has urged the fans to "keep talking about it on Facebook and Twitter" and what do you know, some fans have already started localization groups on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Maybe if we make enough of a commotion, Square Enix won't bravely default on the rest of the world.

An Outbreak In Europe

Let it be known that I envy Europe deeply for getting this bundle exclusively; ZombiU is no doubt the must-have title for the WiiU at launch. But North America will be getting Nintendoland with the Pro Bundle, which is another game I would have gotten eventually anyway.

AR Recollection

These are a couple old photos I took using the 3DS's AR Card viewer, last year when the system was still new and I didn't have many games to keep me occupied. Looking back at them now, I feel the urge to play around with it once more...

Poll Monday: Swords!

Some of you may have already noticed the newest widget on the right: a poll! Every week, the votes will be tallied and a new gaming-centric question will posted up. The results of each poll will be recorded in a tab page, "Poll History," which will be up shortly. For now, get voting!

This week: Which sword is best?

The Master Sword A legendary blade blessed by the goddesses, it has accompanied Link on many of his adventures. Though it is initially sleeping within a temple or forest, the boy in green will inevitably wield it in a final face-off against Ganon and other lords of darkness.

The Falchion A divine sword born from the fang of Naga as her final gift to humanity before her death. Marth uses its legendary dragon-slaying powers to vanquish the dark dragon Medeus.

The Monado Said to have been wielded by the Bionis itself, it is the sword prophesied to protect all life on the titan during its time of greatest need. Shulk now utilizes it and the clairvoyant power it grants in the war against the Mechon.

The GamePad Is The Future

Yes, it's that special time that comes about every five years: a new Nintendo console launch! This would encourage a universal hurrah from gamers across the globe, but after the Wii (and arguably the 3DS' abysmal start) people have grown skeptical of the gaming giant's newest ventures.

Personally, I wouldn't blame them. While I adored the Wii's motion control and believe it to be a revolution instead of a gimmick, there's no denying that most developers implemented them poorly into their games. The result was a mountain of shovelware that companies cashed in on because "ooh, motion controls are cool and make up for lack of effort."

Take Some Pointers From These Guys

Impressive! The original characters in the background add a sort of ominous feeling, juxtaposed with the four protagonists we've grown to love striking some epic poses. There's no better way to get two fanbases riled up than that. Although Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney has yet to have a localization confirmed, here's hoping one will be announced soon. (Lest the fans object to Level-5's localization policy.)

Yellow!

I'm very partial to Pokemon and the colour yellow. And it seems someone on Deviant Art feels the same, too. It's a shame that this is only fan art - I'd happily give Nintendo another $170 for one. (More if it came bundled with an actual Pokemon Yellow remake. We can only dream.)

Edit: What do you know, dreams do come true. Too bad it's Europe-exclusive for now and only in XL version. (And there's still no word on Pokemon Yellow 3D.)

This Is Objectionable

Old news, but Ace Attorney 5 recently received a nifty-looking trailer. The Ace Attorney series is, in my opinion, one of the best series to come out of the original DS line and I'm absolutely ecstatic that we're finally getting concrete details after a five-year wait.

The 3D models are a welcome upgrade; I'm amazed at how much they retain the style of the original 2D sprites. The animations seem much more varied and they'll hopefully make courtroom scenes even more hectic. Phoenix returning as the protagonist instead of Apollo puzzles me, though. I'm sure he'll pop up with Trucy sooner or later, but I will be sorely disappointed if they dismiss him after one game. At the very least, he should take over a few cases a la Mia Fey in Trials and Tribulations. Phoenix's new design is kinda iffy and the new assistant doesn't strike me like Maya and Trucy did, but I'm sure they'll look better with time.

At the very least Capcom confirmed a localization for the game almost immediately, so us non-Japanese fans won't be left in the dark again after the whole Ace Attorney Investigations 2 fiasco.

What do you think of the game so far? Share your opinion in the comments!

Why I Wish I Lived on the Bionis

Wow. From these screens it's clear that Xenoblade Chronicles was the game made to fulfil the dreams of fantasy landscape fetishists. The beautiful environments make running around with a red beamsword even more enjoyable. Were the titan real I'd certainly look into taking residence there. (Maybe if there were less Mechon attacks.)

What were your favourite areas in the game? Share them in the comments below.

The Five Most Overpowered Weapons in Kid Icarus: Uprising

Hurray for teamwork!
(Pfft, that guy with the First Blade totally did all the work)

Uprising is the newest game from Masahiro Sakurai, the first (and last) from Project Sora, and the latest instalment in the Kid Icarus series following a 25-year hiatus. It boasts an epic story, heaps of content, tight gameplay, and some of the wittiest dialogue to ever grace a Nintendo title. All of this alone would label it as one of the finest new experiences in gaming.


Of course, this neglects to mention Together Mode, Uprising's multiplayer mode. To most players, this mode is arguably the game's defining aspect, and with good reason. Not only does Light vs. Dark provide a refreshing take on the team-based shooter, but the hundreds of obtainable weapons add a myriad of different playstyles and strategies to suit just about anyone.
Like any other multiplayer-based game, though, there are bound to be some balance issues. Unfortunately, Sakurai's games (namely Smash Bros) are notorious for their unbalanced gameplay. While his attempt to bring a competitive scene to this beloved old franchise isn't quite as bad, it's clear that some weapons perform much better than others, often unfairly so. With six months experience of the game, I'll try to address some of the absurd and absurdly powerful weapons in Uprising.