New Super Mario Bros. U wins IGN's Platformer of the Year!

It's strange that the most recent post was a review of New Super Mario Bros. U where I gave it an 8.5/10. Sure, it's not a score to be scoffed at, but it really isn't Game of the Year material. Still, the folks over at IGN placed the game before other great platformers such as Fez and Spelunky, and gave it the title of Overall Platformer of the Year.

This is a great achievement for Nintendo. Though, what's even more amazing is the Overall Puzzle Game of the Year, which was won by Crashmo. Crashmo, the sequel to Pushmo, is an excellent game, and I have praised Pushmo enough to make any sane person go mad.

Though, sadly no Nintendo game scooped up the Overall Game of the Year, which went to Journey. Strangely enough, I finished Journey yesterday, and the game really is a marvel. If you have a PS3, I recommend you pick it up right now!

The Mini New Super Mario Bros. U Review

When New Super Mario Bros. Wii released in 2009 I was excited to be able to play a new Mario game with up to 3 others and I thought it could be THE game to play with friends. However, the it proved too hard for any casual players and today I find myself coming back to the Wii with friends to play games such as Mario Kart Wii and Super Smash Bros. Brawl instead. Sure, the game wasn't in any way bad, but it was easily trumped by single player experiences such as Super Mario Galaxy.

And, while New Super Mario Bros. U has no competition for platformer king yet on the Wii U, it's updated visuals and new suits are just not enough to make me love the game in the same way that Super Mario Galaxy did.

First, the gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. U is identical to that of its predecessors. You run, jump and grab onto enemies, items and whatever else you can think of. It is typical 2D platformer affair, and will appeal to anyone who enjoys this sort of game. Like all Mario games, the platforming is very polished and the level structure seems perfect for playing single player. However, there are many issues to the game's multiplayer. For instance, the game is actually quite difficult, especially for those who don't play often, and it's not the sort of pick up and play game that Nintendo Land is. Furthermore, it is really easy to jump on other's heads, which may seem fun at first but is frustrating when you're jumping over a gap only to have your friend land on your head, pushing you into the gap. This can cost countless lives and makes it really hard just to make it through one level!

There are actually a few different types of Yoshis

However, despite being so similar to other Mario games, there are a few things that make this game worth the purchase. First, there's minor changes such as the ability to play as your Mii and boost rush mode, which lets you help other players using the gamepad's touchscreen. But my favourite change is that this game re-introduces Yoshi, who players can ride on to gain extra jump power and the ability to swallow countless enemies. If you've seen my list of favourite Mario side characters, you'd know that I love Yoshi and that having him in this game is awesome! Also, the squirrel suit, which lets players glide and cling on to walls, is actually quite fun to play with. A whole new game mode is also in this game in the form of challenges, which can range from jumping on as many goombas as possible in a row to Coin Rush games, which means the level automatically moves forward at a speed which increases depending on how many coins you collect. These challenges are great for veteran players and adds longevity to the game.

The amazing squirrel man!

As far as graphics go, New Super Mario Bros. U looks much better than any Mario game previously released thanks to some nice level art (such as a Van Gogh inspired level), the Wii U's graphical power and, of course, HD graphics. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about the game's music, which is smooth and enjoyable, but repetitious, especially considering the how same-ish all the songs are. Mario and friends sound like you'd expect, with plenty of "woo-hoo" and "yippee"to go around. Still, in the game my Mii has an irritating high-pitched voice, similar to an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie.

New Super Mario Bros. U is a game that is simple and fun to play. Excellent level design and new features make it a great addition to the game library of anyone looking to play a platformer on their Wii U. However, if you're looking for a game to play with friends, Nintendo Land is certainly a better option. 

8.5/10

2013's releases for the Wii U and 3DS

Today, or yesterday, (actually since I live in Australia I have no idea) Nintendo released new Nintendo Direct clips for Europe, North America and Japan. Lots of new gameplay footage has been revealed in these videos, but probably more importantly we have found when many games are releasing for Europe and the USA!

Now, I know that Paper Mario: Sticker Star is already out, but surprisingly (even though it is a Mario game) I actually don't like Paper Mario games much, so I've pretty much ignored the game. Sorry if you're an RPG fanatic, but you'd probably prefer the Mario and Luigi series anyway.

We've been waiting years for a new Luigi's Mansion game!

Still, the new game Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is coming to the 3DS soon, and is joined by games such as Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Fire Emblem: Awakening and Castlevania: Lord of Shadows to make for an impressive year of 3DS releases. Though, the Wii U isn't forgotten with Pikmin 3, Wii Fit U and LEGO City: Undercover coming soon. Here's an overview of the release dates:

• Fire Emblem: Awakening - April 2013 (EU), February 4th 2013 (NA)
• Brain Age: Concentration Training - February 10th 2013 (NA), March 8th 2013 (EU)
• Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon - March 2013 (EU)
• Wii Fit U - 1st half of 2013 (NA)
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Q2 2013 (EU)
• Pikmin 3 - Q2 2013 (NA & EU)
• Lego City: Undercover - early 2013 (NA)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow- Mirror of Fate - March 2013 (EU)

Personally, my most anticipated games are LEGO City: Undercover, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Pikmin 3. Unfortunately, I wont be getting these games for a while. Still, it's nice to know when they're releasing!

I got my Wii U (and Nintendo Land)

Well, I haven't posted anything in a week or so, and hopefully you'll understand that it's for a perfectly valid reason- I got my Wii U.

I was going to do the typical Mario fan thing and just get Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U with my new console, but I then I found an awesome deal that got me Tekken Tag Tournament 2 half price! Unfortunately, I have only really played Nintendo Land enough so far to forge an opinion on the game, and that opinion is- it is AWESOME!

Nintendo Land may only have 12 attractions in it, but those attractions are insanely fun and actually each have quite a few stages, improving longevity. While my favourite attractions may be Animal Crossing: Sweet Day and Metroid Blast!, this IS a blog about Mario, and i've played Mario Chase to death! For those of you who don't know, Mario Chase is a minigame which is essentially a form of tag where four players chase down Mario, who is playing off the gamepad. As the chasers can't see the Gamepad, they have no idea where Mario is and have to hunt him down and catch him themselves. While Mario Chase is fun, it only has three stages, and you can probably see all the attraction has to offer within half an hour. Still, I have played it well over that amount of time, and it is incredibly addictive. While new players can pick this up quickly, it takes a long time to get to the point where everyone can co-operate to a point where they can corner and capture Mario together.

That is just one of twelve attractions in Nintendo Land, and the rest are just as great! Although, it is important to remember that only 6 attractions are multiplayer. Still, it is a game that I would definitely recommend alongside New Super Mario Bros. U, which I may do a mini review of later.

The Wii Mini has been announced!

I may be a day late with this news, but it seems that Nintendo is about to release a new version of the Wii called the Wii Mini. While i'm still waiting for the Wii U (which releases in Australia in two days!) and couldn't care less about a new version of the Wii, Canadians who have missed out on the motion controls craze may be very happy to know that in just over a week they will be able to buy a Wii console for just $100!!!

This console does not include any support for Gamecube titles (no Gamecube controller ports) and lacks any form of internet connection, but can play any Wii retail title out right now! Nintendo says that this console can play the selection of Nintendo Select titles which are currently available for less than $20, which really shows its value! Unfortunately, as of now this has only been announced for Canada. Still, if you're interested in getting your Mario fix without forking out the money for a Wii U, this is amazing value!

New Super Mario Bros. U looks amazing!

New Super Mario Bros. U probably has some of the most underrated graphics out there! Sure, a 2D Mario game isn't the best way to show off the Wii U's power, but I couldn't help but notice the artistic look in this game.

Van Gogh anyone?

Pretty nice art, eh? Well the lucky people at IGN have already got a Wii U and are playing through these awesome levels...

I recommend you watch the videos I linked above as it is some pretty awesome gameplay footage. The only problem is that in the first video they didn't get a 1-Up! I was on the verge of crying...

Why U should buy NEW Super Mario Bros. U!

So, as i'm getting back into this blogging business (after all those months), I may be a bit slow on the news. But, if you've been living under a 1-D rock for the past few months, then there may be this incredibly awesome launch game for the Wii U coming out in just 7 days! And, it's called New Super Mario Bros. U!

Sounds familiar, right? That's because IT IS familiar, pretty much the same game has already come out for the DS, Wii and 3DS. Still, more of the same isn't always bad, especially if the same thing is Mario! Anyway, there are a few differences between this game and previous instalments in the New Super Mario Bros. instalments. For example, there's a chain chomp in the image above, and they're pretty awesome! Also, for fans of Super Mario World (like me), Yoshi makes a triumphant return in this game!

Yeah, I don't remember Yoshi ever turning into a balloon either, but it's Mario! So who cares? 

Anyway, rest assured this will be an awesome game, and well worth all the money that I'm spending on a Wii U. Don't forget to check back later for more exciting news on this game as it nears release!

I'm Still Blogging... and 10 Reasons to buy the Wii U!

Hello there loyal followers (or lack thereof)...

I'm just checking that you're aware that I'm still alive, and that I haven't completely disappeared off the internet. I'm just busy, which is kind of funny because at the moment I'm more busy now then ever yet I'm finally writing a post now! (That's procrastination for you!) Don't worry, Mario still rocks and let's say I have a nice box coming in 20 days...

Yeah yeah, if you live in the USA then you'll get a Wii U in just over a week, and I am VERY jealous, but at least I'm getting one, and it's shiny!

Despite some saying it's "last-gen" and it will be "outdated in more than a year", I believe that the console will be well worth the investment. Why? Here's ten reasons-

1. Pikmin 3
2. NEW Super Mario Bros. U
3. Miiverse
4. It's shiny!!!
5. Nintendoland- face it, you want it!
6. The inevitable must buy games- Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, etc.
7. Third party support- Rayman Legends, Zombi U, Mass Effect 3 Wii U Edition, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.
8. Ridiculous Nintendo costumes in Tekken Tag Tournament 2! (View more here!)
9. Platinum Games's Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2!
10. That controller!

NEW Super Mario Bros. 2 Announced for the 3DS

You may remember that a little while back I mentioned there was a 2D Mario game in the works for the 3DS. Well, I am glad to say that the game has now been officially announced as NEW Super Mario Bros. 2!

Though, nothing has been revealed yet apart from the fact that the raccoon tail and gold leaf are back (and that I will be raving on about in the future).

Anyway, here's some pictures-

Images from IGN

There's a New Mario Game in the Works for the Wii U!

Remember the Super Mario Bros. Mii game that Nintendo showed a bit of at E3 last year? Well, it looks like that game is going to become a reality, even sooner than expected.

Either that or it's some other Mario game, hopefully a SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE 2!

But it looks like a Mario Bros. game. When asked by IGN, here's what Nintendo had to say-

"In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U system will be shown at this year's E3 Expo. This is based on the Mario experience that was demonstrated at last year's E3 Expo. We'll have more to announce about our plans for the E3 Expo at a later date."

Useless Mario Trivia #1- Mario Originally Had a Gun

It seems hard to believe now, but the fat, loveable and almost harmless Mario was once planned to have a beam gun and rocket pack. Not very harmless then, eh? This trivia was found in the original developer's notes for Super Mario Bros. which turned up online about two years ago. Luckily, Nintendo soon realised that people thought they were more skilful when jumping on Goomba heads instead of blowing them up.

Image from http://www.wiiplaygames.com/2010/12/28/mario-had-a-gun/

Of course, this all brings up the question- Would you still like Mario if he had a gun and blew things up?

I definitely wouldn't, as that would mean that Mario games would probably now have evolved into First Person Shooters instead of racing, sport and platforming games.

Your Favourite Mario Enemy!

A while ago I posted a poll on this page that let you guys vote on your favourite basic Mario enemies. Unfortunately, it was a tie between Koopa Troopas and Shy Guys. However, I AM the moderator of this blog and so therefore I overpower all voters and say that Koopa Troopas are better than Shy Guys. So, without further ado, I now present your (and my) favourite basic Mario enemy ever, the KOOPA TROOPA!

Also, Koopa fans rejoice as Koopa Troopas are playable in pretty much any Mario sports game on the Wii, 3DS or DS as well as Mario Kart games where they are my favourite character (after Yoshi, of course!).

The Mini Mario Party 9 Review

Yeah, you heard it right. I actually invested in a brand new Mario Party game. Before you shout out "Mario fanatic" let me tell you something- this isn't just any Mario Party game, rather the BEST Mario Party game since the Nintendo 64 titles.

How is it better than those other Gamecube and Wii titles? Definitely not by sticking to the old formula. The usual developer Hudson Soft has recently become part of Konami, meaning that Nintendo has had to find a different developer for the project. So, they chose Wii Play Motion developer Nd Cube. Nd Cube decided to not include the complex board game part of the game. Instead they replaced it with a new linear board system where all the players ride in the same car, with each player taking a turn at driving the car in alternation. This system works great, and means Mario Party games could take as little as half an hour. The mini games have also being improved, with most of them actually being enjoyable.

 Graphics have also been improved, with Mario Party finally being converted into a widescreen game. There may only be 12 characters this time around, but they look great! Sound seems to be the only thing which hasn't been improved, with tunes that really just aren't memorable, yet they still sound slightly Mario-ish. Theres also one thing you need to enjoy this game- friends! This game is pretty much unenjoyable when you play by yourself. Let me tell you, it is much more enjoyable taking stars off your best friend!

So, to summarise it- This is the best Mario Party game to be released within the past ten years and has changed the game's usual formula to be faster and to have a focus on the mini games. If you enjoy having fun and have people to play it with, you'll love this game. So I'm giving it a-

8/10

What is Retro Studios Working On?

Today it was rumoured that Retro Studio's next game will have a hand-painted artstyle. Of course, this has got fans of Retro's Metroid Prime games very excited, even though it has been rumoured that it won't even be a Metroid game, but one starring a different Nintendo character.

So, what is it?

Well, it could be anything, but here's some ideas-

It Could Be-

• Zelda 3DS- It has been reported that a new 3DS Zelda game that plays differently to other Zelda games is in the works, and Retro might be the one to make it! Also, Shigeru, creator of the Zelda franchise suggested that Retro Studios would make a great Zelda game.
• DK Country 3DS- After making Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii, Retro is in great shape for a 3DS sequel.
• New Star Fox Game- Well, it IS about time a new Starfox game was made! Also, Official Nintendo Magazine hinted at it when it said "Maybe it's time for Retro to do a barrel roll of a different kind!"
• Pikmin 3- I don't know why but why couldn't it be?

It Won't Be-

• Skyward Sword 2- There already is a Zelda game planned for the Wii U, and they wouldn't be making a second one.
• Mario Paint 2- Sorry MP diehards.

Well, whatever it is, we will probably know at the end of this year's E3!

Mario and Pokemon Pushmo/Pullblox QR Codes!

After writing the review for Pushmo (Pullblox in Australia and UK) yesterday I decided to create my own   levels. Now, of course my levels weren't going to be any levels, instead they are based around Mario and Pokemon. So, without further ado-

Now remember, all you need to play these levels are a 3DS with Pushmo or Pullblox on it. Also, you need to have completed the first bunch of stages. ANYWAY, go to Pushmo (or Pullblox) Studio and click on the "scan QR code" button and scan these codes. Easy!

Also, for more Nintendo themed puzzles go to http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=454838

New Super Mario Bros. on the 3DS!

Nintendo has recently announced at a conference that a 2D Mario platformer will come to the 3DS within the next fiscal year (April 2012- March 2013). This means that this time next year we could quite possibly be enjoying a New Super Mario Bros. game on the 3DS!

I really can't wait to see what this title looks like!

My Failed Yoshi Papercraft!

If you look back at my top 5 Mario characters, it sort of becomes apparent that Yoshi is my favourite Mario character. So, I decided to express how much of a "world's-biggest-fan"I am for him by making a papercraft statue for him. 

What could go wrong, right? Well, everything! 

Maybe you guys could try making a Papercraft Yoshi, even send a picture of it in to me at plime97@gmail.com for bragging rights. You can get a link to this papercraft Yoshi and many more Papercraft Mario characters at http://nintendopapercraft.blogspot.com/search/label/Mario

New Mario Party 9 Trailer!

As we are nearing the release of the latest instalment of the Mario Party series, new information is popping up everywhere about the title. Here's the most recent trailer-

With a larger variety of minigames and game modes, it already looks better than Mario Party 8, so let's hope it stays that way. For the Wii's sake!

New Mario Party 9 Information!

Nintendo has recently revealed the box art for Mario Party 9, which currently is looking far better than expected.

As well as 80 new minigames, there are multiple changes being made in Mario Party 9. These include mini-bosses and bosses on each of the game boards and that all players will travel together in a car across the boards. Hopefully this means less annoying board game style gameplay and more minigaming!

Mario Party 9 is set to be released on the 2nd of March (My Birthday) in Europe and the 11th of March in the USA. I think I know what I'm getting for my Birthday...

Nintendo's Best Ads

I was searching through all of my Nintendo-ey news today and I stumbled upon an article about Nintendo ads through the ages, and, well let's just say that Nintendo ads aren't normal. Here's an example-

And let's just say that Japenese Zelda ads got even stranger...

Mind you, that was all 90s stuff, Nintendo ads aren't nearly as weird and strangely addictive to watch anymore. To view the full article, go to http://au.wii.ign.com/articles/121/1215214p1.html