{"id":3641,"date":"2009-10-21T07:52:58","date_gmt":"2009-10-20T21:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/power-up.space\/?p=3641"},"modified":"2009-10-21T07:56:14","modified_gmt":"2009-10-20T21:56:14","slug":"nintendo-summer-lineup-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.impulsegamer.com\/wordpress\/?p=3641","title":{"rendered":"Nintendo Summer Lineup Launch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The theme was Summer and the host was Nintendo as the game giant allowed people to come in and try five new games.\u00a0 Peter Rowsthorne and Maude Garrett from Nickelodeon Australia were the MCs of the night, with Rebecca Gibney as a special guest, but the stars of the show were the games.\u00a0 Nintendo has always been known to have very strong first-party development, making it difficult for third-party developers to compete, but in recent years, they have to in order to participate in the success of all-conquering Wii and DS.\u00a0 From what we saw that night, Nintendo are back to their strengths as can be seen by the games shown and the fun had by all on the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

New Super Mario Bros Wii
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\nThe star of the show no doubt was New Super Mario Bros Wii.\u00a0 Shown on four massive LCDs, this is a game everyone was looking forward to.\u00a0\u00a0 The game is based on the original Super Mario Bros, employing familiar levels, characters and powerups but with 4 players simultaneously playing.\u00a0 I was quite sceptical about how the four players would work but Nintendo have dissolved those doubts.\u00a0 The players can play competitively or cooperatively and Nintendo have put in a lot of thought to include features that allow for both styles.\u00a0 The game is controlled by the Wii remote and even uses the accelerometer in some cases.\u00a0 An intelligent zooming camera system, similar to Smash Bros allows the 4 players to constantly be on screen. The gameplay and control is simple enough for people to just jump in and play and the difficulty level seems just right, not being too difficult but difficult enough that you need to be alert.\u00a0 Couple this with the four players (and the chaos that ensues), this is going to be one winner. I can envisage Wiis flying off the shelves when this game releases.<\/p>\n

Wii Fit Plus
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\nThe original Wii-fit has come and is still doing well, but Wii Fit Plus has just been released.\u00a0 Wii Fit Plus comes with even more yoga, strength and balance exercises as with the original but Nintendo seems to have really taken a step back and had a good hard look at the different minigames. They really gone up a notch in terms of quality, variety and fun.\u00a0 For example, Golf swings was something I would not have thought about, but it is included in Wii Fit Plus.\u00a0 Flying as a bird through an obstacle course is another inclusion.\u00a0 Some favourites like the Hula-hoop make a welcome return though.\u00a0 Also, you are now able to create your own program of exercises AND yes, you can weigh your favourite canine.\u00a0 Wii Fit has spent a lot of time at the top of the Australian charts and fortunately for Nintendo, it certainly seems that there’s still loads of life left in this franchise.<\/p>\n

Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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The original Professor Layton was a bit of a sleeper-hit with not many people taking this DS puzzler too seriously. The game has proved everyone wrong and Level-5 are preparing to make a Professor Layton trilogy. Professor Layton and Pandora’s box is the second Layton game and takes Layton onto a train as he investigates a mysterious box that spells death for anyone opening it.\u00a0 The puzzles are similar to the predecessor’s and this will happily frustrate and entertain fans of the previous game.\u00a0 The game still has its stylised cartoonish look with cool voice overs (Although Luke’s voice seems to have changed substantially).\u00a0 Loads of new puzzles with an intriguing, slightly darker story coupled with oodles of puzzles, the familiar intuitive stylus interface means that fans of previous game and puzzle gamers have no reason to miss this one<\/span><\/p>\n

Zelda Spirit Tracks <\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

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Zelda Phantom Hourglass is still one of the must-have games for DS owners and Spirit Tracks is the sequel. \u00a0 From what I can see, it will be another Zelda to look out for. We tried two levels.\u00a0 The first followed Zelda through a dungeon known to previous Link to the Past and handheld Zelda gamers as he led a golem-like phantom with familiar, intuitive gestures.\u00a0 You use the phantom to overpower enemies, to trigger pressure pads and to use as a platform to get over to the other side of a lava filled room – the normal zelda puzzle solving. The second was an on-rails adventure as you controlled a train as with you controlling the speed, a whistle, a cannon and platform switches.\u00a0 I’ve never been a fan of on-rail games but short spurts of this may help in the variety and break up the flow.\u00a0 This game, the way it’s going, will go the way of Phantom Hourglass – I’m starting to sound like a broken record – another winner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Style Boutique <\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

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Ok, something for the fairer sex.\u00a0 Imagine buying different fashion items and cosmetics and doing fashion shows and magazine covers.\u00a0 That is the basis for Style Boutique. The game has a very Japanese twang with the graphics and the interface. Working out what pants and stillettos to buy has never been my cup of tea, but one pleasant surprise was the fashion shop simulation in this game, where you have to buy stock and alter different factors in order to be successful. \u00a0Couple this depth with the aforementioned lightness of fashion shows and magazine covers and you have a game that, at initial glance has an unfamiliar balance to western audiences.\u00a0 Younger female readers obviously may be more forgiving.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The theme was Summer and the host was Nintendo as the game giant allowed people to come in and try five new games.\u00a0 Peter Rowsthorne and Maude Garrett from Nickelodeon Australia were the MCs of the night, with Rebecca Gibney as a special guest, but the stars of the show were the games.\u00a0 Nintendo has<\/p>\n

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