It's all happening in June

Release of eShop
When I first acquired my Nintendo 3DS, I found that it had an internet browser. Curious, I tapped it. All I got was a message that said internet access would be available in a future update. I'm certainly not the only one who was a little disappointed. In fact, one of the greatest qualms critics had about the system was that it seemed incomplete without all the online features that were promised. Well, the wait is over on the evening of June 6, when internet access and a myriad of other features will appear through the most anticipated update to the Nintendo 3DS system yet. The eShop will be a channel through which WiiWare-esque games can be obtained. It will also include a Virtual Console that will make GameBoy and GameBoy Color games available in all their original glory.

E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)
E3 is easily the biggest event of the year for gaming fans. Nintendo will kick off E3 on the morning of June 7 with a live media presentation, which will be available here. Afterwards, Nintendo fans can look forward to daily updates. These are sure to include new game trailers, first impressions, and special Nintendo presentations. As always, Nintendo is sure to reveal new, highly-exciting details about the games and systems the company has been working on. Project Cafe, anyone?

Game Release: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Hardcore Zelda fans such as myself have already marked June 19 on their Club Nintendo calenders as the day Ocarina of Time 3D is released. This game promises to be more than just a remake with updated graphics and controls, the inclusion of the Master Quest, and a brand-new Boss Challenge mode.

It's a great time to be a Nintendo fan, so don't forget to keep your eyes open. I predict that every last Nintendo fan alive will be cheering about something over the coming month.

Nintendo Music: Dragon Roost Island

So I've finally gotten around to writing a new post about Nintendo music. Today's selection comes from the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and it's the music that plays at Dragon Roost Island...I think. Okay, I admit it, I've never played Wind Waker. Never got a hold of that one...

But, hey, I love this tune just the same. It begins with a basic melody accompanied by a robust beat, but about 25 seconds in, it becomes a trio in which the bass takes the surprising role of counter melody. For a huge bass fan like myself, it's rather irresistible...

Perhaps it isn't too late for me to pick up this game.

How Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Lost My Respect: A Review

After expressing my frustration about the poor online experience I had with SSFIV, I feel I should give the whole game a review. It deserves that much.

This is probably a great game. However, being relatively new to the series, and also being a huge Super Smash Bros. fan, this game just seems mediocre to me. The courses, for one, could be a lot more interesting. They're all the same size and nothing that happens on them effects gameplay. And don't get me started on the controls. I'm gonna get started on them anyway. First of all, the player can opt for "Lite" controls. What kind of gamer wants to take that kind of shortcut? It seems rather absurd, if you ask me. On the other hand, "Pro" controls are insane as well. Insanely difficult. After a few hours' worth of practice, I still can't figure how complicated combos are performed. As far as I can tell, they are performed through chaotic, orderless mashing of the buttons and control pad. Any newcomer to this series will be begging for a tutorial. I resorted to the web for assistance, but, alas, I found nothing. Apparently the only people who need help where this game is concerned are ones who already know how to perform a move like this: > v > v  > + KKK (in air). Well, I'm sorry, but I don't even know how to do that. In fact, I don't even know how to do "Stand LP, Stand MP", because I can't see the hidden code that turns two simple moves into something that'll get me through Trial Mode.

I'll continue to get mild satisfaction from playing this game, because everything else about it is quite polished. I just have to ignore the burning rage that grows inside me when I realize that I'll never know how to do C. Viper's Burst Time, let alone Burning Dance. Oh, and forget about getting through 19/24 stages in Trial Mode, even using "Lite" controls.         

Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition Online Play: A First

The beating of my heart gradually crescendos until it feels like it's in my throat. I've just initiated an internet fight in Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition. My excitement peaks when the battle finally begins. I start by flicking the circle pad upward to jump into the air. My character does nothing. I guess my thumb slipped? A split second later, my character jumps straight up. Something funny is going on here. But I keep at it.

Long story short, I don't stand a chance. I land one or two punches, but otherwise struggle to not get clobbered by repeated special attacks. The action that takes place in the game is about a second or two slower than my physical actions on the buttons and control pad are. It ends in total failure on my part.

Is this typical? Is this sluggishness the price to pay for online play? I'm genuinely curious, so if you're reading this and have played SSFIV over the internet, enlighten me, by all means. (Helpful note: I checked my internet connection, and it was perfectly fine, all bars filled.)

Needless to say, I won't be playing this game over the internet at all anymore. But that doesn't mean I can't rant about it a bit here. I've played Mario Kart Wii over the internet many times, and it runs as smoothly as if I were playing locally. Why can't SSFIV be the same? What's different about it? Please, feel free to comment, I'm asking for answers here!

Nintendo 3DS Perplexities: Augmented Reality (AR) Games

I hate to use Wikipedia, but the definition it provides for "augmented reality" is the following: "...a term for a live direct or an indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input, such as sound or graphics."

With that general idea, I'll give you the run-down on how Augmented Reality is used by the Nintendo 3DS system. Every unit comes packed with six cards. No, not game cards. Not SD cards. They are, literally, paper cards with images on them, like any ordinary playing cards. The image in this post may give you a sense of them.

After opening the AR Games application of the 3DS, the system's two outward-facing cameras (two cameras allow for a real-time 3D view) can recognize the images on the AR cards. By this method, the 3DS is able to accomplish a huge number of mind-boggling tricks. Turn any surface into a fishing pond that ripples and churns. Or watch Nintendo characters come to vivid, 3D life on the dining room table. Nintendo has provided a sizable handful of entertaining diversions within this built-in 3DS software.

Still have questions about AR Games? Let me know in the comments and I can respond to them!

Why Pilotwings Resort does all the right things: A Review

The idea behind Pilotwings Resort for the Nintendo 3DS is very simple: the player takes flight in three different vehicles to complete a variety of missions around the game's location, Wuhu Island. Easy enough? Okay, then, this review has come to a close!

I'm just kidding, of course. The three vehicles are: airplane, jet pack, and hang glider. What would you expect from a game like this? For the controls to be spot-on, that's what! I'm very glad to say that there is no disappointment where controls are concerned. The feel of each vehicle is distinguished from the others and has its own unique quirks. The airplane is easy to control, but can pull off more tricks. The jet pack is versatile, but difficult to master. The hang glider has limited maneuverability, but can pick up some serious speed. Thanks to the 3DS system's circle pad, controlling the three vehicles is seamless and feels authentic, not to mention amazing.

Wuhu Island is a great place, especially in 3D. The sensation of flying is only enhanced by the depth. I literally felt dizzy when I tried a loop-the-loop for the first time. That aside, the 3D effect aids gameplay and provides a visual kick that suits this game well.

Every other element in Pilotwings Resort blends perfectly. The sound effects are convincing, the music is catchy, and the visual style is appropriate. The mission mode is a bit bare, but I'll definitely be heading to Wuhu Island frequently during the lifespan of my Nintendo 3DS, even if it's just for a relaxing, four-minute glide. 

Real Dogs vs. Nintendogs+cats Dogs: A Comparison

Meet Boyd and Cali.

Nintendogs+cats arguably provides the single most authentic virtual pet experience out there. The depth provided by the Nintendo 3DS puts it in an entirely different league than others of its kind. Touch screen interactivity only increases it's edge over the competition. How does owning virtual pets compare to owning real ones? With three dogs wandering around my own real-life home, I feel very qualified to answer that question:

Care and Maintenance
I have to hold my breath when I serve our real dogs (Cali, Slater, and Brynlee) food. How they can possibly eat that stuff, I'll never know, because it does not smell nice to human sniffers. And after I'm done, it's over to the sink to wash my hands of the crumbs. In Nintendogs+cats, however, one effortless tap makes the food appear instantly. A second tap, and the food bowl is taken away in a flash. No smell, no mess. The same goes for water.

All three of our real dogs hate baths. Slater tolerates it, but his widened eyes tell all. Cali constantly attempts to shake off the soapy water. And Brynlee makes wild bids for freedom every chance she gets. My virtual pets (Molly and Boyd), on the other hand, seem to enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, however, I need to wash them about three times as often as my real dogs.

Winner: Nintendogs+cats dogs.

Fun and Personality
One thing virtual dogs can never measure up to is how much personality real dogs have. Molly and Boyd may differ slightly from one another, but they do all the same things for the most part. They'll stick their rear ends in the air. They'll roll in the grass in the same way. They'll greet other dogs similarly. Real dogs have personalities that differ as much as humans. Slater is emotionally unstable, but the sweetest dog you could imagine. (We're pretty sure he was abused by whoever had him before us.) Cali is apprehensive about humans, yet she needs a lot of love. Brynlee is a bit of a pansy, but she's got the energy of a firecracker. They all act accordingly, and behave in unpredictable ways.

Nintendogs+cats simulates the experience of playing with your pets quite well. But again, this cannot compare to the fun of playing with real animals. Nintendogs+cats is repetitive, while real dogs...well, act like living things, which they are, of course.

Winner: Real dogs.

Cost
This category might be a little unfair, but I'll briefly cover it. Nintendogs+cats costs $40 of real money. After that, the only money the player spends is in-game currency. Real dogs cost a continuous amount of real money. And I mean a lot of real money.

Winner: Nintendogs+cats

Conclusion
Though Nintendogs+cats won two out of three, I have to say that real dogs win the overall competition. If I could rate the value of each of those categories, it would look like this: Care and Maintenance-8 points; Fun and Personality-Priceless; and Cost-5 points. That little puppy on the screen just won't ever replace my three living, breathing dogs, even if it is in 3D.  



 

Nintendo 3DS Perplexities: Mii Maker, Mii Plaza, and StreetPass

I'm still waiting for someone to "Find Mii."

Many aspects of the Nintendo 3DS are shrouded in mystery to those who haven't experienced it for themselves. So I've begun a campaign to encourage understanding...starting with the Mii Maker, Mii Plaza, and StreetPass features.

One of the first tasks a Nintendo 3DS owner should accomplish is to create a Mii. The idea of Miis began with Wii. Mii characters can be created and customized to resemble just about anyone. The Nintendo 3DS offers a short-cut to creating Miis by allowing the creator to begin with a photograph of the subject, leaving most of the work up to the system. After a first Mii is created, the Mii Plaza and the opportunity for StreetPass encounters open up.

The Mii Maker is where Miis are made. The Mii Plaza is a built-in game that revolves around StreetPass use. So what is StreetPass, you ask? StreetPass is a feature of the Nintendo 3DS by which it is possible for information to be exchanged between 3DS users as they come close to one another. The system can be powered-on or in sleep mode for this to occur. Lets say I go to a busy place: a mall. I carry my 3DS around in sleep mode. I walk by someone who has done the same. I don't even know the person, but I've now had a StreetPass encounter. The information that has been shared between us is totally harmless and includes our Mii creations, our first names, and our answers to questions such as "Cats or dogs?" and "What is your greatest hobby?" This person is a guy named Bob. His favorite piece of 3DS software is Face Raiders. He prefers cats. His dream is to have power. His favorite hobby is playing video games. (This is all made up, of course, so any resemblance to a real person is purely coincidental.)

Bob's Mii can now be found and utilized in my Mii Plaza. The Mii Plaza is composed of two basic games. In "Save Mii", my own Mii is trapped in a cage and in need of rescuing. After my fateful StreetPass encounter, I welcomed Bob as a warrior who could help to find me by defeating enemies in a series of stages. The second game in Mii Plaza involves collecting puzzle pieces to complete several different scenes from iconic Nintendo games. Bob shared the Zelda puzzle with me, which I wouldn't have been able to get without a StreetPass encounter. Pieces of this puzzle can be acquired by spending play coins: the currency of the Nintendo 3DS. They are earned by walking with the system (it has a built-in pedometer).

StreetPass plays a role in a few of the full-fledged, $40 3DS games. If I pass someone who has Nintendogs+cats, for example, we can share pictures of our pets and more. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition also has StreetPass functionality. It is clear that this unique Nintendo 3DS feature will be utilized in creative ways in future games.

Three reasons to pick up this month's issue of Nintendo Power magazine

1. Cover Story
Take one look at that cover and you already know why this is a must-have issue of NP. In case you missed the memo, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a legend in the video game world. A masterpiece. The pinnacle of game-making as we know it. Next month, Nintendo 3DS owners all over the globe will have the privilege of experiencing this work of genius all over again, in full 3D. Don't miss the in-depth coverage Nintendo Power has to offer!

2. A Guide to Kick-Start Any 3DS Owner's Experience
This issue of NP includes a short buyer's guide to Nintendo 3DS cases, five essential tasks to get started, tips on effectively using StreetPass, info on four must-own launch titles, tricks to get the most fun out of AR Games, and more. My favorite feature? The opportunity to collect the Mii iterations of select NP staff members by the use of QR codes printed right into the magazine. Plus, no Nintendo fan should miss out on the chance to receive a very special Mii...but why ruin the surprise! Find out who it is for yourself! 

3. A Celebration of the Zelda Series' Silver Anniversary
Can you believe the Zelda series is 25 years old? I'm not even that old yet! It's hard for me to believe that video games have been around for so long. This issue of Nintendo Power continues to reflect on the things that made Zelda into what it is today.

Happy reading!

My latest video game adventure!

Who picks Bowser's Castle from Mario Kart 64, anyway? My brother, apparently. I can't help but sigh. Not my favorite Mario Kart course ever, by any means. I take a deep breath and grip the Wii Wheel tightly, waiting for the inevitable: bumping into the corners of walls, falling off narrow bridges into lava pits...all this combined with insanely fast-paced action complete with red shells, banana peels, and lightning. Yep, just another typical race in Mario Kart Wii.

I rev up my vehicle (the Shooting Star) in time with the countdown. 3...2...1...and we're off! Without a speedy start, I end up in 9th place within seconds. Ah, well...I've got three laps in which to catch up. Besides, the worse you do, the more "pity items" you receive. I'm fortunate enough to snag a Bullet Bill right near the start: I find myself being rocketed right up to first place in no time at all.

The rest of the race turns into a kind of juggling act for the three leaders: myself (as Rosalina), my brother (Baby Luigi), and a computer-controlled Daisy.

It's the second lap. Baby Luigi slips up and runs into a side wall. I snatch the opportunity to move up to 1st place. He returns the favor when I fly off the next jump at an odd angle. Daisy bumps past me. After a turbulent second lap, I regain 1st place. The final lap proceeds so smoothly, I'm sure I've won. The final stretch is before me...

Then I hear it. The sound of something whistling over the heads of nearly every other competitor. It's coming. I can't stop it. The dreaded spiny shell. Its target is clear: me. I'm on my feet now, bouncing up and down, jaw clenched. I'm not going to make it. No way. Inches away from the finish line, I know the time has come. It's right behind me...now it's right above me...it slams down at precisely the same moment as the winning whistle shrieks. The two apocalyptic events aren't separated by even a fraction of a second. I'm the winner!

Super Metroid and Expectations

On a scale of great influences in my early life, the Super Nintendo is second only to the Nintendo 64. Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario World, X-Men: Apocalypse, Street Fighter 2, Donkey Kong Country 2...all considered, is it really surprising that my love of Nintendo has lasted so long?

One game that never made it into the family Super Nintendo library was Super Metroid. What a great game, right? I had some serious expectations prior to playing this. Apparently it's one of the best games in the entire Metroid series. Possibly due to all of this praise, Super Metroid fell short for me. The same happened with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Here's what really mystifies me though (and keep focused, this could get messy): A Link to the Past didn't keep my attention very long for obvious reasons. I mean, I grew up on Ocarina of Time, so I'm partial to 3D Zeldas. As for the Metroid series, I began with the NES original. Super Metroid blew that game out of the water, right...? RIGHT?! Then why do I seem to like the original Metroid better than Super Metroid? I may never learn the answer.

I'm happy to say that I at least found a boss battle to enjoy on Super Metroid, which is more than I can say for Metroid. Also, the atmosphere of Super Metroid is genuinely awesome, thanks to eerie sound effects/music and creepy enemies. Given a choice between Metroid and Super Metroid, however, I would rather play Metroid. Call a doctor if you feel you must.

So I guess this is what Teddy Roosevelt's dog looked like...

My little hometown here only has a couple of thousand people in it, and I'd have to travel several hours just to have a chance for a StreetPass encounter. So the most exciting "notifications" I've gotten on the 3DS have been SpotPass ones. SpotPass is just the method by which special content comes in from a wireless internet connection. This morning, this cute little guy came into my Nintendogs+cats game with his owner: Teddy Roosevelt. His name is Pete, and he and my puppy, Molly, had a great time at the park! This is a pretty neat way to compensate for the lack of StreetPass opportunity some of us suffer from.