Poll: Who is the ultimate Nintendo villain?

Let's settle this once and for all! Who is the ultimate Nintendo villain?

Thanks!

This one is for you Holly!

I'd like to dedicate this post to our very own Holly! She's the one who is amazing and in charge of this whole set up! She's one of the funniest people I know! I love that woman! I hope that everyone reading this realizes just how hilarious and awesome she is! Even if you haven't met her in real life, well, you should just understand how cool she is from her posts.

I'm way jealous of Holly! She has the coolest game right now! I want to go and watch her play it like way way bad because I know she'll totally just take that game down! So Holly, this post is dedicated to you and all of your awesomeness!

Underway in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

I don't think I've ever done an impromptu post like this one since I adopted my strict posting schedule months ago. However, I thought I should let you all know that I finally got my copy of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. I'm a busy woman, but rest assured every spare moment of my time shall be spent playing this game, so look forward to a review in coming weeks! In the meantime, you can enjoy the unboxing photos I took. I know there isn't much, but I wanted to get playing right away!

Why Star Fox 64 3D came as a pleasant surprise: A Review

A couple of years ago, I downloaded the original Star Fox 64 onto my Wii. Let me just say, it wasn't very user-friendly. It throws you into the action without the smallest trace of a tutorial or even a simple mission to ease you into it.

I was much more impressed with this year's Nintendo 3DS remastering of the N64 classic. I made it through the main adventure easily enough without even practicing in training mode. And the fun factor was consistently strong. Pulling off moves like somersaults, barrel rolls, and U-turns will never feel more slick in a video game. And for those of you looking for more of a challenge, there are alternate routes to find that lead to more difficult levels.

I've never been a big shooter fan, but this game may have converted me. Definitely a must-play.

How The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is held back from brilliance: A Review

If only. IF ONLY! If only Wind Waker wasn't bogged down with a tedious, monotonous traveling system. Oh, it's a great game, make no mistake. True to the spirit of the Legend of Zelda, it has a compelling plot and plenty of puzzles to solve. But that darn Great Sea! I found myself actually dreading to come back to the game when the prospect of moving from island to island loomed before me. As beautiful as that music is, as stunning as the graphics are, I just don't want to sit there with a controller in my hand and no reason to use it.

That said, this really is a great game beyond what is a rather major issue. As I said above, the music is really well done and the graphics are a timeless work of art. At the end of the day, it really is a must-play. It's just that darn sea...

Video games = stress reliever

My extensive video game collection that helps me relieve stress!

Are you ever totally swamped with homework? Or are even having problems with family, friends, and for you lucky ones boyfriend/girlfriends? I know I sure do! I know I'm only 15 but right now my life is like a - insert video game reference -! One of my teachers is just asking for too much in too little time, me constantly having to study for my permit test (which I passed on my first try!!), and basketball (which I will sometimes play Varsity) my life is getting pretty dang stressful! So what do I do when my life is going off of the deep end? I play an easy, but challenging (if that makes any sense), video game!

The stress reliever of video games is a great one. For a few hours I get to completely forget about all of the papers that are due, the tests that have to be taken, and even basketball and I'm able to just enjoy my video game! Of course when I am stressed and need relief I don't want to play a very challenging and stupid game. That just makes it all not even worth it. What I play is something simple, relaxing, and of course it has to have a good soundtrack. What totally fits this description? Mario, Donkey Kong, and any sort of fighting game. What's a better way to get rid of your stress than beating people up . . . not in real life of course. Anyways, if you ever get really stressed and need a break just take up a simple video game! I would recommend not playing an RPG just because they can get really frustrating! I mean that's what you are trying to get away from the first place right?

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Use Black Friday to its fullest and GO GET SOME VIDEO GAMES!

Why you would be mistaken to think that Super Mario 3D Land is "just another 3D Mario platformer": A Review

Let's face it: new entries in the Super Mario series are just so different from the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES. What? That's obvious, you say? Whoops. My mistake! There is a world of difference between today's Super Mario and the Super Mario of yesteryear. After 25 years, there are going to be some changes!

And yet, I think there are more similarities and continuity within the Super Mario series and its entire history than the average Joe realizes. Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS system packs that 25-year history into one solid package, and then adds to it...all with stunning aplomb.

If you're one of the many who are skipping this one because it's "just another 3D Mario platformer", let me help you make up your mind: firstly, the use of stereoscopic 3D in this title is superb. If the player opts out of using it, he/she will miss out on a slew of mind-blowing effects exclusive to this entry in the series. Secondly, this title combines the best of classic 2D Mario action with the smoothness of modern 3D Mario action to create a whole new style of play.

You just can't miss out on this game, no matter how convinced you are that there's nothing special about it. Trust me, it's special.

First impressions of Super Mario 3D Land

Controls: They feel pretty slick, but I have and always will dislike the four alphabet buttons on the Nintendo 3DS. Firstly, they're too small. Secondly, they don't feel comfortable to press in the slightest. It's a shame, but I can't deny it takes something away from the game.

Gameplay: Nintendo, I just love you! Even after 25 years, your Super Mario games have the freshest gameplay ideas I've ever encountered! This is what really makes the Super Mario series so special.

Sound: So far, all the songs I've heard are simply remakes from previous Mario games, but I'm sure there will be a great variety as I travel through all of the levels.

Graphics: I love the 3D effect in this game! I'm not losing my sweet spot with the slightest of motions, even with the 3D turned all the way up. It's a nice change from previous attempts on the system.

Nintendo Music: Main Theme Medley

I cheated. I listened to a majority of the tracks that will be on the Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony CD, which will be included free with the first production line of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The Nintendo Video application for Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo Channel for Wii have both seen special sneak peaks of today's musical selection: The Legend of Zelda Main Theme Medley.

This arrangement features great variety! It starts with mystery that blends effortlessly into epic grandness, which then gives way to a soft, reflective moment. The song finishes with a majesty that surpasses almost anything you'll ever hear.

Enjoy it!

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: A First

This weekend I had the pleasure of playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the first time (see what I did there?). I gotta say it was really fun! Holly and I usually get together and play video games, talk about video games, or watch things that have to do with video games. This time she suffered through me playing Zelda. Holly sat there giving me hints when I needed it! Through her help, I beat the first ending guy!

Of course, this all happened on 11/11/11! It truly was a magical day! I had very high expectations for Ocarina of Time, just because of what other people say about it. Luckily what they say is true! There is so much mystery only in the beginning of the game! I can't wait until I get to play it again! I told Holly if I started to play it now I'd never leave her house. Now I am just constantly thinking about it and want to play it again! I give this a five star rating and I've only played the beginning!

Your roadmap to the site

If you have been following my blog from the beginning, you are a very lucky person! You've seen how the site (and my writing) has evolved over the past eight months. It was a difficult beginning. I changed the design of the site at least five times. I struggled to find a logical way to keep the blog updated and still have time for outside activities. I worked to turn the site into a user-friendly experience.

While I'm waiting for my copy of Super Mario 3D Land to arrive, I would like to highlight a couple of the pages on this site. The first is the Reviews page, which is pretty self-explanatory. My library of game reviews isn't expansive, by any means, but I'm always actively working to obtain and play a variety of games for review. Of course, if you would like me to review a specific game, you can find the contact information at the bottom of the About the Authors page of this site. About the Authors also contains basic facts and trivia on myself and Mary, the blog's only other contributor. Finally, there's the Features page. Some of the main categories are Picks of the Week, Music, Comparisons, and Firsts.

I only wish to provide easy ways for my readers to find what they're looking for, so I hope you'll explore the site in whatever fashion suits you best. As mentioned above, you can always let us know what you like about the blog and what you think we could improve by using the contact e-mail at the bottom of the About the Authors page.

Actual gaming content is pretty dry for me at the moment, but this is undoubtedly the calm before a storm of great Nintendo-developed games, beginning with Super Mario 3D Land. Keep tuning in: your patience will pay off!

Nintendo Music: Underwater Theme

I had to bring this song up at some point. I've been playing the original Super Mario Bros., from which the original rendition of this song came. This, of course, is an arrangement of the original. You'll notice the three distinct styles of the song as it progresses, beginning with the original "bleepy" version, moving into an orchestral version, and finishing with a, ah, "barn-raisin'" version.

Thinking about it, perhaps there was more reason behind this set-up than meets the ear. If you've ever played level 2-2 of the original Super Mario Bros., you may remember that the song didn't, well, flow back into itself very smoothly. Once the cycle was done, there was what I like to call a jolting rest before it started again abruptly. The style shifts in this arrangement can be called nothing but unexpected and even jolting.

Think about that! And have a great gaming weekend!

4 great games coming this holiday and why I recommend them

Will your games be coming in packages this season?

The "holidays" start when we begin enjoying Halloween candy and end sometime after New Year's, when it makes us sick just looking at all the left-over goodies. In between, we eat what seems like a never-ending flow of candy and baked goods.

In addition, the holidays never fail to see that gamers all over the world get a hearty supply of video games. Wii and Nintendo 3DS owners are not exempt from that, so here are 4 up-coming games for you to consider this season:

Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
Out this Sunday, it's the latest installment in what is undoubtedly Nintendo's (and gaming's) most successful franchise. That is the first and most obvious reason why it will be a must-buy for N3DS owners. That said, players can expect brilliant platforming madness, power-ups old and new (read: Tanooki suit and boomerang suit), and even practical uses for stereoscopic 3D. Don't pass this one up!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
One short week after Mario jumps onto store shelves once more, Nintendo will pump out what is sure to be the company's biggest hit of the year. Mark November 20th on your calender as the release of a game that has been in the making for literally years. The reasons for getting this are too numerous to count, but here's a quick summary of what's in store: one-to-one sword action thanks to the Wii Remote Plus, a story that promises to explain the origins of the iconic Master Sword (and then some!), what is sure to be a stellar soundtrack, a larger quest than in any other Zelda (estimated 50-100 hours to complete), and, of course, the dungeons, puzzles, enemies, and gameplay that come packed into every Zelda game. Seriously, don't miss out on this one. You'll regret it.

Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
Are Mario Kart memories of some sort not ingrained into the heads of every Nintendo fan alive? New courses, new items, better online capabilities, hang gliders and water jets, customizable karts, and more await in this installment of the popular series. The game hits stores December 4th.

Rhythm Heaven (Wii)
This one comes out the day after Christmas (what's up with that, anyway?) February 13, 2012, but it still fits into the "holidays", because, like I said above, the holidays don't end until after New Year's. Catchy music, quirky gameplay, and a whole lot of personality characterized the Nintendo DS installment of Rhythm Heaven, so why should the Wii title be any different? I look forward to more information before the game's post-Christmas release!

What makes a video game great?: Sound

In case you haven't noticed, I really like music. I find that music in video games tends to be more exciting or more emotional (either way) than your typical pop song. Music is a vital element in video games. It adds an absurd amount of immersion to the overall atmosphere. Take the Nintendo 64 game Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The wide open spaces of Hyrule Field are accompanied by a robust, adventurous tune, while dank dungeons echo soft, sometimes creepy, songs with atmospheric noises.

There isn't a genre that benefits more from a solid soundtrack than the rhythm genre. Duh! When deciding which of the many Guitar Hero games to get, the track list is the first thing to look at. When deciding whether to get Just Dance 2 or Just Dance 3, the track list was of utmost importance to me. Choosing to get the Wii game Samba de Amigo was largely helped by the promise of a robust soundtrack.

When considering "sound", however, music is not the only element. Sound effects also play a large part in video games, even if that part is easy to overlook. Can you imagine playing a Zelda game without the sound of Link's footsteps, or without the chink-chink, click-click, clank-clank, or BOOM! of his weapons? Yeah! That's what I thought!

Got any other examples of superior sound in video games? Mention it in a comment!

Here's one gamer who is more than a year late

Don't you just want to play this?

Nintendo fans have great cause to celebrate this year: it's the 25th Anniversary of the Legend of Zelda series! This really is a big accomplishment. Firstly, 25 years is ancient on the video game industry timeline. Secondly, it's kind of a big deal that this video game series has been so consistently good over a period of 25 years. Think about it!

Fans have undoubtedly been doing fun things to celebrate all year. So what have I been doing, you ask? Well, I bought a Nintendo 3DS back in March. I played Ocarina of Time 3D. I bought a couple of Zelda-related downloads. I'll play Skyward Sword when it comes out later this month, of course. Let's just say that the list of what I haven't done is a lot longer than what I have done.

Truth be told, I'm still workin' on celebrating last year's special occasion: the 25th Anniversary of the Super Mario series. I'm going to beat every Super Mario game made! And the game I'm up to now is (drumroll, please) Super Mario Bros. for the NES! Nope, I've never beaten that game, and even after a week of playing it, I can't get past World 6. What can I say? The controls throw me off. Happy weekend, readers!

Nintendo time is family time

Yes, this is every last member of my immediate family, and then some.

I think gaming runs in families, particularly big ones. Every large family I know plays games. I have 8 siblings. Mary, our other contributor, has 14 siblings. I could name two other families, one with 8 kids, the other with 9, who play video games.

Each of these families have older members. With 9 kids, there's going to be a pretty large age gap in between the youngest and the oldest. That gap is 20 years in my family. So, yeah, my oldest brother was around when Nintendo brought video games home with the Nintendo Entertainment System. Is that not a reasonable explanation as to why video games are a continuing tradition in the households of large families?

But that's not really the point I wish to convey in this post. Considering the above, it stands to reason that video games could provide crucial family bonding time in these households. Well, I'll just go right out and say it: video games do provide crucial family bonding time in my household. Memories that stand out to me from my younger years include playing Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, Mario Paint, Mario Kart 64, and Mario Party 2 with my family. Now, years later, the video game legacy lives on with me, my three younger siblings, and games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, Super Mario Bros. Wii, and more. We even revisit classics like Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario World, thanks to the Wii system's Virtual Console.

I'll end on this ironic note: my parents are the sole members of the family who have no interest in playing video games with the rest of us.

Taking State!

This is one of the coolest pictures, I believe!
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

I have to tell you guys a secret . . . OUR VOLLEYBALL TEAM TOOK STATE! I'm just so pumped about this!! To add to that, it was on my birthday! It was the best birthday present ever! What's cool is the fact that everyone thought that the team we were going against was going to win! That's right, we were the underdogs! That reminded me about all of the video games I've played where you play as the underdog. Guess what? I couldn't think of any!

Not a lot of video games have underdog stories. I really can't think of any! Donkey Kong - no, they like rule the jungle; Zelda - not really; Final Fantasy - some of them are sorta underdogs. I just don't know! I guess in the Nintendo world people just don't think that underdogs can make it! The main character has to have some sort of background that makes them mysterious in some way! Anyways I was just super happy about winning state! Me being only a Freshman and all, I didn't get to play, but at least I was able to be on the bench with my team! Well HAPPY HALLOWEEN YOU GUYS! Hope it was awesome and you got sick from candy!