Merry Merry Christmas!!

Ping Pong sort of counts as a video game...sort of.

Merry Merry Merry Christmas!! I hope that your stockings were filled with video games a plenty! Sadly I did not receive any types of video games. . . Instead my video game Christmas present was to finally beat the Water Temple on Ocarina of Time. I couldn't play throughout last week because I just had too much school work!

Anyways I have had a lot of fun getting better at this game! I do so love my little brother Ammon for helping me throughout this game. . . sometimes. I hope that you guys got your stockings full of awesomeness!! Now I'm off to go and play ping pong!

Having trouble adjusting to post-Skyward Sword life

Yes, this means a review for Skyward Sword is on the way! I just have to write it...

That's only one aspect of post-Skyward Sword life. The other, of course, has a lot to do with video games. After finishing Skyward Sword, I thought it might be a good time to pick up what will be the next time-sucker in my life: Kingdom Hearts II for PlayStation 2. So I popped the game in!

..........................................

Nintendo, I thank you. Thank you for making games with creativity and imagination.

I nearly fell asleep trying to play the first hour or so of Kingdom Hearts II. I'm sure the game will draw me in later with compelling combat, but those graphics...they try to be realistic, only to bore me to death after playing within the vibrant world of Skyward Sword all this time.

Well, I played through most of Twilight Princess before Skyward Sword arrived, so perhaps that game would satisfy my hunger for adventure! It sure did! Only...

"WHY WON'T THIS SWORD SWING THE WAY I WANT IT TO!? Oh, yeah...no more one-to-one control..."

As you can see, my life was forever changed the moment I took on the challenge of saving the world in Skyward Sword.

Merry Christmas, Nintendo fans!

Christmas is in two short days! I hope you'll all get a video game or two. I hope even more that you'll remember to keep the true spirit of Christmas with you. Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Nintendo Lifeline!

Game Trailer: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Posting about that old Nintendo Power DVD got me all sentimental, so today I'm sharing with you the very trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess that will always live on in my memory because of it. In later years, I would come to realize that this first look at the game did not reflect what the final product would be. Still, it was undoubtedly a tantalizing look into the next masterpiece in the legendary series. Enjoy the trailer!

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The case in which this game is held!
Holly has what's supposed to be in it.

This be the very game itself!

To say the least, I love this game. The reason why I couldn't post last week is because I spent all of my free time playing this game. I've logged about six or seven hours on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and am currently at the water temple. The sad thing is that I, Mary, do not own this fabulous game. No, it is Holly who owns it and let me borrow it! Of course I didn't get it for free, I had to give her a game too. The game I let Holly (hahaha Holly like as in Christmas holly, and Mary as in, well, you know) borrow, and soon to kick my butt at, is Mario Kart Double Dash!!

Yes, I  think I have been converted! This game has made my "top ten best video games ever" list, and no I did not just make it up! Anyways, this game totally rocks my socks off! The music, goodness I cannot get enough of it! Not to mention Sheik is like the coolest person ever! Sadly I believe she would be cooler if I didn't know who she was. This is the disadvantage to having a little brother who plays video games like his life depends on it.

Speaking about my little brother, Ammon is his name, he is very frustrating. Ammon has already beaten this game, so he likes nothing more than to watch me play and tell me what to do! It drives me bonkers! Sometimes you want to struggle to find out what to do! So if you are a little brother or sister that has beaten a game before an older sibling, please don't tell them every step of every little thing! It gets very frustrating!

By the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Hope you get lots o' video games!

A chapter from my Nintendo history

Everyone has a history. And if you're reading this, you must have some history with Nintendo. Well, allow me to share a chapter from my own Nintendo history:

This story comes from when I was a wee lass in the eighth grade. I grew up with video games, you see, and, of course, I was still playing at 14 years old (obviously; after all, I'm still playing at 20). At this time, I was actively involved in the activities that were available on Nintendo's official website, which were actually quite different back then compared to today. It was only natural that I should come across the special offer of three free issues of Nintendo Power magazine if I were to register a Nintendo product.

Thus began my history with Nintendo's official rewards program, Club Nintendo. I'm not sure it was called Club Nintendo back then. In fact, I'm not even sure it was a rewards program yet. But I got my free issues of Nintendo Power magazine. One of them came with a DVD that featured trailers of many highly anticipated DS and GameCube games. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one example. Basically, the whole thing filled me with wonder.

A month or so later, I encountered an unexpected desire to sort out my priorities. I decided video games needed to go. In this pursuit, I got rid of at least a few things: my three issues of Nintendo Power and that awesome DVD. I was essentially disowning Nintendo as a hobby. Can you imagine how long that lasted? I don't remember exactly, but it wasn't long before I desperately wished I hadn't given away those mags. I don't even want to think about what else I may have chucked that I don't remember.

So there you have it. The story of how I almost eradicated Nintendo from my life.

Top Five 3DS Games for the Holidays 2011

 The Nintendo Lifeline welcomes today's guest columnist, Sean:

2011 has been a great year for 3DS fans in terms of new games. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, you may be wondering what games to get the 3DS enthusiast in your life. There are certainly plenty of excellent games to choose from. So, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by all your options. Don’t worry. You can narrow down your choices by checking out the five 3DS games that are certain to please any handheld gaming fanatic this holiday season. Here are the five 3DS games that will make the best holiday gifts this year:

1. Aliens: Infestation – This side-scrolling game challenges players to defeat the xenomorphs, an evil species of aliens that have taken over the world. This game is inspired by the Aliens film series and includes all the weapons from the movies. Players get to use flamethrowers, smart guns, and rifles to try to defeat the menacing xenomorphs.

2. Mario Kart 7 – Fans of previous Mario Kart games will love this new version. You get to race on tracks from older games and some new tracks with impressive graphics. Players also get to race underwater with the help of a propeller that’s attached to all of the karts. 

3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D – This is probably the most popular 3DS game that came out this year. It’s a remake of an original game made in 1998 with better graphics. Zelda fans will love being able to carry this game around on their 3DS.

4. Star Fox 64 3D – This is another remake of a popular Nintendo 64 game. It’s a scrolling shooter game set on a group of imaginary planets. The object of the game is to stop a mad scientist from destroying everything. This is a pretty challenging feat, which will please gamers who are looking to play a relatively difficult game.

5. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition – This edition of the popular Street Fighter games takes things to a whole new handheld level. You get to choose from 35 different characters to fight with, and you get to fight other players around the world when you connect your 3DS to a WiFi connection.

So, consider gifting the games above, and make the holidays special for the 3DS lover in your life!

Author’s Bio: Sean is a guest post writer on the subjects of 3DS games, retro video games, and locating an HP coupon for your holiday gift.

By the way, I beat Super Mario Bros.: A Review

Is there a video game more iconic than the original Super Mario Bros.? The NES classic gave form and character to gaming's most prolific mascot, Mario. It showed us that even the simplest of tunes can stick with us for an eternity. It taught us how to search for secrets and hidden paths. Really, it defined much of what video games could and would be in years to come.

But after 26+ years, does this game still hold up? With the help of simple, yet fun, gameplay, the answer is a resounding yes. As Mario, you traverse eight worlds that are each split into four levels, the last of which is a castle of sorts that ends in a boss fight with the Koopa King (Bowser). Sounds simple enough, right? The gameplay revolves around using Mario's incredible jumping ability to stomp foes and clear gaps. Sure, it's a little rough around the edges and you'll most likely experience a handful of cheap deaths before your journey's through, but there is a surprising amount of depth to be found along the way.

After playing this game for weeks and weeks and weeks, I felt like I gained some actual skill at it. It's a great experience in general. If you haven't already, I suggest you put down the meager $5 to download this game onto your Wii console. You won't regret it.

Looking for a great multiplayer experience for under $20? MotoHeroz has got you covered!

I recently downloaded a demo for the WiiWare title MotoHeroz. I had been following the game closely since its announcement because it seemed half-way decent. At first, the demo didn't impress me. Then I tried out the multiplayer mode with my brother...

I downloaded the full version then and there! The game's racing/platforming action is perfectly suited to the chaos and madness that gamers expect from a good multiplayer experience.

But before I get ahead of myself, allow me to provide a little bit of information about the game: MotoHeroz is a kind of side scrolling racing game with a platforming twist. The player takes control of an off-roading buggy and moves forward and backward through grass/desert/ice-themed levels to reach the goal. A key component of the gameplay is the ability to angle your vehicle while in the air: you don't want to tip over, and sometimes a well-placed landing can give you the speed you need to pull ahead.

This equals a racing style that can be both fast and slow, which inevitably leads to a gritty and exciting game to play with friends. It just feels real, somehow. If you don't want to take the leap and pay the $15 for this game, download the demo and give the multiplayer a shot. I can promise it won't disappoint!

Join Infendo's official Mario Kart 7 community!

I realize my readership isn't stinkin' huge, and I don't expect you guys to all have a Nintendo 3DS and a copy of Mario Kart 7. So instead of creating a Mario Kart 7 community for the Nintendo Lifeline, I'm inviting everyone (who can) to join the Infendo community, because it was a little more logical to do it that way:

Community Code: 20-1691-6700-3942

Can't wait to see you there! Oh, and we're having a community night this Saturday, December 17 starting at 7:00 p.m. US-Eastern time. Be sure to find out when that is in your timezone!

How I got Lost In Shadow: A Review

The atmosphere that the Hudson Soft-produced Wii title Lost In Shadow creates is remarkable. The game's premise is simple, yet compelling: the player takes control of the shadow of a nameless boy to reach the top of an enormous tower in order to reunite shadow and body. Here's the catch: as a shadow, you are confined entirely to other shadows that make up the environment.

This makes for some brilliant gameplay that revolves around the interaction of light and shadow. The puzzles force players to correctly utilize the ability to move real-world objects, rotate the game world, and shift light sources, all of which alter the layout of the shadows. Simple sword-based combat adds a touch of variety to the platforming gameplay.

Unfortunately, this game suffers from one major issue: poor pacing. The levels never seem to get much harder, and both the combat and the puzzle-solving become stale after a while. The visuals, though quite fetching, also lack desperately-needed variety as the game progresses.

All said and done, I don't know if this game justifies a purchase, but a rent is certainly well-deserved.

2012 Nintendo Lifeline Awards: Nominees

Well, it's that time again. The time when we look back at all of the best moments of the year. The purpose of the Nintendo Lifeline Awards is to celebrate the best moments in the world of Nintendo. First, however, I feel it necessary to offer this disclaimer: I will never have the time or money to try every worthwhile game in any one year, so my experience is quite limited. The Lifeline Awards are for entertainment and reflection only.

That said, here are the categories and corresponding nominees:

Best Overall Game

• Super Mario 3D Land (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
• Mario Kart 7 (N3DS)
• Wii Play Motion (Wii)
• Star Fox 64 3D (N3DS)
• Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (N3DS)
• Lost in Shadow (Wii)

Best Overall Graphics

• Super Mario 3D Land (N3DS)
• Star Fox 64 3D (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (N3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
• Steel Diver (N3DS)
• Lost in Shadow (Wii)

Best Get-up

• Tanooki Mario (Super Mario 3D Land)
• Ghirahim (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
• Metal Mario (Mario Kart 7)
• Kirby Hat (Nintendogs+cats)

Best Method of Travel

• Loftwing (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
• Tanooki Tail (Super Mario 3D Land)
• Cannon (Super Mario 3D Land)
• Propeller Block (Super Mario 3D Land)
• By Shadow (Lost in Shadow)
• Submarine (Steel Diver)
• Arwing (Star Fox 64 3D)
• Horse (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D)
• Hang Glider (Pilotwings Resort)
• Customizable Kart (Mario Kart 7)

Best Use of Stereoscopic 3D

• Super Mario 3D Land
• Steel Diver
• Nintendogs+cats
• Pilotwings Resort

As you can very well tell, there isn't a whole lot of variety in either my categories or the nominees therein. You'll also notice that the "Best Method of Travel" category easily packs in the most nominees of all, so my advice is that you take all of this with a grain of salt. Please feel free to give your favorites shout-outs in the comments, because I will certainly take them into consideration as I decide the winners. Check back in early January for the results!

Xenoblade Chronicles is coming to North America! Yay?

Say hello to Xenoblade Chronicles, North America! What do I know about this game? Not much. Just that the Wii exclusive was released in many parts of the world, but not North America for whatever reason, and that a fan-made organization called "Operation Rainfall" pushed for the North American release. Nintendo of America has officially announced a release for the game sometime in April 2012. For now, the game will only be sold through Nintendo's online store and Gamestop.

So lets take a look at this trailer! First of all, if I were to get this game, it would probably end up as the most violent game I've ever owned...according to the ESRB descriptors, that is. I'm just glad it's not M-rated, because that would completely eliminate the chance of my getting it. Why do I mention this? It brings to mind the most basic conflict that comes up with this release: is there an audience for it? I'm guessing most of the people who really wanted the game already imported a European copy.

But then there are people like me. I might just get this game now that it's more readily available. I like RPG's okay, and this one has gotten stellar reviews, including a lot of perfect scores.

I'm pretty conflicted about this, so time will tell!

Oldies - Nintendo 64

I think that it's time to look back at the good ol' times of the Nintendo 64. With its great game library, playing this station is for sure one of the bests! I have a number of 64 games but by far my favorite to play is Harvest Moon. With its awesome music and the fact that you can pick who you marry and then have a kid with them (who never ages past 2, I swear!) this game is just an example of how awesome the Nintendo 64 truly is.

Lately with all of the new stations coming out (DS, Wii, Xbox Kinect) everyone forgets about the better things in life. What happened to family, friends, school, and old Nintendo stations? Now everything is about how good the graphics are, or how swift the motion control is. Did developers forget how nice it was when all you had to do was stare at the screen and push a couple of buttons?

I think the 64 is kind of like a loving grandparent. No matter how old they are you'll still love them and respect them always. Sometimes they can even teach you a couple of things. Well that just about wraps it up for me! Go and play some of your old stations again and forget about the new, even if it's just for a day.

Video games and snow

This won't be the last of the winter snow.

A chill in the basement, a heavy coat, a car that won't start...yep, just a typical winter morning in my little southern Utah town. The chilly season has begun. With it, I can't help but think about the many, many Nintendo games that feature snow or ice areas.

Think about any Super Mario game from Super Mario 64 to the present and you undoubtedly remember some of the ice/snow levels in them. Can you really be surprised that that's the case? The unique features of ice provide for a compelling platforming environment. Right now I'm specifically thinking of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and the penguin suit, which brought ice-based platforming to a new level of fun.

"Ice? Fun?!" you may be thinking. Hey, I don't like ice much myself, but one thing is certain: it adds much-appreciated variety to video games. So how about you guys? Do you like or dislike the inevitably slippery ice levels of today's platforming games? Go ahead and let us know in the comments!