Are boys better gamers than girls?

I'll just tell you what I think right off the bat: boys are generally better at video games than girls. I've seen it time and time again.

I am a girl, and I have been playing video games for as long as I can remember. Super Mario World was my sustenance growing up. I beat The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the first time at a young age, and I have since beaten it countless other times. I played all three Super Smash Bros. games in an abundance during their respective times. And I'm not gonna lie: I work my butt off to be as good at games as I can be.

Why then does my younger brother often trump my own Super Smash Bros. Brawl skills when he doesn't take video games nearly as serious as me? Why also can he beat me at Metroid Prime 2 multiplayer when I've got several hours on him from playing single player?

I have decided that boys are more aggressive than girls, and that's why they tend to have more natural skill in gaming. Many games are reflex- and instinct-driven, and boys just surpass girls in that area, plain and simple. However, there are certain kinds of games that I think us girls have an advantage in. I'm talkin' puzzle games! Girls tend to have more patience than guys, and that suits them to games with a slower pace. And I can't forget to mention dance games. Girls are definitely better dancers than guys...or at least more willing to dance!

Obviously, these are just generalizations. Even though I'm a girl, I love to play all types of games. And if you are a boy who's unafraid to break out the mad skills with Just Dance, great! What I'm saying is that boys are typically more naturally gifted at video games. What are your thoughts?

Metroid Prime and lots of screaming

I don't like to be horrified. Whether it's games, movies, or books, the "horror" genre is the last I would deliberately seek out.

I wouldn't call Metroid Prime a "horror" game, but it has a distinctly spooky atmosphere about it. It's terrifying, but in a very satisfying way. Does that make sense? Well, what if I just told you that I have screamed, out loud, many times while playing it?

What's the game's secret? It's got to be a combination of a lot of things, including art direction, level design, and music and sound effects. Especially music and sound effects. Just listening to some of the boss themes will send shivers down my spine, no problem. Sometimes you hear things. You hear, but don't see. You move forward a couple of steps, ever so cautious, look around for whatever's making the noise, and still you don't see.

I think atmosphere is the calling card of the Metroid series. I've played a lot of Metroid games, but none boast the same raw, well-defined creepy feel as Metroid Prime. Then again, I haven't even reached the second or third Prime games yet.

First Impressions: Metroid Prime

Please note: these are first impressions of the game Metroid Prime as found within the game Metroid Prime Trilogy...in other words, this is a Wii game, not a Gamecube game.

Phew! With that out of the way, let's talk about Metroid Prime, a really excellent game! Atmosphere is the calling card of basically any Metroid game, and Prime is no exception. In fact, of all the Metroid games I have played so far, Prime probably has the most engrossing, compelling atmosphere of any. That is one of the first things that struck me as I began the game.

I was further impressed by the controls. I don't know how it feels to play Metroid Prime with a Gamecube controller, but I can tell you that I've never been more thankful for point control than while playing Prime. I'm not very competent at the first-person shooter format, but if every FPS feels as slick and simple as Prime, sign me up, I'll play them all!

Level design in Metroid Prime is also top notch from what I've played so far. The levels are a joy to explore and are teeming with secrets. I have gotten stuck a couple of times, but no situation has been so hopeless that a little bit more poking around didn't fix it.

Complaints? I do get a little nauseous when I need to spin the camera more than 90 degrees. Is that an FPS thing or a Metroid Prime thing? It's not like it ruined the game for me, though, so no harm done!

All in all, I can't wait to keep playing Metroid Prime, and that's when I know a game's a keeper!

Now Playing: Week of April 21-27

Welcome back to the place where we talk about what games we'll be playing in the upcoming week! Here's the run-down:

Holly
I'll be playing much of what I have been playing for weeks now: game-beating is slow-going with an overstuffed class schedule to keep one busy. So my "usuals" are returning: Metroid Prime, Xenoblade Chronicles, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Golden Sun, and Metroid: Zero Mission are priorities. I might try to squeeze some Okami in, but somehow playing it feels more like a chore than anything else right now. I'm afraid I can't explain that...

Mary
With all of her activities (especially as the school year approaches its close), Mary has limited herself to one gaming desire for the week: playing Guitar Hero. If the opportunity presents itself, however, we may play some Donkey Kong Country Returns or World of Goo together at some point.   

Now Playing: Week of April 14-20

Welcome to another edition of Now Playing! Let's dive right into the games of the week:

Holly
As a recent First Impressions post would tell you, I finally received and have been playing the Wii game Xenoblade Chronicles. This week, I also hope to break back into Okami for Wii. I'm finding it somewhat difficult to do so, but I must! Metroid Prime rounds out this week's Wii line-up. It's pretty ambitious, I know! In the handheld realm, I will still be playing Kid Icarus: Uprising, but, having beaten it, it'll be more of an afterthought to GBA games Golden Sun and Metroid: Zero Mission. In addition to all of the above games, I may sprinkle in some of the following during the week: Rhythm Heaven Fever, Super Mario Galaxy (1 and 2), Final Fantasy III, Super Mario 64, and Wii Sports Resort. How 'bout you all?

*UPDATED* Now Playing: Week of April 7-13

Holly
Last week I forgot to mention one key title that I would be playing. That's because I hadn't gotten it yet, but I have it now! Metroid Prime Trilogy! I already started Metroid Prime and will undoubtedly play it some more this week! Kid Icarus: Uprising is another important game. I've been working on it for a while, and I am getting closer to finishing it, but it's a busy life, after all! Though Excitebots: Trick Racing got a lot of love this week, I still haven't quite finished with it, so it'll carry over into next week. What's new, you ask? Well, Metroid: Zero Mission, for one! Also, I'm hoping to begin Final Fantasy III this week as well. It should be a great week of gaming!

Mary (Update)
Mary will most likely be relaxing with Donkey Kong Country this week. And if she's got time, I'll probably have her over to my place for some social gaming, which might involve any number of games. MotoHeroz is a favorite of ours, but perhaps Mary will consent to play Super Mario Galaxy while I take up the player two position. There's a slew of other possibilities: New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Mario Kart Wii, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Rayman Origins, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country 2, World of Goo, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Bros. 3...with so many games to play together, there's no telling what we might choose!  

Favorite Wii games countdown #1: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

I kid you not, I have now been sitting at my desk for fifteen minutes or more, wondering what I can possibly say about my number 1 favorite Wii game, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Should I talk about the controls? Should I address the complaints that other reviewers may have towards this game? Should I recount the experience it was waiting for this game to be released? There are simply too many possibilities! Perhaps I'll discuss all of the above. Perhaps not. We'll see where the flow takes me.

The Wait
The very first teaser fans were blessed with was this little beauty right here:

Tantalizing, eh?

The web must've exploded! I got little tidbits here and there on the internet, but this occurred so long ago, I wasn't the web nut I am now. I remember searching for the image so I could place it as my desktop background, all the better to admire it.

News about the new Zelda game came very slowly, or so it seemed to me. During this time, it was a lot easier to not think about the game than it was during the months leading up to its release. When the trailers began flowing, I found it increasingly hard to keep my mind off of this game. Some months before the blessed released date, I pre-ordered the limited edition bundle from Amazon. More waiting. Agony! That, however, wasn't nearly as bad as the wait for my copy to come after the game's release. It released on a Sunday: I didn't get my package until the second Monday after.

The Game
I wasted little time in getting started with the game. I had all of my younger siblings around me. We watched the introduction sequences, enraptured. I found myself completely absorbed into the game world from the moment I took control of Link.

That immersion didn't let up through any portion of Skyward Sword. The pacing was great. There was always something to be in awe of. The motion control, in particular, added much welcome change and depth to the whole experience. In short, the game blew my mind.

Honorable Mention: Rayman Origins
I heard a lot of great things about Rayman Origins from a variety of sources, so I knew I would get it eventually. When I saw I could own the game for $30, I jumped at the chance. And I'm glad I did. Rayman Origins has got a lot of things going for it: pretty graphics, tight controls, a sense of humor, and a charming soundtrack to name a few. I recently played this one with a non-gamer friend of mine, and she loved it! If you ask me, that is one of the best forms of praise a game can receive. That said, don't worry all of you challenge-seekers out there! Origins has plenty of that along with accessibility. Just...don't miss out on this one if you have a Wii, okay? That's all I have to say.

A Game I Should Have Played: Metroid Prime Trilogy
Why?! Three well-reviewed games for a mere $50? Why did I think I could miss out on it?! For those of you who don't know, Metroid Prime Trilogy is a Wii game that actually contains three games: Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2, and Metroid Prime 3. All three Metroid Prime games were met with phenomenal praise. All I can do is keep asking myself "WHY?!" If I bought this game now, it would burn a $150 hole in my wallet. That's three times as much as it was when it first came out. I have never played any of the Metroid Prime games. Someday I'll get around to that, but I'm not so confident that it will be in "Trilogy" form. Why, Holly, why?

Favorite Wii games countdown #9: Rune Factory Frontier

Some moments in life, whether we recognize it or not, end up as major turning points. In my gaming life, one such moment was when I asked my buddy if I could borrow the GameCube game Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life from her. She often mentioned it in our conversations about video games, so I figured I should try it out. Sure, it was a little rough around the edges, but it was infinitely addictive.

Rune Factory Frontier is pretty much the exact same way. A little rough around the edges: load times are rather atrocious, and you find yourself encountering them much too often because the segments between load times are painfully small. But infinitely addictive: the game has all of those key RPG elements that submerge the player into the experience like nothing else can. And, like we all know from the time Harvest Moon first began, taking care of a farm and livestock can be surprisingly addictive. Rune Factory Frontier is definitely worth your time whether you're a Harvest Moon/Rune Factory pro or a newbie to the series.

Honorable Mention: Klonoa

As platformers go, Klonoa is a pretty decent game. The voice acting is ultimately corny, but the gameplay's got it where it counts.

A Game I Should Have Finished: Metroid: Other M
Nope, I never did finish this one. Other M belongs to a category that I like to call "Deep, Engrossing Games". In other words, the player needs to devote more than just a few minutes at a time to it. And one can only play so many "Deep, Engrossing Games" at the same time. Right now, those are Okami and Kingdom Hearts II for me, and I barely have time to play those. Someday I will finish Metroid: Other M and give it a proper review.

GameBoy Advance Ambassador games: First Impressions (part 1)

F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Yikes! Ya know, many of the racing games of yesteryear just didn't age well. I believe this is one of them. I think that can be attributed partially to the D-pad based control scheme...and the 2-D graphics. Yeah, racers are probably better off in 3-D. All I know is I wouldn't pay for this game.

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
How did I miss out on the original Yoshi's Island in my youth?! It's a flippin' sweet game! Stay tuned on this one for sure!

Mario Kart: Super Circuit
I actually have this game in GBA cartridge format! To be brief, I've never liked it...at all...in the slightest. If the original Mario Kart on Super Nintendo is anything like this one, I'll stay far away.

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong
I haven't played this one much, but what I've seen, I've liked...a lot. It's kind of a combination of platforming and puzzle-solving. I can't wait to have time to play more of this little gem!

Metroid Fusion
Another title I have an actual cartridge of! I love playing this game on my GBA SP. But the D-pad and face buttons on the Nintendo 3DS system are, to be quite frank, a pain to use. They're too stiff or something. That aside, Metroid Fusion is an excellent game.

Warioware, Inc. Mega Microgame$
Apparently this title introduced the brilliant concept of microgames. It works, and works well. Obviously there isn't going to be a lot of meat to this kind of game, but it's a much-appreciated diversion.

Six down, four to go! Look forward to part 2 in this series in a couple of days! 

Metroid II: Return of Samus and the way to bring a franchise to the handheld realm

It was many months ago when it occurred to me that the missing link in my Metroid journey could possibly come to the Nintendo 3DS in the form of a virtual console release. The game, of course, is Metroid II: Return of Samus. I would have discussed this one a lot earlier if I had been given the chance. It's not like I could wait for it, so I went from Metroid to Super Metroid.

So here we have Metroid II: Return of Samus, released for GameBoy in 1991 and for Nintendo 3DS virtual console in 2011. Not all game franchises have such a smooth transition to a handheld as this one. And I think Metroid II serves as a great example of how that transition should be made. Simplifying the original so the gameplay remains the highlight, making the objective easy to remember, and maybe adding something the original didn't have to make it worth playing. Metroid II only had one problem: save points were far and few between, and that can be the undoing of a handheld experience. However, the virtual console remedies this problem in one fell swoop.

I look forward to playing some more Metroid in the near future!

The thrill of the new

One of my very first posts on the Nintendo Lifeline was called Metroid and the Thrill of the New. I thought it would make for a great experiment to play the Metroid series for the first time and then to chronicle my impressions on the Nintendo Lifeline (the last Metroid game I covered was Metroid: Other M over a month ago). The concept I really wanted to stress in that post is the idea of experiencing something for the first time. As it happens, that point didn't come through as strongly as I wanted it to. So this is my second chance.

I don't recall what it felt like to discover that Shiek is actually Princess Zelda in disguise (sorry if that spoiled it for you, but I should think everyone knows that by now!) I was what, 5 years old at the time? But I do recall the feeling of experiencing similar plot twists in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess when I played that for the first time. It's an unrivaled, albeit rare, sensation. So enjoy it while you can! When you begin a new adventure, whether through books, movies, or video games, take time to stop and appreciate the new feelings, experiences, and even difficulties that come your way. You only get one chance to experience that video game for the first time!

A weekend guide for Nintendo fans

Wednesday was a big day in many ways for Nintendo fans. So maybe this is old news, but if you have gotten lost in all of the Nintendo goodness that happened, let the Nintendo Lifeline help you find your way through it this weekend!

First, a special Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword bundle was announced. The first shipment of the game will include a bonus 25th Anniversary Symphony CD, all for $50. Upgrade to $70 and the game comes with a special limited edition gold Wii remote Plus. Pre-order your preferred package on Amazon today!

Next, 3DS Ambassadors are now able to download the ten free NES games promised a few months back. Here follows a list of the games and my impressions so far:

Super Mario Bros.: How can you go wrong with the original Super Mario Bros. for the NES? Okay, the gameplay might have aged a bit, but this classic can still be fun today. It feels pretty good on the 3DS, but it is admittedly not as comfortable as the sideways Wii remote set-up.

The Legend of Zelda: I've never understood why the original Legend of Zelda was so innovative back in its time. Perhaps that's because it is anything but innovative at this point in time. But, in celebration of the series' silver anniversary, I'm willing to give it more of a shot than I ever have before. Stay tuned!

Yoshi: Puzzle games never seem to make it into my gaming libraries, but they probably should, because I have enjoyed the heck out of Yoshi, a simplistic NES puzzle game. This game is definitely the hidden gem in this group of NES freebies. When this game is released for the general public, the $5 should be worth it.

Donkey Kong Jr.: I haven't had much time with this game, but I don't like what I've played so far. The action is slow, the gameplay is boring, and the controls are iffy.

Metroid: I've talked about this game before, so you should just check out this post to get the full picture. In short, this is a great game. Go for it if it's free, and consider it even if you have to pay the $5.

Other free games for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors include Wrecking Crew, The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, and NES Open Tournament Golf. I'll play those a little more in order to provide more coverage on them in the future.

Finally, I want to include instructions on how Ambassadors are to download these games, because it's a fairly complicated process: 1) Go into the Nintendo eShop from your Nintendo 3DS menu screen. 2) Scroll all the way to the left in order to find the Settings/Other icon and select it. 3) Scroll down to the Your Downloads button and select it. 4) Scroll down until you find the ten free games and select Redownload on the first one. You'll have to repeat steps 2-4 multiple times in order to download all of the games.

Have an amazing Labor Day weekend!

 

Metroid: Other M and a critical consensus

True, Samus does say a lot in many of her games. Usually, however, all her words are confined to text boxes only. That and much more is where Other M differs, simultaneously drawing in loads of flak. I must say, I agree wholeheartedly. Blah blah blah blaaah...that's what Samus's voice work seems to sound like for extended periods of time within Other M. Interestingly, most of the other voices are about twice as interesting as Samus's.

But hey! At least Other M's gameplay isn't compromised! Cut-scenes aside, Other M maintains a classic Metroid feel, which drives the desire to keep playing the game, to find the next answer...or even the next question.

This post has mistakenly turned into a review, but nothing particularly profound came to me as I played Other M. So what Metroid will it be next? Honestly, I don't know yet. Excuse me while I find one to play...

Violence in video games - Too much?

Look at this video! See no blood!! Is it that hard?

Ever since I was little, around six or seven, I was not allowed to play 'killing games' as they were called by my parents. They were of course referring to violent video games. Well that was back then. Now I am curious as to how my parents would react to the amount of violence, blood, and gore of the new 'killing games'? The violence has easily increased by more than half. My question is why? Why make it even more realistic? Ask yourself, "Could I really kill a person in real life with little remorse as I do in this game?" Well if you are playing those games you might as well say yes. That's how good the graphics have gotten.

"Oh come on! Really? It's just a video game! Just because I kill people in that doesn't mean I will in real life." That's exactly what you're thinking isn't it? No? You were thinking about grapes? Oh dear...this is awkward. Just kidding! I know that that is what you were thinking so DON'T LIE! It's very bad. Anyways the point is that the graphics in the newer video games are really good. It's almost like a movie, a very violent horrible movie. Why would they make the video games this realistic? It really makes no sense to me.

Many articles have been written on the violence of video games. One I find very true is 'Video Games: A Cause of Violence and Aggression'. It states that, along with many other things, the bad guys no longer fall down or disappear when you kill them. Now they act out how they die. Like if they get shot in the stomach they will crouch over holding their stomach. Very horrible. I find that I can't play those games. I always start freaking out whenever I have to kill something head on like that. I do believe that this is the reason that I like Traditional RPG games better than the ones where you walk around and hack at things until they die.

As an example of me freaking out, I was playing Metroid Prime and kept dying. The reason was simple. Whenever I started to get shot at I'd start to scream, (no joke my mom kept asking me what was wrong), and just shoot randomly because I'd be so scared. Eventually I got past the first ending guy, but let me tell you it was no easy task. Sure it's a simple enough and totally rad game, but it just scared me so bad. I think that I will stick with my Traditional RPG games.

Don't get me wrong I still love those kinds of games: just not the new ones. I mean look at The Legend of Zelda! It's one of those games where you just go and attack the thing, but no blood! I mean is it that hard to refrain from adding those types of things into your game? That game itself has kept going for a long time with 18 games and counting. Yet look at the graphics. They are getting better and better, but here's the catch-the violence level isn't really changing. I mean what does the level of violence in the new games have to say about us? About the people who think them up, make them, and then play them? All I have to say is that the world we are living in is somewhat corrupt if we enjoy killing people. Even if it's not 'in real life'.

Metroid Fusion and the dawn of familiarity

Well, the stars aligned for me to play the fourth installment in the Metroid series. Said installment is, of course, Metroid Fusion for the GameBoy Advance system. Two events that were necessary for me to really enjoy a Metroid game occurred just in time for Fusion. The first is that I built a strong enough foundation composed of Metroid series basics to avoid (much) frustration. The second is the game itself: Metroid Fusion has the smoothest control scheme of any installment that came before it.

Nearly every video game series, be it Mario or Zelda, has its own way of doing things. Coincidentally, I grew up with Mario and Zelda, so the basic principles of those games are stuck with me. I did not grow up with Metroid. But after playing the NES original and the SNES iteration, I've learned and solidified the basic principles. Samus Aran, a bounty hunter in a sci-fy space world, is always the main and playable character. She does a kind of spin through the air when she jumps diagonally. A host of power-ups and upgrades can be added to her suit through the course of any given adventure. If in doubt, bomb everything in sight, or use bombs to catapult Samus into hidden shafts. I get it now. And that foundation has enhanced the Metroid experience ten-fold for me. 

Still more important than that are the improvements made with Metroid Fusion itself. I distinctly remember the thrill I got when I first discovered Samus's ledge grip ability. Going back to previous Metroid games and finding Samus incapable of grabbing onto ledges made the gameplay feel incomplete indeed. The rest of the gameplay in Fusion feels flawless and comfortable, not to mention fun. Samus's ever-growing list of weapons and abilities are easy to manage and use.

This may shock you, but the next Metroid game I'll experience will be Metroid: Other M, which is the most recent installment. Sorry if that disappoints you, but I found a brand-new copy of the game for $20 (a steal!), and I can no longer let it sit dormant. See you in two days!

What in video games can provide the greatest satisfaction?

Reaching unbelievable heights in Excite Truck, sending an opponent flying in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, achieving perfection in Guitar Hero, finding a hidden secret in New Super Mario Bros. Wii...all of these are great ways to experience that soaring feeling in video games.

But there is one more example I feel transcends the rest. It's the feeling one gets from overcoming a difficult challenge or obstacle. From finding that hidden opening in Metroid Fusion to solving a particularly tough puzzle in Zelda, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction that accomplishment can bring. And if reaching unbelievable heights in Excite Truck or achieving perfection in Guitar Hero are challenges, great! That only adds to a store of potential satisfaction.

Of course, the more difficult the challenge, the more time spent on it, the sweeter the reward. My temper is quite fragile, so it's triply thrilling for me to maintain a cool head in the face of adversity, and then to come out on top.

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.

Metroid and the Thrill of the New

The adventure begins!

I admit it. I'm a modern gamer. I am acutely aware that video games have become easier with time, thanks in part to the improvement in technology. Sometimes I am discouraged by this. Am I not a true gamer because the original Legend of Zelda on NES bores me?!

In a deeply personal and eye-opening way, the game Metroid for the NES has answered this question and more. Have I beaten it? No. Will I ever? Maybe not. I just couldn't resist expressing my excitement about it here on my blog.

In a comparison of controls between Metroid and Super Mario Bros. (NES), Metroid wins. In a comparison of the drive to keep exploring between Metroid and The Legend of Zelda, Metroid wins. And this is coming from a huge fan of both the Zelda and Super Mario Bros. series. The original Metroid seamlessly combined the great aspects of both series into one polished game. It's a shame my older siblings didn't see the value of Metroid back in the NES era! I can see where I'd be now...I'd have gotten all the entries in the Metroid Prime series and then some.

I'll get to that point some day, but for now, I only have the original (thanks to the Wii system's Virtual Console Feature, of course!). Before I move on, I must say that before I bought Metroid, the extent of my exposure to the series stretched only to screenshots. I had never played a single entry before. That said, my perspective was quite fresh. Also, it was a new experience, which is always a beautiful thing.

Anyway, Metroid is truly great, even by today's standards! The controls are spot-on; I can adjust every jump to perfection. There's no need to open menus repeatedly in order to equip items, yet Samus can obtain and utilize a surprising variety of abilities and equipment. The idea of exploring to my heart's content keeps me coming back for more, even though I haven't reached any sort of benchmark to indicate that I've actually accomplished something (i.e. a boss). I can wander from room to room to corridor to room and so on and not find a single thing! But I know that if I keep searching, I'll find something worthwhile. For example, today I randomly happened across a whole new area with new music and new enemies...the thrill of discovery! Maybe it's just me, but Metroid is an incredible game!

The Nintendo Way (continued)

5.       Nintendo Power magazine has been my constant companion since March 2006. There’s not a source I trust more for Nintendo news, previews, and reviews. NP has broadened my horizons, letting me in on games that are a perfect match for me, but that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. A great example is the rhythm game Samba de Amigo for Wii. At a mere $20, this easily makes my list of the top five best values. The game-play revolves around the idea that Wii remotes can be used much like maracas. I can’t go into detail, but I love this game. It also opened my eyes to the fact that the rhythm genre of video games extends beyond Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Imagine that!

4.      Nintendo’s vast history is more accessible now than ever before through Wii. That’s right; number four is all about old-school! Thanks to the Wii system’s Virtual Console, I own games like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Mario Party 2, Donkey Kong Country (numbers one, two, and three), Star Fox 64, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Metroid. I put Metroid at the end for a reason: this is how the Virtual Console feature has really impacted me as a gamer. The Metroid series is one of the big Nintendo juggernauts. It was only a few months ago that I decided I wanted to be a part of this series. I spent a whopping five bucks on the NES original. Boy was I impressed! I never thought I could enjoy NES classics like I enjoy Metroid.

3.       The Super Smash Bros. series highlights another great Nintendo feat: that is, the gargantuan roster of characters and all the fantastic worlds they inhabit. It just so happens that each Super Smash Bros. game thus far has managed what seemed impossible: to bring this enormous number of characters together in a most perfect way. The Nintendo “family” includes such figures as sweet, innocent Kirby, charismatic Captain Falcon, determined Pokemon Trainer, sweet-but-sassy Princess Peach, and slightly dorky Ness, to name a few.

2.      Creativity and originality are indispensible traits in video games. (Or at least they should be.) Nintendo titles and systems have them in spades. Take the most basic series in Nintendo history: Super Mario Bros. Let’s see, there is a Mushroom Kingdom, pipes that warp the player to different locations, enemies with names like Goomba, Koopa, and Shy Guy, a plumber as a protagonist, a dinosaur/turtle…thing as a villain, and a kidnapped princess. Do you see where I’m going with this? How do all these wacky elements combine to create the best-known, most widely-played video game series of all time? Who knows? But it’s great, isn’t it? Nintendo has demonstrated again and again the willingness to try new things.

1.      From casual to hard core, from age 7 to 77, Nintendo games cater to every player’s needs. Do video games get more casual than Wii Sports? I’ve got friends, who had never touched a video game before, to play Wii Sports back in the day (or back in 2007 anyway). It seems it’s becoming the fashion now-a-days to consider an M-rated, explosion-littered, kill-everything-in-sight game to be “hard core”. Well here’s my idea of a hard core game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. A plot with depth, characters with motives, music with thought, a spot-on control scheme that includes the perfect balance of motion-controls to button presses, and cleverly-designed dungeons…the story is driven by emotionally-charged cut scenes; the characters bring the player to wonder who the true enemies and allies are (*cough*Midna*cough*). It easily takes 30-50 hours to complete this game, depending on the time spent pursuing optional, but extensive side quests. Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are just two examples of the variety offered by Nintendo.

That concludes my list of the top ten reasons to love Nintendo. So join me as I offer my opinions on Nintendo games, embark on the journey of the Metroid series, and ponder on all the joys and hardships that come with being a gamer.