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?

Keeping Nintendo in the family, little sister draws characters from Mario!

Have I ever mentioned that I have 8 siblings? Yes, it's true. 4 brothers and 4 sisters. I have one younger sister named Ivy, and she drew this picture just for me!

Pretty good for a ten-year-old! Even better when you consider that she's a ten-year-old in my family. Artists we are not! "It didn't take me that long," Ivy says. "It only took me like 20 minutes. I was going to make a notebook full of Mario characters. I did Peach, then I did the other ones. I wish I put 'Nintendo Characters' at the top instead of 'Mario Characters'."

Have any thoughts? Share them in a comment!

Nintendo's E3 presentation: Nintendo Lifeline weighs in

Welcome, Nintendo fans, to one of the many excited places on the internet at this joyous time of year! Nintendo kicked off E3 2012 with a presentation that began at 9:00 a.m. PT this morning (that was 10:00 for me). As always, it was full of surprises, important people, and bad jokes.

Here we will focus on the stuff that matters, however, the bad jokes not being in that category. Pikmin 3 dominated the first part of the presentation. I have never played Pikmin before, but I look towards Pikmin 3 with all of the optimism in the world, especially after what I saw today.

Is anyone out there getting tired of all the New Super Mario games? Well, I'm not. And New Super Mario Bros. U is the second game that has me all excited. So the Mario franchise is more than 25 years old. Is that the reason people complain about new ones? I have come to trust Nintendo to make each new Super Mario game bigger and better than the last, providing new reasons to own every last one. New Super Mario Bros. U can't come soon enough!

I really enjoyed seeing all of the third party support for Wii U, as well. Most of those games I probably won't ever play, but a few got my pulse pounding. Rayman Legends looks great, Just Dance 4 seems worthy, and Scribblenauts Unlimited might be worth checking out. I think it's great that the Wii U will have a great variety that includes, as Reggie Fils-Aime put it, "the hardest of the core", but that's not my realm.

A Wii U game called Nintendo Land also made its debut at today's event. I have to say, I was less than impressed. The limited look we got at the game made it seem far too Mario Party-esque, which was an instant turn-off for me. It looks like a game that will deliver only cheap thrills, but only time will tell on that one. I'm expecting to be disappointed, but Nintendo may prove me wrong.

All that said, I think potential is the word that comes from all of this. I'm in love with the Wii U hardware. If developers think creatively, I believe the Wii U system can ultimately provide more than a few mind-blowing experiences. Just think of how it might change and evolve some of our favorite Nintendo franchises: Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Pokemon, Super Smash Bros. and more come to mind. Who knows what the future holds!

What were your favorite or least favorite parts of Nintendo's E3 presentation?

How Super Mario 64 has passed the test of time with flying colors: A Review

Nintendo has a really excellent past. And the Nintendo 64 game Super Mario 64 is undoubtedly a huge part of that past. Super Mario 64 launched alongside Nintendo's groundbreaking system and served as the blueprint for all 3-D games to come.

Super Mario 64 was an innovation back then, but how does the game hold up today, 16 years later? Read on, my friend, to find out!

In Super Mario 64, Peach's castle is your gateway to a slew of fully explorable worlds. Returning to these worlds again and again turns out to be necessary, as each contains up to 6 power stars, and power stars are used to open up new parts of the castle. You might think that coming back to worlds would be a bad thing, but it isn't in this game: the levels are well designed and fun to explore. Nintendo didn't include the timer that is a staple of Mario side scrollers, and this works well, promoting players to explore to their content.

As for level variety, Super Mario 64 doesn't lack in that department. In addition to standard themes like ice, water, and lava, players will be treated to a mountainous level, a level with a hidden city, a dank underground level, a level inside a clock, and much more. Once you've unlocked the entire castle, you'll hardly know where to turn or which incredible world to visit next.

Just as you'd expect from a Super Mario game, the controls in Super Mario 64 are tight and hold up surprisingly well today. But when you realize that each successive 3-D Mario game has used essentially the same control scheme, it's no surprise. Mario added a fair amount of new tricks to his skill set during his first foray into a 3-D world, and once mastered, they are a joy to perform.

Do I have any complaints at all? Admittedly, yes. The camera control in Super Mario 64 is one thing that hasn't aged so gracefully. Sometimes it feels like the game is trying to put the camera in the most inconvenient position possible. But the rest of the game is just so awesome, this turns out to be pretty nit picky.

Conclusion
Super Mario 64 has passed the test of time with flying colors. The worlds are a lot of fun to explore and the controls have endured well. If you own a Wii, you have no excuse to miss out on this classic: it's well worth the $10 admission price.    

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?

Mario's Many Moves: Flight

Through the use of a variety of power-ups, Mario has taken flight many times over the years. This began with the ever-famous Tanooki suit in the NES game Super Mario Bros. 3. The Tanooki leaf turns Mario into a raccoon-like form. The key feature of the Tanooki suit is the tail. Mario can spin the Tanooki tail to put the hurt on enemies and also fly into the sky. Infinite flight would destroy the integrity of a Mario platformer, so the Tanooki tail's power is limited.

As Mario moved from 8- to 16-bit, he maintained his ability to fly with the feather power-up in Super Mario World. No, the feather did not grant him wings: instead, it adorned him in a bright yellow cape. Though it grants him the same ability as the Tanooki tail, the cape feels and controls entirely different. Mario can soar into the sky with enough momentum, but maintaining that flight turns out to be a tad more tricky in SMW. I would love to tell you exactly how it's done, but I'm afraid I don't know myself!

Flight in a 3-D Mario platformer turned out even more different. In Super Mario 64, the wing cap is the power-up of choice for flight. To lift from the ground to soaring heights, Mario need only perform a consecutive high jump with the wing cap on. After that, it's a matter of alternately diving and reaching for the sky again in smooth, sweeping motions.

So there you have it! Not all of it, of course, but I hope you'll play all the Mario you can to discover the secrets of flight for yourself! Have a splendid weekend!

Mario's Many Moves: The Jump

The time has come to post on something other than Kid Icarus: Uprising. I cannot tell you how much I love this game, so I'm really looking forward to the big review!

And now for today's topic! Mario's jump is legendary. Mario, after all, defined the platform genre, to which jumping is essential! It's easy to take Mario's jump for granted, but it is really outrageous.

Mario's amazing jumping skills have evolved over the years. Nowhere is that change more pronounced than in Mario's first 3-D adventure, Super Mario 64. Before this groundbreaking game, Mario's jumps were fairly straightforward. They could be manipulated to some degree, but there are many varieties of jumps in Super Mario 64. One of those variations is the consecutive high-jump. To pull this off, a player must jump three times in quick succession, without losing momentum. The first is a normal jump, the second a little higher, and the third even higher. Since Super Mario 64 was released, the consecutive high-jump has stuck with the series, even appearing in Mario's side-scrolling adventures.

Next, Super Mario 64 added the long jump to Mario's skill set. The long jump is undoubtedly harder to pull off, but well worth mastering. As Mario runs, he can duck, then quickly jump for an impressive long jump. Again, this maneuver has become a staple of successive 3-D Super Mario games.

The back flip was also an important jump that Mario learned in Super Mario 64. The back flip is considerably easier than the long jump, yet the only difference between the two in controller command is Mario's movement. The long jump requires a running start, while the back flip requires stillness. When still, Mario can duck and then jump. Voila! A back flip! Mario's back flip will propel him into the air more than a regular jump, but not more than a consecutive high jump.

So there you have it! It's gospel truth that playing a 3-D Mario platformer is easier and more fun when you have mastered Mario's various jumps. Hope you have a great weekend!

Nintendo Lifeline Top Ten Wii Games

Thanks to everyone who participated in our one-year anniversary celebration! This post is meant to be a gateway to all of the Wii games that made our top ten list, so let's dive right in:

10. Excite Truck
One of the first examples of how motion control could be used in racing games, which seemed a logical fit. Excite Truck still holds up today, even though it was released back in 2006. Little else can offer the satisfaction that Excite Truck has in store for gamers: catching big air, slamming into other trucks, driving through a forest to rack up the "tree run" stars, etc. The control in Excite Truck may seem a little wonky, but it can turn into one of the highlights of the whole thing, if only the player lets it.

9. Rune Factory Frontier
Remains one of the most addictive games in my collection. Rune Factory Frontier sees the player in control of Raguna, who has the typical memory issues, and so is essentially forced to live in the quaint little village of Trampoli to begin a lovely new life. Raguna can spend his days any way he wants: fighting monsters in the dungeons, seeking friendship with the locals, maintaining a farm for profits, or any combination of those things. Though the load times may be quite severe in this game, the graphics will not disappoint.

8. Rhythm Heaven Fever
It didn't take long for me to know that Rhythm Heaven Fever would end up being one of my all-time favorite games. Indeed, it is, at the very least, my absolute favorite rhythm game of all time. With simple, precise control, intelligent rhythms, and an imaginative style, Rhythm Heaven Fever will never grow old for this gamer.

7. Super Mario Galaxy
Mario goes into outer space with totally epic results. Super Mario Galaxy did what no other Super Mario could do: make the weird, quirky world of Mario feel grand and mighty, thanks to the out-of-this-world setting and an orchestral soundtrack.

6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
I love a good side-scrolling platformer, and it doesn't get much better than New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In addition to exhibiting pure platforming genius, New Super Mario Bros. Wii flawlessly added multiplayer to the mix, which would inspire games to come to do the same. None have nailed it quite like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, though.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Zelda series finds its dark side. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the best adventures I have ever experienced. The minimalistic approach to motion control adds a lot, the graphics and presentation are stunning. Also, the Twilight Realm in this game has got to be one of the coolest locations in the history of video games.

4. Wii Sports
Anyone who has owned a Wii console from the early days undoubtedly has fond memories towards the game Wii Sports. The game was magical back then, and it's still fun to play today. Nintendo orchestrated the release of their motion-controlled gaming console with perfect finesse by including this game as a pack-in.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2
What's even better than the excellent Super Mario Galaxy? Why, Super Mario Galaxy 2, of course! That's not what my expectation was, however. I thought that Galaxy 2 couldn't possibly add anything that Galaxy 1 didn't already have. WRONG! Galaxy 2 is one of the best games I've ever played.

2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The developers of Super Smash Bros. Brawl must've been insistent that the game be nothing less than perfect. After suffering from two set-backs in release date, the game finally fell into eager gamers' hands. Not only is Brawl a superb gameplay experience, it's also got an impossible amount of sheer content. You could get lost in it!


1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword came along just as I was hoping for a Zelda game that stayed true to the spirit of the series while adding something completely different. Wouldn't you know it, Skyward Sword did just that! A fresh graphical style, controls that fans had only dreamed of, and a revamped format to the game world are just a few examples of how Skyward Sword soared.

Beating a game

This is exactly what I feel! I drew this!

Sadly I have something pathetic to admit to. I have only beaten six Nintendo games in my life. Three of those games consist of Mario. Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario World, and Yoshi's Island. The other two are of course Chrono Trigger and Donkey Kong Country. The most current was Ocarina of Time; I'm so "awesome", yeah right. Anyways I guess my point is I feel pathetic. Out of those five games only one is an RPG; probably the hardest genre to beat out of all of those.

I always end up giving up on games. I know that's a bad thing but they just get so frustrating and hard!! I usually do get back to them after a couple of weeks (sometimes months) but hey, the point is I did get back to them!! After I picked them back up, I do sometimes get past the hard part that made me quit in the first place. I think what makes me want to come back and beat the game is the sense of accomplishment you get! For all of you who've beaten a game before you know what I'm talking about. The most satisfying games to beat are definitely those that have like four discs (in the PlayStation cases at least)! It's insane when you finally beat it.

How do you feel after beating a game? Personally after it's done and beaten I don't even want to look at the case; I'm so sick of it! Then again you feel like something is missing in your life . . . I don't know why! When you get home after a long day and want to play a game you now have to start a new one! I do love the feeling of pure accomplishment when you are watching that final scene. Perhaps one day I'll stop being such a baby and will just jump up and down after killing that final ending guy! How do you react? Pure joy, complete sadness, or are you like me and just put the controller down and walk out of the room very calmly?

Favorite Wii games countdown #3: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Whew! This list is winding down! And at the coveted number three position, we have the excellent Super Mario Galaxy 2! I'm afraid to say I was one of those people who thought that since we'd already had a Super Mario Galaxy, what could Galaxy 2 possibly add? Oh dear, oh dear...poor thinking indeed. But lesson learned: trust Nintendo to come up with the kind of stuff that is beyond even our dreams.

And all you need to do is ask my brother to know that the added player two functionality in Galaxy 2 is almost as compelling as the player one position. Well, if you ask my brother, he'll say that player two is even better than player one. He was certainly reluctant to take up the player two gauntlet when I first sat down to play the game. We initially thought it would be the same as it is in Super Mario Galaxy, in which player two can freeze enemies, collect star bits by pointing, and then shoot them at enemies...yay. Dave soon discovered, however, that player two had a little more power in Galaxy 2. Yes, he could collect star bits by pointing. Yes, he could shoot enemies with them. Yes, he could freeze enemies (not to mention certain contraptions with ill intent). He could also collect distant coins and bring them to me. Then he could hold those coins until I needed them, or just give them to me right away. Working together in this way turned out to be a highlight of Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Honorable Mention: Mario Kart Wii
There are many things wrong with Mario Kart Wii. It feels unfair at times. I mean, even more unfair than in other Mario Kart games. Or maybe the problem is that the game is too fair to those who are in last place or close to. But here's the thing: the motion controlled steering in Mario Kart Wii is actually pretty great. The addition of motorcycles makes it even better, and the whole thing is rounded off by the ability to pull off spiffy tricks with a little thrust of Wii remote at the right moment on jumps. Also, like all Mario Kart games, MK Wii is a great multiplayer experience.

A Game I Should Have Finished: Okami
I put Okami here because I've been working on it...for weeks and weeks now. It's a beautiful game, literally. It does have fairly good Zelda-inspired gameplay. I've only managed to commit about ten hours to the experience so far, though, in all that time. I'll work on it, I promise!

Favorite Wii games countdown #6: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

If you've been keeping track of my list of favorite Wii games, perhaps you've realized that today's game, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, has officially trumped another great Super Mario game from yesterday, Super Mario Galaxy. I have to say that I do love NSMBW just a smidgeon more than SMG. You see, the classic, side-scrolling Mario style holds a special place in my heart. Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo is one of my childhood (and all-time) favorites. NSMBW is everything great about that classic formula all rolled into one.

And dare I forget to mention the multiplayer! Up to four people can gather for local multiplayer in NSMBW. You wouldn't think it could work, but it does in this game! Players can interact with each other any way they want. You can help your friends by picking them up or giving them jump boosts. Or you can hinder your friends by throwing them at enemies or into lava pits. New Super Mario Bros. Wii has served as a great little social tool for me and my friends on countless occasions. Simply put, it is a must-have for any Wii owner.

Honorable Mention: Wii Sports Resort
This game turned out to be a superb showcase of what Wii MotionPlus could do. Personally, I grew to love sword play and archery as great examples. After playing this game, I feel it's a shame that Wii MotionPlus has gone largely unused since.

A Game I Should Have Played: Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
I gotta tell you the story of my first go at a Wario Ware game. I had this friend in Junior High who had Wario Ware on her GameCube. Well, we played it one day. She let me go through a series of what are called "micro games", and I was phenomenal! I wasn't making any mistakes at all. I kept glancing back at her in between games, hoping to see that she was awestruck at my incredible gaming skills. Before long, however, I began to get suspicious. Something wasn't right about this. Finally I found out that this friend of mine had swapped the controllers while I wasn't looking: she had been controlling the game the whole time.

That and about fifteen minutes of Wario Ware on GBA have been my sole experience with the Wario Ware series. I would love to try out Smooth Moves for Wii some time.

Favorite Wii games countdown #7: Super Mario Galaxy

There's nothing like the Super Mario series on the planet. People thought Harry Potter was a big deal? 15 years of magic, my my! And then it all just...ended. Yeah, it was a big deal, but even bigger and more grand is the Super Mario series! 25 years, with no signs of slowing down, my my! Super Mario Galaxy is a reminder of the power that our favorite red-clad plumber can wield over us, even after so many years.

Who would have thought that Mario and space could fit together so well? Nintendo thought it, that's for sure. And they delivered. Galaxy feels like the Super Mario we're all familiar with, yet it also feels like an entirely new experience. Will the creators of Mario never run out of brilliant game design ideas? The world may never know.

Honorable Mention: MotoHeroz
I can't say I particularly like the single player mode in MotoHeroz very much. But I'll be hard-pressed to find such a good multiplayer experience any time soon. I played it with some friends just last night, as a matter of fact. It's been a long time since I've laughed so hard! The gritty, down-to-earth physics in this game make the interaction amongst vehicles one of the highlights of the whole experience.

A Game I Should Have Played: NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams
I know very little about this game. In fact, I don't even know what genre it's in. I have, however, heard that it's a pretty good game. I'll find out for myself...someday.

So ya wanna know about video game genres? Let's start with the platfomer!

When I first subscribed to Nintendo Power magazine many years ago, I was an ardent gamer, yes, but there were a few terms that frequently came up in the magazine that I didn't have a clue about. Most of them related to video game genres in one way or other. FPS, RPG, platfomer...what?!

Nintendo's most famous franchise being Super Mario and all, I thought it prudent to begin with the category that Super Mario belongs to: the platform genre. Even though we all know what a platform is, the idea of a platform video game is a little vague. Why can't Mario games just be "save the princess" games or something like that? Well, video games are different from other mediums because they can be controlled, right? So video game genres revolve around how the games are controlled. Platform games involve platforms. The player controls the character and uses jumps or other forces to land on platforms and avoid pitfalls. It's really important that platformers have some way for the player to jump at will, otherwise you'd be hard pressed to correctly identify a game as a platformer.

And, really, it's as simple as that. Super Mario games are of the platform genre. Some other examples include Rayman Origins, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, and Mutant Mudds. Play a platformer for yourself today!

Boy or Girl?

Maternal Instinct?

I have to admit I have questions about Yoshi. Is it a boy or a girl? Yoshi lays eggs but has a counterpart, Birdo. Personally I think he's a boy! The more that I think about it the more confused I get. It really doesn't make sense. My theory is that when Yoshi first appeared in the game Super Mario World in 1990, it was a girl. This is why it (I feel so cruel calling Yoshi an it) could lay eggs. Though when everyone decided romance was better than friendship, Birdo entered the picture and suddenly Yoshi was one of the guys!

Then again Yoshi still kept, and still does, laying those eggs. Another example of Yoshi being a girl is the game Yoshi's Island. No man could suddenly take up a baby that was stranded and decide to help it get back home. This is a maternal extinct. Yoshi is a very complex and confusing character of the Super Mario series. I think we all know Yoshi is a boy, but then again there's still some speculation! What do you think? Boy or girl?

The Creative Core of Video Games

I am proud to present you with my first writing submission in the creative writing class I'm taking!

The joy of video games is to have control over larger-than-life abilities. So maybe it’s cool to watch such things in movies or read about them in books, but video games boast something that movies and books just don’t have: user control. And this, my friend, is why video games are crazier, zanier, and even stranger than what you’ll encounter in any movie or book.

Take Super Mario, for instance. I mean, the guy’s a plumber! And a fat one! Yet his jump is inhumanly high. Do we tend to take that for granted? Of course we do! Who thinks about that anyway? It’s too much fun to control him to worry about anything else.

Believe it or not, that’s only the beginning. Where do most of Mario’s adventures take place? Why, the Mushroom Kingdom! I’m a Nintendo gamer. Mushroom Kingdom sounds perfectly logical to me. Then I get thinking about it…so this slightly chubby plumber traverses a world of fungus in order to save the princess. Yeah, maybe it seems a little strange to me now. Don’t even get me started on the whole plumber/princess romance. It gets even odder when Mario’s brother is thrown into the mix.

Goombas. Koopas. Cheep-cheeps. Toad. Piranha Plants. You thought I had run out of weird things to list, didn’t you? Meet the denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom! A goomba is a little mushroom creature with a perpetual scowl—it will harm our intrepid plumber if given the chance. A koopa is a turtle-like being whose sturdy shell can be used by Mario after he jumps on its head. Cheep-cheeps are colorful fish that can both swim and fly. Toad is the little guy you meet at the end of the castle: he’s got stubby little feet and a large round head. Piranha plants are enemies with large mouths and many sharp teeth that reside within…warp pipes?

I suppose the concept of warp pipes makes sense, as Mario is a plumber, after all. Mario games milk that concept for all it’s worth. They lead to secret areas. They house hidden dangers. Sometimes they move. Mario makes plumbing seem cool and even clean.

How did all of these oddments develop into the most well-known video game series in history? It’s because all of these oddments lend themselves to clever ways to control the action on the screen. “Well, we need our character to jump higher than any human possibly could, so why not make him a plumber?” “It would make sense if he could defeat enemies by jumping on them.” “If he jumps on this turtle’s head, it would retreat into its shell, after which he can use the shell as a weapon.” Video games are about interaction, so to choose an imaginative setting allows great gameplay ideas to develop.

Nintendo just decided that video games can and even should be as over-the-top as the imagination permits. That is the creative core of video games.

Why New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a can't-miss Wii title: A Review

I love having old material to resurrect on my blog, simultaneously saving me a little bit of time! Like this Samba de Amigo review before it, please enjoy this article I wrote for the March 10, 2010 issue of the Lariat, my old high school newspaper:

I am highly aware that many MHS students now own a Wii. So I no longer feel like I'm writing to myself when I review Wii games. For this review, I wish to write about one game that I consider a must-have for all Wii owners. This game is called New Super Mario Bros. Wii (NSMBW), which was developed by Nintendo and released for Wii on November 15, 2009.

NSMBW takes the structure of the oldest Mario games and adds new play options and power-ups, better graphics, and more. The player traverses a total of eight themed worlds, each with a collection of courses, which showcase an enormous variety of different plat-forming concepts. The variety increases as new power-ups are acquired, or even when more players join in. Yes, you heard me right. NSMBW takes the Mario series to the next level by adding a super-fun, multi-player option to the classic formula. Work co-operatively or competitively by jumping on each other's heads, picking each other up, and eating each other with Yoshi. Picking up a comrade can be the key to a secret area, but it can also be a way to throw a teammate into a lava pit or an enemy. The interaction among players is active and fun.

If there's one fault I can find in NSMBW, it's the difficulty of the game. Though I do not have much of a problem with this, I can see the possibility of frustration as some play through the game. Despite that, however, NSMBW is easily one of the best games I've ever played. Whether you want to have a good time with friends or tackle the game solo, NSMBW has you covered. If that doesn't convince you to get this game, think about this: how can you even go wrong with a new Mario game that simply resurrects and improves upon all the great game-play concepts that eventually defined Nintendo as the best game developer in the world?

Not my proudest achievement on any scale, but then you could also say that my whole senior year in high school wasn't a great achievement either. Eventually I'll probably follow this up with a decent review. Cheers!

Looking ahead: Nintendo's 2012

Games
When thinking about the games coming out this year for Wii, one title and one title only comes to my mind: Rhythm Heaven Fever. Out February 13 (yeah, I was quite wrong before), it's sure to assist with the Wii console's final struggle as the world makes way for Wii U. And at a mere $29.99, this is one game I won't be missing out on!

The future of the Nintendo 3DS system is another story. 2011 saw the portable gaming device gathering steam that shows no signs of stopping in 2012. RPG fans should get excited about Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance and Tales of the Abyss. Roller Coaster Tycoon 3D could prove to be a decent little port of the PC series. Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure will likely jump in from nowhere to steal gamers' hearts. Oh, and there's always the growing list of what are sure to be hard-hitters: Luigi's Mansion 2, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Animal Crossing (name not final), Paper Mario (name not final), Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, and Resident Evil: Revelations.

What I'll Be Playing
At this very moment, I have an infinitely long list of games, old and new, to play. I beat Super Mario Bros., so I would like to move on to Super Mario Bros. 3 (I'm not brave enough for number 2). I received the well-reviewed Okami (Wii remake) for Christmas, and it's simply calling out to me. I'm not sure if I'll ever manage to get away from Mario Kart 7 long enough to take the cartridge out of my 3DS. The downloadable Pushmo is a strong contender in the fight for my time. Oh, and there's those ten GameBoy Advance games I downloaded for free recently. I'm actually working on another entry into my Metroid series with Metroid II: Return of Samus...if I can find time to play it. Kirby's Adventure for the NES rounds out the formidable list. Wish me luck!

What will you be playing or looking forward to in the year 2012?

2012 Nintendo Lifeline Awards: Winners

Despite a lot of rough spots, 2011 was a great year in the world of Nintendo. The Nintendo 3DS system may have had an uneasy launch, but by the end of the year, it became a great little gaming system with a growing library of instant classics like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. And dare I forget to mention that 2011 was the 25th anniversary of gaming's best-known adventure series, The Legend of Zelda? Fans enjoyed game releases, epic music, and more in celebration of this industry-shaping series.

And, as I promised, the Nintendo Lifeline wants to take a look at some of the best things Nintendo games had going for them during the year. Drumroll, please. These are our winners!

Best Overall Game
Nominees: Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Mario Kart 7, Wii Play Motion, Star Fox 64 3D, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, and Lost In Shadow

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Stunning graphics, compelling motion controls, polished gameplay, breathtaking design...Skyward Sword had everything going for it. Nintendo has this game making business down, don't they?

Best Overall Graphics
Nominees: Super Mario 3D Land, Star Fox 64 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Steel Diver, and Lost In Shadow

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

It was hard for me to play games with any kind of graphics other than colorful or whimsical ones after playing Skyward Sword. Nintendo has the best graphics out there purely because they work with limitations in ingenious ways.

Best Get-up
Nominees: Tanooki Mario, Ghirahim, Metal Mario, and Kirby Hat

Winner: Tanooki Mario

Why? It's functional and fashionable! And nostalgic. And it works well in the game. You know.

Best Method of Travel
Nominees: Loftwing, Tanooki Tail, Cannon, Propeller Block, By Shadow, Submarine, Arwing, Horse, Hang Glider, and Customizable Kart

Winner: Customizable Kart

I really enjoyed coming up with the nominees in this category. I did not enjoy choosing just one. But I chose the customizable kart from Mario Kart 7 for a couple of good reasons: first, driving in your customized kart makes up the bulk of the game. Second, collecting coins on the tracks in order to unlock new parts is pretty compelling. And third, it's a fun challenge to customize just right for optimal kart performance that plays on your strengths and that looks good too. Oh yeah!

Best Use of Stereoscopic 3D
Nominees: Super Mario 3D Land, Steel Diver, Nintendogs+cats, and Pilotwings Resort

Winner: Super Mario 3D Land

You know, when I think about it, the odd-sounding title of this game makes a lot of sense. It really is a land of 3D. Er...a 3D land. Anyway, the 3D does become an important aspect in this game. 

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.

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!