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Nintendo Power DS mockup just a NIS advertising 'edit'

Posted Jul 9th 2008 5:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News

Remember the crazy ad in Nintendo Power (pictured above) that "hinted" at a DS redesign? (You should; we only posted about it two days ago, silly rabbits.) It turns out that the poor Photoshop job is nothing to speculate about, as NIS America only "placed screenshots on a DS backing to emphasize the platform, and edited them for effect." Now, we never took Marketing 101, but that seems like somewhat misleading advertising to us.

NIS America's marketing guru Nao Zook apologized for any confusion that the picture may have caused, stating that there is no widescreen DS in the works (to her or the company's knowledge). So, you can rest assured (or at least hold your breath until E3) that you won't have to pony up the cash for yet another DS.

Gallery: Nintendo DS mockups

Gallery: Disgaea

Archaic Sale Heat: SRPG import for $11

Posted Jul 9th 2008 4:15PM by Eric Caoili
Filed under: Imports, Sales

Now might not be the best time to order a Japanese copy of Archaic Sealed Heat, what with E3 right around the corner and a U.S. localization likely, but Play Asia is doing its best to convince us otherwise! The import online shop is selling copies of the gorgeous Mistwalker-developed title for only $11.90 (plus s/h). The deal lasts until next Monday, too, so they're giving us a lot of time to talk ourselves into it.

As far as SRPGs go, you really can't find anything cheaper! Well, unless you pick up Square Enix's iPod-exclusive Song Summoner for $4.99.

Metareview: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Posted Jul 9th 2008 3:30PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Metareview

We may have weighed in on the portable title, but what about the rest of the reviewers out there? Now that the title has been available for a little while now, many of the critics have put out their verdict. And, just as we enjoyed the game, the majority of them also found it to be a good time.

• Game Informer (85/100) gives it a good score: "Some few sacrifices have been made, notably the absence of the in-game Civilopedia, and the control is nowhere near as smooth as it is on a gamepad. However, you won't find a deeper or more replayable portable strategy experience anywhere. Civilization Revolution is a very worthwhile investment for any strategically minded DS owner."

• Gamespy (80/100) says it's barebones, but good: "While it won't be winning any beauty contests with its barebones 2D graphics, the play's the thing and the combination of solid controls and lots of content in the form of the technologies, units and variegated civilizations make Civ Rev an enjoyable and entertaining romp through the traditionally staid and somber realm of nation management."

• Nintendo Power (75/100) said the game lacks any competition: "If you're a fan of the genre, there are few better ways to get your fix on the go." [Aug 2008, p.89]

• GameZone (75/100) says the DS version loses a bit compared to the consoles, but is still a good choice for on-the-go action: "Civilization Revolution is a solid entry to the series, bringing the experience to a whole new audience. While the DS version loses a little bit in the translation, it's still worth a look from hardcore series fans looking for a portable version of their fix."

Gallery: Civilization Revolution DS

Two Tribes reveals original title ReWind

Posted Jul 9th 2008 2:45PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

If you're not familiar with Two Tribes, then you haven't ever played Toki Tori or Worms: Open Warfare 2. Aside from the game's recent release on WiiWare, it was also available on the Game Boy Color. They also did a game on the GBA called Three Tribes.

But, we digress. This new title, which is nothing more than some concept art right now, promises "a unique gameplay experience" in an on-rail shooter. Two Tribes also says that the controls will be accessible, as "average players will be able to complete the game while seasoned players will be motivated to go for higher scores and completion rates."

Gallery: ReWind

[Thanks, psyborg!]

TouchMaster 2 brings bar games back home

Posted Jul 9th 2008 2:00PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News, Screens

TouchMaster DS, Midway's home version of that weird touchscreen bartop arcade machine, is coming back! Midway has sent out a press release and new screens of TouchMaster 2, scheduled for a fall release. The latest collection of touchscreen-reliant minigames features 20 new games, including "new spins on Mahki, Poker and Solitaire."

It also seems to include new spins on some of Midway's back catalogue: as seen in the new screenshots, Rampage Empire is a word game based on Midway's classic giant-monster game. Other new games include a game in which players hunt for letters hidden around the screen and Poker Slide, which appears to be a multi-hand video poker game.

Gallery: Touchmaster 2

[Via press release]

Bury the Shovelware: Ping Pals

Posted Jul 9th 2008 1:15PM by Kaes Delgrego
Filed under: Bury the Shovelware

While the response to last week's inaugural column was universally appreciated, the very first comment was particularly intriguing. The reader brought up an excellent point: definitively labeling a developer as poor because of one bad game is very narrow-minded. After all, good developers and bad games are not always mutually exclusive. In order to prove this idea, one should start with an incredible game. Fortunately, the DS has plenty of those. Then, the developer's catalog should be searched for any traces of shovelware.

And when talking about good games on the DS, one need not look further than the only title to receive a perfect 10 from DS Fanboy: Contra 4. It is awesome. For any other game, that wouldn't be enough for a "review," but with Contra 4, nothing else is necessary. WayForward Technologies' 2007 masterpiece was about as close to perfect as a game can be. Thus, the California-based developer was a perfect candidate for closet searching. And was there ever a skeleton to be found inside! Ping Pals, which is well known as being one of the DS's earliest atrocities, was the first game WayForward developed for the DS. At face value, the tween-focused chat utility appears to be nothing more than a glitter-coated PictoChat used to discuss iCarly and Webkinz. Released mere weeks after the launch of the DS, it was universally lauded by both critics and love-to-hate gamers. Electronic Gaming Monthly called it "An abysmal failure," and IGN -- who employs Mark Bozon, brother of WayForward's creative director Matt Bozon -- pulled no punches when stating that "Ping Pals is easily the most unnecessary product for the system." Ouch. Clearly, somewhere between Ping Pals and Contra 4 lies the purest definition of shovelware.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Ping Pals

Konami devising its very own Animal Crossing

Posted Jul 9th 2008 12:30PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News, Screens

You know how you spent the best part of two years tracking down every last bug, fossil, and fish (curse you, Coelacanth) in Animal Crossing: Wild World? Yeah, well Konami wants you to do it again. All of it.

<Insert evil cackle here>

Tongariboushi and the 365 Days of Magic is the company's latest DS venture, and is splashed across the pages of the latest Famitsu. It's already being labeled as a "clone" of Wild World by the internet, and although our inability to read Japanese means we can't confirm just how close it is to Ninty's cuddly life sim, the screens alone seem to suggest a very similar game. It pretty much looks like Animal Crossing: Wild World 1.1.

Not that we're complaining -- after all, Animal Crossing takes our socks and rocks them. It's easy to see why Konami would want to use Nintendo's title as a template. By the end of 2007, Animal Crossing: Wild World had sold over 4.5 million copies in Japan alone, while unofficial sales site VGChartz estimates worldwide sales to be close to 10 million. That's a whole lot of bells that could be sitting in Konami's account.

Hit the "Source" link below for a closer look at the full scan.

E308: Square Enix confirms North American release of Exit, Legend of Kage 2

Posted Jul 9th 2008 11:45AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News

Square Enix has announced its E3 lineup, and it features two ... not surprises, exactly, but games whose releases have so far been unconfirmed. We're very happy to see two more games from Taito's DS lineup, Exit DS and The Legend of Kage 2, planned for U.S. release. Maybe Arkanoid and Space Invaders Extreme are doing okay at retail!

Like the previous pair, Exit DS and Kage 2 are shipping simultaneously, on October 7. While Arkanoid and Space Invaders were both based on moving left to right and destroying columns of enemies on the top screen, Exit DS and Kage 2 are both side-scrolling platform action games. It's like these pairs were planned from the start! But where does that leave poor Pet Shop Monogatari?

On the non-Taito side, Square Enix will show off Final Fantasy IV, Dragon Quest IV, and Chrono Trigger.

Gallery: Exit DS

Gallery: The Legend of Kage 2

Fire Emblem DS wants website visitors to get over initial disgust

Posted Jul 9th 2008 11:00AM by Phil Larsen
Filed under: News

What better way to judge the aesthetic appeal of a game than by seeing it in action? If you thought the "it might not be good" style of Fire Emblem DS wasn't up to your impeccable standards, you can now get up close and personal with the official Japanese website -- and make some critical decisions regarding the fate of that cash roll in your pocket.

Despite the incomprehensible script, the artwork and snazzy designs are easy on the eyes. Head on over to the official page for the standard introductory animations, and the page filled with extra information and videos can be found here. On top of that, extra pieces of charcters artwork are ready for staring at here -- though they won't be official in-game models of any kind.

So, what to do now? Hope that the classic Fire Emblem gameplay holds up against the villified art direction? Pretty much. Besides, we all went crazy for ugly, ugly Advance Wars, so why should this be any different?

Gallery: Fire Emblem DS

[Via NeoGAF]

Adventuring with Saihai no Yukue scans

Posted Jul 9th 2008 10:15AM by Phil Larsen
Filed under: News

We know. The DS handles storybook adventure games extremely well, so it's no problem hearing announcements for new additions to the genre. The latest Famitsu has revealed a number of new images for Koei's new anime-style adventure, Saihai no Yukue.

The problem here is that it looks a little too eccentric for the American market, where our good friend Phoenix Wright just managed to sneak in and cause a stir. It's scheduled for a Japanese release in Q3 2008, so any news of localization should be heard relatively soon. Looks interesting and/or rad.

[Thanks, Anticrawl!]

Too much tutorial before Lock's Quest is unlocked?

Posted Jul 9th 2008 9:30AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News

Stephen Totilo's brief impressions of 5th Cell's Lock's Quest aren't as sterling as previous impressions we've read, but only because he seemingly hasn't been able to get into the game yet. Given his status as an extreme Desktop Tower Defense fan, Totilo will probably be enchanted by the action/structure-building gameplay found in Lock's Quest, but first he has to endure a seemingly overlong tutorial level.

"I wanted to get going, to play it and enjoy it," Totilo said in a frustrated blog post. "But first it had to take me to school." Long tutorials have been a problem since games became complicated enough to need them (and since developers realized that we're not going to read the manual, no matter what). Just consider this fair warning that Lock's Quest is going to require a little prep time before it's suitable for pick-up-and-play.

Gallery: Lock's Quest

[Boxart via Gamefly]

Mechanic Master looks incredible

Posted Jul 9th 2008 8:45AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News

DS Daily: Recent favorite

Posted Jul 9th 2008 8:00AM by David Hinkle
Filed under: DS Daily

As DS fans, we play lots of games. There's just no getting around it, because the system is up to its eyeballs in great titles, always. So, we're often busy with this or that.

We imagine you game quite a bit on the handheld, too. So, we have to ask: what is your recent favorite game? What game have you played lately that has blown you away? A little game called Space Invaders Extreme? Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2? Well, what game have you played lately that has been just plain great?

Unique Nintendo coin celebrates a successful DS launch

Posted Jul 9th 2008 12:00AM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Fan stuff

If you've never laid eyes on ths coin before, then you probably never worked directly for Nintendo. It was given out as a thank you for the successful launch of the DS to Nintendo employees, as you can see the words surrounding the DS-side of the coin clearly state just that. And, with the bid at $31 at the time of this post, it's also a pretty neat collectible for the DS-obsessed that won't break the bank.

[Via Gamesniped]

Rock out with your Guitar Grip out

Posted Jul 8th 2008 11:00PM by Eric Caoili
Filed under: Hacks, Homebrew

Considering Guitar Hero: On Tour's required accessory, pirates without access to the Guitar Grip shouldn't be able to play the game, right? Incorrect! As they did with the Nintendo DS Browser and its Memory Expansion Pak, hackers have developed a workaround making the game playable even without the extra hardware.

If you skip to the 1:30 minute mark in the above clip, you'll see Youtube user tinymonkeyt demonstrating his patched copy of On Tour -- instead of using the four-fret controller to hit notes, you can use the directional pad or ABXY buttons. Of course, it's possible for people who legally own the game to apply the patch enabling button controls, but it looks much more awkward than using the Guitar Grip.

In other related news, according to the video, tinymonkeyt's mom isn't letting him buy Guitar Hero: On Tour. He is considering purchasing it anyway, however, and will probably "just hide it from her or something." We'll make sure to update you on any new information that comes up for this developing story.

Gallery: Guitar Hero: On Tour

[Via GBAtemp]

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