Nintendo is My Soul Mate

I am the first to admit, I talk a big game when it comes to consoles.  I like the PS3, I love the Xbox.. and my Wii has gathered more dust than I'd like to admit.  But when it came to E3 coverage, Nintendo is the one that got my heart twitterpated and .. yes .. my eyes moist.

 

It's just so beautiful.

 Nintendo opened up their press conference with a presentation for Zelda's 25th anniversary.  They showcased the music from the series which has always been popular and important to setting the mood of the games.  They even announced symphony concerts worldwide that will play Zelda music.  I'm here to tell you that I will be on board if I can get to one of those concerts.  It was a nice presentation, and Zelda definitely deserves Nintendo's love.

The conference went on to spotlight new releases for the 3DS.  I have long been a stalwart against the 3DS - this stemming from my inability to see in 3D and therefore holding a personal vendetta against the technology.  Well... I have to say that this year's E3 might've made me a convert.  With upcoming releases like a new Mario Kart, Luigi's Mansion 2, and, most importantly, Super Mario I just don't know if I can resist that lineup any longer.  There wasn't word if these games would also be released as DSi titles, so I might just have to jump ship and get me one of them fancy-schmancy 3D numbers.

They went on to announce a new and beautiful Kid Icarus title: Uprising - with some Brawl-ish looking multiplayer in addition to the single player storyline.  It's a much anticipated title...but not really from me.  It looks fun and all, don't get me wrong... but I never played the first iterations of Kid Icarus.  Maybe Uprising will be the one that sells me on the series.  Something I am totally behind though?  Pokemon. The new title looks so fun, and the way the Pokedex is handled has been upgraded.  I can never resist a Pokemon title.

Of course, the big announcement for E3 was an new console: The WiiU (We-you).  The focus was on the new controller, and it is a doozy.  The controller is, as said in a developer interview, "the Swiss Army knife of controllers.  It does it all."  The controller boasts a 6.2" screen that has the potential to add to game play like never before.  The game previews showed people using the screen on the controller to look to the left and right of the TV - allowing them to see beyond your screen into more of the virtual space.  It also works as additional screen space for displaying your items and inventory in games like Zelda.  Perhaps most interestingly, they showed how someone else can be using the TV to watch a show or maybe play a different console, and the WiiU can stream your gameplay from the console to the screen on the controller, allowing you to continue your gameplay uninterrupted.

Way to step it up, Nintendo.  As we were watching, Debbie and I were texting back and forth and she said, "They are going classic.  But they just don't ever have any new, exciting games.  It's always remade and revamped classics."  And I think that she has a point.  Other than the impressive line-up of 3rd party developers (unheard of before with Nintendo and a breath of fresh air for the future!), Nintendo did showcase games that they have done time and time again.  Kart, Super Mario, Brawl... But you know what?  These games are like playing my favorite CD on repeat.  They remind me of all the fun that I've had playing these games over the years, and how much fun I will continue to have as they release, revamp, and improve on their series.  Nintendo, you are like coming home.

Happy Mar10 Day!

In honor of March 10, aka Mar10 (Mario) day, I want to throw down a review of The New Super Mario Bros for Wii.

This game is the same concept as the original (side scroller, basic baddies, magic mushrooms), but with a fresh and new face slapped on it.  And, to top it all off, you can play with four people at once.  Same screen.  Same time.  Insanity.

The multi-player is obviously where the fun is at on this.  It is probably one of the most maddening and crazy multi-player games I have ever tried to play, but that is what makes it a blast.  I have been playing this game with friends and laughing so hard that I have tears streaming down my cheeks.  You can totally help out your friends by literally carrying them, or, on the flipside, you can totally screw them over and throw them off cliffs.  Or bounce on their heads at inopportune times and make them fall down holes, or into bad guys, or away from that mushroom they were going for.  Basically there is more screwing with each other than there is helping each other when you get a lot of people in there.

They added in some awesome new items too.  There is a mushroom that gives you a helicopter helmet and when you shake your Wii-mote you fly up into the air.  There is the original fire flower, but there's also a freezy flower where you shoot snowballs that freeze the enemy.  They also added Yoshis in some levels, which is always welcome as an increase in total cuteness factor.

The level design is so much fun.  They are side scroller, but there are hidden secrets all over the map, most of which will lead you to the three large gold coins you collect in each level.  The music is awesome as ever, as it is your typical Mario score.  There are 8 worlds, and, as you probably guessed, each world is themed.  There is ice level, sand level...  I don't know what to tell you - this game is not out of the box at all for the Mario franchise.  It has everything you would expect, but, probably because of that, it is exactly as fun as you would expect too.

If you have a Wii and somehow have not played this yet, go pick it up.*

*That is, go pick it up if you have at least a little bit of patience, because seriously, you are going to want to punch your friends and loved ones in the face when you play multi-player with them.