N-Europe

News: LEGO Star Wars III Announced

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:05:30 -0600

The LEGO blocks are brought together by the Force again and this time, we fight in the Clone Wars.

Traveller's Tales and Lucas Arts team up once again to bring us LEGO Jedi and Clone Troopers with LEGO Star War III: The Clone Wars, covering the two seasons of the highly popular 3D cartoon.

The new game has an updated level editor and of course a plethora of new characters and features to play around with, allowing you to play on the Jedi or Separatist side.With more than 20 million LEGO Star Wars games sold, we'll see if this new chapter continues to be a blockbuster.

Look for LEGO Star War III: The Clone Wars somewhere this Autumn for pretty much every current console or in Nintendo's case, DS and Wii.

News: New Fifth Generation Pok�mon!

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:35:41 -0600

Brand new Pok�mon for the new generation of Pok�mon titles!

We've already reported that a brand new generation of Pok�mon games, with yet more new monsters to catch and battle, are being prepped for unveiling imminently. Breaking tradition, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has confirmed the games will still be released on the DS, the same platform as the current generation of Pok�mon titles.

The world will get its first official look at some of the new fifth generation critters on February 21st, as Japanese weekly TV show Pokemon Sunday will reveal the mysterious silhouette below. We'll also be keeping an eye on the next CoroCoro magazine (out on the 15th) which the picture below claims may reveal all first.

The silhouette in question belongs to the mysterious fifth-generation Pok�mon code-named "Z", star of the upcoming thirteenth Pok�mon movie: "The Ruler of Illusion: Z".

More on the new Pok�mon titles as it breaks!

News: Blaster Master Heading To WiiWare

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:39:12 -0600

Run 'n gun fans rejoice - Blaster Master is back!

Those who remember classic run 'n gun action game Blaster Master will surely be over the moon to learn that developer Sunsoft is back, and bringing Wii owners a nice treat.

Blaster Master: Overdrive is the first new entry in the much-loved franchise for nearly ten years, and is releasing on WiiWare in North America tomorrow. We say new - Overdrive is actually a 're-imagining' of the original 1988 NES game, with lovely updated graphics and some nicely improved gameplay elements.

Blaster Master: Overdrive will be up for download tomorrow in North America for 1000 Points. Hopefully a European release will be soon to follow...

Media: Bit.Trip Runner Gameplay Footage

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:18:59 -0600

Gaijin Games' fourth instalment to their WiiWare collection looks like it might be their trippiest yet...

Having already established a cult following with three initial entries in the Bit.Trip series (the latest of which - Void - is set to release in Europe later this month), Gaijin Games are back for more retro action with Bit.Trip Runner.

Already notable for being the first in the series to have you playing as mascot Commander Video, Runner is an on-rails platformer similar in vain to likes of Canabalt. The game will of course be infused with the series' trademark rhythmic action and colourfully retro style.

But enough words, see it for yourself below.

More Bit.Trip Runner Info

Bit.Trip Runner will feature dozens of stages, and promises to offer a typically hard-as-nails challenge.

The game is set to release on WiiWare later this year.

News: NGamer Claim Sonic 'In Mario Galaxy 2'

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:05:16 -0600

Sonic to appear in Mario Galaxy 2? We're pretty certain they're joking. Probably.

NGamer magazine has tweeted "inside knowledge" that Sonic is to appear in Nintendo's upcoming Mario Galaxy sequel, currently scheduled for release later this year.

The guys at NGamer later tweeted this news came from a "trusted source", and that Sonic levels will take place in the "Green Hill Galaxy", after Sonic's own regular Green Hill Zone locale.

Imagine Sonic riding Yoshi... nope, we couldn't either.

The UK magazine is well known for its sense of humour, and its hard to believe Nintendo would want or need Sega's mascot in the latest Mario title. Ninty does not need the extra hype for the game - such crossovers are surely best contained within spin-off titles such as Mario & Sonic at the Olympics or true ensemble pieces such as Smash Bros. Brawl.

Still, it's an intriguing concept, and one we thought we'd report to you to enquire your feelings on the subject. Would it be a good idea? Or is it best left what it most likely is - a NGamer columnist's wet dream?

Let us know your thoughts below...

Retro: VC Weekly #119

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:11:09 -0600

Welcome to VC Weekly, N-Europe�s guide to the wonderful world of Nintendo�s download service. Written by Sam C Gittins.

Another few weeks, another solitary release cast in our general direction, thankfully it's a decent title this week. Anyway enough from me and on with the, erm... game!

Available for download this week we have...

Street Fighter Alpha 2

Points: 800
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Released: 1996
System: SNES

Near enough every gamer is familiar with the second installment in the Street Fighter series but one entry that you may not be as familiar with is the spin-off 'Alpha' series of which the second is now available on the VC for all to play. Read on to find out how it compares and fares alongside its more infamous brethren.

Essentially the game takes its roster of characters from the first two Street Fighter games plus Final Fight and pits them against each other in a fighting game that features an engine which has some rather unique and enjoyable aspects. For each character you have a bespoke set of punches and kicks separated into weak, medium and strong categories; special attacks can also be triggered via specific stabs and swipes across the D-pad in conjunction with the action buttons.

On top of this you have the Super Combo system which works by way of a meter located at the bottom that increases upon each successfully landed attack on your opponent; upon reaching a certain capacity you can then unleash a Super Combo attack for massive damage. You can also perform your own Custom Combo's if you so desire by stringing together your own attack routine within the time limit and it's the very use of these combos which sets the game apart from other such available offerings.

Though a few minor cuts were made in translating this from arcade board to cartridge, the actual amount that remains intact is nothing short of astounding in terms of both quantity and quality. Controls are spot-on, backgrounds are still lavishly detailed, animation is accurate, sounds are stunning and what you're left with is one truly satisfying fighting game.

If you love fighting games then you really can't go far wrong with this, SF2 purists may shun it in favor of the almighty classic but if you can appreciate the finer points of the fighting system and have someone else who's willing to play it with you then this title really comes into its own for being the superb fighting game that it is.

Verdict: A spectacular Street Fighter title.

That's it for another installment of VC Weekly which will return again soon. So until then, enjoy the rest of the week and Game On!

Sam Gittins
sam.gittins@n-europe.com

Looking for reviews on other Virtual Console games? Or a full list of games available on the system? Then Check out our Virtual Console Index Page.

News: The Grinder No Longer Wii Exclusive

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:31:30 -0600

The zombie hunting, vampire slaying co-op FPS from High Voltage Software is no longer a Wii exclusive.

High Voltage Software just disclosed to IGN that The Grinder is not a Wii exclusive anymore and will be available on PC, 360 and PS3 too. Is that a testament to what the team achieved with the game's graphics on Wii? Perhaps.

The game will be shown at GDC in March and the folks at HVS seem pretty excited about it, saying that both the single player and co-op modes have been fleshed out and that the Quantum3 engine has improved.

So, we'll have to wait until March to see more of the game, which apparently is to be released in Halloween... 2011.
You can read the entire interview here.

News: Nintendo Of Europe To Hold Media Summit

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:57:48 -0600

Nintendo of Europe are set to host a press event later this month...

Nintendo nuts may want to keep their ears attuned to airwaves towards the end of month, as Nintendo of Europe have announced they are set to hold a media summit on February 25th.

Being European-based, it's probably best not to expect any ground-breaking revelations, but it might not be too naive to hope for some neat new info. Nintendo may choose this event to set out their release plans for the second quarter, which hopefully includes the likes of Sin & Punishment 2.

NoE have also typically been the ones to showcase the future of WiiWare and DSiWare, so it could be that we'll get a look of the next wave of major downloadable content.

Whatever the summit has to yield, we'll be providing you with all the latest as it breaks, so stay tuned.

News: THQ Confirms de Blob Sequel

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:00:43 -0600

THQ confirm more de Blob is on the way!

At THQ's fiscal quarter report, the company revealed some colourfully titillating info for Wii owners. After acknowledging the commercial and critical success the platformer enjoyed last year, CEO Brian Farrell confirmed that de Blob would return by the end of THQ's next fiscal year (March 2011).

The original de Blob won us all over last year with its super-slick presentation and fun platforming.

No specific platforms were confirmed for the sequel, but it's a pretty safe bet it'll be coming to Wii at the least.

What would you like to see from a de Blob sequel? Let us know by dropping a comment...

News: Sega Announces Sonic 4: Episode 1

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:18:01 -0600

Sega officially reveals Project Needlemouse, and it's heading to the Wii!

After waiting a while for details on the upcoming Sonic game dubbed 'Project Needlemouse', Sega finally reveals the game to be Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, which will be downloadable to all 3 home consoles later this summer.

Also what's note worthy is the 'Episode 1' at the end of the title, and in an interview with GameSpot, Sega's Ken Balough revealed that there will be a continuation to the story, much like the story from Sonic 3 continued to Sonic and Knuckles and that players leaving Episode 1 will be "very excited" for Episode 2. This title takes place after the events of Sonic and Knuckles with Sonic going on a new adventure.

Keeping to the roots of the Sega Genesis Sonic titles, Sonic will have his Spin Dash and Power Sneakers, with his homing attack getting included in the game. Leaderboards are also included in the title, so you can compete for the fastest level clear times. As for the music, Ken said to "expect to hear very familiar tempos and styles of music that resonates with 16-bit games but also has a modern appeal."

The gameplay will be 2D like the previous Sega Genisis titles but with lush 3D visuals to give it a modern edge and some segments of the game will make use the Wii Remote for motion control.

Be sure to stay with N-Europe for more news on the title in the upcoming days!

News: Silent Hill's Yamaoka Teams Up With Suda

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:52:02 -0600

Revered Silent Hill composer and producer Akira Yamaoka joins forces with Suda 51 for his upcoming horror title...

Veteran horror fans will no doubt be familiar with Akira Yamaoka. The Japanese composer is most notable for his revered work scoring the Silent Hill series. Since he left Konami in December, we were left wondering where Akira would head next.

Now, it's been confirmed that Yamaoka has joined forces with No More Heroes visionary Goichi Suda and Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. Suda and Mikami confirmed as far back as 2008 that they were collaborating on a high-budget horror title for Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, and set to be published by EA.

The game remains shrouded in mystery, but with Suda, Mikami and now Yamaoka working towards the same goal, it's needless to say we may end up getting something truly special on our hands.

Fingers crossed the game gets a full unveiling at this year's E3.

News: Scribblenauts Passes Million Mark

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:22:08 -0600

5th Cell's newest DS franchise conjures up some commercial success...

As one of the most talked-about titles of last year, it was difficult for Scribblenauts to live up to the hype. While some took issue with the fiddly controls, 5th Cell luckily provided us with a pleasingly original puzzle game that delivered on its promise of real creative freedom.

As such, we're happy to report the Scribblenauts has officially sold over a million units worldwide. The milestone puts the game's success in-line with the team's first DS game Drawn to Life. Who says original DS games don't sell? 5th Cell are currently working on an unannounced title for Xbox Live Arcade, but industry buzz suggests the studio may also have a Scribblenauts sequel for Wii and DS in the pipeline.

What would you like to see from 5th Cell next? More Scribblenauts? Or maybe you prefer to see some more original franchises like the the cult-hit Lock's Quest. Let us know below...

News: Sega Brings HVS Fighting Game To Wii

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:05:34 -0600

High Voltage Software strikes a deal with Sega to bring Tournament of Legends to Wii this year...

Sega today announced that its partnership with developer High Voltage Software is set to continue, as the publisher plans to release the team's next game in May.

Tournament of Legends appears to be the current form of what was originally unveiled last year as Gladiator A.D..

Head over to the gallery for a couple more screens.

Tournament of Legends is a one-on-one, 3D beat 'em up with a heavy emphasis on weapons and magic. Whereas Gladiator A.D. was revealed as a simple human-on-human fighter, the game now lets players brawl as a host of mythical icons, including the Minotaur, Stone Golems and Valkyries.

Oddly enough, Sega's press statement fails to mention any support for Wii MotionPlus, suggesting High Voltage has dropped the support of the peripheral it announced for Gladiator last year. Rather, the game has been confirmed to support the Classic Controller as well as the Wii Remote and Nunchuck set-up.

Tournament of Legends will indeed utilise High Voltage Software's proprietary Quantum3 engine used for The Conduit. With this being High Voltage's second major retail Wii title published by Sega, hopefully the online co-op FPS The Grinder is a little more secure for release.

Tournament of Legends is set to release in North America on May 18th.

Hands-On Preview: Monster Hunter 3

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:22:36 -0600

This is N-Europe's third play test now of Monster Hunter 3; it is also this writer's second hands-on session with the game, and indeed only this writer's second experience with the Monster Hunter franchise as a whole.

Meeting some of the true die-hard fans of the series, you realise that the game, seemingly rather clunky and impenetrable on its first play through, is meant to be that way. A rather odd way of designing a game? Maybe. Yet the Japanese certainly love it.

Quibbles with the title that have been highlighted before still remain. The controls are hard to pick up. "Where�s the lock-on?" you will find yourself asking. "Why is there no enemy health bar?" "Why does it take so freakin' long to move around with your weapon drawn?�

Monster Hunter is not for everyone, you may quickly come to realise.

You're joined in single-player by dinky masked assistant "Cha Cha"

Sticking with it requires patience. A desire to learn the quirks of the gameplay. A tolerance of some rather odd controls (an experience in which the Classic Controller does not much aid matters either). But, things do improve.

Sticking with it (and after fainting, several times) you begin thinking strategy, start using some of your quest items (bombs, pit traps, items that paralyze and burn your enemies) and begin learning how to gain that edge.

It is quite obviously a game with an enormous amount of potential. The latest press release for the title mentions "hundreds" of hours of gameplay. Factoring in its online mode, that is not unrealistic. Especially when Capcom plan to release limited time-only quests and other special content.

The vast world ahead for players logging on � to be shared with up to three others � is a wonderful concept, especially with the new announcement of Wii Speak compatibility for European copies (this as well as USB keyboard support for text chat). Players gather in a hub area, which includes a meeting hall for setting up teams and choosing quests. You can even buy yourself (or others, if you�re feeling generous) a spot of lunch.

A healthily stocked inventory is imperative for any hunter!

For those wondering, Capcom are still not ready to disclose the subscription costs for the title (in Japan it is part of Nintendo�s Pay & Play online system), although when pressed on whether no announcement meant free online play was being considered, we were told the matter was still under discussion. When we hear the final word, you will too.

In single-player meanwhile, gamers can enjoy Moga Village, the port-town seen in early shots of the game which acts as your home and the hub while playing on your own. Your house overlooks the sea and serves as your base of operations, with quest opportunities to be found from the townsfolk nearby.

The game�s storyline is that the inhabitants of Moga Village are being plagued by earthquakes, thought to be caused by a particularly pissed beastie. Guess whose job it is to take care of that one?

The game's scope is undeniably huge.

One major criticism noted previously was that quests seemed too similar. "Go here, fight this, chase it to the next screen, repeat until dead", and still has not abated for me. (The voice of Monster Hunter fans saying "well, that�s the point of the game" be damned, you will buy this regardless). For non-fans, it is still worrying how little variety there could be. There are quests to gather materials as well, which can then be used to pimp out your weapons and armour, but these materials are gained from the animals themselves � which will not be given up willingly.

Capcom were at pains to highlight the brilliant graphics (the "most beautiful possible" on Wii) and the depth of the world � how monsters reacted and engaged with players and indeed other animals that crossed their paths � which the developers say was based on how real-world critters behave themselves. There certainly is a game stuffed full of potential here, but despite a new session of play, this writer cannot help but feel he still needs more time with the title to decide if this potential is fully realised.

Tom Phillips
Editor-in-Chief, N-Europe.com

News: Monster Hunter Gets Wii Speak, Pro Bundles

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:30:01 -0600

Monster Hunter 3 gets Wii Speak support, and a couple of nice Euro bundles!

And now the news all aspiring monster slayers across the land have been waiting for. Nintendo has directly confirmed that the upcoming release of Monster Hunter 3 will feature Wii Speak support for its online co-op play.

Also, we brought you news last week that North America would be receiving a special bundle which included the game and the shmexy Classic Controller Pro. We speculated that Europe would probably not receive the same bundle, but we're happy to report that we've been proven wrong, and that we can go one better.

Europe will indeed receive the black Classic Controller Pro bundle for the April release, but we'll also be bestowed with a bundle that includes the game, the controller AND a Wii Speak unit. No official price points have been set for either bundle, but those decisions are commonly retailer-led.

We'll have brand new hands-on coverage of Monster Hunter 3 for you very soon!

News: Cursed Mountain Developer Shut Down

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:21:29 -0600

Koch Media announces it is to close Cursed Mountain developer Deep Silver Vienna.

Sad news to report, as entertainment company Koch Media has announced it is to close one of its video game development arms.

Deep Silver Vienna was a relatively new set-up, and its first and only game Cursed Mountain went on sale last year exclusively for Wii. Despite generally positive reviews, did not perform well commercially. This is likely the main reason Koch Media cites financial issues for the closure of the studio.

Deep Silver Vienna's 20 staff members will be paid up until March before officially being let go. We hope these talented developers find new footing in the industry.

News: Next-Gen Pokemon Game Coming This Year

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:32:28 -0600

Satoru Iwata announces the next generation of the Pokemon series to hit DS later this year...

After the 2006 launch of Diamond & Pearl proved that the Pokemon franchise is a strong as ever, it's little surprise to learn that Nintendo have under development the next main iteration for the series. What is surprising, however, is that it seems the next generation of Pokemon will be the first to release on the same console as its predecessor.

At Nintendo's official Q3 report, president Satoru Iwata confirmed the existence of a new Pokemon title for Nintendo DS, and that it "should become one of the most anticipated Nintendo DS titles for this year". Iwata-san went on to confirm that the next game will be set in a brand new area, and will feature new critters to capture. He also stated that "As a totally new version, it will contain various unprecedented experiences".

What would you like to see from the next Pokemon game? Drop a comment below...

News: Wii, DS Overtake NES, GameBoy

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:38:53 -0600

Wii and DS overtake the NES and GameBoy to become Nintendo's most successful systems ever...

As Nintendo's Q3 fiscal earnings roll in, it is confirmed that as of the end of 2009, Wii and DS have officially become the company's best-selling home console and hardware platform, respectively.

The Wii has now sold 67.45 million units worldwide to become Nintendo's most successful home console, overtaking the 61.91 million record held by the NES. Software-wise, Nintendo has also seen great success on the platform with their major 2009 releases. Wii Sports: Resort stands at over 13.5 million units, New Super Mario Bros. is the fastest home console game ever to reach 10 million units sold, while Wii Fit Plus also crept over that marker by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the DS achieves an even bigger milestone. Combined DS hardware sales have passed 125 million units worldwide, eclipsing Nintendo's previous best-selling console series - the GameBoy - which managed 118.69 million.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was understandably upbeat about the news.

"Needless to say, these are just two milestones of a larger journey in our efforts to reach the ultimate goal of bringing one home console for every household and one handheld for everyone."

With no sign of Nintendo's domination letting up, who's to say Iwata-san won't achieve his ultimate goal?

News: Zelda Wii Hitting Europe This Year?

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:24:08 -0600

More fuel to feed the flames of speculation...

While we've had vague hints from Satoru Iwata that The Legend of Zelda will hit Wii this year, there's still a wide expectation that we'll be waiting into 2011 - mainly due to a certain other two major Nintendo titles scheduled for 2010 launches.

Now though, Nintendo UK steps in to further cloud the issue, with a possible suggestion that the game will indeed see the light of day this year. The latest instalment the Nintendo Channel's cholesterol-increasingly cheesy Ninty News alludes to titles to get "fired up" about in 2010.

The relevant section is 1:00 in.

Of course, this could just mean that an official, full-blown announcement of Zelda is coming this year. President Iwata recently re-confirmed that the game will make an appearance at E3 this June.

We'll keep you updated on any new Zelda chatter as it rolls in.

News: No More Heroes 2 News Next Week

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:31:48 -0600

Rising Star are set to make an announcement on No More Heroes 2 next week...

Some news about news, now. European publisher Rising Star Games has announced via its Twitter account plans to address the issue of one of the more talked-about Wii games of early 2010.

"We will make an announcement about No More Heroes 2 next week (W/C 1 Feb)"

Fingers crossed for an official European release date - No More Heroes 2 has remained worryingly absent from Nintendo's official release listings despite having just launched in North America.

Stay tuned next week to find out what Rising Star have to announce...