GAME> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Smash-Up (2009)
SYSTEM> Nintendo Wii
SOURCE> Red Baron Pizza trading cards, 2009

Man alive, like the Ninja Turtles need more ways to debase themselves. No, go ahead and unlock Mikey’s skateboarding rapper outfit, that’s fine. Sheesus.

WTF is up with Step 5, troubleshooting the costume?

OK, right away I’m upset that Hudson changed the Calling logo. Originally the “l l i” looked like cellphone connection strength bars. This launch trailer ends with a logo where the middle letters just look like they have a glandular problem.

That aside, this Wii horror game might be just the thing for latent Fatal Frame / The Ring fans. And it’s only $40. Movie and presser follows.

HUDSON ENTERTAINMENT SUMMONS HORROR FANS TO Wii WITH CALLING
Suspense Game Inspired by Japanese Horror Now Available on Wii
San Mateo, Calif. – March 9, 2010 – The spirit world is ready to take on the gaming world in Calling, now available on Wii™ for $39.99. Published by Hudson Entertainment, the North and South American subsidiary of HUDSON SOFT, Calling centers around a mysterious “Black Page,” to which four unique characters are drawn in search of answers. Calling has roots in the Japanese horror genre and presents a sinister new take on ordinary environments and objects as the characters try to escape from the Mnemonic Abyss.

“Gamers everywhere will never look at an ordinary cell phone in the same way again after playing Calling,” said Mike Pepe, Director of Marketing of Hudson Entertainment. “Calling offers a refreshing combination of traditional horror and unique Wii gameplay that will thrill hardcore fans and casual gamers.”

Some say the “Black Page” is a hoax others say it is a bridge to something sinister. Players seek the truth for themselves with the guidance of the four characters stuck in the Mnemonic Abyss. Calling revolves around these characters and their fight for survival. In classic J-Horror style, players will experience the gripping story of suspense from the different characters’ perspectives. Someone or something is drawing the living into the Mnemonic Abyss for a reason, and it is up to the player to discover the truth. Using the Wii Remote™, players will use various equipment including flash lights, phones, and other items to navigate and escape the Calling.

Throughout the game players will visit various parts of the Calling world. Memories of houses, schools, hospitals and more bring players closer to either an escape or an untimely death. Players will solve puzzles, search and interact with objects, and ultimately try to escape this alternate existence.

For more information on Calling and Hudson Entertainment, please visit www.callinggame.com or www.kuroeight.com

Sigh, I don’t know where to go with this, so you can check the press release if you are still reading.

RACQUET SPORTS FOR WII™ NOW AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA

SAN FRANCISCO– March 9, 2010 – Today Ubisoft® announced that Racquet Sports, the multisport game that includes tennis, ping-pong, badminton, squash and beach tennis is now available on North America retail shelves, exclusively for the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game will be released in EMEA territories on March 25th under the name Racket Sports Party. Racquet Sports is rated “E” for everyone and delivers an engaging and interactive experience for the entire family.

Racquet Sports offers unprecedented realism and pinpoint gameplay mechanics, bringing every serve, swing and backhand to life while replicating the experience in the comfort of the living room.

Racquet Sports is sold at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $29.99. The game also comes bundled with Ubisoft’s Motion Tracking Camera and is priced at $39.99. For more information, please visit: www.racquetsportsgame.com.

About Racquet Sports: Racquet Sports engages players in 40 rich graphical environments in worldwide locations including an underwater reef, a Moroccan palace, a New York loft and a fan-filled stadium. The multiplayer feature in Racquet Sports allows the family to play cooperatively with each other or to compete against each other. Compatible with the Wii MotionPlus™ accessory and Ubisoft’s Motion Tracking Camera for Wii™, players will experience easy-to-use controls that precisely simulate their movements and will be able to play in multiple gameplay modes, from party to championship mode.

© 2009 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Asobo Studio is a registered trademark. The technology is the property of Asobo Studio SARL. Developed by Asobo Studio SARL and published by Ubisoft.Wii, the Wii logo and Wii MotionPlus are trademarks of Nintendo.

Wii MotionPlus™ accessory sold separately.

About Ubisoft:

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has teams in 28 countries and distributes games in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2008-09 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated sales of 1.058 billion euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

Max and the Magic Marker is now available on WiiWare (1000 points), and had the game been granted a clever indie-cred title like “Scribblenauts,” you’d probably be paying attention to it. Check out the Mac/PC demo and see if you don’t walk away thinking “This is what we all thought Drawn to Life was going to be like.” If you were in the Drawn to Life/Scribblenauts camp, you should probably check out Max. Even if it sounds like a terrible BBC kids show. CBEEBIES!

Final Fantasy II (SNES, 800 points) arrives on the Virtual Console, and there’s not one but two versions of Dracula: Undead Awakening available. Nintendo’s infodoc is after the jump.

Nintendo Download

With Fantasy Games This Good, Why Settle for Reality?

Sometimes realism is overrated. Don’t we all need a regular jolt of fantasy to keep our imaginations alive and kicking? For Wii™ owners, this week’s new game lineup is set to deliver exactly that. Max & the Magic Marker for the WiiWare™ service imagines what would happen if your own artistic creation turned against you, while the Virtual Console™ service features a big dose of otherworldly action with the classic FINAL FANTASY® II. Browse all the latest downloadable games for the Wii and Nintendo DSi™ systems to help keep your imagination fueled to the max.

We’ve also got some free bonus inspiration for you this week: At last September’s Penny Arcade Expo, Nintendo invited professional artists to create one-of-a-kind animations using the Flipnote Studio™ application for the Nintendo DSi system. The results are now online and ready for viewing at the Flipnote Hatena site (http://flipnote.hatena.com), including cool clips from top comic artists like Eric Jones, Christina Strain and Mike Choi. Check them out and treat your brain to extra helpings of creative juice.

Virtual Console

FINAL FANTASY II
Original platform: Super NES™
Publisher: Square Enix
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Follow the dark knight Cecil – Lord Captain of Baron’s elite force, the Red Wings – as he embarks on a fateful journey riddled with trials, betrayals, friendship, loss and self-discovery. Plagued with uncertainty over his monarch’s motives, can Cecil turn away from the path of darkness and destruction?

WiiWare

Max & the Magic Marker
Publisher: Press Play
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: One day Max gets a mysterious marker in the mail. Not knowing better, the first thing he draws is a wacky, purple monster. As soon as the marker leaves the paper, the monster comes to life and jumps off the paper and into another drawing. With the monster on the loose and messing with Max’s drawings, Max has no choice but to go after it. Armed with the magic marker, you must help Max track the monster through 15 inventive and challenging levels. You’ll need more than good will and quick reflexes to tackle the challenges ahead. Draw freely inside the game to help Max defeat enemies, overcome obstacles and solve puzzles. As you draw stairs, seesaws, balloons, surfboards and whatever else you can think of, your creations will interact with the physical environment, making every session unique.

Dracula – Undead Awakening
Publisher: Chillingo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Are you a vampire hunter? Are you ready to battle legions of undead foes including zombies, ghouls and werewolves? You’ll need to wield an arsenal of powerful weaponry while using your skill and intelligence. Uncover devastating firepower – machine guns, buzz-saws, flamethrowers and more – and choose upgrades for them as well as unique new perks for your character as your enemies increase in number and ferocity. You’re a tough customer, but beware – Lord Dracula is always on the hunt, and you are his prey. Enemies in Dracula have one thing in common: Undead, lycanthrope or mutant, they’re all after your flesh.

Nintendo DSiWare

Elemental Masters
Publisher: lbxgames
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: In this fantasy card game, stand your ground in a quest filled with magic and adventure, and experience a thrilling combination of strategy and role-playing. Choose your character, build up your army in your card deck and fight the mystical creatures of Elendior. With thoughtful use of your cards, you’ll obtain the monsters of your enemy and support your attacks by using arcane spells and the rules of dark magic. Dive into this captivating story in the quest mode or duel with your friends in multiplayer mode. More than 100 creatures in numerous maps are waiting for you.

4 TRAVELLERS™ – Play Spanish
Publisher: AGENIUS Interactive
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Whether played alone or together with friends, 4 TRAVELLERS can teach you new words in Spanish. The game is suitable for both young and old, and no previous knowledge is necessary. The more you play, the more your Spanish vocabulary increases. You can also play and learn with the game’s unique learning mode. The game is perfect to bring on your trip, with more than 240 carefully selected words included specifically for this occasion.

Dracula – Undead Awakening
Publisher: Chillingo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Are you a vampire hunter? Are you ready to battle legions of undead foes including zombies, ghouls and werewolves? You’ll need to wield an arsenal of powerful weaponry while using your skill and intelligence. Uncover devastating firepower – machine guns, buzz-saws, flamethrowers and more – and choose upgrades for them as well as unique new perks for your character as your enemies increase in number and ferocity. You’re a tough customer, but beware – Lord Dracula is always on the hunt, and you are his prey. Enemies in Dracula have one thing in common: Undead, lycanthrope or mutant, they’re all after your flesh.

Flips: The Bubonic Builders
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Not Rated
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Flips Interactive Books are the fun new way for kids to read. The builders are in to replace the girls’ toilet block, but they’re more interested in cups of tea and instant noodle snacks than doing any work. James suspects foul play, but Alexander and Lenny are doubtful until a strange accident hammers the truth home. How will the three friends stop St. Sebastian’s from being reduced to rubble?

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit www.Wii.com or www.NintendoDSi.com.

March 1
WiiWare: Mega Man 10 makes its bow on Wii. One gets the feeling Capcom plans on making a lot of these.

March 2
DS: Sonic Classic Collection puts the first four classic Sonic Genesis games on the DS, with a save-anywhere feature. Huh.

March 9
Wii: Calling could be a nice grab for the Wii fan who is into Japanese horror and clever logo designs.

March 14
DS: Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver will make all other DS games step aside. Get it? Because of that pedometer thing.

March 16
Wii: Racquet Sports bounds onto the market by cloning Wii Sports to run off Ubisoft’s USB camera accessory, shades of Natal. The game even shamelessly apes Wii Sports Resort’s box art.

Wii: Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon’s lead character is voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch… who has a nice voiceover resume but might be best known as Adam the Black Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

DS: Infinite Space sounds like a cool space-themed JRPG.

March 22
WiiWare: Cave Story finally arrives, despite being on Nintendo Power’s Game of the Year nominations for 2009. I wonder how many people voted for it.

March 23
Wii: Red Steel 2 has me worried, ever since Nintendo Power seemed down on the sword controls. I dig the Wild West look, though.

Wii: Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love provides the oft-hoped combo between opera singers and mech combat.

DS: Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey sounds like a cool space-themed JRPG.

March 28
DS: WarioWare DIY arrives; is filled with penis-tapping games one day later.

March 29
WiiWare: WarioWare DIY Showcase will provide plenty of microgame fun, plus let you play games created by owners of the DS version.

March 30
DS: Again is another crime mystery by the makers of Hotel Dusk.

Seems like a nice variety of options this month. JRPGs, nouveau-retro, horror, action and a couple of first-party releases. What will you pick up to while away the Ides?

Alongside Mega Man 10 (1000 points), WiiWare is today the proud recipient of a whack-a-mole game (Happy Hammerin’, 500 points) and the hilariously named Dart Rage (600 points). The Virtual Console makes a comeback with Fatal Fury Special (NeoGeo, 900 points).

DSiWare has the WTF crown this week with Flips: Terror in Cubicle Four (500 points). From the capsule description:

There’s something strange going on with the loo in cubicle four of the girls’ toilet. It’s spewed green goo on Stacey’s shoes and almost had new boy James for lunch. Can he and his friends, Alexander and Lenny, flush out the cause of the trouble, or will the terrifying toilet plague the school with problems forever?

The entire list of releases is after the jump. Enjoy, and wash your hands.

NOTE: I’d love to credit the cosplay photo, but I found it on a Google image search, uncredited on an old Joystiq post.

Nintendo Download

March is a Mega Month for Nintendo Game Downloads

The number 10 can mean a lot of things: perfection, loud volume or, in the case of this week’s downloadable game lineup, the return of a true gaming icon. Fans will thrill to see the legendary blue bomber landing on their Wii™ console with the arrival of Mega Man™ 10 for the WiiWare™ service. Elsewhere, players can test their skill at tossing darts, bashing moles, conquering the tennis court or tackling exotic golf courses. Whether you’re stocking up on living room-ready titles for your Wii console or grabbing on-the-go games via the Nintendo DSiWare™ service, March is off to a truly magnificent start.

Virtual Console

FATAL FURY SPECIAL
Original platform: NEOGEO
Publisher: D4 Enterprise
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: Originally released in 1993, this fighting game pits 15 different fighters against each other. The cast includes the original eight characters from Fatal Fury 2, as well as three new characters (Billy, Axel and Laurence) and a new boss (Wolfgang). Also, three characters from the original Fatal Fury (Duck, Dan and Geese) have returned to the fight. Building on the appeal of the previous game with two-line battles, special moves and powerful finishers, this game is truly worthy of its “special” distinction. And if certain special conditions are met, special guest Ryuu Sakazaki will make an appearance.

WiiWare

Mega Man 10
Publisher: Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Fans of all ages can enjoy the newest entry in this historic 8-bit franchise. As a special service to new players, there’s an Easy Mode – a first for a Mega Man game. This new feature means novices and longtime fans alike can all have a shot at making it to the end of a Mega Man game. Also, you can now play as Proto Man and try Time Attack Mode from the beginning, or watch play-through videos from players all over the world.

Dart Rage
Publisher: JV Games Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Alcohol Reference
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Grab your Wii Remote™ controller and prepare for the ultimate game of darts on your Wii console. Dart Rage features the most realistic throwing system available today. With pixel-perfect accuracy and no buttons to push, you’ll be completely immersed in the game’s realism. Dart Rage puts you in the spotlight as you compete against friends, the computer or both. With four great games to choose from – including 301-901, Cricket, Poker and American (Baseball) darts – Dart Rage has plenty of options to keep the game fresh. There’s also a VS mode in which multiple players can compete at the same time in a race to the finish. Rock out to a sizzling soundtrack as a commentator announces your every shot.

Happy Hammerin’
Publisher: GAMEBRIDGE
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Happy Hammerin’ is a party game suitable for friends and families. Compete against each other by bashing moles using the Wii Remote controller. Use the Wii Remote like a hammer and let off some steam as you frantically try to bash the moles popping up all over the screen. Play against the CPU or go head-to-head with up to four players. (Additional accessories are required for the multiplayer modes and are sold separately.) Players can challenge themselves in three different modes: Mole Adventure (1-2 players), Mole Marathon (1 player) and Party Battle (1-4 players). Mole Adventure consists of four stages with three difficulty types. The faster you bash, the more points you get. With broadband Internet access, register your scores online and compete against the best mole bashers from around the world.

Nintendo DSiWare

Let’s Golf
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Grab a club, take a swing and pray for a birdie in Let’s Golf. Discover a fun-filled experience that’s accessible to anyone. Choose from four customizable characters and play 45 holes in three beautiful 3-D locations: Fiji Beach, the English Countryside and the Scottish Lochs. Enjoy easy-to-learn controls that even let you blow into the microphone to add spin to your ball. Take photos with your Nintendo DSi™ system’s built-in camera and add them to your personal profile. For the most fun, play Hot Seat Multiplayer with friends on a single Nintendo DSi system and see who’s the best.

Globulos Party
Publisher: GlobZ
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Globulos Party is a collection of mini-games that are very simple to understand and fun to master. The 20 games are: 4-Square, Arena, Basket, Bomber, Bomber-King, Croquet, Darts, Darts-King, Soccer, Funky-Soccer, Ice Hockey, Monster, Pétanque, Pinball, Rally, Football, Snooker, Sumo, Tic-Tac-Toe and Volley. Enjoy more than 15 hours of solo fun and nearly unlimited game play with the three multiplayer modes.

VT Tennis
Publisher: Virtual Toys
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: VT Tennis is an ace of a tennis game for the Nintendo DSi system. Using the innovative stylus and touch-screen controls, train your budding tennis star to serve, lob and smash his way to victory with precision swipes in all directions. Advance your player statistics in this fast-paced tournament of game modes, featuring Quickmatch, Tennis School and World Championship. The objective is to reach No. 1 in the world rankings. To do this, players will have to unlock courts as they compete in championships all over the world. At the start of career mode, players will find themselves in last place in the rankings. From this moment on, you must battle your way up. You can play on all types of surfaces – grass, clay, hard courts and wood – and learn the best techniques for winning each tournament on the different surfaces. Seventeen tough courts, each more difficult than the last, stand between you and your final victory.

Flips: Terror in Cubicle Four
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: There’s something strange going on with the loo in cubicle four of the girls’ toilet. It’s spewed green goo on Stacey’s shoes and almost had new boy James for lunch. Can he and his friends, Alexander and Lenny, flush out the cause of the trouble, or will the terrifying toilet plague the school with problems forever?

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit www.Wii.com or www.NintendoDSi.com.

Because today’s Nintendo Summit just laid down some big name releases for the summer.

The big surprise is that both Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M are booked for May 23 and June 27, respectively. That’s some serious momentum for the summer! Galaxy in particular could have been a holiday 2010 tentpole release… so what do you suppose is on the docket for Christmas? Will Nintendo make with that new Zelda? Or will it go all 2008 and field Wii Music 2? Or can we expect something as-yet-unannounced, like a new Starfox or Pikmin or Paper Mario?

The physically big announcement is that the DSi XL will be available March 28 for the XL price of $190. You’d think we would be immune to DS-pricing sticker shock by this point, but… wow. The XL will come preloaded with some Brain Age games and have two color options: burgundy and bronze. The stat that the screens are 93% larger than the DSi is mind-blowing, although as we have noted before, that just means the pixels are bigger and therefore potentially uglier. Still, we’re not exactly the target audience for this device.

Sin and Punishment has a subtitle, Star Successor, and is due June 7, smack between the two higher profile Wii games. Cave Story, long delayed on WiiWare (Nintendo Power had it in their 2009 awards nominations because it was expected to come out last year!), finally sees release March 22. Here’s the full list of the games and products mentioned today, in chronoawesomical order:

March 1 – Mega Man 10 (WiiWare)
March 8 – Max & the Magic Marker (WiiWare)
March 22 – Cave Story (WiiWare)
March 28 – DSi XL
March 29 – WarioWare: DIY Showcase (WiiWare) (is the DS version same date?)
April 20 – Monster Hunter Tri (Wii)
May 3 – Picross 3D (DS)
May 18 – Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (Wii)
May 23 – Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Spring 2010 – Art Style: light trax (WiiWare)
Spring 2010 – Art Style: Rotozoa (WiiWare)
Spring 2010 – Rage of the Gladiator (WiiWare)
Spring 2010 – And Yet It Moves (WiiWare)
Spring 2010 – Photo Dojo (DSiWare)
Spring 2010 – Metal Torrent (DSiWare)
Spring 2010 – X-Scape (DSiWare)
June 7 – Sin and Punishment: Star Successor (Wii)
June 14 – 100 Classic Books (DS)
June 27 – Metroid: Other M (Wii)
Summer 2010 – Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS)
Summer 2010 – FlingSmash (Wii)
Summer 2010 – Super Meat Boy (WiiWare)
October 2010 – Ghostwire: Link to the Paranormal (DSi)
Fall/Winter 2010 – Disney Guilty Party (Wii)

I’m kinda bummed that Disney Guilty Party doesn’t actually have Disney characters in it.

Issue #252, March 2010
featuring Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver (DS), Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (Wii), Tournament of Legends (Wii)

Nintendo Power’s six-page look at Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver does not do much to impress you that the games have received wild and necessary improvements. Sure, the graphics are better than a Game Boy Color game! Sure, the sound is better! Much of the article simply rattles off the features that Gold and Silver added ten years ago… like the Steel and Dark types, a real-time clock, held items, and a daycare for breeding. Aside from WiFi play (and I assume the Global Trading Station), there is little talk of features cribbed from modern DS mega-hits Pokemon Pearl and Diamond. At this stage it would have been nice to be reassured that HeartGold and SoulSilver was going to follow that legacy rather than just be a remastered port.

But then there’s the Pokewalker.

Of course I had the Pokemon Pikachu 2 GS back in the day. A combination virtual pet and pedometer, the PP2GS recorded my steps and beamed info into my Pokemon Silver by way of the GBC’s infrared receiver. Flash forward ten years later and you’re about to see me do that all over again with the Pokewalker, a combination virtual pet and pedometer that will do the same with HeartGold and SoulSilver. Although the PP2GS was a separate purchase, Nintendo wisely has the Pokewalker bundled with every copy of HeartGold and SoulSilver. Naturally, this bumps the price up to a slightly dizzying $40.

NP describes a little of the Pokewalker’s functionality. You can transfer one of your pokemon from the DS game to the ‘walker. As you walk around in the real world, the pokemon walks along its own Route… your steps generate Watts which are then used to unlock new Routes back in HeartGold and SoulSilver (does this mean the new Johto map will have multiple new roads and shortcut paths that you’re expected to uncover with the Pokewalker?) Watts can also find items or catch pokemon on the Pokewalker itself, making it kind of like a highly-focused, miniaturized version of the Pokemon concept itself. The most important feature is that pokemon can gain levels after doing their time in your ‘walker.

Oh yes, I shall be levelling up all workday. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver will see release on March 14. Check to see if your local store is offering the preorder bonus of a little Ho-oh or Lugia plastic figure!

Would the Kingdom Hearts fan community that orchestrated this please stand up?

Two months ago Nintendo Power opened up voting for the annual Nintendo Power Awards. As in previous years, they have separated the winners into two halves: one set chosen by the NP editorial staff and one selected by the online popular vote. Predictably, New Super Mario Bros Wii and Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks won the magazine’s Wii and DS Games of the Year, with NSBMW also taking Overall Game of the Year. But in the online poll, voters chose Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days as both DS GOTY and Overall GOTY, defeating both Mario and Zelda by a large margin. Furthermore, Kingdom Hearts swept all seven categories in which it was nominated!

Seeing that Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was one of the most tedious DS games I played in 2009 (and I played Blue Dragon Plus!), I smell a very dedicated fan community somewhere that rose to the occasion and swamped the vote.

It’s a fair play; online fansites are powerful beasts packed with passionate voices. I just wish a more deserving game had felt the love.

Allow me to draw your attention to this huge blank space.

Not even Nintendo Power can find enough to say about Data East Arcade Classics to fill out roughly two inches of blank column space.

Are you a bad enough dude to own a crappy retro collection?

Nintendo Power has No More Heroes 2 all wrong.

They gave it a 9.0, which is a pretty shockingly high score. The cynic in me wants to say that NMH2 was the beneficiary of a +2 point bonus simply for being an M-rated, shock-filled, mature-o-fest, like the high scores awarded to The Conduit and Madworld. As much as I love No More Heroes, #2 is not better than #1 (which NP gave an 8 out of 10.) Here’s why.

Much has been said about NMH2 removing the empty, no-frills third-rate-GTA overworld. While in the original, yes the motorcycle was a giant slug and yes the city was largely empty, at least it gave us a sense that this was an actual, explorable location that added to our understanding of Travis Touchdown’s world. In NMH3, every single shop, minigame and level is selectable from a menu. This is a boring, half-assed way out of the problem. The solution is to make the city better not erase it entirely. NMH2 sacrifices immersion and believability by reducing the experience into a disconnected series of quests chosen from a menu.

Do not believe anyone who tells you the 8-bit-styled minigames “are a treat.” Nintendo Power, hilariously, claims to have spent hours playing them yet refers to them as “often fun, sometimes frustrating, and always rewarding.” Often fun? WTF? There’s a key word choice there – “often” – that should notify sensitive readers that NP does not want to admit that these minigames are confusingly explained and poorly controlled.

NP also brings up alternate playable character Shinobu and says her controls are “not as solid as I’d like.” No kidding. Shinobu’s jump might as well contain a random coin-flip generator that determines if you’re actually going to land on the platform you intended. It is terribly loose… and naturally her levels contain quite a bit of vertical scaling. So you’ll be doing a lot of vertical falling.

I love this series. The cutscenes and dialogue and characters are just as good in NMH2 as they were in NMH1. The combat is fast and fun, combining ridiculous light saber attacks with equally ridiculous wrestling drops. The bosses are bizarre and wonderful (although many seem to be purposefully cheap in order to make a metatextual point.) But the loss of the overworld, the obfuscation of the minigames, and some awful control choices (don’t even bring up the motorcycle prelude to the Ryuji boss fight!) add up to some major subtractions to this installment.

A Decade of Nintendo.

The “Best of the Decade” article (quiet, decade-counting purists!) has a great timeline featuring over 100 important games from the N64 through WiiWare. Out of 103 titles, I own 69 of them, which puts me at a pretty great fanboy rating.

According to the timeline, the biggest drought of major releases from from February 2005 to August 2005. And even then, there’s not a single non-DS title noted until November 2006. Looking at that, I’m not surprised that the gaming populace was ready for Nintendo to abandon ship and go software-only in the year prior to the Wii’s ascendance.

Also, your decade of NP Overall GOTYs is as follows:

• 2000: Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64)
• 2001: Super Smash Bros Melee (GameCube)
• 2002: Metroid Prime (GameCube)
• 2003: Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
• 2004: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GameCube)
• 2005: Resident Evil 4 (GameCube)
• 2006: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
• 2007: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
• 2008: Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii)
• 2009: New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)

Yeah, I believe this letter.

Nobody in their right mind would suggest that the last decade of Sonic games was better than the last decade of Mario games. But I somehow doubt that, two months ago, a die-hard Sonic fan suddenly discovered the Wonders of Mario after reading NP’s “250 Reasons to Love Nintendo” feature… and then fired off a lame “I was wrong” letter in time for issue #252 to see print.

Download Staff Picks: Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (WiiWare), Pilotwings (SNES), The Oregon Trail (DSiWare)

Top scoring Wii review: No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, 9.0 (all scores out of 10)
Top scoring DS review: Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, 8.0
Lowest rated Wii review: Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll, 5.5
Lowest rated DS review: Ragnarok DS, 5.0

Also this month, Nintendo Power gave Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing 8.0 on Wii and 6.0 on DS, Endless Ocean: Blue World (Wii) hit 7.5, and Shiren the Wanderer (Wii) managed a 6.5.

No more dangling Remotes! – The $80 official Tatsunoko vs Capcom arcade stick controller from Mad Catz plugs into the Wii Remote instead of having it’s own wireless connectivity. What the hell man. Is the wireless tech really so cost-prohibitive that we all have to suffer with dangly loose Remotes hanging off our fighting sticks and Classic Controllers?

Whuh-oh. – When discussing the swordplay controls in the upcoming Red Steel 2, NP says “Wii Sports Resort is closer to the kind of sword control that many of us had in mind.”

Your marching orders for Second Quarter. – This spring, you’re going to get WarioWare DIY Showcase for WiiWare and you’re going to enjoy my handmade WarioWare levels I created with WarioWare DIY for DS.

Yeah, we noticed that. – NP points out that Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth for WiiWare has no save option. But according to New Super Mario Bros Wii, that’s okay because it honors the memory of classically difficult retro titles, right?

Next month in Nintendo Power… the goods on WarioWare DIY, plus a look back at Super Mario Bros 3. Plus, Red Steel 2 gets a review score of 7.0 or lower.

Today, Ubisoft released some new details for their early summer release title, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands on the Nintendo Wii.  Some of the features that are being implemented for the Wii include multiple paths through the enviornments, using the acrobatic prowess of the Prince to navigate combat and levels and of course, impressive graphics for the Wii.

The two screens that were sent over with the press release look really good, and remind me a bit of the Prince of Persia title that came out on the PC, 360 and PS3 a year ago.  That said, am I the only one that pictures a ridiculous control scheme for the Prince to navigate the environment that is wrapped around motion control.  It could be good in theory, but how will it work in practice will determine the success or failure of the title.

Look for Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands on Wii, May 18th, 2010.  Check the jump for the full press release and the other screenshot.

UBISOFT® UNVEILS DETAILS FOR PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE FORGOTTEN SANDS™ FOR THE Wii™ SYSTEM

Ubisoft’s Quebec City Studio to Deliver a New Prince of Persia Adventure Built from the Ground up for the Wii™ system from Nintendo

SAN FRANCISCO – February 16, 2010 – Today Ubisoft® unveiled new details for the upcoming release of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands™ for the Wii™ system from Nintendo. Developed by Ubisoft’s Quebec City Studio and built entirely from the ground up, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands utilizes the full graphical capabilities of the Wii™ system. This chapter in the critically acclaimed Prince of Persia® Sands of Time series introduces players to a brand new storyline complete with new characters and powers that transcend both nature and time. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is scheduled to ship May 18, 2010.

About the Game

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands for Wii is a new installment in the popular Prince of Persia series and presents a new adventure within the Sands of Time universe. After leaving his father’s kingdom to prove his worth, the Prince is drawn toward a mysterious realm. He quickly discovers that he must harness his acrobatic abilities and powers over the environment to not only survive, but to save a mystic palace from unfathomable evil. Game features include:

• Classic Gameplay Reinvented: By utilizing the Prince’s acrobatic prowess, players will be able to perform unparalleled feats from maneuvering through treacherous traps and combating massive enemies, to solving elaborate puzzles in an effort to survive.

• Create Your Own Path: The Prince will possess supreme mastery over his environment and enemies. By manipulating his power over sand, The Prince will uncover new areas to explore that will only be accessible by wielding his new powers, skills and abilities.

• Impressive Graphics for Wii: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands utilizes advanced technologies to deliver a smooth, clear and impressive graphical experience on Wii. With 15 hours of original storyline as well as alternate paths, secret areas and unlockables, The Forgotten Sands™ provides players with a significant adventure that rewards exploration and encourages replay ability.

• A Blockbuster Experience: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will treat players to a variety of unforgettable locales that complement the Wii’s unique controls and capabilities. Epic in-game moments aim to have fans on the edge of their seats as the Prince battles with ferocious beasts and colossal bosses.

For more information on Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands please visit: www.princeofpersiagame.com

About Ubisoft®:

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft is present in 28 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2008–09 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of 1.058 billion euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2010 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Based on Prince of Persia® created by Jordan Mechner. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Prince of Persia and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands are trademarks of Jordan Mechner in the U.S. and/or other countries used under license by Ubisoft Entertainment. Wii, Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo.

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon is set for a NA debut on March 16 and an EU bow on March 19. The game came out in Japan in January 2009 and received high accolades for the atmospheric setting. The game was developed by tri-crescendo, who brought us such off-center RPG greats as Eternal Sonata and Baten Kaitos.

I’m tracking Fragile Dreams chiefly because it draws inspiration from haikyo, which is the modern hobby of exploring abandoned buildings in Japan. Websites like this one showcase hundreds of photos of dead, destroyed structures, forgotten in a post-WWII Japanese building boom. At least, I think that’s the dominant era; my Babel Fish is rusty. The photos are both a monument to urban sprawl and a personal look at the lives of average people. When you see an abandoned daycare with kiddie toys and school books among the rubble, you can’t help but wonder what happened. Even if it was nothing nefarious (unlike Fragile Dreams’ post-apocalyptic setting), it still makes for some compelling photography.

Anyway, Fragile Dreams. Next month. Wii. Uses Remote as a flashlight.