Up until now, there has been only one legit way to obtain Mew into Heart Gold & Soul Silver, a quite complicated method through My Pokemon Ranch through the WiiWare, then you would have to trade it from your Diamond or Pearl over to HS/SS. Let’s face it, Mew has never been an easy Poke to obtain in America. For the first time, Mew is set to be available over Wi-Fi via the game’s mystery gift function.
The Mew character you will receive is a Level 5 and comes with one basic Normal-type attack, Pound, giving Pokémon Trainers the ability to raise and train Mew as they see fit. Making this distribution especially exclusive, Mew comes inside a Cherish Ball and has a Premier Ribbon, both indicating that you got it via a special event.
During the limited distribution period, players will need to receive Mew using the Mystery Gift option via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service and their existing wireless broadband Internet access, and will need to acquire the Pokédex in the game. Players must also have fewer than three Wonder Cards in their game.
More good news is Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum owners can get in on this deal as well as it works with all 5 of the main DS Pokemon titles. Don’t wait too long on grabbing Mew as the event is only available October 15 through October 30, 2010.
With Fable 3 releasing at the end of the month among the hailstorm of new games, Sumthing Else Music Works is announcing that they have also planned to release Fable 3’s soundtrack on October 26th. Releasing the same day as the game seems like a good idea as consumers can purchase both the game and the music at the same time and have the entire Fable 3 experience.
If you are interested in pre-ordering the soundtrack you can do so on Amazon.com now for $16. Though you can also get the music through iTunes or Sumthing Digital themselves for an undisclosed price. But with iTunes you can pick your favorite songs from the game.
The soundtrack itself was created by composer Russell Shaw and performed by the Slovak National Symphony who have performed the music for the Fable series since it’s beginning. So if you happen to like the musical score for each of the past games, then you know a bit on what to expect.
Sonic’s old pal Tails appears in the latest Wii trailer for Sonic Colours. However, don’t be fooled as Tails will not actually feature as a playable character. In the video, he is shown to be helping before the blue hedgehog enters the amusement, and though he won’t be a playable role in the game, he will still pop-up in cut-scenes and play a part in the story of Sonic Colours.
The sequel to one of the best games from 2009, Batman: Arkham City is already a highly anticipated title for 2011. But while 2011 is still away from us, you can check some new artworks and screenshots of Arkham City and it’s villains:
Batman: Arkham City will be released in Fall 2011, for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Numb3rs Platform: iPhone
Developer: Apocalypse Train/CBS Interactive
Publisher: Chillingo
Genre: Puzzle/Mini-games
Released: 4th October
Price: $0.99 BUY NOW
“Everything is numbers.” That’s right, according to the Numb3rs game on iPhone, based on the TV series of the same name, the thing of utmost importance, that you must remember at all costs, is that everything is numbers. Numbers? Yeah, that makes sense, they’re numbers. Pictures? From now on they are numbers. What about letters? Nope, they are also numbers.
But dramatic sentiments and joking aside, Numb3rs isn’t really very much linked to the television series at all, and for that I am thankful. Maybe the developers hoped the license would help shift a few copies, when in fact, it may well act as a deterrent. This is a shame as it is actually a brilliant number game.
From a choice of two modes, story and challenge, you play a number or different sub-games with the one that’s played the most being brain-based. Now for some of you this may be a complete turn-off, but those who like this kind of thing (me being one of them), are in luck. The main element of the logic-based game is one number game in particular. This mini-game makes up the core of the game purely because it appears the most, and can only be described as a maths-based missile command game, replacing precision aiming with speedy mental arithmetic. Imagine Dr. Kawashima, but if you don’t complete the calculations quick enough, instead of a drop in your personal chart, there are rather more catastrophic consequences. Let’s say a hacker managing to breach his/her way into your top secret database.
This prospect may not sound thrilling, and initially it’s not, but believe me, when you start to progress through the missions it gets better. From there, if you start upping the difficulty settings it can turn very exciting as you struggle to complete sums in time, or manage to perform a combo and eliminate multiple threats at the same time. The faster and more complicated it gets, the more thrilling it gets.
But this isn’t the only aspect to the game. There is also a range of other mini-games that make up the game, such as a colour sequence memory game, in which you have to memorise the sequence as it grows longer and as a result, harder. A number of you may have even experienced this before as a flash game over the internet, so really this is nothing new, yet extremely fulfilling to play. The aid of a different sound for each panel adds to the satisfaction from completing a sequence, and can even help you to memorise the order if this is the way your mind works.
However, not all the mini-games are quite up to these high standards, and as you progress in the story, the quality of these bonuses declines. Fortunately, as aforementioned, the speed calculation number-defence game plays the leading role in the game, making up the majority of the playtime. You can rest assured in the fact that you will only encounter each mini-game once, as they only appear as a single one-off at select intervals. Therefore, if you didn’t enjoy repeatedly tapping the screen in some of the various mini-games, there is no need for these to get another look-in as soon as you have completed them, if you so wish.
On top of the story mode, there is a challenge mode which gives more of the same number-crunching action like in the story mode, this time omitting the mini-games which break-down the story. Those who didn’t fall in love with the slightly random mini-games may favour this mode, preferring to chase high-scores than resolve the dire plot. In addition, scores set in this mode can then be compared with the scores of others on the leader board, an added incentive to strive for a large score.
Overall, Numb3rs is a pleasant surprise and while some may feel discouraged by the fact the they don’t watch the show, in reality it has next to nothing to do with the series. It can and should be enjoyed by anyone with a basic mental mathematics ability thanks to an addictive calculation-based defence game that makes up the bulk of the gameplay. As the game progresses, the difficulty surges which could leave slower players behind, whereas other players who breeze through have the added challenge of increasing the difficulty to confront. Some of the mini-games are good, some aren’t so good, but either way, they serve as a great stop-gap from the main gameplay element, preventing it from becoming repetitive. Both the sound and graphics are passable, and while the plot is mediocre, the short lines of speech before and after each mission are unobtrusive with little affect on the game, and require no knowledge of the characters’ backgrounds, either. It’s just a shame the game is so concise, with the story mode done and dusted in little over an hour.
Pros
Good for the grey matter
Fast-paced, exciting mental arithmetic
Accessable to all, not just those who watch the show
Developed by Hudson Soft, Tetris Party Deluxe builds on the previously released smash hit Tetris Party for WiiWare adding six brand new game modes.
Product Description:
You know Tetris, but do you know how to party? Tetris Party Deluxe builds on the previously released Tetris Party for WiiWare by adding new modes and features to enrich the overall gameplay experience for both Wii and Nintendo DS. With more than 20 exciting modes, online battles, and multiplayer fun for groups of friends and family, Tetris Party Deluxe is a must-have for Tetris and puzzle fans.
Tetris: Party Deluxe features:
Six new game modes
Four new enhanced modes of play
Battle it out with friends during multiplayer mode by using 13 exciting items to prevail against your competition
Track your progress with in-game statistics that award more than 130 achievements
Press Release:
The Party Is On!
Tetris Party Deluxe builds on the previously released Tetris Party for WiiWare by adding new modes and features to enrich the overall game play experience for both Wii and Nintendo DS. With more than 20 exciting modes, online battles, and multiplayer fun for groups of friends and family, the Tetris Party Deluxe game is a must-have for Tetris and puzzle fans.
“Tetris continues to be one of the most popular games in the world,” said Minoru Arakawa, president and chief executive officer of Tetris Online, Inc. “With Tetris Party Deluxe, we are taking the game to a whole new level by providing both Wii and Nintendo DS players with an unprecedented selection of unique and satisfying ways to enjoy playing Tetris.”
Check back soon for my review on what looks to be a very exciting game indeed…….
Game Name:Shantae: Risky’s Revenge Platforms: Nintendo DSiWare Publisher(s): WayForward Developer(s): WayForward Genre(s): Platformer Release Date: Oct 4, 2010 Price: 1200 Points ($12.00 US)
Eight years ago, when the Game Boy Color was on it’s last legs, Shantae was released. The title received rave reviews and garnered a huge cult following. Shantae fans wanted a sequel and developer WayForward Technologies have now finally released the heavily anticipated Shantae: Risky’s Revenge exclusively for the DSiWare download service. The big question is how well this title measures up to the original and if Shantae can stand her ground to the competitive platforming market. Here is my review.
Story
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge picks up right from the original, but now Risky Boots has returned to cause more chaos in Sequin Land. Shantae sets off on a quest to obtain the powerful magic seals before Risky can get her hands on them and use their power for evil. The story is simple and fun, but what makes the whole story come to life are the characters. If you never had the chance to play the original Shantae, she is a half-genie and a bit naive yet brave hero. From the belly dancing to quick one-liners, her character has not really changed at all since her first outing in the gaming world and that is one thing that all Shantae fans will be happy to know.
I mentioned the characters in Shantae:RR for good reasoning. Each NPC can interact with Shantae and give you information and clues about upcoming locations, items, and other in-game happenings. This is usually done with a bit of humor mixed in. Each character you talk with is different from the next and I felt a lot of work went in to this feature to add a whole new level of depth to the already booming locations in the game and can easily keep you interested the whole way through.
Gameplay
This is where Shantae shines. Keeping true to the original, the platforming and puzzle elements in Shantae all are back in full force and feel even better than before. There are many things to go over in the gameplay as there are many features that tie together to make one solid experience.
There are many different locations that you need to visit, from forests to underground dungeons and many other fully detailed environments. Standard jumping, running, and performing Shatae’s classic hair whip feel smooth and performing each action comes with no hiccups and feels very polished. The enemies also vary from many different creatures and increase in difficulty as you move throughout the game. Of course to help Shantae take down the many enemies along the way are powers and upgrades that can be obtained while progressing through different stages. The bottom screen on the DSi is used mainly for your map and inventory, keeping everything at easy access during levels.
A currency system is in tact and Shantae can pick up gems by defeating an enemy and use them to buy new upgrades such as fireballs, health potions and many more other powers from the in-game marketplace. The upgrades don’t stop there as much like Metroid, power-ups can also be found in game. What makes Shantae different though is that that these are applied through the belly dancing feature. By simply holding the X button, Shantae freezes time and dances until you find the proper pose. Once the player releases the button, Shantae transforms into a creature to help her reach a certain point that was otherwise unobtainable. Each animal has it’s own strengths such as the monkey being able to jump to higher points and run a bit faster and the elephant able to smash through giant rocks to reveal new areas or treasures along the way.
Another reason I loved this game was that it was not linear. Due to the upgrade placement, there is a lot of backtracking to be done. Not like “Please let it be over” kind of backtracking, but a fresh new approach at levels already visited. With the animal powers being obtained later in the game I found myself going back many times with the ability to now move forward into dungeons and areas I could not otherwise earlier. The forest level and the town levels certainly deserve the biggest mention of the game as there is a fully animated background that Shantae can instantly jump into by finding a jump pad. You can also hop forward into the previous area as well so this works both ways. Not only is this done quickly, it is done extremely well. I would love to see this more if there is a sequel to this game as using this way to progress through levels in very innovative and made the title stand out from other games in the genre.
Graphics/Audio
The graphics in the game are the best in my opinion on the DSiWare. Each character is vibrant and in full color with a lot of charm, but the environments and locations is what completes the experience. Each environment is fully detailed with full color and beautiful textures that made the whole experience of discovering a new area that much more rewarding. Shantae’s animations are smooth and even the NPCs were great because each design fit their personality. As far as 2D games for portables go, this one proves it’s worth by being so polished and feeling like a final product which made it feel like the 8 year wait was well worth it.
The music stands up to the top notch graphics as well with a superb soundtrack that fits in perfectly with the flow of the game. Each location has it’s own 16-bit instrumental that hums nicely as you explore and is very memorable. The sound effects are on key as well from the whip of Shantae’s hair to the ever so sad moments when Shantae runs out of hearts and meets her end only to let out a loud scream.
Overview
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge not only did everything right for a DSiWare title, it is now also one of the main selling points for the DSiWare. Innovative platforming, an incredible soundtrack and a unique and quirky set of characters make Shantae: Risky’s Revenge a contender for one of the best releases this year and will go down as one of the best portable platformers of this generation much like the original Shantae accomplished 8 years ago. It is really easy to relive the game’s 6 hour adventure over and over with new unlockables and places to explore. It is also incredible that WayForward packed all of the content into a simple download and at just 1200 points, this is one of the best deals in gaming period.
With the release date barely a week away, Namco Bandai is bringing the Pain, literally. They have released a few extra screenshots showing different parts of the game, as well as showing off some of Pain’s fighting skills in the battle against Jiraiya. Fans of the series will recognize the battle as being one of the highest anticipated battles of the entire series, though those that do not know the outcome I will not spoil it for you. Instead you will have to play it to find out!
You’ll have that opportunity on October 19th if you have the PS3 or the Xbox 360. Along with Pain and Jiraiya there are more than 40 different fighters to select from, and enhanced features that include a better online vs. mode and character support system.
When I used to frequent a local arcade in my area, one game comes to mind as machine that stole all of my quarters and MANY hours of my time, X-Men Arcade. Konami and Marvel just announced that the arcade classic is heading to the Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network with some brand new features. Developed by Backbone Entertainment, this first ever home version of the popular 1992 cabinet arcade classic allows players to join their favorite X-Men characters in what is widely considered their first great video game appearance.
In X-Men Arcade, Cyclops, Colossus, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Storm and Wolverine unite to use their special powers to save mankind from the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and other terrible threats. Players will have to fight off hundreds of Sentinels, along with Super Villains such as Pyro, the Blob, Wendigo, Nimrod, the White Queen, Juggernaut and Mystique, as they battle their way to Island M to take down the Master of Magnetism, Magneto, and save Kitty Pryde and Professor Xavier.
“Just like with our comics, Marvel has a rich history of great video games, and we’re happy to play our part with Konami in reintroducing this classic to fans of all ages,” said Seth Lehman, Vice President of Digital Licensing for Marvel. “Fans have been clamoring for X-Men Arcade to hit consoles for 18 years now, and we’re confident they’ll find this re-release was worth the wait. The game looks and plays exactly like we remember it – all without the added worries of being low on quarters when you’re closing in on Magneto.”
X-Men Arcade releases later this fall (Still no solid date yet) but until then you can check out the new screenshots and trailer below.
