WiiNoob

72 Pins’s NES Cartridges Recreate Modern Games

Justin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:36:10 +0000

Old meets new in these NES cartridges designed with retro takes on today’s most loved games.

There is nothing wrong for having an affinity for vintage things. Heck, it works for those American Pickers guys and they seem like alright blokes. Obviously, the gaming console that currently invokes such an nostalgic frenzy has to be the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Nintendo’s 8-bit console just oozes “retro” from its big boxy shell (although if your NES actually does ooze anything that might be a bad sign that something’s wrong.) The NES’s two-button controllers are simply iconic to gamers and its 8-track like cartridges have often turned into works of art – much like the ones showcased here from 72 Pins.

Using some brilliant imagining, the specialty gaming-item marker has created individual NES carts that do their own take on modern-generation classics from the age of polygons such as Capcom’s Okami (lovely as you can see,) Sony’s God of War, Shadow of the Colossus (my personal favorite,) and among various others. And sure, it might not be all too Nintendo-centric, but you got to admit that these things are A—MAZE—ING!

And wonderfully, these pieces of gaming art are up for sale – $20.00US each to boot. Now mind you, these carts don’t play the game displayed on them, but they’re perfect for hanging on walls or the next conversation piece on any nerdcave’s mantle. It would be cool beanz if 72 Pins could recreate a NES cartridge featuring The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

The Wii-Motion Plus required next quest for Link is almost here (November 20th in North America exactly,) and could make for quite the timely homage for the game. Back to these carts though, it seems that 72 Pins is planning to create more of these mish-mash items in the inevitable future, some based on other popular titles like Resident Evil and Castle Crashers. Nice. Can’t wait to see them!

Via: 72 Pins

‘Super Mario 3D Land’ & ‘Mario Kart 7′ Release Dates Revealed

Tom — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:36:08 +0000

Two Mario games on the Nintendo 3DS have solid release dates for the Holiday Season — Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.

For the final months of 2011, Nintendo is bringing the heavy hitters to retailers in North America to make drat sure the Nintendo 3DS has the best chance to sell like gangbusters. It’s just 2 games mind you, but they share one common trait that should bring the big bucks — that jump-happy plumber known the world-round, Mario.

I’m speaking of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. The first of which, coming out on November 13th, pits the Nintendo star in a new adventure in the Mushroom Kingdom that uses both 3D and 2D planes. It’s quite the novel trick when seen in motion and leans heavily on stereoscopic 3D tech inside the handheld. Old power-ups like the raccoon tail from Super Mario Bros. 3 make their return too, along with a few awesome others that I’ll keep mum about least spoil the surprise.

Meanwhile on the racetrack, the seventh entry (yes seven) in the Mario Kart series get’s it’s starting light on December 4^th. For the most part, what you’ve come to expect from Mario Kart, including the previous tweaks in Mario Kart Wii, are here, but added are new features: such as customizable vehicles, a hang glider gadget to soar through the sky from long off-ramp jumps, and the ability for drivers to find routes and shortcuts underwater.

I’m sure if your a big Nintendo fan, the past couple of months have been a Christmas everyday scenario. In September not only did we get a Star Fox game (Star Fox 64 3D), but soon enough Kirby’s Return To Dream. And let’s not forget November, which sees The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and it’s one to one Wii Motion Plus accuracy hit store shelves.

Via: Nintendo

Nintendo’s 3DS Slide Pad Expansion Is Now Official

Bernie Mota — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:36:06 +0000

Officially announced for the Nintendo 3DS recently, its quite possibly one of the most controversial peripheral Nintendo has made up to date.

After it was surprisingly revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu, stealing the headlines away from landing Capcom’s role-playing game sensation with Monster Hunter Tri-G, eyes were keenly placed on Nintendo during their own pre-Tokyo Game Show media event on September 13th to further elaborate on the second circle pad add-on for the Nintendo 3DS.

Weirdly though, and probably as a result of the extreme negative reaction it caused around the web, Nintendo decided on a more stealth addressing. Posting all info about the first-party peripheral that gives the 3DS one more control option and 3 separate buttons (L2, R1, & R2) by snapping around the handheld’s body, like a sumo wrestler falling on a hockey puck, on their Japanese hardware page.

The important details to note: first, it’s officially called the 3DS Slide Pad Expansion, second, it will out in Japan this December 10 for ¥1,500 (around $20 US), and third, requires one AAA battery to run on. Not exactly a big thing that last one, but I could definitely hear the complaints of having to rummage around for the same power source a garage door-opener uses, but whatever.

Honestly, the 3DS Slide Pad Expansion won’t win any points in the looks category, although for games that will incorporate it, and for now there are only 6 – Monster Hunter Tri-G, Resident Evil Revelations, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Ace Combat 3D Cross Rumble, Dynasty Warriors Vs., and Kingdom Hearts 3D – it will no doubt get the job done.

First impressions about how the attachment feels have been resoundingly positvie, and although it might be a bit of giant to carry in pockets, the expansion pad is quite ergonomic and comfortable to hold. Now whether one should run out and import it come this December, is another hotly debatable topic.

A fair point to be made is that the circle pad add-on is totally optional — they’re some photos out on the web that show Monster Hunter Tri-G playable with touch-screen controls. Yet that point still won’t be enough to keep away the distant rumors clouds of a redesigned Nintendo 3DS, with the second nub pre-built in, from casting down on Nintendo’s sun-shining day.

Not like there weren’t any such rumors before hand, but it only makes the chance of speculation go up in percentage. Greatly. I guess we’ll see from here what effect the 3DS Slide Pad Expansion has on customers & developers — and exactly what bigger plans Nintendo has for it’s stumbling out-of-the-gate platform.

Skyward Sword Bundle Includes Gold Wiimote Plus & Zelda 25th Anniversary Concert CD

Justin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:35:19 +0000

On November 20th Nintendo drops from the skies this Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword bundle, including a special Wiimote and a music CD from the Zelda 25th Anniversary Concerts.

There must of been a sale on gold spray paint recently, because for their Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword bundle Nintendo went a little overboard with it like a toddler at a crafts table, as you clearly see above. I guess they got a tad excited in the rush of things, what with it being the 25th anniversary of our beloved Link.

It’s cool though; I feel their excitement too just by looking at the thought & consideration that’s going into this $69.99 retail package, which is dropping on the same November 20^th release date as its stand-alone software counterpart. Apart of the Skyward Sword bundle, is a copy of the game and a limited-edition gold Wii Remote Plus, an absolute must peripheral.

An absolute must because without it you can’t play Skyward Sword. Of course you should know this already if you read previous stories about the upcoming Nintendo Wii title, here on WiiNoob.

Ahem. But wait, there’s more! You also get in this bundle a CD of live performances from the upcoming Zelda 25th anniversary concerts going on across the nation starting next month in Los Angeles. Nintendo, in their benevolent hearts though, is also including this wonderful audio sampling in regular editions of Skyward Sword, but only in initial print runs of both versions – so first come, first serve!

Via: Nintendo

Sega’s ‘Aliens: Infestation’ Coming October 11th For Nintendo DS

Ben — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:03:39 +0000

An infestation of frantic action and creepy discovery comes to the Nintendo DS in Aliens: Infestation, October 11th.

“Full Circle.” Normally when this term is flinged around, it more or less describes a situation where one instance returns to its first source of inspiration. Take for example, the 1986 original Metroid for the NES which was heavily inspired by Alien, the seminal 1979 sci-fi horror film Ridley Scott.

Meanwhile, Aliens: Infestation by Way Forward Technologies (published by Sega) is a Nintendo DS title arriving in October that appears heavily inspired by Metroid. There. “Full Circle.” But straight on point, if ever there was a game that looked created by some super-legion of gamers, this was it.

For one thing, it’s a side-scrolling 2D Alien game done in perfectly fitting style of a Metroid title. Two, it’s being made by 2D masterminds Way Forward (you might of heard of them, Contra 4, A Boy and His Blob), and if anyone where to pull off a game of this non-linear exploration type successfully, it’s these guys.

Lastly, it doesn’t hold back. And what I mean is that Aliens: Infestation doesn’t shy away from the ghastly experience that an Aliens game should be – an intense game of hide and seek between your military rescue unit and the xenomorphs. Where you are most certainly the pray and life is as ever a precious commodity.

More importantly, what Way Forward does to achieve this is by creating a game with no continues. During Aliens: Infestation you control a squad of up to 19 marines, and if one so happens to meet his/her ends, they’re gone for good (although there are ways to save captured allies.) But, if you so happen to lose all 19 members – then its game over, man, game over man – start form the beginning please.

If challenge of the 2D Metroid variety, wrapped up in a plot and setting of an Aliens movie not out on the silver screen, you should certainly check out Aliens: Infestation coming to the Nintendo DS on October 11. It might as well be the last true great hurrah (or scream in this situation) for the mighty dual-screen handheld – so don’t miss out.

Also, don’t miss out on Link’s latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, now set for a November 20th launch in North America.

Via: Joystiq

‘Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Treasure’ Beats A Path On The 3DS In 2012

Justin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:03:01 +0000

Sega’s new game for the Nintendo 3DS is Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Treasure, coming to the handheld in early 2012.

Ah, Paris… City of lights, city of love, and home of some of the world’s famous pieces of art. For Sega’s Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Treasure, it’s also the fitting stage to the upcoming Nintendo 3DS rhythm-action game arriving sometime at the start of 2012.

Because where else could a kid-looking thief ‘moonwalk’ his way into highly-guarded museums and nab off with well-renowned paintings night after night. It’s cool though, he brings them back — ’cause that’s what honorable thieves do and do so well in dance steps so fresh, it’s like eating a hot out-of-the-oven baguette. (Which actually sounds good right now…)

That’s the role our star of Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Treasure, Raphael, plays and what users will be doing in the game, as the crafty thief goes on an adventure of mystery to find the Wristlet of Tiamat and discover the truth behind his father’s disappearance. Details wise: players in Rhythm Thief will tap the screen rhythmically and move the 3DS (using it’s built-in gyro-sensors) to the beat of the music in order to evade pursuers and solve puzzles.

Just check out the debut trailer for Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Treasure from Sega, to get a glimpse as to what I mean:

If your nerd-sense went off screaming Lupin the 3rd, Professor Layton, plus Dance Dance Revolution during any point of the video — and thought all three together would make an awesome game — then we need to be friends. Then I could recommend other stories here on Wiinoob, like the Flare Red Nintendo 3DS or this super cool cosplay of Amaterasu from Okami by a cute dog. It’s what friends are for, dudes.

Via: Sega Blog

‘Kirby Returns To Dream Land’ On October 24th

Tom — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:02:57 +0000

Nintendo’s round ball of pink is off to Dream Land once again this October 24th, in Kirby’s Return to Dream Land.

Last year Nintendo Wii users got the exceptionally cute and cuddly Kirby’s Epic Yarn, a quite different yarn-sprawling take, graphically and mechanically, to one of Nintendo’s long-established series. And for good reason, considering that Epic Yarn didn’t originally start off as a Kirby game to begin with.

The early intentions for Kirby’s Epic Yarn, and it’s unique thread-and-buttons gameplay, was to be used with a different character in mind (Prince Fluff.) Certainly, that didn’t plan out at the end, as at some point during development, Kirby was handed the staring role. Beyond those shenanigans though, there’s even a more deeper story which ties into Kirby’s Returns To Dream Land.

Previously known as Kirby Wii (I believe we mentioned the game not so long ago for a fall release,) Kirby’s Return To Dream Land is your standard outing for the pink vacuum that includes 4 player cooperative play, similar to that of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The development of this title, although making the most of the Wii’s hardware, surprisingly started on the Nintendo GameCube, circa 2005.

Which soon after got abruptly pushed back when the Nintendo Wii was introduced, then for some time hardly mentioned again, and at one point rumored to be canceled because of the announcement of Good-Feel’s Kirby’s Epic Yarn in 2010 — bringing us full circle to now and the official October 24th release date for Kirby’s Return to Dream Land. So much for rumors, eh?

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land is as the title implies, Kirby sucking up power-ups and unleashing it on unsuspecting foes. This time, Kirby is joined by four other familiar faces: including Meta Knight, Waddle Dee, and King Dedede as they to retrieve the scattered pieces of a crashed alien spaceship. Yeah, I know, as if plot matters — it’s the gameplay, stupid.

In fact here’s a quick bite of off-screen footage of Kirby’s Return to Dream Land from PAX 2011.

Again, that’s October 24th for Kirby’s Return to Dream Land. Be sure to also check out our story of what Nintendo was doing back in 1965. Creating baby carriages it seems — go figure!

Video By YouTube User trindall27

Via: Joystiq

New Nintendo “Value” Wii Model Headed To Europe, No GameCube Backwards Compatibility

Bernie Mota — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:05:08 +0000

Coming to Europe only, a new Nintendo Wii model that oddly leaves out GameCube backwards compatibility.

There’s a new Nintendo console launching soon. No, surprisingly it’s not the Nintendo Wii U (at least not yet,) but rather a “new value” bundle for the Nintendo Wii, set to only be available for our friends across the Atlantic pond in Europe.

But wait – how can a current gaming machine already out on the market be considered new? Good question! It seems this fresh revision for the Nintendo Wii is designed to sit horizontally, rather than vertically. No I’m serious, like The Dark Knight serious, that’s actually a bullet-point Nintendo is using to advertising this thing.

Hmm… it’s almost as if Nintendo is trying to brush under the rug something it doesn’t want people to know. Maybe it could be that this Nintendo Wii tosses out GameCube backward compatibility for both games and accessories. Those sly dogs.

Thinking big picture: what this means for the Nintendo Wii U? Will that system have backwards compatibility for the GameCube? Or with the jump to a new platform arriving in mid to late 2012, will that option be lost? Oh, how time will tell folks.

In the meantime, the value-conscious Wii bundle is slated for near Christmas time and will include inside the box a Wii MotionPlus controller, a Nunchuk, and copies of Wii Sports and Wii Party. Nintendo has yet to confirm how much this bundle will cost or whether it will be available for retail for families in North America – although we’ll let you know when and if there’s any changes on that front.

What you should be getting to know though, is this fantastic cosplay, not from a human, but a cute dog dressing up as Amaterasu from Okami. You really got to check it out!

Via: Eurogamer

The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Flies Into Stores November 20th

Bernie Mota — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:34:17 +0000

Link’s next adventure has him taking to skies in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, now set for a November 20th launch in North America.

The Nintendo Wii debuted with a Zelda game, and if all goes to plan on November 20th, the sales-shattering console will go out with a Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Yes, the latest entry in Nintendo’s historic series will be hitting store shelves that very November day in North America (Nov. 18th for Europe.)

Whether or not Skyward Sword will come pre-packaged (or available as a separate bundle) with the cornerstone peripheral the game is designed around, the Wii MotionPlus, hasn’t been made clear by Nintendo yet. Maybe they think everyone has one? I dunno. Nintendo be Nintendo. But what is known, is that Skyward Sword is gold and ready to ship for the Holiday Season.

Skyward Sword throws our hero Link in a new universe where the sky is an open road in your journey to save Zelda (who else) from dark forces (who else) and you control all of Link’s actions intuitively one-to-one with the Wii Remote: like sword swinging, rolling bombs underneath narrow passages, and targeting items with a remote controlled bug, all with ease.

VIDEO TO ADD [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9QSqYGTyCo]

You could say though, that the real Zelda festivities begin in October. That’s when The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concerts begin in Los Angeles, California. If you happen to be in the area of the Pantages Theatre (Google Map it if need be) I super recommend you make a date, heck even take a date, to see an orchestral group playing a great playlist of music from The Legend of Zelda’s memorable catalog.

Via: USAToday

‘Flare Red’ 3DS Available In North America September 9th

Carlos — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:34:14 +0000

The Nintendo 3DS adds a new flavor with the announcement of the ‘Flare Red’ 3DS coming to North America next month in early September.

Are you feeling not so hot, hot, hot for the Nintendo 3DS? Even with an $80 price drop, are you still on the fence to whether you’ll be buying one any time soon? Then perhaps, and just maybe, a spicy new color scheme to the 3D-enhanced handheld will push you into buying mode.

That’s at least what the business-suits down at Nintendo HQ figure, as they just announced that the ‘Flare Red’ paint-job option of the Nintendo 3DS is coming to North America on September 9th. Yup, the very same fierce shade of red variant that was just made available in Japan back on July 14th.

Heck, you might as well call that September date “Bloody Friday,” because with Star Fox 64 3D also making its retail debut in North America, there’s a high chance that your wallet will be gruesomely dead on the floor like a murder victim on C.S.I if you plan on getting both.

Although if you think about it, that does sound like a pretty cool episode… holy cow what an idea! Someone hurry! Get me the King of Hollywood on my phone now!

Via: Tiny Cartridge