N-Europe

News: Analyst Thinks GTAV Could Come to Wii U

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:29:59 +0000

Rockstar remains deadly silent on the title...

Rockstar Games caused quite the expected buzz when it announced Grand Theft Auto V last year, and while it was anticipated on current-gen consoles this year, one leading analyst group has suggested that a later release and a Wii U version may be in order.

Firm Sterne Agee has revised its previous expectations for Grand Theft Auto V and said it expects the game to release in the first quarter of 2013, rather than at the end of 2012. Analyst Arvind Bhatia has cited two main reasons for the shift: extra development time to polish up the game, and a potential launch on Nintendo's Wii U system.

It has been well documented that Nintendo of America has long made efforts to secure Grand Theft Auto for release on its systems. In 2009, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was released on DS, but the main series has always eluded Nintendo's home consoles.

A Wii U version of Grand Theft Auto V would chime with early (and fairly unsubstantiated) rumours that Rockstar was one of the first studios to receive dev kits for 'Project Caf�', as the new system was known then.

News: Hatsune Miku 3DS Kept Off The Top

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:28:17 +0000

The vocaloid sensation is the week's biggest release, but it can't displace last week's chart-topper...

The latest Media Create charts are out, and for the second week running it seems as though 3DS is dominating everywhere except the top spot of the games chart.

Last week's mammoth release in One Piece on PS3 has an equally impressive second week to stay top. The biggest new release was Sega's 3DS iteration of Hatsune Miku, which enjoyed a decent opening but just missed out on number one.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D made a better-than-feared impression, but was arguably lucky to chart in the top ten given its straight-port nature. Harvest Moon 3DS seems to be enjoying some good legs, while Level-5 probably would have liked Girls RPG to do a little better.

There were a handy seven 3DS games in the top ten of the software chart for the week of March 5th to 11th.

No.	System	Title	Publisher
1	PS3	One Piece: Pirate Warriors 90.133 / (745.907)	Bandai Namco
2	3DS	Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai 86.676	Sega
3	PS3	Street Fighter X Tekken 58.471	Capcom
4	PS3	Mobile Suit Gundam UC 51.669	Bandai Namco
5	3DS	Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D 38.374	Konami
6	3DS	Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games 23.587 / (66.741)	Nintendo
7	3DS	Mario Kart 7 17.813 / (1.564.025)	Nintendo
8	3DS	Super Mario 3D Land 17.336 / (1.403.654)	Nintendo
9	3DS	Harvest Moon: The Land of Origin 16.378 / (124.886)	Marvelous AQL
10	3DS	Monster Hunter 3G 14.286 / (1.297.797)	Capcom
11	3DS	Theatrhythm Final Fantasy 12.811 / (112.344)	Square-Enix
12	3DS	Girls RPG: Cinderella Life 9.519	Level-5
13	PS3	Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Storm Generation 8.591 / (92.266)	Bandai Namco
14	360	Street Fighter X Tekken 8.527	Capcom
15	PSV	Unit 13 8.089	Sony
16	3DS	Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles 6.546 / (18.775)	FuRyu
17	PSP	Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave 5.164 / (102.831)	Bandai Namco
18	Wii	Just Dance Wii 5.152 / (560.301)	Nintendo
19	PSP	Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (PSP the Best) 5.104 / (212.627)	Capcom
20	Wii	Wii Sports Resort with Wii Remote Plus 5.000 / (887.800)	Wii

Nothing really changes on the hardware front. PS3 drops back to more normal levels after last week, but the order of things stay the same. PlayStation Vita looks like it's perhaps found its rock-bottom as it clings on for dear life above the 10k mark.

No.	Console	Week Sales	Last Week Sales	LTD Sales
1	Nintendo 3DS	68.951	70.744	5.242.639
2	PS3	34.816	65.116	7.979.586
3	PSP	16.176	15.715	18.950.494
4	Vita	10.041	10.023	610.062
5	Wii	8.322	8.111	12.296.699
6	PS2	1.363	1.377	21.784.974
7	Nintendo DS	1.352	1.363	32.831.961
8	Xbox 360	1.290	1.248	1.550.675

News: Miyamoto Refused Cameo Appearances

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:37:54 +0000

Miyamoto refused to allow the inclusion of Pikmin and Donkey Kong in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Nintendo games are often full of cameo appearances; Chain Chomp in Link's Awakening, Mario in Punch-Out!! and Octorok in Galaxy.

Sadly, Octorok are the only critters that were allowed to star alongside Mario in Super Mario Galaxy 2 despite Koichi Hayashida's desires.

It seems that Hayashida wanted to include cameo appearances from Pikmin and Donkey Kong but Shigeru Miyamoto came down hard and was completely against the idea.

Miyamoto claimed that there had to be a functional reason to include the characters and went into detail as to why he wouldn't allow Pikmin to be included.

"In the Pikmin games, you'll notice that all the Pikmin are very thin - tall and narrow for their frame. Mario enemies tend to be on the short and squat side and there's a functional reason for that. They're easier to stomp on. They're lower so you can get above them and broader so you can land on them. In that sense, Pikmin are just not well suited for the Mario universe."

Would you like to have seen Donkey Kong throwing barrels in space? Let us know your thoughts in the forums!

News: GameStop Deny Donkey Kong 3D

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:11:55 +0000

The retailer claims the Donkey Kong 3D cases were put up in error.

We reported earlier this week that EB Games had Donkey Kong 3D cases up in store and were taking pre-orders but it turns out this was a mistake.

The game in question hadn't been announced by Nintendo so people were speculating as to whether EB Games had inadvertently unearthed a future announcement but according to a GameStop representative, this is not the case.

�The displays were not supplied by Nintendo and have been taken down. It�s definitely not in the system in the U.S. I�m sure it�s not elsewhere, either, but I can�t confirm that.�

Whilst Donkey Kong 3D may not exist we can still be hopeful that Donkey Kong will brace our 3DS systems in the future.

News: This Week's Euro Downloads - 15/03/12

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:02:31 +0000

Metroid and Strider fly the flag for VC this week...

Europeans who tune their systems into Nintendo's e-store update this Thursday will notice a distinctly retro feel, with 3DS and Wii each getting another classic added to their libraries.

Non-ambassadors will get to buy the very first Metroid title on the 3DS eShop, while the Mega Drive version of Capcom's cult arcade classic Strider graces the Wii Virtual Console.

No Game Gear games on the eShop just yet, but we do know that Nintendo is only just ramping up the Virtual Console renaissance that's set to hit Europe.

The full download list is as follows.

Metroid (Nintendo) - 3DS Virtual Console - �4.50/�5
See the return of this classic NES Sci-Fi action game. There are many discoveries to be made and use Samus�s Morph Ball ability to search every nook and cranny to uncover power-ups like the Ice Beam, Varia Suit and Screw Attack. Journey back to the planet Zebes and take out the Pirates� leader, Mother Brain, and restore peace to the galaxy!

1st Class Poker & BlackJack (GameOn) - eShop/DSiWare - �4.50/�5/500 Points
All the fun of the casino in the palm of your hands. Enjoy the excitement of the casino with up to four of your friends by in the local multiplayer mode. You can even celebrate your victories � or commiserate your losses � with the aid of the integrated voice and text chat.

Battle of the Elements (EnjoyUp Games) - eShop/DSiWare - �4.50/�5/500 Points
Save the planet in Battle of the Elements featuring an immersive story mode with 8 selectable characters across 40 mind-bending missions. You'll need to think quickly as you move your stylus fast to secure victory. There�s also an endless marathon mode offering hours of great gameplay as you compete with yourself to achieve the highest score, and a two player VS mode to challenge your friends.

Strider (SEGA) - Wii Virtual Console - 800 Points
The Mega Drive classic is back! Immerse yourself in a variety of absorbing levels ranging from the Siberian Wilderness to the Grandmaster�s Lair, the Third Moon. Throughout the game you can improve you chances of success as you battle the Grandmaster by gaining the help of robotic allies, increasing your attack range and gaining extra lives by defeating enemies. But you must be quick because it�s game over once your time runs out!

Media: Kid Icarus: Uprising Trailer

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:01:29 +0000

Nintendo offers up nearly five minutes of Kid Icarus: Uprising action in this brand new trailer.

With Kid Icarus: Uprising launching in Europe on March 23rd Nintendo has cranked up their promotional campaign for the eagerly anticipated title with a brand new trailer.

The trailer showcases a variety of aspects from the title including both in-air and on-the-ground action, the characters you'll meet and battle and the variety of weapons you'll use.

For fans of the original games the trailer even showcases some villains from the past and how they've been updated for the Nintendo 3DS. Make sure you check out the action-packed video below and pick up the game when it is released on March 23rd.

Media: Pok�Park 2: Wonders Beyond Trailers

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:47:57 +0000

See what Oshawott, Tepig, Snivy and Pikachu get up to in these new Pok�Park 2: Wonders Beyond trailers.

As Pok�mon fans get ready for the launch of Pok�Park 2: Wonders Beyond on March 23rd Nintendo has created a series of short trailers based on the game's main characters; Oshawott, Tepig, Snivy and Pikachu.

Expanding on the original Pok�Park Wii: Pikachu's Adventure this game sees Pikachu transported to a different world and features Pok�mon from all generations.

Up to four players can take on the roles of the four main Pok�mon, each of which have their own unique abilities. Be sure to check out the new trailers below.

News: GAME Seeking Buyer to Survive - Report

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:18:26 +0000

Troubled high-street retailer in further measures to avoid administration...

Game Group PLC, owner of retail chain GAME, has reportedly put itself up for sale in order to avoid imminent administration, according to the Sunday Times (via Reuters)

The report states that the company is seeking to find a buyer within the next two weeks so that it can pay its quarterly rent bill and avoid administration. The retailer has around 1270 branches across Europe and Australia.

US retailer GameStop is thought to be interested in making a move for GAME's Spanish division, but sources of the Sunday Times admit that finding a buyer for the whole company in such a time frame "could be a problem".

The report comes shortly after the very public breakdown of GAME's relationship with many of its key suppliers, with major publishers like Nintendo, Ubisoft, Capcom, and Electronic Arts all seeing their latest releases abruptly pulled from the retailer.

Rumour: Donkey Kong 3D

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:11:11 +0000

Is a Donkey Kong game on the way to 3DS? EB Games seem to think so and are taking pre-orders.

EB Games recently put Donkey Kong Country 3D boxes on their shelves to the confusion of the general public.

Nintendo have made no announcement regarding a new DK game so these pre-orders are rather dubious. Do they know something we don't? Is it a mistake? Maybe they're making an educated guess as it's not as though many Nintendo systems haven't had an appearance from the giant ape.

Either way, its got gamers excited for a 3D iteration in the Country series. After the success of Donkey Kong Country Returns it wouldn't be that surprising to see a 3DS outing.

Multiplayer.com also listed the game and have slated it for a May 2012 release.

You may notice the pre-order box next to Donkey Kong Country 3D states Smash Bros. DS is set to release in 2012 despite Sakurai stating they've barely started work on it yet so you may wish to take some of these pre-orders with a pinch of salt.

The same retailer also started taking pre-orders for a mysterious 'Kirby 3D' recently, which is set to release this June, apparently. Only time will tell if these are actually correct but these pre-orders seem more like guess work than anything.

Stay tuned as we'll bring you more on the possible existence of Donkey Kong 3D as it breaks!

Retro: VC Weekly #195

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:47:57 +0000

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

This edition may feel like something of a retread for some as we have two titles both originally featured on the Wii VC one of which was an ambassador title, it's also worth noting that one review was originally written by my predecessor Jordan Khoviteri-Zadeh which has been included in an edited but expanded form. Anyway enough from me and on with the games!

Available for download this week we have...

Punch-Out!!
Super Mario Bros

Price: GB �4.50, EU �5
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Released: 1987
System: NES

This title is notorious for being an extremely difficult game, I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that many maybe haven't played this cult-classic but to those that have they most likely have a rather intense love/hate relationship with it.. Punch-Out!! Originally released back in the arcades in the early 80�s is a simple boxing game and if you�ve played Wii Sports boxing, it�s basically an even simpler version with a small story tacked on, it's an experience that's easy to pick up yet hard to master.

You play as �Little Mac� a boxer so short he has to jump up at his enemies to hit them. Not only is this genius in terms of a narrative, but it means that your character never gets in the way of the action, you can always see what your enemy is doing. Not only is the main character fantastic, but your enemies are completely unique and memorable from the second you see them, from the first fighter Glass Joe �Don�t hit me in the chin!� all the way up to Don Flamenco.

The game has a number of �circuits� which you have to play through. You start in Minor and work your way up to the World Circuit and eventually against The Dream Fight. The only difference is, this game doesn�t have Mike Tyson. Nintendo no longer own the rights to have him in any game they release: due to this he isn�t included in the Virtual Console release and instead you fight �Mr. Dream�.

Graphically, this game is amazing. For its time, Punch-Out!! Was very colourful and had an incredible amount of fighters for you to go up against. The musical score is also recognisable by anyone who has played Wario Ware or who saw a certain incredibly politically incorrect internet fad featuring the scene where Doc Louis is riding a bike which was a parody of the game as it�s full of pumping midi beats.

Overall this game does have a rather steep learning curve which may turn some people away but that doesn't stop it from being awesome in every way. If you�re a boxing fan or even just a fan of quirky games then this is worth picking up even though the new price-tag might seem a little steep to some.

Verdict : A brilliant game if you enjoy a good bout of boxing.

Price: GB �4.50, EU �5
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Released: 1987
System: NES

If you need telling what this is about then chances are you're in the wrong place because Super Mario Bros is not only the title that's most synonymous with Nintendo but it's also one of the single most important and influential videogames of all time. It's an epic tale about a pair of Italian plumbers who are tasked with rescuing Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom from the clutches of the evil Bowser; journey through eight worlds as you stomp on the heads of your enemies including slow-moving Goombas, Piranha Plants potted in warp-pipes plus troops of tricky turtles known as Koopa Troopas whose shells can be a weapon used by or inadvertently against you, at the end of each world you'll do battle with the evil Koopa King himself only to find almost every time that 'the Princess is in another castle' welcome to Mario and Luigi's world.

Every level is carefully crafted resulting in something that is such a joy to play every step of the way even though the premise is fairly simple, you start off small but by jumping under special '?' blocks you can obtain a Mushroom which will make you double in size which makes stomping on enemies easier while giving you the added ability to bash regular blocks in; a Fire-Flower can also be gained which grants you a projectile attack at the press of a button which can be especially useful. Holding down on the 'B' buttons also allows you to run which you'll find yourself doing almost constantly especially during some of the trickier jumps so adopting a way of constantly pressing in the run button while intermittently being able to press 'A' to jump is essential to your survival, you will still end up falling down holes as you learn new levels however but this never feels like the fault of the controls as the d-pad always responds how you'd expect it to so if you do end up dying then you can take some small comfort in the fact that it was probably your own fault.

Perhaps most impressive is how the game always encourages you to explore as the first time you try to go down one of the many warp-pipes only to have it actually work is a special moment indeed, it's in doing this that you'll reach bonus areas which contain extra coins which can be collected up two one hundred to form an extra life; you can collect these using other methods too such as chain-killing multiple enemies with a shell or by simply getting your score to a certain point which you'll want to do as lives are much needed throughout especially in some of the later levels when you're faced with such delights as Hammer Bros and Lakitu both of whom take delight in throwing projectiles in your general direction. One particular stand-out moment for me is how in the underground stages the game actually allows you to bash through the blocks at the top of the screen which lets you run across the top within the space usually reserved just for the score, it's something that the game evidently encourages you to do though as by doing this you can reach secret warps which will allow you to skip whole worlds; note that while you're certainly going to be trying this at some point when advancing straight to say... world four you will notice quite a ramp up in the difficulty which seems to serve as lesson learned for 'cheating' the game even though it allows you to.

Visually the game is of course dated after some twenty-five years but they have an undeniable charm to them, the colour palette with its simple contrasting colours which never clash is a truly bold statement of how something so simple can work so well and even retain a great deal of appeal as even today it's a look which remains iconic. On the audio front it's near impossible for me to pick fault because everything is so perfect from the satisfying stomp sound of an enemies demise to the playful jingle of a block being milked for coins; lest I forget the spectacular theme itself which is quite simply unforgettable and will always remain one of the most recognisable tunes ever created which more than serves its purpose as it completely draws you into the game itself, remaining embedded into your memory forever for all the right reasons.

While there have been many games which have attempted to replicate the feeling within this monumental title none have ever quite managed to match it because this is quite simply one of the best platformers ever created which has left a lasting legacy of gold crafted by the gods of gaming. Not only did Nintendo do themselves proud in creating Super Mario Bros but they also inspired generations of gamers across all ages who still regard this game so highly after all these years; there can be no truer testament to a title than this as it has more than stood the test of time and if you happen to be reading this having not played the game yet then please do so because this is as essential as it gets.

Verdict : Super Mario Bros is the single most brilliant game ever made.

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

News: One Piece Triumphs, 3DS Dominates Top 10

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:29:42 +0000

One Piece on PS3 far outsold anything else for the week, but 3DS was well represented in the top ten...

The latest Media Create charts are out, and another week brings us a new face at the top in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The latest One Piece game from Namco Bandai actually stole the show, far outselling anything else and grabbing one of the best opening weeks for a PS3 game. The biggest title on a Nintendo system for the week was the 3DS iteration of the latest Mario & Sonic at the Olympics game. Perhaps what was more notable was the amount of other 3DS games making their way into the top 10. Harvest Moon shows decent legs after a strong debut, while Theatrhythtm Final Fantasy enjoys a big boost from being back in stock - selling double what it managed last week.

Regular readers will also notice the Big Three on 3DS (Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land, and Monster Hunter Tri G) holding firm in the top ten.

The software chart for the week of February 24th to March 4th is below.

No.	System	Title	Publisher
1	PS3	One Piece: Pirate Warriors 655.774	Bandai Namco
2	3DS	Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games 43.155	Nintendo
3	3DS	Harvest Moon: The Land of Origin 27.378 / (108.509)	Marvelous AQL
4	PSP	Great Battle Full Blast 24.289	Bandai Namco
5	3DS	Theatrhythm Final Fantasy 21.540 / (99.532)	Square-Enix
6	3DS	Mario Kart 7 18.945 / (1.546.212)	Nintendo
7	PS3	Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Storm Generation 17.917 / (83.675)	Bandai Namco
8	3DS	Super Mario 3D Land 16.142 / (1.386.318)	Nintendo
9	3DS	Monster Hunter 3G 15.836 / (1.283.511)	Capcom
10	PSP	Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave 12.358 / (97.668)	Bandai Namco
11	3DS	Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles 12.228	FuRyu
12	PS3	Asura's Wrath 7.795 / (38.103)	Capcom
13	3DS	Resident Evil: Revelations 7.444 / (251.560)	Capcom
14	PS3	Binary Domain 6.775 / (95.364)	Sega
15	PS3	UFC Undisputed 3 6.198	Konami
16	Wii	Just Dance Wii 6.043 / (555.149)	Nintendo
17	PSP	Samurai Warriors 3 Z Special 5.224 / (30.527)	Koei Tecmo
18	PSP	Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (PSP the Best) 5.156 / (207.523)	Capcom
19	PSP	I Don't Have Many Friends Portable 5.142 / (62.111)	Bandai Namco
20	PS3	Gran Turismo 5 Spec II 4.922 / (53.096)	Sony

Despite PS3's surge thanks to its big-name new release, 3DS just about clings on to the top spot of the hardware chart. There's little change elsewhere, with Sony's Vita staying a fraction about the ten thousand mark.

No.	Console	Week Sales	Last Week Sales	LTD Sales
1	Nintendo 3DS	70.744	76.322	5.173.688
2	PS3	65.116	27.111	7.944.770
3	PSP	15.715	15.928	18.934.318
4	Vita	10.023	11.186	600.021
5	Wii	8.111	7.878	12.288.377
6	PS2	1.377	1.269	21.783.611
7	Nintendo DS	1.363	1.639	32.830.609
8	Xbox 360	1.248	1.508	1.549.385

News: Nintendo Downloads for 8th March

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:21:59 +0000

Get ready to fight, fly and shout "fore!" as a number of titles are available to download across Nintendo consoles this week.

Nintendo gamers have a lot to look forward to as Thursday will see a number of downloadable titles hitting the Wii Virtual Console, DSiWare and 3DS eShop services. With eight different titles to choose from, including two free demos, there is certainly no shortage of options.

Whether you want to play games on your Wii, 3DS or DSi there is something for you to download from Thursday 8th March. Wii owners can look forward to one free demo and two Virtual Console Games while DSi owners will have two new DSiWare titles to keep them busy. The 3DS will welcome one new demo, one Virtual Console game, a 3DS eShop title and the two aforementioned DSiWare titles.

Shin'en Multimedia releases Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! this week, a handheld sequel to the WiiWare game that proved popular with gamers. The title, pictured above, allows you to play golf in a number of locations around the world and makes full use of the 3DS' touch screen.

Anyone who is intending to pick up Kid Icarus: Uprising on March 23rd but hasn't had a chance to play any of the originals can download the Game Boy classic Kid Icarus Of Myths and Monsters this week. Don't forget Nintendo has also recently launched a new Twitter account dedicated to Kid Icarus: Uprising so be sure to follow it for all your Pit-related news.

Full details about each of the games available this week are in the press release below.

DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions Demo
TECMO KOEI GAMES - Nintendo eShop - Free

Experience a free demo of the famous fighting franchise DEAD OR ALIVE in full 3D for the first time on Nintendo 3DS. DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions (DOAD) is a fighting game that can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter their level of ability. Enjoy thrilling combat against computer opponents, take on a friend in a duel and have virtual battles with other players using StreetPass.

Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH!
Shin�en Multimedia - Nintendo eShop - �5 / �4.50

You can play across as many as 81 holes, from America to Asia and Europe. Take part in the glamour of international golf by earning coins to spend them on flight tickets, trick shot qualifications, luxury equipment and much more. Golfers will be aided by the sophisticated touch controls, making the putting experience more fun and rewarding.

Kid Icarus Of Myths and Monsters
Nintendo - Nintendo eShop - �3 / �2.70

Get ready for the launch of Kid Icarus: Uprising on Nintendo 3DS, with this classic, Kid Icarus Of Myths and Monsters, originally created for the Game Boy. Pit returns to face off against the evil forces of the mysterious demon Orcos. The game expands on the original vertical-scrolling action game by bringing a new side-scrolling action-adventure dimension.

1001 BlockBusters
Selectsoft - DSIWare - 200 DSi Points & Nintendo eShop - �2 / �1.80

Across 1001 levels of excitement, 1001 BlockBusters combines classic gameplay with immersive 3D graphics. You can use the stylus to catch, bounce and break balls through advanced 3D structures in amazing worlds including Fantasy Forest and Ancient Greece. With over a dozen bonuses, 300 kinds of blocks and more than 15 power-ups and power-downs1001 BlockBusters will provide many thrilling hours of fun.

Successfully Learning Mathematics Year 5
Tivola - DSi Ware - 500 DSi Points & Nintendo eShop - �5 / �4.50

It�s time for pupils to get their thinking caps on as they solve exciting maths problems with the little vampire Freddy. Freddy will help kids to learn maths in a playful way, supporting them along with the way with helpful tips. There�s even a bonus game at the end to encourage practice. To make the game as useful as possible, all the problems are based on the current curriculum for maths. It is available in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian and Turkish.

Mega Man� X
CAPCOM - Wii Virtual Console - 800 Wii Points

When Mega Man advanced from NES to Super Nintendo, the big guy made a leap too. 100 years after the original hero's adventures, Mega Man X features an even greater generation of robot known as X who will join the Maverick Hunter Zero to destroy the dangerous new threat of the reploids.

SAMURAI SHODOWN IV: AMAKUSA�S REVENGE
D4 Enterprise - Wii Virtual Console - 900 Wii Points

Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa�s Revenge is the fourth installment in the Samurai Shodown series that originally launched in 1996. The combat system has been tweaked to enhance the experience, including a vastly altered Rage Explosion System and new more powerful chain combos. There are also multiple endings depending on the time taken to clear the game, encouraging you to improve your skills and speed if you want to see the One True Ending.

ANIMA Ark of Sinners Demo
Anima Game Studio - WiiWare Demo - Free

Everything begins and ends in the forgotten city of Ark. While fleeing from their pursuers, Celia and Nemo fall into the depths of the earth to empty metropolis inhabited only by shadows. Explore the huge world of Ark and when things get tricky, control Celia�s multiple combos and special attacks in this fascinating RPG saga.

News: Autodesk Licensed for Wii U

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:45:33 +0000

Autodesk has made a license agreement with Nintendo to allow developers to use their Gameware technology.

On the second day of the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco computer software developer Autodesk has announced that a license agreement has been made with Nintendo to allow developers to use their Gameware technology on the Wii U.

The agreement will allow licensed developers to use Autodesk's numerous technologies including Autodesk Scaleform, the Autodesk Kynapse AI middleware, and Autodesk HumanIK. The agreement will allow developers to focus on taking advantage of the numerous possibilities the console offers.

Speaking about the agreement senior VP of media and entertainment Mark Petit said the following:

"Adopting Autodesk Gameware helps streamline the production process, freeing more resources for innovation in new areas. This shift in development focus will help make the next generation of titles more compelling than the last."

News: Renegade Kid Announce Bomb Monkey

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:21:35 +0000

Bringer of sublime indie games reveals yet another one for the eShop...

Austin-based independent studio Renegade Kid has announced a new game before their last one has even made it out in Europe.

A teaser site for Bomb Monkey has been launched. Details are close to non-existent, with only solid bit of extraneous information being that it is being developed for Nintendo's eShop. There's also a heavy hint that it will be a puzzler of some sort.

Renegade Kid's last game was Mutant Mudds - a 2D platformer that's found some levels of success on the eShop in North America. A European release for that game has yet to be finalised.

News: 3DS Sells 4.5m in US in First Year

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:43:38 +0000

Greatly outpaces its predecessor too...

Nintendo of America today announced that 3DS will hit its first birthday having sold over 4.5 million units in the US.

3DS launched in the US on March 27th 2011. The system already passed the first-year sales of Nintendo DS in the region after just eight months on shelves. DS shifted 2.3 million units in its first year.

It's not just hardware that's moving fast. In its first twelve months, 3DS has shifted over 9 million games, compared to the 5 million that DS managed.

All this amounts to $1.2 billion in revenue generated by 3DS; over double the $540 million raked in by DS when it hit one.

News: Dead or Alive Dimensions Demo This Week

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:44:55 +0000

Nintendo unleash another demo this week in the form of Dead or Alive: Dimensions.

3DS gamers have been spoilt with demo's lately as last week saw the release of a Mario & Sonic demo whilst the week before gave us a glimpse into the life of pet ownership.

This week things are set to go a darker tone as the days of free dog walks and swimming hedgehogs are behind us whilst big breasted fighting women are all the rage.

Dead or Alive: Dimensions which was released in May last year is a classic beat 'em up that could rival 3DS heavy weights Street Fighter and BlazBlue.

DOA offers online play, a vast array of characters and features touch screen combos, a feature also seen in Street Fighter IV.

The demo will be free to download this Thursday.

News: Assassins Creed III Coming to Wii U

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:19:11 +0000

The newest entry in Ubisoft's popular franchise is confirmed for Wii U.

The Game Developers Conference has kicked off in San Francisco and Ubisoft has taken the opportunity to unveil Assassins Creed III and confirm that it is in development for Wii U.

The title is set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the 18th Century and places players in the role of Ratohnhak�:ton, a man of Native American and English heritage. He adopts the name Connor and becomes a key figure in the ancient war between Assassins and Templars.

Assassins Creed III has been in development for over 3 years and is Ubisoft's largest project to date. Chief Executive Officer of Ubisoft Yves Guillemot described the title as the franchise's "most expansive setting so far" and promised "exponentially more gameplay".

The announcement trailer, which does not contain in-game footage, can be viewed below. Expect more details about the Wii U version in the coming months.

News: GAME Considers Closure

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:59:25 +0000

GAME's downward spiral continues and the company directors are reportedly considering "pulling the plug".

While GAME was once a powerhouse on the UK high street recent weeks have shed light on the sustainability of the company. Now, according to a source that has spoken to The Daily Express, the directors are considering "pulling the plug" now rather than face insolvency.

The newspaper reports that the directors feel that shutting up shop now may be a better move than try and fight on and face insolvency at the end of this trading season. The source told The Daily Express:

"There is a real risk that Game's directors will pull the plug because they can't be sure that the company can survive through the next trading season, and then insolvency becomes inevitable. They are in discussions with their legal advisers about whether to shut up shop rather than rack up more losses."

In recent weeks the company has announced that they won't be stocking a number of titles. They are already not stocking two recent Nintendo titles, The Last Story and Mario Party 9, and have announced that they will stock no future EA titles due to financial constraints. Considering that EA titles such as Fifa tend to stay on the chart most of the year round a lot of doubt has been cast on the company's future.

GAME purchased their competitor Gamestation several years ago as well as a number of online retailers. While they have moved into Europe and own over 1000 stores in total their lenders recently tried to insist that they close more European stores and with more and more titles not being stocked things do not seem good for a company once synonymous with gaming in the UK.

We'll keep you updated with news but if you want to discuss this issue our forum members are already asking: GAME Group, what next?.

News: Virtual Console Revived in March

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:21:46 +0000

Want some more classics on both your Wii and 3DS? Of course you do.

Nintendo has officially declared March to be "month of the Virtual Console", with a raft of retro goodness announced, including several new (old) titles to be added to the Wii's library.

Keeping the momentum up on the 3DS eShop, Nintendo will release a number of high profile NES and Game Boy games in Europe this month. The Game Boy sequel Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monster will be made available close to the release of the 3DS reboot Uprising. The Game Boy iteration of classic puzzler Dr Mario will be made available too.

The month will also mark the first Sega Game Gear titles being made available on 3DS. The initial line-up will see Dragon Crystal, Shinobi, and Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble get re-releases.

Perhaps the biggest news is the apparent renaissance of Wii's Virtual Console. After what seems like ages of not getting any new additions, some absolute stonking games will be released in Europe. Mega Man X and Mega Man 5 will be added to the library, alongside a re-release of Super Street Fighter 2 which comes updated with an online multiplayer mode. 2D action fans will also be pleased to hear that Strider and Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa�s Revenge will both see releases as well.

Nintendo kicked off the retro-filled month by releasing NES classics Super Mario Bros. and Punch Out!! earlier this week.

Retro: VC Weekly #194

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:58:19 +0000

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

Portable platform games don't get much more classic then this latest addition and if it happens to be one that you haven't played then now is the time to add it to your virtual collection. Anyway enough from me and on with the game!

Available for download this week we have...

Wario Land : Super Mario Land 3

Price: GB �3.60, EU �4
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Released: 1994
System: GameBoy

After releasing two successful titles starring Mario you'd think that the logical step would be to continue this for the third outing but thankfully for us Nintendo decided to do something drastically different casting Super Mario Land 2's villain Wario as the lead role in what can only be described as a 'sort-of sequel' which went on to spawn many iterations of its own. But this is the original Wario Land which sees our anti-hero Wario fresh from his defeat in SML2 still wanting a castle to call his own so after hearing that the rather sticky sounding Captain Syrup along with his crew of Brown Sugar Pirates have stolen Mario's statue of Princess Peach, taking it to Kitchen Island our larger than life treasure hunter stows away on their ship in search of this mysterious place in the hopes that it has what he's after.

Loosely following on from the previous Mario Land games Wario controls rather differently as he has his own set of moves, of course you can still jump as normal at a press of the 'A' button but using the 'B' button will have varied results depending on which special 'jar you acquire - by hitting a 'mean faced' block - of which there are three that contain special hats such as the 'Horned' hat which allows you to charge a greater distance through enemies/blocks or even stick to certain ceilings, the 'Jet' hat allows you to fly short distances which is perfect for crossing certain gaps and finally the 'Dragon' hat which is perhaps the most useful as it allows you to scorch your enemies for a limited time. You can still charge a short distance with no special hat equipped, you can also 'ground pound' by pressing 'Down' on the d-pad while in the air plus if you walk up to a stunned enemy Wario will automatically pick them up leaving you to decide whether to throw them into another enemy taking out both or dropping them back down only to then flatten them.

The island is split into eight areas each playing host to five levels which you must navigate to find the exit while accumulating coins and hearts along the way which will allow you to take part in mini-games at the end of each level in which you can win... more coins, which in turn equals more lives if you can get enough of them so it's all beneficial. Every fifth level you'll encounter a boss battle, these are usually pretty off the wall but are fun to partake in offering a reasonable challenge before you advance to the next area, you are rewarded for exploring during regular levels however as there are skeleton doors which can only be opened if you've managed to acquire the key so it certainly pays off to check everywhere especially as this will aid you in becoming proficient with the mechanics of the game which are a different beast from other Nintendo platform games while not being too unfamiliar.

Clearly a great deal of work has gone into the visuals as not only is the presentation top-tier from the very title screen right to the very end but there is an astonishing amount of detail that has been etched into every level and while you might expect some levels to be less detailed than others that's simply nor the case here as the level of polish is very fine indeed with just the right amount of contrast to keep you interested. That same level of consistency didn't quite carry over to the soundtrack but the music that is present is still rather spectacular easily containing many memorable melodies beautifully backed up by a sensational selection of sound samples which make the game a joy to hear in addition to view and play.

Wario is well-suited to starring in his own platforming game series but if it wasn't for this first monumental title then he might not be as well know as he is today so it's thanks to Nintendo taking a risk and reinventing a genre which didn't necessarily need the change but most certainly benefited from it in ways that have only now truly become apparent. Quite simply this is one of the greatest portable platformers to ever grace the GameBoy and if for whatever reason you haven't had the pleasure of playing it but have played many of the more traditional Mario titles then you'd more than likely love this as it has a familiar feeling to it while managing to remain decidedly different for all the right reasons.

Verdict : Wario's weird yet wonderful debut doesn't disappoint.

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!