Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Review

Rating Description out of 10:

8.0 Presentation
There's a huge variety of characters and tracks that reference SEGA games, but it's hard not to wonder where missing franchises are.

7.5 Graphics
The Wii version keeps up with the HD versions, but sacrifices definitely had to be made, especially in multiplayer.

8.0 Sound
Lots of variety in the background tunes and the character remarks during a race. The obnoxious play-by-play is hilariously Americanized British: "The crowd go crazy!" and "Tails takes a pounding."

8.0 Gameplay
Fun and tight action racing with a decent sense of speed that lifts most of its ideas from Mario Kart Wii.

8.0 Lasting Appeal
Tons of single player modes, and a great focus on multiplayer, both offline and on.

8.0
Impressive OVERALL
(out of 10)

Mario Galaxy 2 Gets European Release Date

The European release dates for several of Nintendo's big upcoming titles were announced in London today.

The most exciting of these is surely Super Mario Galaxy 2, which is slated for June 11 release in Europe. We heard yesterday that it will hit stores in May 23 in the US.

At the same US event Metroid: Other M was handed a 27 June release date, however the game has only been given a Q3 date in Europe for now.

Other release dates announced were April 23 for Monster Hunter Tri for and May 7 for Sin and Punishment: Star Successor.

New Batman Title Announced

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced Batman: The Brave and the Bold the Videogame for the Nintendo Wii and DS. This new title is based on the newest animated series found on Cartoon Network and is set for release this Fall.

The game features a two-player co-op mode where players can expect to take control of Batman, Robin, Green Lantern, or Blue Beetle. Other known characters, such as Aquaman, will also be making guest appearances. This title also has Wii/DS connectivity between both versions, allowing players to unlock BAT-MITE and control him using the DS to fight along players on the Wii.

"Batman: The Brave and the Bold the Videogame further illustrates the diverse appeal of the Batman brand and the gameplay is a fun, vibrant extension of the animated series," said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President of Development and Production, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Development is being handled by WayForward Technologies, Inc, who previously worked on A Boy and His Blob on Wii, Contra 4, and Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck.

2010 Fifa World Cup Update

Take on the challenge of leading your home nation in the official 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament, from the group stage through the knockout rounds to a virtual re-creation of the championship final. Presented in an art style that celebrates the cultural vibrancy of the first FIFA World Cup to be held in Africa and in true-to-life detail, including confetti rain, streamers, & fireworks, 2010 FIFA World Cup features all 10 official licensed stadia in South Africa and all 199 national teams that took part in qualification. The stage is set for 32 friends to compete for the chance to be crowned 2010 FIFA World Cup champion. Score the goal that lifts your nation to victory and mark the occasion with user-controlled celebrations.

2010 FIFA World Cup features non-stop football action that pits you against friends or the CPU in head-to-head challenges utilizing the Strike It System. Shake the Wii Remote perfectly in order to either score or defend free-kicks, penalties, and corners, creating frantic competition on the pitch. Even goal kicks have been enhanced to showcase one-on-one battles.

More news to come about the game soon.

Mega Man 10 Getting Staggered March Release

Capcom outlined release dates for Mega Man 10 on its blog. And yes, we mean release dates, as the company has decided to stagger the game's release throughout the month of March. First will be WiiWare on March 1, followed by the PlayStation Network release on March 11, and finally Xbox Live Arcade will get its version on March 31. All three will be roughly ten bucks -- or 1,000 Wii Points, $9.99, and 800 Microsoft Points to be technical.

The blog also shows off artwork and gives names for the eight new weapons, procured from the Robot Masters. The new weapons are the Water Shield, Triple Blade, Thunder Wool, Solar Blaze, Chill Spike, Rebound Striker, Commando Bomb, and Wheel Cutter (above). In addition, the Challenges mode now serves as a de facto practice mode for new players to get a hang of the controls. We're only a few weeks away from the WiiWare release, so keep your eyes out for our review.

DS2 dev kits are in the wild

Claims that select Japanese developers already have access to Nintendo’s handheld prototype

Development kits for Nintendo’s successor to the world-conquering DS handheld not only exist, but they’re also in the hands of key Japanese studios – that’s the claim being made by CVG.

The website states that The Pokemon Company, amongst others, was the first outfit to get their hands on the prototype tech, though apparently Nintendo has stressed to all involved that the hardware is still work-in-progress, with future revisions dependent on the feedback it receives.

“It's genuinely the best thing I think I've ever worked with,” the unnamed source is said to have claimed. “I can tell you that it's got a 'tilt' function that's not dissimilar to iPhone, but does a lot more.”

The source adds that Nintendo is unlikely to unveil the rumoured tech any time soon, ruling out a GDC reveal.

When asked about the rumours by MCV, a Nintendo spokesperson told us that the company – as we’ve become accustomed to – does not comment on rumour or speculation.

No, This is Not Confirmation of the 'Wii 2'

Some of you might have noticed that in the latest edition of Nintendo Power, which is someone holding a Wiimote labeled "Wii 2." We contacted the editor and were told it was a straight goof-up, not a surprise leak.

The story behind the error sounds a little familiar. Nintendo Power's editor, Chris Slate, said the image - in an item touting Netflix's arrival on the Wii - is a photoshop-job that came from the web, and that staff put it in their files back before Nintendo contracted with Future US to handle the magazine's publication (which was early 2009.) Explains Slate:

Someone (it may have been me, I don't remember) gathered a bunch of Nintendo-related images from wherever we could find them (such as the web) since we didn't have access to Nintendo's press site at that point, and I think we took the "Wii 2" one without noticing it had been altered. It was forgotten and left on our server, where it later got mixed in with our library of real assets once we started doing the magazine.

Slate says Nintendo Power is "positive that we've deleted all the copies [of the image] for good this time," and expressed embarrassment at the screw-up, which echoes another Wii-related gaffe from a couple years back. The cover art designers for Okami on the Wii used an image, also pulled from the web, that featured an IGN watermark.And I've fallen victim to this myself in a way,taking a fan-made 'shop of a PS3 Slim as confirmation of the console's existence before it was officially announced.

Slate assures us that "if Nintendo has a new system in the works - whether it's called 'Wii 2' or otherwise - I have absolutely no knowledge of it."

Shy Mario Bros Wii Pirate Fined $1.5m

Pirates may have their illegally downloaded copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, however their captain has been fined $1.5 Million in damages.

Back in November last year an Australian chap Burt, 24, leaked a copy of the game he'd accidentally been able to purchase a week ahead of its launch, illegally online. It didn't work initially, however hackers were able to adjust files to work with homebrew systems.


Upon the game being uploaded to the Internet, Nintendo was able to employ the use of sophisticated technological forensics to identify the individual responsible for illegally copying the file and making it available for further distribution.

On 23rd November, 2009, Nintendo obtained a Federal Court search order in respect of the individual's residential premises. This led to the seizure of property from those premises in order to gain further evidence against the individual.

After raiding the poor chap's home and gathering evidence, courts have ordered him to pay $1.5 million ($1.3 million USD) to Nintendo for loss of revenue.

According to Digital Life, his father states that he is a "shy gamer trying to proove a point to friends". Nintendo however are adamant that Burt was trying to be accepted by a dangerous hacking group.


It was peer pressure on the internet forums and the blog sites that led him to do a very very silly thing to prove that he'd actually managed to purchase a game before its release date.

What do you think of the move - should piraters really be fined that much, even if he purchased the game legally?

Nintendo Wii 2010 Best Games Preview

Overview: The Wii system launched alongside the last console Zelda title, the GameCube-converted Twilight Princess, back in the Fall of 2006 -- but rumor has it this Wii-specific installment in the series had already been in development for some time even before then. Not much is known about the next big Zelda game quite yet, but it is confirmed that it will require the MotionPlus peripheral for Link's swordplay and that it's supposed to be coming out this year -- Reggie's promising it's going to be perfect, too. We can't wait to learn the identity of the mysterious girl and all the other details of what will surely be one of the biggest Wii releases ever.

Why It's Hot: We are already getting mixed messages from Nintendo on the latest Legend of Zelda for Wii. We've been told the game is hitting this year, but then later countered by statements that "It'll come when it's perfect." Regardless of when we truly do get the next Zelda, it should come as no surprise that it'll be a game-changer, and one Nintendo fans can anticipate without worry of disappointment. Miyamoto and company have mentioned that the next Zelda will be a break from the formula, and a truly innovative affair. I'd expect Nintendo's latest tech advancement Wii MotionPlus will be a focal point, and with as much talk as there was about unused Wii horsepower in Twilight Princess I also expect Link's next adventure to be a feast for the eyes. If it's even Link, that is…
Overview: Video games are most often associated with fast action, high intensity and constant tension meant to get your blood pumping faster and faster -- so it was quite a shock when Nintendo introduced a game that tried a completely different approach and succeeded so well. 2008's Endless Ocean was a tranquil, calming, soothing-to-play underwater exploration experience, as it was a joy to just spend some time kicking around under the waves. Blue World, the upcoming sequel, is set to offer more of the same -- but with lots of improvements. Enhanced graphics, two-player online co-op and WiiSpeak support are just a few of the new additions you'll find when you dive in to relax a second time.

Why It's Hot: The first Endless Ocean came out of nowhere for me. What seemed like a casual-only, lackluster little diving game turned out to be a true sleeper hit, and I spent hours upon hours diving in multiplayer, snapping pictures of rare fish, evolving the story through side-quests, and taking on night excursions in Nintendo's innovative underwater adventure. We (myself and dive buddy Matt Casamassina) begged for more and the Big N has answered, bringing new dangers, more dive locations (including both fresh water and saltwater areas), and online Wii Speak support for a stronger multiplayer experience. Endless Ocean may not seem like the token "hardcore game" we often endorse, but trust me when I say you'll get pulled in by its strangely addictive design. Overview: Capcom brought classic 8-bit Mega Man action back with a vengeance in 2008, when Mega Man 9 blazed its way into the Wii Shop and reminded all of us gamers alive back in the '80s what real challenge was all about. Mega Man 10 is the inevitable follow-up, scheduled to arrive this mark and keep the pain coming -- unless you select the new Easy Mode. Yes, if you had trouble finishing 9, 10's got you covered with a concession that should let you at least see all the new bosses. Like Sheep Man. Gotta love Sheep Man.

Why It's Hot: After the rebirth of the Mega Man franchise with Mega Man 9 last year I started to wonder where Capcom would take their series next. Well, in typical fashion the company is out to sequel the hell out if its success, and I couldn't be happier. Mega Man 9 kicked off the world of 8-bit action once again, and Mega Man 10 is following in its footsteps, allowing for three playable characters, a new group of hilariously awesome robot masters, and even more nostalgic old-school action. It's more of the same, but when that "same" is responsible for many of the top titles in our industry's past it's hard not to get hyped for a little more 8-bit action from Capcom. Overview: Nintendo's famous fighting femme fatale, Samus Aran, has concluded her adventures in the Metroid Prime trilogy-- and now it's time for something new. The alien-blasting bounty hunter will return this year in Metroid: Other M, an all-new and re-imagined take on her world developed in a new partnership between Nintendo and Tecmo's Team Ninja. Early looks at the game from last year's E3 suggest that the gameplay style of this next mission for Samus might be a mix between first-person 3D shooting and more traditional 2D exploration. We're looking forward to finding that out for sure, later this year.

Why It's Hot: It's safe to say that nobody saw Metroid: Other M coming. As an all-new direction for one of Nintendo's longest-running franchises, M is out to turn the Metroid series on its head. From what I've seen so far is already evidence of its evolution, mixing what looks to be sidescrolling action with first person boss fights and intense action. It'll be tough to beat Retro's Prime series, but Team Ninja has a rich history of beautiful CG and action, and that's already evident in Other M's debut trailer. There's plenty of reasons to be excited for Other M's release, but remember: Metroid has a rich history of delayed releases, so being true fans means we'll be adding this little blurb every year until the game's real release date surfaces. From the looks of it though, Nintendo's latest Metroid offering looks to be well worth that wait. Overview: Just announced as a Wii exclusive a couple of weeks ago, NBA Jam is an all-new revival of a classic arcade sports design that had nearly every gamer alive in the '90s screaming "he's on fire!" while pumping quarter after quarter into its original Midway-developed coin-op cabinet. This reboot is set to offer the same style of over-the-top two-on-two hoops action with real NBA all-stars, along with a new and compellingly absurd visual style that renders the players' bodies in 3D, but uses comical photographic images for their faces. Sounds just like the sort of wackiness that'll fit right in with classic NBA Jam gameplay.

Why It's Hot: Back in the day NBA Jam introduced a new type of sports videogame that was based on fast-paced arcade action instead of realistic simulation. We played the holy heck out of the arcade original and can't wait to get back on the court. The primary designer and programmer on the classic game, Mark Turmell, is back as a consultant on this Wii edition. Early screenshots give us hope that the team is trying to replicate the look of NBA Jam with a modern twist. Several classic games have found new life on the Wii, so we have high hopes for the return of this one.
Overview: Originally intended to be a late 2009 release, Red Steel 2 is now scheduled to arrive and slice your mind in half this March. The MotionPlus-enhanced first-person shooter/slasher gives you control over a mercenary armed with both kinds of steel -- gun and sword. Pointing and aiming the pistol is handled by IR while the MotionPlus kicks in to translate your sword swipes to the screen in the closest 1:1 control the Wii's seen yet. And, if you don't yet have a MotionPlus for some reason, the game will ship to stores with one in the box -- ensuring you've got the right equipment to carve up some Jackals in old Caldera.

Why It's Hot: After the disappointing release of the original game it's safe to say I was very skeptical about Red Steel 2. Well, all skepticism left after my first playthrough the night before E3 kicked off. I played it, and then I played it again. And then again. And again. Red Steel 2 is an impressive FPS from top to bottom, as Ubisoft's shooter hits 60 frames per second with smooth controls, has more customization than most Wii games out there (save for Medal of Honor Heroes 2 and The Conduit) and blends impressive shooting with MotionPlus swordplay. I've seen a few levels from front to back, and already I'm happily convinced. Everything from the new visual look, the pseudo-western theme, and revolutionary controls are priming Ubisoft's second Red Steel for a successful Cinderella story.Overview: Just released in Japan this past October, Sin & Punishment 2 is the Wii-exclusive shooter sequel we never thought we'd see. The original Sin & Punishmentwas an incredible experience, an on-rails shooting design that tops the list of best games ever made for the Nintendo 64 -- but it never came to America. It was only through the Virtual Console a couple of years ago that we finally got to play it here in the States. But with an appreciative audience now established, we can look forward to a localized release of the new, over-the-top, kill-everything-that-moves adventure coming very, very soon.

Why It's Hot: What started as a Japan-only import from the N64 has since become one of the biggest fan-influenced moves I've seen from Nintendo in years. People begged for more, and the first acknowledgement of the fan support for Sin and Punishment came when Nintendo finally released the game stateside on October 1, 2007; seven years after its original Japan-only release. Momentum continued, with a partnership between Nintendo and Treasure unveiled a year ago with Sin and Punishment 2. Now US-bound, the long-awaited sequel is a nice little reminder that Nintendo still listens to its hardcore fan-base. I played it at E3 last year, and can't wait to play more. Overview: After the incredible success of Mario's first trip out to outer space, Nintendo's designers decided they weren't quite done with the idea -- so the plumber's going galactic again. Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be a direct sequel to the 2007 original Mario Galaxy, and promises to include even more mind-bending gravity puzzles, brilliantly colorful environments and incredible music than before. New additions to the design, too, will make their debut -- like Mario's new drill item that lets him bore straight through to the other side of spherical planetoids and the highly anticipated return of Yoshi (who'll have some brand-new tricks of his own).

Why It's Hot: Super Mario Galaxy headlines our Top 25 Wii Games list, so obviously we're hecka excited for the sequel. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has told us that part two is being made for the hardcore Nintendo fans and will be a bit more challenging than the first game – which sounds great, considering so many Wii games are designed to be casual friendly. The first game is arguabl the prettiest on the system and the footage we've seen so far of Mario Galaxy 2 also looks beautiful. Plus, we haven't seen Yoshi in a 3D Mario game for a while and we can't wait to get back in the saddle.

Nintendo might have new hardware to show at GDC in March

With two sales and culture-dominating pieces of hardware on the market already (Wii and DS), it seems unlikely that Nintendo would reveal a new piece of hardware any time soon, but a tipster says that just might happen.

Videogamer received a tip from an industry-person making some pretty bold claims about Nintendo's immediate future. The tip read:

"Just heard a rumour that you may be interested in: Nintendo are going to announce a new platform at GDC. Some devs have already started work on it."

Well now, that's quite a statement. Might it hold weight? Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has, in the past, hinted at revamps to the Wii, possibly to include HD output or DVD playback, but nothing definitive.

What do you think Nintendo will show next month in San Francisco at GDC? Something new? Nothing at all?

New Zelda game to appear at E3

Japanese game website Andriasang brings more news about the anticipated next Zelda game. So far very little has been revealed about the game aside from the fact that it will use the Wii Motion Plus controls for greater accuracy in imitating player movement. It's now been revealed that Eiji Anouma, producer on the project is hoping to have a playable version of the game available for the press to play at this years E3. He also says that extra pressure has been put on the team to try and get the game ready for a release by the holiday season of 2010.

There hasn't been a new Zelda game to play on a Nintendo console since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess in 2006. If Nintendo doesn't make their tenuous deadline, it will be five years since a console Zelda game has been available to consumers.

Amazing COD 4 Wii Montage

Take a look at this amazing COD 4 Wii Montage