Discounted Virtual Console games available until January 6

By AnthonyPublished: December 24, 2009

SaleFor the first time in the history of Nintendo’s WiiWare service, a sale on games has arrived. Sega is the first company to slash prices on any of their available games, and the discounted lot can be found on the Virtual Console.

The sale, effective as of December 24, runs until January 6, 2010. The discounted games are Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Gunstar Heroes, Toe Jam & Earl, Puyo Puyo 2, Shining Force, Golden Axe, Altered Beast, and Streets of Rage 2.

Whether or not this means we’ll see more sales on the service remains to be seen, but it certainly is a step in the right direction. It’s also available at the perfect time for a last minute Christmas gift, you lazy shopper you.

Top 5 Favorite Games of 2009 – Number 2

By DavePublished: December 24, 2009

We’re almost there with only two entries left in our week long countdown to the best of the year. Take a look at our second to last entry below.
Top 5 Number 5
Top 5 Number 4
Top 5 Number 3

Dan
Tales of Monkey Island
monkeyislandt5coverI thought that I enjoyed Telltale’s games. They were funny, right? Then I played Tales of Monkey Island and suddenly my life to that point seemed meaningless. Here was an episodic adventure series with humor, story, adventure and a colorful cast of characters that set the bar for all future games pretty goddamn high. I hadn’t been familiar with Guybrush Threepwood before I started the series, but I’m now hoping I have time to go back and replay all of the older Monkey Island games to fully get my LeChuck on. I do hope that Tales gets a second season, and luckily it seems that Telltale shares my desires.

Anthony
Bit.Trip BEAT/CORE
bittript5coverIt’s easy to dismiss the Bit.Trip series as a cash-in on the currently posh retro-style at first glance, but its genius is undeniable once you actually get in on the act. The simple controls and primative graphics cleverly hide a devious and challenging set of rhythm-action patterns. It helps that the controls are polished to perfection and the chiptune soundtrack is sublime. BEAT and CORE are seperate titles, but they’re so closely related that lumping them together only made sense, and both should be on your must-play list.

Dave
New Super Mario Bros Wii
supermariot5coverThis was probably the game I was most excited to play this year and it lived up to the hype in just about every way. What’s easily the most impressive aspect of this game is the multiplayer support, which completely changes the way Mario is played. Playing four player Super Mario Bros was some of the most fun I’ve had with a game this year, and if you haven’t done the same yet, you’re missing out. All of the things that make a side-scrolling Mario game fun to play are still there, and the new additions make this a must play game for just about everyone.

Top 5 Favorite Games of 2009 – Number 3

By DavePublished: December 23, 2009

Another day brings us down to our third entry in our top five countdown.
Top 5 Number 5
Top 5 Number 4

Dan
Killzone 2
killzone2t5coverI got my PS3 late last year, but it’s only been in 2009 that I’ve properly appreciated it. Part of that appreciation has come from exclusive titles like Killzone 2. Sure, the premise of ‘you’re part of a space army fighting an enemy force, shooting and swearing all the way’ sounds pretty generic, but do Gears or Halo have Brian Cox? No, they don’t. I loved the multiplayer format but not the class unlocks, which seemed to take forever. The PS3 is still hindered by the lack of a universal headset, but for nonstop shooting dudes, Killzone was awesome.

Anthony
Klonoa
klonoat5coverFuzzy exterior, kind heart, adventerous attitude — no, slot three doesn’t belong to Sonic the Hedgehog. It belongs to Klonoa: Namco’s oft-forgot but lovable mascot platformer. This scene-for-scene remake of the Playstation original provides a type of adventure not frequently offered these days, and spruces up the jagged edges of a king hidden in pauper’s clothes. Klonoa was once a diamond in the rough; it is now a jewel to be stolen up and cherished.

Dave
Plants Vs Zombies
pvzt5coverWhen PopCap came out and said they were making a game about zombies I was skeptical, and then when we found out it was called Plants Vs Zombies I’ll admit I was even a bit more nervous about how this game would turn out. After seeing the promotional music video that dropped before the game I was instantly excited. So I think it’s fair to say I was back and forth about how I felt about this game before it came out, but after getting a chance to play it I was immediately hooked. As far as tower defense games go it doesn’t get much better than this, and it comes with a style that I don’t think you’ll find anywhere else. This game easily sucked more of my time away than any other game to come out this year and it’s just another great example of why PopCap is one of my favorite game developers from the last few years.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

By AnthonyPublished: December 23, 2009

New Super Mario Bros. WiiGenre: Platformer
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1 – 4
Retail Price: $50
Availability: Wii

A

What is it about Nintendo’s overalled italian that makes a gamer’s heart go aflutter? His contributions to gaming are many — the kart racing craze might never have occurred if he never hit the tracks — but his most influential mark, to this day, remains the 2D sidescrolling platformer. Super Mario Bros. remains one of the most copied games of all time even though it was released in 1985, and its many sequels have met with critical and commercial acclaim as well. Mario’s transition in the the third dimension put a hold on furthering his monoplanar adventures, but his return to 2D was more successful than anyone could have imagined. New Super Mario Bros. is one of the DS’ best selling games, so a Wii installment, while unexpected at the time of its announcement, is really unsurprising. If the game’s quality is any indication of its future sales, New Super Mario Bros. Wii could end up being one of the best selling Wii titles yet.

In some ways, New Super Mario Bros. Wii feels like a greatest hits mish-mash of past Mario conventions. The basics are the same, of course. Players will run along the levels from left to right, stomping the heads of enemies all the way to the goal. You’ll be garnished with powerups, some familiar, some brand new, that grant extraordinary abilities. These elements were established in the original Super Mario Bros. The stage select screens and level themes in general will be familiar to those who played Super Mario Bros. 3, as will the ability to enter mushroom houses for pre-level powerups and your main antagonists, the Koopa Kids. Super Mario World makes its mark with the inclusion of Yoshi, ghost house levels and hidden exits, while Yoshi’s Island makes its presence felt through that unlovable scamp, Bowser Jr, and also the inclusion of Kamek, the koopa wizard as an important character. Pop in the general aesthetic feel from New Super Mario Bros. on the DS, as well as the gold coins hidden through the levels and you’ve got yourself something of a ‘best of’ recipe for Super Mario game design.

It sucks being the only one without a propeller cap

It sucks being the only one without a propeller cap

It seems easy, then, to accuse the game of having a lack of identity when its components are listed outright. The admirable thing about it, however, is how well all these familiar pieces are put together to create something that feels as fresh, exciting and pure as any Mario platformer that’s come before it. The level design is the true star of the game, and has everything to do with establishing this entry as its own entity. Whether it’s the rolling hills of the opening level or a rotating block level found later in the game, you’re rarely given the same obstacle twice. It’s a joy to jump across a series of raised blocks and fling yourself to the top of a flagpole. This joy comes at first not because the level is over, but because you had such a great time getting there. That “great time” is replaced in later levels with a feeling of accomplishment, as some of the closing stages pull no punches when trying to deplete your available extra lives.

There’s no shortage of secrets and extra challenges to keep you busy. Some levels have hidden exits, which may lead to warps or additional levels, and they can be a real pain in the ass to locate. There are also the golden coins, three of which are hidden in each level and can be incredibly tricky to obtain. These two elements move New Super Mario Bros. Wii from the realm of reflex-platformer help focus more on exploration — a dual nature games rarely achieve. Also, there are a few levels where you must carry a Toad to the goal, which can slow the pace down even more, helping to mix up the pace. Of course, there are all optional — you can go through most of the game’s level ignoring these objectives, but let’s be honest — Who plays a Mario game to accomplish the bare minimum?

Shaking the remote to twirl does a spin attack, lengthens jumps and clears clouds away

Shaking the remote performs a spin attack that can lengthen jumps and clear clouds away

New to the series is the ability to play through the game with a friend. In fact, four people can play simultaneously. While two-player co-op can be a rewarding experience, three and four player co-op turns the game into a raucous, chaotic party experience. The early levels are a blast, with each player usually jumping about to their heart’s delight, or stealing every powerup out of the boxes (no fingers pointed… Dave), but the later levels provide to be too tricky for such unfocused antics. Completing them requires some real coordination and diligence, something most three or four-player parties will find in short supply. Regardless, it’s an incredibly fun mode to have included.

Perhaps smartly, Nintendo has left room for improvement with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The new powerups, the propeller cap and the penguin suit are fun, but feel less substantial due to the lack of equally fresh company, especially since the penguin suit is simply an upgraded ice flower. Yoshi is woefully underused, as is the mini-mushroom ability, and then there’s the game’s insistence on handholding in areas where it really doesn’t need to. Do people really need to be reminded they can buy movies at Peach’s castle five or six times a level? How about explaining how powerups work after every mushroom house? It gets a little tiresome to see these types of instructions pop up so frequently. Nintendo would do well to include a disable option in the inevitable sequel — they need to keep in mind that not everyone who owns a Wii is a non-gamer swept up in the blue ocean.

Those issues, however, do such little damage to what is such an expertly designed that it almost seems silly to mention them. New Super Mario Bros. is a triumph on every level, and succeeds in rekindling the feelings produced by its forerunners. Why Nintendo hasn’t applied this loving and creative touch to more of its properties is a mystery, but if 2D Mario titles of this quality continue to pour forth it almost doesn’t matter.

Top 5 Favorite Games of 2009 – Number 4

By DavePublished: December 22, 2009

We continue our countdown today with our number four entry out of five. If you missed yesterdays post check out number five here.

Dan
Modern Warfare 2
modernwarfare2t5coverI think that Modern Warfare is going to run into the Halo issue pretty soon, of having to put out game after game that are pretty much the same so as not to annoy their fanbase. Modern Warfare 2 was similar to Call of Duty 4 (Modern Warfare 1?) but still distinctly good on its own, and the addition of Spec Ops gives a nice amount of replayability. I had some issues with the campaign’s story, particularly how it seemed to keep looking over its shoulder to see if you were suitably awed, but you can’t deny that this was a big name title for a reason, and that it can provide a nearly endless amount of gameplay with the multiplayer community.

Anthony
Madworld
madworldt5coverSega heard the cries of hardcore gamers everywhere and picked up Platnium Games’ Madworld — a bloody black-and-white brawler from the minds that brought us Devil May Cry and Okami. If you haven’t picked up this game and consider the Wii to have no hardcore games, you’re part of the problem. Madworld is a stylish, brutal romp that makes great use of the Wii’s motion controls. It should be among the Wii’s cheaper offerings now, so you have no excuse not to get your hands dirty… what are you waiting for?

Dave
UFC Undisputed 2009
ufc2009t5coverWho would have thought it was possible to make a good UFC game? The last few attempts at making a hit fighting game based on the UFC license were… well let’s just say not very good. Yukes and THQ changed that this year with the release of not only one of my favorite games of the year, but one of my favorite fighting games of all time. Whether the matches be stand up brawls or down on the ground submission fights, the ability to transition between each of those different styles is one of the most impressive features of this game. That in addition to the fact that sometimes it’s great to just take Brock Lesnar out and have him one shot an opponent make this such a fun game to play.

Digital Ensemble #209: Drew tells awesome jokes

By AnthonyPublished: December 22, 2009

Season 2 – Episode #9: Drew tells awesome jokes

Keith and Anthony are joined this week by Drew, who closes out the show with some amazing jokes. All the normal topics are covered, and the show is as fun as it’s ever been, but man, you have to hear these awesome jokes!

This week’s show will take place live, tonight at 8PM, and will be our Jingilitious Christmasgeddon Holiday Special. Feel free to listen at WBNY’s live stream, or come back and download the recorded version.

Featuring music from: Secret of Mana (SNES), The Megas, 8-bit Instrumental and much more

Top 5 Favorite Games of 2009 – Number 5

By DavePublished: December 21, 2009

Starting today and running through Friday, the staff here at Extra Guy will be counting down their favorite games of 2009. This isn’t a definitive best of the year for the site, but rather a countdown of some of the games that we enjoyed playing throughout the year. Take a look at what each of us chose as our number 5:

Dan
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
50centt5coverI’m not what you would call a 50 Cent fan. I had a brief foray into liking rap ironically back in 2004, but yelling ‘Whaaat’ ala DMX got old kind of quickly. So it took me by surprise when I quite enjoyed Blood on the Sand, though I have to admit that it was in an ironic sense as well. The game was decent, and you got to hear ‘Hey Fiddy!’ every thirty seconds while you tried to help Mr. Cent get his diamond encrusted skull back from that bitch who stole it, taking down helicopter after helicopter in the process. It’s not often that you see a rapper pick up an AK in a Middle Eastern country and start shooting fools, and so for a unintellectual romp Blood on the Sand was a damn good time.

Anthony
LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias
lostwindst5coverWinter of the Melodias is a follow up to WiiWare’s first competent offering and it improves and expands upon the original in almost every way. This platformer had fantastic pacing — reminiscent of Super Metroid or a modern Castlevania — and added a new gameplay wrinkle each time the game was in danger of becoming stale. If there’s an example of how to bring retail quality to a downloadable environment, but chop it up in easily digestible bite-sized chunks, it’s the LostWinds series.

Dave
Resident Evil 5
residentevil5t5coverI’ve been a huge Resident Evil fan since I played RE2 on the original PlayStation, so I was incredibly excited about this release. RE5 gave me everything I’ve come to expect from a Resident Evil game and more. Although I do miss the old days of Resident Evil being a game about killing zombies, I still love the story and the atmosphere that the series provides, and it’s great to be back in control of Chris. A lot of controversy arrived with this game due to the controls not being updated since RE4, but in the end what you’ll find is that even with these old school controls this is still one of the best games of 2009. If somehow you missed a chance to check this game out earlier this year, Capcom is set to release a special gold edition early next year that you definitely need to pick up and play.

Nintendo Downloads: 12/21/09

By AnthonyPublished: December 21, 2009

weekly downloadsChristmas week is upon us, and Nintendo is in the giving spirit… meaning how you’ll give them WiiPoints in exchange for the new games they’ve made available for download. Take a gander at this week’s titles and be amazed at their quirkiness, holiday spirit, and retro style. Everybody loves a good round of Super Smash Bros. on the N64, right?

Deck the halls with downloadable fun this week as Nintendo offers 11 new games to engage and entertain everyone in the household. Among this week’s highlights is the Virtual Console™ debut of the original Super Smash Bros.™ game, bringing the total of downloadable games for the WiiWare™ and Virtual Console services to a fabulous 500 and featuring a host of beloved characters from across the Nintendo universe. New WiiWare offerings include the Earth-conscious action game Eco Shooter: Plant 530™ and a sequel to the quiz-lovers’ favorite TV Show King. For Nintendo DSiWare™ fans, fresh arrivals include hand-held versions of the card-table classic UNO™ and the pioneering arcade game Dragon’s Lair®. For rollicking multiplayer fun, mellow single-player diversions and everything in-between, Nintendo’s got you covered for the holidays and beyond.

WiiWare

Eco ShooterEco Shooter: Plant 530
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Earth’s empty cans have been brought to life by the Cannoids, an alien race determined to destroy the planet. Only Mack, a technician from the recycling facility Plant 530, stands in their way as Earth’s last line of defense. Step into Mack’s shoes in this guided first-person shooter as he takes on the invading aliens with only his trusty recycle cannon and a can-do attitude. Blast and vacuum (yes, vacuum) your way to victory, keeping in mind that every shot counts. Your ammo also doubles as your health, and every enemy you destroy leaves behind Can Energy that you can vacuum up and use as ammo. Uncomplicated controls (including optional use of the Wii Zapper™ accessory) give everyone the chance to save the planet, while advanced tactics like consecutive hit combos and the tough Challenge mode give even the best players a run for their money. Are you ready to step up and put a dent in their cans?

Game Show 2TV Show King 2
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Drug Reference
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: TV Show King is back for a second round. There are 8,000 questions sorted into 12 categories on the program, including general knowledge, sports, movies, music and more. And that’s without counting the questions that you can create yourself. Here’s everything you need to compete with your friends, or with players all over the world thanks to Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.

PallurikioPallurikio™
Publisher: Playstos Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Jump and roll with Pallurikio, a fast-paced action platformer that’s easy to pick up yet challenging to master. While playing a mysterious board game he found with his friends, Rusty is sucked into a dimensional vortex and finds himself in a mystical and wondrous world where he assumes the aspect of the round and bouncing Pallurikio. Using the Wii Remote™ controller, make Pallurikio jump and roll and help him find his way through more than 50 enticing levels while surviving all kinds of pitfalls and trickeries in Bakumbala Jungle, the far reaches of Palluro Prime and many other weird settings. Featuring physics simulation, Time Attack mode, collectible cards and space rockets to boot, Pallurikio is a game you won’t want to miss.

ChristmasHappy Holidays Christmas
Publisher: 505 Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Planning a Christmas party and want to grab guests’ attention? Or want to send greeting cards without the hassle of licking stamps? Here’s the solution: Create and send fun Christmas cards with this unique WiiWare application. Happy Holidays Christmas lets you make fun Christmas-themed e-cards and send them straight to friends’ Wii™ consoles. Add a tree and decorations; choose frames, stickers and music; then write a message to friends you’ve registered in your Wii Address Book. It might not snow this Christmas, but with this fun new software your holiday is guaranteed to be a happy one.

DSIware UNO
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Get ready to call out “UNO!” on your Nintendo DSi™ system. The world-famous card game has been faithfully reproduced for the Nintendo DSi system and features exciting new rules. With a multiplayer mode that can be accessed by local wireless play or with broadband Internet access and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, playing UNO has never been so fun and easy, so be the first to get rid of all your cards.

Dragon’s Lair
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You play the heroic Dirk the Daring, a valiant knight on a quest to rescue the fair princess from the clutches of an evil dragon. Control the actions of the daring adventurer and find your way through the castle of a dark wizard who has enchanted it with treacherous monsters and obstacles. In the mysterious caverns below the castle, your odyssey continues against the awesome forces that oppose your journey to the dragon’s lair. Dragon’s Lair is a fully animated classic arcade game from legendary animator Don Bluth.

Hot and Cold: A 3D Hidden Object Adventure
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You’re getting warm…warmer…hot! You’ve found Hot and Cold: A 3D Hidden Object Adventure, the new game that puts you on the job of finding people’s missing stuff. A voice in your head tells you whether you’re Hot or Cold when searching for things. Investigate cases all over town using your unique ability, and discover the secret behind the mysterious voice in your head. Throw objects out of your way, maneuver your way through a 3-D world, follow your Hot and Cold meter and more in this unparalleled hidden-object adventure.

High Stakes: Texas Hold’Em
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Simulated Gambling
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Hudson proudly presents the definitive Texas Hold’Em game for Nintendo DSiWare with High Stakes Texas Hold’Em. High Stakes allows players of any level to enjoy Texas Hold’Em game play. The popular No-Limit rule set used in many tournaments is included, so anyone can play with the big boys. With the added functionality of DS Wireless Communications, players can compete with others and test their skills. It’s the core Texas Hold’Em experience on your Nintendo DSi system – anytime, anywhere.

myNotebook: Green™
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you are. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off, or even play your favorite pen-and-paper games (games not included). You can even personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover and changing the paper type with 18 unlockable squared and lined paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make your notes or doodles, then erase the bits you don’t like. With five ink colors, you’ll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish.

Virtual Console

Smash BrosSuper Smash Bros.
Original platform: Nintendo 64™
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Choose from an all-star cast of Nintendo characters in a frantic melee to prove who will be the ultimate brawler. Utilize the easy-to-learn but hard-to-master controls and battle it out in the single-player mode, earning point bonuses and unlocking hidden characters along the way. Enter VS Mode to take on up to three other players simultaneously. Inflict damage using each character’s unique set of special moves, familiar items and power-ups, eventually winning by knocking your opponents off the screen in one of the interactive stages, each with a Nintendo theme. Need a moment to catch your breath? Polish your skills in Training Mode or destroy targets in Bonus Stages specific to each character. Are you ready to test your mettle against all comers, including the powerful Master Hand?

Ninja GaidenNINJA GAIDEN™
Original platform: Arcade
Publisher: TECMO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Alcohol Reference, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Take control of a ninja, master of the Five Ninja Fighting Arts of assassination passed down since the chaotic times of feudal Japan, and enter “Jungle,” a terrifying American city, to crush waves of foes who are part of an assassination syndicate. Use three buttons to execute exciting moves like the Flying Neck Throw, the Hang Kick and the Triple Blow Combination. Each stage is based around popular Western misconceptions about ninja and Japan, making the game world a fantastic mix of ninja and American pop culture. Game settings such as the starting number of player characters and the difficulty level can also be adjusted.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems. Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth Trailer Released

By AnthonyPublished: December 20, 2009

RebirthCastlevania: The Adventure Rebirth has been a long time coming now, especially considering it’s been out in Japan for a bit, but there’s good news for those looking forward to the title. Konami has released a new trailer for the game on their American site.

Click the link above to check it out. It’s a pretty good gamble the game is on its way out soon, since the video was recently added. Keep your fingers crossed for this week, and return Monday to see if your patience has been rewarded when Nintendo’s weekly downloadable title are revealed.

Star Wars The Force Unleashed 2 Trailer

By DavePublished: December 19, 2009

If for some reason you haven’t seen the announcement trailer for the new Force Unleashed game set to come out next year, now’s your chance. The original Force Unleashed was one of my favorite games from last year and I can’t wait to see how the story unravels in the new game. Check out the return of Starkiller in the trailer below.

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