Yoshi Controllers

I had no idea what to ramble on about tonight, so I thought I would show you my wife's Yoshi controllers. ^_^

The Yoshi Wii Remote Plus comes with the green protective cover and the green & orange strap in the photo. The back of the controller is coloured Yoshi green, whereas the B button is orange. I think this was released alongside a Princess Peach controller, but the Yoshi one seemed near impossible to find, but luckily Nintendo restocked in time for Christmas. 

This Yoshi Wired Fight Pad from PDP is intended for use with Super Smash Bros, but it can be used as a Classic Controller for Virtual Console games and other compatible software. I was a little skeptical of this controller myself, as the promotional photos didn't make it look like the controller was built to last. First hand though it seems pretty robust, soon we'll put it through its paces with a Super Smash Fest.

Metroid Prime Trilogy on Wii U

The Metroid Prime Trilogy was digitally re-released on Wii U today at the reduced price of £8.99, an absolute steal considering the original Wii release can command high prices.

When Metroid Prime was first unveiled I must admit I wasn't too keen on it, probably because I was addicted to Halo: Combat Evolved, but as the trilogy is often praised for its quality I've always wanted to give it another try.

It would have been nice if the trilogy had been re-released in high definition, as the visuals look incredibly blurred, and maybe Nintendo could have included support for the Gamepad or the Classic Controller (I can't say I'm a fan of the Wii Remote/Nunchuck combo for FPS's). At this price though I can't complain too much for 3 games in one, just remember the deal ends on 5th Feb 2015!

The Hunt Begins...Again

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is right around the corner (release date: February 13th 2015), and thankfully Nintendo sent me some download codes for the demo to keep me going until then. ^_^

Monster Hunter games are centred around teams of up to 4 players doing battle with massive fictional beasts, then crafting weapons and armour from their remains. It's grizzly stuff, but Monster Hunter has been one of Capcoms biggest draws, so where does this latest offering take the series from here?

The demo offers 2 difficulty settings (Beginner or Experienced), with a choice of 3 monsters to fight and they're as impressive as ever. Taking inspiration from dinosaurs and various mythology, they're nothing short of intimidating as you and your buddies try to bring them down.  And to give newcomers a better idea of what the Monster Hunter experience is like; Capcom have also thrown in solo, local and online multiplayer modes.

Playing the game solo means you get 2 little cats (known as Felyne's and Melynx's) helping you out during the battle, and they come dressed in a variety of silly outfits such as maids or musicians. Regardless of how they're dressed you're going to need them; they'll deal blows to your enemies, heal you and set traps to capture the monsters allowing you time to deal more damage. 

The online games however, have been a bit of a problem (at least for me), where there's very few available games to join. I'm not reading too much into this as it's only the demo, and when I have been able to find a game the servers have been superb; much more stable than Super Smash Bros.

The online chat system however, is extremely dated only offering a handful of standard phrases for you send to your teammates. It's also very clunky to use as it relies on you using your stylus, which is not easy when battling giant dinosaurs and for a game heavily steeped in teamwork and strategy I had hoped for something much more flexible. Hopefully this will be implemented when the final version is released.

Unfortunately the demo doesn't highlight many new features aside from one or two weapons, and the new vertically focused combat. Players can now leap from canopies and ledges to mount their prey, triggering a mini game where you try to deal as many blows as you can before the monster bucks you off. It's an interesting mechanic that adds an extra element of excitement, and having a more interactive environment makes you think more your strategy and how to deal with a particular monster.

I hadn't played a Monster Hunter game since MH: Freedom Unite on the PSP and in my opinion it was one of the greatest games on the system. This demo however, doesn't show enough new features to tempt me back to the franchise, so I'm only likely to pick this up if my friends or family are going to join in. It's not bad, there's just not enough innovation on offer. 

It's Been A Long Night...

                            

After yesterday's surprise addition to Club Nintendo's Stars Catalogue (which has already sold out), I thought it would be best to prepare for any more incoming goodies and get these points registered. Especially since it took ages for the points to appear on my account yesterday, most likely due to site traffic. 

By the way Nintendo; when you bring out your new system, please don't make us fill in a survey every time we register a game. （；＿；）

Hey! LISTEN!

Good news for European Club Nintendo members as we see a new item added to the Stars Catalogue; The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds soundtrack!

The double CD soundtrack is made up 89 tunes, plus 16 Milk Bar Musician pieces. Not only that, but for all you musicians out there the game's composer, Ryo Nagamatsu, has thrown in 12 score excerpts for you to play.

Club Nintendo is set to vanish for good this September. Will you be picking up this desirable soundtrack? Or will you risk saving your Star points for a future item?

Lone Survivor: First Impressions

We fancied playing a horror game, so we decided to download Lone Survivor: The Directors Cut after watching its intriguing trailer. Here's my first impressions (SPOILER'S AHEAD!!!)

Lone Survivor takes the old school survival horror mechanics of Silent Hill and blends elements from modern survival games to deliver something quite unique.

The world has succumbed to a terrifying disease that transforms humanity into hideous creatures, and your only task is to stay alive as you try to make your way out of the city. Like many early survival horror titles however, supplies are limited, meaning you have to make judgement calls on when to conserve your resources. You also have make sure your character is well fed and rested, otherwise he starts to complain of hunger and exhaustion and will eventually die. 

Thankfully Lone Survivor has an in-built cheat system, of sorts, should you find yourself lacking food or ammunition. The more you use it however, the more likely you will affect the games ending, so beware!

There's also some great psychological terror to be had with Lone Survivor as reality begins to distort and you question what is real; and sometimes who is real. You enter dream-like states inhabited by a great cast of eccentric characters; some offer advice and supplies, while others are bizarre and seem completely insane but thoroughly entertaining.

All of this comes wrapped up in a delightful retro art style, but Lone Survivor still manages to deliver the scares. A nice little addition to our Wii U collection.            

New Amiibo

Look who turned up in the post today!

Ever since I heard Bowser was included in the latest amiibo wave I've been trying to get him pre-ordered as he's my favourite Smash character. 

Bowser's brimming with attitude and he's certainly one of the fiercest amiibo's of the bunch. My wife and I still debating I've who looks more awesome; Bowser or Fox? 

Addicted

Ever get so hooked on a game you sit there for hours until you've finished what you set out to do?

I've just spent the last couple of hours playing the mission mode on Pikmin 3; trying to collect every last piece of treasure in the Tropical Forest. Finally cracked it. ＼(^o^)／

I'm a bit curious as to how some have managed to obtain a high score of 9610 though, the highest I've managed is 2800. (-｡-;

Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir

Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir on 3DS is a spin off title in the acclaimed Project Zero series (also known as the Fatal Frame series).

For those unfamiliar with Project Zero; it's a collection of horror games centred around exorcising ghosts with a camera. In this adventure however, your 3DS camera is your weapon against the ghosts as they materialise in your own home (or wherever you happen to be playing).

It's quite an ambitious game as it tries to make you believe there's evil spirits wandering around you, but unfortunately the game doesn't always recognise space and depth, meaning ghosts can appear to be tiny but at least it gives you a laugh.

Spirit Camera comes bundled with an AR booklet, known in-game as the Purple Diary, that you must scan with your 3DS in order to solve puzzles and progress through the game. There's some great use of 3D effects as the diary distorts and creates gateways to other worlds, possibly some of the most impressive use of 3D technology I've seen on 3DS.  Our copy of the game was pre-owned and unfortunately the Purple Diary was missing, but you can find the PDF file online and just print out a new copy.

While Spirit Camera has its flaws, it's great to see a developer trying to find new and innovative ways to immerse you in the game. Hopefully with the improved 3DS capabilities of the New 3DS lineup; more developers will be encouraged to experiment and provide a unique game-playing experience like this one.  

Size Doesn't Matter...Does It?

Moving from the 3DS XL to the smaller New 3DS has taken a little getting used to, especially with Super Smash Bros as the sprites appear to be tiny, but the graphical improvement certainly makes up for the reduced screen size.

At the moment I'm playing through Chrono Trigger, a game I'm determined to finish, and the animated cutscenes always looked stretched and slightly distorted on the XL, but on the wee console they look fantastic.

So, which one will you choose?

The New 3DS XL with its bigger screen, or the New 3DS with its sharper resolution???

Cheerio Club Nintendo ( ; _ ; )

It's time to start thinking about spending those Star Points you were saving; as Club Nintendo is set to be discontinued on 30th September 2015. ( ; _ ; )

Any Star Points you have left after September 30th will expire and be lost forever! Nintendo however, plans to add more goodies to the catalog over the coming months to make sure you've got plenty to spend your remaining points on.

Also; Club Nintendo is going to be replaced by a new programme, and while details on this are scarce at the moment, you'll get Flipnote Studio 3D for the 3DS for free if you sign up during the new programme's launch period. ^_^

Here's a link to the announcement from Nintendo for more details.

Mario and Luigi Sofubi Figures

I don't think I've posted pictures of these Mario & Luigi Sofubi figures before; my wife got them for me for Christmas a few years ago. 

From what I can gather, Sofubi is a kind of soft vinyl toy produced in Japan. I've kept them in their packaging, as I don't have anywhere to stand them, so they're hung up on the shelves next to the SNES games.

A Look at the New 3DS

Sorry guys, as I'm still at the mercy of man-flu I'm not able to do the New 3DS video. ( ; _ ; )

Watching me cough and splutter all over a console for 10-20 minutes probably wouldn't have been that entertaining anyway, so instead I'm going to do a handful of blogs on the New 3DS starting with a close look at the Ambassador bundle!

What's in the Box? 

Here's a list of everything that came in the box.

• New 3DS Console 
• Ambassador Edition Cover Plates (front and back)
• A Charging Cradle
• And some Smash Bros. Cover Plates (front and back)

Let's start with the most boring thing on this list and get it out of the way...

The Charging Cradle!

The Charging Cradle is similar to the Charging Dock you get with your Wii U Gamepad; you connect the AC Adaptor to the port at the base of the Cradle and insert the New 3DS into the top. While it's nice to have somewhere to put your console while it charges, there's nothing stopping you from plugging your AC adaptor directly into the console.

FYI: there is NO AC Adaptor included with the console, your old 3DS or DSi adaptor will still do fine, but there isn't one bundled with the New 3DS.

Smash Bros. Cover Plates and Ambassador Edition Cover Plates

One of the best features of the New 3DS is that you can customise it with cover plates, so no more getting annoyed when Nintendo release yet another Limited Edition console.

The front cover plate is clipped to top of the console, it seems entirely secure so you don't need to worry about it falling apart while you use it, while the back cover plate is secured by 2 small screws.

The bundled Ambassador Edition Cover Plates each depict Nintendo's logo. The back plate is emblazoned with Nintendo's usual logo, whereas the front plate is written in kanji. From left to right the symbols read: Entrust Sky Company.

Note: you can't use the cover plates with the New 3DS XL system, only the smaller one.

New 3DS Console

The New 3DS Console has a faster processor meaning later titles, like Super Smash Bros, load faster and the system doesn't need to reset when shutting the games down.

Nintendo have finally thrown in an additional joystick, named the C-Stick, and to be honest it's a little strange. Unlike the Circle Pad the C-Stick doesn't budge at all, but it seems to be pretty responsive and a welcome addition when playing games like Monster Hunter.

ZL and ZR shoulder buttons have also been thrown in, so we may be seeing more integration with the Wii U because of its similar control layout. In order to make room for the C-Stick and new shoulder buttons; the cartridge slot, headphone jack, stylus and the power button have all been moved to the bottom of the console.

The 3D has finally been upgraded making it more stable and much more comfortable on the eyes. Super Smash Bros looks amazing in the new 3D; so much so that you won't want to turn it off.

I'll write some follow up blogs when a few more games are released that incorporate the new features of the console. All in all though, it's pretty sweet and I'm looking forward to seeing what 2015 brings for the New 3DS.

Highlights from Nintendo Direct

It's getting pretty late here; so I'm going to do a roundup of what I feel were the highlights of the latest Nintendo Direct!

New 3DS and New 3DS XL arriving February 13th- Yup, the New 3DS lineup will hit European shores on February 13th 2015. The smaller model comes in Black or White with customisable faceplates, while the XL comes in Black or Metallic Blue. I think Nintendo just gave me an idea for a Valentines Day present. ;-)

There's also going to be a limited edition Majora's Mask XL model and a Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate XL model. The MH4 console looks gorgeous but I can't help but think the Majora's Mask console should have been purple instead of gold, it would have been much more striking!

New Amiibo's- Still no word on Captain Olimar ( ; _ ; ), but instead we have Wario, Robin, Lucina, Ness, Pac-Man and Charizard to keep us company in the meantime.

There's also going to be new versions of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach and Yoshi, alongside a new Toad amiibo, with their designs being in-line with the Super Mario universe rather than Smash Bros.

Splatoon- This is shaping up to be one of my most anticipated Wii U titles for 2015. Nintendo revealed updates for their colourful new shooter including; customisation options for your characters, new weapons and a huge plaza allowing you to interact with other players while you gear up for your next battle.

Here's a link to the Nintendo Direct if you want to check it out.

Sick of the Flu

Woke up yesterday morning with the flu, hence no blog, and feeling like I had the joints of an eighty year old.（；＿；）I'm hoping not to be slowed down too much however, as I want the new 3DS video up by the end of the week.

Ideally I would like to do a couple of videos; one to show an overview of the ambassador edition and another comparing the system to the current 3DS and seeing if it's actually worth making the switch.

I haven't had a chance to try the console yet, so it's charging while I write this blog, hoping to play some Smash Bros before bedtime. ^_^

A Change of Plan

The plan for the weekend was to get some new music arranged with a 'work in progress' uploaded to Soundcloud. Unfortunately there were some unexpected occurrences; meaning I didn't get the chance to work on anything. ( ; _ ; )

On the bright side however, I have got a tune that I'm working on at the moment which is sounding pretty good, so I may get that uploaded to Soundcloud once I've tidied things up.

By the way if you're wondering what the 'unexpected occurrences' were... well, someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse. ^_^

YouTube Video Coming Soon ^_^

Lonely without the Mobs （；＿；）

I've spent a couple of days playing the Survival mode in Minecraft: Pocket Edition and while it makes for some enjoyable gameplay there are a few flaws.

The difficulty bar I mentioned a few days ago makes it impossible to allow mobs to spawn. Due to the inaccuracies of the touch screen controls you stand no chance of survival against the hoardes of monsters. It makes the experience very dull and without mobs you can't lay your hands on any of the items they leave when defeated.

The Road to Nowhere

The other problem with Survival mode is the sheer lack of things to do. I spent forever digging beneath the surface to find some sign of a cave or dungeon and apparently there aren't any at all. I actually tunneled to the edge of the map! You'll find no diamonds, lava, gold, redstone or any other item that makes Minecraft what it is.

The Creative mode on the other hand is an entirely different story. You gain access to a much wider variety of blocks and items so you could easily while away a train journey constructing whatever springs to mind, I've nearly missed my stop a few times. 

With that being said; here is a giant Gameboy I built a while back that you can run around in. ^_^

Not too shabby.

Seriously, I have no idea how these two got up here.

I decked the place out to look like the fortress levels from Super Mario Bros. 3

Moo!

Plans for the Weekend

If all goes to plan I'm hoping to get my head down and make some music this weekend.

As I mentioned just before the New Year I have a whole pile of recordings with ideas for new tunes, so perhaps I'll get a 'work in progress' posted on Soundcloud before the weekend's out.

I hope you enjoy the drawing of Jules listening to his walkman too. ^_^

Early Night

It's been a hell of long of day today, guys. Plus I have no idea what to write about so I think I'll take a leaf out of Rosie's book and get a much needed early night. ^_^

Minecraft Pocket Edition

Today I decided to dig out Minecraft Pocket Edition on my iPhone. I hadn't played it in ages and I wanted something different to brighten up my commute.

Here's where I started, a quaint little spot by a river.

Aww, look at the adorable baa lamb.

Anti-gravity pigs

This is the last thing I remember seeing when night fell, I think I died 3 times consecutively. If you look in the background you can see many more monsters waiting to kill me as soon as I respawn.

The reason I was killed so many times is because of the difficulty bar in this picture. Set to the left and you can enjoy a peaceful meander, set it to the right and you open the gates of hell...it only has these 2 settings. ^_^

I got fed up after I snuffed it countless times, so I started a new seed with this amazing view.

The cuteness level...it's over...9000!!!

I finished the day where most first days in Minecraft end, with a poorly constructed shack.

Are YOU A Nintendo Ambassador?

This morning Nintendo sent emails to randomly selected Club Nintendo members offering an exclusive 3DS Ambassador Edition bundle.

This is the New 3DS set to arrive later this year, the one with the added joystick and SNES themed buttons, so not only do you get the exclusive goodies; you get it before everyone else as well.

The bundle includes the following:

The New 3DS Console (white)

2 Ambassador Edition Cover Plates (front and back)

A 4GB SD Card

AR Cards

A Charging Cradle

And some Smash Bros. Cover Plates (front and back)

The entire bundle costs £180, so if you want to buy it; check your emails to see if you're eligible and follow the instructions. Keep in mind if you are eligible you only have until 23:59 on 12th Jan 2015 to make your purchase.

The alternative is to buy one of the bundles that have already found their way to eBay (for as much as £450 so far), which is ridiculous since the seller can't possibly have the console yet as the emails only went out this morning. (o_O) 

Hyrule Warriors First Impressions SPOILER ALERT

Over the weekend we picked up a copy of Hyrule Warriors, a spin-off title in the Zelda franchise that mixes gameplay from Dynasty Warriors with the Zelda universe.

I have never played Dynasty Warriors and I was skeptical about Hyrule Warrors, as some of the gameplay trailers were impressive but it felt like a bridge to the new Zelda title coming out later this year. After having a blast playing on the Wii U over Christmas however, we were looking to expand our library of multiplayer games, and we're also big Zelda fans, so we decided to embark on yet another journey to Hyrule.

The game focuses on epic battles so each map is populated with hundreds of enemies for you to cleave your way through, but there is some strategy involved. The aim is to control as much of the map as possible, and to do this you need to take over enemy keeps and outposts by defeating their captains. Each map also has its own objectives and victory conditions, e.g defeating bosses, collecting items etc, but if you control more of the map the easier completing these objectives will be.

Hyrule Warriors is brimming with Zelda fan service. There's levels set in eras all over Hyrule's timeline,  fantastic weapons and items plucked from pretty much every game in the series, and warm, fuzzy nostalgia taking you all the way back to the Legend of Zelda for NES. You can even play as a wide range of characters (besides Link); including Zelda, Ganondorf, Impa, Fi, Midna and so many more you'll feel spoiled for choice.

In multiplayer one person uses the television and controls their character using a Wii Remote/Nunchuck or the Pro controller, while the second person uses the gamepad, allowing each player their own screen. Apparently the graphic quality is dumbed down to allow for the additional player, I couldn't tell the difference, but there was occasional lag when certain bosses arrived on the battlefield.

I can imagine Hyrule Warriors being pretty dull when going through the game solo, at its core it's a basic hack 'n' slash fest, and being a Zelda fan is essential before even considering buying it. So if you and a buddy are completely barmy about the world of Hyrule, and you have always dreamt of battling hordes of demons and monsters on a GARGANTUAN scale, then Hyrule Warriors will certainly be your cup of tea. ^_^ 

Why Didn't I Take The Day Off Work? ( ; _ ; )

Why didn't I take the day off work? ( ; _ ; ) My body clock is still shot to ribbons thanks to the New Year festivities, staying up till 1AM playing on the Wii U didn't help matters, but it was fun.

The game of the night turned out to be Pikmin 3, my sister and I relived old rivalries and played the Bingo Battle mode. The aim of the game is to match a line on your bingo card by collecting items and defeating enemies, you can also win by default if you steal your opponents flag (and by flag I mean macaroon). (^_-)

You can choose the number of Pikmin you start with, but if you want to make the game a more exciting I suggest keeping this amount to the minimum. This way you each have to build up your squad to collect the larger items and defend yourself from enemy attack. 

If things aren't going in your favour, just have your Pikmin collect a cherry and you'll earn a spin of the weapon roulette wheel. You may get to shower your foe with meteors, electrocute them (and their Pikmin), annoy them by reshuffling their bingo card, or teleport them from the battlefield altogether so they can't control their Pikmin army.

Later we discovered the mission mode has co-op multiplayer included! This is where you have certain objectives e.g collect treasure, defeat enemies; and you just need to finish in the fastest time possible. The only problem is that it's horrendously addictive thanks to the online leader boards, as soon as my wife and I got home we kept on playing till stupid 'o' clock.

Pikmin 3 multiplayer is a little difficult for newcomers as the controls take some getting used to. The more experienced player will have most likely used the Gamepad, meaning they won't be able to help with the alternative controllers (such as the Wii Remote + Nunchuck). After 2 or 3 rounds of Bingo Battle however. you should be able to get a decent game going.

Well, that's it for tonight. I'm going to get some much needed sleep. G'nite y'all.

Happy New Year and Pikachu Smash Bros Controller?

Happy New Year everybody, I hope you all had fun ringing in 2015.  

This morning I was looking for a Mario themed Super Smash Bros. Controller to go with my Mario Wii Remote, but unfortunately they're all sold out at the moment. ( ; _ ; )

I decided to take a look at Amazon US and I found this extremely bright Pikachu themed controller. This one is made by Hori and is pretty much identical to the original Gamecube contollers, save for the left shoulder button, turbo switch, and the home/select buttons. 

There's also a Pikachu sticker included to jazz up your Wii remote, and even the box everything comes in looks amazing.

Apparently the Pikachu controller was released in Japan on December 20th, and a US release has been slated for March 2nd, but sadly there's no word on a European release (at least none that I can find). Looks like if anyone in Europe wants one of these they may have to search overseas, so this may be my first looney purchase of the year. \ ( ^_^ ) /