Month: April 2016

Nintendo’s Big Announcements

Nintendo made a lot of big announcements early this morning, as they released their financial reports in Japan. The first bombshell stated that their new NX system would be released in March 2017.

Of course, they still haven’t even said what NX really is yet. No confirmation if it’s a home console, a portable, or a combination of the two (as some rumors suggest). And are they really going to launch a system in March? Nintendo consoles have traditionally launched in autumn (generally September through November), so it remains to be seen if they really stick to this.

Then they announced that Zelda Wii U will be delayed again, until 2017! It will be released simultaneously with a NX version–much like how Twilight Princess was a dual GameCube/Wii release.

That is a big disappointment. Not only because I’ve been really looking forward to the game, but also, this means the Wii U will be in its 5th year before it finally gets a Zelda game (that isn’t a port of an older game). That’s just so typical of how poorly Nintendo has supported Wii U throughout most of its lifetime. Once Wii U was released, Nintendo never seemed to shift their focus from 3DS to Wii U, often treating Wii U (and Wii U owners) like an afterthought, while they continued to pump out 3DS games constantly.

And with no Zelda in 2016, what exactly do Wii U users have to look forward to for the rest of the year? It’s looking pretty bleak. For Nintendo’s sake, I hope they support NX better than they’ve supported Wii U.

And then there was this:

Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing apps are coming to smart devices. “Apps” is the key word here, and we don’t really know what that means. Will they be full games, spin-offs, or something else entirely? We don’t know.

A press release from Nintendo UK states that the Animal Crossing app will “be connected with the world of Animal Crossing for dedicated gaming systems.” That seems to indicate the app may not be a full Animal Crossing game on its own, although it also states it will “have more prominent game elements” than Miitomo.

Saying that it will connect with the world of Animal Crossing for dedicated gaming systems seems to imply that a full AC game is on the way as well (presumably for NX). The app is scheduled to be released later this year.

The app could potentially be the third consecutive Animal Crossing spin-off (after Happy Home Designer and Amiibo Festival) since we’ve last seen a full game in the series. And I’m not particularly excited about the app, but it’s hard to have much of an opinion on it until we know what it is.

This is pure speculation, but I could see it including the ability to create and customize your character (including hair and skin color), shop for clothes and accessories each day, and so on. Or maybe it will allow you to design your house, yard, or even the layout of your town! That would be cool. And then when the full game comes out, you could import that data. At this point, only Nintendo knows.

But if a new, full Animal Crossing game is on the way, that is what I’m really looking forward to. What about you? Are you excited about the apps? Mad about the Zelda delay? Curious about NX?

Star Fox 64

The recent release of Star Fox Zero on Wii U has put me in a Star Fox mood lately, even though I’m not planning on buying that game. Instead, I’ve been playing Star Fox 64 (on Nintendo 64, of course). This was my first time playing it in years…perhaps the first time since 2011, when I recorded a gameplay video of the first two stages.

Star Fox 64 title screen.I played through on the easiest path and beat the game, and then later I went back to take some of the other paths. Even though it’s a short game, it is fun to play. But I had forgotten just how annoying the creatures on my team can be. And nothing says annoying quite like Slippy Toad.

Slippy: Whoa! Help me!Right from the very beginning of the game, he’s already screaming for help. Help me, Fox! Help me, help me, help me! And for that matter, why does Slippy sound like a little girl? In the original Star Fox on Super Nintendo, Slippy had a fairly deep “dip-dip” ribbit voice. But I’m going off on a tangent.

Back to my point, teammates in general will fly right in front of you, as you’re shooting, and then get mad and insult you for shooting them.

Falco: Hey, Einstein! I'm on your side!And of course, that makes me want to shoot them even more. 😛  Then don’t fly right in front of me, bird brain! And shut the Falcup.

And what’s with Andross (the final boss)? It looks like Nintendo was playing around with Mario’s face from the title screen of Super Mario 64, and just decided to turn him into an evil monkey. The disembodied head has the nerve to suck you in and chew you up (before vomiting you back out–but I’d rather not bring that up).

Andross chews Star Fox (GIF).But unlike a lot of shooters, Star Fox 64 has a decent amount of replay value. It’s designed for repeated playthroughs, with alternate routes to new stages, as well as medals that can be earned in each level. The game also keeps track of your ten best scores, so you always feel like there’s room for improvement. It’s an enjoyable game that’s worth playing through again every couple years or so.

Here is the video I recorded back in 2011:

If you’re not bothered by a little toilet humor, check out the Star Fox 64 parody I wrote up, called Star Flush 64.

Star Fox Zero

As for the new Wii U game, Star Fox Zero, I don’t currently plan on buying it…despite my initial interest when the game was first announced. Based on the reviews I’ve read, the forced motion controls sound needlessly complicated and awkward. I don’t mind the outdated graphics, but I can’t stand games that are hard to control. I really wish Nintendo would stop trying to force motion controls and other gimmicks on us and just go back to making great games.

But for those of you who are willing to give Star Fox Zero a try, the physical version comes bundled with a spin-off game called Star Fox Guard. You can check the latest price for the bundle, or buy the games separately online in the Wii U eShop.

Splatoon – Funny Moments #3

My latest Splatoon video is here: Funny Moments #3. It’s a compilation of clips showing some funny and interesting things that have happened during online gameplay. It includes some karmic splashdowns, some outright FAILS, and a couple of epic Kraken battles.

Here’s a brief description of each clip, in case you missed something:

  • I turn into a Kraken, which apparently frightens my opponent into committing suicide!
  • I get splatted and then watch as my killer falls into some wet justice.
  • A bomb gets thrown seemingly out of nowhere and practically lands on my head as I launch an inkstrike.
  • I leap down to chase someone, but they superjump to freedom despite the sound effect indicating I ran him over.
  • A bomb wobbles and follows me as I jump down in Moray Towers. I just thought it looked pretty cool.
  • A Japanese player and I team up as Krakens. We’re Booyah Buddies.
  • Two killer wails interlock, with the bad one splatting me. My killer seems to celebrate my death before she herself gets splatted.
  • My Kraken gets stuck on a wall! I was trying to go around, not up!
  • An opposing player somehow goes into a wall! I die trying to run her over.
  • An opposing player superjumps away before I can Kraken her. Come back here, chicken!
  • Another sneaky player superjumps before I can attack.
  • A player gives up and plunges into the water before time expires.
  • An epic Kraken vs. Kraken battle, with a squid on the BBQ?
  • An opposing player jumps to attack me, but falls into the drink.
  • I move out of the way of a roller just in the nick of time!
  • A sniper drops a bomb, but also falls into the abyss himself!
  • A roller splats me out of nowhere and then goes for an accidental swim.
  • My Kraken chases a hopping squid up a conveyor belt.
  • I get splatted while launching an inkstrike and my killer gets some karma.
  • I narrowly escape a killer wail and defeat the inkling who fired it.
  • A Kraken vs. Kraken battle. He almost escaped.
  • I try to run my roller over an inkling while on a grate bridge, but my attacks do no harm.
  • I run over a motionless inkling (who I almost didn’t notice) and then as time expires, a Kraken lands on my head.
  • An opponent jumps off a ledge. Reason unknown.
  • A Kraken attacks me, but I lure it to a grated area, where it plunges to its death.
  • A turn of the camera results in an unexpected swim.

Hope you enjoyed the video! If you missed the first two Funny Moments videos (or want to see them again), you can find them here.

Looking for a Splatoon squirt gun, wall poster, or squid cushion?