Hi everyone and welcome to a new nintendo news report! :3 I hope you all passed good holidays, I can say that mine were chaotic yet very fun X3 anyway, let's start this :3 this week we have a nice roundup of 3ds news due to the japanese conference but also some very interesting news on the last story and especially its battle system ;3 at the end you'll also find the review of epic mickey a game I greatly enjoyed ^^ so, shall we start ? :3

VC RELEASES

USA
-Fighter's history dynamite (NEOGEO)
-Magical Drop II (NEOGEO)

EU
-Exed Exes (ARCADE)
-Ghost'n Ghoblins (ARCADE)

WIIWARE RELEASES

USA
-Chick chick BOOM (action)
-Around the world (educational)
-Sneezies (puzzle)
-Ghost Mania (party game)

EU
-Bejeweled 2 (puzzle)
-Heavy Fire: Special operations (gun survivor)
-Magic Destiny: Astrological games (minigame collection)
-Ghost Mania (party game)
-Urbanix (arcade/puzzle)

DSIWARE RELEASES

USA
-Dodogo! Challenge (puzzle)
-Fantasy slots: Adventure slots and games (slot machine)
-G.G Series: Z-One
-Alt-play: Jason Rohrer Anthology (unclassified X3)
-Music On: Drums (music sim)
-Word Searcher 2 (puzzle)

EU
-Alt-play: Jason Rohrer Anthology (unclassified X3)
-Space Ace (laser game)
-Spin Six (puzzle)
-Cosmo Fighters (beat'em up)
-Super Swap (puzzle)
-Adventure in Vegas: Slot Machine (slot machine :P)

GAME RELEASES

USA
4th January:
-Lost in Shadow (WII) (I already reviewed this weeks ago if you're interested :P)

11th January:
-Kingdom hearts Re:Coded (DS)
-Ghost Trick: Phantom detective (DS)

EU
14th January:
-Kingdom hearts Re:Coded (DS)
-Ghost Trick: Phantom detective (DS)

NEWS

DS

RADIANT HISTORIA: new trailer, screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57781/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58084/


LOVE ZOMBIE: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/57803/


DRAGONBALL KAI: ULTIMATE BUTOUDEN: new screens, footage
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57841/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57850/


DIGIMON STORY SUPER CROSS WARS: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57892/


POKEMON BLACK/WHITE: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57993/


MONSTER TALE: new trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58189/


OKAMIDEN: new trailer, screens, footage
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58322/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58346/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58348/


3DS

NINTENDO 3DS: new trailer, details
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58436/
Miis/AR games presentation http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58501/
3DS SOFTWARE LINEUP VIDEO: http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58576/


RAYMAN 3D announced! No infos, screens or videos yet, but the game has been rated by ESRB, so we might get something about it soon, hopefully :3


ONE PIECE UNLIMITED CRUISE SP: new screens, trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=735
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57767/


SAMURAI WARRIORS CHRONICLE: new scan, screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57783/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57835/


WINNING ELEVEN WORLD SOCCER 3D: new screens, trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57828/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58379/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58424/?pid=700


DOCTOR LAUTREC AND THE FORGOTTEN KNIGHTS: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57846/


SUPER MONKEY BALL 3D: new screens, details
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=741
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57862/

-Monkey Ball Mode is typical Monkey Ball
-Guide a monkey in a ball to the goal in this mode
-Pick up bananas as you move
-Use the slide pad or motion sensor as the controls
-Slide pad controls should be used by those who want to enjoy the game in 3D while the motion sensor controls are for those who want a more direct control experience
-Stages include Arabia, Jungle and Space
-After choosing a stage, 3D picture book will be shown with a story
-Characters include AiAi, MeeMee, Baby and Gongon
-More characters to be revealed
-Monkey Race and Monkey Fight modes
-Monkey Race has races on different courses
-Monkey Fight is a competitive battle, collect the most bananas
-Up to four players wirelessly for multiplayer


NARUTO 3DS announced! First details and screens!
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=734
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58231/

-Full title: Naruto Shippuuden Nin Rittai Emaki Saikyou Ninkai Kessen!!
-Game is a “side scrolling ninja action” game
-Complete missions
-Missions take place on 3D fields
-Mostly side-scrolling action
-Gimmicks and stage formations use 3D
-Spring release


SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI: DEVIL SURVIVOR OVERCLOCK announced! First scan and details
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58283/

-20 more demons in 3DS version
-New skills
-Kazuma Kaneko making designs
-Devil Auction and 3 vs. 3 Extra Turn Battle systems return
-Over 20,000 lines of dialogue
-Wider map
-Increased visibility for messages and parameters
-Demons will fly out of the screen
-New maps
-Can choose difficulty


DEAD OR ALIVE: DIMENSIONS: new screens, trailer, details
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58277/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58472/

-New mode: Chronicle Mode
-Chronicle Mode is a story-based tutorial mode
-Learn the story behind the DOA series
-Will contain unseen episodes in story sequences
-Sub characters who appear in Chronicle mode: Shiden, Fame Douglas and Donovan
-Touch screen shows a digital command chart
-Use the commands shown on the chart if you want to input commands yourself
-Can also tap a command to execute it automatically
-Chronicle and Arcade modes playable in the demo
-20 selectable characters in Arcade mode
-Characters: Kasumi, Hayabusa, Helena, Zack, Tina, Bass, Lei Fang, Jann Lee, Gen Fu, Bayman, Ein, Hayate, Ayane, Hitomi, Leon, Eliot, Brad Wong, Kokoro, La Mariposa and Christie
-5 slots with question marks, most likely for more characters
-Choose between two costumes
-Arcade mode similar to previous DOA arcade modes
-Demo for Chronicle Mode featured Ayane and Kasumi with a fully voiced event scene
-Some combat when you play as Kasumi in the middle of an event scene
-Locked modes for the demo: Survival, Free Play, Tag Challenge, Training, Local Play, Internet Play, Street Fight, Album, Figure, Fight Record and Options
-Street Fight: Virtual fighting mode done through StreetPass
-Album: Collect 3D pictures
-Figure: Create a diorama with figures
-Controls on the touch screen
-Touch a move to execute if you’d like
-Throw, hold, guard commands to the right of the move list


RIDGE RACER 3D: new screens, details
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58309/

-3DS camera can take a photo of the player
-This picture can be used as an icon for multiplayer matches
-New/old courses
-New machines


MEGAMAN LEGENDS 3: recruitment video
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58343/


KID ICARUS: UPRISING: new screens, 3ds conference video, off-screen footage
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58377/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58507/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58642/


THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME 3D: new details, screens, off-screen footage
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58424/?pid=699
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58494/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58547/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58628/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58638/

-Select items on the touch screen
-Tap the touch screen to switch between inventory, equipment, and dungeon map
-Navi icon will appear when she wants to speak, tap it for advice
-Camera icon on the touch screen
-Tap the camera icon to go view mode
-Use the Circle Pad in view mode to look around
-Can actually move the 3DS itself to move the camera in this mode
-Aim projectile weapons in view mode


NINTENDOGS+CATS: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58486/


AR GAMES: FACE SHOOTING: new details

-Friends’ faces are enemies
-Turns the faces and your surroundings into stages
-First take a picture of a family member/friend
-Software describes the face (ex: “a young girl’s face” or “an adult woman’s face”)
-Face then shows up in a shooting game
-Throw balls to keep faces away as they approach
-Face’s expressions change as they approach you


INAZUMA ELEVEN 4: new scan, trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58526/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58689/


SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV 3D: new details, trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58612/

-Layering effects on character select screen
-Character art on one layer, character selection icons on another layer, text on another layer, world map on the far back layer
-Layering effects on splash screens as well
-Over-the-shoulder view is called “Dynamic Vie”
-Dynamic View and Normal View mode options for the demo
-Had to choose between the two before the character select screen
-Not clear if the modes are interchangeable, but it seems likely
-One player can use the traditional view and another player can use Dynamic View online
-Pre-assigned and special moves on the touch screen
-If you’d like, you can tap a panel to execute a move
-Arcade and story modes available for the demo
-Fully voiced animation on the top screen before fights in story mode
-“Channel Live” live viewing mode
-Download play: Players who have downloaded the game can share it with other 3DS owners
-35 characters available from the beginning
-Can choose from three costumes at the beginning
-Online play practically confirmed (might be worldwide)
-Channel Live: spectator mode
-Can choose perspective in Channel Live
-Six players can watch matches in Channel Live
-Option available so that both players will not have the command pad
-Continue to play even if the host quits
-Code to obtain golden Chung-Li figure: zAAkcHVbHk
-Earn figures by passing people in StreetPass and play simulation battles


PILOTWINGS RESORT: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58537/


STEEL DIVER: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58539/


RESIDENT EVIL: REVELATIONS: new details, screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58424/?pid=694

-Demo called “Resident Evil Revelations Pilot Version”
-Action on the top screen
-Controls shown on the touch screen
-Virtual pad on the touch screen can be used to move the camera
-Move Jill with the Circle Pad
-B to run
-Ready your weapon with R
-Y to fire
-Hold R for targeting mode
-Targeting mode shown from Jill’s right shoulder perspective
-Aim freely in the mode and shoot
-Move while shooting with the L trigger
-Use L to strafe
-Can’t aim your gunfire while strafing
-Bathroom area where a zombie breaks out of a stall
-Will hear grunts as you progress in the ship and will arrive at a glassed room
-A zombie holds a person up by the neck in the room
-Zombie throws the person at the window, blood sprays on the glass
-Inside the room, two zombies are eating the person just killed
-Will have to take on both of them at once when they notice you
-Rats/flying creatures appear
-Masachika Kawata and Takayuki Hama presenting
-More classic characters besides Jill and Chris
-Other characters will be revealed later
-Some massive stages
-More than just the ship stage
-Visual quality does not lose out to consoles
-Hama hopes players will keep attention to the realistic visuals and the touch-panel controls
-Focuses on horror


RESIDENT EVIL: THE MERCENARIES 3D: new details, trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58635/

-Focuses on high action
-Claire shown climbing up to higher ground, then run around, leap over fences, taunt enemies
-See the map on the touch screen
-Weapons management on the touch screen as well
-Release date and price coming soon


PAPER MARIO 3DS: new screes, off-screen footage
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=736
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58610/


STARFOX 64 3DS: off-screen footage
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58623/


MARIO KART 3DS: new screens, off-screen footage
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=733
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58625/


TETRIS AXIS announced! First screens!
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=742


PUZZLE BOBBLE 3D announced! First screens!
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=740


SHANGHAI 3D announced! First screens!
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=739


GUNDAM THE 3D BATTLE announced! First screens!
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=732


TIME TRAVELERS: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=729


TALES OF THE ABYSS: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=727


RAVING RABBIDS: TIME TRAVEL announced! First screens! (2d platformer)
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=726


KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=724


BLAZBLUE CONTINUUM SHIFT II announced! First screens!
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58435/?pid=723


PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE MASK OF MIRACLES: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58424/?pid=693


METAL GEAR SOLID: SNAKE EATER: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58424/?pid=690


BOMBERMAN 3DS announced! Hopefully we'll have screens and infos soon X3


WII

EARTH SEEKER: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57715/


LOST IN SHADOW: new screens, trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57742/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58210/


MARIO SPORTS MIX: new trailer
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57745/


NIGHT OF THE SACRIFICE: new details, screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/57791/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58383/

-Virtually walk through the game with the Balance Board
-Wiimote used like a flashlight
-Game broken into chapters
-Gradually uncover the mystery of why people are being sacrificed to gods
-Complete one episode to unlock the next one
-Second player can use the Wiimote to stop attacking enemies
-Realistically shaded characters/flat shaded silhouette-like characters
-Flat shaded characters are the 5 students
-Black, Blue, Yellow, Pink, Red students
-Black invites the other characters to the ravine
-Black’s father owns the mansion at which they are staying
-Blue is kind/has a strong sense of justice
-Yellow was raised well and is pure hearted
-Pink states her opinion clearly
-Red is a leader, has a temper
-Red says “Let’s test our courage” and gets the mess started
-Don’t control Pink and Red
-Control Black, Blue, Yellow, “You”
-Will get attacked by creatures, but can’t defeat them
-Have to run away
-Will find a mysterious young girl
-This girl is friendly with Yellow


THE LAST STORY: new details, screens, trailer, scans
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/57975/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/57975/?nggpage=2
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58269/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58286/
conference videos: http://www.nintendoeverything.com/58002/
trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wzxa90E4Qk

-30 hours play time first time through the game
-Amount will vary if players redo quests/revisit dungeons
-Sakaguchi had hoped to make a game with a good tempo and a feeling of “denseness” about the story
-12,000 lines of in-game voiced dialogue
-That number was more than Sakaguchi expected
-Can go online after arriving at the first save point
-Character’s level and how much you’ve strengthened your weapons are reflected during the online group boss battle, so you may want to do a bit of single-player first
-Battle royal mode only carries your physical appearance, not level and weapon strength
-Team battle royal mode online
-Online: random matches, play against someone you don’t know, play with friends, play with those with whom you’ve exchanged friend codes
-Replay single-player will all items in tact
-Team is balancing the game for second play throughs, will have specific drop items
-Many details at the game’s conference on the 27th
The Gurugu Race
-Human-like race
-Fought against man for hundreds of years
-The humans prevailed, Gurugu swept away from the continent
-Ties remain
Elza and Kanan in The Last Story
-Humankind’s force of arms has strengthened to fend off the Gurugu
-Canons on Ruli Island used on the Gurugu who come from across the sea
-Gurugu soldiers will attack Ruli Castle during the game, most likely from an airship
-Quark will join Elza and Kanan as well as a Ruli Castle knight
-Will form a party out of these four and take on the attackers
-Gurugu soldiers divided into types including swordsmen and mages
Tension Skills
-Skill gauge shown below Elza’s HP gauge
-Gauge builds up based off your actions in combat
-Full gauge will allow you to switch to command mode and access a special Tension Skill
Spreading a Magic Circle with Wind
-All characters have Tension Skills
-One of Elza’s skills is Accelerate
-Use this skill so that Elza can increase his movement speed
-Use Elza’s wind magic to spread Accelerate to other party members
Vertical Slash
-Vertical Slash is a skill that uses the environment
-Need to use columns or walls
-Elza can climb up the walls and leap down, thrusting his sword into the ground and dealing damage to enemies in a certain range
-Can combine the move with Elza’s Gathering Ability
-Vertical Slash move can make Magic Circles spread if you strike in the right spot
-Vertical Slash done in real time
Closer Look at Ruli City
-Naful Canal and Shokunin Street shown in Famitsu for the first time
-Naful Canal is a manmade river
-Designed to protect Ruli City from flooding during the rainy season
-Canal splits the city in two
-The two bridges are used to cross into Central Plaza (built atop the Canal)
-People fish and take walks along the shores of the Canal
-Fireworks at night
-Shokunin Street is a gathering spot for all sorts of workers
-Purchase equipment/accessories there
-Strengthen current equipment
-Access the appraisal system via a shop.
-Street is narrow, packed with people
-Equipment upgrade shop/appraisal shops are simply people running businesses from the street
-Shop menu will appear when you speak to them
-Need money and items to upgrade
-May unlock new skills and improve equipment properties when upgrading
-Weapons might transform into others after fortification
-Appraisal shop has to be used to identify items that are marked with a question mark
-Such items can’t be used until they’ve been identified
-Most items picked up from enemies and treasure boxes are assigned types at random
-May receive powerful items at the beginning due to this
-Shoot bananas at townfolk
-Can also shoot banana peels at others online
-Banana peels tie into events
-Group of nobles will be drinking tea in the plaza and looking at the commoners, waitress will say, “It would be nice if they’d slip on a banana”
-Carry out the waitress’s wish to receive a reward
-People will also fall if you scatter lemons on the ground
-Sakaguchi: “If the game is received poorly, perhaps my sense does not match with the times. In that case, while I won’t go as far as ‘I won’t ever make games again,’ it would be meaningless to make games for a while. With that feeling, I’ve given my all.”
-Game’s theme is “Nakama,” or “Companion”
-While developing the game, Sakaguchi tried to push the theme and hopes that people end up feeling “It was nice to have an adventure with those companions”
-Sakaguchi believes the game does somewhat resemble a single player MMORPG, as you go through a 30-40 hour quest with six friends who speak while you play
-Game contains some elements which resemble things that might be in an MMORPG
-Sakaguchi interested in playing World of Warcraft after The Last Story is finished
-Sakaguchi believes there may not be a game with the equivalent level of conversation compared to what you’ll find in The Last Story’s conversation system
-Sakaguchi also thinks the dialogue gives the game a “live” feeling
-Story-related conversation towards the end of the game
-Sakaguchi had no idea Iwata would show up during the presentation
-Nintendo came up with the idea for a conference
-Sakaguchi was surprised by the idea
General details
-Choose multiplayer from the title menu screen
-Then choose between Versus and Raid
-Lobbies for both modes
-Chat messages you choose will be shown as text and played back aurally
Online Raid Mode
-Once again, equipment/parameters carry over from single-player (level is equalized)
-Enemies in this mode include Kraken and Atar
-Kraken is a giant squid-like beast
-Atar is a monster with a number of wings
-Atar can fly
-Atar has two HP gauges
-Beat an enemy in Raid Mode to earn items themed around the monster
-Results screen will be displayed
Online Versus Mode
-Even fight for all players
-Only character customization in physical appearance is brought over
-Can play as characters who aren’t playable in single-player, including members of the Gurugu race
-Choose any stage you want
-Unique formations and gimmicks in each stage
-Earn points when you take down an enemy
-You lose points when you die
-Need to have the most points at the end
-Unclear if you can choose the time limit
-Items, weapons, paint given to players at the end of the battle
-Top winners receive the better goods
-Title mark given showing skill level
-Use items in battle
-Items will show up on the field
-6 players can split into two teams
Items
-Prank Banana: Make your opponent slip, used as bow gun sub weapon ammo
-Sticky Sword: Will deal damage and slow your opponent down (other weapons have similar bonus properties)
-Destruct Arrow: A special arrow for the bow gun sub weapon, will explode on contact and hits multiple enemies
-Inishie no Katamari: Increases your defense temporarily, will be enclosed in a purple aura


RUNE FACTORY OCEANS: new screens
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/58324/

-Seasonal changes in the game
-Seasons change as the in-game clock advances
-Different look for the town, snow and rain effects, season-specific events
-Swimsuit contest in the summer
-Both men and women can participate in the contest
-Visit the beach to see the contest
-Go to the voting booth to choose your favorite
-Quests: Go to the Sisters inn, message board will be filled with quests from people on the island
-Complete quests to receive items
-Item Synthesis: Make new items after collecting materials
-Can use the items as gifts
-Quest With Monsters: Use the magic brush to make monsters you find in dungeons be a part of your party
-These monsters will aid you in battle
-Can get married and have children


WII GAME OF THE WEEK: Epic Mickey
Genre: Adventure/Platform
Developer: Junction Point
Publisher: Disney Interactive
Players: 1
Time spent on the game: around 20 hours

the great return of an iconic character in the videogame world. I'm sure a lot of you remember Mickey Mania and other old 2d Mickey Mouse games back in the SNES/Genesis age.

After that Mickey pretty much fell into oblivion aside from some appearances, some party game here and there and the role of king in the kingdom hearts series, when he plays the role os a wise character.

This game though is the first videogame all focused around the figure of Mickey since the 16-bit games. The game takes the character and puts him into the darker setting of a corrupted disneyland, controlled by an evil being called the black blot, wich was incidentally created by Mickey years before, when he still wasn't a famous character.

The game also features the very first character created by Disney, Oswald the lucky rabbit, who lives in the wasteland with all of the other forgotten characters as their ruler and haves a deep grudge toward Mickey for replacing him of course.

With this premise, let's see how the game works and if it's fitting for you :3

the graphic look of the game is one of the best ever seen on wii...While the game doesn't make use of super-detailed textures, the model-crafting of the game is beyond awesome. Mickey looks awesome in 3D, with ink dripping off his body like he's made out of Ink, his movements feeling really toony. Actually the movements of Mickey, Oswald and other disney characters are inspired directly from the old-school cartoons. One example would be the animation of Oswald puffing out his chest and wiggling his fists while dancing on his paws, taken directly from one of his cartoons, showing the study put behind the game to represent a cartoon age of the past.

The artstyle and the level design is just gorgeous...everything simply looks corrupted...the shapes distorted, the once happy faces turned into twisted grins, even the cheery attractions look not only abandoned, but somewhat creepy, as if something evil took possession of them.

It will kinda remind you of a Tim Burton movie in many cases, wich is perfectly alright by me X3 What's also fascinating though is that you'll notice in every area more colourful parts, parts that don't look corrupted, wich are also the parts you'll be able to interact with, using paint and thinner.

This puts in contrast corrupted and cartoon parts, wich also gives way to quite unique sights in the game. Overall, the game will give you astounding views. The atmosphere is awesome...one perfect example would be the Disneyland castle far in the background of the main hub world, looking almsot like a sort of poetic illusion, a mix between 3d and hand-drawn.

You can really see how every area of the game has been studied and drawn to surprise and impress the player, not only by a graphical standpoint, but also by an artistical one. This game is a real work of art, mixing toony characters with dark/twisted worlds.

The 2D levels are also very well-made, worked out to look like fake movie sets, with animatronics and fake-looking effects, along with the soundtrack of the cartoon they represent.

The gameplay is a mix of different things, taking elements from platform, RPG, action and adventure genres. The game is divided in (for the most part) wide 3d areas and 2d levels. In the 3D areas there's a lot to do, it gives full freedom to the player as where to go. Mickey can run, use the good old double jump and of course use his weapons, the paint and the thinner. Like I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of parts in the game not corrupted wich you can interact for....the concept is simple...Paint to create, thinner to destroy. You can create and destroy again and again and the game concept focuses around this. Some walls if erased will reveal secret passages and hidden items, some objects have items hidden within them too. Creating and erasing will help you to get through levels...for example you'll have a pile of rocks before you...you can erase the floor to just let the rocks fall down and then create the roof again to go forward.

The use of paint and thinner is always creative and you just have to aim at the screen with the wiimote and press B for the paint or Z for the thinner. The enemies are fought with paint and thinner too. Painting them will make the enemies friendly and they'll even start ffighting alongside you...though if they take too much damage they'll simply turn back evil again. The thinner instead damages enemies until they just fall in a puddle of ink. This will of course influence the game. If you spend most of the time painting the paint at your disposal will increase...same if you pas more time destroying instead of repairing the world. Most bosses can be defeated with both painter or thinner, or by choosing an evil or good choice. This thing will also influence the final ending cutscene.

The game also got a lot of side-quests to follow that will give the player different rewards, many of wich are pins, wich could be rated as some sort of achievement system of the game. Of course there are pins for the good side and pins for the evil side, so you won't be able to get all them with a single playthrough. This adds replayability to the game. The quests can contain fetching tasks, platforming challenges, time runs or repairing/erasing quests. There are a few quests wich will need you to go back and forth certain areas, wich might be annoying to some though.

There are also some main quests, like the fetch of the different animatronic pieces for the robotic Mickey friends. It isn't too hard to find the pieces if you make sure to explore every area carefully. The side quests, secrets and areas to explore will always give you some sort of hint. One thing you got to be careful about though is to not go to the next area before exploring everything. The game is quite punishing about that and unluckily doesn't let you backtrack to previous areas. This may be a flaw or not, depending by how you see it. Some may see it as a wrong design choice, some may see it as a further challenge and encouragement not to screw up. Just be careful to check and clear every area if you want to get everything :) the game will record all the stuff you've collected on the first playthrough anyway.

Now, the 3d areas are all linked by 2D levels, wich are fairly simple with the concept and never too challenging, but also very creative with what they do. You can find a lot of tickets in 2D levels. Tickets are the money of this game and you'll need it to buy items or unlock artwork and other stuff. You'll find it in 3D areas too, but they'll be harder to find probably. Also, in every 2D level there is a secret item to get...it's never too hard to find or get, but make sure to find it and you'll be able to unlock a couple of oldschool disney cartoons if you give enough of those items to the right person.

Overall, while the 2D levels aren't anything mindblowing gameplaywise, they're also very creative and pay homage to the cartoons they are from, every obstacle being pretty much a part or a sequence of the cartoon.

Now, many reviewers claimed and complained about the game not having a lock-on button...wich isn't true at all and pretty much proves how many reviewers are superficial in reviewing games, especially wii ones, coincidentally ;P there are two ways to lock on an enemy. There's a yellow arrow on the enemy Mickey is currently facing...just press C for a few seconds and the arrow will become red and the enemy will be locked on. You can also tap the d-pad a couple of times quickly as alternative way. The C button is comfier X3

I already explained you how the battles work, though I must specify that Mickey haves an additional melee attack similar to Mario's spin in SMG, wich can be executed with a quick flick of the wiimote to get out of tight situations when the enemy is too close.

The variety of enemies is quite high and they fall under two categorier: Blotlings and Beetleworx. Blotlings are minions of the black blot, wich can be fought like I wrote above. Beetleworx are evil animatronics built by the Mad Scientist and they can't be purified with paint, since they're pure evil. To defeat them you ahve to erase their “armour” made of pieces coming from disney movies (some are really creepy) and characters and then hit them with a melee attack on their weak point. They're way more dangerous than most blotlings, so be careful :P

A couple of flaws I'm gonna point out myself are the camera not always working right. though I myself didn't have too many troubles I recognize that it gave troubles to some, but it seriously isn't as bad as some made it sound on forums (overreacting as usual X3).

Another thing is that sometime it's difficult to aim at things below your level, because the thinner/paint splashes against the floor, so it needs careful adjusting of Mickey's position. One good advice is to go in first-person mode since it can be done and aim in that mode to have a better targeting :3

The game at a certain point will also make use of some powers called “sketches” that will give you temporary effects, like slowing the time down, needed to solve certain puzzles or summoning a TV, used to both light up certain machines and distract enemies that will start watching cartoons X3

The game is quite huge, with many areas to explore and go in, certainly resembling oldschool platforms of the PSX/N64 age, some will probably recognizes a Banjo-Kazooie vibe to it. The game oftenly lets you choose to take the evil or nice route, wich usually involve destroying or repairing engines, part of the areas, helping or tricking people or even ending up hurting some characters in some cases.

Some of the quests will also influence the ending, so be careful about clearing everything as possible. This game greatly encourages exploration, but is also very punishing about it if you move forward without having explored everything. I did miss just one important thing down the road myself, so don't worry about it being too chaotic or frustratingly challenging to clear everything.

I will also mention though of this choice system is well made and brings real emotions to the player about the consequences of the choices he made. There isn't a real evil ending but the biggest mistakes or evil things you did or ignored will be shown in the ending, this making the good ending way way satisfying to a good-hearted player and giving a “mischievous” side to who wanted to took the evil route.

If I can say, the emotions given by the consequences of the choices I made worked way, way better than the ones in fallout, in my honest opinion...but I'll talk more about that in an appropriated journal, ahem <.<

aaanyway, going forward! The storyline is one of the most amazing aspects of the game, having quite the surprising twists and events, especially toward the end where things get climatic. The cutscenes for the most part are animated ina toony style, taken by a famous storyboarder who worked on famous disney classics, like Alice in Wonderland to give an example.

There's no voice acting in the game, kinda reflecting Nintendo games and mostly the legend of zelda for this choice. I'm not against it personally, so it's just up to your opinion if this is a bad or good choice.

I also want to highlight how well Oswald the lucky rabbit has been developed...he has been a great character during the entire game and I hope he'll have much more importance from now on. Plus he's cute XP

the soundtrack is another strong point of the game, going after a mostly orchestral theme, also distorting popular disney themes in some cases. Just think that a boss theme will be a twisted and crazy version of “it's a small world” :P

it ccertainly works well with the flow and the atmosphere of the game, being creepy, sometime atmospheric and sometime even poetic and nostalgic. A real work of art.

To end my review...Epic Mickey is a great adventure game, with its flaws. It's not perfect, but it's certainly a great game that deserves this title. Disney fans will love it, unless they expect a Mario Galaxy clone. This game goes for darker atmospheres and it's a huge homage to the oldschool Disney, having lots of references to the classic themes, cartoons and values of those times.

I recommend this to every real gamer out there, seriously...this is a game that everyone should at least try out, important for Mickey's history and also for the nintendo console, proving that nintendo games are not the only things you can find on this console. I really hope Spector pushes for a sequel since he wanted this to be part of a trilogy and the awesome heartwarming ending (if you took the full nice route :P) kinda hints that there could be a sequel though at the same time it doesn't assure it.

Great work Spector. I'm with you :3

Here are a few screens:
http://media.multiplayer.it/thumbs/.....-small_q85.jpg
http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/I.....155_11_big.jpg
http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/I.....4154_5_big.jpg
http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/I.....4154_8_big.jpg

and a video:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/j.....-mickey/707806

this is all for this week! See ya next time and have a good nintendo gaming time!