Hey everyone, welcome to a new nintendo news report :3 (I'm not daring to call them weekly anymore since I'm sucking at keeping them weekly lately XD) how are you going ? ^^ the 3DS is getting closer and closer and with this, the focus on wii for the next month is a bit underwhelming, to let the new handheld take all the spotlight for its entry in USA and EU. Despite that, there are quite a few news about wii games too and a lot of 3DS news of course! Hope you're ready!

VC RELEASES

USA
-S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team (NES)
-Faxanadu (NES)

EU
-S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team (NES)
-Natsume Championship Wrestling (SNES)

WIIWARE RELEASES

USA
-Magic Destiny (useless astrologic thing X3)
-Spot the differences! (:P)
-Pucca's Kisses game (platformer)
-Cozy Fire (application)
-Jewel Keepers: Easter Island (puzzle game)

EU
-Pucca's Kisses game (platformer)
-Around the world (trivia game)
-Jewel Keepers: Easter Island (puzzle game)
-Cosy Fire (application)
-Viral Survival (arcade)
-Cricket Challenge (sport)
-My Little Baby (baby sim)

DSIWARE RELEASES

USA
-Remote Racers (racing)
-Arctic Escape (puzzle game)
-G.G. Series: Drift Circuit (racing)
-Treasure Hunter X (adventure)
-Oscar in Toyland 2 (platformer)
-Panda Craze (puzzle/adventure)
-All Star Air Hockey (arcade)
-Mahjong
-MyDiary (application)
-101 Dolphin Pets (pet sim/minigames)
-Boom Boom Squaries (arcade)
-505 Tangram (tangram :P)
-G.G. Series: Dark Spirits (platformer/shooter)
-Shawn Johnson Gymnastics (sport)

EU
-Pucca Noodle Rush (arcade)
-Puzzle to Go Planets and Universe (puzzle game)
-Faceez: Monsters! (photo manipulator)
-Shantae: Risky's revenge (platformer)
-Hip Hop King: Rhytm Edition (music game)
-Model Academy (model sim)
-Ancient Tribe (strategy game)
-Boom Boom Squaries (arcade)
-Ferryman Puzzle (puzzle game)
-Puzzle to Go Baby Animals (puzzle game)
-Animal Boxing (fighter)
-Digger Dan & Kaboom (puzzle game)
-Glory Days: Tactical Defense (tower defense)
-Gold Fever (puzzle game)
-101 Dolphin Pets (pet sim/minigames)

GAME RELEASES

USA
8th February:
-Naruto Shippuden: Shinobi Rumble (DS)
-Mario Sports Mix (WII)

14th February:
-Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (DS)

22nd February:
-Radiant Historia (DS)
-De Blob 2 (WII/DS)
-Trackmania (WII)

EU
25th February:
-Kirby's Epic Yarn (WII)

NEWS

DS

DRAGONBALL KAI: ULTIMATE BUTOUDEN
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59871/
videos:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60279/


RADIANT HISTORIA
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59930/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60499/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60891/


POKEMON BLACK/WHITE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60034/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60177/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60740/
videos:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60036/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60369/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60704/


DRAGON QUEST VI
trailers:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60219/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60632/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60720/


MIGHTY MILKY WAY
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60450/


MONSTER TALE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60459/


RED STONE DS
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60547/


OKAMIDEN
videos:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60714/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60879/


GIANA SISTERS DS
video:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60734/


TREASURE REPORT announced!
First scan:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/61122/

first details:
-Full title is Treasure Report: Kikai Shikake no Isan
-Puzzle solving adventure game
-Scenario from Yukinori Kitajima (428, Okamiden, Chaos Rings, Imabikisou)
-Yasunori Mitsuda working on music (Chrono Cross, Xenoblade)
-Character designs from Gurihiru
- Follows the exploits of a reporter named John Evans
-Other characters: newcomer cameraman Emily Smith, a mysterious kid named Nino, and a dog named Poochie
-Story involves a missing adventure novelist and a search for a great fortune
-Three gameplay parts
-Story, investigation, puzzle solving components
-Story will be a slightly adult adventure mystery
-Abundant animation sequences
-Use the stylus to point to mysterious spots while investigating
-Puzzle solving: figure out clues and devices that you discover during your investigation
-Releasing May 20 in Japan


3DS

DEAD OR ALIVE: DIMENSIONS
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60085/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60302/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60589/
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59877/

details:
-Collect character figures
-Use the figures for 3D photo shots
-Set up figures against a background
-Use virtual camera to make 3D photos
-Photos are saved to an album
-Over 1,000 figure variations
-Figures have differences in poses, clothing
-Figures are very detailed
-Make precise on-the-spot adjustments when taking a photo
-Move the camera around
-Rotate the figure with the d-pad
-Change focus point with the analogue slider
-Zoom in and out with X and Y
-Toggle the camera finder display
-Take a photo with R
-See your photos in the 3D Photo Album
-Date and photographer information can be accessed from the album
-Delete any photo
-Latest roster lineup: Brad Wong, Gen Fu, Jann Lee, Lei Fang, Tina, Eliot, La Mariposa and Kokoro
-Latest stage lineup: Bio Lab, Hall and Helipad stages, Metroid Other M ti-up stage


GUNDAM: THE 3D BATTLE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59894/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60210/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60481/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60671/


3DS FEATURES

details:
-First firmware update in May: eShop, Internet browser, DSiWare transfers
-Software sales, video, demo downloads on the eShop
-The “shopping channels” for Wii/DSi were based off browser tech, suffered from slow screen switches and control latency as a result
-With the eShop, Nintendo wanted to make a service in which players would visit even if they weren’t interested in something specific (a “place that’s fun to window shop”)
-VC, DSiWare, 3DS-specific games, and 3D classics available on the eShop
-Download a free video player from the eShop
-Need the player to watch free 3D videos from Fuji TV and Nippon TV that will be distributed daily via SpotPass
-DSiWare transfers use the eShop
-Nintendo wanted the transfer ability available day one, but couldn’t do so since it uses the shop
-Transfer 3DS games from one system to another in the future
-These transfers will be limited
-The 3DS transfer feature will be available in a future update
-Automatic uploads and automatic software downloads through SpotPass to be made available in future firmware updates
-Developers can decide on whether or not to include MP3 functionality
-3DS is technically capable of using MP3 playback to have custom soundtracks
-StreetPass usage: First enable it in the system, and then on the game itself
-Disable StreetPass entirely with parental controls
-No limit on SD cards
-No simultaneous, multiple-point input touch scree
-Play the system when its charging, even in the cradle
-Camera resolution: 640×480
-Supports WPA and WPA2 Wi-Fi security settings
-Can’t use Play Coins on the eShop
-You’ll see your friends listed by their nick name, not friend code
-3 different “Off” modes
-Given the option to “Sleep” or “Power Off” when you press the power button
-Power Off: 3DS will completely shut down
-Sleep: StreetPass and SpotPass will still be active
-Suspend: Used when you shut your 3DS or when you press the Home button
-Notification LED will rapidly flash red to indicate the system has low battery
-The light also indicates that the system has a serious error and needs to be powered off


THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME 3D
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59961/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/61027/


KINGDOM HEARTS: DREAM DROP DISTANCE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59976/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60001/

details:
-Game’s title doesn’t include 3D when you include the “Dream Drop Distance” subtitle
-Nomura admitted that Sora’s actions in the first trailer look like actions during his form changes from Kingdom Hearts 2
-The team wants players to experience dynamic form change-like actions even as normal actions
-Nomura assures that, although some of the actions look difficult to control, the team will make the game so that they will be easy to control in the end
-Character switching system is automatic because the team is using the system for “surprise”
-Nomura thinks there will be a rise in thrills because the feeling of security players have will be taken away when reaching a certain point
-Players will be able to develop their own strategies for how to progress according to their expectations
-Sora and Riku visit the same worlds, but in different orders
-Sora and Riku are not in the same place
-The trailer showed the two in the same place, but this is rare
-Nomura believes the new system for Sora/Riku having different actions and control methods is like the same level as how in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Sora’s card deck could be freely set while Riku used a preset deck
-Sora/Riku art piece was made with Disney anime packaging in mind
-Nomura hasn’t drawn anything for Kingdom Hearts 3D specifically yet
-Nomura considering changing Sora and Riku’s clothing
-Nomura feels that players may think 3D is a remake if the two characters show up in the same clothing
-The two are in their original clothing for the sake of the story
-Nomura is considering having Sora/Riku appear in their current clothing at the start of the game, and change midway through


BUST A MOVE UNIVERSE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60021/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60815/


BLAZBLUE CONTINUUM SHIFT II
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60152/
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60032/


SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV 3D
scans:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60401/
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60047/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60972/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/61023/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60902/

details:
-Receive Figure Points for each round you win when playing standard fighting modes
-Use the points to play Figure Slots
-Figure Slots will give you figures
-Press the PUSH button on the touch screen to start the Figure Slot machine, stop with STOP
-Exchange 3DS Game Coins to obtain Figure Points as well
-One Game Coin appears to be a couple of hundred Figure Points
-Also get figures through Figure Trade
-Connect to friends through wireless to trade figures
-Check figures stats ahead of time
-Figures you’ve gathered will show up in the Figure Album
-Can see figures close up, view their parameters including HP, level, AT
-Multiple figure slots for each character
-Figures vary in level
-Rare figures have higher levels
-Simulation Battle mode uses StreetPass for figure fights automatically
-Need to make a team of five figures before playing
-Total level of your team members must be 20 or less
-Distribute a preset quantity of points between your fighters’ Power, Defense, Speed parameters after making a team
-These points add to the values that are set in advance from the figure’s level
-Can select Channel Live from the Versus menu
-Channel Live lets you view local matches
-Six players can watch a match at once
-Toggle between standard and 3D view while watching a match
-3D Versus is the name for the Versus mode when the player is using the 3D view option
-3D Versus players can take part in matches with Versus players
-Obtain the latest information about the game through SpotPass
-See your medals in the Medal List, which is accessible from the player data screen
-Can do wild things with the touch screen, including a charge-based move like Sonic Boom while walking
-Assign buttons to simultaneous button presses, throws, taunts, special moves and so forth
-Toggle auto guard on and off


SUPER MONKEY BALL 3D
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60083/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60414/

details:
-Monkey Fight: Collect as many bananas as possible within a limited time
-Punch, execute other attacks to steal bananas from others
-Banana Shake move: Shakes bananas from an opponent
-You’ll end up dropping bananas with the balloon
-Golden Barrel will show up randomly throughout the match
-Hit the Golden Barrel over and over
-Monkey to get the tenth hit can use a special move
-If you fall off the field, you’ll lose bananas
-You’ll also arrive on the deck of a ship far away from the battle field
-Need to put yourself in a barrel and use a monkey canon to fly back to the flight
-Banana Nightmare stage: “Bananightmare”
-The stage has a horror theme
-Monkey ghosts, boiling poison goo pots, other spooky background elements


TALES OF THE ABYSS
scans:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60308/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60640/
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60079/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60463/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60849/

details:
-Renewed color for the logo
-New main visual showing the characters lined up in a V
-Main character Luke fon Fabre is in front of the image
-Gameplay on the top screen
-World map on the touch screen
-Battles might use the touch screen
-Releasing this Spring in Japan
-Characters/backgrounds/other art elements haven’t been changed much from the PS2 version
-Improved load times
-All character voices intact
-Game is based off the PS2′s US version
-Some new elements
-Team is being careful not to add in too much
-Will have the same feel of play control as the PS2 version more or less
-Events are wide screen
-3D battles


DECA SPORTS EXTREME
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60091/


PAC-MAN TILT & GALAGA DIMENSIONS announced!
Screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60158/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60160/

Details:
Galaga Dimensions
-Fight against Galaga armies
-3D shooter
-Piloting from a cockpoint view
-On-rails action
-Ship flies automatically through a fixed course
-Look around, aim
-Physically move the 3DS to turn your viewpoint
-If you look down towards your control panels, you won’t be able to fire at anything, as the ship’s window won’t be in view
-Unclear if standard controls are available
-No release date
Pac-Man Tilt
-Side-scrolling game
-Guide Pac-Man to a goal
-Jump, make use of gimmicks
-Tilt the 3DS to make the stage tilt
-Unclear if you move Pac-Man by tilting or controlling him with left and right on the d-pad
-Example: Pac-Man on a suspended platform, tilt the 3DS to make the platform swing, send Pac-Man flying
-Another example: Pac-Man on a platform that you can tilt to form a path to different roads
-Pinball stage
-Pac-Man is usually in human form
-Can make him transform into ball form
-Monsters will chase Pac-Man
-Eat power pellets to fend them off


VIRUS SHOOTER XX announced!
Screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60136/


RIDGE RACER 3D
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60251/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60528/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60570/
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60269/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60544/


BIKKURIMAN announced!
Screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60267/


NINTENDOGS+CATS
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60988/
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60797/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60389/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60927/

details:
-9 dog breeds at the start of the game
-Slight differences in hair color/body shape for each pet
-Unlock full set (27 breeds) by playing or through StreetPass
-Can have 3 puppies or kittens in the room at once
-Three types of cats
-These cats are the same in all versions
-A tabby, a Siamese, and a long-haired cat shown on the Japanese website
-Bring up your own kittens as you progress
-Choose from a handful of fur patterns
-Kittens will nap on the windowsill and between book cases
-They also will use their claws
-They’ll climb scratching posts as well
-Cats will act independently, not affected by the puppies you have


INAZUMA ELEVEN GO announced!
First scan:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60451/
first screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60637/


SAMURAI WARRIORS CHRONICLE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60531/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60924/

details:
-Download new scenarios via SpotPass
-Side story-like scenarios will be available after the game launches
-Simulated battles with other players through StreetPass
-Make a team of four battle members to participate
-Also make a formation, name for your main character, weapon for your opponent
-Both players receive the preselected weapon from their opponent, regardless of who wins
-Bonus items if you win
-Characters who battle virtually will see their favor for you increase
-See battle history, save up to 50 of these to memory
-Gallery mode provides access to event scenes, movie scenes, background music, missions you’ve encountered in the main mode of play, character growth history
-Experience parameter for your characters
-Build up this parameter as you finish missions
-Eventually level up
-Added attack strength and life, additional attack varieties when you level up
-Power up your character by equipping weapons/equipment
-Weapons and equipment can boost your character’s parameters
-Normal, Speed and Power type weapons
-Each weapon has a different effect on attack strength and speed
-Equipment items can be equipped in just one area initially
-Later will be increased to five
-Equipment can be powered up by visiting the general store
-Weapons and equipment can be combined together in the store to increase the item’s level and add bonus abilities
-Customize your character at the store as well


DREAM TRIGGER 3D announced!
Screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60558/


CAVE STORY 3D announced!
arts:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60582/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60634/


ONE PIECE UNLIMITED CRUISE SP
scans:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60642/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/61009/
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60865/

details:
-Game has new features on 3DS
-New characters Hancock and Ivankov
-Stylus-based gimmicks
-Control your pick axe with the stylus
-Pick axe can be used to break rocks
-Releasing April 7
-¥6,090


3DS GAME COINS
details:
-100 steps will give you one Game Coin
-Earn 10 coins a day at the most
-Can hold 300 coins at most
-Spend coins in the Mii Plaza and on AR Games


UNCHAINBLADES REXX announced!
Scans:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60773/
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60855/

details:
-Furyu working on the game
-14 established character designers
-Character designers include Shining series’ Pako, Idolmasters Toshiyuki Kubooka and Dream Club’s Haruyuki Morisawa
-Theme song is from Nobuo Uematsu
-Gameplay described as the “ultimate 3D dungeon RPG”
-Turn-based command battle system
-Fight alongside 20 partner characters
-“Unchain system” sees monsters join your party as “Followers”
-“An RPG Where You Know True Power”
-65% complete
-Takahashi Hino is the scenario designer
-Toshio Akashi directing
-Each character in the game is designed by a different artist
-Kazushi Hagiwara created Crunea
-Crunea is a goddess who oversees the entire worl
-Shinichiro Otsuka made Hector
-Hector is a golem prince
-Toshiyuki Kubooka made the miraculous girl with nine-tails Niko
-Manga artist Haruyuki Morisawa created Teana
-Teana is the female lead character
-She’s also the phoenix princess
-Fang is the male protagonist
-Fang is said to be the strongest dragon king
-Pako designed Fang
-Up to 16 monsters can follow your four man party for a total of 20 characters in a group


DOCTOR LOUTREC AND THE FORGOTTEN KNIGHTS
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60820/


STREETPASS QUEST announced!

Details:
-Game starts off with your Mii having a dream
-Wake up in a cage
-Trapped in a tower
-Need to use Miis you have collected through StreetPass in a turn-based system
-Enemies become more powerful as you play
-Can buy a cat in armor to represent you if you haven’t collected any Miis
-The cat costs two coins
-Sword and Magic options (unclear if this is just for the cat or Miis as well)
-16-32 stages/levels/battles
-3 Miis can fight at once
-Ghost enemies appear in at least two levels
-Takes around 2-3 battles with each enemy to match their power
-Each attempt to rescue your captured Mii from the tower concludes with a re-cap of the enemies you have defeated
-Also shows remaining health of the foes you have started to battle, but haven’t beaten
-Game is built into the 3DS


STEEL DIVER
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/61075/
trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYWzVJaA_bg


PILOTWINGS RESORT
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/61077/
trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1tkLXSyaI


WII

CONDUIT 2
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59882/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60222/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60298/


NIGHT OF THE SACRIFICE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59891/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60551/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60956/


NEW KIRBY WII GAME ANNOUNCED!!
first trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59896/


PANDORA'S TOWER announced! New Nintendo IP!
Teaser website:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/sx3j/index.html


RHYTM HEAVEN WII
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59902/


MARIO SPORTS MIX
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/59913/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60358/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60199/
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60237/
mario's press conference:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60385/


THE LAST STORY
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/61108/
footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60059/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60064/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60182/


TOP SPIN 4 announced!
First trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60192/


RUNE FACTORY: OCEANS
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60664/
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/61067/
trailer:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60576/


SKYLANDERS: SPYRO'S ADVENTURE announced!
First footage:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60618/


INAZUMA ELEVEN STRIKERS
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60930/


FAST: RACING LEAGUE
screens:
http://www.nintendoeverything.com/index.php/60976/


GAME OF THE REPORT: Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars
Genre: Platform/Adventure
Developer: RedFly studio
Publisher: Gamecock Media Group
Players: 1
Time spent on it: around 5 hours

This is a game I always wanted to give a try to. Knowing that it wouldn't be a masterpiece I always found it somewhat charming though. It had a peculiar artstyle and developers seemed to have a certain creativity about it. So I decided to review it this week :3

Mushroom Men is a game that had its prequel on DS. The wii title talks about a meteor fallinginto this common field of grass and starting to give life and knowledge to multiple species of mushrooms in the area. With a new intelligence, the mushrooms built their own towns and lived peacefully, until a poisonous species of mushroom went berserk and decided to conquer all the others. Pax, the main character is a very young bolete, survivor of an enemy attack, his people totally destroyed and now he finds himself all alone in this huge world, trying to find out who was behind the attack against his village.

The graphic look is around average, but the artistic concept itself of both the levels and the characters are actually creative, thing that pushes the visual look a bit further up the line. The movements of the characters and the enemies aren't mindblowing, but they do their work and they actually look good and with an unique art design. The environments, while not crafted with high-level models are full of cute tidbits and creative ideas tha will probably make you smile more than once, especially human objects left around, like a big lunch box of “Jello Kitty” wich could be considered a sort of fatfur reference and parody of Hello Kitty, I guess XD

I'ts really nice, because the levels don't follow a certain set structure, they prefer to try and give the player surprising sights, sometime even distorted due to the small size of the character, sometime even creepy even if harmless (there's a HUGE owl that will stare at you all the time in a level <.<).

The levels alternate huge and wide areas to narrow passages in a smart way, never making the levels repetitive in any way and the game itself uses a particular way of lighting the environments, making things somewhat creepy and twisted, as if the radioactive meteor didn't just affect the mushrooms and the plants and animals, but also the overall environment of the game, wich gives a nice effect for the final result. You'll certainly have fun exploring the levels even just to find hidden tidbits.

The gameplay is kinda simplistic. It mixes platforming elements to action elements. You can jump and glide with your cap and in fights you can roll around, block and attack. The attack is executed with a flick of the wiimote and, depending by the kind of weapon you have, you can perform a couple of different attacks, one combo-based for the ground and a power-based for the air.

In the game, scattered through the levels, you'll find a couple of different items: meteor pieces that will help you to power up once you got a certain amount: they mostly just increase the amount of life you have, wich is shown in a quite fun way. Your “lifebar” is pretty much your cap...everytime you get hit you miss a piece, showing the brain of the poor bolete and once you run out of cap pieces and you're hit again you die. The life can be restored by picking up green spores, that can be taken from defeated enemies or from certain glowing plants around the levels. When you die though, something odd happens. The game doesn't seem to “punish” you for losing, you just respawn close to where you died, with no lives to have that depending from. This means that the player can die many and many times without the game pushing him back as “punishment”. In a way this might be good for casual players, but for platforming fans this might be a bit of a disappointment, since the feeling of reward for accomplishing a mission is pretty much diminished by this detail.

Don't get me wrong, not being able to die in a game or at least die in the real sense of the word is not always a bad thing. Prince of Persia, the first one for HD consoles was actually challenging despite not having any life to depend on and Kirby's epic yarn, while having the character unable to die, had a “real” challenge to achieve that was picking up all the items around the levels, things that you'd lose if you die during the level, preventing you from unlocking stuff this way.

Anyway, let's move on. The other items you can find in the levels are those plastic capsules you can find in those chocolate eggs, the ones that contain surprises :3 They always contain random objects that will make you able to craft different weapons for Pax. There are four different kinds of weapons: Hammer-like weapons wich are good for one-on-one battles, blade-like weapons, useful for good numbers of enemies, lance-like weapons, good for one-on.one but very useful for flying enemies too (you'll hate wasps and flies <.<) and special weapons, wich the components can be found in differently coloured capsules. They are very powerful and devastating, hindering the enemy quite well: they can be a flamethrower or even a sort of giant chainsaw-like thing.

The weapon design is VERY creative I must say. Everytime you find the objects for them you'll be able to craft them. The more you go further in the levels, the more you'll be able to complete more powerful weapons. Weapons will always be made out of random objects and I must say that I love what they came out with X3 for examble, a blade weapon is made out of a stick, a string and a bottle cap wich you'll be able to swing around, a hammer weapon is made out of a pipe and a chess piece and a lance-like weapon is made out of a toothpick, a pencil and a needle all tied up together.

The combat scenes are nothing special and might get repetitive after a while to most, they just are about blocking enemy attacks and countering with your own attacks. The puzzles around the levels are quite simple even though there's a lot to explore and to find, so it'll take some effort and patience to find everything. The few boss battles are unluckily VERY easy, I must say that the normal enemies might give you more of a challenge most of the time, wich is a shame because the concept of some boss was quite fun too (The last boss though is actually a bit challenging though).

It's a shame that the gameplay is where the game falls short because I feel like wich all the creativity they used for the levels, the weapons and the soundtrack they could've done a lot more.

Talking about the soundtrack, it is quite particular in it's own way. It's atmospheric, but at the same time it does have its own tune, played sometime with whistles or odd noises. I'ts fun that at times, depending by the area of the level you are in the music will modify itself. For example by going in a water pipe the music will be played with the noises of the water dropping down the tubes. And I must say I really liked the last boss theme, it had that something in it X3

The story...well, don't expect much at all, it's a very simple platformer with a very simple story, even if the concept behind it is original and it's a shame that it couldn't have been expanded into a sequel.

The game overall, while it's quite particular and amazing on the creative side, it falls quite short on the gameplay side, with a few camera problems, repetitive fights and very low difficulty (even if you know that this, for me isn't necessarily a bad point as long as a game is fun). The world is certainly vibrant, creepy, “dirty” and dark, it kinda feels like as if Tim Burton contributed to it at least a little X3

I do not recommend this game at full price, given the shortcomings that might be noticed by most gamers, but if you find this game at a cheap price or in a rental, at least give it a shot, if anything it'll be a way to pass the time and you might appreciate the creative choices of the developers.

Here are a few screens:
http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/I.....1616_3_big.jpg
http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/I.....1615_1_big.jpg
http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/I.....1615_2_big.jpg
http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/I.....1615_0_big.jpg

and a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1vDWHU7PeE

and that's all! See ya next time with another nintendo news report! Have a good nintendo gaming time!