Wiitastic.co.uk

Samba de Amigo is coming to the Wii!! What's that? It's a classic maraca shakin' rhythm game, think dance mat but with maraca action!
I say classic, I only played the original a couple of times, and was drunk both times!

I assume Nintendo will release a cheap plastic maraca peripheral to put your Wiimote in to 'add' to the experience!


Break out the tequila, it's samba time!


Edit - Just had a thought, the combination of dance mat and maraca, now THAT would be a game!

Labels: Games, News, Samba de Amigo

Nintendo's Wii Sports leads the nominations for the 2007 British Academy Video Games Awards with nominations in 7 different categories.
Looking at what games it is up against, I don't think that it will actually win in any of the categories.
The full list of categories and nominees...

ACTION AND ADVENTURE
CRACKDOWN (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Realtime Worlds/Microsoft Game Studios)
GEARS OF WAR (Xbox 360) - Rod Fergusson, Michael Capps, Cliff Bleszinski (Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios)
GOD OF WAR 2 (PS2) - Cory Barlog, Michael Cheng, Eric Williams (SCE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
ORANGE BOX (PS3) - Development Team (Valve/Electronic Arts)
RATCHET AND CLANK: TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION (PS3) - Development Team (SCE Foster City Studio & Insomniac/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
BIOSHOCK (Xbox 360) - Development Team (2K Boston/2K Australia/2K Games)
HEAVENLY SWORD (PS3) - Development Team (Ninja Theory/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
OKAMI (PS2) - Atsushi Inaba (Clover(Capcom)/Capcom)
RATCHET AND CLANK: TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION (PS3) - Development Team (SCE Foster City Studio & Insomniac/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) SKATE (PS3) - Development Team (EA Black Box/Electronic Arts)
VIVA PIÑATA (Xbox 360) - Ryan Stevenson, Ed Bryan (Rare/Microsoft Game Studios)

BEST GAME
BIOSHOCK (Xbox 360) - Development Team (2K Boston/2K Australia/2K Games)
CRYSIS (PC) - Development Team (Crytek/Electronic Arts)
GEARS OF WAR (Xbox 360) - Rod Fergusson, Michael Capps, Cliff Bleszinski (Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios)
GUITAR HERO II (PS2) - Development Team (Harmonix/Activision/Red Octane)
KANE & LYNCH: DEAD MEN (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Eidos/Eidos)
WII SPORTS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)

CASUAL
BIG BRAIN ACADEMY FOR WII (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)
CAKE MANIA (DS) - Development Team (Digital Embryo/Sandlot Games/Majesco)
GUITAR HERO II (PS2) - Development Team (Harmonix/Activision/Red Octane)
MORE BRAIN TRAINING (DS) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)
SINGSTAR (PS3) - Development Team (SCE London Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
WII SPORTS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)

GAMEPLAY
CRACKDOWN (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Realtime Worlds/Microsoft Game Studios)
GEARS OF WAR (Xbox 360) - Cliff Bleszinski, Ray Davis, Lee Perry (Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios)
SEGA RALLY (PS3) - Development Team (SEGA Racing Studio/SEGA)
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)
WARHAWK (PS3) - Dylan Jobe, Bruce Woodard, Brian Upton (Incognito/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
WII SPORTS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)

INNOVATION
FLOW (PSN) - Jenova Chen, Nicholas Clark, Austin Wintory (SCE Santa Monica Studio/Thatgamecompany/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
OKAMI (PS2) - Atsushi Inaba (Clover(Capcom)/Capcom) SUPER PAPER MARIO (Wii) - Development Team (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)
THE EYE OF JUDGMENT (PS3) - Kazuhito Miyaki, Yusuke Watanabe (SCE Japan Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
TRAUMA CENTRE: SECOND OPINION (Wii) - Development Team (Atlus USA/Nintendo)
WII SPORTS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)

MULTIPLAYER
BATTLEFIELD 2142 (PC) - Development Team (EA Dice/Electronic Arts)
CRACKDOWN (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Realtime Worlds/Microsoft Game Studios)
GUITAR HERO II (PS2) - Development Team (Harmonix/Activision/Red Octane) WII SPORTS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)
WORLD IN CONFLICT (PC) - Development Team (Massive Entertainment/Sierra Entertainment/Vivendi Games)
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: THE BURNING CRUSADE (PC) - Development Team (Blizzard Entertainment/Blizzard Entertainment)

ORIGINAL SCORE
FINAL FANTASY XII (PS2) - Hitoshi Sakimoto, Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy XII Project Team/Square Enix)
GOD OF WAR 2 (PS2) - Clint Bajakian, Jonathan Mayer, Chuck Doud (SCE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
LAIR (PS3) - John Debney, Ryan Hamlyn, Clint Bajakian (SCE Foster City Studio & Factor 5/Sony Computer Entertainment America)
OKAMI (PS2) - Atsushi Inaba (Clover (Capcom)/Capcom)
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)
VIVA PIÑATA (Xbox 360) - Grant Kirkhope (Rare/Microsoft Game Studio)

SPORTS
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2008 (PC) - Development Team (Sports Interactive/SEGA)
COLIN McRAE: DIRT (Xbox 360) - Gavin Raeburn, Matt Horsman, Alex Grimbley (Codemasters/Codemasters)
FIFA 08 (PS3) - Development Team (EA Chicago/Electronic Arts)
MOTORSTORM (PS3) - Mick Hocking, Martin Kenwright, Pete Smith (SCE External Development Studio & Evolution/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
VIRTUA TENNIS 3 (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Sumo Digital/SEGA)
WII SPORTS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)

STRATEGY AND SIMULATION
COMMAND & CONQUER: TIBERIUM WARS (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Electronic Arts LA/Electronic Arts)
FORZA MOTORSPORT 2 (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Turn 10/Microsoft Game Studios)
MEDIEVAL II: TOTAL WAR KINGDOMS (PC) - Development Team (The Creative Assembly/SEGA)
TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX VEGAS (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Ubisoft Studios (Montreal)/Ubisoft Entertainment)
WII SPORTS (Wii) - Development Team (Nintendo/Nintendo)
WORLD IN CONFLICT (PC) - Development Team (Massive Entertainment/Sierra Entertainment)

STORY AND CHARACTER
FINAL FANTASY XII (PS2) - Development Team (Final Fantasy XII Project Team/Square Enix)
GOD OF WAR 2 (PS2) - Cory Barlog, David Jaffe (SCE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
HEAVENLY SWORD (PS3) - Development Team (Ninja Theory/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
OKAMI (PS2) - Atsushi Inaba (Clover (Capcom)/Capcom)
THE DARKNESS (Xbox 360) - Denby Grace, Lars Johansson, Jerk Gustafsson (Starbreeze Studios/ 2K)
THE SIMPSONS GAME (Xbox 360) - Scot Amos, Jonathan Knight, Greg Rizer (EA/Electronic Arts)

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
CRACKDOWN (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Realtime Worlds/ Microsoft Game Studios)
GEARS OF WAR (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studio)
GOD OF WAR 2 (PS2) - Tim Moss, Christer Ericson (SCE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
MOTORSTORM (PS3) - Scott Kirkland, Martin Kenwright, Pete Smith (SCE External Development Studio/Evolution/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
OKAMI (PS2) - Atsushi Inaba (Clover(Capcom)/Capcom)
UNCHARTED: DRAKE'S FORTUNE (PS3) - Development Team (Naughty Dog/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)

USE OF AUDIO
CRACKDOWN (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Realtime Worlds/Microsoft Game Studios)
ELITE BEAT AGENTS (DS) - Development Team (iNiS/Nintendo)
GEARS OF WAR (Xbox 360) - Development Team (Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios)
GOD OF WAR 2 (PS2) - Dave Murrant, Philip Kovats, Chuck Russom (SCE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
GUITAR HERO II (PS2) - Development Team (Harmonix/Activision/Red Octane)
SKATE (PS3) - Development Team (EA Black Box/Electronic Arts)

BAFTA One's To Watch Award in association with Dare to Be Digital
RAGNARAWK - Voodoo Boogy (Malcom Brown, Robert Clarke, Peter Carr, Lynne Robertson, Finlay Sutton)
CLIMBACTIC - Carebox (Jack Potter, Alan Campbell, Benjamin Rollinson, Zarek Cohen, Duncan Harrison)
BEAR GO HOME - Phoenix Seed (Fengming Bao, Xi Deng, Yi Li, Guangyao Wang, Christopher Isaacs)

THE PC WORLD GAMERS AWARD (Voted for by the public)
DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING (DS) (Nintendo/Nintendo)
FIFA 07 (PS2) (EA Canada/Electronic Arts)
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2007 (PC) (Sports Interactive/SEGA)
GEARS OF WAR (Xbox 360) (Epic Games/Microsoft)
GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY STORIES (PSP) (Rockstar Leeds/Take Two)
RESISTANCE: FALL OF MAN (PS3) (Insomniac/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
WII PLAY (Wii) (Nintendo/Nintendo)

Labels: BAFTA, Games

In the race to win the 'next-gen' sales war the Wii is selling quicker than warm buns, but with a flurry of 'casual' game releases where are the games to keep the traditional gamer busy. With games like Mario Party 8 and Boogie doing exceptionally well in the charts then it seems that a lot of people might have bought it as a party machine which they bring out to impress guests. If they have, then they won't be disappointed, it fills that role perfectly. But if the Wii gets an outing once or twice a month, and only one or two games are year are purchased then where is the longevity of the machine, particularly for Nintendo's profit margin. Standard console marketing lore dictates that the consoles are sold at cost or even at a loss and profits are made from the sale of games.
It does appear amongst the people I know, some of who would be considered to be quite serious gamers and others who have never played a computer game in their lives, that it's equally popular with both.
Don't get me wrong though, I think much of the pleasure that is to be gained from videogames is and always has been their ability to surprise, and I think the Wii does this as well as, if not better than what else is on offer, and it's this surprise element which is appealing to 'casual' and 'serious' gamers alike. Maybe it's that that makes it the first console with mass appeal.
As much as it sounds like I am be-moaning the party games, I am not! I do like the party element to the Wii, it is great that when friends or family come round that anyone from my niece to my mum can have fun and enjoy gaming. I just hope that this is not just a fad (Christmas '08 sales will probably decide if it's a fad or not). I am just waiting to see more balance in the games available, admittedly there are a few 'meaningful'
titles out there, or on the horizon, but just not enough.

Party Games (recent and up-coming releases)
Mario Party 8
Boogie
Tamagotchi Party On!
Guitar Hero III
Carnival Funfair Games
EA Playground
Alan Hansen Sports Challenge
Who Wants to be a Millionaire
Cheggers Party Quiz
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

More 'Serious' Games (recent and up-coming releases)
Super Paper Mario
Super Mario Galaxy
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Tony Hawk Proving Ground

Labels: Games

Bog standard Monkeyball action makes its disappointing way to the Wii!

As with all the Monkeyball series you control Aiai (or any of the other characters) as you roll around collecting bananas and reaching the goal. The game is split in a series of worlds, each world contains eight stages but unlike previous games in the Super Monkey Ball series, Banana Blitz feature boss battles.

Each character has different stats and abilities, and there are two new characters to choose from this time round: “Yan Yan” the new girl in town and an amnesia-suffering lemur who has made some great inventions who the towns folk call “Doctor”!

The visuals are a little simplistic, although that said, they are well-suited to the tone of the game, and using the Wii-mote to roll the ball, although difficult to master at first is actually quite intuitive, and superior to using the analogue stick of previous incarnations.

There are 50 mini-games in total in Banana Blitz. There is, also, a "party" mode whereby players can choose tournament-type gameplay, selecting mini-games going head to head in an attempt to accumulate the most points. It is good to see the number of mini games, even if a few of them aren’t really any fun to play.

Price: £ (or get given it as a birthday present!)
Pros: Lots of mini games, which are particularly good when played in the party mode. Nice use of the Wiimote controller.
Cons: Some of the party games are pretty unplayable.

Official Site: http://www.sega.com/gamesite/bananablitz/

Labels: Games, Reviews, Super MonkeyBall, Super MonkeyBall: Banana Blitz

From the press release:

"The Wii version of PES will offer the same level of realism that has established the series as the definitive football title, but has been undergone a radical rethink to make the most of the Wii's motion-sensitive control system.
The game will make full use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers, offering total control over every aspect of the players and their movements both on and off the ball. The clever use of the Wii controllers will allow users to send players running into space, and to distribute the ball with ease."

It will be interesting to see how the controls work, maybe with the Wii-mote and Nunchuk attached to different feet! :)
Would be more playable I think, if the Nunchuk was used to control the player and the Wii-mote used to point at where to pass or shoot.

Labels: Games, PES, Sports

As good a game as Godfather Blackhand edition is I hope the sequel retains the slick control system and improves on the variety of tasks and pace of the game. I think I am now spending longer getting from A to B to start a mission objective, than I spend on the actual missions themselves.

Labels: Games, Godfather Blackhand Edition

I’d prepared myself for another marathon stint to complete the final mission. My batteries were re-charged, literally and metaphorically, the walkers sensations (big bag, sweet chilli) were opened and with a cold beer within reach (and a couple more in the fridge), I was ready to take on the final ‘ghost’ Eledee!
The froth had barely been blown off the beer before the level was complete, and ghost was reduced to a little cute mouse sized Eledee and the closing credit sequence was scrolling up the screen to a terrible cheesy song.
Now I didn’t find many of the levels in Eledees particularly challenging, but it was well structured and well paced. It got slightly more difficult and slight more frantic as it went along. It was somewhat disappointing then to find it easy enough to finish off the final challenge within a few minutes!
With most games I enjoy playing I usually return to at some point in the future and try to unlock the extra levels or hidden features, or in this case find the Pink Eleldees, but this time I’m not to sure I will, but just in case you want to I will post a list of where to find them.

Labels: Eledees, Games

Another good example of what the Wii-mote control system can bring to gaming.
As with many marble games before it (Marble Madness, MonkeyBall, etc…), Kororinpa has a simple game concept: guide your marble through a maze collecting to get to the goal, and along the way you collect red crystals and bonus green crystals before hitting the exit point.

Sometimes there is a sense of disorientation, especially when the Wii-mote has been turned through 180 degrees and you are not sure which way is up; or trying to jiggle the marble sideways onto an unseen platform below, but the occasional miss is not too frustrating, as each level is not overly large by design.

Each level also contains many features to liven up the game play, from magnets, conveyor belts, canons, sliding platforms, honey and more.

The best fun to be had was with the split screen two-player competitive mode, which how I have mainly played the game.

The challenge, although tricky in parts, rarely gets too difficult; as such this is a game that can be enjoyed by a wide range of abilities and ages, but that did lead to all 45 levels being fairly swiftly completed. There is a ‘mirror’ mode which is unlocked, so all the levels are available again but this time in reverse.

You can also unlock different types of marbles, playing with the rugby ball (or I guess it’s an American football) shaped marble was a little tricky!

Recommended!

Cost:
Pros: Good graphics. Good, intuitive use of the controller.
Cons: Some larger and trickier levels would not have gone a miss.

Labels: Games, Kororpina, Reviews

The main feature of all WarioWare games is that they are collections of short, simple microgames in quick succession, and just like it’s predecessors half the fun is actually working out what action is needed to complete each game.

For the sake of the story the Wii-mote is called a form baton, and you progress by holding the baton in a variety of forms depending on the game, for example: "The Umbrella" holding the Wii Remote vertically like one would hold an umbrella handle; or "The Elephant" where you hold the bottom end of the Wii Remote against the nose like an elephant's trunk!.

Each stage of the game is represented by a specific member of the WarioWare cast, and begins with an introductory story sequence featuring the character, a sequence of frantic microgames and concludes with a boss stage (a longer, more complex microgame), followed by the concluding part of the story.

The multi-player mode is unlocked when you complete the single player stages, unfortunately though one remote is shared by up to 12 players, so the multi-player games are often quick due to the difficulty in passing the controller around the group rather than by the difficulty of the games. It would have been nice to see multiple controller support.

Along the way you also unlock some single player arcade style games, the best of which is a fairground style ‘duck shoot’ game.

And that, basically, is the game. Bizarre stories and strange animations, and lots of short frantic games, that get more frantic as you progress. It shouldn’t work, but it does, and even when you complete a stage by completing a set number of micro-games, there is still a desire to go back and play the stage again and again until you complete all the micro-games.

NOTE - The title screen is like a mini-game in itself: You can mess with Wario's moustache and also make different images appear by holding the Wii Remote straight up-and-down and moving it like a windshield wiper. (Well it passed a couple of minutes of my time!)

Highly Recommended!!

Cost:
Pros: Great graphics, and really good and imaginative use of the controller.
Cons: Multi-player games would have been better with more than one controller

Official site: http://wii.nintendo.com/software_warioware.jsp

Labels: Games, Reviews, Warioware Smooth Moves