There are three things I love about this job: being able to talk about gaming all the time, getting a chance to play alot of the newest titles and write about them, and special events. Now, these special events…well, they’re very special. They could be as big as going to E3 (maybe next year?) or as small as a demo station in a hotel lobby. Either way, it’s a break from the ordinary and it can lead to very unique experiences (such as playing NHL 10 with Patrick Kane and John Tavares likes we did earlier in the week).

Recently we were invited to another special event, the E3 of the North as they called it. We got a chance to not only sit down with Matt Ryan of Nintendo Canada (along with other members of the Nintendo family) but we also got an opportunity to try out some of the biggest titles that were revealed at this year’s E3!

Lets start with the DS titles.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box was available, and while I only had a chance to play two puzzles (and complete them successfully might I add) I felt that this was very similar in puzzle solving and style to the first title, which by all means isn’t a bad thing. Who wouldn’t want more puzzles to play on the bus or on their couch? And hey, if you finish all the puzzles quickly, you can always download more as Nintendo will be providing more puzzles for free as the weeks go on!

You mess with me, you mess with my Phantom... and my choo-choo

I was also fortunate enough to try a demo of the upcoming Zelda title, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. This demo, while only sporting three scenarios to play with, showed me a number of things. First off, this Zelda takes place 100 years after The Phantom Hour Glass (the last DS title). One interesting new feature in Spirit Tracks is the ability to use the Phantom (a bady guy from the last DS title) as a partner to help Link get through the game, by drawing a path for your phantom to follow, you can use him to help you fight against new monsters, or protect you from the elements such as fire. As well I had the opportunity to play against a giant bug boss in which you utilize a new wind weapon to blow poisonous gas away from the bug’s rear (yes, we may all chuckle) to expose it’s weak spot. I found Spirit Tracks to be a beautifully animated title, which no doubt expands on the last Zelda game with everything you loved in the first one, brought up to a whole new level.

DSi ware was also on hand as players had a chance to try out Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again, the third in this series, what’s new about this title is that as of now at least, you cannot actually purchase it in stores. Minis March Again is a downloadable only game for the DSi from any wi-fi hotspot and loaded straight onto your DSi. By solving puzzles and figuring out how to proceed to the next level, players can create their own levels and put them online for others to see and play as well! Also in the DSi ware I had a chance to experience Flipnote studio, an application that allows gamers with an artistic flare to create short cartoons complete with artistic features in a flip book style creating one frame at a time. Now while I have zero artistic capability, I saw some previous examples of what was made, and with a little time and skill you would be amazed at the amount of detail this DSi unit can provide for animation!

Now moving onto the Wii, while I had the chance to try Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort, AND Super Mario Brothers Wii, I missed out on actually playing the Wii Sports Resort, which, with the Motion Sensor Plus, looked like a blast giving 1:1 movement for every swing and waggle of the Wii controller. In Wii Fit Plus I was able to cross off one of my things to do before I die because, yes that’s right, I got to fly across an ocean as a giant chicken! No, there isn’t any metaphor there,  one of the Fit Plus games has you flapping your arms and leaning to fly and land on specific targets with the final goal of landing on a boat before the time runs out. While I was skeptical regarding how flapping my arms on the Wii Balance Board would work, it actually did as every flap of my own arms was registered into the game and even flapping backwards to slow my speed worked! Now, while I landed near centre of every target and was told I did a great job, I later saw a toddler who couldn’t have been older than 6 years of age shatter my North of E3 chicken flying record with ease… my how the mighty have fallen.

Sure it looks cool... but where's the giant chicken?

Super Mario Brothers. A name so famous, if you asked 100 people I would wager at least 75% of them knew of the Super Mario Brothers, and as such, Nintnedo has found yet another way for us gamers to enjoy their company. This time however, Nintendo has found a way to mix the old with the new. In what seems to me to be a mix of the recent DS New Super Mario Brothers title and the Wii Capabilities, Super Mario Brothers Wii is a 2D side scrolling title very so much like the original Mario games of the NES days with new bad guys (as well as old favourites), new powerups (as well as old favourites), and new motion controls (shake the wii-mote to make your character do a spin jump). This New mario title however, has something no past Mario title has before though… are you ready for it? wait for it… here it comes, FOUR PLAYER CO-OP! and not in the sense that four players can wait and take turns playing like past Mario games, but that four players can play together AT THE SAME TIME! Now, this leads to very new and exciting dynamics in the game as players can work together to progress through the title, or compete with one another to get the most points by jumping on each other, throwing each other, or with the help of everyone’s rideable dinosaur, eat each other via Yoshi tounge! Playing with Matt from Nintendo, his associate, and Jennifer from andPOP we got right into the four player chaos holding the Wii-mote on it’s side like an old school NES Nintendo controller, we soon found out that this was as far from old school as possible as Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad starting running around in a chaotic motion trying to outplay each other and survive to make it to the end of the level. 20 minutes flew by before we relized it and one thing was certain, this game was fun for everyone… and addictive as I didn’t want to stop playing any time soon. As each level ends, players tally up their scores to see who played best for bragging rights as well as to target that player in the next level as a threat to your all time high score. By far in my opinion Super Mario Wii was the highlight of this event and I can’t wait for some good old four player chaos on my couch with some competitive buddies.

So there you have it, the inner workings of a gaming sneak preview. Full of all the whimsy and magic gamers expected from closed door gaming events, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a blast to be there, but hey, it’s only a preview and before we all know it, these games will be hitting retail shelves across North America!

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In a year of shooters focusing on guts, gore, and guns, I find myself looking through my video game library time after time for a light, fun adventure game to play. Luckily, Nintendo gave me a portable game to play when I don’t feel like venting my rage with murder, and what a game it was! The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, released in early October, is Link’s first adventure on the Nintendo DS. Nintendo definitely put a lot of thought and planning into this outstanding title before releasing it.

Taking place after The Wind Waker, Link begins on a ship with Tetra and her pirate crew only to be confronted by a ghost ship that takes her away and leaves you washed up on an island with many questions. A random fairy finds you and brings you to its elderly grandfather and the quest begins. A monster has sealed up the fairies and the Ocean King’s power and is causing havoc all over the ocean and its inhabited islands. You must go find the fairies, release the king’s power, defeat the evil and save your friend. All in a day’s work for a hero such as Link, right? This time, however, you must travel from island to island with your new friend, Linebeck, and his ship.

The majority of the game takes place exploring the islands in the four quarters of the sea and completing dungeons and puzzles, but a good portion also takes place on the ocean digging up treasure and fighting battles. An interesting twist in this title is that in order to find the sea charts and make your way to more distant new islands, you must keep re-entering the Ocean King’s temple and progress deeper and further using the new items you acquire throughout the game while limited to the amount of time left in your Phantom Hourglass (you obtain more time by defeating bosses). It’s an interesting concept, repeating the same dungeon time after time but exploring more of it each time you defeat a boss. Throughout the game, the only thing I found missing was the lack of jars, wallet upgrades and the single aspect of the game that disappointed me most was the fact that the only thing really needed to buy in stores was a shield at the beginning of the game. Otherwise all of your favorites return in this true Zelda title, from fairies to cuckoos, this title will make you remember why you fell in love with Link and his crew all those years ago.

The Phantom Hourglass’s graphics are by far the best I have ever seen on the Nintendo DS, as long as you can deal with the game’s cartoon cell shaded look first introduced in Wind Waker for the Nintendo Gamecube. Everything in the game (save the map and menus) are in 100% 3D and look stunning. The use of vivid colours (or dull grays depending on the situation) works perfectly in this light hearted adventure title. The design of islands and dungeons within the game are well laid out as one would expect from a Zelda game. Each dungeon is varied greatly, ensuring that the game does not get stale. From smoky explosions to witty cut scenes, the graphics hold their own in Phantom Hourglass.

From “HYAAs” to “BOOMs”, Phantom keeps true to its predecessors with all the sounds that make Zelda memorable. This includes Zelda-style Triforce music, effects for the boomerang and bombs, and beeping when your health is low. Of course the famous ‘secret passage opened’ sound is here too. Your ears will perk when you hear something so familiar, so calming as getting another heart. This game has all the sounds and music that made us hum and reminisce in past games while controlling Link on crazy, whimsical adventures. In this title, they even go a little further and in some instances the sound within the game actually influences the way the game is played (for example, in dungeons, certain floors make noises attracting enemies). This is definitely a game you would want to play with sound, so if you’re riding the bus, be sure to bring headphones.

The controls are where this game diverges from the tried, tested, and true. Although this one uses the same principles that past Zelda titles have, and has the same style and feel, the controls are totally different. To begin with, the entire game can be played with just the stylus if you wish (you can use the shoulder buttons or the D-pad for shortcuts to the map or items), controlling Link and all his weapons and items by using the stylus, you can roll and attack with a sword just by tapping or drawing lines with the stylus. Throw the boomerang or direct other items by drawing the path you want the weapon to take, creating new and innovative ways to overcome obstacles and puzzles. As well, the use of the dual screen works perfectly with this game. Often, the top screen shows the map, and with this, you have the ability to bring it down to the stylus screen at any time to draw paths, or write notes to help solve puzzles or just remind you to take out the trash when you get to a certain part of the game. Phantom uses the innovative aspects of the DS to their fullest: blowing into the microphone to brush off sand, revealing hidden items by wiping them with the stylus, and closing the DS to transfer an image from one screen to the other, for instance. The ways the DS is manipulated in this game are truly amazing but at the same time, they are simple enough not to get in the way of enjoying the fast paced battles or exploring the sea.

As with all other Zelda titles (it may very well be the biggest selling point in the Zelda name), there’s tons to do aside from the actual quest. There are dozens of citizens to speak to from all over the ocean. A few of them have little side quests for you to complete, which may fetch you interesting prizes. Some citizens can send you on wild goose chases while some might ask for your help through the in-game mailbox. The mini-quests are often varied and usually include a puzzle or two along the way. There are also a number of secret uncharted islands with mini-games or optional puzzles to complete for more prizes. Players will find treasure maps that pinpoint locations in the sea where Linebeck’s ship can enter a mini-game to try and salvage a chest at the bottom of the ocean while avoiding bombs. The prizes can also include pieces to upgrade and customize your ship for that sleek pimp look you’ve always wanted. Players can also go around finding courage, wisdom, and strength gems that can unlock your fairies’ power and make you stronger. On top of all these little additions to keep players interested, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass also includes some multiplayer aspects where players can compete in a game of cat and mouse trying to collect force gems. Two players take turns controlling Link collecting the gems or phantoms trying to stop him. The multiplayer aspect (both over local wireless and Nintendo Wi-Fi) can also have an effect on items Link collects and can trade later on in the single player adventure.

The world is large, the dungeons and bosses are as fierce as the game is long, and Link is back in all his glory. Not only is this the best Zelda title found on a portable gaming system but perhaps could be put up there with some of the best Zelda titles of all time.

Graphics: 5.0 / 5.0
Gameplay 5.0 / 5.0
Sound 5.0 / 5.0
Replay value 5.0 / 5.0

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It has become apparent to me that in the past I have been criticized by loyal Nintendo fans for being too hard on the good people who have not only given us the best games of all time, but also single-handedly spearheaded console gaming into the culture that we enjoy today.

It is actually for these reasons that I choose to be so cynical – for if we are to deem Nintendo to be the father of console gaming as we know it, should we not expect the best? Well, I never expected that Nintendo would decide to postpone the release of Zelda: Twilight Princess to 2006.

I mean, Ouch.

I was so very impressed with Zelda: the Windwaker for Gamecube but at the same time have always felt that the Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64 was superior. Don?t get me wrong, coupled with its groundbreaking graphics, Windwaker took the Zelda mythos to fantastic places but the Ocarina of Time had so much more depth to it. When I defeated Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time I felt like David standing above the vanquished Goliath; I?ll never forget seeing Link regain the Master Sword and then deliver the apocalyptic final blow.

Thus, I have been indubitably excited for Zelda: Twilight Princess as Nintendo is taking our favourite hero in the green tunic back into a chilling, dark and gritty world. If you haven?t seen some of the in-game action, google ?Zelda feature E3? and check it out. In a nutshell, it?s a scene in which Link is charging on horseback trying to rescue a young boy captured from a village, who has been mounted onto a villain?s lance. The intense score, the unforgiving and hard rain, the doomsday-like storm clouds, the dancing thunder, the hooves of the horse pounding the raw earth ? impressive is an understatement. To me, it looked like a scene from Lord of the Rings in which Legolas fought a horde of Orcs.

In the meantime, Nintendo has assured our pacification with exclusive titles such as Battalion Wars, Fire Emblem, Super Mario Strikers and Pokemon XD just to name a few. Nonetheless, there?s no comparison: we want Twilight Princess.

Nintendo claims the reason for the delay is the fact that they need more time to make the game wholly flawless. Many fans have been wondering if Nintendo intends to make Twilight Princess for the revolution instead or if this move will perhaps hinder the sales of the Revolution. Well, I have one word for you: backwards compatibility.

Any way you look at it, yes, it?s disappointing we have to wait even longer for this epic but I am confident it is going to be well worth it.

Indeed, patience is a virtue.

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I was arguing with a friend recently with regards to Nintendo’s upcoming new system titled the Revolution. I explained to him that having felt shafted by my investment in the Gamecube I could no longer trust Nintendo. I reminded him that when video game magazines were feeding us tidbits of info way back in 1995 about Nintendo 64, we were overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation. Looking back, I can easily count the number of great games that came out for N64 using two hands.

Then came the Gamecube, gaming sites claimed it was the system that was going to redeem Nintendo for its lost years of providing loyal enthusiasts with the well-deserving hours of video-game gratification reminiscent of the days when Super Nintendo reigned supreme. But alas, once again as I look back, or in this case as I look at my stack of Gamecube games, I see that give or take a disappointment or two ? enter super Mario sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash ? I can easily count the number of great games that came out for Gamecube using two hands. Now, I will admit that I am certain the next instalment in the Zelda series scheduled for release this November will make up for a lot but this is my point: less than ten great games is not enough.

I suppose that part of the problem is that Nintendo has been catering more and more to a younger audience hence we see less than three releases of the Nintendo champs such as Zelda and so many bothersome sequels to Mario Party. Regardless, now that Gamecube is nearing obsoletion Nintendo is going to have to level up its status and hopefully it can when the Revolution is released sometime in 2006.

I somewhat feel guilty for trying to tackle the Revolution when we still know so little but it only seems fair since Xbox 360 and PS3 having been pumping the masses with raw synergy and hype.

So let’s get started.

Apparently Revolution is the code name and not the official name (note, Nintendo said the same thing prior to the official release of the Nintendo DS). The system itself is about the size of three DVD cases stacked on top of each other and has a custom-built IBM CPU that we don’t know anything about just yet.

In terms of connectivity the Revolution has built in Wi-Fi meaning you need a wireless router – an innovative idea but also a risky one as not everybody has one.

Just like with the Gamecube, you will not be able to play DVD’s on it but a DVD support device will be sold separately. The case Nintendo is making with this ? and I must say, I agree ? is that most people own a DVD player nowadays and to manufacture the system without it makes it inexpensive to manufacture and inexpensive for the consumer; expect the revolution to be priced no higher than $350.

The system will be backwards compatible, accepting the new 5-inch discs and Gamecube 3-inch discs. In fact, a cover on the top of the system opens to reveal Gamecube controller ports and memory-card ports. This is an interesting idea except one of the main reasons the system is named revolution is rumoured to be the new controller ? of which we still know nothing about! This actually scares me a bit in view of the fact that I still haven’t got into the swing of using the stylus with the Nintendo DS. Consequently the Revolution could be quashed before it starts, which is the fate of so many revolutions these days, if Nintendo gets just a bit too imaginative says I. But then again, Nintendo hasn’t disappointed with controllers, console-wise so far.

Unlike PS3 and Xbox 360 the Revolution is not specifically designed for HDTV as Nintendo believes most gamers could not care for it. Also worthy of mention is that the system has two USB ports, a first for a Nintendo system.

Lastly, the Revolution’s internet subscription will apparently be free, a move that could single handidly turn the tide in the ongoing console wars. Games from previous Nintendo systems as far back as the original NES will be available for download but this, I’m certain, will not be free.

To finish, if you read my column a few weeks back in which I ranked the number one games for the current systems, I ranked Super Smash Bros melee the victor for Gamecube. Now, I’ve always said ? and most people agree with me ? that nothing would have been finer than an online multiplayer version. So although I’ve taken a considerable amount of time to condemn Nintendo for its mistakes with its current and previous systems, I will whole-heartedly admit that if done correctly, an online Smash Bros for revolution will undoubtedly give the Nintendo the best shot they’ve had in nearly a decade at completely turning the tables in the North American market; a revolution that is desperately needed.

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