Welcome to the archive for all our old feature articles, listed in chronological order.
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Are there reasons to be hopeful this year?
February 2012 - As an optimistic sort, I'd like to think the worst is over for rhythm gaming, and that it's going to pick up this year. It's hard for me to admit, but I know as well as anyone else that rhythm games are becoming less and less common as the years go by. With all that has happened in the last ten years, I don't blame anyone for feeling despondent about the future of rhythm games. But is there a valid reason for hope as we move deeper into 2012? How did things even reach this point in the first place? ... more
Jack and Patrick share some of their faves!
February 2012 - Rhythm Heaven Fever, the latest entry in Nintendo's musical mayhem series, is heading to the Wii and brings with it the usual mix of catchy music and weird but wonderful scenarios. The game promises to be crazier than ever, introducing the player to golfing monkeys, bobbing birds, corporate pigs, dancing shrimp, rather tall tap dancers and the cutest clock you will ever see; just to name a few of the 50+ games included. Jack and Patrick have spent the last few months playing through ... more
What's so special about Flipper 2?
January 2012 - In the early months of 2010, the DSiWare service was graced with the unique title Flipper. Costing 500 Points, Goodbye Galaxy Games' debut on the service put you in control of a young boy trying to rescue his Goldfish. The game lets you not only navigate the world, but change the world in various unique ways simply by touching it. What started as merely an engine test became fairly popular, gaining a following of players on DSiWare. Coming soon in North America at the time of writing ... more
How can the 3DS be of assistance?
December 2011 - The importance of the Wii U fitting in with Nintendo's core values is something I touched on in yesterday's feature. Stemming from that discussion on the state of the Wii, I think it'll also interesting to see how the Wii U fares as the 3DS grows stronger next year. As we all know, Nintendo didn't set things up for the 3DS to have such a notable growth from the get-go. Despite being determined to "meet the needs of every consumer" from the moment the first handheld was sold, whether they actually met ... more
What impact will the Wii U have?
December 2011 - As we wrap up 2011, I can't help but give thought to the many exciting things happening in the Nintendo gaming space next year. The most notable of these being the upcoming release of the Wii U. Aside from Skyward Sword setting a sterling example of excellence in gaming, support towards the Wii has been waning this year, which doesn't set things up nicely for the Wii's continual growth come 2012. Even by their own actions, such as the lack of Virtual Console releases and even first-party ... more
Does the original still have merit?
December 2011 - A few exceptions aside, I typically do not fancy fighting games. But after all these years, Super Smash Bros. is one fighter I still feel comfortable playing. While other gamers have since moved on from the allegedly dated nature of the original, why do I continue coming back to it? Although designed as a multiplayer game, I always found playing by myself a lot of fun -- which is more than I can say for other fighters I've tried. This was much better explored in Super Smash Bros. Brawl ... more
Is Nintendo on a slippery slope?
December 2011 - With WiiWare declining and there being a lot less to look forward to, I've been giving thought to how things have progressed over the last little while to reach its current state. In my process, I keep coming back to the same question: What is Nintendo doing about the situation? And in looking at their business model this generation, there have been some lingering thoughts that I feel I need to speak my mind about -- especially with respect to their downloadable services. While Nintendo continues ... more
We reminisce on some memories!
December 2011 - Whether for the cool colours, or the relaxed feeling they often evoke, there is much reason to enjoy ice levels in gaming. While often seen as a staple choice for platformers, they are not partial to one genre, for we have seen these kinds of situations pop up in racing games, RPG's, and even tower defense games. But from your perspective as a gamer, what are some of the most memorable ones that have stuck with you over the years? With the current season in mind, Billy and I have come up with ... more
Why we're in need of more creative games!
December 2011 - Games that break the mold or truly immerse players aren't just a breath of fresh air. And they don't just show up the competition either. When developers craft unconventional, unexpected or even revolutionary experiences, the result is often a game that is to be remembered for years to come. With this in mind, I thought it would be good to draw attention to a couple games that were released this year that really testify to the fact that even despite the proliferation of mediocre or copycat ... more
Can too much Kirby actually be a bad thing?
December 2011 - No matter how you look at it, if you’re a fan of all, or most of Nintendo's core franchises, 2011 has been a fantastic year. Nintendo celebrated Zelda's 25th Anniversary to the point where there aren't even words to describe it; Mario got his first all-new 3D handheld game; the first Star Fox game since the DS’s Command was released, and while a remake, it was still amazing; Nintendo's more casual fans received a new and improved nintendogs; the third Pilotwings game was released for the 3DS ... more
Worth buying to record your games?
December 2011 - The Elgato Video Capture Unit by Elgato Systems is not designed specifically for use with Nintendo systems. It is not even designed for use with video games. "Why are they reviewing it, then?" you might ask. The answer is this: it promises a practical and simple way to record footage from anything with a standard video output cable, from DVD players to Wii's; the latter of which we will be focusing on.
The first thing I will put forth is the price. The unit does not come cheap. The unit costs ... more
The eShop is in great need of improvement!
December 2011 - So, today I went to the mall. I had no idea what I wanted, but I decided that window shopping would pique my interest. The first thing I see as I walk in is a game store trying to sell me short cartoons. "Whatever", I thought. So I walked in front of the next store. It was a store trying to sell me the hottest new things, but it only had six things in it, one of which is shameful! This shopping trip was already putting me off. I then passed by a third store that had ..
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Part 2
Brighter days ahead?
November 2011 - Although some would argue that the whole lot of them are poor, the range of quality with licensed games is all over the place. In the last few years, we've seen both good and bad efforts as this unending cycle of licensed material continues to wreak havoc on the industry. It probably sounds a lot worse than it actually is, but there's no shortage of these sorts of games, from video game adaptations of animated films to popular children's television shows. Only seldom do these manage to break the ... more
How does this battery enhancement fare?
October 2011 - If one good thing came out of Nintendo's decision with the 3DS' battery life, it's that third-parties have been able to profit from that with their own battery enhancements. Hyperkin is one such company that has taken note of the potentially inconvenient situation in hopes of providing consumers with a safety net. With their patented Powerplus accessory designed exclusively for the handheld, Hyperkin has already put themselves out there as an early trendsetter much like Nyko ... more
Selections to finish off the GBA line-up!
August 2011 - If you own a 3DS and connected to the eShop before today, you will find yourself enrolled in Nintendo’s Ambassador Program. Over the next few months Nintendo will be sending 20 downloadable classics your way both as a thank you for supporting the system so early in its life cycle and as an apology for any disappointment caused by the upcoming system price cuts. The selection of free games includes 10 classics from the NES as well as 10 games originally released on the Gameboy Advance ... more
Only a month away!
August 2011 - If you’re like me, you probably feel as I do about the wait for Star Fox 64 3D. I am dying to get my hands on the game and experience this re-make in all its glory. But in the meantime, I’ve been trying to figure out how to get myself in the mood for the game this month in preparation for its September release -- besides going through the entire campaign of the original. I have come up with five different things we all can do to help with the month-long wait. And no, doing a barrel roll isn’t one of them ... more
More than just a quick cash-in?
August 2011 - One of the new products Memorex had on display at E3 this year was a special Racing Wheel designed for the Nintendo 3DS. And now, that item is available in select stores across the nation for an MSRP of $10. A quick cash-in or a polished accessory? Memorex's Racing Wheel accessory falls somewhere in the middle, releasing to the market before it can even prove its worth. The first thing you'll notice with the Racing Wheel is how similar in shape it is to the Wii Wheel -- you know, except for the fact that ... more
Will the controversy end?
August 2011 - The game industry’s frustration towards the used-game market is understandable. With retail chains such as GameStop selling off second-hand games for 100% of the profit, it’s easy to see why developers would be interested in trying to earn wages off the sales of their products. After all, gamers are paying developers to make the games, right? That’s their job, and we’re their source of income. Without us (the consumer) they don’t earn money, and without money, they can’t continue ... more
WiiWare & DSiWare that could be revamped!
July 2011 - With the launch of the eShop on the Nintendo 3DS last month, users can now download a range of titles directly onto their system, following in the footsteps of WiiWare, DSiWare and the Virtual Console services. With a host of new features, such as StreetPass, motion control and the 3D display, developers now have more tools than ever to use in their games, allowing new ideas and improvements previously not possible. Below I’ve picked out five titles, previously featured on WiiWare and DSiWare ... more
We pick the best of the best!
June 2011 - After the success that was the Top DS Picks feature here on Wiiloveit, I decided it was about time to round up all the troops to do a 'Best Of' feature for the DSiWare service. I sincerely hope you enjoy it! The Art Academy games taught me that I could actually draw and paint, which is something that no one else has ever managed. The tutorials are easy to follow, help you understand why you should be doing certain things and the end product is always 100% yours. The ability to draw your own pictures after the ... more
Has this new feature met our expectations?
June 2011 - Far from a seamless and user-friendly process, using the 3DS System Transfer to bring my DSiWare titles, recordings and photos did not turn out the way I expected at all. Call it a rant or call it drawing attention to the truth, the whole process of bringing your previously-purchased games over to the Nintendo 3DS has left me quite upset. Here's why. First off, there's the tool itself. Although the Pikmin animation that runs on your Nintendo 3DS during the transfer is amusing, it seems like a rush job ... more
Does Nintendo still have much to learn?
June 2011 - Boy was it ever difficult to connect to the eShop late Monday night. After a long delay that met with even more delay time leading up to its release, it was great to finally see an online service appear on the Nintendo 3DS. Many feel this should have been incldued from the get-go, and while I don’t necessarily feel as strongly as some do about the matter, I definitely feel that the eShop plays a big role in providing additional content and continuing the trend of player satisfaction.
It’s exciting just thinking ... more
A wrap-up of the Wii U's preliminary details!
June 2011 - After months of speculation, the Nintendo Stream / Beem / Traybake / Café was today revealed to be known as the Wii U. Slightly underwhelming name, some might say, but it does its job. Whereas the Wii was all about social and multiplayer gaming (hence the "we" sound), the Wii U adds a completely new layer of gaming, so that users can also have the console all to themselves. How so? Let's talk. The Wii U includes a brand new method of gaming on home consoles - via a 6.3 inch touch screen, complete with ... more
Looking back on this great puzzler!
May 2011 - Thinking about my time with Toki Tori this week was quite the memory trip. Early on when the WiiWare service was just getting started, this one-of-a-kind puzzle title sprouted up and turned out to be more memorable than I could have imagined. After getting addicted to popping bubbles, the idea of leading a chicken to its young brethren wasn't the most farfetched idea to me. Not one to write off cute-looking games, I gave it a shot and ended up coming away from it with a very positive attitude ... more
Should you wait a couple months?
May 2011 - Hard to believe that in just a few days, we'll reach the two-month mark for Nintendo's newest handheld. Remember the grueling wait? How about those spurts of 3DS-related news that kept flowing in? Well all that has come and gone, and now the complaints have switched subjects from "When will it get here?" to "Where are the good games?" But I've been using my 3DS on and off since launch day, and now I feel I've played it enough to justify the write-up you see before you. If you're still on the fence after so ... more
Key moments in the series that will stick with you!
May 2011 - I've been thinking a lot about the Professor Layton series lately and how much these games have reached me on a personal level. Today, I felt an urge to reflect on some key moments/scenes/chapters -- whatever you want to call them -- that really embody some of the true brilliance Level-5 has shown in crafting these different experiences. That and I'm getting impatient for more news on Miracle Mask's localization. So sue me. Right off the bat, I'd like to issue a fair warning that while I try to keep ... more
Musical samplings from select third-party 3DS titles!
May 2011 - Included with the latest issue (Vol. 204) of Japanese gaming magazine, Nintendo Dream, was a promotional item that's worth taking note of. Subscribers were treated to a music CD featuring 19 different songs taken from a couple third-party 3DS titles. Referred to as "The Fastest Sound Preview", the collection offers high-quality tracks from games like Zoo Resort 3D and Samurai Warrior Chronicles. And so, because we love video game music so much, we've put these promotional songs up ... more
What games would we play if we were stranded?
May 2011 - If you knew in advance that you would be stranded on a desert island, what games would you take to keep yourself entertained while you awaited rescue? Throughout this week, some of us will be answering that very question. Instead of a set number of games, each team member has been given 5000 Wii Points to spend on any combination of titles from the Wii Shop Channel, as well as the chance to nominate one game they just couldn't quite fit into ...
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Jack's Picks
A good move or is it a little too late?
May 2011 - Hearing Nintendo officially confirm the 'Nintendo Selects' collection today was good news, as I'm sure you'll agree. Surely, this great marketing endeavour will encourage Wii owners to purchase some of the best games on the system when they're listed at such a reasonable price! Nintendo has announced that the "must-own games" they'll start off with are The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers and Wii Sports. Yes that's right, Nintendo is releasing Wii Sports as ... more
Step-by-Step and Spoiler-Free!
April 2011 - As I brought out in my review of this game, Escape Trick is not an easy game by any means. In fact, it can be very frustrating as you get closer to the end. But I suppose you wouldn’t expect anything less from a game that tasks you with busting out of a prison. So with this in mind, I have decided to create this simple step-by-step guide for those who are in need. Note that this is not meant to be a means of speeding through the game. In fact, I’d encourage you to only use this guide if ... more
Musical packages of some catchy 3DS tunes and jingles!
March 2011 - Only a few hours left before the Nintendo 3DS is available in all regions -- this calls for a celebration! Like any good celebration, it all begins with the music. To honour the release of the Nintendo 3DS, we are going to deliver special music packs that you can download for whatever you like, including your 3DS now that it accepts MP3's.
In our first musical package, we bring all the brief jingles of the Nintendo 3DS Menus. From the happy tunes of the StreetPass ...
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Pack 1
We look back at some of the DS' best games!
March 2011 - With the Nintendo 3DS launching tomorrow in Europe, and Sunday in North America, I thought it would be a good idea to commemorate the DS in some fashion. Serving as gaming's greatest and most successful handheld ever to release, it would certainly be appropriate to draw attention to some key titles that contributed to the system's success. And so, I decided to rally the troops and ask members of the staff here at Wiiloveit: "What are your five favourite DS games?" Read on for the outcome! ... more
Upcoming 3DS releases that we're excited about!
March 2011 - With the 3DS only two days away from it’s European release, I honestly have mixed feelings looking at the systems currently announced titles, with a large chunk of it taken up by ports to reiterations of games from the ‘3D Revolution’ era. This isn’t too surprising considering the system’s main selling is its 3D parallax barrier screen, but thankfully there are also a large number of interesting new titles on the way too, making use of the system's capabilities ...
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Murat's Picks
Are these exclusive goodies worth your hard-earned coins?
February 2011 - Welcome to the very first Club Nintendo Swag Analysis feature where we take a closer look at some of the rewards available through the North American hub. For our first article, we'll determine whether or not the Kirby Patch Sets are worth your coins or not! First added to the rewards area mid-December of last year, the collection comes in two different sets each with its own pair of character designs from Kirby's Epic Yarn. The first contains two of Kirby's transformations seen in the game ...
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Part 2Which perks will you use?
February 2011 -
Similar to the Reflex Perks Guide feature I posted last year for Modern Warfare, I thought it would be a good idea to repeat that but with Black Ops this time around. Despite the feature being slightly overdue, I believe this is one of those guides that continue to go unnoticed by many players who purchase perks without knowing what exactly they are capable of. Well, now you have the chance to read up on and select the perks you think is best for your play style! ...
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Part 2Experiences that are worth reminiscing over!
February 2011 -
Feeling inspired by The Book of Awesome, one of my favourite reads last year, I'd like to introduce you to a new regular feature on Wiiloveit! "Awesome Gaming Moments" (AGM for short) has been designed to reminisce on some key instances in the world of gaming that led to feelings of laughter or inner delight. Pretty much all Nintendo systems are fair game, even the classic systems. We'll regularly look back on both shared experiences that we can .
.. Skip to: AGM #1
AGM #2 AGM #3Are these downloadable songs worth your Wii Points?
January 2011 -
Viewed comprehensively, I'm very pleased with the DLC selection Ubisoft has put forth towards Just Dance 2 thus far. The picks feel well-rounded with a good number of them being worthwhile purchase. Of course, that can't be said of all the songs but that's exactly where this feature comes in. I'll briefly be analyzing some of the songs currently available in the online Store to give you a better idea of what to expect after you select the Download button ... Skip to: Part 1
Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5Our picks of the year's best and worst games!
January 2011 -
Welcome one and all to Wiiloveit's second-annual Best of Nintendo Awards feature for 2010! Our awards focus on all of the current Nintendo platforms, including Wii, DS, WiiWare and DSiWare. This year, we decided to do something different from the 2009 awards. Over the past few weeks, Team Wiiloveit has gone through a series of nominations and votes to come up with the feature you see before you today. Because of the range of opinions we have here, we allowed for two choices during the voting stage ...
more Which games would really benefit from a demo?
December 2010 - The year 2010 was filled with a number of surprises, one of which was the return of WiiWare's demo system. With an even stronger promise for potential and success amongst deserving developers, it's been off to a great start so far, wouldn't you say? As we move into the new year, I thought now would be a good time to bring this up. The following is a list of 15 released titles that I think would really benefit from jumping on the demo bandwagon. Here are my picks ... more
Is this one actually worth a read?
November 2010 - The Happy Prince and Other Stories is one of the 10 downloadable titles featured in 100 Classic Books. Through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you have the ability to cram a few more works into your collection, including this one. And it so happens that Oscar Wilde's collection of short stories is a pretty entertaining read. I'd recommend you give it a look next time you're trying to figure out what to read next. The first story is 'The Happy Prince' where an interesting tale unfolds as a bird ... more
Could this surpass Hottest Party 3?
November 2010 -
Ever since the new DDR was announced for Wii, I've been giddy with anticipation, waiting for news on this new endeavour. It's been commented by NAOKI himself that both this and the new DDR for PS3 are "reboots" to the franchise, signifying that Konami may be re-approaching how they handle future console releases. Hopefully these new seemingly-more complex hand motions work well without detracting from the normal experience. However, that's not where my concerns lie at this point ... more
What songs could they add to the online store?
October 2010 -
When I heard that Just Dance 2 would include DLC, I was really excited. The prospect of seeing new content for this game truly does sound promising. So long as it doesn't pull off a Samba de Amigo by only releasing a few songs, this could be a very successful endeavour. And with the game releasing tomorrow, now's a perfect time to give thoughts to this. Now. it was stated that in addition to adding new songs, they would add some of the best tracks from the original game. I think this is a great idea for ... more
Handy advice on how to become a better player!
September 2010 - HoopWorld can be very difficult at some points. But the more you play, the more tricks you'll learn as you try to build up your confidence for the Crazy tournament. And so to help you get your groove, consult the following guide: a list of hints and tips to give you the assistance you need to get the sought-after trophy. If you tackle your opponent twice, they'll get knocked out on the floor for a couple seconds, giving you an open window to steal the ball. But if another teammate is nearby, they'll quickly
... more
A look back at some of the site's key moments!
August 2010 -
Today commemorates the two year anniversary of Wiiloveit.com, and to celebrate, we're here to take a look back at some of the best bits of our 24-month reign, and some forgotten elements that got us to where we are now! ver the years, a site that was once run by one individual has expanded to include a number of contributors. It originally consisted of Billy himself, and then expanded to include Joe, James, and most notably KnucklesSonic8 who took on the responsibility of posting news regularly ... more
The latest info on Cosmonaut Games' next WiiWare project!
August 2010 -
WiiWare has nearly 250 titles released to date and yet, there are still some genres that still haven't been well-represented on the service. RPG's are definitely the leader in that department. But what do you think would come after that? If not Racing games, then likely the Tower Defense genre, represented by only a handful of games. Well, you'll be happy to know that there's a developer out there who's taken notice of this, and has effectively been working on an exclusive TD game for the WiiWare service ... more
What kinds of add-ons could the developers make available?
August 2010 -
It was encouraging to hear that Virtual Toys would be taking note of what the fans had to say about DLC possibilities. I'm really hoping that the team follows through, and soon. So to give them some ideas, the following is a series of suggestions of potential add-ons I'd like to see added to the in-game Shop. And whether you agree with my thoughts or not, if you've given this great a game a try, I encourage you to express yourself on what you'd like to see too. So the first set comes in the form of new modes
In what possible way could this be a valuable resource?
July 2010 - Whether this is your first time hearing of this or not, you'll likely be thinking to yourself "What's the purpose of the book?". I wondered the same thing when I first saw it. After giving it a read, I found that Wii Fitness for Dummies is informative, and actually very practical for the average consumer. But your decision to actually purchase this book will largely depend upon your circumstances and how savvy you are with gaming. The entire guide is written with the collaboration of two certified personal trainers
... more
What can we hope for in the upcoming title?
June 2010 -
After a really good experience with DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3, you could understand my excitement when I found out that Konami will be continuing this sub-series with a new entry. The Hottest Party series has tried to revolutionize the standard franchise, and although there have been some bumps along the way, Konami should feel really proud of what they've been able to accomplish. Each title has had its own share of issues, so I'm hoping that Konami will take all of these to heart when ... more
Now available for download courtesy of EnjoyUp Games!
April 2010 -
In commemoration of the EU release of Chronos Twins DX, EnjoyUp Games has made the official soundtrack available for download! You can now hear all of the soundtracks from the game right here on Wiiloveit. Below each stream, you'll find a link you can click on so you can listen in a new window. You can also right-click and choose "Save target as" or "Save link as" to download the MP3 files directly to your computer. For information on Chronos Twins DX, be sure to read up on our review of this great game ... more
What we'd like to see in the sequel to Stunt Cars!
March 2010 -
Late last year, Icon Games released their first WiiWare title, Stunt Cars. Fast forward a few months to March 2010, and the same team has announced that they plan to develop a sequel to their first title. Recently, they issued out a press release enlisting the help of the WiiWare community, looking for ideas and suggestions they could implement in their upcoming title. This is exactly why I have taken the liberty to create this article to help the developers have the right mindset as they develop ... more
Not your typical platformer!
February 2010 - Last week, I published an article giving vague details on an upcoming platformer for WiiWare. It was interesting to see the type of responses people had and the types of speculation that had ensued. Today, I'm thrilled to bring you more news on this intriguing WiiWare development! There were many clues in my original write-up that could have led you in the right direction in terms of what this game is all about. At the same time, many of the clues I did give were intentionally worded ... more
Will these projects ever see the light of day?
December 2009 -
Just like every other console, the Wii has suffered from several great looking titles being cancelled somewhere down the lines of development and production. Some titles didn't even see the light of day before being canned, whilst others just managed to release a single concept art but couldn't find the right audience to tag along. Will we ever see these titles? Who knows. Some may be forgotten forever, whilst others may return in the next generation of consoles ... Skip to: Part 1
Part 2 Part 3The benefit of having WiiWare demos!
December 2009 -
Nintendo recently released demos on the Wii Shop Channel, and as some predicted, the service was a complete success. This is obviously due to certain reasons, mainly because nobody wants to buy a game they haven’t tried before, and sometimes because when a gamer thinks about downloadable games, they often think of short and unattractive bursts of gameplay for a few minutes, after which, the game will be left hanging about with the other channels somewhere on the Wii main menu ... more
Which of the two will come out on top?
July 2009 -
Since WiiWare's inception, we've seen the release of two mini-golf games and surely there will be more to come. How do you decide between the two if you're looking to one of these games for providing you with a good mini-golf experience? Well, you could do what all indecisives do when faced with a tough decision: flip a coin! But if you're hoping to make a more accurate decision (preferably one where you won't get burned) then you've come to the right place. Within this feature, you'll find comparisons ... more
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