The kids in this ad are totally enthusiastic, but we'd be even more excited than these two kids if we walked into the living room and found Taiko no Tatsujin Wii and two drums. These imaginary parents (of the future, since the game comes out December 11) were able to just go to the store and purchase the game, whereas anyone hoping to elicit an "Ohhhh, Taiko da!" (It's Taiko!) from us would have to order an import copy of the game and surreptitiously install homebrew software on our Wii.
The point is, basically, that we are intensely jealous of these children and their adorable, Taiko-tolerating cat. The girl just twists the knife by declaring that it's "like an arcade." Oh, right, they have arcades too.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile comes out in Japan next week, but Namco Bandai is only circulating the first videos now. We have no idea why anybody would want to keep this luscious title from us. Watching Klonoa and Huepow bounce around these vivid, beautiful, omigawdcolorssopretty levels, we can't shake the feeling that Klonoa is the best-looking third-party Wii game we've seen in many a month.
There's a Japanese TV trailer after the break to give your eyeballs a further treat. Now let's pray for a speedy (and sensible) localization!
These videos of the Cave Story remake (best viewed at IGN in full resolution) clearly depict a work in progress. They'd better! The new graphics look very promising indeed, and the game looks appropriately smooth in motion. But the music is still janky (though not as janky) and every sound effect is rendered as loud white noise.
It's really distressing to have the usually delightful Grasstown stage marred by weird sound effects -- not to mention the occasional escape of text from the confines of the text box. We're giving Nicalis the benefit of the doubt, mostly because we want to make sure to continue sending good, happy thoughts their way. Cave Story requires your happy thoughts to live!
For his latest Zero Punctuation review, renowned intertubes misanthrope Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw has cast his jaded eye over Activision's Guitar Hero: World Tour.
Things start off well between reviewer and game (though Rock Band's troubledrelationship with Australia undoubtedly has something to do with this) but Yahtzee soon finds assorted holes to pick at, with some of his targets including the pointlessness of Spanish language songs in an English language release, the new slide bar on World Tour's guitars, and the game's credentials as a karaoke simulator. Hit up The Escapist for the review in full or simply jump past the break.
The latest gameplay footage from Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes features a ridiculous-looking bout between a Morrigan/Chun Li team and the enormous Gold Lightan. The outsized robot seems to have little difficulty with the pair, as he grabs Morrigan out of the air and spikes her, performs deadly belly-flops, and even reflects one of Chun Li's projectiles with his hand. We suspect, of course, that the game's balance actually keeps the giant character from having any unfair advantages -- but he sure is intimidating.
As usual, the update includes a look at each character's minigame. Keeping Gold Lightan looking his best, and most intimidating, is the focus of his minigame, in which you polish his golden exterior. Morrigan's game involves grabbing a hero (Ryu in the screenshots), lifting him miles into the air, and then piledriving him into the ground. Chun-Li, in her minigame, chisels a statue from stone with her Lightning Kicks.
This Japanese TV commercial for Prope's Let's Tap just popped up on YouTube. While it contains no notable new footage, we do like the use of the 2001: A Space Odyssey theme, which suggests something EPIC and MONUMENTAL is coming, before you realize that no, it's just a really fun-looking, stylish minigame collection. And a free box. Which is more than good enough for us! Oh, and there's a release date squeezed in there, at least for Japan: December 18th.
Past the break, we've posted footage of the game's practice mode -- ideal for starting your tap training early!
We love Mega Man. In fact, when Mega Man 9 was announced, we ran around picking up random telephones looking for a way out of what we thought was surely The Matrix. Seriously, how could something so good happen to us? It seemed like a dream. And now, this trailer for a fan-made Mega Man movie by Eddie Lebron is along those lines. It's like the guy broke into our office windowless prison cell and picked the small lock we have on our diary. Then, he read that diary.
But, in all seriousness, what is the deal with Dr. Wily's 'stache? That thing looks rabid and might need to be put down.
With Tomb Raider: Underworld releasing last week, we've been digging Lara's latest adventure, having fun exploring the depths of the Mediterranean and running through an exploding Croft mansion. Turns out, however, the game has a very bad glitch which can halt your progress. As evidenced in the image above, you can see there's a missing lever. Well, the thing about those Tomb Raider games is, uh, those levers are kind of important.
Head on past the break for a video of the area where this happens.
Paul Henry Smith is one smart dude. He has created the Fauxharmonic Orchestra, a simulation of a real orchestra, brought to you by the Wiimote, Balance Board, and his brain. We're not classical buffs by any means, but what we're hearing (and seeing) is pretty impressive. We have on criticism, though. It looks like Paul is wearing his shoes in the video. Dude, you're going to scuff your very expensive peripheral!
Otherwise, kudos, Paul, on a job well done.
Gallery: Peripherals that paved the way for the Balance Board
If Animal Crossing: City Folk has whetted your appetite for motion-based fishing, Hudson would like to remind you that they have, like, a whole game coming out about just that. A second one, in fact! Fishing Master: World Tour has a bit more in-depth fishing, as you would expect, and interesting backdrops to stare at while you're failing to catch anything.
There's a longer trailer over at the official website, as well as video footage featuring each of the game's fishing venues. Keep practicing catching sea bass in Animal Crossing (or the first Fishing Master, we guess), and maybe you'll be able to hit the leaderboards when World Tour.
Nintendo fans have been practicing parkour with their very own platforming princess since the 8-bit days. Now it seems another traceuse is stepping in on the territory Samus pioneered. On the surface, it doesn't seem as if Mirror's Edge has very much in common with the Metroid franchise. Yet,the respective series heroines' exploits can be experienced and enjoyed in either first person 3D or 2D sidescrolling viewpoints.
Mirror's Edge 2D is currently in the beta stages of development with its destined platforms still unannounced. It hasn't yet got any of the fascist oppressors seen in the 3D version, but they'd only get in the way of the acrobatics that are on impressive display here. Rarely do we get to control such fluid and graceful 2D animation, and it makes the treat all the more delectable when you get to do it with a Wii Remote.
We're not going to lie: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom looks like the greatest thing since sliced bread. We're seriously in love with the game, even if we can't understand any of the weird Japanese squiggles that permeate the entire title. That won't stop us from importing the game, however. Because if there's one thing we've learned, it's that the movement for a dragon punch breaks all language barriers. That and we want more Joe in our life. Also, Roll takes out the trash.
Head past the break to check out the video of her doing just that.
Although it doesn't take much to explain Prope's minimalist Let's Tap, Sega sent out this promotional video demonstrating its gameplay. This clip highlights the Rhythm Tapping, Tap Runner, and Visualizer modes, offering brief glimpses of other modes, including what appears to be a tapping-based shmup. For more Let's Tap
The overall message, delivered by a family playing together, is that it's quite possible for people of pretty much any age to enjoy Let's Tap together, which is, of course, the goal of many Wii games. Few other Wii games manage such a cool and futuristic look, or such a genuinely unique and interesting input method.
Apparently the family in the video enjoys Let's Tap so much that they purchased two copies, because the game only comes with two of those fancy boxes!
We're so pleased to present this upbeat, non-disgusting trailer for Cooking Mama: World Kitchen. However, even this innocuous "As Seen on TV" style video is not without controversy: certain statements are made regarding your mama. Specifically, her ability to cook, contrasting with the abilities of the game's fake cartoon mama. The trailer disclaims these statements, but it's possible that by then the damage could already be done. Consider yourselves and your mamas warned.
Hopefully we can look past this shocking material and enjoy the gameplay footage and cute presentation. Because it is really cute, and it would be a shame if some kind of awful publicity marred such cuteness.
Usually we leave it up to our own Mike Sylvester when it comes to doing crazy things with the Wiimote, but he might have some competition in Mgestyk Fusion. See, the sensor bar kind of limits the scope of the Wiimote's ability to work in 3D spaces. Mgestyk Fusion replaces the sensor bar with a web cam and, as you can see in the video above, really helps Nintendo's controller to be all it can be. The set-up will be available to witness in person next week at the Montreal International Games Summit. Until then, we'll just have to settle for the video above.
