2009’s Best Retro Revivals: What’s Old Is New Again

2009 wasn’t just the year of big name releases; there was also a very obvious attempt to revive some of gaming’s longest running franchises. While that’s not necessarily a new idea, it seemed like in this past year developers actually attempted to keep the feeling of the original games instead of just taking the name of a franchise and slapping it on something completely new. Take a look at some of the classics that received some nostalgic love this year, and reminisce about the good old days as you cross your fingers that 2010 holds the same retro goodness. [Continue Reading]

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Review: What’s Old Is New Again

Every once in a while, there’s a game that comes a long that revolutionizes the video games landscape, and without a doubt, the original “Super Mario Bros.” is the best example of that, ever. It, single-handedly, pulled the video game industry out of the rut that it had dug itself into by the mid 1980s, and turned it into the thriving business that it is today. There’s something simple and amazing about that game that many have tried to replicate, but none have ever really been able to achieve. Now, almost twenty five years after the original hit the market alongside the NES, Nintendo has released a Mario’s first 2D console game in almost fifteen years, “New Super Mario Bros. Wii.” It’s a game that’s created in the same style as the original, but takes it to a whole new level for this generation of gamers. [Continue Reading]

15 Things That Have Happened Since Mario’s Last 2D Console Game

No matter how you slice it, Mario is best remembered for his 2D adventures that he first appeared in so long ago. However, for some reason, up until this week’s release of “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” he had not seen a 2D console release since 1990’s “Super Mario World.” Sure, Nintendo’s handhelds have gotten a ton of 2D love from Mario, but the consoles had been left in the dust. It’s been almost twenty years since our red plumber friend has run back and forth on a TV screen, and a lot can happen in that span of time. For example: [Continue Reading]

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Launches In The Rain

It goes without saying that living in NYC has its advantages, especially when it comes to gaming. One of the biggest things that New York has going for it, in terms of games at least, is the Nintendo World Store, home all things Nintendo – from Mario to Zelda, and this past weekend, the store played host to the “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” launch event. Fans of Mario, and his adventures, were offered the opportunity to check out the game, get their picture taken with the man himself, and even take a tour of some of the weird licensed products that have bore Mario’s mustachioed face over the years. One lucky gamer even got to go home with the ultimate bragging rights, beating out hundreds of other players in the “NSMBW” tournament.

Check out some of the photos of what Nintendo had going on, and some of the fans that braved the elements this weekend to check out “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” in the middle of Rockefeller Center. [Continue Reading]

E3 ‘09: New Super Mario Bros. Wii Gameplay

Oh Mario, I hope you never go away. Nintendo’s announcement of their upcoming four player, 2D blockbuster “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” was one of E3’s biggest surprises, but what isn’t surprising is just how good the game is. It looks great, plays well, and, most importantly, is a new “New Super Mario Bros.” 2D, sidescrolling platformer. If that’s not something to write home about, I don’t know what is. [Continue Reading]

E3 ‘09: New Super Mario Bros. Wii Impressions

One of the big surprises that Nintendo had to offer at this year’s E3 was the newest title in the “New Super Mario Bros.” franchise – “New Super Mario Bros. Wii.” It’s a follow up to the massively selling Nintendo DS game, and puts Mario back in the lead role of his first console based 2D side-scrolling platformer since the Super Nintendo classic “Super Mario World.” However, there was one catch that came along with the announcement of the new title – it’s Mario’s first co-op game, and it was the intentions of series creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, to be played by up to four players at once. It’s new ground for both Nintendo and Mario to be venturing into, and it could really take a turn for the worse, if it wasn’t executed properly. Fortunately, after spending some time with the game on the E3 show floor it looks like Nintendo is going to have yet another winner starring Mario on its hands. [Continue Reading]

E3 ‘09: Quick & Dirty Video Look At The Show Floor

The title says it all. Keep tuned into this page as we’ll be uploading quick and dirty videos of games straight from the show floor raw and uncut! [Continue Reading]