Faceez Review: Careful, Or You’ll Get Stuck Like That

When the original DS was released, included on board the system memory was a unique little program called Pictochat. Most DS users should be at least familiar with the program since you see it as an option every time you load up the system. When the DSi was released it followed suit and came packaged with a handful of different pack-in programs as well, one of which allowed you to edit pictures taken with the DSi’s camera. While it was a fairly robust little application, it was still limited in some capacities, and, overall, it just lacked a personality. Well, now Neko entertainment has taken some of the functionality of the photo editing software, improved on it, and released “Faceez” to the masses to tweak all their favorite pictures.
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New Super Mario Galaxy 2 Trailer Looks Intergalacticly Good

May 23rd looks like the date that gamers will have their first true Mario sequel in years. “Super Mario Galaxy 2,” co-staring everyone’s favorite dino-buddy Yoshi, will hit stores before the summer, and based on the trailer above, it looks like it’s going to live up to its predecessor. Between this, “BioShock,” “God of War,” “Mass Effect,” and who knows what else the year holds in sequels, 2009 is shaping up to rival 2007 as the best year in gaming… well at least in terms of sequels anyway.

Stop Stress: A Day of Fury Review: Walk A Mile In Jack’s Shoes

This console generation’s downloadable games were supposed usher in a whole new level of variety for gamers and developers alike. While Sony’s PSN and Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade have dabbled in introducing indie games to the larger gaming market, it’s becoming overwhelmingly apparent that, outside of XBLA’s dedicated indie games section, Nintendo’s WiiWare is the best way to go to discover new developers, and check out their latest work. Abylight is one of those young developers that has been using WiiWare to showcase their games, the latest of which is the ambitiously titled “Stop Stress: A Day of Fury.” [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]

Mario And Sonic At The Winter Olympic Games Review: Going For Gold

Sometime in the late 1980s, my parents went on a trip to Jamaica without me. I assume they had a good time, and completely understand them not wanting to drag me, a seven year old, and my brother, we’ll say thirteen at the time, around a tropical island with them. I get that. So, when they returned, seven year old me was only really concerned about what they brought me back. Much to my surprise, my parents seemed to have gotten something right, and they brought me back a Nintendo game, instead of some lame painted rock… or at least that’s what I thought until I started to play it. The game was the NES port of the Epyx “classic” “Winter Games,” and God, was it bad. Okay, maybe it wasn’t bad, but it was boring, and I could never really figure out the controls, especially for figure skating. Fast forward to the present day, and if my parents were to head to the Caribbean this holiday season, and bring me back a winter games themed video game, namely “Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games,” I think I would be singing a slightly different tune.

Comparing “Mario and Sonic” to “Winter Games” is like comparing apples to oranges, in that the only two things they have in common is that they are both comprised of a collection of winter themed games, and that they are both, in fact, video games. It stops there. “Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games” just has so much more to offer. [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]

Groovin’ Blocks Review: Keep The Beat

About a year ago, Empty Clip Studios released their first game on Nintendo’s WiiWare platform called, “Groovin’ Blocks,” and, even though it is one of the highest rated games on the service, there’s a good possibility that some gamers (like myself) may have missed it, not having a chance to play it. Well, if there are any Wii owners that didn’t catch it the first time around, and are fans of the whole falling-block genre, you’re in luck; Empty Clip and Zoo Games have released a version 1.5 of the game at retail, and you can give the enhanced version of the game a shot, at a discounted price. [Continue Reading]

Wii Sports Resort Review: Nintendo Takes You On Vacation

“Wii Sports” was the game that sold millions of Wiis. Not only was it the first game to be packed in with a console in years, but it also demonstrated to the Wii’s unique motion capabilities to anyone that was willing to give them a shot. Three years later, the follow up, “Wii Sports Resort” has been released to show off what the new controller add-on, Wii MotionPlus, can bring to the table. But, as any hardcore gamer that owns a Wii can tell you, the shine on Nintendo’s White Knight is starting to fade, and, for some people, this release runs to possibility of crossing the line between innovation and over-hyped gimmick. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes with the game to realize that the hype is well deserved, and that “Wii Sports Resort” is a solid product. [Continue Reading]

Rabbids Go Home Interview With A Look At Customization … In Zee Ouimote

The Rabbids have kicked Rayman out of the spotlight, and they’re finally getting their own game later this year. In “Rabbids Go Home” you’ll get to play as the pesky, screaming … rabbit… things… as they try to build a mountain of trash to go home, to the Moon. Yes, the story is actually that wacky, but that’s not even the half of it. Ubi’s developement team has always been at the forefront of Wiimote creativity, and that hasn’t changed at all for “Rabbids Go Home”; the game’s customization mode puts you inside the controller with a Rabbids. Yeah, it’s actually as awesome as it sounds.

Check out Unit’s interview with one of the game’s developers to see for a look at just what kind of craziness the Rabbids will be getting into when the game comes out this holiday season. [Continue Reading]

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