– Big Island is back
– It’s the world of giants from Super Mario Bros. 3
– Vast, continuous overworld
– Branching paths on the overworld
– Koopalings, Monty Moles are back
– Morton Jr. boss battle: he has a giant hammer that can shape the platforms around you
– Koopalings aren’t the only bosses
– King Koopa’s personal airship will appear while moving to a new world and starts a battle
– Even though you just beat a boss and completed a castle, another boss fight starts
– Bowser Jr. fights you underwater
– Jr. is in a Clown Submarine
– He launches torpedoes
– Guide the torpedoes into Jr. Bowser to defeat him
– Nabbit is a thief, need to capture him to recover the powerful prize he has stolen from the Toads – a P-Acorn that will give you the power of infinite flight
– To do so you enter a stage you’ve already completed, this time risking life and limb to catch the little bugger
– Challenge Mode included in which you need to complete objectives
– Each “level” in this is simple in design and execution
– One example: dodge fireballs thrown by two Fire Bros.
– You’ll be graded an assigned a bronze, silver, or gold trophy
– Unlock more challenges in menus separated by broad type such as a series focusing on Boost Mode, coin collecting, gathering 1-ups, or a “Special” section
– Special section houses the Fire Bros. stage and more
– Coin Battle: race to the end of a level and attempt to collect more coins than your friends
– These levels are pulled from the main game
– Customize the level with coin placement
– You have hundreds of coins at your disposal, and can craft even crazier tasks for you and your friends, daring others to jump blindly off ledges or risk everything for just a little extra gold
– Not a full level editor
Wii U Deluxe Set Owners Can Earn Points for Digital Purchases Through 2014 and Redeem Them for Even More Downloadable Games and Content
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– As Nintendo prepares to launch the revolutionary Wii U home console on Nov. 18, consumers in the United States can look forward to a special promotion that will give select Wii U owners even more bang for their entertainment buck. Nintendo today revealed details about the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets consumers who buy the Wii U Deluxe Set earn points when they purchase downloadable games and redeem those points for even more fun digital content in the online Nintendo eShop. The promotion gives Wii U Deluxe Set owners a big incentive to connect their systems to the Internet and discover a constantly expanding array of downloadable games, entertainment offerings and cool ways to connect with family and friends.
All Wii U Deluxe Set owners who purchase digital content for Wii U, including downloadable games in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U and download codes sold at select retail stores, will earn points with a value equivalent to approximately 10 percent of the Nintendo eShop list price of each purchase. For example, a game priced at $59.99, such as New Super Mario Bros. U, would earn 599 points. For every 500 points they earn, participants will receive a code worth $5 in credit to be used in the Nintendo eShop for either Wii U or Nintendo 3DS. Points will be earned on all digital purchases made on a Wii U Deluxe Set from Nov. 18, 2012, until Dec. 31, 2014. When the Deluxe Digital Promotion website launches in December, participants can see the points they’ve earned and receive codes for Nintendo eShop credit by signing in with their Nintendo Network ID and password. Codes must be received at the website by March 31, 2015. Received codes must be exchanged for Nintendo eShop credit on Wii U or Nintendo 3DS by June 30, 2015. Nintendo eShop credit on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS does not expire.
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Mario’s first Wii U adventure, New Super Mario Bros. U, launches alongside the new Wii U console on Nov. 18. In addition to all the side-scrolling fun that Mario is known for, the game includes a number of special modes and features that will make players want to jump in again and again.
Challenge Mode: Challenge Mode tasks players with completing specific objectives, such as clearing a course without touching a single coin or touching the ground. There are four single-player Challenge categories: Time Attack, Coin Collection, 1-Up Rally and Special (miscellaneous challenges). Boost Mode Challenges require two players, with one player using the Wii U GamePad controller and the other using a Wii Remote controller. Once players complete a Challenge, the game saves a replay of the action so players can show off their accomplishments.
Coin Battle: Up to five players can play together and compete to see who can collect the most coins. One player will use the Wii U GamePad controller while the other four players use the Wii Remote controller. The player using the Wii U GamePad controller in Boost Mode can place Boost Blocks to help grab hard-to-reach coins. Players can also use the GamePad to edit and customize the coin layout in courses found only in Coin Battle. The coin layout can then be saved and played by the players using Wii Remote controllers.
World Map: New Super Mario Bros. U is the first side-scrolling Mario game since 1991’s Super Mario World that features a seamless World Map with named worlds and courses. The map contains many secret exits, which might change the map and cause shortcuts to appear. The worlds are interconnected, so people can play through the game in a nonlinear fashion.
Nabbit: From time to time, a creature named Nabbit will appear on the world map. Players must enter the course and catch the speedy Nabbit to recover items stolen from Toad. If Nabbit is nabbed, players receive a powerful P-Acorn, which will allow them to fly continuously through an entire stage. The only way to obtain a P-Acorn is to catch Nabbit.
Multiple controllers are necessary for multiplayer modes. Game, system and some accessories are sold separately. For more information, visit http://newsupermariobrosu.nintendo.com.
Source: Nintendo PR
Hi folks,
As Austin mentioned yesterday, I lost power last night. Fortunately Hurricane Sandy did not cause any damage to my house and I’m okay for the most part.
The problem is that the latest estimates suggest that power could take as long as a week to come back. Believe me when I say that a massive amount of people have been affected by power outages, which is why the wait could take so long.
I was able to come across a Wi-Fi spot and should be able to handle updates for a few hours. I’ll have to head out eventually though, so Austin will be taking over later tonight.
I’m not sure how I’ll be approaching updates over the next few days, so we’ll just have to play it by ear. Hope everyone else on the East Coast is alright though!
PR email…
Embark on an Epic Journey Through Middle-earth
in the Biggest LEGO Videogame YetBurbank, Calif. – October 30, 2012 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games proudly announce the launch of LEGO® The Lord of the Rings™, available in stores today across North America for the Nintendo DS™ hand-held system, the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system and for the PS®Vita system. Now family members of all ages can assume the role of their favorite Fellowship members in LEGO form as they embark on an epic and thrilling adventure to save Middle-earth. LEGO The Lord of the Rings will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Wii™ system and Windows PC on November 13, 2012.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings is based on The Lord of the Rings motion picture trilogy and relives the Fellowship’s astonishing adventure across the imaginative world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, but with the added fun, humor and creativity that fans can expect from the LEGO videogame franchise. Featuring dialogue from the films, players will experience the same cinematic thrills and excitement they witnessed in the award-winning film series. Whether longtime fans, or newcomers to the The Lord of the Rings saga, family members of all ages will undoubtedly enjoy the humorous, playful touch that TT Games has imparted upon this epic story.
“With LEGO The Lord of the Rings, we are taking players on a truly remarkable adventure that is more epic than any they’ve experienced before in a LEGO game,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “The game has a wonderful cast of characters, dramatic battles, and amazing locations, all of which bring The Lord of the Rings story to life in a uniquely LEGO way that the entire family will enjoy together.”
LEGO The Lord of the Rings marks the first time younger gamers will be fully immersed into the The Lord of the Rings lore, and experience Middle-earth with the humor and imagination of LEGO gameplay. Players will take on the form of their favorite members of the Fellowship – Frodo the Hobbit, Aragorn the Ranger, Gandalf the Wizard, Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf, Boromir a Man of Gondor, and Frodo’s Hobbit friends Sam, Merry and Pippin – as they relive the most momentous events from the films. They will be able to partake in the iconic Helms Deep Battle, run around The Shire, escape the fiery pits of Mount Doom, and battle against Shelob, the Nazgûl, and the Ringwraiths in a special mode in the game, all the while solving puzzles, collecting and using a variety of weaponry and magical items, including the Light of E?rendil, Elven rope, swords, and bows.
Family and friends will enjoy exploring Middle-earth together through the easy access drop-in, drop-out gameplay option available on the consoles, as well as the wireless play available on the Nintendo 3DS and PS®Vita. Together they can discover and unlock more than 85 playable characters, including some fan favorites such as Arwen Evenstar, Sauron the Dark Lord of Mordor, and Lurtz armed with the Mithril Cluster Bow.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings is rated “E10+” for everyone 10 and older by the ESRB and is now available for the Nintendo DS for the suggested retail price of $39.99 (U.S.), and for the Nintendo 3DS and the PS®Vita for the suggested retail price of $39.99 each (U.S.). The game complements the LEGO® The Lord of the Rings toy line, which includes seven construction sets, such as The Battle of Helms Deep™ and The Mines of Moria™. For more information, please visit: http://thelordoftherings.LEGO.com.
“Families and friends can experience Mario together like never before with Miiverse. See other players’ comments and accomplishments while you play, and leave your own feedback for others to see when connected to the Nintendo Network.”
Hmm… I’m not quite sure what to make of this honestly! It’s not capitalized so I’m not sure I’d put TOO much clout in it, but on the other hand, what else could “viewing accomplishments” mean? There must be SOME list of things people have achieved, whether it be in the form of generalities (Austin beat GAME X and GAME Y) or specifics with points like a Gamerscore. Either way, we should find out soon via that Miiverse-centric Nintendo Direct!
Neogaf, via GoNintendo
“Yeah, on Monday I am off to meet Infinity Ward about the next game, Modern Warfare 4, I’m doing work on the sequel to Modern Warfare 3, it carries straight on and I only ever appear in the Modern Warfare games.” – No, not that Bill Murray; voice actor for Captain Price Bill Murray
This was apparently said to the guy who runs “ThisIsXbox” when he met Mr. Murray in an airplane on his way to London. He has a picture to prove it, and given the candid nature of Murray’s disclosure I don’t think he thought that the young man he was talking to worked on/ran an Xbox fansite!
Funny, I actually thought the third entry might finally see an end to the series…
ThisIsXbox, via VideoGamer
Hmm… What to make of this…
We haven’t heard anything about a Wii U version of Ubisoft’s upcoming Splinter Cell: Blacklist, but I guess it’s certainly possible. The game isn’t coming out until next spring either way, so we probably have a ways to wait before we know for sure what the deal is.
On another note, that image sure does remind me of how many great games the Wii U is getting at launch!
Just like Grand Theft Auto 5, a 3DS release of the PSP’s “Eliminage Gothic” is coming out next Spring, bringing more great dungeon-crawling, item-gathering to Nintendo fans with a few changes from the prior release. Starfish (the game’s developer) hasn’t said what these changes are, but I’d imagine a few extra dungeons, some enemy/weapon redesigns for the sake of balance, and maybe some new items for people to gather.
No word on whether this will leave Japan at this point.
