EDITORIAL: Where Nintendo Fails...

I just got my first Xbox360. It was a used deal, Xbox360+120gig hdd+ controller+rockband and all controllers+ 2 games for $150.00 I figured that I could easily sell it for what I paid if I did not like it.

I spent a weekend playing around with it, loved rock band and the family fun, started to explore the online marketplace and discovered somethign that nintendo utterly fails at.

many of the games I can download and run a demo of. I can try that new game right now. nintendo's answer? here, watch this video of someone playing. yuck. the Xbox demos have led to me buying a game. NOTHING on the nintendo store has ever led me to buy a game. I have watched the countless videos, and looked at what they offer but I have not bought one game because I wont unless I can try it.

nintendo, your sales through the store are poor because you don't have any down loadable playable demos.

Game Review: Wii Mario Kart edition.

I am a HUGE fan of mario Kart. I own every single version and when I got my hands on the Wii version I was disappointed. it's no better than Mario Kart DS or Gamecube version. Even though they have a TON more space on the DVD they do not include enough tracks to keep the game incredibly interesting. Some of the dynamics are a little better but in the end the game was more playable when you change the config so you use the nunchuck hat to steer and it simply looks like the Gamecube version and feels like it.

I am overall disappointed with it. They could have fit 100 tracks in there instead of the 20 they give you and the battle arenas need a crap-load more of them, plus bring back some of the awesome arenas from the N64 version.

3 out of 5 stars. I'll get it when it's under $40.00.

NOTE: yes ther eare more than 20 tracks, I discovered some I had to unlock, but the DVD could hold hundreds of tracks and make the game playable for a long time or they could have added a track editor for some real fun.

GAME REVIEW: The Simpsons Game

I am a huge fan of the simpsons. I have all the DVD's simpsons shirts, simpsons items, I love them. so when I rented the Simpsons Game for the Wii this weekend I had high hopes. The game has a lot of cut scenes from simpsons Tv episodes. and it has somewhat a decent fluid theme in the game and the graphics are decent for what they did. The graphics are nothing like they had for Samus and her awesome power suit, but it's acceptable, on the raving Rabbits scale of quality.

problem is playability. the third person camera sucks. most of the time it's not where it should be so you are busy jockeying it around. This RUINS game play. Many of the puzzles are of decent quality, it's a typical platformer game, jump here go there, stand on this button, beat this up. Unfortunately after the funny quotes wear off the fun of the game wears off as well. After 2 hours I gave up and simply shut off the Wii as I was bored. The challenge was light but fun, but it became repetitive.

I give the game 2 Stars. I'd buy it if it was $19.95.

REVIEW: Splinter Cell Double Agent

I'm a fan of strategy games. I also love many of the "Tom Clancy" franchise of games. But, I have only played them on the PC because honestly the controls on Consoles simply sucked for fine control games. Even a newbie with a PC can kick the butt of an experienced Console player because of the crappy controls. I looke at this title with excitement as I have seen both on Raving Rabbits and Metroid the Wii finally rules with fine control on shooters.

I was dissapointed. The game programmers did not even try to make the controls as good as they could be. They instead made it feel like I was using an old Gamecube controller causing frustration. Secondly they did not even try to make good graphics. My old gamecube game 007 everything or Nothing looks far better than this Wii game.

This game gets 1.5 stars for failure of control design and the graphics are pretty cruddy. It's worth $15.95 in the bargain bin. Anything more and you will be disappointed with it.

REVIEW:Intec REchargable Batteries and dock for WiiRemote

The Intec Rechargeable Batteries and Remote docking station is one of the cheaper rechargeable systems for the Wiimotes. It plugs into the wii's USb port for charging and at first look seems to be nicer and better looking than the others out there. All these benefits disappear the second you open the package. The batteries can only be charged if you REMOVE them from the Wiimote. also it reduces your Wiimote to two AAA batteries instead of AA batteries. Meaning you will be charging a LOT MORE. This would not be a problem if it was a drop in charge like the other brands, but this setup will guarantee dead batteries as kids will not remove the battery and put it on the charger. (charges ONE battery at a time.)

I strongly reccomend NOT getting the Intec brand Wii gear. it's really badly designed and a complete waste of money. Get the drop in charger type where all you do is set the remote in the stand to charge.

REVIEW: Metroid Prime 3 corruption

I am a huge fan of metroid. I have played them all, yes even the handheld versions. One thing that always sucked about metroid when it went 1st person shooter is the controls. you CANT play a 1st person shooter decently when you use the silly joysticks to aim. when I played online in Quake 3 against Xbox players I always kicked their butts fast when I was on a PC. the mouse kicks the crud out of a controller hands down in shooters. This version using the Wii controllers makes it a LOT better but it still needs help. you have to hit the edges of the screen to turn your view, ICK. I really wished they did it more like Quake where your crosshairs are ALWAYS center and you always aim your view. But that is the ONLY part bad about the game that you get used to fast. Let's just say that when I rented the game I did not realize that 8 hours had passed until I stopped for a bathroom break. Yes it's that engaging, the graphics are great and push the Wii to the edge. the gameplay and storyline is incredible. My only concern and the ONLY star lost is due to replayability. after you finish it the game will sit and rot. Unlike the other games that are multiplayer, this ine is done when you are done. Quake 4 and Doom 3 are exactly the same. zero replayability after you finish the game.

This get's 4 stars. I'll buy it when it hits $39.95. if you are a hardcore gamer, it is a must buy.

REVIEW: Mario Party 8

I am not big on the party games. the wario ware never seems to get my attention. This one though did. Friends brough it over and we played for at least 4 hours. I was hooked so badly I went out and bought it at full retail price. The gameplay is good, the minigames are complete enough to be very fun and even if you want to play hardcode against a little kid you can give them a handicap bonus so they actually have a chance.

This game shines best when you have 4 live players you can spend hours playing, and I have discovered myself playing single player against 3 cpu player for at least 3-4 hours at a time.

It's a blast. it's a 5 stars! I'll buy it at the $49.95 retail price... in fact I own it!