QA Quandaries: How Nintendo Dropped the Ball This Gen

If you own a copy of the latest Legend of Zelda release, Skyward Sword, you are probably familiar with the game-breaking glitch that the title possesses late in the game. This is yet another glitch that stops dead the progress of players from Nintendo. What happened? When did the quality of Nintendo's QA drop so suddenly between generations?

The first glitch takes place in the infamous cannon room in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The glitch occurs when players save their data in the room and then quit or reset the game. When Link wakes up, the cannon room attendant who was there before disappears. When players try to warp out of the room, Midna stops them stating that the room attendant is watching when he actually isn't. If Links attempts to walk out of the room, an invisible (see: glitched out) room attendant stops him, not letting Link out. If players come across this glitch and do not have an alternate save from an earlier point in the game, they have no choice but to restart the game from the beginning. This glitch only affects older copies of Twilight Princess as newer ones have the glitch fixed. Has this happened to you? I somehow avoided this as I felt no need to save my progress and quit inside the room.

Link might be a silent protagonist, but even he'd curse
if he had to start his journey all over again because of a glitch.

The next glitch, although not game-breaking, just game-crashing, happens in some PAL versins of Super Paper Mario. The glitch involves Mimi in Chapter 2-2 while the player is searching for Merlee inside her mansion. If one speaks to Mimi before retrieving the needed key and after entering the room with the falling spiked ceiling, the game will crash. The owner of their Wii will be forced to hold the power button on the console down for approximately five seconds to get things back to normal. Future editions of Super Paper Mario do not apparently have this glitch in it.

Returning from games crashing to games impeding one's progress permanently, Metroid: Other M has a game-breaking bug which halts the player's ability to advance. This occurs if players obtain the Ice Beam weapon, backtrack to the save room after destroying the "two-legged spiked enemy" in lieu of going to the next door and opening it. If players simply move forward after the fight, the glitch should not happen. Nintendo copped up to the bug, and gave players the option to send the SD cards to a Nintendo facility to have the problem fixed. It was an inconvenient solution to a botheration that should not have been there in the first place.

Forget the baby. The bug, the bug, the bug, the bug, etc.

The next game-breaking bug takes place within the realm of Skyloft in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. When players reach a plot-relevant three-way quest (the quest will be obvious to those who make it to this point of the game), if players talk to Golo the Goron twice without finishing the three parts of the quest, proceeding in the game will be impossible. Players will have to start the entire game from the beginning. There is no word on a fix to this obstacle such as sending one's SD card to Nintendo to have them remedy the situation. Nintendo themselves have owned up to this issue, but as said there is no solution other than restarting the game.

Just don't talk to Golo the Goron again, and you'll be fine.

The final and most recent glitch happens online in Mario Kart 7 on the Maka Wuhu track (the sunset-soaked Wuhu Island race). It happens if a player falls off the course in a certain section. The racer will then be dropped off by Lakitu way further ahead on the track. This exploit is something that is common with players who care more about winning than actually having fun and racing fair (see: people who snake). Hopefully, you have a decent community where players who pick Maka Wuhu won't exploit this unfortunate glitch.

See the glitch exploited here.

The main problem with Nintendo's glitches is that they are not able to be patched like the HD platforms. As stated with Metroid: Other M, players who ran into the save room glitch either had to restart their data or send their SD card into Nintendo for them to fix. This makes QA exponentially important for Nintendo as they cannot just skimp out on testing and hope for the best. Even with hundreds of hours invested in QA, these aforementioned problems persist and exist. Some glitches can be fun to use, but the ones listed are completely hazardous.

Have you encountered any of the above glitches or glitches not mentioned in various Nintendo games? If so, let everyone know your horror stories via the comments section.

Nintendo 3DS Hardware Review

I've had the Nintendo 3DS since August. It was an early Christmas gift from my brother. I've tinkered with the functions, played the games, and now I render my verdict. Is the 3DS worth purchasing at this stage in the game? Let's find out with my review.

A new dimension of fun

The Nintendo 3DS's start was quite rocky. It had anemic sales, an oasis of a library, and a high cost to purchase. All three of these problems have been rectified, and the future of Nintendo's newest handheld system looks a lot brighter than it did in, say, the summer. Introducing for the first time on a gaming platform glasses-less 3D, the Nintendo 3DS may be selling better than ever, but should you enter this new glasses-free dimension of gaming?

Turning on the 3DS for the first time is a delight as is viewing the depth of the 3DS's patented 3D. The start-up menu is well-designed with several icons that can be lined up into one row or a series of rows via smaller icons. There's a myriad of software already loaded onto the 3DS such as the Sound Channel, the eShop, Face Raiders, Mii StreetPass Plaza, and several downloadable ones as well.

With the Sound Channel one can put MP3s onto an SD card (the 3DS already comes with one inside the system which is easy to take out, and there is no special brand needed unlike the upcoming PlayStation Vita). The songs can be listened to with the 3DS in Sleep Mode (closing the system while it is still on).

The glossy finish of the 3DS is a fingerprint magnet.
(Japanese model not included.)

The eShop is the marketplace of the 3DS. It possesses videos that can be viewed in 3D such as the special and awesome biweekly Nintendo Show 3D, DSiWare games, 3DSWare games (as of this review the selection is modest at best), the 3D Classics line of titles where classic games are given the 3D treatment, and Virtual Console games like Metroid II: Return of Samus, Donkey Kong, Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, to name a handful. The shop layout can be a bit troublesome to sift through, the pricing structure can feel like you're being ripped off, and there is currently no download queue or way to download a game in Sleep Mode. Coming soon (at least at the time of this review) are downloadable demos for various retail games like Super Mario 3D Land and Monster Hunter 3G (for Japan anyway). All in all, the eShop is serviceable, but there is much more room for improvement.

A game already installed on the 3DS as soon as one turns it on is Face Raiders. With the built-in gyro motion controls the system has, players twist around in a circle, blasting floating and flying faces of friends, family, enemies, and more to shoot for a high score. Just line up the 3DS with a human face (either a live one or a picture of one) using the 3DS's frontal cameras and take a picture. There are multiple levels of Face Raiders, and the game itself is a worthy distraction and greatly shows off the various features of the 3DS.

Blast Obama (if you're a conservative)
or bomb Bush (if you're a liberal).

Miis return from the Wii and DSi for players to personalize. One can make their own Mii with a flurry of facial features such as eyes, noses, mouths, hairstyles, accessories, and wrinkles. One can scour the Internet for QR codes to capture and create other 3DS owner Miis effortlessly. All it takes is a quick glance of a QR code in the 3DS's frontal camera, and bam! A Miis materializes right before the eyes. With StreetPass, a feature that when turned on allows for 3DS systems that pass by one another to trade Mii data as well as other game data such as character figurines in Dead or Alive Dimensions, for instance. Stranger Miis can be used in an RPG-like game to collect special Nintendo-themed hats and to get puzzle pieces for several jigsaw puzzles of numerous Nintendo games. Play coins, earned by walking with the 3DS in tow and powered on, are used to purchase new pieces of puzzles as well as to unlock items in games that support the coins.

Take a picture and have the 3DS make a Mii out of it,
or capture a QR code. The choice is yours.

Another interesting addition to the 3DS is the Activity Log. This displays the playtime of all 3DS, DS (the 3DS is 100% backwards-compatible with nearly all Nintendo DS games), and downloadable software. It shows how many hours and minutes one had played, the first and last date they've played, the average playtime, and how many times they've played a particular game. I find it addicting to see how much I've invested into each game or hardware function of the 3DS.

One of the coolest parts of the 3DS is AR or augmented reality. The system comes with a series of AR cards that when placed in front of the 3DS's camera displays a 3D model of a Nintendo character (Mario, Young Link, Samus Aran, Kirby, Pikmin, or a Mii or series of Miis) in a real world setting. One can play AR games like fishing, target practice, a bowling type game, and much more with these cards. Sure, it can be difficult to keep the card in the camera's view, but it is still quite cool.

The gang's all here.

The build of the 3DS is relatively light and the size of the DS Lite. It fits easily in one's jacket or pants pocket, but it comes with a potential problem-- smudges and scratches from the lower screen to the top screen. I still to this day do not know where in the world the microphone on the system actually is, and the location of the stylus (the back of the system) isn't in the best spot. I'd prefer it on the right side like with the DSL. Additionally, turning on the system by pressing down a small square button below the face buttons sometimes takes multiple attempts to actually turn the darned system on, and the start and select buttons don't press in at all. They feel odd to me. Furthermore, the battery life of the 3DS isn't too terribly impressive, lasting 3-5 hours on full brightness and full 3D. The system comes with a charger as well as a cradle, so if you're like me and play your portables at home most of the time, this is not a huge deal. For those who go out and about with their handheld systems, then be forewarned that extended play sessions will drain the battery rather quickly.

Unlike the PSP before it, the 3DS uses a circle pad for analog movement in three-dimensional games. For games that use it, it controls the action rather well, feels great, and offers more precision than the PSP's cursed analog nub. Some might argue that the lack of a second circle pad on the right side of the system is a negative and will bite Nintendo in its metaphorical butt. However, I believe the touch screen can be substituted for the second circle pad, and if one doesn't like that, they can purchase the upcoming Circle Pad Pro.

The 3D effect itself varies from game to game. Sometimes it is incredibly impressive while other times it is just there. Games like Super Mario 3D Land, Pilotwings Resort, and Star Fox 64 3D display a prominent and wonderful 3D effect while games like Rayman 3D, Super Monkey Ball 3D, and Pokemon Rumble Blast pretty much do not. For those who are too young and shouldn't utilize the 3D, parental controls can shut off the 3D or the 3D slider on the right side of the top screen can be pushed down to nothingness.

Those who think the library of the 3DS is empty simply haven't taken the time to do any proper research. Yes, there are remakes of Nintendo 64 classics like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D as well as ports like Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, but there are plenty of exclusive-to-3DS titles, too, like Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Dead or Alive Dimensions, Pilotwings Resort, Tetris Axis, and Ace Combat. 2012 is looking even better with a plethora of looking-to-be-excellent software such as Luigi's Mansion 2, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Paper Mario (tentative title), Mario Tennis (tentative title), Monster Hunter 3G and Monster Hunter 4, Bravely Default, Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, Resident Evil: Revelations, and Tales of the Abyss.

By far the most impressive use of 3D is in Super Mario 3D Land.

Overall, the Nintendo 3DS is a worthy addition to one's collection of portable gaming entertainment. While all the kinks of the system haven't been ironed out such as scratched screens, lack of a second analog, small window to view the 3D effect, among others, the amount of content available for Nintendo's newest gaming platform is more than enough to jump in. A Nintendo faithful knows how much the company loves crafting redesigns to their handheld systems, so if you are hesitant to get a 3DS for this reason, wait. Or you can purchase a 3DS now and trade on up to the redesigned 3DS with a better battery life, bigger window to view the 3D effect, larger size, and other beneficial bonuses. The new dimension of fun is here, and its name is Nintendo 3DS.

[SuperPhillip Says: 7.5/10]

Best of... Mario Kart

Mario Kart 7 raced its way onto store shelves in North America yesterday, so now racers from 'round the world can duke it out and jock for position. To celebrate I believe it is time we take a glance at the best the Mario Kart series has to offer in various different categories. From the entry with the best tracks to the best characters to the best items to the best game overall, your good buddy SuperPhillip will decide all. Note: Mario Kart 7 will not be considered for any awards. Let's get started, shall we?

[Best Characters]

Runner-Up: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)


The addition of two racers per vehicle allowed for an exhaustive list of characters to choose from. You could mix and match as much as you wanted. Pair up a lightweight with a heavyweight or have two middleweights share a kart. This was the first game that brought Waluigi, Daisy, Diddy Kong, King Boo, Petey Piranha, Paratroopa, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, Bowser Jr., Birdo, and Toadette into the racing spotlight, so any game that does that is worthy of being the runner-up, don't you think?

Winner: Mario Kart Wii (Wii)


Not just quantity (which Mario Kart Wii has the most racers in any Mario Kart) but quality as well, Mario Kart Wii succeeds in offering the most bang for one's buck character-wise. New challengers approached such as the for some reason heavyweight Rosalina, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, Funky Kong, Dry Bowser, and even one's Mii. There were three classes of weight, and each class had the same amount of characters but different karts and bikes for each class. It is for the aforementioned reasons that Mario Kart Wii is victorious when it comes to characters.

[Best Kart Variety]

Runner-up: Mario Kart DS (DS)


Besides having seven karts available for each character such as a bulldozer, a terrific off-road tank, the Egg-1, a kart shaped like the Donkey Kong Country helper Rambi, and even a Koopa clown car, players could unlock the ability to have all of the karts available for each character regardless of which racer they chose. Of course, online you'd only see one of two or three different karts (usually the tank and the Egg-1), but that still does not deny the excellent amount of karts available for players in Mario Kart DS.

Winner: Mario Kart Wii (Wii)


Was there any doubt? Whether you're speeding on a mach bike shaped like Bowser to jetting along Rainbow Road in the Blue Falcon from F-Zero fame, there's a kart or bike for you. Each weight class has its own designated set of vehicles to hop on or hop in. Choose from unlockables like the Dolphin Dasher, the Magikoopa-like Magikruiser, the duck-shaped Quacker, the Cheep Charger, the Piranha Prowler, and the Turbo Blooper, to name a handful. Each kart or bike controls differently than the last, so choose wisely and tear up the track.

[Best Items]

Runner-up: Mario Kart Wii (Wii)


Offering an abundant selection of items, oftentimes obliterating everybody in mass chaos, Mario Kart Wii's items may not have been balanced, but they were pretty cool to use. From the from-worst-to-near-first Bullet Bill, to the Bob-omb, to the cloud which shrank whoever was unfortunate to be the loser of a game of hot potato, to the Blooper which obscured the screen with its black ink, to the Mega Mushroom, the items in Mario Kart Wii could certainly not be considered boring. For that reason alone, the Wii installment takes the runner-up spot.

Winner: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)


Not only were there two Mushroom Kingdom denizens per kart, but each individual racer had his or her own unique item to use on the competition. Bowser and his son had a giant spiked shell that bounced off walls, annihilating all who dared to drive by it, Peach and Daisy had a protective heart shield that grabbed items used against them, Mario and Luigi had fireballs, the duo of koopas had a trio of shells to utilize, Wario and Waluigi had Bob-ombs, and Yoshi and Birdo had homing eggs that when cracked open, revealed three items on the track. There are so many more items in addition to the specialized ones that Double Dash!! winning this category is a no-brainer.

[Best Music]

Runner-up: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)


The carefree tunes of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! are insanely infectious. Whether listening to the marimba on Peach Beach, the charming tune of the circuit tracks, or hearing the riff from Mario Kart 64 in the GameCube's version of Rainbow Road, the music presented in this pleasant package is fantastic. Take a listen to these samples to know what I mean:

Baby Park
Mushroom Bridge/City
Rainbow Road

Winner: Mario Kart 64 (N64)


Chalk it up to nostalgia if you like, but Kenta Nagata hit it out of the park when he composed the music for the Nintendo 64 multiplayer classic, Mario Kart 64. The songs get ingrained into your subconscious as you continuously listen to them. The credits music especially is one of the best of all time, and you, too, can hear it along with these other fine examples:

Circuit
Toad's Turnpike
Staff Roll

[Best Tracks]

Runner-up: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)


With sixteen glorious new tracks ranging from races on frozen lakes infested with skating Shy Guys, deserts full of prancing Pokeys, a Delfino-inspired beach owned by Princess Peach, a luxury cruise liner just off the coast of Peach Beach, and one of the better versions of Bowser's Castle, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has a ton of interesting tracks. Even the circuits like Mario Circuit which wraps around Peach's Castle and has one ornery Chain-Chomp, a brigade of Goombas, and an array of Piranha Plants along the side of the road as well as Yoshi Circuit which is in the shape of Mario's dinosaur companion.

Winner: Mario Kart DS (DS)


Mario Kart DS possesses some of my favorite tracks in series history such as a romp through Luigi's Mansion where after driving through the haunted halls of the mansion, players drive through a graveyard and then the back stretch which is covered in mud and walking trees, planted to block one's path. Delfino Square is one of my all-time faves featuring a leisurely stroll through the city blocks of a Delfino town. Other incredible tracks include Airship Fortress, Mario Circuit, Waluigi Pinball, and Shroom Ridge. I don't even have to include the sixteen retro tracks, a then new addition to the franchise, to make a convincing case that the DS iteration has the greatest set of tracks in franchise history.

[Overall Best]

Runner-up: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)


It was a simpler time-- even with the introduction of two Mushroom Kingdom citizens in one kart and character-specific items. The blue shell wasn't overused to death like in future Mario Karts, and the tracks and characters were colorful and creative. My favorite pairing would always have to be Waluigi and Bowser Jr. so I'd have Bob-ombs and big Bowser shells at my disposal. Nothing like sharing a kart with another player, or hooking up the GameCubes up for an 8-player LAN party. This was an age where Nintendo did not know what the Internet was. Is it a type of cake?

Winner: Mario Kart DS (DS)


The reigning champ is Mario Kart DS-- the ultimate kart racer in the series. From having thirty-two tracks to choose from (as stated before the new ones being the best in the series), twelve characters, multiple karts of varying stats, and for the first time ever on a Nintendo system, online play. Yes, it was rudimentary, and half of the tracks were not available to race online, and yes, there were hackers and snakers, but play with a decent group of friends, and fun times were had (that concludes this run-on sentence). The item balance was there unlike Mario Kart Wii, and the visuals were impressive for the time and for the system. For the greatest in Mario Kart action, Mario Kart DS should be in your collection.

===

That concludes this award ceremony. Would your results look somewhat similar or completely different? Let me know in the comments section along with whether or not you enjoyed this celebration of all things Mario Kart.

Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! (3DSWare) Debut Trailer

Shinen is terrific on Nintendo hardware. I'd love to see what they could do on other platforms, but if that means spreading themselves too thin, then no way, Jose. Their next downloadable title is for 3DSWare, and it is a sequel to their WiiWare miniature golf game. It is Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! The game allows you to utilize the touch controls of the 3DS or use the circle pad on one of 54 individual holes spread out on unique environment. Earn coins to purchase equipment, and go for that ever elusive hole-in-one!

Direct! Link! Here!

Pokemon Rumble Blast (3DS) Review

It is the second of December and already we are jumping into our first review of the month. It is a recent release for the Nintendo 3DS, Pokemon Rumble Blast (also known as Super Pokemon Rumble/Scramble). Will this fill your need to catch 'em all?

The Toys Are Back in Town

With every new Nintendo portable comes a new generation of Pokemon games. While we wait for Pokemon Granite and Brick or whatever Nintendo decides to call the next generation of Pokemon titles, we, the gaming masses, are subjected to countless spin-offs featuring everyone's favorite pocket monsters. It is no different with the Nintendo 3DS. Instead of going with a puzzler or racing game like the DS had, the 3DS gets a $40 sequel to the WiiWare service's Pokemon Rumble. Is there enough content in Pokemon Rumble Blast to justify the premium cost, or are you better off continuing to grind your Pokemon in Pokemon Black and White while waiting for the next generation of games?

The world of Pokemon Rumble Blast does not use real life Pokemon. Instead they are replaced with toys that are wound up and let loose. Pokemon here do not evolve, they do not gain levels, and they do not learn moves in the traditional sense. Each town in the game has a Glowdrop fountain, the lifeblood of the world. When a mysterious and seemingly sinister force begins stealing the drops from each town for their own unknown gain, the world starts to lose its luster and balance. Commanding an armada of Pokemon toys, it is your job to stop the army of Pokemon led by Cobalion and restore order to the world of toy Pokemon. Rumble Blast is divided up between five unique chapters. Cutscenes mostly display the story, and these are relatively quick. Unfortunately, these cannot be skipped, but they are so short most of the time so it is not a huge problem.

Any Miis on your 3DS will appear at the beginning of the game.

There are four types of gameplay in Pokemon Rumble Blast. The first has players selecting a Pokemon and going to one of many zones. These zones have multiple linear areas full of Pokemon to defeat. Most of the time you'll gather PP, the currency of the game, from defeating Pokemon, but if you're lucky you'll defeat and befriend a Pokemon, adding them to your collection of usable pocket monsters. Each zone has its own set of Pokemon to collect, but some won't appear unless you're really lucky. There are over 600 individual Pokemon that become a part of your collection, so you'll be spending a lot of time with this game if you so choose to do so. However, the repetitiveness of combat may make some players grow tired of the game long before they beat the game. This takes anywhere between 9-12 hours. There are more zones than in the WiiWare installment with such areas as forests, glaciers, volcanoes, factories, graveyards, and lakes. At the conclusion of each zone, you face off against a boss Pokemon, a bigger version than normal of a pocket monster. With good luck (perhaps by using a Pokemon with a certain lucky trait...) you will befriend that Pokemon after knocking it out of commission.

Zerkom is one boss that means business.

Each Pokemon you befriend has its own attack power. The stronger the power, the more damage it does. Each Pokemon can also use up to two moves. Most Pokemon come with two already learned, but you can purchase new moves from a vendor in one of the many towns the game has to offer. There is some strategy involved in choosing a Pokemon. Sure, your monster might have powerful moves, but if they take too much time to unleash, then you're vulnerable to being attacked. Quick offensive abilities might be swift in unleashing, but they don't take off as much damage. Additionally, some Pokemon are faster movers than others. Then there's types of Pokemon to take into consideration. For example, a fire type will make short work of a grass type, but it will also be harmed exponentially by a water type. Furthermore, some moves can create a status effect such as paralysis, confusion, poison, and burn. These wear off after a short while, but they can pop up at the most inopportune moments.

You only have three keys to work with. A key is lost when one of your toy monsters is downed. Lose three monsters in a zone, and it is game over. Switch wounded Pokemon out before they are defeated, but remember that switching out takes some time. If the toy you are switching out is attacked, the switch will fail.

Switch out when there are no hazards nearby.

After all of the zones in a world map area are completed, players will be able to participate in a battle royale. This is the second type of gameplay in Pokemon Rumble Blast. This has you picking a Pokemon and battling in a WWE Royal Rumble styled match. Of course, there is no over the top rope rule. Instead, the ring is lined with an electrified fence. The goal here is to take out all of the opposing Pokemon within the time limit. Downed Pokemon that you take out will drop clocks that add more time to the clock. Special boss Pokemon (these are the same size as normal Pokemon unlike zone bosses) will have more HP and do more damage. Successfully be the last toy standing to become victorious. Some battle royales specify a specific type of Pokemon needed, so some royales might require you to use a fighting type or a ground type, for instance.

The third form of gameplay is a team battle where you select three Pokemon to launch into multiple battle arenas. You control one Pokemon while the AI controls the other two. After each round, the boss Pokemon drops health that will partially restore everyone's HP. Downed allies can be revived a sliver of the way by standing over their frail bodies. If all three Pokemon fall, then you lose. Team battles can be incredibly frustrating as sometimes it just seems like using the same strategy one time does well while using it again does a different result. It feels like a crap shoot most of the time.

Finally, there are charge battles where you take a group of Pokemon into battle and rush several targets. The combined attack power of your brigade of toy creatures must outnumber the power of your opponents. Meanwhile you must mash the A button to get your rushing power up to max in order to obliterate the opposition.

Pokemon Rumble Blast is not the best looking 3DS game. The toy models are crude, the backgrounds are static, and the presentation values just aren't there. The 3D effect is pleasant, but there are so many other titles on Nintendo's latest handheld that show the effect much better and much more impressively. The soundtrack borrows selected pieces from the WiiWare game while also sporting several new tracks. These are memorable tunes that had me humming while playing occasionally. The toy Pokemon utilize the sounds they speak from the games, and these can come across as grating to some. This isn't the Pokemon Company's best effort presentation-wise.

The bottom screen displays the map, your money,
how many PKMN you've collected, and much more.

Overall, if you don't mind the repetitive combat and low budget, then you might find something to enjoy in Pokemon Rumble Blast. Collecting the over 600 different Pokemon is an enjoyable task, and befriending new, more powerful Pokemon is addicting. It is a rush, really. Still, at forty dollars MSRP, I'm hesitant to fully recommend this game. It might have been better as a downloadable eShop title. Sure, there is plenty of content to be found, but will most players stick around until the very end and beyond? Poke-fanatics will discover a lot to love about Rumble Blast, but the shallow combat might put off everyone else.

[SuperPhillip Says: 7.0/10]

Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) North American Debut Trailer

It's officially official, official SPC faithful-- Xenoblade Chronicles is coming to North America via GameStop and Nintendo of America after a long wait. It seemed hopeless, but the constant cries for localization were apparently worth it. Check out the first of what I assume to be many trailers for this what has been been called greatest RPG of this generation. Xenoblade Chronicles is currently set for an April 2012 release.

Make a call to arms here.

Top Ten Zelda Items

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is now available worldwide for Wii. It brings with it the most versatile combat the series has ever seen via MotionPlus. To commemorate this occasion I would like to post a list of my favorite items from the Zelda franchise. From past to present, these items have helped Link and the players controlling him reach the conclusion of his many quests.

10) Fire and Ice Rods


Both rods are basically the same save for elemental powers, the Fire and Ice Rods from A Link to the Past use energy from Link's magic meter each time they are used. The boss of the Dark World's seventh dungeon, Turtle Rock, can only be defeated by attacking the fire snake with the Ice Rod and the ice snake with the Fire Rod. They are tremendous attackers to enemies that Link does not want to get too close for comfort to.

9) Magnetic Gloves


Introduced in Oracle of Seasons, the Magnetic Gloves will really pull you into using them. They can be used to defeat Magnites by pulling the iron masks off them and then attacking them with Link's blade. The armor of Iron Masks can also be pulled off with these formidable hand warmers. Puzzles can be solved, Link can pull himself across chasms, and they can be utilized to draw a large metallic orb to attack foes. In Four Swords the Magnetic Gloves can be used to pull other Links towards the player.

8) Pegasus Boots


Used to run fast, pass through enemies with sword in front, and just speed through hallways, the Pegasus Boots are advantageous in getting through the 2D Zelda games such as A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, and the Oracle couple of titles, The Minish Cap, Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures, and Phantom Hourglass. The Pegasus Boots can be used in tandem with Roc's Feather/Roc's Cape to fly over much larger gaps than if just using Roc's Feather by its lonesome.

7) Roc's Cape


A more enhanced version of Roc's Feather (the one that first made its appearance in Link's Awakening), The Minish Cap's Roc's Cape not only allowed Link to leap over chasms in an effortless fashion, but he could also hover for a brief period of time as he floats to the ground. To cross over chasms and ignore enemies was the main job of Roc's Cape. This item is received by Link from a giant treasure chest inside the Palace of Winds dungeon.

6) The Spinner


The Spinner item is closely guarded by the Death Sword in the fourth dungeon of Twilight Princess, Arbiter's Grounds. It is essential for crossing sandy recesses that Link would otherwise sink in. With the Spinner, Link can hover over such recesses, attack enemies by performing a spin attack where spikes pull out of the spinning top-like device, and ride it like a skateboard. Certain walls can be scaled by digging the spikes of the Spinner into them, and Link can ride across them safely. The boss of the Arbiter's Grounds can only be defeated through Spinner use. Unfortunately, the item is used sparingly outside of the dungeon which is why it isn't as high on the list as I'd like. It is truly an entertaining means to ride around the world map.

5) Bombchu


Making its first appearance in Ocarina of Time, the portable bombs known as Bombchu move along at a fair pace before exploding upon contact with their target. Link starts out with ten Bombchu, but he can gain more through completing certain mini-games. Puzzles require Link to let a Bombchu go through a small hole to hit an out-of-the-way switch. Bombchus returned in Majora's Mask, both Oracle games, and Phantom Hourglass.

4) Gale Boomerang


A relic from the original Zelda, the Boomerang is a mainstay of the franchise. It has been in every (correct me if I am wrong, guys) Zelda since the beginning in various forms. Sometimes it merely stops enemies in their tracks while other times it damages them. Sometimes it spins a short distance away from Link while other times it strays a fair distance from the green clad hero. Twilight Princess features my favorite version of the Boomerang, the Gale Boomerang. It creates a gust of wind that takes out the most precarious of baddies. Like past Boomerangs, it can grab far away objects and send them toward Link. Several puzzles utilize the Gale Boomerang in ingenious ways such as powering up windmills and the like.

3) Beetle


The lone item representing the newest game in Zelda lore, Skyward Sword, the Beetle item has players adjusting the Wii remote and controlling the item with the device. Turning the remote toward the left moves it to the left, and turning the remote toward the right moves the Beetle to the right, funnily enough. The Beetle is used to attack enemies from afar, to reach switches that are otherwise unreachable (such as a switch that is on the other side of a wall), and to cut down Skulltulas that hang from webs. The item is insanely fun to use, and it is a terrific addition to the armada of items in The Legend of Zelda's tool library.

2) Hero's Bow


An item that few Zelda games can go without, the Bow (sometimes called the Hero's Bow or Fairy's Bow) is used to shoot arrows at foes from afar (what else?). There are several different types of arrows Link can receive and use such as fire, ice, and light arrows. Light arrows are generally the only means that can penetrate the sinister defenses of Ganon and defeat him. In the 3D Zeldas the quiver of Link can be upgraded to hold more arrows. In the 3DS remake of Ocarina of Time, the bow can be aimed not only with analog controls but with the gyro controls or a combination of the two. The bow pictured above is from Majora's Mask

1) Hookshot


First appearing in A Link to the Past, the Hookshot is the quintessential item for getting around large gaps and attacking far away foes. In Ocarina of Time, through making it through Dampe's maze-like crypt, Link can obtain an upgrade to the item, the Longshot. It has an extended range, perfect for crossing large chasms, reaching platforms holding Heart Containers, and batting away bothersome enemies. The version of the helpful item shown above is The Wind Waker version of the Hookshot. Twilight Princess would take the item a step further, introducing two clawshots. While hanging with one clawshot, Link could shoot another to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Very sneaky, Nintendo.

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There are dozens upon dozens of useful items in the history of The Legend of Zelda franchise. What are some of your favorites?

Review Round-Up - November

Mario once again astounds with his
latest run-and-jump adventure.

SuperPhillip Central successfully had a month exclusively full of games featuring platforming. We started off slow with the slightly disappointing but still above average Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One for the PS3 which nabbed a 6.5. This was followed by the impressive return-to-form Sonic Generations which grabbed an 8.75. We kept the momentum going with a review of the 3DS eShop game Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! that got an 8.0. Then we moved onto our game of the month and contender for Game of the Year with Super Mario 3D Land which jumped its way into my heart and scored a 9.5. Not ones to slow down, we kept moving with Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (9.0) and ended the month with a 3D Classic in Kirby's Adventure (7.75). Overall, it was a productive platforming month for SuperPhillip Central!

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (PS3) - 6.5
Sonic Generations (PS3, 360) - 8.75
Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! (3DSWare) - 8.0
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) - 9.5
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (PS3) - 9.0
3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure (3DS) - 7.75

Unravel the mystery of the Atlantis
of the Sands in Uncharted 3.

Central City Census - December

We've reached the final month of the year-- December! It's time for cold temperatures, slush, snow, flurries, and wet precipitation. Yikes! Despite this we're trudging on. Before we start talking about this month's Census, let us look back at the results of November's Census. How did the SPC faithful vote?

Do you utilize auction sites like eBay?

Yes, I buy/sell games using them all the time.	4 (13%)
Yes, but only on occasion.	12 (40%)
No, but I've been interested in them.	3 (10%)
No, I use alternate means to buy/sell games.	5 (16%)
I don't buy/sell used games online.	6 (20%)

Votes so far: 30

The topic was about auction sites such as eBay and whether you use them. Twelve voters responded that they do, but only on occasion. The rest of the votes were pretty much split between the other four answers whether it is all the time, they've been interested but haven't yet, they use alternate methods to buy and sell games, or not going online to buy and sell at all. Well, I pretty much wrapped up the results for this month rather quickly. Nice! What's the question for December, folks?

The holiday season is upon us. Gifts will be given and gotten by loved ones. Do you plan on getting or buying a new console this holiday season? Perhaps you'll buy me a new Xbox 360? I wouldn't mind, gang...

Monster Hunter Tri G (3DS) New Screens

Following the reveal of the game's opening video, Capcom has let loose a series of screens for its upcoming Monster Hunter Tri G behemoth of a game. The shots show off some of the massive monsters hunters will face off against on land and underwater. Monster Hunter Tri G has no Western release window, but in Japan it is coming out later this month.