Review Round-Up - March 2013

Chase McCain stars in the best Wii U game yet.

Another month of 2013 has been cast to the wayside as we look ahead to a new one. However, before we say goodbye to March 2013 totally here at SPC, let's go over what games were reviewed this past month. We first had our ups and down with Coaster Creator 3D, which won itself the 8.0 prize. Then we followed it up with one of the first reviews period for The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition, a game that web-swinged itself to a 7.5. Then we took to the road, water, and sky with our review of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, a game that deserved its 8.25 score. Next we celebrated our 400th review with Metroid Prime, a game heralded by the gaming community for a reason. We gave it a 9.75, the highest score this month. Sackboy and friends raced to a 7.5 with our review of LittleBigPlanet Karting, and finally, the best reason to own a Wii U, LEGO City Undercover, was given an impressive 9.25. It was a great month of reviews. Let's hope April is just as good to SPC as March was!

Coaster Creator 3D (3DSWare) - 8.0
The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition (Wii U) - 7.5
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Multi) - 8.25
Metroid Prime (Wii) - 9.75
LittleBigPlanet Karting (PS3) - 7.5
LEGO City Undercover (Wii U) - 9.25

Samus Aran has got the goods with the

masterful Metroid Prime by Retro Studios.

LEGO City Undercover (Wii U) March Trailer

As LEGO City Undercover's March 18 release date draws ever closer, a new trailer for the month of March has been uploaded by Nintendo on their YouTube channel. It shows off more of the game's wonderful sense of humor and gameplay that anyone can enjoy.

Central City Census - March 2013

Welcome to March at SuperPhillip Central. As always, a new month brings a new Central City Census. Before we delve into a new census subject, let's look at the results from last month's poll.

Now, for this month. The PlayStation 4 was unveiled at an event on February 20. What game most interested you for the platform?

March Madness: Ten Games to Look Out for This Month

It is the start of a brand-new month, and it is certainly one packed full of interesting software. Like we did for the first time in February, SuperPhillip Central is naming the greatest games of the upcoming month. Use this gamer's guide to see which ten releases set for this month are worthy of further investigation. Note: These release dates posted are for North American use.

Tomb Raider (Multi) 
Release Date: 3/5

A full-fledged reboot of Lara Croft and the series she is known for, Crystal Dynamics's Tomb Raider is the first game in the series to reach the ESRB's M rating. The game is set to show Ms. Croft's earliest exploits and how she grew from an innocent young girl to an unsubmissive woman, ready to destroy any enemy that stands in her way. The game will include an open world setting, filled with side quests and a main campaign that will last a dozen or so hours. The early reviews have this game being a welcomed addition to the Tomb Raider series, and perhaps a welcomed addition to your video game library.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (3DS)
Release Date: 3/5

Mercury Steam, Konami, and Nintendo have been giving our next game a lot of time under the spotlight. While it is not the Koji Igarashi directed Metroid-styled Castlevania that 3DS owners were clamoring for, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is an intriguing title all the same. It features 3D character and enemy models, an in-depth combat and combo system, and takes players under the control of multiple characters. For those who want to play the game now, the Nintendo 3DS eShop has a demo of Mirror of Fate live for you to try out.

MLB 13: The Show (PS3, PSV)
Release Date: 3/5

Baseball season is approaching like a 99 mph fastball, and the boys of summer are raring to return to the diamond. If you personally cannot wait for the real deal to begin, then why not try out the next best thing? Sony's MLB: The Show franchise is gaming's best baseball simulator. You cannot get a deeper, richer, more realistic or more accurate simulation than The Show, and this year's game comes overflowing with content. With MLB 13: The Show, if it happens in baseball, you can most likely relive it in the game. Both PlayStation 3 and Vita owners can have a hand (or is it glove?) in this year's game.

God of War: Ascension (PS3)
Release Date: 3/12

A prequel to past God of War games, God of War: Ascension promises to showcase a Kratos that is more grounded in his humanity than seen before. If you have played a previous game in the franchise, then Ascension will feel familiar. There's the standard action-adventure combo-based combat, puzzles to solve (whether simple or complex), and quick-time events to enjoy, but there's also one feature that the franchise has never been present, multiplayer. It is the developer's hope that the multiplayer will keep players engaged with God of War: Ascension long after the single-player campaign has been completed. Judging by the looks of things, their hope may soon be realized when the game releases on March 12.

LEGO City Undercover (Wii U)
Release Date: 3/18

An oddity in LEGO games, as the title is not tied to a licensed property, LEGO City Undercover is an upcoming Wii U exclusive that brings an open world city to players. Take the role of Chase McCain as he is tasked with finding and taking down the crafty criminal Rex Fury. There's countless things to do in LEGO City, such as side missions, platforming challenges, and new costumes for Chase to try on, each giving him different abilities. Wii U owners have been waiting patiently for anything to play, but that isn't the reason why LEGO City Undercover is of serious interest to them. No, it's simply because LEGO City Undercover seems to be brimming with fun and charm and an engaging open world setting that unlike Grand Theft Auto, is one that everyone can enjoy.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U, 3DS)
Release Date: 3/19

Essentially an expansion to the original Monster Hunter Tri, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS gives players the ability to play on one version of the game and send their character to the other effortlessly. Capcom recently announced that both North American and European players would be able to join up for online monster hunting, something that the original Wii game lacked completely. Additionally, off TV play was announced, so one does not need a television screen to play the game. They can simply use the Wii U GamePad. While the demo does not do a fantastic job of introducing beginning players to the world of Monster Hunter (instead it simply thrusts them into a hunt with no explanation), it is still recommended playing, especially if you cannot wait until the March 19 release date!

Gears of War: Judgment (360)
Release Date: 3/19

Like God of War: Ascension, Gears of War: Judgment is also a prequel and the fourth major game in its respective franchise. The story's focus is on Lieutenant Damon Baird and Private August Cole (a.k.a. The Cole Train) with various new supporting characters being introduced. If you are unfamiliar with the franchise, Gears of War is a third-person cover-based shooter with a heavy emphasis on teamwork. The game's multiplayer will feature two all-new modes: a free-for-all mode and something called OverRun. Look for more information regarding Gears of War: Judgment as its March 19 release date comes closer.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)
Release Date: 3/24

The first title to celebrate the so-called "Year of Luigi," Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is a hotly anticipated game starring everyone's favorite cowardly plumber Luigi. Instead of just one main mansion to explore, there are several with different themes and ghostly guests. Not only is sucking up these ghosts mandatory, but so is solving puzzles within the various environments. For this 3DS sequel, multiplayer for up to four players either locally or online has been included, sporting three unique modes. Dark Moon is seriously shaping up to be a superior game to the 2001 GameCube original. Here's hoping the game is as fun to play as it looks in videos.

Pandora's Tower (Wii)
Release Date: 3/26

Pandora's Tower is the last of the three Operation Rainfall games that fans wanted to see localized in North America. Play as Aeron as you do your best to collect flesh from monsters to feed to Elena. Why, you ask? It's because poor Elena has a curse that will only reverse if she is fed monster flesh. Hey, if all Aeron had to collect was penicillin, then the adventure wouldn't be anywhere near as fun! Each of the thirteen towers that Aeron must climb features its own brand of challenges and shortcuts, and Aeron will need to find these shortcuts as he is always racing against the clock and the speed of Elena's illness. Depending on how well the player does, they will see one of several endings. Pandora's Tower hits the Wii as one of its final big games on March 26.

BioShock Infinite (Multi) 
Release Date: 3/28

The final of ten games we'll be talking about for the month of March is one of the biggest games on this list. It's also one that many have been clamoring for for quite a while now. It's BioShock Infinite. The BioShock series has already plundered the ocean depths with a city underwater, so the next logical step is a city above the clouds in the form of Columbia. Using a series of weapons, telekinetic powers, and gear, the main character Booker must find a way to escape the cloud city. He isn't alone, however. In BioShock Infinite, an AI companion known as Elizabeth at times assists in combat. The setting of the game all to itself has me excited for it, and knowing how ambitious Ken Levine and his team have been with the game have myself, among many others, greatly anticipating BioShock Infinite's March 28 release date.

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There you have it-- ten different games that are ones that North American gamers should be eyeing carefully. Which of these ten interest you the most? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.

March 2012 NPD Results

Are you a fan of game sales? No, not ones like buy-one-get-one-free, I'm talking about how much a game has sold. If you are, then strap yourself in as we have sales from the States to share for the month of March.


It should be no surprise that Mass Effect 3 managed to top all games for the month of March as it was the biggest, most advertised release even with its poor ending and constant crying from gamers. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City at number two proves that there is no accounting for taste, and if you market a game enough (Capcom had ads for the game when Revelations released), your game will most definitely sell. I'm happy to see Sony's new MLB game at number three as it is the ultimate baseball simulator. Meanwhile, Street Fighter X Tekken punched and kicked its way onto the chart. Important to note that Mario Party 9 is the only single game (released on only one system) that actually made the top ten. For those concerned on how Kid Icarus: Uprising performed, do not worry:

"Frazier also pointed out that Nintendo's new Kid Icarus actually did pretty well: "In a list of the top 10 SKUs for the month (as opposed to top titles as listed here), 3DS Kid Icarus: Uprising would have been among the top selling individual SKUs for the month of March."

Review Round-Up - March

 After a long-term absence, Kid Icarus is back,
getting SPC's coveted Game of the Month.

There's no joking around here on SuperPhillip Central as we have reached the 300th review on the site from yours truly. There were obviously other reviews posted this past month, so let's take a look back with March's Review Round-Up! Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! skunked their shot and got a 4.75 for its effort. Meanwhile, Ridge Racer 3D revved and raced its way onto the 3DS scoring a respectable 7.75. The newest Mario Party received a 7.0 as a party favor with my brother giving Sonic Generations on 3DS the same score. Rayman 3D was a poor port, so its 5.25 score was justified. Finally, March's Game of the Month, Kid Icarus: Uprising, didn't have to worry about flying too close to the sun at all and earned a lovely 9.25. Besides Pit's grand return, it was a month of low review scores. Well, low for SuperPhillip Central's standards at the very least.

Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! (3DSWare) - 4.75
Ridge Racer 3D (3DS) - 7.75
Mario Party 9 (Wii) - 7.0
Sonic Generations (3DS) - 7.0
Rayman 3D (3DS) - 5.25
Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS) - 9.25

New changes to the formula helped 
Mario Party 9 do well this month.

SPC Mailbag - March 21st, 2012

Sometimes I get e-mails and messages from people who have nothing but questions to ask their friend SuperPhillip. Sometimes I answer them while other times I feed them to my pet monkey, Mr. Aces. Today I am going to do the former and read and answer some queries from the SPC community. Last time I offended some people, so this time we will go 2-for-2 for 2012.

You seem to cover Nintendo a lot and have a passion for Nintendo games. Would you consider yourself to be a fanboy?

I do not like the word "fanboy." I feel it is a grade school playground insult that perpetuates the stereotype that the industry is for children. Maybe it is after reading some the reactions to Eurogamer's 8 out of 10 for Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and looking at various message boards and comment sections.

That said, I grew up on Nintendo and have a soft place in my heart for their games. I always note when they make a misstep, so I don't have a blind devotion (heck, I even wrote a top five list of reasons to hate Nintendo). In fact, I loathe the typical message board Nintendo fan. They are by far the most obnoxious group in gaming next to the chest-beating "hardcore" gamer.

The bane of the hardcore's existence.

To be totally truthful, I loathe the so-called "hardcore" gamer and everything that they stand for. They constantly turn up their nose at anything they deem "casual" (whatever that term means), and think that if a game isn't tailor-made for them, it sucks. The hardcore seem to hate Nintendo and everything they stand for, so I cannot help but root for Nintendo to continue to do well just to spite these miserable creatures. Thus, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Then these pitiable souls create excuses and move the goal posts. "Wii's sales don't count. It's last gen" and "Wii is a fad." Yeah, a normal console life is a fad. Whatever helps you sleep at night, kids.

Do you think Sony's PlayStation Vita will do well in the future?

Well, everyone knows I am a master prognosticator, so you asked the right person. The Vita is one sexy piece of hardware, but unlike some female IGN games enthusiast, I won't lick it like a pathetic little loser. Instead, I will bask in its glorious launch lineup. Unfortunately, Sony seems to be making the same mistakes they made on the PSP. They are not devoting their A teams to the system to make games for it. It's funny how the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo were keeping gaming in the "handheld ghetto", and it is Sony that keeps their own handheld hardware from being anything more than second fiddle to the 3DS. If they were serious about the Vita like Nintendo is with their own portable dynasty, they would send A teams to create games for the system. When Naughty Dog says they are not making or plan on making games for the system, you know something is rotten in the state of Denmark. This is just my opinion, I want the Vita to do well (it is anemic in sales in Japan where its third party support would come from), and I don't pretend to know the industry well unlike a certain analyst who seldom predicts anything correctly (*cough* Michael Pachter *cough*).

With a barren upcoming release list,
the Vita is in need of a true killer app.

You gave The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Game of the Year for 2011. How can you do this when the game has broken controls?

You didn't see this just now, but I did a Danny Thomas spit-take when I read your question. Exactly what is "broken" (as you say) about the controls of Skyward Sword? I could understand if they took getting used to and had a learning curve, but to say the controls are broken is folly. I've seen many "hardcore" gamers who never gave the Wii a chance, picked up the game, and guess what-- they never gave the controls a chance either. "I don't want to learn how to swing the Wii remote correctly, so every time I mess up, it must be game's fault." That is a common excuse that I gather from reading (painful reading, might I add) message board users.

"Motion Controls for Dummies" just sounds too mean.

Perhaps if Nintendo packaged a large pamphlet or guide entitled "The Complete Beginner's Guide to Skyward Sword's Motion Controls" with the game, we would see people actually learning the controls. Now, let's be fair. You occasionally need to recalibrate the Wii MotionPlus controller. For me, I had to do this maybe twice in the 35+ hours I played the game. I just think most so-called gamers (who I thought would be open to new gameplay experiences, but I was immensely wrong) never gave the controls a chance and called them broken. Not saying you are one of these, so don't send me a rage-filled reply. I won't bother reading an all CAPS hate-drenched comment (nor will I post it). Apologies for the snark.

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So let's see who I offended this time around. Hopefully not too many people, and maybe if you were offended, you would reflect on why I angered you. As for everyone else, the SPC Mailbag is closed, but I am always accepting new e-mails and comments. Send the former to superphillip32[at]yahoo[dot]com. As for comments, feel free to post them below with your thoughts on this edition's subjects. Did you have problems with Skyward Sword's controls? Do you feel like Sony is treating the Vita like a second-class platform? Let me know. We'll see you later, friends!

Central City Census - March

February is the shortest month of the year, and even so SuperPhillip Central managed to rake in the most traffic of any month ever since its inception in June of 2008. Thank you to my faithful readers, new readers, and passersby. It is always and immensely appreciated! That said, let us look at February's poll results and analyze them briefly:

Do you plan on purchasing a PlayStation Vita?

I have one preordered already.	6 (10%)
Yes, I'll buy one at launch.	6 (10%)
Yes, but not right away.	12 (20%)
No, not anytime soon.	14 (23%)
No, and I have no interest at all.	22 (36%)

Votes so far: 60

The "nos" have it, do they not? The majority of votes (over 1/3) have opted to opt out of Sony's second portable offering. You guys might be missing a lot, but then again, you might be smart like the "Yes, but not right away" people who are probably waiting for a price drop. Six of you have one or had pre-ordered while another six were going to buy one at launch. Did you manage to do so? I personally have no vested interest in the Vita as of now even if some games appeal to me. The price is too high, and I'm enjoying my 3DS just fine. I don't have time to devote to another handheld, and sales show the market is happy with their Nintendo systems and/or smartphones/iPads. What is the question for March's census?

Something that is disturbing to me is the exclusion of backwards compatibility in consoles. The Wii got it right with 100% (or at least 99.9%) BC of GameCube games. The 360 has a paltry offering of Xbox games that can run on the system, and the PS3 inexplicably fully took away a feature from their console. Ridiculous. March's census asks how important backwards compatibility is for you when regarding the next gen consoles, especially with 360s breaking down, PS3s getting yellow lights of death, and Wiis having their disc readers stop functioning.

March 2011 NPD Results

It's the middle of the month, so it's time for NPD to roll out which games and platforms reigned supreme. This time it's March 2011, a normally quiet month, that we check out, and check out we will!

5-week tracking month; Reporting Period 2/27/11 through 4/2/11

Software (New Physical Retail only)
2.5 Million combined White + Black
01. Pokemon White Version (NDS) Nintendo - 1.3 Million
02. Pokemon Black Version (NDS) Nintendo - 1.1 Million
03. Homefront (360, PS3, PC) THQ
04. Dragon Age II (360, PS3, PC)** Electronic Arts
05. Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC)** Activision Blizzard
06.Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC) LucasArts
07. Crysis 2 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
08. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP, PC) Take 2 Interactive
09. MLB 11: The Show (PS3, PSP, PS2) Sony
10. Fight Night Champion (360, PS3) Electronic Arts

**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

Hardware
Nintendo DS - 460k
Xbox 360 - 433,000
Nintendo 3DS - Slightly Under 400,000
Wii - 290k

I doubt we'll get PS3 or PSP numbers any time soon. Pokemon tops the charts this month in impressive fashion with 2.5 million copies sold across both titles. Hardware-wise, the Nintendo DS takes the crown for most hardware sold thanks primarily to the hardware bundles of Pokemon Black and White. The Xbox 360, in part in thanks to the wildly-popular Kinect accessory, is the console king in March. Meanwhile, with but a handful of days of tracking and much more competition in the way of the iPad and iPhone, the new Nintendo 3DS managed to pull off sales slightly under 400,000. Not bad for a doomed system. That last sentence was sarcasm, by the by. Overall, a successful month for the industry.

Review Round-Up - March

No puzzle can triumph over Professor
Layton and his apprentice, Luke.

It's a brand-new month, so it's time for a Review Round-Up! We at SuperPhillip Central reviewed five games this month, so let's compare and contrast the scores for your viewing and reading pleasure. The top scorers for this month were Professor Layton's newest outing on the DS in Professor Layton and the Unwound Future as well as Sly 2: Band of Thieves. Both of which scored a 9.0. de Blob 2 failed to live up to its predecessor, but it's still an adequate game earning an 8.0. Meanwhile, two Retro Reviews (the first batch of the year) for Bomberman Hero (6.5) and Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers 2 (5.0) failed to impress too much. That's alright though. April is looking even better with reviews of DS titles such as Pokemon Black and White and Okamiden.

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (DS) - 9.0
Sly 2: Band of Thieves (PS3) - 9.0
de Blob 2 (PS3, 360, Wii) - 8.0
Bomberman Hero (N64) - 6.5
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers 2 (NES) - 5.0

This blob has your monochrome world covered.

SPC Showdown - 3/16/2011

We've had three SPC Showdowns in the past, and it's grown to be a popular feature here on SuperPhillip Central. This time around we're taking a musical approach to the Showdowns with some very tumultuous tossups. We're pitting soundtrack against soundtrack in this our fourth SPC Showdown segment, so sit back, enjoy the ride, and let's get it on.


Kumi Tanioka's magnum opus takes on Hidenori Iwasaki's musical powerhouse in our first SPC Showdown. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles featured music played with old time instruments from celtic flutes to majestic lutes. Here's a sampling of just some of the magical tunes heard in the very first Crystal Chronicle-monikered title of the Final Fantasy series:

Magic is Everything
Shudder, Monster
When the Northern Sky is Clear

Meanwhile, the Crystal Bearers is the most recent entry in the Crystal Chronicles series, and it was released at the tale end of 2009, after X-mas. It used more traditional instruments but retained the caliber and quality the Final Fantasy series is known for. Even a few original Crystal Chronicles tracks were remixed for this game's ballroom sequence.

Lett Highlands
Selkie Guild
Neighborhood Tinkerer

Winner: Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles


Next up is a pair of soundtracks composed by the same composers, Mahito Yakota and Koji Kondo. Mahito Yakota composed the majority of tracks while Koji Kondo penned just a few on each soundtrack. Which soundtrack reigns supreme? While Super Mario Galaxy 2 has more music, does that make it the better soundtrack? Let's compare samples.

Super Mario Galaxy 1:
Egg Planet
Wind Garden
Floater Land

Super Mario Galaxy 2:
Throwback Galaxy
Melty Monster Galaxy
Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla

Winner: Super Mario Galaxy 2


Two soundtracks for the latest mainline Final Fantasy games is what we have here in this showdown. One is composed by Hitoshi Sakamoto who co-wrote one of my favorite video game soundtracks of all time in Final Fantasy Tactics. It makes sense that this composer writes another soundtrack for a game based in the world of Ivalice.

Esper Battle
Boss Battle
Gilgamesh Battle

The other is by Masashi Hamazu, a relative unknown in the video game music composition world. The game itself was touted as being too linear and simple. The compositions heard in the following samples are anything but. Can Mr. Hamazu's Final Fantasy XIII soundtrack pull off the upset?

Blinded by Light
Pulse de Chocobo
Desperate Struggle

Winner: Final Fantasy XIII


Next up we have two soundtracks from the same series by the same composer in Motoi Sakuraba's Star Ocean: The Second Story and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time soundtracks. Which has the most memorable music?

Star Ocean: The Second Story:
Shower of Blossoms
Theme of RENA
We Form in Crystals

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time:
Cutting Edge of Notion
Expiration
Mission to the Deep Space

Winner: Star Ocean: The Second Story


The final battle on this installment of the SPC Showdown pits two golf game soundtracks against one another. Both were composed by the same composer in Motoi Sakuraba. Which will come out on top and under par?

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour:
Lakitu Valley
Cheep Cheep Falls
Peach's Castle Grounds

We Love Golf!:
Camelot Links G.C.
Tournament 2
Skull Island Short Course

Winner: Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

===

That concludes this beatdown of video games. This SPC Showdown is complete. What would be your outcomes in these various matches? Let me know in the comments section. They're always appreciated.

SPC Mailbag - March 3rd, 2011

We haven't had this feature for a while. It's the SPC Mailbag where we take questions from e-mail and comments and answer them in as witty a fashion as possible. It's been a long time since we last opened the mailbag. Too long if you ask me. We'll rectify that with this edition. Today we have three questions that put my mental mettle to the ultimate test. Tonight it's a plethora of portable questions from iOS gaming to the 3DS and the PSP NGP.

What do you think of iOS gaming? Do you think Nintendo's and Sony's handhelds are in trouble?


I'm one of the people who believe that iOS and more traditional handheld gaming can coexist. I mean, why can't they? When the Wii was released, idiots were saying core gaming was doomed and HD gaming couldn't compete. Wii would make them obsolete. This did not happen. Now the same Chicken Littles are worried that iOS gaming (iPhone/iPad gaming) will make Nintendo's and Sony's handhelds obsolete. I don't see this happening. I think it's a foolish proposition. Facebook gaming is free, yet video game sales on the traditional platforms are still booming. Suddenly, ninety-nine cent gaming is going to overtake more expensive means of gaming? I don't think so.

Are you planning on purchasing a 3DS?


Not immediately. It's not a question of the launch titles not being up to snuff. I have plenty of games I want at launch including Nintendogs + Cats, Pilotwings Resort, Ridge Racer 3D (I've never played a Ridge Racer game before), and Super Monkey Ball 3D to name four off the top of my head. It's more of a cost issue. There's too many current gen games I still want to obtain, and the 3DS is $250 plus the cost of new games. So don't expect any 3DS reviews any time soon here on SuperPhillip Central.

What are your thoughts on the PSP NGP?


Personally, I feel that Sony has learned nothing from the PSP. Software sales are laughable even if hardware sales are good. The PSP was console-quality gaming on a handheld. That's not what I want in a portable. If I wanted to play console-quality gaming, I'd play on a console. Odd concept, I know. The games shown on the PSP NGP are just portable versions of their console "hits". This strategy failed with the PSP, so why will it suddenly work with a more expensive handheld? I'm thinking it won't. Feel free to disagree with me though. Be respectful though in your comments, or they will be deleted.

Regardless of all that, I'm very intrigued by Sony's new handheld. I love the touch screen, trophies, horsepower, and you know I'll be there when Hot Shots Golf hits. Even the augmented reality shown impresses. Depending on the price, I'll be sure to own one when it comes out.

===

That's enough mail. Some of the mail were bills anyway. Not cool, Central City Cable. Not cool. Nonetheless, there goes that edition of the old SPC Mailbag. Hope you found it interesting as always.

Central City Census - March

The air this morning in Central City is crisp and cold, but temperatures are expected to heat up later within the day. Regardless, it's a new month-- March-- therefore, it's time for a new Central City Census. Before we start with that, however, let's take a look at last month's results.

At $249.99, do you plan on purchasing a Nintendo 3DS?

Yes, a black one.	9 (17%)
Yes, a blue one.	7 (13%)
Yes, another color.	3 (5%)
No, not right away.	20 (38%)
No. I have no interest in a 3DS.	13 (25%)

Votes so far: 52

The "No, not right aways" have it in the month of February. Many of you are waiting to purchase a 3DS, perhaps waiting for a better selection of games or a redesign. In second place, the "Yes" crowd reigned supreme with nineteen voters expecting to buy a 3DS whether black, blue, or a different color by the end of this month. Finally, thirteen of you, a quarter of the vote, have no interest in a 3DS at all. Let us get to March's Census.

Sony announced the PSP NGP in an attempt to undercut the hype of the 3DS. Looking at Japan, that doesn't seem to have mattered. Regardless, are you interested in getting the PSP NGP? Cast your vote now.

March 2010 NPD Results

March had the release of no less than four big blockbuster titles. What is this-- the holiday season suddenly? I'm eager to see the results, so let's get to them, shall we?

Data care of NPD Group


PlayStation 2 118.3K
PlayStation 3 313.9K
PSP 119.9K
Xbox 360 338.4K
Wii 557.5K
Nintendo DS 700.8K


GOD OF WAR III* PS3 SONY Mar-10 1.10M 1
POKEMON SOULSILVER VERSION NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA Mar-10 1.02M 2
FINAL FANTASY XIII PS3 SQUARE ENIX Mar-10 828.2K 3
BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 360 ELECTRONIC ARTS Mar-10 825.5K 4
POKEMON HEARTGOLD VERSION NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA Mar-10 761.2K 5
FINAL FANTASY XIII 360 SQUARE ENIX Mar-10 493.9K 6
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII WII NINTENDO OF AMERICA Nov-09 457.4K 7
BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 PS3 ELECTRONIC ARTS Mar-10 451.2K 8
WII FIT PLUS W/ BALANCE BOARD* WII NINTENDO OF AMERICA Oct-09 429.6K 9
MLB 10: THE SHOW PS3 SONY Mar-10 349.2K 10

March was a big month for the game industry. No less than four big blockbuster games came out during the month including the month's winner, God of War III, RPG-king Pokemon SoulSilver and HeartGold, Final Fantasy XIII, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. God of War III won the month with over one million sales in the U.S. alone, but it wasn't enough to get out of third place in the console war. The Wii won that war this month selling more than half-a-million consoles in March. Old standbys like New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Wii Fit Plus stay around near the bottom half of the list, and MLB 10: The Show swings and hits one out of the park with near 350,000 units in sales. Meanwhile, the brand-new DSi XL seems to have reinvigorated the DS brand greatly despite the announcement of the 3DS. Ultimately, a great month for the industry all-around!

Review Round-Up - March

March came in like a lamb and out like a lion! We have 18 unique reviews this month-- that's gotta be some kind of record! Taking top honors this month are the new Pokemon titles, HeartGold and SoulSilver and Hot Shots Golf Fore! We had a good variety of scores this month with the lowest being Sonic Classic Collection with a 5.5. Still average, so not bad! Not bad at all! We started off strong with Mega Man 10, continued with more downloadable titles such as Hamsterball and Max and the Magic Marker. Meanwhile, we plundered the deep with Endless Ocean: Blue World, saved a kingdom in White Knight Chronicles: International Edition, and our blades bled red with Red Steel 2. Don't forget about episode one of One-Sentence Reviews! Overall, a fantastic and productive month for SuperPhillip Central! As always, italicized reviews are classic reviews, written before this blog came to be. To satiate your appetite for new reviews, for next month how about something from the God of War series? Perhaps God of War III? Maybe we'll take a look at Uncharted 2: Among Thieves as well! Stay tuned as April's going to be a busy month!

All scores are out of 10.
5 = Average

Mega Man 10 (WiiWare, PSN, XBLA) - 8.5
White Knight Chronicles: International Edition (PS3) - 8.25
Endless Ocean: Blue World (Wii) - 8.5
Pokemon Puzzle League (N64) - 8.25
Mega Man X7 (PS2) - 6.0
Castlevania Judgment (Wii) - 7.0
Sonic Classic Collection (DS) - 5.5
Darksiders (PS3, 360) - 9.0
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS) - 8.75
Hot Shots Golf Fore! (PS2) - 9.25
Phantasy Star 0 (DS) - 8.5
Max and the Magic Marker (WiiWare) - 7.0
Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver (DS) - 9.25
Hamsterball (PSN) - 8.0
Red Steel 2 (Wii) - 8.75

Elebits (Wii) - 7.75
Tony Hawk's Project 8 (PS3, 360) - 7.25

One-Sentence Reviews - Episode One

Central City Census - March

Welcome to the wonderful month of March here at SuperPhillip Central. Before we look at this month's Central City Census, let's check out last month's results.

Of SuperPhillip's picks for Game of the Year, which was your favorite?

New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)	22 (44%)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)	14 (28%)
Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes of Liberty City (360)	1 (2%)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (Multi)	8 (16%)
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)	3 (6%)
LocoRoco 2 (PSP)	1 (2%)

Total votes: 49

So it seems most of you agreed with my pick of New Super Mario Bros. Wii as Game of the Year. That's awfully reassuring-- no sarcasm intended. Meanwhile, Uncharted 2 hit second place with 28 percent of the vote with Batman: Arkham Asylum obtaining the bronze medal with 16 percent of the vote. Now let's look at March's census, shall we?

Consoles are a big investment, and it can grow infuriating when they break down. This generation seems to be full of faulty hardware problems. The Central City Census asks this month whether or not one of your current generation platforms has died on you. This is a special census as you can vote for multiple choices.

Review Round-Up - March

MadWorld carved into the Wii's library this past month.

There were a lot of new reviews for March. I hope you enjoyed all of them, too. As you may or may not know, I'm slowly bringing all of my old reviews written before SPC came to be in blog-form. Hence these italicized older reviews. We started off with the surprisingly stellar NASCAR Kart Racing and ended with the surprisingly ruined Marble Saga Kororinpa. I hope you are looking forward to April and a whole new month of reviews!

All scores are out of 10.
5 = Average
Italicized = old review

NASCAR Kart Racing (Wii) - 7.25
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii) - 7.0
Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (Wii) - 8.0
Kororinpa: Marble Mania (Wii) - 6.5
Me & My Katamari (PSP) - 6.5
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (Wii) - 8.0
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir (DS) - 4.5
Deadly Creatures (Wii) - 6.5
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and the Damned (360) - 9.25
Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii) - 8.5
Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS) - 8.25
MadWorld (Wii) - 8.5
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP) - 8.0
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis (Wii) - 3.5
Marble Saga: Kororinpa (Wii) - 4.5

What was your favorite review this month?