Conspiracy Theory: Is the World Out to Get Nintendo?

The following is an opinion piece and will most naturally offend anyone with even the slightest bias against Nintendo from recent events. Call me a fanboy, call me whatever you need to rationalize your position, this is my stance on the subject title.

After the very disappointing cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3, a project that wasn't even greenlit yet, and the less-than-stellar sales of the Nintendo 3DS, critics and fans are not hesitant to doom Nintendo. You can't frequent a message board or internet forum without people sending doom and gloom to the Nintendo 3DS. Already people call it a failure? Really, now? Jumping the gun, wouldn't you say, or do these people actually want Nintendo to fail? It's not that crazy of an idea to imagine actually.

With the Wii Nintendo introduced an entirely new faction of non-gamers to gamers, yet the usually whiny group known as the "hardcore" stated that Nintendo "turned their back" on them. If turning their back is releasing a console 2D Mario, two 3D Marios, a new Zelda, revived classics like Punch-Out! and Sin and Punishment (the original sold in the thousands, so why did Nintendo even bother? Oh, that's right. For their fans.), revived Donkey Kong Country, and put out new Kirby games, then yes, they turned their back on their fans. Let's face it. The "hardcore" is not happy unless 100% attention is focused on them. They're manchildren-- plain and simple. I imagine a fat, sedentary nerd is reading this article, raging at these words. Proves my point. However, when Microsoft literally abandons the core for non-gamers with Kinect, little of these "hardcore" gamers bat an eye. Funny how that works.

A new Donkey Kong Country isn't good enough for some people.
They need attention 24/7 like crying little babies.

Then there's the whole "Operation: Rainfall" project that was doomed to fail. Companies are not your friend. If they bend over backwards for you, you will then take it as carte blanche to repeatedly bug them for any and every game under the sun. Face it-- Xenoblade and The Last Story are not coming out to the Americas... yet or at all. You have to wonder after the many temper tantrums and fits that the "hardcore" had over this whether they're still bitter and using this as fuel for hatred of Nintendo-- wanting them to fail. Oh, it was SO funny when Wii Play: Motion and The Malgrave Incident didn't sell up to snuff. "Screw you, Nintendo!" Yeah, it's funny when small companies' games don't sell. Small companies (like Big Fish Games in the case of The Malgrave Incident) made those games and they were published by Nintendo. Who knows if they'll stay open now that their games failed to light up the charts?

"Manchildren? Not my problem."

The 3DS situation is just sad. Fans are quick to call it a failure and damning it to Hell. However, the original DS had even less content and was in far more serious trouble and we all know how that situation unfolded against the PSP, the behemoth that was supposed to crush it. Now the Vita is set to crush the 3DS, but the scenarios are different. The Vita is the better deal here, clearly. However, the software is where it mostly matters disregarding how many bells and whistles your machine has.

Already the 3DS is dead and the Vita is champ.
Sound familiar?

A gimmick is not a bad thing. It is a selling point. It separates yourself from your competition. People call the 3DS' glassesless 3D a gimmick like it's a bad thing. It's a selling point much like Nintendo's incredible stable of games. I'm personally looking forward to owning both a Vita and a 3DS whenever I scrap up the money (never). I won't, however, harbor a grudge for a company because they won't translate a game for me or because they put out content for someone other than my core demographic.

Nintendo tried a new strategy with the 3DS and allowed third parties to take the spotlight. They failed (as expected) to take advantage of the situation. They cry when Nintendo outsells their games, and they cry when there's no install base because Nintendo didn't put out any system sellers. Nintendo can't win either way. They can't win with consumers either. The 3DS costs too much, and the lack of games caused from said third parties is really killing the system from having great success. We'll see if Mario Kart, Super Mario 3DS, among others will put the handheld in a better light come this fall. All I know is this hatred for Nintendo is pathetic, whether it comes from the Call of Duty all-I-want-to-do-is-play-rehashed-shooters crowd or the bitter and frustrated "hardcore".

Pokemon Rumble Blast (3DS) First Trailer

Capcom yesterday cancelled development of Mega Man Legends 3. Considering nothing else they make interests me, I have no problem in not buying another game from them. However, all this Nintendo 3DS doom and gloom talk from cancelled games that weren't greenlit in the first place is pretty petty. Regardless, take a look at this launch trailer for a game that I loved the original of. It was Pokemon Rumble on WiiWare, and if it gets enough upgrades for a full retail release, I can see myself purchasing whenever I obtain a 3DS. Pokemon Rumble Blast blasts onto store shelves October 24th.

Rumble with your favorite Pokemon here.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Rhapsody in Blue Edition

Welcome back from another hiatus. Hey, I can do whatever I want-- it's my blog. I just stuck my tongue out at you, by the way. This week we're going all blue. Why? I've gone crazy! There's no reason at all! We have music from Xenogears, Kirby, and Pokemon, to name a few. I've rambled enough-- it's time for music!

v746. Xenogears - My Village is Number One - Orchestra Version -

- MYTH - was an arranged and orchestrated Xenogears album co-produced by series composer, Yasunori Mitsuda. There's a total of fourteen tracks in all from gentle piano themes to rousing orchestral tracks. All around, it really is a capable rearrangement of tracks that brings with it much nostalgia.



v747. Metroid: Zero Mission - Kraid

Kraid is more likely known as Brinstar Depths from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Kraid has appeared in several Metroid games, each time more challenging than the last. His Zero Mission form took place on one screen where he threw fingernail-like claws at Samus while Samus shot missiles into his opened mouth. Kraid was but half the equation, however. In order to reach Tourian where Mother Brain was housed, you had to take on and defeat Ridley, too.



v748. Sonic Rush - Wrapped in Black - Digital Remakin' Trax -

Wrapped in Black is the final boss theme of Sonic Rush where Sonic the Hedgehog and newcomer Blaze the Cat chart off to take down the nefarious Dr. Eggman's latest scheme. The battle takes place on both screens with one screen housing Sonic and the other holding Blaze. The song's funny if you don't know the title. It could sound like the vocalist is rapping "Wrapped in Butt". Oh, SuperPhillip, stay classy, my good sir.



v749. Kirby Squeak Squad - Squeak Battle (SSBB Remix)

Kirby Squeak Squad is what I consider the weakest of the games available for the Nintendo DS. Its level design was lacking, and the Squeak Squad itself just wasn't that imaginable. Regardless, an average Kirby game still beats out a lot of titles, and beat out a lot of titles Kirby Squeak Squad did. This is the Super Smash Bros. Brawl remix version as heard in the Wii game.



v750. Pokemon - Last Battle (VS. Rival)

After collecting all eight badges, passing through Victory Road, and defeating the Elite Four, your final challenge as a Pokemon trainer stands before you. It's the final battle against your rival to determine who will be Kanto's Pokemon master. The battle is six of your rival's Pokemon versus a selection of your own. He has all the bases covered, so you're in for a chaotic match. This tense theme is played on the Game Boy's small speakers as you duel.



We've reached another conclusion to the favorite VGMs. Will there be VGMs next week? Who knows? I'm full of surprises. Either or we'll catch you some time here on SuperPhillip Central.

Best Levels in Gaming History - Volume Three

Welcome to Tuesday at SuperPhillip Central. Once again it's time to unleash another load of Best Levels in Gaming History. A reminder to all of you to vote on July's new poll. It's all about sports games. Like 'em or love 'em, they're a tremendous source a revenue for the industry. Regardless, today we're once again taking a look at the best levels in the history of gaming. This is part three, so let's get this party started!

Bowser's Galaxy Reactor: The Fate of the Universe - Super Mario Galaxy - Wii

Watch out, kids and kiddettes, as there's spoilers for this final level of Super Mario Galaxy. The last challenge of Super Mario Galaxy features some of the most death-defying and complex level design in series history from spotlights that alter the gravity when you are inside them to dangerous planets made up of deadly lava, ice, and quicksand. There's a section where blocks materialize, drawing a path for you to run through, wall jump, and pass between lava bars. The closing section has to be my favorite as it's a gigantic 360 degree tube consisting of Bullet Bills being shot at Mario and Thwomps which wish to crush Mario beneath their tremendous girth. An impressive final romp, indeed.

Direct link here

1-5 Sunset Shore - Donkey Kong Country Returns - Wii


Sunset Shore is a gorgeous level thanks to the silhouette effect as noticeable in these screens. The level itself isn't too difficult, though you need to purchase a key from Cranky Kong to access it. There's five hidden puzzle pieces to collect here from hidden alcoves to ground-pounding platforms to situate them to enable DK and Diddy to leap on them. The only caveat to Sunset Shore is that seeing enemies is more difficult as they tend to be camouflaged by the power of silhouettes as well.

Underground Uprising - 007: The World is Not Enough - N64


This hostage rescue mission takes Bond, James Bond, into the trenches of London's subway system to take care of a little bomb problem. Immediately the action gets intense as terrorists fire at 007 as he runs down the escalators, going lower and lower into the subterranean depths of the subway. After rescuing the hostages and after several flights of steps downward, James must time his run through a tunnel where an intermittent train speeds through, an instant kill if Bond gets hit by it. Timing this just right, Bond can sneak his way through to a small storage room to the inside of a subway. Eventually Bond reaches the bathroom where the bomb is located. A mini-game is played to disarm the bomb. After this, it's just a skip and a jump to the end of the level.

Freezeey Peak - Banjo Kazooie (N64)


Brrrrr! It's mighty cold here! From the high heights of the gigantic snowman with pipe in tow to his swirling red and yellow scarf to the Christmas tree to the smaller snowmen chucking snowballs at Banjo and Kazooie, there's a lot to see and do. Mumbo-Jumbo will turn the pair into a walrus so Wozza will happily invite you into his cave. If platforming isn't your cup of iced tea, you can always run a race against the father of three bears. Freezeey Peak offers a great glimpse of a winter wonderland, and that's why I chose it as part of this list.

City Escape - Sonic Adventure 2 (DC)


Trick out through the city streets of City Escape. Rollin' around at the speed of sound. Got places to go, gotta follow your rainbow. And follow it you shall as you trick off ramps, ski down slanted streets, and run from a crazed truck. City Escape is the first level in Sonic Adventure 2, and it offers a lot of thrills and chills as Sonic the Hedgehog runs from G.U.N. forces confusing Sonic for Shadow the Hedgehog. Grind rails, hand out some homing attacks to enemies, and roll around the city streets of this excellent opening level.

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So ends another installment of Best Levels in Gaming History as inspired by GameTrailers' series. Have a level you love that isn't listed? Let it be known in the comments.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Fourth Fireworks Frenzy Edition

It's the Fourth of July where the fine citizens of the United States of America celebrate their independence from Great Britain. How do we do this? With fireworks, barbeque, hamburgers, and hot dogs, of course! It may be a national holiday for Americans, but that doesn't stop the VGMs from taking over today!

v741. Final Fantasy VII - Birth of A God

Bizarro Sephiroth is the black sheep of the pair of final bosses in Final Fantasy VII. Immediately when one thinks of final bosses in that game they think of One-Winged Angel. Well, I think it's time we shared some love with Birth of A God, the theme song of the fight with Bizarro Sephiroth. This fight took place on three zones, the front and Bizarro's two sides.



v742. Gran Turismo 4 - What to Believe

Gran Turismo 4 was and still is a jam-packed game full of content for racing simulation fans. The tracks were built to every fine detail, and the cars all handled as one would expect, each as different as the last. What to Believe is a duet song featuring the voice of Alan Brey who some might recognize as the man who gave his vocals to many songs on the F-Zero GX album. It's also no coincidence that the composer of both is Daiki Kasho. The band is Dakota Star. Enjoy.



v743. Marvel VS. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds - Victory

Sweet victory. There's no better feeling than blowing away your opponent to smithereens. Perhaps an orgasm or eating a nice, well-prepared steak. Actually, those two latter examples are probably better. Seriously, you have to be a big nerd to think winning a game of Marvel VS. Capcom 3 is better than getting laid or eating a fine meal.



v744. Blue Dragon - Eternity

Ian Gillian is a name in the classic rock world. He was the main voice behind the band, Deep Purple. Now he lends his vocal talents to this Nobuo Uematsu-composed boss battle theme. There's plenty of videos that joke about the lyrics to this song because they're so difficult to understand. Regardless, rocking out to this tune as you beat down another's dragon or big bad boss is always enjoyable.



v745. Banjo-Tooie - Witchyworld

Witchyworld was Gruntilda's theme park-inspired world in Banjo-Tooie. It was the third available world in the game. There was a variety of places to visit from amusement park games to the big top where a boss battle with Don Patch awaited. While Banjo-Tooie focused on bigger and badder levels, I still prefer the original Banjo-Kazooie for its larger emphasis on platforming.



Have a happy Fourth, everyone! This is DJ SuperPhillip signing off for the day. Until tomorrow, we'll see you back here at SuperPhillip Central!