Wii Rally

Long time Rally readers probably remember a weekly segment I used to do called “Feature Friday”. I have mentioned recently that it will make its triumphant return some day. That day was going to be today but it has been delayed due to technical issue I am to hoping celebrate its glorious return next week with a special surprise (the reason for the delay). So keep your feed reader locked on the Rally to see what I have up my sleeve.

Euro’s VC exits march like a lion or should I say “Great Tiger”. That’s right Punch Out!! one of Wii Rally’s “Most Anticipated Virtual Console Games” drops on to the Euro VC Today. I don’t know why everyone says that Europe gets the shaft when it comes to games they always seem to get the primo VC releases before us here in the Americas or as olde school Brits would calls us “the Colonies”.

Punch-Out!! (NES,500 Wii Points)
The Legend of The Mystical Ninja (SNES,800 Wii Points)
Dragon’s Curse (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)

Sorry everyone I am out of town today looking for a new home for myself the lovely Jenifer but the show must go on so I have complied a collections of My Sims gameplay videos each describing a different aspect of the upcoming game. Enjoy and try to make sure your teeth don’t fall out.

Character Customization Gameplay

Character Interaction Gameplay

Hit the jump for two more videos (more…)

Last week Wii Rally took a look at Thrustmaster’s Wii Remote cover the T-Protect (link) This week we take a look at the T-Care and the T-Charge also from Thrustmaster, first up the T-Care.

I must say that the T-Care doesn’t really do much besides Hold your Wii Remote and nunchuck while looking good but then again that is its purpose. Coming in stylish “Wii white” and sporting a nice large compartment for your Nunchuck you can place it right on your coffee table without worrying about troublesome wires.

I did find that the Wii Remote didn’t fit perfectly into place while it was sporting a T-Protect but that seems to be the only flaw. What do you do if you have two Wii Remotes unfortunately the T-Care only come in the single model so you will have to buy a second one or you can pick up a T-Charge

Bottom Line

Pros:
Large Nunchuck compartment
Colour matches the Wii
Nice design.

Cons:
Doesn’t work well with the T-Protect
Only holds one Wii Remote and nunchuck

I wouldn’t say that Wii Remotes gobble batteries but they do like to snack on them. Since I heard that the Wii Remote would be devoid of any DS/GBA SP like charging mechanism I have been on the hunt for a decent battery solution. The T-Charge is an adequate solution to this problem.

The T-Charge looks exactly like the T-Care only sporting a sexy black paint job instead of the white found on the T-Care. Built into the stand is a battery charger which connects via USB to the back of your Wii console. No putting this one on your coffee table unless you have really smart children or pets. If you happen to trip of this wire not only will you pull the T-Charge from it’s resting place but there’s a good chance your Wii will come crashing to the floor as well. I find that the best place for the T-Charge is right next to the Wii itself.

I was surprised that you can only power the charge unit via USB instead of your standard AC plug meaning that the T-Charge must be kept in close proximity to the Wii. The charge time is decent however it takes about 5 to 6 hours to fully charge batteries. When batteries are placed in the charger located at the back of the holder a blue LED located on the front of the unit lights up letting you know that the batteries are charging. Once the batteries are charged the blue LED begins to flash notifying you to remove the batteries.

The best thing about the T-Charge is that it comes with four yes FOUR Thrustmaster rechargeable batteries. Thrustmaster’s reason behind this is that you never have to stop playing to wait for batteries. You can play while you other batteries are charging. Again this functionality kind of takes a hit when you own more that one Wii Remote.

Bottom Line

Pros:
Batteries included
Quick charge time
Sleek look

Cons:
Powered by USB only
Not available in white
Doesn’t work well with the T-Protect

Both these entries are extremely solid with only a few drawbacks. If you are looking for something to hold several Wii Remotes or a battery pack solution then keep looking but if you just want to save money on batteries then the T-Charge is an ideal solution. If space is problem for you the T-Charge and T-Care may fit well into your gaming environment. Oh and did I mention that they look stylish? I did? OK then well I’ll say it again they really do look cool and match the Wii nicely. You can also buy a combo package containing a T-Charge and a T-Care aptly named the T-Charge+.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Thrustmaster’s Marketing Manager Winn Keaten for providing these items to Wii Rally so that I can review them for all of you out there. For more information on Thrustmaster visit their website at www.thrustmaster.com If you missed it don’t forget to check out Wii Rally’s review of the T-Protect available here

Someone once said ” That it takes a real man to admit he has made a mistake” I don’t know who that someone was but I guarantee you that he had bigger balls than Stephen Colbert. Earlier this month I reported on a story I read in the April issue of EGM. The story indicated that Square Enix and BunaVista were making another entry into the Kingdom Hearts series starring Mario along with a slew of other Nintendo characters. Word has finally come out of the evil Ziff empire I mean EGM’s SF offices that the story is 100% completely NOT true. As I stated before I shall now apologize.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry for reporting a joke as fact even though it came from a credible source. I am not sorry for making the post in the first place however. This story has introduced many new readers to Wii Rally and spurred a debate that was at one point quite interesting and fun but that debate slowly degraded into a fight between the optimistic and the unfaithful. Too all those readers who were really hoping for this to be true I’m sorry I mislead you but your real beef is with EGM not me.

As a blog and a fairly new one at that it is very difficult to get news items that haven’t been reported on a thousand times. Nintendo isn’t exactly calling me day and night asking me to write about their newest game in fact all emails that I have sent to game publishers have gone unanswered that is except in the case of Thrustmaster. (thanks for the stuff guys) But still I try everyday to find something unique and interesting to write about.

So I got a news item wrong it happens all the time but at least I can be honest with all of you out there in Nintendo land instead of covering up stories that may refute an earlier story like a certain Australian owned news network (cough*Fox News*cough).
I hate news anyway it’s boring to find and dull to write no wonder most other sites out there just copy and paste press releases a level I refuse to steep to. If this means you will never read Wii Rally again then I am sorry you feel that way but go with grace. But those of you who can forgive an inexperienced yet passionate journalist then stick around because I’m just getting started.

If you still believe that Mushroom Kingdom Hearts is happening listen to the first 5 minutes of this weeks EGM* Live Podcast

Here are today’s Japanese Virtual Console releases

Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES, 500 Wii Points)
Alien Storm (Genesis, 600 Wii Points)
Wonder Boy in Monster World (Genesis, 600 Wii Points)
Snow Bros. Nick & Tom (Genesis, 600)

There’s another game coming to the TG-16 virtual console but I have been unable to find a suitable English translation. As far as I know “Remodelling Merchant” should be enjoyed by all.

Anybody who has read Wii Rally long enough or happens to know me in person knows that there is one thing in this world that I hate more than clowns, spiders, those costumed guys at theme parks and waiting in line all rolled into one. That one thing is Final Fantasy.

Now in all honesty I have no gripe with any particular game in the series or one of it’s many many many spin offs. My problem is with Final Fantasy itself. Pretty much anything with the name Final Fantasy on it draws my loathsome ire despite what positive points any sort of product bearing the name would have. I’ll tell you why, to put it simply Final Fantasy is indicative of exactly what is wrong with the video game industry. Reports have started to surface about Square-Enix’s list of titles to be published in 2007 among this list are ten yes I said TEN games bearing the Final Fantasy name . I’m sorry but to me this does not project an image of the innovation and progress that has made this industry great. All I see is a bunch of SquEnix COs literally beating a dead horse till brains leak about the sides and it looks more like a deformed llama than the epic tale of the Heroes of Light that saved this once great company from a terrible end.

Just because a game is a success doesn’t mean that there is a reason to create a sequel, spin off or remake. Not since the cheesy slasher flicks of the eighties has series numeration risen to such absurd levels. In this age of Tony Hawk 8 Final Fantasy 13s Dynasty Warriors 8 and Test Drive Unlimited (the one that got so high they lost count). I lament that even new ideas and IPs are being subjected to what I call the “trilogy treatment” this can be seen with the Halo series and even though nothing has been officially announced Gears of War.

Now games that have dropped the enumeration are no better. Sure you’ve got your Madden’s and your NHL/MLB/FIFA/NBA/NCAA/MLS/XYJ ‘0whatever but those are sports titles and it’s part of the simulation to have the most up to date rosters even though any real fan would tell you that the games are always a season behind. But do we really need 6 Burnout titles and over 15 entries in the Need for Speed series?

What has happened to the innovation and the desire to create new and fantastic worlds, monsters and characters the likes of which nobody has ever seen. I know that it is unfair to take out my frustration on a particular series like I often do with Final Fantasy but the name in itself inspires great rage due to a childhood incident involving the Never Ending Story. In my humble yet serious opinion this needs to stop and soon or games will lose much of their magic and credibility as a medium.

I’m sorry for writing an entire post without mentioning the Nintendo Wii but what good is soapbox like this if you can’t use it shout from the rooftops every once in awhile.

One of the features of the Wii I like to hold over the heads of my Xbox 360 counterparts is that Virtual Console updates normally feature more than one title per week often 2 or 3. The Xbox Live Arcade usually only gets 1 title a week, this week the Virtual Console breaks the mold. This week Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire for the SNES was released but why not Romance of the Three Kingdoms V or IX what about II or even VII? Seeing as how developer Koei Co. has made 9 games in the RTK series talk about milking a series for all it’s worth. Normally the honor of being a lone VC release is reserved for 1st party big name titles like Zelda: Ocarina of Time and its ilk but I guess some random game in a never ending series buy a lackluster developer is just as good.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire (SNES, 800 Wii Points)

I can only assume that a good percentage of Wii owners out there in Nintendo land have taken the time to download the “free trial” version of the Wii Opera browser. The application has been available since December and web hounds have been itching to get their hands on the full version of the Opera software. That time is fast approaching.

In a press release last week Nintendo announced that the full version is coming sometime in April and will remain free until June when Nintendo will slap a 500 Wii Points price tag on the software. My understanding is that if you have taken the time to use the “free trial” version then you will be able to update to the full version without asking your girlfriend for her credit card number to snag some Wii Points.

Nintendo is promising the following features will be integrated into the full version of the Opera browser.

From the Nintendo Press Release

improved zooming and scrolling

an improved zoomed font

shortened startup times

quicker access to “favorites”

an ability to hide the toolbar

buttons that will instantly type common preset letters, such as “www” or “.com”

Although any kind of info on new software is important this latest press release fails to address some of my specific concerns specifically what kind of Flash players will be compatible with the full version. With the “free trail” version you can view or use any website that supports Flash 8 or lower but as the more and more sites upgrade to Flash 9 you’ll start finding more and more websites failing to display. Don’t worry I think YouTube and GameTrailers are still safe but I have had a couple problems with GameVideos but then again I get problems every time with GameVideos even on my PC.

I don’t know about the rest of you but the Wii Internet Channel gets a fair amount of play on my Wii. I’m of course a fan of the Viidelectrix and other flash based sites. Gmail works just fine and as always Wii Rally is fully functional when viewed with the Wii browser.

Source: Nintendo
Comic from Opera

Boys and girls children and gamers of all ages it’s that time of the week again time for another Wii Rally Wiikend Wrap.

This week was pretty hectic on my end, not with Wii Rally but with school. It was the end of term 5/6 for me which means was finishing up another game project which took the form of a Marvel kart racing game starring Spider-man and the Hulk. Back at the ranch the Mushroom Kingdom Hearts debate continues to rage like never before. Hopefully with the May issue of EGM coming in the next couple of weeks we will have our answer once and for all. Even if SquEnix had no plans for such a game they might now. The response to the idea has been quite favorable. Who knows what the future holds? The Shadow?

On to the wrap.

Monday
NA VC Update 03/19/2007 [UPDATE-1]

Tuesday
JPN VC Update 03/20/2007

Wednesday
A Few Words About the T-Protect

Thursday
Video Thursday: TMNT Edition

Feature Friday
Euro VC Update 03/23/07

Sorry everyone I’m a little busy today finishing up a game I’m working on for school but here are the European Virtual Console release for today.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, 800 Wii points)
Castlevania (NES, 500 Wii points)

When I was a kid oh so many years ago there was one brand of toys that everyone had. Sure there were those kids that had a bunch of transformers, GI Joes or Masters of the Universe figures but everybody had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Up until about 1996 ‘97 TMNT was the most successful toy franchise of all time until it was dethroned by those cute little Pokémon that so vigorously stole our hearts. So the TMNTs took a break from the toy and movie scene (whether that was because of the disastrous TMNT III movie no one really knows) the turtles even took a break from games. Until till now….
The TMNT IP and brand is back with a vengeance with a CG movie being released tomorrow and the multi-platform ninja beat um-up launching earlier this week and hitting the PS2 XB360 and for our intents and purposes the Nintendo Wii.

Today Wii Rally is showcasing some gameplay videos that give you a sample of each of the turtle’s unique powers you will be using throughout the game. There are four videos but they are short and since we have four videos there will be no bonus round today. Sorry kids next week I promise.

Leonardo

See the other videos after the jump (more…)

Guillemot owned peripheral maker Thrustmaster has some accessories on the market to pimp out your Wii, today Wii Rally focuses on the T-Protect.

The T-Protect is a silicon sleeve for your Wii Remote and nunchuck combo. It is designed to give you more of a grip on the Wii Remote and accent it with style. What sets the T-Protect apart from similar products on the market is that the T-Protect is designed to absorb shock it’s actually a couple millimeters thicker than the basic colour sleeves you can buy anywhere. So if you’re a butter fingers that is constantly dropping the Wii Remote or you like to live dangerously and forgo the suggested wrist strap then the T-Protect may help you get a little more mileage out of your Wii Remote, until you send it through your nice new TV because you’re too manly to listen to warnings.

The T-Protect comes in too colours black and white it’s surprising that Thrustmaster didn’t go with any other colours considering the success of sites like Decal Girl or the simple joy people get out of customizing their Wii Remote. I got my girlfriend a pink sleeve for her Wii Remote and she’s never been happier. I was a bit skeptical about the white T-Protect considering how the Wii Remote on it’s own seems to gather a greasy form of filth during particularly sweaty sessions of Zelda:TP. The T-Protect did not stop this occurrence but the sleeve itself remained clean while the gunk stayed on Wii Remote.

The T-Protect does fit comfortably in your hand and doesn’t add much weight to the Wii Remote but when you’ve been playing video games as long as I have sometimes something wrapping around your controller just feels “wrong”. I prefer the smooth texture of the original Wii Remote casing but if your worried about one day dropping your controller and having it smash in into pieces on your nice hard wood floor. You can spend thousands of dollars installing carpet in your game domain or dish out 9.99$ for a T-Protect.

I’m not a big fan of Wii Remote sleeves but if you are really looking to buy one for protection’s sake than the T-protect is probably is the strongest and best value for your money.

Bottom Line

Pros:
Comfortable
Protects your controller
Doesn’t get dirty.

Cons:
Only comes in two colours
Can feel “wrong” for seasoned gamers
Won’t protect loved ones from injury.

Well what started last week continues unevaded. Here are the Japanese Virtual Console games for this week. Starring a Zelda clone, an old school fighter, an arcade classic, a crazy mixed up adventure, and one of the best early SNES games. I can’t wait till we get Actraiser on this side of the planet. Translating Japanese is hard work but I do it all for you so what are you waiting for? Go out and spend those Yen.

Valkyrie no Bouken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu (NES, 500 Wii Points)
Actraiser (SNES, 800 Wii Points)
Virtua Fighter 2 (Genesis, 800 Wii Points)
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (Genesis, 800 Wii Points)
Galaga (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)

Nintendo has decided to forgo the press release this week (at least at press time) but that doesn’t mean that there is no Virtual Console update for today. Like I’ve said in the past the European Virtual Console update is normally indicative of what will be hitting North American Wiis the following Monday, this week is no different. Today the NA VC give a fond hello to Splatterhouse and Beyond Oasis. No sign of the Ice Climbers though so I guess they’re either off chasing giant birds, scaling the alps or hanging with Chad Lowe. I’d watch out for that Chad Lowe guy he tried to kill the president and blame it on Renfield. Now what’s up with that?

*UPDATE*Excitebike (NES, 500 Wii Points)
Splatterhouse (TG-16 600 Wii Points)
Beyond Oasis (Genesis, 800 Wii Points)

*UPDATE-1* I added Excitebike to the list. Thanks Brill