[EDITORIAL] What Nintendo Needs to Do With the Wii U; End Game

We're almost done! The fifth, and final, installment of this editorial of mine on the Wii U. Exactly how does Nintendo expect to win over their long-time fans, those they swooned with the Wii, and the developers they desperately need to create invigorating experiences? Where can Nintendo go from here, and how can they make sure they utilize their one year's head start and keep Microsoft and Sony off of their heels? Keep reading to find out...

Over the years, Nintendo has never really been known for having powerful hardware, but more of having a powerful library of IPs and franchises they could put on that hardware. Between their top franchises - Mario, Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda, to name a few - Nintendo has a very compelling catalog. Asides from the already announced New Super Mario Bros. U, along side Pikmin 3, they are the only "main" Nintendo properties on the system announced thus far. It's assumed we'll see Link in Hyrule Field soon enough (whether or not it'll be similar to the HD demo we've seen is yet to be known, so don't go believing rumors quite yet), and we're hoping for a new Metroid and StarFox entry within a reasonable time. We haven't gotten wind of what's going on, but that's OK. What concerns me the most is that, despite Nintendo already having a fairly solid lineup for the system, their third parties are only content with bringing ports, and the Wii U needs more than that.

This is not enough to get me to buy the Wii U version.

Having Assassin's Creed III and Batman: Arkham City - the two power-house third-party games - on the system is great; the crowds were almost over-gasped when they announced them. Arkham City was a great game, but it's a year old. Assassin's Creed III is bound to be a fantastic entry, but it's a month and a half after it's initial release on other systems that people already own. I've yet to meet someone who is holding out for the Wii U versions of these games. We don't need ports that restructure the game and make it appear "tailored" to the Wii U; remember back to Sony saying they don't want Wii ports for the Move. There needs to be fresh experiences, and being exclusive helps.

Two prime examples are ZombiU and Rayman Legends. Coincidentally, they're both from Ubisoft, who has stated they don't plan on investing too much into the system, but after the purported shit-storm Nintendo caused between themselves and EA over using the Nintendo Network as an Origin platform, it looks more like Ubisoft and Nintendo are best buds. I don't expect too much from EA, as the gimped Madden 13 doesn't speak well for their integrity with their Wii U releases, but there are plenty of other third party developers Nintendo can woo.

[EDITORIAL] What Nintendo Needs to Do With the Wii U; Installment 04

We're back with part 4 of this massive editorial, focusing on Nintendo's direction competition: Sony, Microsoft, and Apple, and what they have geared up for their respective futures. Nintendo has a conference coming up on September 13, where the final bits of news is expected to be released. History has shown that Nintendo loves September announcements for pricing/availability for their upcoming systems, so expect this day to be the day we learn how much of a hit our credit cards are to take.

This year, we see Nintendo not only initiate the eighth generation of home consoles, but this is the first time in Nintendo's history since the NES that they've released a console before their competition. Not only is this an incredibly bold move by Nintendo, but it's also naive. They're allowing their competition know how they're handling their new system, giving them a deep insight to their plans, and adjust accordingly. Assuming the Wii U lands in November, that gives Microsoft and Sony 7 months between then and E3 next year to tweak their battle plans and come out swinging. That is, if Nintendo is tight-lipped on pertinent info that won't come to light until the release; otherwise, if this upcoming press conference is much more info than just pricing and release date, that makes it 9 months. Seven to nine months is enough time to tweak just about anything they need to; if Microsoft can take SmartGlass from initial on-paper design to displayable prototype to the masses in twelve months, then three-fourths of that time is ample.

* * *

To date, Microsoft hasn't said shit on the Xbox Next (or Durango, Xbox 720, Xbox Infinite, what have you). If you recall that document leak back in June, Microsoft actually confirmed it to be legitimate, even if it was "out-dated" by their measures. Regardless, it's interesting information. Things such as Project Fortaleza (or "Kinect Glasses") seems to bridge Kinect elements with Google Glasses concepts. Halo 5 isn't billed as a launch title, but it's coming shortly after. The Kinect 2 appears to want to talk to Xbox controllers for further integration. The system itself is to be $200-300, the same price range it's at now. There's a lot going on in there, but the juiciest information is right above. 

Microsoft's back catalog of games needs some love, especially Rare. They've been on the front lines lately, with the various Kinect Sports games, and the minds behind Avatars. Despite this pivotal piece for Microsoft, Rare hasn't done shit with their respective properties since Banjo-Kajooie: Nuts & Bolts. What about Killer Instinct 3? Where the hell has Joanna Dark been? My most important question is "why hasn't Rare made a new IP?". That question may be answered with the next generation; hell, we may even get to see that realistic Kameo sequel. If you unleash Rare, the last few ounces of faith I have in them tells me that, since they've been away from their original IPs over the course of the 00s, they can very well come back with a slew of fresh ideas for Banjo, Perfect Dark, and Kameo.

I've already talked my head off of how SmartGlass may very well become something great; I'm not going to banter on any further. I will, however, drop this nugget in here: if they really wanted to be sly enough, release the SmartGlass app on the 3DS and the Vita.

[EDITORIAL] What Nintendo Needs to Do With the Wii U; Thrice

If you caught the subtle music reference, good on you.

In this third installment, we're all about how you interact with the Wii U, primarily, the GamePad. We're gearing up for the September 13 conference Nintendo is holding. History has shown that Nintendo loves September announcements for pricing/availability for their upcoming systems, so expect this day to be the day we learn how much of a hit our credit cards are to take.

The biggest hurdle that Nintendo has in this generation, asides from not knowing a fucking thing that Sony and Microsoft are doing, is convincing people - customers and developers - that the GamePad is worth the investment. The GamePad, in itself, is an amalgamation of various technology knick-knacks we've grown accustomed to over the years. One part tablet, one part controller, squeeze in some social networking, add a touch of NFC (Near-Field Communication), and you've got a clusterfuck of gizmos.

By and large, it's main goal is to be a controller. In reality, it's nothing more than a gigantic, single-screened DS. Think about it: your TV would be the top screen, delivering the goodies to your noodle, while the controller's screen - a touch enabled screen, mind you - is where you interact with the game, with menu inputs, maps, inventory management...all the shit we've seen in DS games over the past 8 years. If the GamePad is allowing you to play the Wii U games on the controller, what's the point of the 3DS?

Between the 3DS, the GamePad, and the Wii U, cross-play gaming should be a no-brainer. Sega, of all companies, started the whole cross-play aspect with the Dreamcast and the Visual Memory Unit (or the VMU); sadly, it didn't catch on like it should have, as the technology then was severely limiting it. Then, Nintendo caught on with the GameCube and the GameBoy Advance, and the connection using the Link Cable; this was a hindrance, as some games (such as Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles) didn't suggest using the GBA, it was almost forced. Next up to the plate was Sony, and while the PSP was a great move forward with interlinking home console and portable system, the Vita is where it took off, as your game saves could go back and forth, making the Vita a true "portable PlayStation", despite some severe limitations. Where Sega started, Nintendo innovated, and Sony took on full-force.

* * *

A fantastic idea.
Also, the worst infographic ever.

The Vita, despite having sluggish sales and a poor library thus far (with a few gems), the connection there between it and the PS3 is fairly remarkable. I recently picked up WipEout 2048 on the Vita, but only after it was announced that WipEout HD's content was going to be a free download for anyone who owns both versions. It was a great step forward for the cross-compatibility, but there are huge hurdles that need to be gotten rid of. Main point? Why the fuck do I need to own a copy on both systems in order to bring it over? Much like Digital Copy and Ultraviolet for DVDs, or even ripping my CDs to my computer and dumping them on my iPhone, why in the name of fuck can't I get a digital download of the Vita version if I buy the PS3 version? Thankfully, Sony has recently unveiled their Cross Buy platform at Gamescom, where if you buy the PS3 version, you get the Vita version for free. They've yet to detail the program - Can I buy the Vita version and get the PS3 verison? Is it a digital version of the Vita game? - but Sony has some big games lined up for the service, and is definitely a welcomed addition.

[EDITORIAL] What Nintendo Needs to Do With the Wii U; Part Deux

Here's part two of my mass-editorial I will be publishing, focusing on Nintendo, the Wii U, and just how plausible its success really is, leading up to the conference they're holding on September 13. History has shown that Nintendo loves September announcements for pricing/availability for their upcoming systems, so expect this day to be the day we learn how much of a hit our credit cards are to take.

A powerful system cannot be the only crutch Nintendo can lean on. They need help, and they need to make people know they're still innovating. Sadly, their own innovation may be their own downfall, as others are quick on their heels, even before they get out the door...

Since the GameCube, Nintendo has been showing its age. When the Wii launched, many gave Nintendo hell, referring to it as the "GameCube 1.5", as it didn't have the technical glitz nor glamour as the Xbox 360 or the PS3; it was only slightly more powerful than the Xbox. Yes, the GameCube could do [insert advantage here] and the PS2 could do [insert another one here], but the Xbox was often regarded as the powerhouse of the last generation.

Despite the lack of power, the Wii held its own while completely ignoring HDMI and (at the very least) 720p, two modern entertainment staples. Microsoft even caught itself in a fault, and added HDMI to the Xbox 360 mid-life-cycle, something fans and critics alike had hoped for in a revised Wii HD. Regardless, Nintendo skipped the revision and came full force with the Wii U (much like how they skipped on bringing the Wii Remote to the GameCube and made it less of an afterthought and more of the main attraction), including many missed opportunities the Wii left behind. It has been reported by third parties that the Wii U will be drastically underpowered compared to the Xbox Next and PS4/Orbis; Epic says that Unreal Engine 4-powered games won't find life on the Wii U past the first generation without being severely dumbed down.

Best joke ever!
Image credit: http://www.roboawesome.com/?p=16875

Fortunately, that may not be the case...

A recent report from BGR says that the Xbox Next (or Durango; what have you) will be running an eight-core CPU with 8 GB of RAM. Despite this sounding fairly powerful, this same report puts it at six times more powerful than the 360. If this report is true - which I'm taking it with the largest grain of salt known to man - then that means it's only marginally more powerful than the Wii U, which has been described as "definitely more powerful than Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3" by 5th Cell (the guys behind Scribblenauts). This puts the Wii U at about 2-4 times more powerful than the Xbox 360.

This becomes a contradiction with a recent statement from Sumo Digital's executive producer Steve Lycett (Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed) saying the Wii U "looks as good any of the HD platforms". He quickly brings our hopes back up with this number: "The Wii U has way more memory, so we can take advantage of that with less compression on elements and textures, so [Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed] will look all lovely and shiny."

Now, we all know that we shouldn't be asking "how many more times" is one system more powerful than another, but used as a general rule of thumb; despite the GameCube being regarded as an inferior system, it could still do things better than the PS2 and Xbox, something I'm hoping repeats itself with the Wii U.

[EDITORIAL] What Nintendo Needs to Do With the Wii U

The Next Big Innovation?

What you're witnessing is the first part of a planned five for a mass-editorial I will be publishing, focusing on Nintendo, the Wii U, and just how plausible its success really is, leading up to the conference they're holding on September 13. History has shown that Nintendo loves September announcements for pricing/availability for their upcoming systems, so expect this day to be the day we learn how much of a hit our credit cards are to take.

May we look at Nintendo's competitors - or their own history - as inspiration for the Wii U's success? What about where they look for inspiration? What proof do we currently have that the Wii U may, or may not, be successful?

It's coming. It's inevitable. We stand on the precipice of a new generation's step forward into the spotlight. Nintendo is ushering in the eighth generation at the end of this year, and with it brings another flurry of criticisms and skepticisms. We saw it when Nintendo showed off the Wii's controller, unveiled the system as the 'Wii', and when they laid out technical specs on the system; just Google around for it, and you'll see it around the internet. Hell, it even happened with the GameCube (what with it's purple lunchbox attire) and the Nintendo 64 with it's cartridge-based games; Nintendo always receives criticism when a new system comes out.

When Nintendo first showed us the (then named) Revolution's controller, I, myself, was taken aback. It was a radical approach to a growing problem: lack of innovation. Nintendo broke conventional means of controller design they themselves created in the mid-80s, and every other console manufacturer stuck to since. Nintendo gave us some fine examples of what the controller could do, what with the pointer acting as an excellent approach to first-person games, or the accelerometers acting as their own method of input; Nintendo was ready to reinvent, or out-right create, new genres. The most ludicrous - or, dare I say, crazy - part about the entire endeavor? They knew people would buy it, and ended up ushering in the fitness craze in video games with their own Wii Fit, and others followed suit. The (purely) motion controlled games such as the pack-in Wii Sports - where there was minimal button pressing, and actually acting out what you wanted to do - was groundbreaking at the time; Nintendo is constantly seen as a key innovator in this field.

Six years later, Nintendo is in full pre-production of the Wii U, getting it's brand new system geared up for the holiday release. The Wii proved successful, because it hadn't been done before. One factor Nintendo is banking on to encourage customers to buy into their name all over again is the backwards compatibility. Not with just the games, but with every accessory made for the Wii, including games, downloaded or not; Nintendo could easily market this as "buy the new system, keep all of your old shit". The Wii U, on the other hand, is building off of two things: the established success of the Wii by keeping the name - falling victim to "sequelitis", much like the Xbox and PlayStation - and the booming success of the tablet craze Apple ushered in with the iPad.

Yes, I'm saying it: Nintendo is looking to Apple for ideas.

[REVIEWS] Mini Reviews, Round 3!

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Release Date: November 1, 2011
System Reviewed: PlayStation 3

What's Great: Absolutely fantastic video game. Story, visuals, gameplay, the way our voice/motion-capture actors portray their characters...everything comes together in a fantastic experience.

What's (Not So) Great: It doesn't surpass Uncharted 2 in terms of quality. Don't get me wrong, this is still a fan-fucking-tastic game. It's, simply put, not as good. It may just be me, but my expectations may have been set too high, considering how much better Uncharted 2 was than the first. It could be that Naughty Dog felt that they were riding on the curtails of the previous game, and could skirt a few things here and there. Whatever it is, I feel Naughty Dog should take a break and focus on a new IP. Oh wait, well, hello there, The Last of Us! How are you?

Bottom Line: The Uncharted series, in my eyes, is something that should be experiences by the masses. Just because it's not better than the previous game doesn't mean you should skip it. Play this game.

Grade: B+

Zelda: Skyward Sword's Facebook Page Reveals Zelda's Father...is Gaepora

No, you're not reading that wrong. The Facebook page for Skyward Sword just posted this image, stating it was Link's father from the game, with the name of Gaepora.

For those who don't remember or don't know, Gaebora is the name of that godforsaken owl that annoyed the hell out of you in Ocarina of Time, who constantly watched over you, giving you advice in some places, transporting you in others, all the while keeping an eye on you as you grew up.

The connection is immediately recognizable, as the eyebrows just sell it.

It's hard not to come to the conclusion that Gaepora is transformed/reincarnated into the owl Gaebora, albeit with that one little letter difference. Still, the theory is already running rampant in my mind:

Ghirahim turns Zelda's father into an owl - or, Gaepora has powers that allow him to transform into an owl, ala Animorphs - and is locked into that form. He is either a Phoenix in the respect that he can reincarnate himself, or he is an ever-living creature. Since SS is a prequel to OoT, Gaebora himself is reminded of Link from his time in Skyloft when he sees Link emerge from the Lost Woods. Doing his best to rescue the princess, who is named and looks strikingly similar to his own daughter, he helps Link on his journey to meet, assist and rescue Zelda.

Basically, he's got family issues in Ocarina, and helps Link help the princess who reminds him of his daughter.

[REVIEW] A Lot of Games, Volume 2, Part 4

Look familiar, right? You're looking at a series of six posts in the second volume where I gather 
together a bunch of games I haven't talked about, write mini-reviews on them, and serve them straight to your noggin. Sure, they may not get the attention they deserve, but I get my point across fairly well. This time, I start way back in September and work my way up until early March. We're looking at a solid 24 games to be reviewed here. Be sure to brush up on the Review FAQ to make sure you understand my scoring before you whirl-up a bitch-fest.



And we're back! I'm making double-damned sure Blogger is (auto) saving my blog posts to avoid the debacle that was the last entry.

Nintendo Putting it's New Trademark to Use

This is an email I got from Nintendo, reminding me of Donkey Kong Country Returns 4's release, with the subject line reading "Tim, it's on like Donkey Kong!"

Guess they need to do something with the trademark they just filed for. Anyone know if they actually got the trademark in their favor?

[QUOTE] An 11-Year Old's Take on PlayStation Move

"Did they get permission from Nintendo to do that? I mean, it's just like the Wii." - My 11-year old brother after watching the Kevin Butler-starring PlayStation Move commercial.

Hey, Sony. Maybe you should start putting a disclaimer on your packaging and commercials: "Sony is in no way affiliated with Nintendo or the Wii brand. The concept of flailing your arms around with a dildo/Bingo ink-dotter, plus the 'Wii' name are both intellectually owned and created by Nintendo. Even though the PlayStation Move is incredibly similar - some would argue it's borderline copyright infringement - Nintendo had no input on the creation of the PlayStation Move brand, the 3mote Motion Controller or the Navigation Sub-tertiary Controllinator."

That, or just come out and say you've been playing copy-cat since the PS1.

[REVIEW] Metroid: Other M

Metroid. It sits in the 'Top Five' of my favorite franchises. I'm a fairly recent fan of the series, starting with Metroid Prime six years ago, but I've done my research; Metroid II remains as the only game in the series I haven't beat. However - and here comes the turn-around - Metroid: Other M has quickly fallen to the bottom of the pile for the series, nestled right above the aforementioned unfinished title.

When Nintendo announced Team Ninja's involvement in a two-and-a-half dimension Metroid game, I was as giddy as Penny Arcade. My eyes became as wide as your favorite anime character, rainbows spurt out from every corner, and I was as ecstatic as a 9-year old girl who just hugged Justin Beiber. Yea, it was like that.

Seeing as they referred to it as a "high-tech NES game," I had some mixed feelings. Only being able to use the Wiimote sideways had me very skeptical, as I felt that could be used as an alternate, "casual" gameplay mode, and using the Classic Controller would invoke a more traditional, Super Metroid experience. It's hard to do Metroid wrong, as the past 6 years, we had the Prime sub-series, Zero Mission and Fusion (which, to be honest, I didn't like all that much). Team Ninja knows what they doing, as Ninja Gaiden is an amazing series. What could go wrong?

So goddamned much...

[ANALYSIS] Microsoft Prices Out "Cost of Ownership" For Motion Gaming

You've gotta love this one. After Major Nelson posted the official pricing for Kinect, gamers began criticizing Microsoft's expensive approach. Well, Microsoft was quick with the Reggie-style graphs, and cranked out these lovely beauties (originally spotted on Kotaku):

First, we see Microsoft trying to justify the price of Kinect. They say that Kinect is cheaper for a new system owner across all three systems. They undercut Nintendo by $60, and Sony by a whopping $210. That's not all.

Here, they take on existing system owners, which I fall into (for all three). Kinect is just $10 shy of Nintendo, where as Sony is a full next-gen game above Microsoft. Let's delve past through the corporate bullshit and get some rectifying done.

[JAPAN ONLY] No More Heroes 2 Gets Collector's Edition

Fuck you, Japan.

I'm sorry, I can't stay mad at you. I love you, Japan. I love sushi. I love your women (I've been suffering from Yellow Fever for many years now). I love your games. Sadly, they get to taunt us with things like this: the No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle Hopper's Edition. You get:

• A movie made by Suda51 called No More Heroes 1.5 
• The soundtrack on CD
• A "fan book"

Not sure what the fan book would be, but if you pre-order, you also get an erotica comic book. It goes for ¥8,980 ($101). It's out on October 21, same day as the "Black Box" edition, which is just the game for $81.

This isn't the first time an entry in the NMH franchise that got something awesome.

[Via Siliconera]

Maybe that new Nintendo hardware actually isn't the DSi XL...

In an acceptance speech, Miyamoto casually mentioned he's working on a new piece of hardware, as well as a new MotionPlus-enabled game.

If you remember my initial skepticism when it was rumored Nintendo would be unveiling a new piece of hardware at GDC 2010 next month, I said it could be one of three things: a proper North American unveiling of the DSi XL, the Wii HD or a new GameBoy. Well, no specifics were given in Joystiq's article - not even a quote - however, this can lead speculation that the DSi XL is not the topic of GDC, however, if it's not not the DSi XL, the Wii HD is continuously downplayed, and the GameBoy was killed by the DS, then where is there to go from here?

Me? Well, I believe it's completely unrelated to the DS. Why make an announcement about a new handheld when the newest unveiled one isn't even out yet? The DS was supposedly the third tier of Nintendo products (sorry, but no, it's not; Nintendo successfully killed the GameBoy with their own system), so I'm going to say it's Wii related. Nintendo doesn't do hardware refreshes of it's main systems (that is, unless, you count the slimmed down NES and SNES they released, and that was about 500 years ago), so it would be contradictory. Then again, Nintendo was the company that pioneered pack-in games with Mario on the NES, and nobody has done that at launch except for Nintendo themselves with Wii Sports.

Final thought: Wii something. Break out the scorecards, people. GDC is going to be very interesting.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Dated, I'm Right...Again

It's coming December 8, just as we all thought.

Well, I can't say I'm right too much, as I moved it to 12/8 on my iCal when I first heard of the delay. Then, when I read about the actual delay, GameStop said 12/8, whereas everyone else was further into the month.

Nintendo actually talks about an HD-enabled Wii. Go fucking figure!

I love when Nintendo talks about an HD Wii, because it seems as if they're talking about it 15 years ago when you could hardly find a TV with Component inputs over 15-inches.

Shigeru Miyamoto was allowed to open his mouth and actually talk about the HD Wii we've all been wanting since Iwata first showed off the Wii way back in 2004 (!). Here's my favorite quote from the interview:

"Regarding the question of SD or HD, it must depend on each software," Miyamoto said. "For example, we have to ask ourselves if HD is really necessary to develop Wii Fit. Won't HD be better for the games like Pikmin? The developers should choose the most appropriate graphical format depending on the software they make."

What do other sites make of this? That they are making an SD/HD hybrid Wii. A fucking hybrid. Here's an easier answer: they won't force a developer to make the game HD compatible, or for a better choice of words, won't force them to make an HD option for a game. So, you could essentially get a new Wii Sports game by Nintendo without HD, but have Legend of Zelda showing off 1080p all up in your face.

THAT makes perfect sense. Because, honestly, do we really need an HD version of Hexic or Bejeweled? They're shiny, but how shiny can you get?

[Via Kotaku]

More UK-Exclusive Limited Editions

Ready for a trifecta that will blow you mind? So, we all know of my bitching and ranting when it comes to the UK getting exclusive limited editions of games, right? Sit down tight, because shit is about to get real.

[DELAY] Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Delayed

For those wanting their Silent Hill fix for the Wii, you'll have to wait another month.

According to GameStop, every version planned will be getting a delay from November 3 to December 8. GameFly, on the other hand, says November 26 for the Wii, and December 31 for the PSP and PS2.

So what exactly is going on? I'm not sure. Never was privy to Silent Hill, but I guess another month couldn't hurt.

Could it?

Source • Kotaku

[VIDEO] Metroid Prime Trilogy Comparisons

Caught this video on YouTube (albeit incredibly long for the topic) about my exact qualm with Prime's treatment by Retro on it's port to the Wii. Gone are special animations, water effects and certain textures. The video starts with GameCube Prime, showing water effects with the Morph Ball and Bomb, how the Beam fire affects the water, and shows each Beam's shot and charge effect, and goes and duplicates the same in the Wii Prime.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who's pissed about this. If anything, the Trilogy should add to the game, not strip it down. The missing animations (Ice Beam freezing the arm cannon with a full charged shot) was pure immersion into the world of Tallon IV.

[REVIEW] Metroid Prime Trilogy

I have been waiting for this for a long time. Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes are finally on the Wii with Corruption's controls, plus the added benefits like the Token system (ala Achievements/Trophies) without the "New Play Control" moniker that other GameCube-to-Wii ports share (Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat and Pikmin in the US).

What makes this so brilliant is it's all three of the Prime games (Prime, Echoes and Corruption) all on the same disk, all for $50. Both Prime and Echoes are in 16x9 widescreen format, both of which didn't have, which is a welcomed addition. There's no new content added to any of the games (asides from the Token system in Prime and Echoes), but the games themselves should be enough for you to drop a Grant on them.

Metroid Prime has really stood the test of time, as it's been 7 years since it's debut on the GameCube. I picked up playing it after I finished with Batman: Arkham Asylum, and I have to say, I'm having just as much fun with it as I did with it when it first came out.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, well, I'm not necessarily eager to play that installment, as I feel Retro really skimped out by falling back on the dual worlds scenario. I didn't enjoy the story too much, but fighting Dark Samus was a treat. The beam weapons I did not enjoy, as they are simply rehashes of old beams: Dark Beam is the Ice Beam, Light Beam is the Plasma Beam, and the Annihilator Beam is nothing more than a combination of the Dark and Light Beams, sharing each beam's ammo (which, after all this time, I'm still wondering why they ultimately used an ammo system for them). However, I guess every major franchise has to go through this phase sometime in their longevity.

Seeing as Corruption came out last year, I can't really say I'm down for playing it again, as nothing has really changed.

There are a few problems I have with Prime's transition to the Wii, which I've detailed out below, in a fashion similar to Kotaku's Love/Hate.

Head past the break to read the review.