Nintendo Okie

It showed up a few days ago courtesy of a rumored listing from Sam’s Club, but Nintendo made it official today.  There will be a new 3DS color coming on May 20th, Midnight Purple.  It will be launching alongside Mario Tennis Open and will launch at $169.99.  It joins the other four colors of the 3DS currently available to buy.

Back when the 3DS was first shown off it was the one color of the system I really wanted to own.  Now that it’s coming out I may be getting a second 3DS for myself.

I was talking to a friend about Kid Icarus.  He mentioned the franchise is practically unknown since there has only been one game before Uprising.  I looked at him strangely for a second.  Then he told me the Game Boy’s Of Myths And Monsters doesn’t count because it’s a handheld game.  The strange look on my face didn’t go away.  I have heard this same argument used by several people I know.  Why do they feel a handheld game is lesser than a console counterpart?

I suppose the obvious thing is the power of the system.  Portables are usually a generation or two behind the home consoles.  I can see how a PSP game may dull in comparison to a PS3 title, but that doesn’t mean we should discount it.  PSP games are roughly PS1 games.  If God Of War: Chains Of Olympus isn’t a “real game” then what does that say for Crash Bandicoot 2?  What I’m getting at is it’s not a concept of power so much as it’s a concept of less than console power.  That’s one barrier of people use.

Another attribute is the smaller screen.  Instead of a window into another world, you get a peephole.  I guess it’s hard to feel a connection when you see a world the size of a postcard.  What I find odd, in some cases (say Zelda for example) Read more…

Wayforward Technologies released Mighty Switch Force at the end of 2011 and it became an instant hit.  The game focused on capturing five fugitive females and getting through the side scrolling levels as quickly as possible.  The one real problem the game had, it was a little on the short side.

In the latest issue of Nintendo Power we found out the game will be getting an update soon.  This comes quickly on the heels of the 3DS system update that allows developers to patch their games and it will be the first eShop game to get an update.  The update will bring five new levels to the game.  It will also enhance the 3D visuals, though we don’t know just how that will happen.  It will also add a quick replay button for those players wanting to get the fastest time possible.

The update, once it goes into effect, will be free for anyone that already owns the game.  If you haven’t picked up Mighty Switch Force yet it will be available for the same $5.99 price it’s always been.

Tomorrow is the official date announced for the 3DS update during their Nintendo Direct Conference last Friday, but now Nintendo surprised us by making it available a day early.  The new update, as you can see above, adds folders to the 3DS home menu.  In order to get the update you need to either log on to the eShop (it will let you know an update is available) or head on over to the settings menu and manually update the system.  Be prepared to wait as it took about five or six minutes to download the update on my system.

When the download completes and your system restarts you will have the ability to add folders to your 3DS home menu.  How do you do this you ask?  Simple.  All you need to do is click on an empty slot and there will be an option to create a folder.  Hit that button and the folder is created.

You can go in and change the folder name and the name’s first character will be displayed.  It would be nice to have more characters or to be able to use icons, but if you click on the folder you can see it’s name.  I currently have three folders with the letter G because of my Game Boy, Game Boy Color and GBA games.  Just drag anything you want into a folder and it will be there.

When you click on a folder it brings up a small sub-menu where you can move things around, add rows, subtract rows and do basically everything you can on the main screen.  It’s pretty nice to have this functionality as it will remove some clutter from the home screen.

This update also brought a small change to the eShop itself.  As you can see there is now a second row of icons where you can instantly access things like the Virtual Console selections, highest rated games and other options.  It’s a small change, but it makes some more cluttered areas easier to access.

One of the most exciting things about Super Mario 3D Land was the ability to don the raccoon suit for the first time since Super Mario Bros. 3. The one bad part is it wasn’t a real return of the suit as it didn’t allow you to fly, but rather glide across the land. This screenshot from a 1UP preview oshows the raccoon suit will be back in New Super Mario Bros. 2 for the 3DS in August, but more interesting is the little icons in the bottom left corner showing that it will function more like the suit of old.

Every Mario release always brings new suits. I can’t wait to see what this new game will add and if there will be any more that return from the past.

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure is one of those games coming out for the 3DS that I’m really looking forward to.  It follows the story of Rafael, a notorious Parisian art thief who is most famous for stealing art only to return it days later.  The game is a rhythm action game and reminds me quite a bit of games like Elite Beat Agents.  I’ve posted a few screenshots before, but here are some more to get you interested in the game.  Sega will be bringing it to North America later this year.

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Have you been looking for a deal to make you finally break down and get a 3DS? If so, this one may be for you!

$169 Nintendo 3DS Value Bundle includes:

• Choice of Nintendo 3DS [Aqua Blue, Cosmo Black, Flame Red, or Pearl Pink]

• POWER A Ultimate Travel Case for DSL, DSi, DSi XL & 3DS

• Choice of 1 game [Chose from: Asphalt 3D, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D, Reel Fishing Paradise 3D, Shinobi, Rabbids Travel in Time 3D, or Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition]

**Plus at the bottom of the screen you can add a $20 3DS eShop card to the bundle for only $18 more!**

You can find this deal at walmart.com or by clicking here.

Order Up! started life as a Wii game back in 2008 and hit European retail stores in November of 2011. Today Supervillian Studios CEO Chris Rausch confirmed the game will be hitting the 3DS in North America as well, with a little bit of a twist.

“[Order Up] is now coming exclusively to the 3DS eShop as a download. The retail scene is brutal unfortunately, so there have been some changes in plan. I think the demo is just ASAP after Nintendo approval, and the game would follow soon after.”

So, in addition to Unchained Blades coming to the eShop courtesy of XSEED Games, we now have confirmation of a second 3DS retail game hitting the eShop courtesy of Ignition. Not only that, but it will be getting a playable demo.

No release date as of yet.  It’s good to see publishers are recognizing it can be hard to carve out a space in the retail market, but there is room for these types of games in the digital space. It’s even more exciting because Nintendo really wants to make the eShop a place where people look to for downloadable titles. Hopefully we’ll see more retail sized games hitting the service and playable demos will become the norm rather than the exception.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation considers Mini Golf a sport, so I’m chalking this one up as another sports review under my belt.  Luckily, Mini Golf is decidedly more fun than the majority of sports, as indicated by the amazing title, Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH!  What other sports titles get that much excitement in the name alone?

What You Need to Know

After bringing Fun! Fun! Minigolf to WiiWare in 2008, Shin’en Multimedia brings 3D mini golf to the 3DS with Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH!  In the game, you play as a customizable male or female character that travels to the United States, Europe, and Asia to compete in different cups.  As you progress, you’ll earn coins which buy extra in-game content such as trickshots, flight tickets to new countries, new golfing equipment, and even the ability to play as your Mii character.

Read more…

Once again we talk about Kid Icarus: Uprising since that seems to be the only thing we have played.  If that isn’t your thing you don’t need to worry.  I tell a tale of my late-night adventure to Walmart.  Sounds exciting doesn’t it?  If that doesn’t make you want to listen then get this.  Halfway through the news the show crashes due to multiple programs failing at the same time.  Things never quite recover as the show is anarchy from there.  Now do you want to listen?  Thought so.

episode-110
Starring – Tony, Micah, Shelby
Run time – 1:42:43

If you want to chat with us, send an email to podcast@nintendo-okie.com or head over to our forum.  You can also join our Facebook group or follow us on Twitter.  Watch our YouTube channel too.  Good stuff that.  Here is the article about Super Mario Bros. we talked about on the show.