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Sin & Punishment 2 in the hands of an expert

by JC Fletcher { Nov 5th 2009 at 1:44PM }

We suspect that even if we started playing Sin & Punishment 2 now and kept playing until the North American release in spring of next year, we wouldn't be able to play with the kind of skill and confidence on display in this video of Stage 1. The player in this demonstration on Nintendo's site builds up a 16x multiplier immediately and hangs on to it throughout the level.

In more S&P2 news, Siliconera has been translating an Iwata Asks interview with Treasure, mostly about the development of the first game for Nintendo 64, a system that "didn't work at all."

Tosh.0 giving 'N64 Kid' a second chance

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 24th 2009 at 7:00PM }

It was with awkward trepidation that we first approached Comedy Central's Internet content-laden Tosh.0 -- working online all day can leave you feeling a bit strange when you find the same content in the TV box, ya know? But when we read over at GoNintendo that the exuberant comedian would be giving his famed "Web Redemption" treatment to the Internet's own "N64 kid," we couldn't help but get overexcited. We started pumping our fists in the air and shouting and ... well, you already know, don't you? The show will be airing this Thursday on Comedy Central, but check your local listings for the specifics.

See Left 4 Dead fan-made mod 'Mushroom Massacre' in action

by David Hinkle { Oct 13th 2009 at 5:00PM }

Remember that Mushroom Kingdom mod DoritoClock was working on for Left 4 Dead? Well, he's making progress and now has some new areas of the campaign to show off: the exterior of Peach's Castle and Super Mario 64's first world, Bob-omb Battlefield. He even added the latter's Chain Chomp!

It seems DoritoClock has also been reading our diary, because he's compiled a 10+ minute video walkthrough of all the areas. You can find that video past the break, but if you're anxious to see that Chain Chomp munching on a few undead carcasses (like we are), prepare to be disappointed. It's a work in progress, folks.

Continued →

Euro Wii 'Ambassadors' to receive keys to the Virtual Console

by James Ransom-Wiley { Sep 16th 2009 at 11:15AM }

Eager to show its disconnected patrons that their Wiis can do more than Wii Sports -- you don't even have to eject the disc! -- Nintendo has appointed pretty much anyone in Europe savvy enough to visit Wii's Connection Settings menu an "Ambassador." Here's how the "Connection Ambassador Promotion" works: Beginning in October (as seen in Japan), if you help another Wii owner establish an online connection, you and your incompetent friend will both receive five Nintendo bucks (500 Wii Points). (Presumably, when connecting for the first time, there will be an option to credit an Ambassador.)

And if you extend your services to the maximum of twenty previously offline console owners? You're looking at a 10,000-point payout ($100 worth of old games you probably have tucked away in cart form, plus all those WiiWare options) -- not bad, eh?

But wait! There's a more tempting perk to this promotion. As Ambassador, once you connect ten users, you'll achieve "gold status" and be free to download all first-party NES titles on Virtual Console. Oh, but it gets far better: Hit your twenty connections and -- you guessed it -- you've attained "platinum status," essentially granting you the keys to Nintendo's Virtual Console catalog. That's right, all first- and third-party NES, SNES and N64 games -- for free.

Quick! Google map the twenty nearest old folks homes and get ambassadoring!

Euro Wii owners: Super Smash Bros. available on Virtual Console tomorrow

by JC Fletcher { Jun 11th 2009 at 11:45AM }

Finally, the moment you've been waiting for since you lent your copy of Super Smash Bros. to someone who then moved away. If you're in Europe, tomorrow will be a very exciting Virtual Console day: the original Super Smash Bros. will be available for download, according to the Official Nintendo Magazine, for 1,000 points.

Surprisingly, Nintendo isn't taking the opportunity to be lazy and make it a one-game week. Cocoto Platform Jumper will also be up on WiiWare, and both Asphalt 4 and Sudoku 150 will be on DSiWare. We thought we'd mention these here, because they will not get any attention at all this week due to Smash Bros.

See screens, new info from XBLA Perfect Dark

by Justin McElroy { Jun 8th 2009 at 11:30AM }

We made plenty of new video game friends during E3, but, we still care about our old friends for, as the Girl Scouts remind us, one is silver and the other is gold. Why, just today we checked in on the upcoming XBLA version of Perfect Dark and walked away with a ton of new info.

Perhaps most excitingly, the game will include online multiplayer, according to the Xbox.com listing for it. Also, it's being developed by 4J Studios, which you may know from its PS3 ports of Oblivion and Overlord. Finally, we've got a few screens, which appear to indicate the game hasn't gotten too much sprucing up. What do you think?

[Thanks, Lee]

Retro Adapter outclasses the Classic Controller

by JC Fletcher { May 21st 2009 at 10:40AM }

Next month, developer Komodo and distributor Innex will one-up (or two-up, we guess) RetroZone's RetroPort Wii controller adapters with their Retro Adapter. Instead of merely allowing you to use a NES or SNES controller with Virtual Console games, the Retro Adapter features ports for NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64 pads in one $20 device. The adapter, being released almost just in time for the release of Majora's Mask on the Virtual Console, purportedly supports true analog control for the N64 controller.

Innex will be demonstrating the product at E3, and we're going to do our best to get all those new games or whatever out of the way so we can spend some time with it.

VC in Brief: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)

by David Hinkle { May 18th 2009 at 5:15PM }

This week, the Virtual Console finally gets Majora's Mask for the N64. Some people think Ocarina of Time is better, and some people don't. And some people probably never played either, which is something that should be addressed with one's person therapist or physician.

Gallery: Majora's Mask

Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks.

NintendoWare Weekly: Majora's Mask (and stuff that isn't Majora's Mask)

by David Hinkle { May 18th 2009 at 12:01PM }

This week, NintendoWare Weekly brings us the second-most requested title for the Virtual Console: Majora's Mask. With its arrival today, that can only mean one thing: Earthbound is next! When is "next?" Well, yeah, that might be a problem ...

Gallery: Majora's Mask

Continued →

Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Border of Madness edition

by JC Fletcher { May 14th 2009 at 9:00PM }

This week, we have another question about Nintendo Points, which, we realize as we do these Ask Joystiq Nintendo columns, are kind of weird. The points cards come in different values in different regions, and sometimes even have different costs across platforms! Weird.

Also, the usual sadness, this time about N64 games on VC and Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness. If you'd like us to give you reasons why your favorite game isn't being localized, send an email to asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com.

Continued →

Banjo-Tooie's Stop 'n' Swop feature grants fabulous prizes

by Griffin McElroy { Apr 27th 2009 at 12:30PM }

The original N64 version of Banjo-Tooie was met with near-universal critical acclaim, though some were disappointed by the cancellation of one of the title's most lauded additions -- a feature known as "Stop 'n' Swop," where special eggs located in Banjo-Kazooie could be imported into Tooie to exchange for various prizes.

Now, nearly a decade later, the feature has found its way into the XBLA re-release of Banjo-Tooie -- but this time around, the rewards are a tad more tangible. As seen in the video after the jump, an achievement, gamer pic and a Banjo-Kazooie NXE theme (as well as a few in-game cheats and items) are all up for grabs if you've got the mettle to go egg hunting in Banjo the First. And by "the mettle," we of course mean "the GameFAQs guide."

Continued →

Rare autographed Nintendo swag up for bid

by Xav de Matos { Apr 21st 2009 at 6:30PM }

Collectors, listen up: One Nintendo-loving eBay user has dug through his/her Nintendo collection and decided to give up a few rare (and autographed) collectibles. Included in the auction are four gold and black N64 controllers (won during a Star Fox tournament) signed by legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto and ex-Nintendo president Minoru Arakawa. The auction also includes a copy of Next Generation magazine signed by Miyamoto and Arakawa as well as former Nintendo executives Howard Lincoln, Peter Main and others.

It isn't the sexiest auction available but at $21.48 (as of press time) it may be the cheapest way to grab classic Nintendo autographs... or at least a half-dozen N64 controllers.

[Thanks, Charles P.]

VC Friday: Majora's Mask, DSiWare available in Europe right now

by JC Fletcher { Apr 3rd 2009 at 12:15PM }

This is probably the best day for downloads on Nintendo consoles in years. If you got a DSi today, you've probably already begun perusing the new DSi Shop and downloading some DSiWare, including the two Art Style games available! But even if you didn't get a DSi, you'll probably be happy with the downloadable selection this week. Well, that is, if you didn't get a DSi and you have a Wii. If you've got neither, this might just irritate you.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask has arrived! And we don't even have to make any disclaimers about making sure you have space to download it.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask -- N64-- 1,000 Points
Art Style: AQUITE -- DSiWare -- 500 Points
Art Style: CODE -- DSiWare -- 500 Points
Birds & Beans -- DSiWare -- 200 Points
DSi Browser -- DSiWare -- free!
Paper Plane -- DSiWare -- 200 Points
WarioWare Snapped! -- DSiWare -- 500 Points

GameCube era even depressed Miyamoto

by Justin McElroy { Mar 12th 2009 at 9:44AM }

Sometimes, one might assume that super-genius game developers don't think the way that you do, but it's just not so! Take, for instance, Shigeru Miyamoto, who you might know for his work on pure undiluted joy. He recently told Japanese mag Famitsu that several aspects of the way Nintendo operated during the N64 and GameCube years made him "very sad." Hey, Shiggy, us too!

Of course, we probably have slightly different reasoning. Miyamoto complained about the company trying to follow its competitors during that era, saying, "I was endlessly fascinated with 3D worlds, but what with all the issues I had to tinker with in terms of rendering and processing speed, it got to the point where I didn't know who was making the games any longer." We would have more simply said that "a lot of games for those systems were very, very bad," but it's nice to know the big guy gets where we're coming from.

VC Friday: Tee up and club some Monsters

by Chris Greenhough { Jan 23rd 2009 at 9:00AM }

Yours truly has hazy memories of spending an entire summer holiday glued to Mario Golf, unlocking Metal Mario, and jumping on the bed after fluking a hole-in-one (shamefully, I was nineteen at the time). And now, it's the fifteenth N64 game to appear on the PAL Virtual Console. Hell yeah! It might suffer heavily from the N64 fuzz, but for our money it's still the best in its respective series. It's accompanied this week by Wonder Boy in Monster Land.