Paper Mario might not be our favorite franchise, but it's definitely a key staple in Nintendo's repertoire. If you don't have the Wii's Super Paper Mario, then, you might want to consider getting it -- especially since Amazon dropped it's price by $10. As per usual, this Amazon price cut is without rhyme or reason (it may be permanent, it may not be), so we recommend taking advantage of it while you still can should this deal interest you.

We can imagine, though, that your plate of Nintendo games might be pretty full from some recent releases and upcoming titles.



[Via CAG]

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii)

Though its puzzles may occasionally infuriate, the real source of frustration regarding Zack & Wiki stems from the fact that nobody bought it. Every year has its share of titles that deserve an audience yet never find one, and in this regard, Zack & Wiki is easily one of the most tragic games to put an uncontrollable smile on your face. Relentlessly charming and beautifully presented, the debut of Capcom's choc-chomping pirate and his simian sidekick challenges the mind and warms that cynical, meh-spouting lump in your chest. How refreshing it was to overcome obstacles and bosses by choosing the power of the mind over an impossibly large bazooka.

Phase (iPod)

A must-have game on the iPod? Yep. I'm as surprised as anyone. Apple's music player puttered through Tetris remakes, solitaire, and other obvious clones until Phase established some gaming muscle. (And sure, Musika gets some credit for being unique, but it's more visualizer than game.)

Developed by Harmonix, Phase is a simple Guitar Hero-style beat-matching game. Tap a fifth-generation (video) iPod, Classic, or recent Nano's left, center, and right buttons in time with the music and on-screen prompts. Slide a finger around the wheel to catch falling dots. And that's it. The game becomes so much more because of its quirky visuals and ability to sync to your own songs. Nearly any genre works, especially music with a percussive bass line. While the console rhythm games let you buy new track downloads, Phase's unlimited replay with your own songs makes it a no-brainer for a portable music player.

With the end of 2007 approaching at near lightning-fast speed, we thought it would be nice to check out what you, the excellent reader, thought about the games of this year. First up, we have the obvious: first-party games. We have a good idea which game you're going to say, but in the name of healthy debate, check out all of the choices past the break.

So, it's been a whole two months since Nintendo of Europe acknowledged that a special glitch existed in the PAL version of Super Paper Mario and what have they done about it? Bupkis, that's what. Today, however, changes things as the European arm of the seven-headed hydra that is Nintendo has offered a fix for the issue.

Details on getting a new, glitch-free disc are finally revealed, as they would like you to either send them an email at NintendoServiceCentre [at] codestorm [dawt] co [dawt] uk or hit them up via the telephone at 0870-6060-247. In doing so, they promise to rush you a new disc as soon as they can, however it isn't said how long that will take, exactly.

Going to get your new disc?

Joystiq reader Steven A. sent us word that Nintendo will soon offer to replace copies of Super Paper Mario in the PAL territories due to a game freezing bug. Steven even made a video of the bug which we've placed after the break. Nintendo states the error is very specific and occurs in Chapter 2-2. If you talk to Mimi a second time without picking up a specific key the game will freeze and you'll have to reset the system. If you've passed Chapter 2-2 without any issue, you're in the clear.

For those wondering why this issue is coming up now, it's because Europe just got Super Paper Mario last week. The game freeze does not damage the console and you can avoid the bug by avoiding the trigger described. Nintendo will soon explain the replacement program on their website.

[Thanks Steven]

Nintendo of Europe released a statement today acknowledging the existence of a game-freezing bug in the European release of Super Paper Mario. If you only play games for the excitement of seeing them fail, you're in luck. Everyone else: read where and how it happens, so you can avoid it.

The offending bug occurs in Chapter 2-2. A character named Mimi will speak to you and send you on your way. Before the next time you meet her, you should be able to find a key. If you speak to her again without first picking up the key, the game registers its disapproval with you. In other words, it freezes. This only occurs when playing the game in UK English, German, or Spanish.

Nintendo will have information soon about how to get a replacement copy, so you'll be able to talk to Mimi whenever you please. Until then, you know, don't do that.

Europe will finally get their chance to play as the two-dimensional Mario on the Wii as Super Paper Mario lands in Europe Sept. 14. Although it never ceases to amaze us how long it takes to bring those pesky video games to Europe, four months for the text-heavy Super Paper Mario doesn't seem half bad. Especially compared to the whole Elite Beat Agents mess.

The game will cost "£35" for Europe according to the release. You know, instead of the more commonly used Euro. If we were to convert that to Euros, it would be something like €52, but prices never actually end up working like that. Germany's Amazon.de has Super Paper Mario listed for €45. So rejoice Europe, by the time you're done with Super Paper Mario it'll be time for Metroid to come out.

After only a five month lag since its U.S. and Japanese releases, Nintendo announced today that Super Paper Mario for the Wii will be released across the continent of Europe on September 14, 2007.

In case you haven't had a chance to pick the game up, it's quite delectable and well worth checking out. One of its strongest points in the American version was its witty, tongue-in-cheek localization courtesy of head translator Nate Bihldorff. Given that Final Fantasy and other relatively text-heavy games often take far longer than this to translate into one language (English), it's rather impressive that NOE can ready this game for release in at least five (UK English, French, German, Spanish and Italian) in as many months. If their work can stand up to the quality of the U.S. localization, Europeans should be in for a tasty treat, indeed.

It should come as no surprise to any of our readers that the Wii is selling pretty well, hindered almost solely by its own production problems. Today, Nintendo confirmed any suspicions in announcing its Q1 sales figures -- 3.43 million Wiis sold since the beginning of April, bringing the running worldwide total to 9.27 million. In light of the greater than expected success, it also upped its forecast for the entire year's Wii sales, now predicting to sell upwards of 16.5 million Wiis by April 2008. What do you think? Can it be done?

And what do you get when you remove those pesky production constraints? The company also confirmed nearly twice as many Nintendo DS' sold in the same period (nearly 7 million), and it now thinks it can sell another 19 million this year. Between the two systems and the confirmed million sales of both Super Paper Mario and Mario Party 8 (and a couple little guys named Diamond and Pearl), Nintendo verified it's reaping windfall profits on the order of $666 million in just three months, an increase of 416% over last year. Some out there may think the company's recent success isn't going to last, but Nintendo certainly believes otherwise.

... reader Nathan! After leaving a comment over at the giveaway post, he, like many of you, was left waiting and wondering as to whether he would win the game or not. There was definitely a lot of others who wanted to get their hands on the game and who could blame them? It's a great game!

Don't be too hard on him folks, as you'll get your chance to win a free game from Wii Fanboy soon enough. Again, thanks to all who entered, congrats to the winner, and thank you all for reading Wii Fanboy!

Hey, we're giving away one copy of Super Paper Mario, don't you know? Wait ... you didn't know? Get out from under that rock, you silly person! There is a free game to win, here. So, be sure to head over here and leave a comment before 11:59PM EDT tonight and you're entered! It's just that simple!

Best of luck to you all and, again, thanks for reading Wii Fanboy!

Click here for official rules of the Wii Fanboy Super Paper Mario Giveaway

Hey, did you know we're trying to give one lucky reader a copy of Super Paper Mario? No, seriously, it's all going down right here. All one has to do is head to that post and leave a comment to be entered for a chance at winning the game. Simple enough, right? Well, it is, so head on over there and comment! Best of luck and, again, thanks for reading Wii Fanboy!

Click here for official rules of the Wii Fanboy Super Paper Mario Giveaway

The giveaways just keep on coming here at Wii Fanboy, as we follow up our last giveaway and get set to gift one reader with a free copy of Super Paper Mario. And, like last time, all you need to do to enter is leave a comment below. That's it! Easy, right? You bet it is! We like things to be easy here at Wii Fanboy.

The contest will be running from the time of this post to Friday, June 29th at 11:59PM EDT. Once the clock strikes midnight, we'll be closing off entries and will begin our difficult task of choosing a winner. So, best of luck to all of you entering, read the rules below and thanks for reading Wii Fanboy!

Click here for official rules of the Wii Fanboy Super Paper Mario Giveaway

If you're lucky enough to have a Hastings store nearby, the entertainment retailer is offering to exchange your moth-eaten copies of Super Paper Mario or The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for a waggle-fied edition of Resident Evil 4. They'll also accept Rainbow Six Vegas (360) and God of War II (PS2), but not without scowling at you first.

According to the rest of Hastings's weekly ad, there's a buy-1-get-2nd-for-free sale on body jewelry, so be on the look out for that deal too! Put away the other two RE4 games you've already bought for previous platforms, throw on a shirt that shows off your belly-button-ringed midriff, and check past the post break for the full flyer.