Great games for U

Hi guys ive been away for a bit lately, starting a new school and doing my A levels has been quite time consuming so ive hardly had time to review, research or blog! but im back!

Ive had the Wii U for nearly 2 weeks now and I think its AMAZING! the ability to play separate roles in one game is so much fun when you're playing in a group.

Anyways I decided to buy a Wii U basic pack (Recommended by Mii if you already own a Wii and you don't plan to be downloading full games from the store as it's cheaper as it does not include a sensor bar, Wiimotes (as you already have these) or game pad charging stand or the large internal memory which are nice add ons but unnecessary)
 I decided on Nintendo Land for my first game because I thought it would be a great way to get acquainted with all of the features the Wii U has to offer and it would be a great game for me and my friends to mess around with as we are big Party gamers!

From the get go I noticed the one thing about the Wii U that slightly put me off, and that was loading time. The initial set up of the console required a 45 minuet update (*yawns*) and a hefty amount of set up text, this I was okay with but then I noticed the time it took to get between applications (especially between the home menu and the main menu). Once a game has been chosen or a channel has been selected you will be greeted by a friendly loading screen displaying the title of the application, this screen is displayed for at least 15 seconds longer than on Wii. This is due to the HD graphics the Wii U provides so its more for the console to configure but hey im happy to wait a few seconds of my life for the  stunning graphics!

But ive found after the system has been used a few times the loading speeds up so Moan Over!

The Game Pad controller itself offers really detailed graphics and the effect is stunning compared to the Wii's. The pad has its own speakers and volume control so you can achieve the "surround sound" feel by having the two systems blaring out at you.
 At first I was surprised at how large the game pad was yet how light it is to hold, your hands fit snugly (yes its a word) under your hand and the controls are set to fall right beneath your fingers, eliminating any awkward thumb stretching. The touch screen provides a much easier to use interface than the Wii allowing you to effectively navigate the Wii u and have fun with the games. The controller comes with its own stylus hidden in a neat little pocket (much like on a DS) situated to the left of the R shoulder button, the stylus is more accurate than a finger and keeps the screen a little less smudged.

The Applications included within the Wii U console are as follows. The Internet Browser allows you to freely view the Internet (shock horror) on your game pad or on the TV or both, you can search for pretty much anything using your proffered search engine and you can use the pre-set favourites to navigate between search engines and the Nintendo website (you can add any website to these favourites as you browse). The MiiVerse is a cool social network fro Wii U users. It uses your consoles registered Mii (you can change accounts by clicking the mii in the top left of the game pad on the menu) and you can send posts and comments to the MiiVerse much like Facebook or twitter. The site is split into communities, one for each title, and you can invite players to become friends, post screenshots, doodle and show your liking for a post by giving it a YEAH! along with Nintendo eshop (featuring dowloadable content including, for the first time ever, downloadable game titles), Nintendo TVii (yet to be released), Friends list and Download management these can all be accessed via the menu or by bringing up the Home menu, pausing gameplay and allowing you to find game hints or ask friends to play without quitting your game.

Another cool feature is the Wii U allows you to transfer over you Wii save data allowing you to play all of your wii games on your new console. just click the Wii icon on the menu to be taken to the Wii menu (where you can access all of your downloaded channels from Wii and access your Wii save games) and click "system transfer" to get started. WARNING: the transfer will WIPE the Wii saved data but all of the items will be safely stored on your Wii U. An SD card of at least 512MB is required for the transfer.

Well thats about it, ill be reviewing the games as I get them and I don't want to tell you everything about Wii U so that way you can find out for yourself. I highly recommend the Wii U it adds so much to the game play that i am willing to put up with a few extra seconds loading time, the console gets a full 5 out of 5 Clix points from me.

See you soon :)

Sunlit boulevard

Today the sims 3 store released the latest in its long line of new worlds available to download

Sunlit Tides is an island paradise full of spars beaches and sea. All houses have a beautiful view of the ocean or lagoon and are decorated in Hawaiian/Tiki decor.

Exclusive items that come along with this world are:

The Steam It Up Sauna a full bath bench combo, that allows your sims to steam themselves and relax.
The Paradise Retreat Canopy Bed, a four poster light cotton bed perfect for those war summer nights
Tropical Mailbox for when that ordinary mailbox is too boring

new outfits and accessories plus some new build items are also included in the pack.

When you buy the gold version you receive a unique community lot Serenity Retreat, The Infinity Massage Table, The Tropical Aquarium, plus new plants, curtains, chairs and wedding arch.

Sunlit Tides is available for download on the sims 3 store now for a discount price* of 3,700 sim points
check it out at The Sims 3 Store

* offer ends 07/09/12 normal price is 4,350 sim points

Origin at Gamescom

At this years Gamescom event we sadly saw the absence of both Nintendo and Microsoft (awww!) but luckily Origin (Powered By EA) were there to fill our heads with tantalising new gaming revolutions (Yaaay!)

Origin showcased a wide array of new games that we have seen before at events like E3, plus a boat load of new strategy and shooters to get you hard core gamers all exited! For us mild-minded folk Origin still provided for our gaming needs
We were treated to some sweet demo action of The Sims 3 Supernatural and The Sims 3 Seasons.  As a big sims 3 fan I was quite exited about this and quickly logged on to check it out. I managed to catch a live interview with some of the Sims 3 team demonstrating the two games.

in Sims 3 Supernatural we were shown the new Create A Sim mode that comes with Supernatural, you can now start your sim off as a regular sim, a vampire, a witch, a ghost (with choice of death), a fairy or a werewolf (there is also the blanked out option of genie so it seems that this may also be a life state for the sims). Each life state comes with cool new outfits and new skin tone options to give you vampires extra paleness and your witches green wickedness! We also saw the introduction of the lunar cycle that will greatly influence the supernatural activity in your town. During the full moon the supernatural activity will be at its peak, meaning that werewolves will transform, zombies will start rising and all sorts of magical things will begin. You are able to control the lunar cycle in the options menu and the amount of supernatural activities that occur at the different moon states.

There was also the revelation of different elixirs that can refill a witches magic metre, allow vampires to go out in the sun and revert zombies back to sims. Witches can use a range of charms like Ice Blast to freeze things and a Sun Charm to cure zombification. They can also use curses to set things on fire and blow up objects (wheres the fun with out an explosion?). Lastly they can use incantations that let them move objects around the house and convert collectibles into usefully materials.Witches can duel with other witches using all the spells they have learnt. we also found Werewolves can travel in packs and hang out for werewolves to go during a full moon. 

Stay tuned for a full post on the whole of Supernatural including the lowdown on the new world: Moonlight Falls.

I was really happy with the announcement of Sims 3 Seasons so i was really looking forward to gamescom this year and I wasn't disappointed. As of yet I don't believe we get a new town with seasons but this expansion applies over all towns from expansion packs and the store so its all good!

During the demo we were shown a summer in sunset valley, beach party, summer festival, its all good. Its now revealed that we will be able to let our sims swim in the sea and use items like lilos to relax on the water. Tanning booths are also on the beach in summer allowing you to get that healthy summer glow (or very interesting tan patterns if it goes wrong). Food booths selling seasonal foods are stationed around town to stop your sims going hungry, and new recipes like pumpkin pie are also available to make at home. At the end of the of the season the season festival will be in the park including events like hot dog eating, trick or treating and roller skating (ice skating in winter). You can control the length of the seasons and the weather types in the option menu including thunder storms, heat waves, snow, hail and rain. Using the "testingcheatsenabled true" cheat you can choose the weather you want and change the season. The designers have really gone all out designing the weather. After snow falls for a certain amount of time the houses get covered in snow and the ground gets a thick blancket of white all over it, plus when the temperature is low enough, all bodies of water will freeze. During a heat wave your sims are susceptible to sun burn and the whole town is covered in a heat haze, and when it rains people put up umbrellas (often resulting in a very amusing lightning strike animation).

A huge range of new seasonal outfits are included with the expansion as are a boat load of new ice furniture and a new community lot the Ice : lounge

Look out for the full preview coming soon.

Spooktacular

This winter get ready to get you spook on with Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon. (and to watch me use as many words for ghost i can think of)

The new game will be hitting or 3D screens at the end of this year and its packed full of ghosts and ghouls to get you shaking in you boots. Each corridor is packed with ghosts, puzzles, intriguing doorways and... more ghosts!

Professor E.Gad has once again enlisted Luigi to help control this sudden outbreak of spirits throughout multiple mansions This outbreak seems to have something to do with the Dark Moon, a kind of cracked stone that looks like its causing the sudden influx of spectres. The apparitions have stolen some of E.Gads equipment and have taken a liking ti kidnapping toads. They like to howl and screech and cause as much mischief as possible

But never fear Luigi is here! Every body's favourite coward is equip with his Poultergust 5000 ready to suck those ghosts into oblivion. That is of course if you can persuade him to stop freaking out.

Luigi will have a range of tools to help him through the mansions:

• The Poultergust 5000 is the worlds best vacuum cleaner, you can use it to collect coins, solve puzzles, interact with the scenery and most importantly SUCK THOSE SPOOKS!

• The Flashlight can help Luigi stun ghosts before capture and activate light sensitive switches. These switches can work things like locks and elevators, so the Flashlight is essential to any ghost busting kit

• The Darklight shines a black beam around the room allowing you to animate frozen objects and uncover more of the mansion. Just shine the Darklight onto an area and if blue smoke appears suck it up to reveal hidden objects.

Dark Moon is filled with puzzles and bosses that will have you playing for hours. You are now given and end of level grade so you will be constantly going back over levels for quicker times and to collect more coins.

With a variety of colourful characters and fun gameplay Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon is right at the top of my Christmas list

GamesCom 2012

The European Version of E3 is coming on the 15th of August until the 19th. Keep tuned into Clix it for day to day reports

Animal Crossing The line!

After the announcement that Animal Crossing: Jump out will be out by the end of the year, I was disappointed to learn that this was the Japanese version. Here in Europe we wont be getting our mits of the game until early 2013. Considering it was supposed to be released in march 2011, I'm a bit annoyed.

Leap Out Animal Forest Logo

But then my bad feelings faded as a NEW video of some Japanese gameplay was released (finally). We were treated to a nice new view of the game as more details were subtly shown throughout the video

Here is the full video in Japanese:

Here is the video with an English dub of the commentary

And a translation of the in game text

Nintendo Direct 21st July

Since my lack of posting we've missed an update on Nintendo Direct on 21st June, So here we go!

During the Nintendo Direct, Nintendo dropped in a big mention of the 3DS XL. This is the second console in the 3DS series and offers a boat load of new features. (for full information check previous posts) The release date for Europe will be July 28th

New Art Academy is set to launch on July 28th along with the 3DS XL. Art Academy will use the XL's bigger screens to allow you to create more accurate designs. Just like its predecessor the idea of the game is to teach you how to become an artist (by using the DS screen). You can use a load of new materials to create your art from pastels to paints. You can now share your art via Street and Spot pass allowing you to claim instant fame in the world of art (Kinda). There will be new lessons coming with the game allowing you to create many new masterpieces, you can also create your own lessons and send these to your friends. Additional lessons should be available to download after launch to keep you gameplay fresh. New Art Academy allows you to display your art in a virtual gallery so those dreams of having your art hanging in the louvre can be realised!

Also on July 28th Freaky Forms Deluxe will be hitting our screens. Freaky Form allows you to create characters (or Formies) which you can then use to wander around the world. As your formie you can interact with  the environment and talk to other characters who will give you tasks and missions. Completion of these missions end in you winning new creation options and unlocking new challenges. You can also add scenery to the formie world as you go so each game is truly unique. In Freaky Forms Deluxe  a new RPG (Role Playing Game) mode is added where you will explore dungeons with your Formies and try to complete quests. You can battle other formies and gain special abilities by beating bosses and opening treasure chests. Your formies can be shared with others by streetpass and a new QR mode which converts your formie into a code that others can scan to receive your creation. A multiplayer option is also available.

In New Super Mario Bros 2  more details were released about the new Coin Rush mode. In this mode you will play through 3 randomly selected courses, all with a reduced time limit. Your objective is to make it through these courses collecting as many coins as you can as fast as you can (all time left is converted into coins). You can then share your high scores with friends via Street Pass and challenge them to do better than you. Oh and by the way you only have 1 life!
additional coin rush software will be available after launch, and get this, Nintendo is actually asking US what we want in the game *Faints in shock*.

Mario And Sonic At The London 2012 Olympic Games (not much of a catchy title is it?) will be coming along with The London 2012 Olympic Games (Who knew?) and will be released alongside a free application available in the e-shop:
Mario And Sonic At The London 2012 Olympic Games Virtual Card Album (Again their ability to create fantastic names is bewildering!) This will see you running around the country during the time of the Olympic games to try and collect sets of cards. There are more 70 cards in all and you start of with just 5 of them. In order to get the others you must connect with other players by using Street Pass, Vist Nintendo Zone Hot Spots, or unlock them with Play Coins. Some cards are rarer than others meaning rare cards are harder to find (that's going to be the Nintendo Zone Hot Spots.) Once you complete a set you will receive a special bonus card for your album. But Beware you only have until September to fill you album up.

A new inazuma eleven game was also mentioned: Inazuma Eleven Strikers which is good news for all you football fans out there. In game there are new special moves with improved cut-scenes and better graphics.

Going back to your DS that is sat in the corner going "Why don't you play me any more". You have a chance to make your old consoles happy with the release of Pokemon Black and White 2. They will be out in autumn. They are set 2 years after the events of the first B and W games and feature a new starting town with new starting characters (a first for Pokemon).
Along with the game new software is being released on the e-shop.

Pokemon Dream Radar and Pokedex 3D Pro.  The first allows you to use your 3DS system as a kind of hunting scope, where you move around your home searching for Pokemon through the 3D camera. If you find some you can try and capture them and send them into you Pokemon Black and White 2 games. Pokemon Dream Radar allows you to capture Thudurus, Landorus and Tornadus in their new Therian forms!
Pokedex 3D Pro lets you view data about over 600 Pokemon all in full 3D rendering.
The last Pokemon related game mentioned was Learn with Pokemon: Typing Adventure. This is a fun game for kids and adults that encourages you to improve your typing and spelling.

The first Professor Layton game coming to 3DS is Professor Layton and The Miracle Mask. We know is that the game is set after the spectre's flute but before curious village, and the fact that the main plot revolves around a mask that is supposed to grant the wearer the ability to wish for anything. In the new video we see a plethora (that's a big word for a Thursday night) of characters get turned to stone at what seems to be a regular town carnival (well the professor Layton kind of regular). People are also seen to be floating away at what seems to be the command of a white cloaked figure wearing a mask. With over 300 new puzzles and the promise of some flashbacks from Hershel Layton's past, I cant wait to get this game and race my friends to the end.

A BIG announcement was that a new Super Smash Bros game is in the works. Unfortunately not much was given away about this title so I think that we may have to wait a while for this one.

After a quick reminder of the QR codes in Mario Tennis Open. that pretty much wrapped up the eurpoe version of Nintendo Direct.