This is no ordinary NES cartridge

There are many dedicated modders out there. We've seen some pretty cool stuff ranging from lighting systems to skins and many software mods. But this, for me, has to be one of the best.

It's a complete NES system built into an original Mario Bros. cartridge. This majorly cool creation has been put together by 'Kotomi' - a french dude with a blog. He's obviously a dab hand when it comes to chips because managing to fit all the original circuitry into this cartridge would be near impossible. In this case, the chips are much smaller in order to cram it all in.

It also houses all the essential components - controller ports in the carts mouth, power and reset buttons and AV composite jacks. This makes the 'console' fully functional.

I don't know about you but I think this thing is wiki-mondo!

What makes a game 'retro'?

What exactly makes a game retro? Is it the design, is it commercial success or failure? Or is it simply subjective?

I've written a feature article looking into retro gaming asking if there is a retro formula.

You can read it at www.thatvideogameblog.com . Click here to read it.

No Head Tracking in Boom Blox

Earlier this year it was revealed that Head Tracking would be included as an Easter Egg in the upcoming Boom Blox. The game, being developed by EA and none other than Steven Spielberg, would have included a separate feature that would allow players to 'move' around the levels and puzzles. This is done using the Wii-motes' infra-red capabilities and the sensor bar. As the player moves around the camera angle on the screen changes accordingly bringing a new 3D dimension to the game. 

If you need a better explanation then click here.

However, EA have now announced they will not be including the Head Tracking feature stating: 

"Head-tracking was something we considered including as an Easter egg in Boom Blox, however, we did not end up including it in the final version of the game."

It seems such a shame as Head Tracking is a promising feature that would add a new depth to many games. How cool would it be to move your head in order to look around the corner before taking a shot at your enemies in an FPS? 

I'm sure developers somewhere are working on it, so, hopefully the baton has been passed on and eventually we will see a Head Tracking feature implemented.

Super Smash Bros.- A winning game or will the Brawl be reduced to tears? (UK short review)

It's a matter of weeks before the UK release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Lucky gamers outside Europe have already had their grubby hands on the sequel to Melee much to the envy of everyone else. Luke Kerrison is one of those lucky guys and, in his pity, kindly decided to give us a short review of the upcoming fighter. Here are his thoughts:

"I just recently purchased a Wii whilst in the US. There were a number of games I wanted but I instantly had to get the greatly hyped game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It's the sequel to the monster hits Super Smash Bros. on the N64 and Super Smash Bros. Melee on the GCN. I have to admit when I bought the copy I was unsure whether Nintendo would be able to improve on Melee. To a degree I anticipated the same game with extra characters and stages but I'm happy to admit I was wrong. Super Smash Bros. Brawl is easily the best game on Wii so far.

Brawl does share a lot of common ground with Melee, but no more than any sequel does. So what's new?
 
Lets start with the basics: the graphics. Nintendo went all out on Brawl to make the stages and characters look as amazing as they possibly could. There are some areas which could have used work, but these are very minor areas. It isn't so much the graphics or presentation but minor glitchy errors in the animation (like a characters foot being inside another character as they lay on the ground). However, this is a very minor detail and, unless you're a stickler for small things like this amidst a brawling battle, it won't bother you and most people won't even notice. The moves are more fluid than in melee and the final smash animation is simply beautiful.
 
The sound is, as we've come to expect, perfect. The music offers not only brand new songs, taken from the latest iterations of Ninty games, but it also provides all the music from the original Super Smash Bros. and Melee. As you've probably guessed there is next to no voice acting (VA) in this game. There isn't really much need for it here but the VA provided is more than enough to satisfy.
 
The controls are very tight and responsive. If you've played Smash Bros. before then this won't be new ground for you. Brawl does offer up four controller options – Wiimote/Nunchuck, traditional Wiimote, Classic Controller and the Gamecube controller. The Wiimote and Nunchuck control scheme is different, and takes some time getting used to, but it works well. Veterans of the game may find themselves switching back to more traditional control methods though.

Some things have remained the same, such as the A button being the melee attack and the B button being a special. (which changes if you hold a directional button). In fact the only two real differences are the jump action being replaces by the C button and the old shield (used by holding L) has been removed. My only complaint about the controls is the simple fact that it doesn't use the Wiimotes motion sensitive abilities at all. Kinda takes away the whole point of the console in some ways but if it means a quality, responsive game then I guess it's a sacrifice needed to be made.

The gameplay makes up for the lack of Wiimote usage. Brawl introduces many new characters including SEGA's plucky mascot Sonic and Sony's top spy Snake. (Even though Snake originally made his bed at Nintendo anyway). All the characters handle basically the same with each character having unique abilities and strengths. This keeps the basic controls simple but ensures there are different reasons to pick each fighter. It also makes it easy to pick up and play. There is now a create a stage option in which you choose the background, the floor, the obstacles, the music and the stage name. This mode is a bit limited and hard to get used to but it's a nice feature to use occasionally. There is also a new mode to earn trophies by shooting your coins at targets (and the trophies themselves) which is far more fun than Melee's lottery machine. Classic Mode is of course present and hasn't changed, but hey, why would they? That's why it's called 'Classic Mode'. Event mode is still around with new err...events. With each more fun than the last it's well worth playing. Target test and the homerun contest also make comebacks; both are very good and fun additions.

So previous modes have been kept with new additions. The only new mode is the 'Campaign' - The Subspace Emissary. There's plenty to do in the game but a campaign mode is just what the series needed. Subspace Emissary as a new mode offers an extreme difference. It contains your typical Nintendo storyline. Super Smash Bros. land is under attack by a mysterious Ancient Minister and his lackies - not too complex but fun. The goal in each level is to fight your way to the end of the stage and reach the next boss. An interesting note is that some defeated enemies transform into Trophies in this mode and there are also other trophies and goodies to find hidden throughout the stages. The boss battles are great and at just the right level of difficulty to keep you interested and challenged but not to the point where you begin to self harm. Personally I think this game's worth the money just for this mode.

Overall, I'd say this game does what many thought impossible - it makes Melee look like a piece of trash. Well, maybe it's not quite that good, but regardless it is better than melee in everyway possible and I think it's a must buy for Wii owners. If you have a Wii and don't have this game, GET IT asap! If you don't have a Wii but love melee - get a Wii and then get it! Brawl will provide you with endless hours of fun whether you've got lots of friends to trash or if you're a larry then don't despair, there's plenty here to keep everyone entertained."

9.5/10

Red Faction: Guerilla screenshots

Last month we posted about the third installment in the Red Faction franchise. You can read that post here: http://gamesverdict.blogspot.com/2008/03/red-faction-guerilla.html

Screenshots of the upcoming game have been released. The fully destructable environments look promising as well as the graphical detail. You can view the screens here: http://uk.media.pc.ign.com/media/142/14235421/imgs_1.html

Virtua Tennis – Short Retro Review (Dreamcast)

Last month I re-gained the use of my Dreamcast after managing to get hold of the AV cable I'd lost. (you can read that post here). I even picked up two controllers for a quid each – this means Fur Fighters is a must buy now. Ever since my consoles reincarnation I've been playing Crazy Taxi and Chu Chu rocket endlessly. But the one game I've not been able to keep away from is Virtua Tennis. I've 'virtually' completed the game now so it seems appropriate to post a retro review.

Virtua Tennis made it's debut in 1999 in the arcades. It was a decent game then but in 2000 it was ported to the Dreamcast – things got a whole better. There were added modes, players and various other things. At the time though that didn't matter; the fact that Virtua Tennis could be played in peoples' homes was smashing. (okay, no more puns I promise).

Once you've put the disc in you'll notice that loading times are almost non-existant. As you enter the main menu Sega's style is all over it. You're greeted with “Virtua Tennis” spoken by that legendary corny american accent guy – what is his name?! Some more corny music soothes you in the background while you decide what you want to play. Arcade mode is what it says on the tin...an arcade mode. You simply pick a player and rally through five rounds each progressing in difficulty. And this is part of the beauty of Virtua Tennis. It's simple. But I will get onto that in a bit.

You can also choose an exhibition match. This allows you to set the rules. You can play singles or double, against the AI or against human opponents. Four human player doubles is great fun. You can also decide the number of games and the difficulty setting. Again, no GCSE's required here.

Then we come to the defining moment in Virtua Tennis. The icing on the cake. The piece de resistance...The World Circuit. The game is good already but this mode makes it great. It ensures you come back for more. World Circuit is basically a campaign/career mode. You select a player right from the start to use during the whole thing. A few stages around the world are opened up to get you started. Your aim is to climb up the ranks to number one in the world by completing these stages. For instance, the 'Old English Championships' (a.k.a Wimbledon) is available from the start along with some others. There are also some 'training' stages which are essentially mini-games that don't really help with your skills but add something different. A combination of winning tournaments and completing the training stages will see existing stages level up in difficulty, until you complete them, while unlocking new stages, opponents and shops. Shops allow you to buy new gear, stadiums, tennis players as well as new strings and an energy drink. The last two items seem pointless and tacked on but it's about the only negative with this game.

The learning curve and difficult is well shaped. As you progress and get better at the game so do the opponents which is nice as you'll always have a challenge but at the same time knowing you can beat it.

The gameplay in Virtua Tennis is brilliant. It only utilises two buttons (normal hit and lob) on the controller as well as the analog stick but this works well. The game decides whether a smash is appropriate or not depending on the height. Anything more than that and you wouldn't be able to concentrate on your shots. Besides, this style is more realistic. A real world tennis player does not need to think about how to hit a shot. He knows the basics and therefore he just concentrates on where he wants the shot to go. This is exactly how Virtua Tennis works. In this way it is very tactile. You must place your shots correctly in order to win. One wrong hit and you've no chance. This always keeps you on your toes especially against the stronger opponents.

The graphics and detail in the game were very impressive at the time and to be honest it's still great now. Well animated players, animated crowd, active ballboys and officials (they all move their heads etc), detailed stadiums, great sound effects as well as the different courts affecting gameplay. Although, I did think the players looked unusually fat in this game.

Downsides with the game...hmmm I honestly can't think of any. If there are you'll miss them since the game will have you hooked. If you have a Dreamcast then no doubt you already own this; if not then I advise you to go get one and buy Virtua Tennis while you're at it.

8.5/10

Games make you chill with the still...apparently

According to a study by Middlesex university, playing video games can actually help relax people. 

The study took (they actually abducted people) 292 people between the ages of 12 and 83 - plonked them in front of World of Warcraft for 2 hours and analysed the results. Most stated they felt calmer after playing. 

Heading up the study, Jane Barnett commented: "There were actually higher levels of relaxation before and after playing the game, as opposed to experiencing anger, but this did very much depend on personality type."

So what on earth was the point in the study? This has just proved that we are all different. I would expect that after 2 hours sitting down doing anything, you would feel tired and therefore slightly more relaxed. Again, it depends on the person. Isn't that why we all have different hobby's and unique ways of relaxing. What works for one person might not work for someone else. So, to suggest video games make you happy, relaxed or angry is pointless - it depends on the character. Some people are easily irritated while others find gaming relaxing and enjoyable. It's the difference between taking things too seriously and enjoying a game for what it's supposed to be...entertainment. 

I look forward to more pointless and subjective studies.