Price: 1,200 Wii Points
Release: N/A
System: Nintendo 64-i
Developer: Treasure
Publisher: Nintendo

As many of you already know, whenever a Nintendo 64 game is released, I become ecstatic. To me, Nintendo 64 games bring something to the table that no other console supported on the Virtual Console can do; 3D. No matter the title or price, I'll buy anything with 'Nintendo 64' slapped on it. I guess one can call me obsessed with Nintendo 64.

When Sin and Punishment was released though, I was overwhelmed with excitement. For one, a Nintendo 64 game was being released, a very rare commodity on Virtual Console, and two, the debut of imports. Personally, I think a lot of people were a little depressed when they saw the price of the game - 1,200 Wii Points for just one game. Underneath that disgusting price tag though is one of the best games on Nintendo 64 and Virtual Console.

For 1,200 points, gamers are getting a three hour adventure taking place in a futuristic Tokyo setting. Over the course of the game, players take control of Saki and Airan, two young Japanese teens. Mankind's population has increased dramatically, resulting in food shortages across the globe. Japanese scientists create a new organism for food, known as a Ruffian, and place a large herd of them in northern Japan. The species eventually evolves into a threat for mankind, launching an attack on the people of Japan. A peacekeeping organization referred to as Armed Volunteers try to stop the attack but fail.

Of course, that's only the beginning of this epic adventure. Over the course of the game, many dramatic events unfold. Seeing as I don't want to spoil the adventure, I thought I'd only mention some basic information about the game. Since the game is an import, all the text found within the game is in Japanese, with the exception of the menus. In order to truly understand what's happening, players will need to listen carefully as all of the story is voice acted in English.

Essentially, Sin and Punishment is a rail shooter in which the player's role is to aim and fire at enemies, sidestep, roll, and jump. The are two types of targeting - a purple targeting reticle allows lock-ons where the red reticle doesn't. Though the purple one is more accurate, it deals less damage. Besides shooting, Saki or Airan can use a powerful energy sword to slash enemies within range and to fire projectiles back at foes. To do this, the fire button must be pressed just as the enemy or projectile comes within close contact.

By no means should you assume that Sin and Punishment is a walk in the park. For starters, let me mention that the game is made by the legendary Treasure, the people that brought you games such as Dynamite Headdy and Gunstar Heroes. Secondly, as you're rampaging through clusters of enemies, a timer is ticking at the top of the screen. By completing various objectives, the timer will rise a little, but keep in mind though that it can't pass 99.

Just when you think the game can't get much better, it does. By using the game's multiplayer mode, two players can control Saki or Airan and save the world together. To do this, one player controls the character's movement while the other controls the reticle. Though the single player experience is a lot better for people wanting to actually complete the game, the mutliplayer mode will truly make you laugh.

Graphically, Sin and Punishment is one of the finest looking games on the Nintendo 64 and the frame-rate is very consistent throughout the game. From a sound perspective, Sin and Punishment boasts some amazing pieces. It's just so hard to explain how they sound because it's one of those things that you need to hear in order to believe.

At the end of the day though, Sin and Punishment will always be one of the best games released this decade, or at lease from my perspective. If the length has you worried, don't let it. The game boasts unlimited replay value because of the game's scoring system, so once you've completed the game once, you can go back and complete it on a higher level. On top of this there's also an extra difficulty mode. No matter who you are or what genres you like, this game should be owned. Did I forget to mention that I hate this genre yet adore this game?

Hardware

DS 608k
Wii 555k
Playstation 3 225k
PSP 222k
Xbox 360 205k
Playstation 2 155k

Top 10 Software

360 NCAA FOOTBALL 09 ELECTRONIC ARTS JULY 2008 397.6K
WII FIT W/ BALANCE BOARD NINTENDO OF AMERICA MAY 2008 369.6K
NDS GUITAR HERO: ON TOUR ACTIVISION JUNE 2008 309.7K
WII PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AMERICA FEB 2007 284K
PS3 NCAA FOOTBALL 09 ELECTRONIC ARTS JULY 2008 242.5K
360 SOUL CALIBUR IV NAMCO BANDAI GAMES OF AMERICA JULY 2008 218.9K
WII MARIO KART W/ WHEEL NINTENDO OF AMERICA APRIL 2008 174.5K
WII ROCK BAND SPECIAL ED BUNDLE MTV GAMES/ELECTRONIC ARTS JUNE 2008 165.8K
PS3 SOUL CALIBUR IV NAMCO BANDAI GAMES OF AMERICA JULY 2008 155.8K
360 SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION REVOLUTION TAKE 2 INT. CORP. JULY 2008 147.6K

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND TWO VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Aug. 11, 2008

If your idea of a superhero is someone with an invincible ego who can type e-mails while wearing boxing gloves, then the Wii Shop Channel has great news for you. The legendary Strong Bad (from the popular Homestar Runner Web series) makes his eagerly anticipated WiiWare debut this week. For even more laughs and clever gaming kicks, you'll also find a satirical space-age shooter on the Virtual Console, along with a classic billiards game for those who prefer to keep their feet planted firmly on the ground.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Strong Bad Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated T for Teen-Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Charming. Suave. Awesome. These are the words Strong Bad would use to describe himself. In a world gone mad, only one man can be trusted to save the day. A man with an attitude. A man called Strong Bad. As the star of the Homestar Runner Web cartoons, Strong Bad has been answering e-mails (in boxing gloves), pranking his friends, pummeling his enemies, and making people with questionable taste snort milk out of their noses for years now. And he's branched out to star in Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, a monthly five-episode series. In Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner, Strong Bad's plans to beat the snot out of Homestar backfire, and he ends up with an unwanted houseguest cramping his style. Now he needs to get life back to normal by any means possible. But wait, there's more: Teen Girl Squad comics, achievements, funny costumes and arcade games. You can even send pictures and messages to Wii Friends using Strong Bad's computer. So how about it? Can you handle Strong Bad's style?

Virtual Console

Break In (TurboGrafx16, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Tobacco Reference, 700 Wii Points): Gather up to four players for an authentic game of pool right in your own home. Choose from six billiards games including 9-Ball, Rotation and Carom (a game played without pockets). Use Simulation mode to calculate the perfect shot, or select Action mode and check out what went wrong with your missed shots. With all that to choose from, Break In gives players-from beginners to experts-all the elements necessary to enjoy a great game of pool. But it doesn't stop there. Select Technique to practice your angles or even go for a trick shot. Get some help from the CPU and hone your skills. With Break In, you'll be a pro in no time.

Star Parodier (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 900 Wii Points): Star Parodier is the hilarious spoof of the classic Hudson shooter Star Soldier. In this parody, there are three playable ships for players to choose from: the ingratiating PAROCEASER, the hot-headed BOMBERMAN, and the ever-so-introverted PC-ENGINE. Players control one of these unique and original ships and set off to blast their way through eight stages on the planet PAROSON. The comical characters take the color and flavor of the Soldier series to the next level and are guaranteed to leave players mesmerized. In addition to the normal game mode, there are also the familiar two-minute and five-minute attack modes, making Star Parodier the complete package that is sure to have players coming back for more.

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND TWO VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Aug. 4, 2008

The list of available games for Wii owners just keeps on growing as we add another trio of titles to the Wii Shop Channel. This week's lineup features Old West thrills, supernatural chills and a little blue hedgehog whose name you're sure to recognize. Thanks to Nintendo's WiiWare downloadable game service and the classic-filled Virtual Console, building your own blockbuster video game library has never been easier.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Wild West Guns (Gameloft, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen;Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Draw your revolver to see if you're the fastest gun in the West. Adjust your speed and precision as targets or enemies appear in front of you. Point and shoot to earn more points. You can aim at anything, so be sure to explore the environment for elements that will earn you more shooting points. Identify your enemies among the characters you encounter, but don't shoot at innocent citizens. Take part in an Old West-style train attack, or challenge your skills in a variety of increasingly difficult shooting challenges in other beautiful, classic and lively Western environments. As you progress through challenges, you'll earn medals and rewards, making for nonstop, addictive action. Play in a two-player multiplayer mode where you and your partner can combine points, or play against each other to find out who's the fastest gun in the West.

Virtual Console

Sonic The Hedgehog (Sega Master System, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Based on the original Sega Genesis version, Sonic The Hedgehog was re-created as the first Sonic game for the Sega Master System. Not just a straight port, this version includes new stages, bosses, some different zones and a level map. The most noticeable difference, however, is that the Chaos Emeralds have to be found within certain stages other than the Special Stages. Dash through six Zones (including special zones that were only available for the Sega Master System version) and face Dr. Eggman (a.k.a. Dr. Robotnik) at the end of every Zone.

SPLATTERHOUSE 2 (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated M for Mature;Blood and Gore, Violence, 800 Wii Points): SPLATTERHOUSE 2 is the sequel to SPLATTERHOUSE, released only on the Sega Genesis. A few months after escaping from the first mansion in SPLATTERHOUSE, the main character, Rick, once again encounters the Terror Mask and must use its powers to rescue his beloved Jennifer. Rick will need to punch, slash, smash and even chainsaw his way through a haunted mansion against unspeakable horrors and terrifying bosses to make it out alive.

Platform: Wii
Developer: Two Tribes
Publisher: Two Tribes
Release Date: June 2nd, 2008
Genre: Puzzle
Scores:
1. Graphics: 8/10
2. Sound: 8/10
3. Interface: 8/10
4. Replay: 7/10
5. Gameplay: 8/10
6. Stability: 8/10
7. Overall: 8/10

In 2001, a little chicken by the name of Toki Tori made his video game debut in a self-titled game on the Game Boy Color. Unfortunately though, by the time the game found a publisher, the Game Boy Color era was drawing to a close and the Game Boy Advance era had already commenced. Despite this, Toki Tori was met with fairly positive reviews. Know, over half a decade later, Toki Tori makes his triumphant return in Toki Tori, a remake of the original.

Perhaps what made the original so great was how unique the game really was. Using his special abilities, Toki Tori must search the lands collecting his buddies which are trapped in eggs. Once Toki Tori comes in contact with the egg, the chicken inside of it is let free. In order to pass each stage, all of the eggs must be collected. Using his abilities, Toki Tori will be able to rescue all his buddies in no time, or so it seems. As the game progresses, the difficulty level increases at a constant rate. Eventually the game gets a little too difficult, resulting in you spending a bit more time with each level.

Levels are comprised of a variety of things, ranging from towering waterfalls to wooden ladders. Each level is designed to capitalize on one or more abilities that Toki Tori acquires throughout his journey. The first ability Toki Tori acquires allows him to construct bridges in order to cross spaces. This ability repeatedly keeps getting build on throughout the game. In the first few levels, it's pretty easy to know where the bridge(s) have to. In the later levels, you'll need to do a little more thinking before you decide to build one. Once it's build, there's no reversing it and since most abilities have limited uses in each level, you may have to do a little thinking before finally figuring out what to do.

Besides abilities, Toki Tori has some basic moves that he has access to in each level. When he encounters a ladder, the option is there to climb it. If he encounters a small ledge, he can hop up on it. By pointing and clicking a spot on the screen, Toki Tori will run there, but if it's impossible to get there by foot, he'll remain stationary. To solve this problem, you can use one of his abilities to get there. By using the directional pad, you can switch between his abilities. All of the abilities and quantities of each ability are shown at the bottom of the screen for easy reference. Besides the Wii Remote held vertically, the game also allows you to play with the nunchuk or classic controller attached. Though I prefer the Wii Remote by itself, the other two control schemes may be worth looking into for players who dislike just the Wii Remote.

In total, Toki Tori boasts four worlds that Toki Tori can explore: Forest Falls, Creepy Castle, Slime Sewers, and Bubble Barrage. Each level in each world looks practically identical, with a few minor exceptions. Though the game is a little dark in color, it makes it easier for you to be able to see Toki Tori.

Like many other video games, Toki Tori also plays home to some monsters. Each world has a unique type of monster that suits the area well. Creepy Castle plays home to some spooky ghosts while Forest Falls plays home to some porcupines. Using Toki Tori's abilities, he can easily rid the area of monsters that try to stop him in his quests to save his buddies.

Unlike the original, the remake brings a new concept to the table. If you find yourself in a situation where you just can't seem to find out how to complete a puzzle, players can use a wildcard to get out of the mess. Wildcards will automatically allow you to skip over the level so you can progress to the next level. Be warned though, Toki Tori has access to only one wildcard. Once used, you'll need to finish the level you skipped in order to reacquire it. Since there are over forty levels in the game, you're probably going to have to use the wildcard quite frequently, especially in the higher levels.

Graphically, Toki Tori improved upon the original by miles. Everything has been given a whole lot of color and detail that look incredible in 480p.The soundtrack is also pretty impressive, despite that some of the pieces in the game are repeated for practically an eternity. Overall though, Two Tribes has really taken advantage of WiiWare in order to deliver a puzzle game that looks and sounds great.

All in all, Toki Tori is an excellent attempt at remaking the original. Though the difficulty level of the game can turn some people off, the six or more hours you'll actually spend playing the game are well worth it. Besides that minor conflict, the game is a must-have title for puzzle fans. Even if you're not a puzzle fan, it may still be worth your time and money to invest in this game.

Wall, NJ - July 31, 2008 - SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION, the U.S. publishing arm of the SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION, announced today the forthcoming release of SAMURAI SHODOWN II for Wii Virtual Console on August 4th 2008.

Regarded as one of SNK's greatest games ever produced, SAMURAI SHODOWN II successfully integrated a brand new, dynamic fighting system that was years ahead of its time. The fighting system introduced players to several new offensive and defensive maneuvers including the ability to roll both forwards and backwards, ducking to avoid high attacks, hopping to avoid low attacks and the implementation of a 'parry' system that would allow players to deflect incoming attacks at the last second if performed successfully. In addition to the newly revised fighting system, SAMURAI SHODOWN II also features 16 unique playable characters, hidden bosses, a two player versus mode and of course all of the wonderful translations fans have grown to love.


SAMURAI SHODOWN II will be available for Wii Virtual Console™ for only 900 Wii Points and has been rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB.

SNK PLAYMORE USA also plans to release SAMURAI SHODOWN ANTHOLOGY for Wii in Q4 of 2008 for $29.99. The collection will consist of 6 SAMURAI SHODOWN games: SAMURAI SHODOWN, SAMURAI SHODOWN II, SAMURAI SHODOWN III, SAMURAI SHODOWN IV, SAMURAI SHODOWN V, and SAMURAI SHODOWN VI.

For more information regarding the Wii Virtual Console, visit the Nintendo Virtual Console Information Page at www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/features/virtual_console.htm

According to the image shown above, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will feature some sort of online play. Also worth noting is the release date. Looks like Grand Theft Auto will be hitting the DS sometime this winter.

Platform: Wii
Developer: Mitchell Corporation
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: June 30th, 2008
Genre: Puzzle
1. Graphics: 7/10
2. Sound: 8/10
3. Interface: 8/10
4. Replay: 7/10
5. Gameplay: 8/10
6. Stability: 7/10
7. Overall: 8/10

Great puzzle games seem to be a rare commodity these days. It seems as though a lot of puzzle games lose their spark after a few hours and leave you asking for more. That's why whenever I consider buying a puzzle game, I do some extensive research on it before I buy it. Of course there are always a few exceptions to that statement. Some puzzle games, most notably Professor Layton and the Curious Village, don't require me to do this simply because there's just simply something about the game that I adore. For Professor Layton and the Curious Village, the unique style of the game coupled with the game's unique storyline led me to buying this great game. Over the past few months, there have only been a handful of games that I would recommend buying. One of them is Magnetica Twist a unique puzzle game in which you have to break balls to order to increase your score.

Released in Europe under the name Actionloop Twist, Magnetica Twist puts you in a launcher that is capable of shooting colored balls. Marbles roll down a path and your goal is to destroy them before they reach the end of the path or else it's game over. To destroy the marbles, players will fire colored marbles to marbles of the same color on the track. However, the marbles will only disappear if three of the same color collide. That means if you fire a red marble at another red one, you'll need to launch one more before they disappear. Marbles of the same color are magnetically attracted to each other over any wide open space, and allowing for chains of disappearance to occur.

As the difficulty of the game increases, more colors of marbles will rapidly start to move out of the dispenser, making it even harder to create large combos. However, this is where the strategy aspect of the game starts to kick in. Instead of firing marbles at random places, players will need to think about the situation before they actually fire. The think is, you only got a second to think about things. Before you know it, the path will be full of marbles. You got to think and fire rapidly if you want to progress to the next level.

On the right hand corner of your screen is a gauge that measures which level you're at. In Magnetica Twist, the more marbles you destroy, the quicker it will be for you to progress to the next level. Once you manage to destroy ten levels worth of marbles, a rocket will appear and push the marbles to the end of the path. In this scenario, there are several things you can do. For starters, you can fire a marble at the rocket to destroy it. You can also use a special marble and fire it at a color marble that you want eliminated. Once this unique marble comes in contact with a marble, all the marbles of that color will be destroyed. Using this method, you can rack up a lot of points.

You're problem thinking now that Magnetica Twist lacks depth. "How can a cheap downloadable puzzle game with simple gameplay have depth?" Well surprisingly, Magnetica Twist offers more depth than a lot of other WiiWare games. In total, there are five different modes players can engage in: 1-player easy, 2-player easy, 1-player hard, 1-player, and multiplayer. Though I've already talked about the first three modes, the remaining two haven't been touched yet.

In challenge mode, players will be required to select and complete missions. In each level there are three missions, but in order to progress you only need to complete one of these missions. Each mission is harder than the others, so novice players will most likely choose missions at the bottom of the screen whereas veteran players may decide to complete the missions on the top. And for those who just can't make up their mind, there's even a normal difficulty level.

Finally, we come to multiplayer, perhaps the most chaotic experience of all. One player destroying marbles is bad enough, but not it's time to throw in upwards of three more people. You might expect multiplayer to be easier than the single player modes, but trust me, it's not. You may try to score a combo and just when you fire the marble, somebody else messes it up. However, that makes it all the more fun. After seeing somebody ruin your idea, you then have to think of another one.

Perhaps the best thing about multiplayer is the wide array of options the mode has. After selecting your Mii and confirming who you want to play with, you can then select if you want to do a battle or a team activity. If you select to do a team activity, more options will come up on what you would like to do. Options such as fixed colors and clear will appear. In my opinion, this makes the game quite enjoyable. Even playing with the AI is quite enjoyable.

Now you're probably wondering where the 'twist' comes into the game. Well the twist to the game is that you actually twist the Wii Remote to move your launcher. Though it can get a little gimmicky in places, the twisting aspect works pretty well. The only major problem I had was when I had to rotate the launcher 180 degrees and then rotate it back to where I started, things didn't exactly turn out the way I wanted them to. Trust me, it's not the easiest thing to do, but nevertheless, the controls make the game a very enjoyable experience.

Graphically, Magnetica Twist isn't anything special, but personally, I like how the game looks. The approach the developers took by making the game look simple really payed off in the end. If the game were to have complex graphics, I just don't think the game would be quite as enjoyable. The same thing can be said about the sound, too. Though nothing special, the music really brings out the best of the game. There's just something about the music in the game that gives the game a lot of personality and makes the game enjoyable.

All in all, Magnetica Twist is an awesome game that unfortunately, many people have yet to download. If you have any interest whatsoever in downloading WiiWare games, this should be an automatic download. Why? Simply because the game brings forth a simple concept and offers an enjoyable experience, both alone or with friends. What else can I say? If you haven't downloaded this game yet, go download it now. It's one of the best ways to spend 1,000 Wii Points.

July 28, 2008

Wii-kly Update

One WiiWare Game and Two Virtual Console Games Added to Wii Shop Channel

If variety is the spice of life, we've got an extra-spicy lineup for you this week on the Wii Shop Channel. From bouncing balls to out-of-control cars to hardcore fisticuffs, the latest game additions offer an incredibly diverse mix of Wii thrills. So if you've been saving up your Wii Points for something new and different, here's your opportunity to cash in and kick up some serious fun. Enjoy!

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Pong Toss—Frat Party Games (JV Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Language, 800 Wii Points): Pony up—it's Pong Toss time. Compete against your friends or the computer in this ultimate party-game favorite. Play on a regulation table with up to four players. Make consecutive shots for the Fireball bonuses and Roll-Backs as you or your team try to dominate the table and reign as Pong Toss champs. In Speed Pong, up to three challengers can compete at the same time. Speed and strategy are the keys to this fast-paced game. Jack up your opponents by using a slew of power-ups that will slow them down. The first one who sinks the last cup wins it all. Be fast. Be furious. Be victorious.

Virtual Console

Chase H.Q. (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Drug Reference, Mild Violence, 600 Wii Points): This is a different style of racing game in which you attempt to catch criminals by chasing them and ramming their cars off the road. Playing as two cops from the NYPD special "CHASE H.Q." unit, the first half of each stage involves you maneuvering your unmarked car in a heated chase, followed by an action sequence in the latter half. Once you reach the target vehicle, you flip on your lights and siren, and then try to stop the culprits by repeatedly colliding with them. Use your different gears wisely as you make your way through streets and around corners, and be careful not to hit objects or other cars, or you'll lose speed. Also at your disposal are turbo units for temporary extra speed and ramming power.

ART OF FIGHTING 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen—Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1994 by SNK, ART OF FIGHTING 2 sees 12 characters compete for the title in the toughest fighting contest of them all: King of Fighters. Each character has a range of deadly techniques in his or her arsenal, and players must use these lethal techniques to fight their opponents. As in the original ART OF FIGHTING, however, using a deadly technique lowers a character's mental-energy gauge. For this reason, players must use these techniques carefully. Meanwhile, players can taunt an opponent to exhaust his or her mental energy, and even suppress their opponent's techniques if successful. This type of mental-energy offense and defense gives ART OF FIGHTING 2 a uniquely enjoyable spin on the fighting-game genre. Further adding to the strategy required to win, an attack will become stronger or weaker depending on exactly when the button is pressed. And even if a player is thrown, defensive action is possible with the timely press of a button. All of this adds up to an intense and nail-biting fighting-game experience not found anywhere else.

If you're not up on Japanese games, you're probably aren't aware that late last month, Nintendo of Japan announced that it will be publishing Captain Rainbow, a quirky and bizarre game from one of my favorite developers, Skip. Most people may know Skip through games such as Chibi Robo and Chibi Robo: Park Patrol, also published by Nintendo. However there a few games that Skip have been involved in that most people are unaware of. GiFTPiA is a Japan-only Nintendo Gamecube game that was developed by Skip and published by Nintendo. Though it was supposed to be released in North America under the name Giftopia, combing the words gift and utopia, it was late cancelled.

Then we have this, Captain Rainbow, Skip's next project. Though it may not have the words 'Mario', 'Pokemon' or 'Zelda' slapped on it, that doesn't mean it's not worth your time. Basically, Captain Rainbow takes all the forgotten characters in Nintendo's history and puts them all into one game. Like previous games developed by Skip, Captain Rainbow boasts vibrant and unique graphics, something Skip has been known for.

In Captain Rainbow, players take control of Nick, a boy coming from The Land of the Free. Nick's alter-ego is Captain Rainbow, a yo-yo wielding hero. Though it's not as popular as it use to be, Nick decided to come to Minmin Island with a dream of restoring his popularity. While on Minmin Island, Nick meets up with Birdo from the Super Mario Bros. series. Birdo game to Minmin Island to grow popular with the boys, but was wrongfully convicted of a crime and imprisoned. Also on Minmin Island is Little Mac from the Punch-Out!! series. Mac's dream was to become the world champion once again, but it seems as though his weight as taken over him. Hikari from Shin Onigashima, Takamaru from Nazo no Murasamejo, and Otsu-San from Famicom Golf are also on Minmin Island for various reasons.

Though details are scarce on this new title from Skip, three trailers have been released. Hopefully Nintendo of America will decide to release this game in North America. If they decide not to, I'll still be getting this game. Being a huge fan of Skip, I can't wait to see what else is in store. The game launches in Japan on August 28th, 2008.