Okay, I got this game the other day because I need more DS goodness [to go along with Castlevania and Trace Memory]. Trauma Center is more or less a puzzle game with scalpel and a storyline about bio-terrorism [I kid you not]. Where this is different from other games [storyline aside] is that not only are you timed [most operations are 5 minutes] the patients have vital signs, meaning if there vitals drop to zero other doctors came in and take over leaving you to be fired in disgrace. What this means is that you are fighting to seperate clocks AND working on a semi-realistic person at the same time. Needless to say it can make things really intense. I'm talking 10X more intense than the really hard levels in Dr. Mario intense. It's also HARD. And not just the very last levels [which I'm sure are even harder], but even some of the ones in the earlier chapters are hard. It's also one of the best games on the DS.
If you have a DS I suggest you give this a good look, it just might be what you're looking for.
Quote:EGM magazine have interviewed the long-time head honcho of the Zelda series, Eiji Aonuma. Talking about the currently untitled upcoming DS Zelda game, Aonuma said the title would be a new episode of the series, and not just a 'Four Swords DS' as previously rumoured.
He confirmed the game will be a completely new experience in the Zelda series as the game would feature a totally new system of control, allowing the user to live the adventure of Link "from a different angle of sight".
Using the touch screen, the player will be able to directly handle the various objects our hero Link uses, which Aonuma says will allow a greater immersion into the game's world.
"What I can tell you is that it's going to use the touch screen for a very unique control system that people have never experienced in a Zelda game before. I think one of the important elements of the Zelda series has always been that you feel like you're in the world doing the things that Link is doing and touching the things that Link is touching. This time you'll be able to use the touch screen and actually touch those items and objects yourself." he said.
Very interesting news indeed. We're not quite sure what it all means (surely not a first-person Zelda?), but when we hear more, we'll update you!
This is definitely cool, I'm glad it's not just Four Swords with a touch screen.
Quote:Tingle RPG
The top screen shows Tingle holding a bomb with the number "9", while the bottom screen has a gigantic insect crawling around with what appears to be a big red target on it. You can also see a bomb with many little balloons attatched to it near the insect. Perhaps the game will play out similarly to the Tingle Tuner in Wind Waker, where players did not control Tingle directly?
Densetsu no Starfi 4
The fourth game in the Starfi series of games - the previous three were available for Game Boy Advance in Japan. In this game, the top screen shows the action while the touch screen displays a map. Starfi (as you may or may not have guessed) is a starfish.
Mario Basket 3 vs 3
Basketball with a Mario flavour. The top screen shows the action, the touch screen shows a layout of the court. Confirmed characters include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, Bowser and Paratroopa. There are also Question Mark boxes scattered on the court, including one with coins spewing out of it. Looks like you have to hit those boxes when you have the basketball. Turtle shells are also displayed on the touch screen, suggesting Mario Kart item mischief as well. Finally, this game is Nintendo Wi-Fi compatible!
Kaitou Wario
Not sure what to make of this platform game. The top screen shows a Metroid-like map, as well as what appear to be power-ups. There's also a clock shown - could this be timed, similar to Metroid? It's definitely Wario, though - that Wario hat shown in the touch screen is enough of a clue!
Scans of the Famitsu pages here -- a whole bunch of these games have screenshots! I'd post them if I thought it was worth my time, but I'm not convinced of that... just click the link. http://www.cubed3.com/news/4379
Quote:Final Fantasy V & VI Set for GBA
Square Enix confirms additional GBA ports.
by Anoop Gantayat
October 5, 2005 - Nintendo's DS press conference in Japan today provided Square Enix with the perfect opportunity to solidify some of its recent moves with the Final Fantasy series. We were most interested in learning what is up with DS Crystal Chronicles and all the Final Fantasy port projects now in development.
First off, the ports. The first two FF games are already available in one package for the Game Boy Advance. An updated version of part IV was recently announced, also for the Game Boy Advance. So that leaves III, V and VI as the pre-VII Final Fantasy games that are still screaming for a revival.
Final Fantasy III was announced for the DS months ago, but today Square Enix showed that the game is more than just vaporware. The company shared a trailer for the game showcasing, surprisingly, 3D visuals for both characters and fields, a far cry from the original's 8-bit graphics.
Producer Hiromichi Tanaka, who's heading up the game's DS conversion (Tanaka is also known for his more recent work on Final Fantasy XI) took the stage at the press conference to explain some of the background behind the port project. According to Tanaka, Square Enix has considered remaking FFIII multiple times in the past, but the plans never came to fruition due to various conflicts -- a system's life span running out, the inability to gather the requires staff members, and so forth.
The game's visuals have changed considerably, Tanaka admits, but in order to preserve the image of the original, staff members from the original, including Kazuhiko Aoki and Koichi Ishii, are supervising the remake. New members are also playing big roles in the game's development. Tanaka revealed that FFXI's Ryosuke Aiba is serving as art director and FFXII's Akihiko Yoshida is serving as character designer on the project.
FFIII was the main focus of Square Enix's presentation today, but the company also made sure and provide some closure. Following the release of FFIV on the Game Boy Advance, the company will be brining V and VI to the system as well. As with the conversion of IV, the games will be updated for the conversion.
Sadly, the DS version of Crystal Chronicles wasn't addressed today, although the game is still known to be in development for release some time in 2006. The company is also at work on Dragon Quest Monsters and Seiken Densetsu DS Children of Mana for the DS, both of which were previously announced.
We expect details on most of these games to follow over the next few weeks.
Quote:NINTENDO CREATES AN EASY, ACCESSIBLE VIDEO GAME NETWORK – AND IT'S FREE
On Nov. 14, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Ushers in New Era of Free Wireless Gaming
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 5, 2005 – On Nov. 14, Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection will begin a new era of easy, social gaming. For the first time, characters from the Nintendo universe will be playable online, as part of a unique wireless community, accessible inside or outside the home. Nintendo DS™ games like Mario Kart® DS, Animal Crossing®: Wild World and Metroid® Prime Hunters will require no additional charge for online play. Each is scheduled to launch in the coming months, along with the first third-party title using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Activision's Tony Hawk's American SK8Land, developed by Vicarious Visions.
From home, if the user already has a Wi-Fi network, the Nintendo DS unit will connect directly to it with minimal setup procedures. Those who have a high-speed Internet connection such as cable or DSL, but no wireless network, can use the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, sold separately, that will plug into a computer USB port to create a wireless access point to connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
Outside of the home, players will be able to connect in a variety of ways, including at thousands of free Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection hotspots nationwide. More details about these hotspots and how to connect outside of the home will be announced shortly.
Nintendo DS is just the first Nintendo system to connect via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The same service will be incorporated into Nintendo's next-generation home console, code-named Nintendo Revolution, set for release in 2006.
"Nintendo has taken the online video gaming model and rewritten the definition of community," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing. "With easy setup and no added service fees, players far and wide will log in and play with one another as easily as if they were sitting in the same room."
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will create a welcome, inviting atmosphere where video game players of all kinds can log on wirelessly and begin playing. The service will be used in different ways for different games. In Mario Kart DS, four players at a time can race over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Racers can pick opponents from their roster of friends, match up randomly against strangers of comparable skill levels or simply choose to race against anyone in the world. Mario Kart DS launches Nov. 14.
People who hang out in Animal Crossing: Wild World can travel to other players' towns or invite up to three other players to visit their own towns, simply by opening the town gate. The four players then can interact and play together simultaneously in one town. Players must know one another and register to their respective friend rosters before they can connect. Animal Crossing: Wild World is set to launch on Dec. 5.
Activision's Tony Hawk's American Sk8land will let players compete head-to-head in multiplayer games in a variety of modes. Players also can create custom skateboard art and graffiti tags, and share them with other players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The service will track global high scores and stats. Tony Hawk's American SK8Land will launch on Nov. 14.
Games in development include Metroid Prime Hunters, slated to launch in the first quarter of 2006. Players can hook up for play with registered friends, automatch with other players based on a skill-level match or play with anyone; Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection quickly finds the best match with other players online.
Quote:Title: "Mass Effect"
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: BioWare Corp.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: Pending
Availability: TBD
Pricing: TBD
Product Overview:
"Mass Effect" is a science fiction action-RPG created by BioWare Corp., the commercially and critically acclaimed RPG developer of "Jade Empire," "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic," "Neverwinter Nights," and the "Baldur's Gate" series. "Mass Effect" will deliver an immersive story driven gameplay experience with stunning visual fidelity. Published by Microsoft Game Studios, "Mass Effect" will be exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game system.
As the first human Specter - sworn defenders of galactic peace - your mission is to halt the advancing armies of a legendary agent gone rogue. But as you lead your elite team across hostile alien worlds, you will discover the true threat is far greater than anyone imagined.
Key Features:
* Immersive RPG: Determine the fate of mankind as you lead an elite tactical strike force as an epic galaxy-wide conflict unfolds. "Mass Effect" will take the player into new depths of an action-roleplaying game, with choice-based gameplay.
* Rich and engaging storyline. While defending galactic peace and earning a position of respect for humanity in the community, gamers will discover that a greater conflict between organic life and artificial intelligence exists. Players' decisions and actions will serve to shape the destiny of all life in the galaxy as you become absorbed in the story that is "Mass Effect," the first game in an epic trilogy from BioWare. They will become the center of an engrossing story as they battle against alien life forms to save the galaxy from threatening armies.
* Player controls the ultimate fate of the galaxy: The player's decisions and actions will serve to shape the destiny of all life in the galaxy, while raising humanity to the pinnacle of galactic civilization via noble means or via tyranny.
* Real-time squad based combat: "Mass Effect" employs a real-time, squad based, tactical combat system. Players will be immersed in intense, challenging and exciting combat.
* Explore uncharted worlds: In addition to the main story arc of the game, players will be able to visit a large number of uncharted, unexplored planets which are not directly tied to the main story. At any time during the campaign, a player can choose to explore one of these planets in an all-terrain rover in order to discover new alien life, resources, ruined civilizations and powerful technologies.
* Digital actors: "Mass Effect" features a huge cast of in-engine digital actors that you will encounter as NPCs, enemies or as party members. Each will have life-like facial and body movements, and an advanced dialogue system will give them engaging personalities.
* Character customization. Players will be able to choose from a variety of stunning, photo-realistic character appearances at the start of the game, and throughout the game can increase various statistics which will have an impact on their performance during gameplay. Equipment, weapons and armor that are acquired during the course of the story will change the appearance of the characters.
* Next-generation gaming defined. "Mass Effect" takes advantage of Xbox 360's hardware providing gamers with exciting new experiences, including photo-realistic, high definition graphics on an epic scale. As the future of gaming goes online, Xbox360 live features, including premium downloadable content and recognition of achievement will be available via the Xbox Live service.
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