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Messages - David

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46
Game Blog / Summer of Mario: YOSHI'S SAFARI
« on: June 26, 2020, 02:44:59 PM »
Mario shoots the bad guys with guns!  No, it's not Smash Bros., it's...

YOSHI'S SAFARI



Yoshi's Safari is a first person shooter starring Mario, played using the Super Scope 6 light gun.  Riding atop Yoshi, Mario runs through multiple worlds, blasting away flying Paragoombas, Paratroopas, and more.  At the end of each stage, you'll face off against one of Bowser's seven Koopalings -- but this time, they all pilot giant mechs.  Make sure to grab Mushrooms, Starmen, and other power-ups to help you along your way... just try not to shoot Yoshi in the back of the head.

The game's premise is that Jewelry Land has been conquered by Bowser, and that Princess Peach has sent Mario and Yoshi to save the kingdom and its rulers, King Fret & Prince Pine.  It's worth noting that this 1993 release was the first game to use "Princess Peach" instead of "Princess Toadstool" in the west, predating Super Mario 64 by three years!

The standard game only allows the player to shoot the blaster, with Yoshi automatically running through the stages.  However, two player mode does exist, and allows Yoshi to be controller on a SNES controller while the Super Scope 6 is used to fire, making the game a little more complex.

Yoshi's Safari is generally fun, but somewhat limited in gameplay.  Still, it is the only Mario first person rail shooter released by Nintendo.

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Game Blog / Summer of Mario: WARIO WARE: D.I.Y.
« on: June 25, 2020, 02:18:03 PM »
Before Mario Maker, there was...

WARIO WARE: D.I.Y.



Like the other Wario Ware titles, Wario Ware D.I.Y. challenges the player to quickly complete a series of "microgames" without making any mistakes.  Jump over a single Goomba, tap left to stick out your leg at the last moment, or press A to stop a record on Wario -- each microgame is just a few seconds long and only asks the player to complete a simple action.  The challenge in Wario Ware has always been in keeping up with the game as you jump from minigame to minigame without a break, while unlocking all of Wario & his employees' software.

What makes THIS Wario Ware different is that you can now make your own games.

Wario Ware D.I.Y. provides players with a simple visual scripting program, allowing them to create their own microgames.  You have complete control over game logic, scripting, music, and graphics -- it even includes a Mario Paint-themed sprite graphics editor!  In addition, you can view and edit ALL of the microgames included in Wario Ware D.I.Y..

Players could upload their games to Nintendo's server, and download games by others.  Games could also be sent to the Wii's Wario Ware: D.I.Y. Showcase" and played on your TV.  However, the shutdown of the Nintendo DS online services means that none of this is still possible.  The game also features an achievement-like system: the player earns medals for completing various actions, and the medals unlock music tracks; however, without the online connection,  many medals can no longer be earned, locking away several of the songs.

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Game Blog / Summer of Mario: WARIO LAND: SUPER MARIO LAND 3
« on: June 24, 2020, 07:11:09 PM »
While Mario & crew have seen a variety of spin-offs over the years, Wario's first starring adventure is worth taking a look back on.

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3



Hot off the success of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Nintendo RD1 took the opportunity to release a platformer starring their own creation -- Wario.  As the yellow-clad anti-plumber, run and jump through levels, hurl your enemies to their doom, and find the hidden treasures.  Your ultimate goal is to gather enough treasure to build yourself a gigantic castle, and to do that you'll need to "liberate" the golden statue of Princess Toadstool from the Brown Sugar Pirates and their leader, Captain Syrup.

Like Super Mario Land 2, Wario Land features an overworld map with plenty of sublocations to explore.  Gathering treasure and coins is important, and you'll money not only to build your castle at the end, but to unlock hidden rooms, save the game, and even to use as a weapon -- at any point in the game, you can hurl your OWN coins at enemies to kill 'em.  Don't waste too much of your cash, or you might only be able to build a squalid little shack at the end of the game.

While this game is officially "Super Mario Land 3," it really serves as the first in the Wario Land series.  It does have more in common with the Mario platformers than later titles, though: power-up blocks provide garlic pots that act much as the Super Mushroom, upgrading "small Wario" into the full-size Wario we all know.  Further upgrades allow Wario to ram through enemies and blocks, shoot fire from his hat, or even soar through the skies -- the only other Wario game to feature this power-up system is Virtual Boy Wario Land.  In addition, this game features the weirdly familiar "Gooms" -- they look a lot like the Goomba (Galoombas?) from Super Mario World, and serve as the generic foe; hop on their heads to knock them over, and toss them at other enemies.

It's worth noting that Mario does make a small cameo in this game.  If Wario succeeds in defeating Captain Syrup's forces, Mario will fly in to carry off the statue of Princess Toadstool before Wario can collect it, waving as he flies away.

Yeah, Mario's kind of a jerk in this game.

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Game Blog / Summer of Mario: GAME & WATCH GALLERY
« on: June 23, 2020, 03:42:40 PM »
It's time to look at another slightly lesser known Mario title...

GAME & WATCH GALLERY



Play through simulations of the classic Game & Watch titles Manhole, Fire, Octopus, and Oil Panic.  While that sounds somewhat interesting, what is more interesting is that the collection comes with modernized remakes of all the game, starring Mario and the other Mushroom Kingdom folks.  Help Yoshi keep brainless Toads from falling through manholes, watch the Mario Bros. as they rescue hundreds of Toads (and others) from a burning castle, collect treasure while dodging the wrathful arms of a giant octopus, and help Mario as he... stops Bowser from dropping burning oil on innocents like Yoshi, Luigi, and DK. Jr..  Bowser has mellowed over the years, it seems.

Developed by Tose and Nintendo, Game & Watch Gallery was released in 1997 across the world, but with different names in different regions.  "Game Boy Gallery" appeared in Japan on Feb. 1 1997, while North America received Game & Watch Gallery in May of 1997.  In Europe and Oceania, it was released as "Game Boy Gallery 2" as the sequel to an earlier collection of Game & Watch remakes entitled "Game Boy Gallery."

The game featured Super Game Boy frames and tinting, and a non-playable gallery of other Game & Watch titles.

50
Site Discussion / Re: Which staff member will wed first?
« on: June 23, 2020, 02:05:27 AM »
I forgot this was a thing.

I'm mildly creeped out -- again.

51
Game Blog / Summer of Mario: YOSHI
« on: June 22, 2020, 05:26:51 PM »
Summer is officially upon us, and it's time to take a look through some of the lesser known entries in the Mario gaming universe...

YOSHI


Yoshi represents one of the odder Mario spin-offs.  In this "falling block" puzzle game, Goombas, Pirahna Plants, and Bloops fall from the sky, stacking up on four trays.  Instead of controlling the path of the falling items, the player can have Mario swap the trays -- any tray can switch places with the tray(s) sitting next to it.  Match two of the same enemies and they'll vanish, giving you points.  If you want high scores though, you'll want to AVOID matching like enemies -- instead, let the bottom half of an egg shell drop onto a platform and wait for a large pile of bad guys to stack up on top of it.  Cap off the stack with the TOP half of an egg shell and the entire stack will disappear (and a Yoshi will appear to give you bonus points).  There's no "end" to the game, but play long enough and you'll occasionally see a small cut-scene of Mario and Yoshi walking across the screen.  If that's not enough, you can always challenge a friend in the multiplayer versus mode.

Yoshi was developed by Game Freak (better known for Pokémon), and released in the USA for both the NES and Game Boy in June and July of 1991.  It had previously been released in Japan as "Yoshi no Tamago" (meaning "Yoshi's Egg") in December 1991, while Europe received "Mario & Yoshi" in December of 1992.

52
Latest News / Yoshi, Goombas, Shy Guys and Wart Return to the Switch Today
« on: September 20, 2019, 10:03:25 PM »
With the release of the Nintendo Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, you can once more jump on Goombas while wearing green clothing!  Wart (ahem, "Mamu"), Shy Guys, Pokey, Goombas, Piranha Plants, and more guest star in this top-down remake!  (Let's just hope we can still slay Kirby...)  The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is out right now, on the Switch.

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If you have an active Switch Online account, you'll be able to play a slew of SNES titles starting September 5th.  Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, and Super Mario Kart will be playable online, with voice chat, freely available to anyone with an active Switch Online account.  In addition, you'll be able to purchase SNES-style wireless controllers as well, for $29.99 each.

Mario titles aren't the only SNES games being added to the Switch tomorrow; the full roster of SNES games includes The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Stunt Race FX, Kirby's Dream Land 3, Star Fox, F-Zero, Pilotwings, Kirby's Dream Course, and third party titles such as Brawl Brothers, Breath of Fire, Demon's Crest, Joe and Mac 2, Super E.D.F., Super Ghouls'n Ghosts, Super Puyo Puyo 2, Super Soccer, and Super Tennis.

54
If you're a Nintendo Online subscriber, you'll gain access to two more NES titles later this month: Donkey Kong 3 and Wrecking Crew come to the Nintendo Switch on July 17th, along with the ability to rewind your NES games.
 
Donkey Kong 3 is best remembered as the Donkey Kong sequel that didn't include Mario, or traditional Donkey Kong gameplay.  It's more of a shooter than anything else -- you control Stanley, shooting clouds of pesticide at the killer bugs Donkey Kong is sending down your way.  Spray DK's simian behind until he falls from... the roof of your greenhouse.  Truly, the Donkey Kong game everyone was waiting for back in the early 80s!
 
Wrecking Crew is notable for being one of the earliest "Mario" spinoff games, with the arcade version debuting before the release of Super Mario Bros.!  As Mario and/or Luigi, smash down the walls of the building and avoid the creepy monsters running all over the place.  Like all of the greatest Mario games ... you can't jump.  You can create your own levels, however!  Watch out for Foreman Spike ("Blackie" in Japan), and look out for the Golden Hammer -- star of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel: Nintendo Entertainment System - July Game Updates - Nintendo Switch Online

55
Do you like video game music and jazz?

You DO?

Amazingly enough, WTMK is now featuring jazzy covers of Mario music from a new Canadian video game music band, Experience Points!  Funk-groove-swinging-jazz sounds abound throughout their album.  Tune in to WTMK today, and visit their site if you'd like to pick up a copy of Try Blowing On the Cartridge, their debut album.  Tracks from Donkey Kong Country, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Odyssey, and more abound on their new release -- and you can catch some of them on WTMK: All Mario Radio, All the Time.

(P.S. Don't blow on NES cartridges -- the condensation in your breath can lead to oxidization of the contacts, causing Goombas to crawl out of your tv screen.)

Links:
WTMK - All Mario Radio, All the time!
Experience Points site - https://www.experiencepointsmusic.com
Bandcamp - https://experiencepoints.bandcamp.com

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Game Blog / 25th Anniversary of Donkey Kong for the Game Boy!
« on: June 20, 2019, 12:52:52 PM »
Twenty-five years ago, Donkey Kong was released on the Game Boy.  This was no mere port of the arcade original: while the first four stages feel likely mildly updated versions of the arcade game, the next 96 leave the arcade game far behind.  Save Pauline from Donkey Kong while guiding Mario through action puzzle stages featuring switches, swimming, hammers, springs, locked doors, and even Donkey Kong Jr.!  The game feels like a mix of Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Super Mario Bros. 2: the arcade mechanics return, mixed with Mario's ability to pluck and toss enemies at each other!

Donkey Kong for the Game Boy is one of the best Mario games ever made, featuring tight gameplay and great music.  It was also the first game to feature Mario's triple jump, Donkey Kong's tie, and Pauline's new look.  If you'd like to try it out, it's currently available on the 3DS eShop -- although if you track down a copy of the original cartridge and play it on the Super Game Boy, you'll get enhanced graphics and a special version of the game's final song!

WTMK will be featuring music from Donkey Kong for the Game Boy throughout the next week.  Tune in today!

Link: WTMK - All Mario Radio, All the time!

57
Game Blog / New Notes: Music from ChequerChequer
« on: June 20, 2019, 12:36:23 PM »
ChequerChequer is the latest artist featured on WTMK!  For the next few weeks, we'll be putting extra attention on ChequerChequer's remixes and covers of classic Mario tunes.  Tracks from Video Game Guitar Collection 1, 2, and 3 will be featured, along with Medley Mania Collection and much, much more!

Tune in to WTMK radio today to here all kinds of Mario related music; if you like what you hear, find more ChequerChequer's Youtube and Bandcamp pages.

Links:
WTMK - All Mario Radio, All the time!
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/chequerchequer
Bandcamp - https://chequerchequer.bandcamp.com

58
Game Blog / People Can't Seem to Get Discounted "Mar10 Day" Prices
« on: March 10, 2019, 04:20:01 PM »
Multiple folks across the internet are complaining that the advertised sale on Switch Mario games isn't happening.  Nintendo put out a press release stating that Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.com would be offering digital downloads of several Switch titles for just $39.99, but Target and Walmart.com don't show the discount, and Best Buy is reportedly canceling website orders after they have been placed.

The press release did contain the phrase "while supplies last," but it would seem odd for digital download "copies" to run out on the first day of a week-long promotion.

If you wanted to take advantage of this sale, it might be a good idea to keep your eye on the websites for these three stores all week long.

Link: TMK Blog - "Mario Day Sale"

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At some point a few years ago, someone noticed that the common abbreviation for March 10th looks a lot like Mario -- "Mar10."  As a result, Nintendo of America has been doing small promotions for "Mario Day" each year.  This year, multiple retailers are offering $39.99 digital downloads of popular Nintendo Switch Mario titles.  From March 10th until Marth 16th, the following games will be discounted on Amazon, BestBuy, Target, and Walmart.com:

Super Mario Party
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Tennis Aces
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

In addition, it looks like Gamestop and Amazon will be offering a special Switch bundle -- $329.99 for the system plus one of the listed games.

Link: Nintendo.com Sales and Deals - "Mar10 Day"

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Game Blog / Bowser Takes Over The Mushroom Kingdom on April 16th
« on: February 22, 2019, 12:46:09 PM »
On April 16th, 2019, the unthinkable will finally happen -- Bowser will take control of the Mushroom Kingdom.

More specifically, Doug Bowser will become the new president of Nintendo of America, replacing the retiring Reggie Fils-Aime.  Reggie's last day will be April 15th, before his body runs off into the sunset.

Link: BusinessWire: Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime to Retire: Doug Bowser Named New President

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