Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver Trailer

So this Sunday we can all return to Johto here in the United States. To celebrate, here's a quick trailer for you to watch.



Also some Pokemon events are going on right now for those interested.

You can download a special Pikachu Colored Pichu that was available at Gamestop a few weeks back to your Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum games via Mystery Gift's Wi-Fi option. This Pichu when sent to Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver will unlock a special Spiky Ear Pichu.

Also at Gamestop for a few more days is a special Jirachi that knows the rare move Draco Meteor. This Jirachi also unlocks a special Pokewalker course when transferred to Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver so pick it up if you can. It's currently unknown if this Jirachi will be available to download over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or not.

Monster Hunter 3 (Tri) Demo Now Available!

Announced a few weeks back at Nintendo's 2010 Media Summit, Gamestop stores in North America should now officially have the Monster Hunter 3 demo available. However, some Gamestops have already put the demos out early, so many gamers may already have it.

However it's important to remember that you DO NOT have to pre-order the game to receive the demo. Some Gamestop stores have been refusing to give away the demo without pre-order. The demo is rated "T" for Teen.

If you try to get the demo and this happens, just mention that the demo is supposed to be free, while the pre-order bonus is $5 off the final amount and a Monster Hunter 3 themed Nintendo Points Card worth 500 Nintendo Points ($5).

VidyaBridge has successfully gotten one of these demos over the weekend and will be reporting on it with impressions and a preview later in the week.

Monster Hunter Tri will be for the Nintendo Wii and features free Online Play with WiiSpeak support. The game will release alone and with a Classic Controller Pro bundle on April 20th, 2010 in North America. Monster Hunter Tri will be rated "T" for Teen.

Source: Various Articles from GoNintendo

Xbox Live Deal of the Week: March 8th 2010

Fans of Call of Duty: World at War should be happy this week. The Xbox Live Deal of the Week for this week has been announced by Major Nelson to be a 20% discount on the Map Bundle available for this game on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Normally, this bundle costs 2000 Microsoft Points ($25), but now costs 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) this week, lasting until March 15th.

Source: Major Nelson's Site

Nintendo Download: March 8th 2010

This week's Nintendo Download sees new games coming to WiiWare, DSiWare, and of course the Virtual Console.

On the WiiWare front we see the big name titles continue from last week's Mega Man 10 with release of the highly anticipated title Max and the Magic Marker, as plays draw items with the Wii Remote to help the title character Max go through the different stages. Max and the Magic Marker is rated "E" for Everyone and is available for 1,000 Nintendo Points ($10).

WiiWare continues to grow with the release of Dracula: Undead Awakening. The game has players fighting the army of Dracula with with guns and other weapons as the player can alter their character's abilities. (Sound familiar?) Dracula: Undead Awakening is rated "T" for Teen and also costs 1,000 Nintendo Points ($10). The game is also available on DSiWare for 500 Nintendo Points ($5) and is rated "T" for Teen.

The Virtual Console receives a true fantasy this week as Final Fantasy II hits the Virtual Console. The sequel to the hit NES Title Final Fantasy, this game helps establish the series place as the RPG giant it truly is. From the look of things, the release may possibly coincide with the release of Final Fantasy XIII, so luckily Wii gamers will get some fantasy of their own. Final Fantasy II is rated "E" for Everyone and will cost 800 Nintendo Points ($8). Quick someone remind me, which Final Fantasy was this in Japan, 4?

On the DSiWare front, we see the release of fantasy card game Elemental Masters, where players can build up an army with their cards in a fantasy adventure. Elemental Masters is rated "T" for Teen and costs 800 Nintendo Points ($8).

Tu habla Espanol? Then 4 TRAVELERS- Play Spanish may be just for you. This game helps teach new words in Spanish for the player, with multiplayer for up to 4 players and specific phrases and words designed for those planning on going on a trip to Spanish Speaking countries. The game is rated "E" for Everyone and costs 800 Nintendo Points ($8).

The fourth DSiWare game for this week (Dracula - Undead Awakening being the third [mentioned above]) is Flips: The Bubonic Builders. This game is designed to help make reading fun for the younger gamer, and features a zany story designed to help kids read. Flips: The Bubonic Builders is rated E for Everyone and costs 500 Nintendo Points. ($5)

The above games will be added to the Wii and DSiWare Shop Channels around 12 PM Eastern, 11 AM Central, and 9 AM Pacific Time. What do you guys think about this week's releases?

Source: Nintendo Press Site

A Return to Form

Time to blow the dust off this old blog, huh?

Since I last posted I unfortunately had to deal with the death of a loved one, while the scars are still fresh this blog must go on. So, starting today VidyaBridge will resume normal updates like before.

Some new additions though to the blog include a dual focuso n both Microsoft and Nintendo platforms with some Sony and PC news as well. I'll be posting more opinion pieces and will be doing reviews, first impressions, and more.

VidyaBridge is back, and we're gonna try and make this work again. Expect the Nintendo update later today.

-Bridge

Updates

Well, this past weekend has been a real kick in the gut...

My sister died Sunday morning, so I'm going to take an update hiatus for a while. I was actually going to start some features on me now owning an XBOX 360, but ... well it can wait. When I update again you'll know it, until then... VidyaBridge, signing off.

TV Plays Too: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Part 2: SEEEEEGAAAAA)

Finally after a few days of being lazy and swamped with school work, I'm finishing this feature up. When we last left off, I discussed the Nintendo side of things when it came to games relating to MMPR Season 1. Today we're looking at the Sega side of things.. have fun below!


Probably the most known Sega MMPR S1 game, this one was actually very different compared to it's SNES counterpart. Instead of being a brawler type game, this was a fighter where you chose a Power Ranger and fight against Rita's minions. While I've personally never played the game, it looked like a decent fighter, after all it was made by Banpresto, and their fighters that I've played have been fun. The game is faithful to the series including cutscenes with Rita (who acts... well, strange. Referring to her monsters as her children, for example.) What's also fun is you eventually unlock Tommy (MMPR Green) and can use him and the Dragonzord. Check out the playable video below, what do you think of the game?




Again, sorry for the crappy image quality like the Game Boy box art. Anyway this was the Game Gear version of MMPR, and was actually a mix of a fighter (with health bars) and a brawler (with multiple enemies to go through). I can't really say much about this game, but it is impressive for a handheld game, and is actually miles above the Game Boy counterpart. You can also play as Tommy in this one too, and the final stage looks awesome. Check out a gameplay video of the first level below.






Ah the Sega CD, really the only game I know about it is Sonic CD, but anyway. Like Dragon's Lair this game is a Full Motion Video (FMV) game where you have to press buttons correctly to keep your health up. So you're watching footage of the episodes of the original series... and press buttons. That's it. It.. really doesn't look that fun, the episodes are really abridged, and don't even look that good. But it's a part of MMPR history, none the less. "Enjoy" the gameplay video below...



And, that's it for MMPR Season 1 based games. Expect a new feature tomorrow. :)

Nintendo Download: 1/18/2010

Sorry for the lack of updates here lately, I'll be posting Part 2 of the MMPR feature, and also starting a new feature later tonight, promise! Here's the Nintendo Download for the Day also.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NINTENDO ASKS EVERYONE TO MUSCLE MARCH IN FORMATION

Jan. 18, 2010
There's a lot to say about this week's downloadable games. You can check out the brain-training power of The Amazing Brain Train! or the cute puppies of Me And My Dogs: Friends Forever. Fans of more traditional games can protect their space fleet from waves of enemies in STARSHIP DEFENSE™ or explore the dual temporal world of Chronos Twins. Retro gamers will certainly like the ninja stylings of Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi™ on the Virtual Console™ service or the chance to try out the Nintendo DSiWare™ title Dark Void™ Zero, a mythical long-lost game from Capcom's vaults.

And then there's Muscle March.

A bunch of bodybuilders (and a polar bear) clad in bikini briefs chase after protein-powder thieves who can bash through walls at will. Strike your best bodybuilder poses to catch the thief and make the protein powder yours again. This surreal experience is best shared among friends, so start flexing!

WiiWare™

Muscle March
Publisher: NBGI
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Wii Points™
Description: Muscle March is a quirky Japanese action game stuffed full of macho bodybuilders. The all mighty protein powder has been stolen, so it's up to Tony and his muscle-bound crew to catch the thieves. Choose from a variety of perfectly molded superstars and bring these terrible villains to justice. As the thieves attempt escape, they will smash through walls while making a variety of poses. You must match these poses to fit through the holes and catch up to the thieves. The protein powder will be yours again! Flex your muscles by yourself or with up to three friends in turn-based macho excitement. Posing for a few minutes not enough? Enjoy Endless Rush mode until your muscles bulge and explode! Muscle March will also be the first WiiWare title to offer a polar bear in tight swimwear!

The Amazing Brain Train!
Publisher: Wahoo Studios
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: All aboard! Power up your intellect and embark on an epic quest aboard The Amazing Brain Train! Fueled by your mental energy, Professor Fizzwizzle's Brain Train will take you on a brain-boosting adventure. Put your mighty mind to the test and see how far you can go.

Nintendo DSiWare™

STARSHIP DEFENSE
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: STARSHIP DEFENSE takes the tower defense genre into outer space. Defend your space fleet from wave after wave of enemy attacks by equipping a variety of weapons and using a combination of strategic skills and resource management. Attach weapons to your ships using the touch screen, making sure to place them for maximum effect when planning your defense. If you don't, the relentless nature of your enemies could overwhelm you. Increase your chances of success by using energy collected from defeated enemies to install new and more powerful weapons, destroying particular enemies to obtain weapon upgrades, and watching for rare power crystals that unlock advanced attacks, including a devastating black hole. And if you still find yourself in trouble, select an SOS card to call on a special kind of assistance. You'll have to defend your fleet across 30 intense sectors, some with specific challenges, while advancing your rank from lowly recruit all the way to fleet admiral. Are you up to the challenge?

Dark Void Zero
Publisher: Capcom Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: As the '80s were drawing to a close, the developers at Capcom began work on a top-secret project that aimed to set new standards for the platformer genre. That game was called Dark Void. Alas, Capcom suspended development on Dark Void as it began to evaluate the SNES™. Before long, the game was shelved and drifted, unnoticed, into the annals of gaming history. Dark Void became a legendary "lost project" at Capcom. Now, nearly 20 years later, Dark Void is back! To commemorate the game's humble origins, Capcom has commissioned this recreation of the original 8-bit classic, now re-titled Dark Void Zero, on the Nintendo DSi™ system. You play as Rusty, the first human born in the Void, who must take on the Watchers in a quest to stop their domination of Earth. With the aid of Nikola Tesla and his state-of-the-art rocket pack, Rusty must take down the Watchers and their minions across three intense levels of action and intrigue.

Chronos Twins
Publisher: EnjoyUp Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Enter into the original world of Chronos Twins, where you'll live a fantastic adventure full of innovative ideas never seen before in any game. Thanks to its Dual Gameplay game system you'll be able to control Nec in two temporal scenarios at the same time. Chronos Twins mixes action, platforms, adventure and puzzles to challenge your intelligence and ability. If you like games with a real challenge, there's no doubt that Chronos Twins is the game you're looking for.

Me And My Dogs: Friends Forever
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Have you always dreamed of having a cute dog to cuddle? Thanks to Me And My Dogs: Friends Forever, you can have up to three of the cutest pups imaginable at the same time and take them with you everywhere you go. Choose from friendly Labradors, playful Chow Chows and smart Beagles. Like real dogs, you'll have to take care of them, feed them, wash them and give them lots of love. Play with them at the park and teach them lots of tricks or train them for competitions at the stadium. You can even call them like in real life thanks to the microphone.

Virtual Console™

Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Original platform: Genesis
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Easy to play, hard to master, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi, first released in 1987, is the sequel to the original Shinobi arcade game, and is one of the only games in the Shinobi series to feature true arcade-style game play. Play as Joe Musashi, the master ninja known to his enemies only as "The Shinobi." This battle is not one you must fight alone, as this is the first game in the Shinobi series to feature your ninja attack dog, Yamoto, who will charge foes on command, leaving them open to a powerful drop kick. Use your mastery of ancient ninja technique to topple the crime syndicate - the Neo Zeed Corporation - and free the foreign dignitaries they have taken hostage in New York City. Good luck, and may the ninja spirits help guide you in your journey.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii™ Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Source: Nintendo Press Room

TV Plays Too: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Part 1: Nintendo Bugaloo)

Ah, I'm not going to lie when I say this: the 90s was a really good time to be a kid. Awesome TV cartoons, game shows, the SNES and Genesis war, and more. This year, Power Ranger fans (such as myself) get to relive our childhood as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers re-airs on ABC Kids "remastered", which.. is different but still the same show at heart.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SNES)




So, to celebrate, here's an overview of MMPR (Season 1) video games that I've managed to find. Today in Part 1, we look at the 2 contributions for Nintendo systems.

This one is pretty cool, you pick one of the five Power Rangers and fight through levels in a beat em up style arcade game. You go through each "Area" which are filled with Putties of different types until you find the monster (boss) of the area. Upon doing so, you morph into the Power Ranger you chose. Eventually, you have to fight it in the Megazord. The SNES version is the one I played most, and it's truly a gem. Nintendo, hear me now! Put this on VC! Below is a gameplay video.

Looks fun eh? The only difference between Power Rangers are special moves and weapons, but it's still a fun game none the less.


Sorry for the crappy image quality, best one I could find truth be told. This is the portable counter part to the SNES MMPR game. I've never played it or found it in stores unfortunately, but from the looks of it, this game is a simpler version of the SNES one. You fight putties, fight monsters, and use the Megazord. The major difference is the bosses in this game, such as the final fight is with Rita in the Game Boy version, while it is Cyclopsis in the SNES version. Below is a gameplay video.




So, that is all of the MMPR Season 1 based video games for Nintendo. Join me tomorrow when I look over the Sega games based on Season 1 of MMPR!

Netflix on Wii! Netflix on Wii! ...finally!

Netflix is coming to Wii very soon. Eventually Netflix members owning a Wii can request a disc to use so they can stream the Netflix on demand library. Though the Wii does not support HD, this means that the Wii library will be limited to standard definition only. Check out more at NintendoLife.

Source: NintendoLife

Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing Trailer

I remember first seeing the reveal trailer for this game back at E3, truth be told I wasn't impressed. But here lately, I've been showing some interest in the game. I might check it out when it comes out. Meanwhile, check out this new trailer that Sega just put up on Youtube, what do you guys think of it?

Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum: Pikachu Colored Pichu Event

With the looming release of Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver, Nintendo has announced that a special Pikachu Colored (Shiny) Pichu will be made available to download at Gamestop soon.

This Pichu, when traded over to Heart Gold or Soul Silver, will then activate a special event in Johto's Ilex Forest that unlocks the special Spiky-Eared Pichu, which has a different appearance from normal Pichu and knows special moves such as Pain Split.

The event will take place from January 30th to February 14th at, surprisingly, Gamestop stores across the US instead of Toys R Us. This isn't surprising however, as Gamestop have distributed event Pokemon before.

Players will be able to download the special Pichu wirelessly to their copy of Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum. More on the event as it comes.

Source: Serebii

NIntendo Download: 1/11/2010

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: WHEN YOU SEE THIS WEEK'S DOWNLOADS, YOU WILL HAVE NO...OBJECTION!

Jan. 11, 2010

Courtroom intrigue with everyone's favorite Ace Attorney leads this week's Nintendo Download. For the first time, players can use the Wii Remote™ controller to help them balance the scales of justice. Six other games join this week's lineup, including some temporal adventures and a puzzle game based on shadows, not to mention new twists on solitaire, billiards and word searches. A classic Genesis mahjong video game rounds out the list.

WiiWare™

Phoenix Wright™: Ace Attorney
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Meet Phoenix Wright, the rookie defense lawyer new to the scene with the wildest cross-examination skills in town. Take on four intriguing cases to reveal dramatic, stunning and even comical court proceedings. Use the Wii Remote controller to investigate the crime scenes, question witnesses and present shocking evidence.

Chronos Twins DX
Publisher: EnjoyUp Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Enter into the original world of Chronos Twins DX to live a fantastic adventure full of innovative ideas. Thanks to its Dual Gameplay game system, you'll be able to control Nec in two temporal scenarios at the same time. Chronos Twins DX mixes action, platforms, adventure and puzzles to challenge your intelligence and ability.

ShadowPlay
Publisher: Deep Fried Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Alcohol Reference
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Welcome to ShadowPlay. Let your imagination run wild when light meets everyday objects to create fascinating shadows. Play and experiment, make a monster out of a pineapple, a dolphin out of a banana - the only limit is your imagination. ShadowPlay challenges players by transforming shadows into more than 100 exciting, unique puzzles. As more challenging puzzles are unlocked, players will have to find more creative ways to solve problems. You will never look at a slice of pizza the same way again! Winning a round will allow players to advance to the next level as well as score another item to use in the Free Play Mode, where you can unleash your imagination and create your own shadow art. Family and friends can also jump in to help tackle a puzzle at any time using Local Co-op Mode. ShadowPlay will provide tons of brain-racking fun for players of all ages. How do you ShadowPlay?

Nintendo DSiWare™

Touch Solitaire
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Touch Solitaire features two of the most popular versions of the world-famous card game - Spider and Klondike - with simple touch-screen controls and an easy-to-understand interface. In Spider, the aim is to arrange cards in piles of a single suit from King down to Ace, thereby removing the pile from play. When all cards are removed, you win the game. The goal of Klondike is to arrange cards from Ace to King in piles, one for each suit, on the four foundations. You win when all cards have been moved to the foundations. Various difficulty levels are available for Spider and Klondike, allowing beginners or experts to enjoy the game at their own pace.

Jazzy Billiards
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Challenge intelligent computers or even your friends to a traditional game of 9-ball while enjoying mind-soothing music with Jazzy Billiards. Take advantage of the intuitive stylus mechanic to aim and hit the cue ball with varying strength to sink the other balls. Defeat your opponents by being the first to sink the 9-ball. Jazzy Billiards' Stage Mode features nine different stages, each with an opponent of ascending difficulty. Find out how many computers you can defeat in a row with Challenge Mode, or challenge your friends to a game of 9-ball in Versus Mode.

Word Searcher
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You'll need a sharp eye and a quick mind to complete these 100 themed word search puzzles. Word Searcher contains fun words from multiple categories including anatomy, world cities and U.S. presidents. Packed with a huge assortment of subjects to choose from, there's sure to be a puzzle anyone will enjoy. Help improve your vocabulary, memory and problem-solving skills with these challenging puzzles. Keep track of, and try to beat, your own play-through times again and again as words are scrambled every time you play. Get your thinking cap on and conquer all 100 today.

Virtual Console™

Shanghai® II: Dragon's Eye
Original platform: Genesis
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: The ancient pastime of mahjong solitaire is reinvented as an interactive video game where each tile you remove may be your last. Discover enchanting music, fun animation and exciting obstacles that are built in to this intriguing board game that will keep you engaged for hours. This classic title challenges you to clear the board by removing matching pairs of tiles. Play the traditional Shanghai® II or take the game to a new dimension with Dragon's Eye. Don't let the simple rules deceive you - the depth and intricacy of this challenge will become your new obsession very soon.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Source: Nintendo Press Room

Regarding Updates

Sorry I haven't updated over the weekend guys, news has been sort of slow from what I saw over the weekend, and I've been just busy/not feeling good. Updates will resume tomorrow, even with school I'll make sure I do. :P So sorry for the lack of updates!

Game and Grub: Dragon Quest IX Bar

While browsing GoNintendo, I came across this little gem. Apparantly, Square Enix is going to open a bar themed around Dragon Quest IX in Japan, check out the info at the link below.

Source: GoNintendo

Random Music: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Intro Theme

With the my childhood back on television (with a new coat of paint, but still) I thought I'd share the title screen of one of the games I loved most as a kid... Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. Enjoy!

Random Nintendo News Update

Gah! Sorry for not updating any today... been really busy, anyway... there has been some good tidbits out there on the web. Here's a quick quick rundown and my source below.

-Zelda Wii is confirmed for 2010 release, whether it's Japan or America or Europe first? Who knows..

-DS 2 has been described as having better graphics (in a nutshell) and will have motion sensing capabilities. DSii?

-Wii Vitality Sensor games are due out this Summer.

Those are the three main things I noticed today in the news. Check out a bit more detailed info at my source below.

Source: GoNintendo

TvC Producer's Announcement Revealed?

Following up on the story from earlier, apparently the Producer of Tatsunoko VS Capcom's announcement has been revealed. Yatter-Man 2 from the Tatsunoko classic "Yatterman" series will be included in the North American release of Tatsunoko VS Capcom : Ultimate All Stars.

Click the GoNintendo link below to see the footage and screen of Yatter-Man 2, whose addition brings another female fighter to the TvC cast.

Source: GoNintendo

Reminder: Darksiders Release!

So apparantly this game Darksiders, which.. I've not heard of until the other night was released today. From what I read in a review, the game seems to have some elements (items mostly, like the boomerang) inspired by various The Legend of Zelda games. I kind of like the look of the trailer, and some of the character designs do look interesting. Who's picking this one up?

Random Rumor Time! TvC Producer Has a Big Announcement?

I found this while reading through some updates at GoNintendo, apparantly the producer of Tatsunoko VS Capcom has been teasing a big announcement. Wonder if it's going to be related to the game or not? Check it out at the link below since there are other features of the North America version of the game revealed also.

Source: GoNintendo

Random Music: Storm Eagle Remixed

Ugh.. sorry for lack of updates guys, I'll post some stuff before the night is over with though, promise! (Y)

Here's a random remix of Storm Eagle's Stage from Mega Man X. Enjoy!

Bridge's 5 Favorite GBA Games of ALL Time #1

Bah! It's still Jan. 4th! Still counts! Still counts! :P...below is Number 1, enjoy!

Mario and Luigi: SuperStar Saga
Genre: RPG
Developer: AlphaDream
Release Date: 11/17/03 (US), 11/21/03 (EU and JPN)
MetaCritic Score: 90

Mario is not unfamiliar with the RPG world, in fact he's been in several! Beginning with Square-Enix's (then Squaresoft) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Mario soon found himself as an RPG icon for the Super Nintendo. Years later, on the Nintendo 64, came Paper Mario which took Mario to a new level on the RPG plane. Shortly after then, came this lovely gem on the Game Boy Advance. Mario and Luigi: SuperStar Saga takes the ideas of previous Mario RPGs and creates a unique experience in not just gameplay, but everything else.

The game starts off with the evil witch Cackletta stealing the voice of Princess Peach, replacing it with... an "explosive" vocabulary, literally. After learning of the events (and beating up Bowser in the process) Mario and Luigi then travel to the BeanBean Kingdom where Cackletta came from to recover Peach's voice and stop the witch's plot. The game has a lot of humor in it, and the dialogue is excellently written. Characters shine with personality such as Luigi and his cowardly behavior, and Bowser's arrogant attitude. The graphics are very traditional of Mario games and are very bright, cartoony, and unique... which makes the game look great on the GBA screen.



The music is also top notch in this game with several remixes of past songs from the franchise along with new mixes created for the game. The sound effects accompany the game and the music is a delight to listen to. The music and sound really adds an atmosphere to this game, making this RPG all the more unique.

The gameplay is similar to many RPGs of the world, where you control Mario and Luigi as they explore an overworld and accomplish goals. Like in Super Mario RPG you can see the enemies you can battle in the overworld, and like Paper Mario you can do a preemptive strike by jumping or hammering these enemies to gain an advantage in battle. The game focuses heavily on the A (Mario) and B (Luigi) buttons, which are used for not just commands but actions in the overworld and in battle. Battles are unique also with an easy to learn and hard to master battle system. The player controls Mario with A and Luigi with B, as they can use the standard hammer, jumps, and other special attacks solo.

However, both brothers can team up for a "Bros. Attack" (similar to Special/Magic attacks in traditional RPGs) that require you to co-ordinate and control both brothers in real time. These attacks do more damage, and mastering them can eventually help you in the long run battle wise. You can also defend the brothers with their buttons, as each enemy has a "tell" that lets you know who they'll attack. Simple enemies will be easier to avoid or defend against, while later enemies and bosses become complex and hard to defend against. The battle system is wonderful and a very unique and fun aspect of the game, making this one very different from traditional RPGs.

This game has it all, and I easily feel that it is the #1 GBA Game that any gamer could own. The gameplay, music, graphics, and story are all excellent, and create a truly wonderful experience. Though there isn't too much to do after finishing the main game (save side-quests and mini games), the game is so much fun you can find yourself easily picking this up again and doing the whole adventure just for fun. Because of these reasons, Mario and Luigi: SuperStar Saga is my #1 GBA game of al time. Happy playing, and join me for a new feature tomorrow on VidyaBridge.Also, as a bonus please enjoy the animated commercial for this game from Japan... makes me wish a series came from the art style!

A random old video (but still awesome)

Will update with my #1 GBA game later, been busy helping around the house. Anyway, here's some filler.

It always amazes me what the hacking community can do, I've seen things like new characters in Super Mario Kart, to new environments in Super Mario 64. But I think this Super Mario World hack from NicoNico Douga (Japan's Youtube, essentially. :P) just takes the cake. Enjoy.. see if you can guess some of the songs also!

Today's Nintendo Download Update

As with every Monday, Nintendo will be updating the Wii and DSi Shops with new downloadable games. Below is the press release revealing this week's new games.

"NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: A NEW DECADE BRINGS SEVEN NEW DOWNLOADABLE NINTENDO GAMES

Jan. 4, 2010

Should old acquaintance be forgot? We can't remember. But what we can remember is that this week's downloadable lineup from Nintendo asks a lot of questions. The Nintendo DSiWare™ service wonders if you can master missiles with Trajectile™, lead animals to their proper pens with Animal Puzzle Adventure or match wits with TV chef Gordon Ramsay in Hell's Kitchen Vs. The WiiWare™ service puts you in charge of maximizing your rubber duckie output with Heron: Steam Machine, asks you to aim for the bull's-eye with Pub Darts and wonders if you have an itchy trigger finger with Fast Draw Showdown. Finally, Final Fight™ 3 on the Virtual Console™ service makes you wonder if the fight is ever really final.

Nintendo DSiWare

Trajectile
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Trajectile is a puzzle game that's as much about firepower as it is about brainpower, requiring you to line up your shot and launch a flurry of missiles at enemy targets. Three types of missiles are at your disposal, each one with its own characteristics - but all of them can bounce off walls on their path to smash, blast or drill through enemies and blocks. Along the way, you'll find item blocks just waiting to be destroyed so that you can obtain special power-ups ... and cause even more destruction. Be careful though, as missile type and position are predetermined and you get only a limited number of launches per stage. Complete multiple classes containing numerous individual stages, earning medals when you clear stages in fewer than the given number of turns. Are you ready to take aim at becoming a Trajectile master?

Animal Puzzle Adventure
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Animal Puzzle Adventure is a simple puzzle game where you have to lead various animals to their respective barns placed on the map, while avoiding pitfalls and cliffs and using the objects on the field to your advantage. There are 10 stages per level with a total of five levels, creating 50 stages in all. After clearing a stage, you unlock a piece of a photo. Once you clear all 10 stages in a level, the wallpaper for that level becomes unlocked and you can then view it in the gallery. With so many puzzles to unravel, you'll find yourself immersed in the puzzle-riffic world of Animal Puzzle Adventure.

Hell's Kitchen Vs.
Publisher: Ludia
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Hell's Kitchen Vs. is based on the U.S. TV phenomenon where world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay puts aspiring chefs through rigorous culinary tests. The game recreates the show's pressure-cooker atmosphere as two players battle head-to-head in an arcade-style kitchen challenge. Try to conquer your opponent in each time-management test, while taking the heat of Gordon Ramsay judging and rating your performance at every stage of the game.

WiiWare

Heron: Steam Machine
Publisher: Triangle Studios
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points™
Description: Heron: Steam Machine is a game about a factory where rubber duckies are being produced by a large steam engine. On this steam engine, there are four different gauges which you will have to watch carefully. By connecting the pipes, you will earn points and relieve some of the pressure, keeping the machine running just a little bit longer. If one of the gauges reaches its maximum, the machine will eventually blow up, and the game is over. If you were lucky enough to achieve a high score, make sure you enter your name in the list so other players can compete with you. In Multiplayer, you are able to cooperate with friends in maintaining the steam machine. When you play with two, three or four players, the screen is divided into sections with different background colors. Each player is able to solve his or her own part of the puzzle. Players are restricted to their own section of the screen, so you will have to work together to make the pipes fit properly. (Additional accessories are required for multiplayer play and are sold separately.)

Pub Darts
Publisher: Big Blue Bubble Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Alcohol Reference
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Pub Darts is a simple darts simulation which uses the Wii Remote™ controller's unique controls to mimic dart-throwing motion. The game is set in a local pub where the players will settle in to play some of their favorite dart games, including 501, Cricket, Around the Clock, Killers and Baseball. Controls function just like throwing a real dart. Players are able to create their own personal profiles, including selecting their avatar image from a collection of creative characters and the design they would like displayed on the dart flights.

Fast Draw Showdown
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Alcohol Reference, Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: When it comes to fast draw there're only two types of people: the quick ... and the dead! Now you have the chance to find out where you stand, or lie, as the case may be. You'll go up against the best quick draws in the business, including one of the world's fastest, Wes Flowers. Unholster your Wii Remote controller and show 'em who the fastest draw really is, in this live-action shooter. You can even take on a friend in multiplayer modes, and see which of you has the quickest draw. You'll need some serious speed and awesome accuracy to take on these gunslingers ... so get ready for some real fast draw action.

Virtual Console

Final Fight 3
Original platform: Super NES™
Publisher: Capcom USA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Animated Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Following the defeat and subsequent disappearance of the Mad Gear Gang, a small group known only as "Skull Cross" is responsible for a new uprising of vandalism, terrorism and death. The government of Metro City is at a complete loss. Metro City's mayor, Mike Haggar, and Guy are prepared to take on the new gang, but before they can act, the door bursts open, revealing Lucia, Cody's old friend. "Metro City is under attack!" she shouts, "Skull Cross is loose, and they've got something up their sleeves." But before any of them can move, a mysterious man appears in the doorway. "My name is Dean," he says. "I know Skull Cross inside-and-out, and I hate them more than anything. I can help you, and you can help me. We must go!" All four fighters vow to bring Skull Cross down. It will be a tough assignment, and may even be their final fight!

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com."
Nintendo Press Room Press Release

Bridge's 5 Favorite GBA Games of ALL Time #2

Lazy Sunday's, huh? Sorry I haven't really updated much I've just been... well laying about and talking with friends. This is my last week of Christmas Break before I go back to school, but I'm still going to update at least once a day during school sessions. I have some reviews and new features planned out also, so be on the look out for those. Towards the end of the month I may have a huge new feature that will shake up this blog.. but, we'll see. Anyway, here is Number 2 on our GBA related countdown.

Pokémon Emerald
Genre: RPG
Developer: Game Freak
Release Date: 05/01/05 (US), 10/21/05 (EU), 09/16/04 (JPN)
MetaCritic Score: 76

I remember back when the Pokémon games first came out, I ended up getting Blue and then Silver. Funnily enough, I never got the third versions of the games I had though. After getting out of Pokémon I was brought back in with the release of Pokémon Emerald which changed everything. Emerald is on this list for several reasons, however the main reason is that this is the definitive Pokémon experience available to the GBA, aside from Fire Red and Leaf Green. Emerald takes Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and adds more into the game, similar to Crystal and Yellow did for the first two generations of the series. However, this version adds even more to the originals with both sides of the story appearing in the game (and both evil teams) and also including cover character Rayquaza into the mix. The sprites of the Pokémon are now animated, new styles of double battling different trainers is thrown in, and abilities, movesets, and items are also updated.


The biggest addition however, that has me still playing Emerald to this day, is the Battle Frontier (pictured above). Available to players after beating the main game, the Battle Frontier is a special battling theme park where trainers can test their skills against some very powerful trainers. Each facility (think like a gym) has streaks they can run through, and if they run through enough streaks, they may challenge the Frontier Brain (think like a gym leader), and if successful will gain a Symbol (think like a badge). Most trainers will have to really carefully raise certain Pokémon to be successful in Battle Frontier, making this second quest a very lengthy addition to the game.



The graphics, music, story, and available Pokemon are all similar to both Ruby and Sappphire which may disappoint players. However, the addition of the Battle Frontier and some of the new tweaks put into the game easily makes this the definitive version of the R/S/E generation. Even after beating the Elite Four and becoming Champion you can still rebattle trainers, raise new Pokémon, and challenge the aforementioned Battle Frontier. This game would have been number one, however once you do everything you can in the game that's it. Unless you really love the game you may find yourself hard pressed to restart and play it again, and if you did manage to do everything you can it might be hard to erase that hard work. However this game is top notch and a game that everyone that enjoys Pokémon games should play. Because of this, Pokémon Emerald is my #2 GBA Game of all time. Gotta catch 'em all! Tune in tomorrow when I reveal my #1 pick, I'm sure that many of you will be pleased with it.

Bridge's 5 Favorite GBA Games of ALL Time #3

Sorry for the lack of updates today, I really have just been lazy today, can't really get myself to do much. But, as a writer this blog must go on, whether or not I feel lazy! So, readers, here is my third favorite GBA game of all time.

DK: King of Swing
Genre: Platform Climber
Developer: Paon
Release Date: 09/19/05 (US), 02/04/05(EU), 05/19/05(JPN)

With the selling of Rare Ltd. to Microsoft early on in the decade, many fans of Donkey Kong, including myself, seemed to wonder what would be next. After the release of Donkey Konga and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, the Game Boy Advance finally got a new Donkey Kong game in the form of DK King of Swing. However, this game was soon discovered to be different from previous entries in the series, with gameplay based on the NES game Clu Clu Land. The premise of the game is simple enough, King K. Rool has stolen prize medals for an upcoming competition on DK Isle, and Donkey Kong has to retrieve these medals and eventually face off with King K. Rool to stop his plan.



However, the gameplay is very different compared to previous games, as instead of simple platforming, you climb and swing off of "peg boards" to get through levels. There are different peg boards Donkey Kong can climb on, and he must safely get through levels including the usual jungles, caves, oceans, and ruins. The gameplay is very different compared to previous games, as you don't even have a partner character with you. You mainly control Donkey Kong with the L and R buttons on the system, with L being the Left Hand and R being the Right Hand. Holding down both shoulder buttons will then give you a charge attack for DK that can take out enemies. Throughout the levels you can find crystal coconuts and bananas, explore to find Bonus Barrels, and more. Collect enough bananas and you can become invicible ala the Star from the Super Mario Bros. series. The various levels can be fun and have some good puzzles to them, though the game can be short you can get replay value from collecting items to attempting to unlock the different characters, players will find themselves playing for a while.

The gameplay can be very fun at times and is a nice change of pace compared to past Donkey Kong games, and really makes for an interesting experience. The bright graphics, now 2D instead of the standard 3D of the series, actually works for this game and looks nice on the GBA screen. The story is simplistic, but the fun factor of the game easily makes up for it. Overall this game has brought a different experience to Donkey Kong fans, and King of Swing delivers creating a fun and unique game that has become my number three GBA game of all time. Go out and find it if you haven't played it yet, Paon created a wonderful game for not only fans of Donkey Kong but fans of video games as well.

VidyaGlitches: Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth

I've yet to buy it on the Wii Shop yet, but Konami's Castlevania The Advenure Rebirth appears to have a rather annoying glitch. Sometimes when beating the boss of Stage 5, a crystal needed to complete the stage will not be dropped. This means you have to wait for the timer to run out and end up having to fight the boss all over again..

There's a video at the link below, I think I'll wait on downloading this from the Wii Shop until an update is released to fix the bug.

Source: GoNintendo and Castlemania Blog

Before and After : Perfect Dark

Remember how I mentioned Perfect Dark in my New Year's Resolutions? Well, I also remembered that it's coming out for Xbox Live Arcade... and the graphics really amazed me.

The before... (Nintendo 64)



...and the after... (XBOX 360)



...HOLY CRAP! That's actually really impressive, Rare seems to be just revamping the whole thing when it comes to models/textures. (Source: Rare Ltd's site)

Random Music: Something Missing (Bayonetta Theme)

With the looming release of Bayonetta by Sega, I've been looking into it in case of the event that I do get an Xbox 360. Found the theme song, by Japanese artist MiChi, which is called Missing Something. Check it out... also included the E3 2009 trailer for the game also, it looks really awesome. I'll definately have to get this for 360 when I get mine. This game looks like a lot of fun, with enough madness and style to really be eatertaining.

Bridge's 5 Favorite GBA Games of ALL Time: #4

I guess it's a slow day today in the video game world, with the New Year beginning I've been lazy even. Anyway, moving on with my Top 5 Countdown, here's my personal pick for my #4 favorite Game Boy Advance game.

Sonic Advance 2
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sega
Release Date: 03/09/03 (US), 03/28/03 (EU), 09/19/02 (JPN)
MetaCritic Score: 83

I remember the war between Sega and Nintendo like it was yesterday, in fact... but when Sega announced they were leaving the Console Wars to become a 3rd party developer I was just as shocked as the rest of the world. I was shocked even MORE when Sonic Adventure 2: Battle and Sonic Advance were revealed and released on both the Gamecube and GBA, respectively. Though I didn't truly play Sonic Advance til much later Sonic Advance 2 was very hyped for me. While looking at different screens on the internet, and even viewing a promo trailer included in Sonic Mega Collection(Gamecube), this game was awesome looking to my 12 year old self. Everything was new, the environments! The music! The speed! It all really impressed me, as this game was the first of the now standard speed set for 2D Sonic games.

The game takes place some time after Sonic Advance, finding his friends to have disappeared, Sonic starts looking for him. Eventually, he encounters old foe Dr. Eggman, who has kidnapped a rabbit girl with a red bow wearing Chao. After rescuing the two Sonic goes off to find his other friends, who were also kidnapped by Dr. Eggman. Sonic eventually finds Tails and Knuckles, and the four characters all chase Eggman into space to stop his evil plans. The plot is actually more developed than in Sonic Advance but still kept simple to focus on the gameplay.


The game is like any other Sonic game where you get to Point B from Point A as fast as you can. The speed is increased in this game and you can now do tricks also. Players start the game with Sonic playable, and can eventually unlock newcomer Cream the Rabbit, Tails, and Knuckles who can go through the game also. The speed is great in this game as you get a thrill zooming through levels, and the various characters play differently which gives each one a unique flavor.

Like any Sonic game you have to collect Chaos Emeralds by going to Special Stages, which you achieve by collecting SP Rings in the various levels. Collect all the SP rings and you are taken to a challenge to collect rings while avoiding Zero from Sonic Adventure. Collecting the Emeralds, unlike Sonic Advance is restricted as a per character basis. This means you cannot collect all the emeralds as just Sonic, but as all the other characters as well. Doing this unlocks various things, such as the Tiny Chao Garden, Sound Test, and even an ultra secret unlockable character!...(Hint: It's Amy Rose)

The music is pretty good for the game, and fits the mood of the areas very well. The boss music is also good. The tracks are catchy, and are all unique in their own way. The graphics are bright, colorful, and crisp like Sonic Advance's was. The presentation is also good for this game, and is easy to navigate the menus. The extra features (Tiny Chao Garden mainly) are a good distraction from the main game, and allow players to immerse themselves into raising their own little Chao creature.




This game for me was fun, addicting, and wonderful to play. I still remember hunting down the SP Rings as every character and collecting the 7 Chaos Emeralds five times over. Any Sonic fan would appreciate this game, as it took the basics of it's predecessor, and was able to make a new experience that is capable of holding it's own. The game can be found on eBay for a decent price, and I'm sure you can find it used at some video game retailers also. Sonic fans, please check this out if you haven't yet, you won't be disappointed.

VidyaBridge's Deals of the Day

Happy New Year everybody, to start off 2010 I thought I'd share a deal I just found while browsing the net. I'm very frugal when it comes to shopping, it's both a blessing and a curse. So whenever a good deal or sale is found, I'll be sure to share it with you guys.

I have to admit, while I'm still unsure on the future of digital distribution, Steam is certainly the king of PC Digital Distribution to me, mainly because it's widely used, very popular, and the best part: has very good sales.

So to kick off the New Year, there's lots of stuff on sale at Steam... here's some of the good deals I saw.


As seen in the screencap above, all Ubisoft titles are 50% off during this sale, including some very good titles such as Beyond Good and Evil and even the original Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell for just $4.99. Other popular Ubisoft games, such as Assassin's Creed are also on sale, in this case the original Assassin's Creed is only $9.99.

Also, there are a lot of good deals on Indie Games, most of them being below $5 a game. AudioSurf, a personal favorite of mine is only $2.50 today, which is a steal. Check out the Steam catalog for other Indie Games that are on sale.

There's more than just the above on sale also, other specials include 50% off THQ's entire catalog, 33% off 2K Games Catalog, and 66% off Atari's entire catalog. Remember though, this is all on Steam so the best part: no leaving your home.. happy shopping everyone!