Japan Gaming Guide

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is finally here. With stunning review scores across the board this looks like being the best Wii game in a long time. Tighter and tougher than it’s predecessor, gameplay has been made a little harder this time around. Don’t fret though, Yoshi will be along to help out, with extra abilities to complement Mario’s already impressive range of moves. Yoshi’s tongue will of course be aimed by the Wiimote. As well as eating fruits and power-ups you’ll be able to swing from the scenery like a hungry Tarzan to get over those tricky gaps.

The game is out this Thursday, May 27 and can be yours for 5800 yen.

Developer Dimps must have mislaid their speed boots. Sonic isn’t usually slow to arrive, but the forthcoming continuation of his 2D adventures has been pushed back to late 2010.

We can’t wait to get our hands on the new game, which will concentrate on Sonic alone and get back to the classic gameplay we know and love. The extra playable characters, that some regard as responsible for the decline of the series, have been dropped for this new episode.

Here’s the Japanese trailer for Winning Eleven 2010:

[Read, via GoNintendo]

He’s back. New Super Mario Bros Wii takes the updated 2D platforming formula that was such as success when it debuted on the DS and puts it back on the living room TV. There’s a new four player mode, with everyone playing on the one console. This is a riot and really feels like it belongs in the game rather than a tacked on gimmick – in fact Shigeru Miyamoto claimed he wanted to add the feature back in the sixteen-bit days but was held back by the limits of the technology.

By all accounts Mario has toughened up a little since his previous outings; The game is tougher than the DS version, something that will surely please Mario’s more dedicated fans. For the less committed gamer though Nintendo have included a new autoplay feature that allows the game to play itself after failing a level eight times. Though purists will balk at this, it is optional and means younger or occasional players can see the whole game without getting frustrated.

The Japanese are getting the game a couple of weeks late on December 3rd, Europeans get it on November 20th and the rest of you should have it already. If not, what are you waiting for?

No More Heroes 2 is sure to be one of next year’s hottest Wii games. Famitsu have posted an intriguing video which shows of some of the crazy characters and the balletic anime combat.

[Read]

Inside Games has published a few screenshots that it claims are from Tales of VS, the new PSP game, but one of the shots is clearly the logo from Tales of Graces, the forthcoming Wii game. Whatever their origin, they should be of interest to tales fans.

[Read]

A surprise from Nintendo today. Like a bolt from the blue, they’ve launched an official site for a game we’ve never heard of. Takt of Magic is coming out on May 21st for Y5,800. It looks like standard RPG fare, but for the cool looking magic system – spells are cast using Wiimote gestures. It reminds us ever so slightly of Black & White, but a bit more family friendly and, you know, Nintendo.

[Read]

Raucous game show Tokyo Friend Park 2 is coming to the Wii this month. The range of crazy events make it perfect mini-game fare and sure enough we’ll be able to enjoy such classics as Wall Crash and Hyper Hockey. Coins earned in the games can be traded for darts to throw at the grand finale prize board.

Like most Japanese game shows, Tokyo Friend Park 2 has celebrity contestants rather than ordinary people, so for fans of the show this is their only chance to hurl themselves onto Velcro walls and play hockey against comedians dressed as fish.

[Read]

Strong evidence has turned up that Netflix intend to launch their movie streaming service on the Wii. Nintendo Japan already has its own trailers streaming to the console, so launching this would seem like an obvious move. The US service will require a $10 disc to run. No news yet on a Japanese equivalent, but surely that’s only a matter of time?

[Read]

A great month for RPG fans, with several big titles and a couple of novelties. No question about game of the month: the intoxication Zelda:Majora’s Mask is an astonishing game, and worth checking out whether you’re a retro fan or not. If you’ve ever wondered why people are disappointed with games as good as Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, this is one of the reasons.

Elsewhere there’s an early version of Ninja Gaiden and a very overpriced looking Space Invaders.

Famicom (500 points)

Akumajou Densetsu/Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse

Super Famicom (800 points)

Der Langrisser
Hoshi no Kabi 3/Kirby’s Dream Land 3

Nintendo 64 (1200 points)

Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Master System (600 points)

Phantasy Star

PC Engine (600 points)

Ninja Ryukenden/Ninja Gaiden

Arcade

Genpei Toma Den/The Genji and the Heike Clans (800 points)
Space Invaders (500 points)