Nintendo Power

Note: This month was suppose to have a cover story about No More Heroes 2 but that fell through for some reason. So instead we get a movie tie-in from Ubisoft!.....

News
-- Rabbids Go Home (DS) is a puzzle platformer with 150 puzzles over 15 levels.
-- THQ plans on making UFC games for the Wii and handhelds according to CEO Brian Farrell
-- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized (DS), developed by n-space, will have building to building tactical combat, vehicular hijinx and six player online.

Previews:

James Cameron’s Avatar
-developed by Ubisoft Montreal
-lots of talk about how this will be the movie game that won’t suck… yeah
-each version is crafted specifically for its platform
-each version tells a different story
-the Wii version is set a few years before the movie
-there will be exclusive features both for Wiimotion plus owners and DSi owners
-the Wii version uses the Jade Engine

Tower of Shadow
-developed by the same guys behind Kororinpa
-3-D objects create 2-D shadows that the controlled shadow guy runs on.
-a fairy shadow that accompies the main character can sometimes change the 3-D environment which will alter how the 2-D shadow plane resembles.
-the art style is inspired by the Miyazaki film, Future Boy Conan
-the player can alter the light source to drastically change the gameplay field
-developers plans on incorporating stage structures, hard modes, various enemies and enhanced abilities to keep the game fresh.
-aiming for a 12 hour playtime but they won’t artificially lengthen the game to reach that

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
-the largest localization job in NIS America’s history
-Idea Factory is handling the Wii port
-ever spoken line has been recorded with English voices
-the game shares some English casting with Disgaea
-NIS American will be releasing a premium-box version that will come with two disks – one with English voices and the other with Japanese voices.

Dementium II
-improving combat is a big focus
-you can now carry a flashlight and a weapon at the same time
-there are now carryable items like health kits and adrenaline shots
-there is now a Castlevania-like map on the touch screen
-enemies no longer respawn
-another Metroidvania feature is that there are some areas that you can backtrack to when you get new weapons
-the main character’s past self left his future self such helpful notes as “FOR GOD’S SAKE, GET OUT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE”
-variety is a big theme with the sequel
-new setting such as a harsh winter’s day
-a new simple save system

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010
-motion controls from the last two games have been replaced with more traditional controls
-contains features such as create-a-finishing move, stamina system, individual superstar abilities, and more in-ring actions
-more than 60 characters
-79 match types
-a new feature, the WWE Story Designer, allows the player to create their own wrestling storylines, write the dialogue, cut promos, hold interviews, engage in backstage theatrics, etc.
-like the Wii version, the DS version will ditch touch-screen controls for traditional buttons
-the DS version is being done by TOSE, Wii by Yukes

Interview: Toshihiro Nagoshi

Reviews
-Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story – 9.5
-NHL 2K10 (Wii) – 8.0
-Cursed Mountain – 7.0
-Muramasa: The Demon Blade – 8.0
-Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga – 4.0
-Fossil Fighters – 8.0
-Bleach: The 3rd Phantom – 4.0
-Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box – 8.0
-The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road – 6.5
-G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Wii) – 5.0
-Spectrobes: Origins – 5.5
-IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey – 4.0













Next Month
-Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
-“a major DSiWare title that should make many of you very, very happy”