Nintendo has really impressed me with the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii. I've always been a Nintendo fan, but, during the GameCube era, I actually didn't buy many games. Games that I was excited about, such as Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash, failed to live up to my expectations, and I didn't buy them (only rented them). However, with Wii, I've actually bought more games than I did on the GameCube. On top of that, for me, they are MUCH better with the Wii controls, and offer much greater replay value. Mario Kart Wii has me so wrapped up, right now, that I spend a great deal of time playing that. I have found it to be my favorite of the series, so far! The Nintendo DS has also kept me coming back for more. I'm in Nintendo heaven, so to speak. I know so many people who have, or are in search of a Wii, and they just can't stop talking about how much fun they have with it. I've seen people who have never played video games before, picking up a Wii remote, and having a go at Wii Sports, and having a great time. Nintendo has really switched things up, and I'm so glad they did. I haven't had so much fun with Nintendo systems/games since the Super NES days. Now, if Nintendo would get on the ball, and release some of those titles that we haven't seen in a while. I would LOVE to see a Star Fox Wii, Pilot Wings Wii, F-Zero Wii, and Wave Wace Wii, for example. On the DS, I would love to see Nintendo put out a Super Smash Bros. title, as well as releasing a New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Mario Kart DS 2.

I felt that way about 90% of their franchises on the Gamecube. Mario Golf, Tennis, Sunshine, Wind Waker, Wave Race, Double Dash... all were inferior to their N64 counterparts. The only sequel that was far superior was F-Zero... but the GCN did give us Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion. Two originals that I can't wait to see on the Wii. Then of course Metroid Prime which was phenominal, but they negated that brilliance with a dirty sequel.

The problem is that the N64 titles were so great, that topping them would be impossible anyway. Ocarina, Mario 64, Mario Kart 64 and F-Zero X were all brilliant games. Golf, Tennis & WaveRace were all great, but it's hard to improve on those simple games.

It's funny. I never really played N64 or Gamecube games until I owned a Wii. I'd have to say that coming at the games today instead of back then, I totally diagree with Mario 64 and Ocarina. I don't think either have aged well. I'd much rather play Wind Waker and though I haven't played Sunshine, I'm sure I'd prefer that as well... While I like Mario 64, I actually find it quite frustrating.

Forward-Thinking Nintendo Channel Launches On Wii — Examines Your TV And Sticks It To GameStop At The Same Time

Long promised and finally delivered, the Nintendo Channel was made available for North American Wii owners some time after I went to bed last night.

I downloaded it this morning and tried it out.

As expected, the channel features promotional videos and a deep index of Wii and DS games to better inform purchasing decisions. It can also zap demos of DS games to my handheld.

But it can do other stuff I did not expect, and it shows that Nintendo may be craftier about online networking than many people gave them credit for:

The channel lets you buy games and anger GameStop at the same time: You’d think some other company than Nintendo would be the first to let consumers buy a new disc-based game via their console without taking their hands off a controller. Nope. It’s Nintendo.

I loaded a promotional video for “Wii Fit and clicked an option to buy the game. The Wii Internet Channel loaded and offered me a selection of stores to choose from: Sears, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Toys R Us, Target, Amazon, Best Buy and K-Mart.

Who wants to be the person to tell GameStop that they didn’t make the list?

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/...the-same-time/

It really depends on your preferences; Sunshine and Wind Waker felt really different from previous games in the installment. I'd also like to say that F-Zero 64 was much better than F Zero X. FZX was impossibly hard.

Regardless, I'd like to say that i'm sick and tired of hearing bad press about Nintendo. It goes something like this:

"This system/game is a horrible idea! no one is going to buy this"

"People bought the system out of sheer curiosity. No one's going to buy the games"

"People bought the games but no one cares about them long enough to play them more than a few days. It's just a passing interest."

"More and more people are buying Wii games instead of games for other systems. It's only because of the drought of exciting releases for other systems. Give it a few years"

"What really annoys me about the Wii is the dearth of good software. Most good releases are months if not years away. Nintendo needs to release more good games right now."

"Wiis are selling out in record numbers all over the country, and people still need to line-up and take rainchecks for them. It's only because Nintendo is manipulating the market so that there's a shortage. Despite selling over twice as many Wiis as PS3s and Xbox 360s."

"Nintendo's stock and profits have soared. It's only speculation."

I'm probably one of the rare people that loved the GameCube. The Wii has had its moments, but overall it is a console I play only on occasion. I will give full love to the DS though. It has surpassed the SNES and GBA for my favorite gaming platform ever. I just love the variety. I don't think I've ever had anything outside of the PC that has had this many solid games in so many genres from the hardcore to the ultra casual.

What time does Wii Ware come out?

I don't know, but, I hope to see that flashing blue light before I go to sleep. If only to find out if the two games I REALLY want will be available, or not. If not, I'll just have to hold off on my purchases until Dr. Mario RX and Gyrostarr are available.

I loved my gamecube as well. There were just too many quality games for that system to count. I thought it was the best console of the previous generation, and I had all three.

Nothing compares to the DS though. It's the best system ever.

WiiWare is up and running now guys, and it's looking good. I can't download anything until after work tonight, so I'm leaving it up to all of you to download, try it out, and post your results here in order to give me something interesting to read while at work.

Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion were by far my favs on the GC. And I completely agree with you about Wave Race (N64), which I think was near perfection in the gameplay department.

I didn't get a chance to play Pikmin 2, but I also agree that new editions of Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion would have a lot of potential on the Wii.

Pikmin 2 was a huge improvement over the original.

And I agree about Waverace 64 being a better game than Waverace: BS

I don't know. I certainly had more fun with 64, but that might've been because I was younger. I appreciate a lot of what they did in BS. It was a great sequel either way. I really want a sequel.

There's a rumour Pikmin 3 is atleast in the planning stage. Which makes me very happy. I love the series.

I don't know. I felt the stuff underground ruined the game and I ended up never finishing the second one. The time limit in the first one was a hassle, but was nothing compared to the frustration of the underground levels.

Pretty impressed by what I have seen of Lost Winds. The TV Trivia looks interesting, but I already have Buzz on PS2 and Smarty Pants so I don't see getting that one.

Lost Wind is getting a lot of props over at CAG.

It was very serviceable for a sequel. It was the same exact courses, just prettier. Felt kinda burned on that $50 purchase.

I feel the same way. I finished the first game a couple of times but don't recall ever finishing the second. The timer in the first was take it or leave it for me. Just kind of there.

Yeah, I was never drawn to the sequel because I just didn't get the appeal of the underground levels. As for the timer, I actually kind of liked the extra challenge it presented; I'm not one who feels obligated to explore every nook and cranny of levels. The timer made for some exciting gameplay.

I liked BS enough, too. It just didn't feel as right as the original.

Unlike Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion, a WaveRace sequel for the Wii doesn't really interest me at this point. That can always change upon getting some real info. I really like ExciteTruck (and haven't played Mario Kart Wii), but racing games on the Wii remain a "wait and see" for me.

I want to see more games compatible with the Nyko Perfect Shot

I love it !

I am hoping Facebreaker or Don King's Prizefighter ends up being a really good boxing game

Finally decided to give the DS demo on the Nintendo Channel a go last night. The channel hasn't even been up a week and the Ninja Gaiden demo has already been pulled. I would assume the traffic on that one was huge compared to the others.

That's ridiculous. NG was the best demo on there.

I can't agree that it was just serviceable. It had a much steeper learning curve, but the waverunners ultimately were much better at controlling once you mastered it. Plus the courses were longer as you went up in difficulty. I just felt that it improved on the original in many ways. The water physics and weather effects really amped it up to the next level. Even though 64 still has great water physics. It did have a bit of been there done that, but I can't imagine if I played BS first I would prefer the original, because it would feel like a downgrade.

Pikmin 2 was about on par with the first. I found most of the underground levels quite easy really, they were just long and therefore intimidating. Plus you couldn't get new pikmin down there, which always made me sad because I hated when the little guys died. The more I think about the series the more I like it. I really liked the addition of Louie and the new pikmin. It added just enough to make the gameplay a little more deep. I love the level design in both games, and even the random dungeons felt in 2 felt natural.

WR64 still plays better for me than BS (not considering graphical downgrade, which isn't a real biggie personally) but you're right, the weather effects and some of the other new features in BS were neat. (I kind of liked the team leader voiceover).

This thread is making me appreciate my love of Pikmin, too. I only played the first game, but it was a very memorable experience.

Did anyone play the GC version of 1080; and how did it compete with the N64 version?

I reckon with the Wii Board, both WaveRace and 1080 will be real no-brainers for Nintendo to revisit.