Mini November Update 24 March 2008
Quick updates if you haven't subscribed to the RSS feed:
- A review of Radiohead's seventh studio album, In Rainbows
- Sega Classics Collection has been covered in the Retro Special
There's also some little updates to the Portfolio and Downloads sections, so feel free to Snoop Dogg around.
Posted in: General | Comments
Wiiloader 24 March 2008
Datel have released a Freeloader disc for Wii. There are actually 3 different versions of the disc, one for each region which in itself might seem a little overly-fiddly. But the main problem is that the disc is obviously liable Nintendo's firmware updates, which in theory could render the software completely obsolete. As such, but many importers are holding back.
Early impressions are positive though, and if all goes well on the firmware issue (or if someone comes up with an alternative method to prevent it) it may yet become as indispensable to Wii as it was to the GameCube.
Posted in: Videogames | Comments
Star Soldier R 24 March 2008
Hudsun have announced another chapter in the Star Soldier series, to be released on Nintendo's new Virtual Console channel "WiiWare". Star Soldier R will contain revamped graphics but retain the vertical shooter's traditions, including the 2- and 5-minute "Caravan" modes.
Screenshots from Famitsu look superb, and they hint at some sort of new combo system too (see the top-right corner of this screeny). Due to arrive around May in Japan.
In other Wii news, Sega has revealed they plan to begin releasing Master System games for the Virtual Console, with the first (Sega's Fist of The North Star, otherwise known as Black Belt in the UK - a game I used to whittle away hours playing as a nipper), arrived on 26th February in Japan.
Posted in: General | Comments
Motorcross Challenge [GBA] + GameWave DVD videos 28 July 2007
Motocross Challenge is a homebrew GBA game that's had it's share of ups and downs. Developed by the team at DHG games, the game found a publisher, only to then have them drop the game at the last moment. Thankfully, the team has decided to put the game out on the internet, and the ROM can be downloaded for absolutely free. It's a charming mix between Excitebike and cult favourite Motorcross Maniacs-style gameplay - worth checking out.
Elesewhere this issue: YouTube videos! Fointy Pinger points you in the direction of superplay videos with a difference - all from the now-defunct Japanese mag, GameWave DVD. Hover your mouse over each link to see the descriptions:
Mario Kart 64 / Metal Gear Solid / Pikmin / Puyo Puyo Sun / Super Mario 64 / Super Mario Bros 2 / Tetris The Absolute The Grand Master 2 Plus / Winning Eleven 3
Posted in: Retro | Comments
Fighting Stick Wii 05 June 2007
Purveyors of fine console arcade sticks and controllers over the years, Japanese manufacturer HORI have been busy working on a lovely looking arcade-style stick for Wii. Although the Nintendo's own Classic Contoller has a very nice D-pad, this stick will be an essential purchase for those looking to get the best out of their Virtual Console games, especially for shooters and the current crop of Street Fighter II games. It's due to arrive in Japanese stores in late August, but there's no news of this appearing in the UK anytime soon.
Posted in: Retro | Comments
"All your seven dreams..." 05 May 2007
Smashing Pumpkins, (the most wonderful and glorious alternative band of the 90's, ever) have announced the release date of their long-awaited reunion album, to be titled "Zeitgeist". Initially (for the moment anyway) set to headline the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, some other tour dates have been pencilled in and around Europe in the summer (no US dates right now), but I'm also told they may play in the UK this year too.
After a 7 year absence, their 7th album will be released on the 7th day of the 7th month of 2007: 07/07/07. In't that clever? It's almost like an event, something to anticipate, something to feel happy and excited about :). Whatever sound the new (old?) Pumpkins return with, (even without Iha and D'arcy), it's going to be interesting to hear what Billy has come up with.
Visit their horrible MySpace page for further details.
Posted in: Music | Comments
Wii Virtual Console gets Ne(o)w games 05 April 2007
Nintendo have confirmed its intentions to expand its Virtual Console catalogue this summer with MSX games - first mentioned a year ago - with Aleste being one of the first games to arrive. Most interestingly though, is the confirmation of Neo Geo conversions. Quite how these will translate well to the Wii's classic-style controller is still up for debate, but it's an exciting prospect, nonetheless.
The catch (what, you thought there wouldn't be one?): these games have only been announced for Japan, and it would be a surprise (particularly in the case of the UK) if any of them become available for download elsewhere. The advantages of importing a Japanese Wii are becoming more and more obvious by the day...(still haven't got one though).
For the latest news on UK Wii Virtual Console downloads, check out the excellent Virtual Console Archive.
Posted in: Retro | Comments
Konami and Capcom Goodness 05 March 2007
After the success of Gradius Portable on PSP, Konami have announced a further 3 retro-collections, again for Sony's handheld system. Parodius, Salamander and TwinBee will all get their own "Collections", each containing 5 titles. The Parodius one in particular stands out (I've always enjoyed Parodius more than Gradius, anyway) and the TwinBee compilation will be worth snapping up too - another great series. Either would be perfectly suited titles for handheld fun, and should take pride in any PSP collection, methinks.
Capcom also have another retro collection coming up, this time with a sequel to Capcom Classics Collection. Essentially the PSP's Capcom Classics Remixed but with one or two extra games, Capcom Classics Collection 2 will ship for PS2 in February here in the UK, but although the Konami games will also arrive sometime early in 2007, it's possible they will stay Japan-exclusive - at least for the time being anyway.
Posted in: Retro | Comments
Bullet Hell GBA 05 February 2007
Takayama Fumihiko's BulletGBA dójin game has been updated recently from the previous version(s), and now contains proper levels, a high score mode and a really smart replay feature. You'd do worse than to download both versions: BulletGBA is a neat little practice game for bullet patterns from a host of popular shoot-em-ups (you play it vertical style, obviously), whereas Vulkanon is a proper 'ardcore bullet-death shmup. Lovely stuff.
Or, if you're after something different, why not download the new demo for Qwak GBA, a cute platform collect-em-up.
Elsewhere in this shmup super-special edition of Fointy Pinger you'll find:
- A review of Japanese shooter Radirgy GeneriC for the GameCube!
- An RSS feed so you can keep up-to-date with erm... updates (I think it works anyway)!
- A nerd-countdown to the UK launch of Wii at the bottom of every page!
Posted in: Videogames | Comments
10 reasons why Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting on Xbox360 is shit 05 January 2007
If you're going to re-release the greatest 2D beat-'em-up of all time and finally allow gamers the world over to play each other, why not "do a Capcom" and completely mess it up, just for laughs like?
Rife with technical inaccuracies and limitations (the Super "not-even-a-coin-op-port" Nintendo version outperforms it tenfold), Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting (available on Live Arcade now) also requires you to wrestle with one of the most unsuitable control pads ever made for 2D gaming. This could have been one of the best things ever, but it's just...wrong.
1) The fucking horrible Xbox360 D-pad
2) The horrible Xbox360 buttons/triggers
3) Pervasive lag and infrequent connection errors
4) Incorrect/distorted SFX
5) Slow game speed (it's not really Hyper Fighting at all)
6) Having to listen to Live users say they "wish they'd done Alpha 3 instead"
7) Ryu's Cyclone Kick is wrong
8) Weird space at the top of the screen where the high-score and running scores should be
9) Ugly graphic-bleeding on HDTV's (if you're one of the 1% or whatever it is who have one)
10) Western boss names (OK, nitpicking slightly)
...Ah, I'm just being a miserable, whiney twat, aren't I?
Posted in: Retro | Comments