Review: New Super Mario Bros.

Mario is back once again. This time, he isn't a tool, but he has a full 2D game bringing back that fresh new NES feel with the Nintendo DS. I was so excited to get this game and I definitely wasn't let down with a game that was a little on the short side, but still lots and lots of fun to play.

Main game

A nice throwback to the original game 100%. Everything played just like before with some new features. Like Super Mario 3 and World, you can choose exactly which path you want to take and unlock things on the way. Also like Mario 3 and World, you can beat the game without playing several of the levels even. Also, in gameplay, you have to select 3 coins in each area. Some are well-hidden and require use of some of the new powerups to access. Some are wide out in the open, but require creative thinking to get. And these coins, you use them to unlock routes on the map or special mushroom houses where you can recieve powerups. And speaking of powerups, the one thing that saved my life aside from free-flowing 1UPs has been the ability to hold a powerup for desperate times or for moments when you need to have a certain powerup. As for the news powerups, they're highly useful... except for SUPER SIZE MARIO!!! While he's all big and gigantic and can run through all types of obstacles, he's still vulnerable to giant holes and lava pits so he's not really useful in many levels. Mini Mario is just like the normal mario including you're also dead meat after one hit. But, you can run across water and jump long and high. Koopa Shell Mario is very useful especially in areas where there's lots of projectiles. You can press down and become essentially a hard Koopa shell that can survive many attacks without harm done. Also, when you dash, you automatically go into your shell becoming trouble for anything you come across.

Like I said earlier, the game is short. I beat it within the first week of having the game... however, I took the short route a few times so there were still several areas I needed to experience. My biggest pet peeve with the game in general was my inability to save whenever I wanted to... until I beat the game that is. Having the ability to save whenever was motivation enough for me to finish the game quickly.

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Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 6:57 pm by NekoKoneko

Life has caught up with me

Wow, I went an entire week without blogging... Well, as the topic says, life has caught up with me

Well, in addition to not blogging about the stuff I normally do, I've been working things in the background. I see many of you are looking for lyrics for Ouran Host Club and Joshikousei (as well as NANA, but I won't have those lyrics until late June because I like to read the lyrics to get the correct words) and if you don't see them on the main page, be sure to check the Anime Lyrics page.

As for other stuff, last week's anime will be yet another last week in anime

I love blogging about anime, but I just don't seem to have as much time for the detailed summaries I love.

And other stuff... Oh yeah, I'm working on a search function since this site has gotten of a size where search could be useful. If you've found my special testing page, you've probably already come across it

And... That's about it!

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Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:41 pm by NekoKoneko

NANA 7

A continuation of last week's episode... For a summary, you can again read episode 1's summary for about the first half of the episode. The second half is Nana K. letting everyone know that she's gotten a place as well as her feelings for Shouji. She tries contacting him by cellphone, but there's no answer so she fears "Sachiko" has taken his time. However, when they meet up, he discovers that he accidentally sent mail to Jun explaining why Nana wouldn't be able to get in contact with them. They make up and Nana jokes about Sachiko.

The next day, Nana takes her friends to her new pad to meet the other Nana. They're surprised to see Yasu there, but Nana O. quickly comes out to assure them that they're in the right place. Both Yasu and Jun are hesitant about letting their precious Nana's be cooped up with strangers but after careful drilling, they bless their living together. Everyone else disappears and both Nana's are left in a cold empty apartment and they quickly begin to make it feel like home.

AND FINALLY the story of NANA can begin.

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Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 12:30 am by NekoKoneko

Joshikousei - GIRLS HIGH 7

The girls head to the pool for fun in their 2-piece bathing suits. Well, except for Ayano who insists on a one-piece school bathing suit. They're enjoying a nice day with nanpa (flirting and hooking up) when two guys hit on Eriko and Yuma. They turn around to see that they're actually idol teacher Odagiri and the coach. They blackmail them into paying for just about everything. Later on, the entire group heads over to the amusement park for a couple's activity and Eriko and Odagiri almost share a lover's kiss... Almost, they're spared by Kouda's flashy outfit at a nearby talent audition.

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Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 12:21 am by NekoKoneko

Preliminary Review: New Super Mario Bros.

There's a man out there who to win back gamers, wants to use some nostalgia. An example of that has to be the release of New Super Mario Bros. for the DS.

The moment I began playing this game, I felt like a kid again and it was my first time ever playing Super Mario Bros. for the NES, except, it was much prettier than the NES. My Mario is a lot bigger, he does more, he even gets even bigger and smaller than ever!!! This game really is the ultimate image of nostalgia down to the little secret at the end of 1-2 (I'll let you see for yourselves!).

I got so tied up into playing that I forgot about the minigames. You know what they say when there's minigames added to a game: they're making up for something lacking. I really don't think this is the case for these minigames. However, they're made like they are. They're some really cheap minigames, some you could probably find in some of those annoying flash ads plastered all over the internet. However, they provide a little stylus-only distraction.

Will the game itself be enough? Or, will the minigames bring on the suck? Full review in 2 weeks!

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Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 10:15 am by NekoKoneko

Last week in anime

Because of E3 last week, yeah... I got behind on anime stuff. While I did watch all my shows last week, I just didn't get time to write up about them. So once again is last week in anime: extra short edition.

Joshikousei - GIRL'S HIGH 6

The drama continues from last episode with Yuma and Ayano no longer on speaking terms because of what Yuma's sister did (but in the beginning, Ayano didn't know it was her little sister's doing). Apparently, Yuma's sister Momo is cute and all, but she decieves both boys and girls and now, she's on the warpath trying to ruin her sister's life. It all started back when they were younger and Yuma used to always defend her and she got tired of that. But even now, she's being bullied as her ways are catching up to her. She reflects back on the past how Yuma always stood up for her, but she's still unable to stand up for herself and Yuma once again comes to her rescue when one of the girls cuts her hair. Although it's in the form of a slap, they return to speaking terms again.

Ouran High School Host Club 6

An elementary school boy comes in to the host club and requests to be Tamaki's apprentice so he can learn how to please girls. However, there's only one girl he wants to please and she's about to leave for Germany. Tamaki gets wind of this and scolds the boy for wanting to please so many girls when his desire is to please one and he suggests charming her using something she likes which happens to be piano (which Tamaki is of course good at). Then, Tamaki begins a grueling piano course which ends in the boy and the girl he's trying to woo performing a piano duet. She leaves for Germany and the boy becomes a part of the host club catering to girls who enjoy a little rascal even taking away Tamaki's clients.

(Side note: Tamaki is very very very annoying, but when he's not wooing girls or teasing Haruhi, he's such a genuinely kind person... I wish they'd show more of that layer...)

NANA 6

(See summary for episode 1... No really... I'm serious, it's episode one with a few added scenes)

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Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 10:01 am by NekoKoneko

E3: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

My E3 ennui ended when I saw the trailer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Super Smash Bros. X in Japan) for the Wii. Not only does it feature improved graphics and many of your favourite Nintendo characters from the past, it features a fully orchestrated soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu (yeah, he's that guy who did the Final Fantasy music). That's not it. One last surprise is an appearance from Snake from Metal Gear Solid, back when he wasn't all wrinkly. I'll be looking forward!

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Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:05 pm by NekoKoneko

Pre-E3: Nintendo

Compared to Sony's press conference, all I can say is wow. On it's own, same deal

The opening was really whimsical with Miyamoto getting the crowd going demonstrating the Wiimote and some type of music conducting game in which he "conducted" the theme from Zelda
. He showed off how with this software, the tempo was totally in his control. Then others playing other Wii games were shown off behind him and the show began.

After that, they didn't wait to get into what people were waiting for: Wii. They showcased videos of people using a newly redesign Wiimote and clips from various games. The one that made me most excited was Super Mario Galaxy. That was just the ultimate moment of beauty. Also, there was Wario Ware which looks like a winner in my book.

Then they did some talking about the various new features of Wii including WiiConnect24 (meaing that Wii never shuts off and is always connected to the internet to allow downloads while you're not playing) and a speaker in the Wiimote to allow for minor sound effect such as the boing from a bow, coins, or the sound of a clanging sword. However, Nintendo decided to be coy and not tie themselves to a definite date (they say Fourth quarter of this year) or a price (which is rumored to be ~$249). Now, I'm expecting a special Nintendo press event to talk about the Wii and give full details in the coming months.

Then, there was a bit of talk about the DS including a video showing off the new DS lite. Then they moved on the The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The revealed that it will be a Wii launch title, but it will still be a GameCube game. How? There'll be two versions. The GCN version will be your basic game, while the Wii version features full Wiimote controls and widescreen. They will both be released on the same date that the Wii launches.

I wasn't too much disappointed. Nintendo finally showed something and gave a few idea of how the Wiimote will worth rather than just leaving it to our imaginations. However, there's still soooo much left to the imagination and lots of speculation... I want to know more, but I'm just gonna have to wait.

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Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:49 am by NekoKoneko

Review - Brain Age

This is the DS non-game that took Japan by storm and is still doing the same today. I've had the game for two weeks and I've played with it to some capacity every day. Overall, it's a very good game, and at $20, it belongs in the library of anyone who owns a DS and needs a good game that only needs to be played for a few minutes a day!

Brain Training

This is the meat of the game. Several different word and number activities designed to activate your pre-frontal cortext which is supposed to improve your memory and stuff like that. While its effects are not proven to really help, I haven't seen much improvement over the past two weeks other than being able to do math a little better. But wow, it's really fun. Playing it everyday, you see your progress and it's kinda rewarding to see it climb to the top.