Thunder Force AC Released on Switch

My first experience at the arcade was when I was 6 and it was at my local video store, there was Pacman and Space Invaders. I suppose that was my first intro to shoot 'em up games, that little sit down cocktail cabinet.

They've always held a special place in my heart as once the enemy patterns are learnt and memorised you can look like a boss completing a game. I have a vivid memory of playing R-Type at Heathrow airport and getting to level 3, that huge base ship. Over the years I bought R-Type again on the Master System and then progressed to the Megadrive where I continued my love of shoot 'em ups. This system was excellent at shoot ‘em ups but there were a couple that stood out and those were the Thunder Force series.

I am pleased that Sega Ages released Thunder Force IV a while back for the Switch but I have more fondness for its predecessor, Thunder Force III. Now Sega Ages have released Thunder Force AC, a made for arcade version of Thunder Force III. Whilst not exactly the same, as it more a slightly remixed version, the game is still gorgeous to look at and still slick as heck. The shooting mechanics are meaty and the enemy waves and designs are interesting. Look out for a ‘Video Games As Art’ portfolio on the game soon.

No More Heroes III Coming 2020 on Switch.

I love No More Heroes, Suda 51’s gonzo hack and slash adventure game in which you play Travis Touchdown, a wrestling and otaku super-fan obsessed with becoming the world’s best assassin. In this trailer Touchdown’s quest goes galactic. I can’t wait for next year, even though Britain may be messed up with the landslide Tory victory and the country is doomed, this trailer cheered me right up. Check it out!

Mario Kart in Google Maps

Google and Nintendo have come together to celebrate March 10, Mar 10, as it spells out the name of video game legend, Mario. The simple collaborated brings Mario in his kart to Google Maps.

The fun navigation arrow enables users to see the Mario Kart icon as they drive to their destination.

Getting Mario is easy in Google Maps if you follow the simple step-by-step guide below.

DIY Nintendo Labo for Switch Revealed

Nintendo has been on a bit of a roll of it lately with the Switch selling record numbers and many of its games sweeping the various Video Games Awards at the end of last year. This year it seems to be targeting the customisable creative kit market with the reveal of Nintendo Labo. The Labo involves DIY cardboard accessories that transform the Switch's Joy-Con controllers and screen into everything from a piano to a motorbike to a fishing rod. Alongside the games cartridge it offers a new way for players to interact with their games.

The kits shown so far vary in size and complexity, similar to how there are different scales of Lego sets available, but offer enough customisable options for creative types to alter, improve and even make their own designs. In the same way that many experienced VR first through Google Cardboard this could be the first full VR experience with arm and leg movement for many and all at a relatively low cost of $80! It isn't intended to be a high power solution to full body immersive VR gaming but could offer people interested in that area a taste of the possibilities at a good entry price point.

As a teacher this is really exciting as there are so many possibilities available, whether its creating new toys, robot or forming a new way to interact with games. Even more exciting is the possibility that there could be a game making tool, similar to maybe Wario Ware, to teach children to code and create interactive designs. The idea that you could create anything for the price of cardboard is exciting. With the right execution and engagement of the Etsy et al. community Labo could be something with a long term future.

Nintendo Labo is slated to be released for the Switch on April 20th and will retail for around $70. I for one am excited to see what it will do for the video game industry.

SNES/ Super Famicom: A Visual Compendium Kickstarter is Live!

Those guys at Bitmap Books are at it again with the fifth book in the series proposed; a visual compendium for arguably the greatest console of all time, the Super Nintendo. I love the Bitmap Book series and wrote a glowing review for the NES/Famicom Visual Compendium and if this is anywhere as good as that then expect it to be stunning.

Check the link for the Kickstarter below and pledge if you can. It's already made 4 times the required amount but the more money pledged the better the quality and quantity of the book.

The Unofficial SNES/ Super Famicom Visual Compendium

How the Inventor of Mario Designs a Game

Vox has created an interesting video interviewing Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Zelda, Mario and Donkey Kong, about his design philosophy. It's a short video at just under 6 minutes and gives you real insight into this video game designing genius.

NES 3D Emulator

There are loads of great emulators out there but there is a new emulator that allowed people to play NES games in a 3D perspective. The games themselves haven't been re-coded or altered but rather the backgrounds altered on the z-axis to give it a diorama look. The results are so-so but on some games they really pop, check out the video below of Mega Man and be prepared to be impressed!

Super Mario Coming to iOS

Nintendo are the masters of video games and some of their characters are the most iconic in the industry. However over the last few years they have been struggling due to many reasons but most prominently the rise in mobile gaming on mobile devices. The company dipped its toes into the app world with Miitomo but Pokemon Go showed the true potential of Nintendo on mobile phones and tablets. Now at the iPhone 7 event today Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong, surprised the world by unveiling Mario's first iOS Mario game, Super Mario Run. It is a runner game but it does look great. With the NX coming soon it seems like Nintendo's fortunes are changing.

NES Classic Mini

Nintendo just dropped a bombshell and have announced that on 11th November, the NES Classic Mini Edition ill be released for $59.99. The NES in a mini version of the classic system we all grew up with and loved but smaller, thus the mini. The system comes with a NES controller which can be used on the Wii and WiiU. It will also come pre-installed with 30 of the 'best' NES games (or so they say, I'm not the biggest fan of Tecmo Bowl but the list is very impressive indeed) and will be able to be plugged into your current fancy TV set by using the HDMI cord. The machine will not be able to play original NES cartridges and there will not be an ability to download additional games after release but still, 30 NES games for about $2 a-piece is not bad at all. The full list of games included are :

Balloon Fight, Bubble Bobble, Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Double Dragon II: The Revenge, Dr. Mario, Excitebike, Final Fantasy, Galaga, Ghosts ‘N Goblins, Gradius, Ice Climber, Kid Icarus, Kirby’s Adventure, Mario Bros., Mega Man 2, Metroid, Ninja Gaiden, Pac-Man, Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream, StarTropics, Super C, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Tecmo Bowl, The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

Metroid Short Animation

I'm a massive Metroid fan (except for Metroid: Other M, no-one needs that in their life) and have seen many great fan-made films and animations but this one by Rabbit Machine may be one of the finest. Although very short at just under one minute the animation catches the excitement and kinetic fury of the video game series.

Starfox Animation Leaves You Wanting More

To promote their new game Star Fox Zero Nintendo have released a 15 minute animation. I never realised how much I wanted an animation based on this property but thinking about other anime series like Gundam and Macross it does seem like a no-brainer. In Nintendo's own words:

Fox, Falco, Peppy and Slippy are back to save the universe in the Star Fox Zero for Wii U, available 4/22!
Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins was produced in collaboration with Shigeru Miyamoto, and Production IG and WIT Studios.

Check out the video below and see if you'd like to see a whole series commissioned, I would!

Metroid: The Sky Calls

I am a huge Metroid fan, falling in love with the series on the Gameboy with Metroid 2 (I never playedthe original Metroid on the NES until years later) and playing every iteration since. Well, director Sam Balcomb and Rainfall Films have teamed up to present a live action short film set in the Metroid universe with Jessica Chobot (of Nerdist fame).

In their own words:


The classic Nintendo franchise, Metroid, envisioned through the lens of 60s-70s science fiction cinema such as 2001, Alien, and Solaris: this was the concept for Rainfall’s most recent production. Instead of using a modern approach, a style was developed more in tune with the themes that inspired the first Metroid game in 1986: isolation, exploration, and the wonders of deep space.

I watched the short film and loved it, the mood and the music were spot on. There were a couple of elements of Other M in there but not too much, thank god. For any fans of the classic Nintendo series check out the awesome video below!

The Uncle Who Works For Nintendo

The Uncle Who Works For Nintendo is a text-based horror game by programmer Michael Lutz and illustrator Kimberly Parker. It is a surreal trip back to middle school which explores the nostalgia tinged memories of a friend with connections, yup, connections with Nintendo and all that it entails. The game is free to play in-browser and through the use of sound and imagery will haunt you for some time after you have seen the various game endings.

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In Awe Of Amiibos

Zelda Windwaker was unloved at the time but over the years has been reevaluated as a stone cold classic. I loved the game at the time, especially the expressive look in Toon Links eye.

Whilst I was working in Cambodia I got a t-shirt screen printed with a Toon Link design. So with the Amiibo craze it seemed like a no-brainer that I'd get the Toon Link Amiibo as my first Amiibo. I'll get some more Amiibo's but the one I'd love to see would be Tingle... now he'd be a great character to have!

Top 125 Nintendo Games for 125th Anniversary

Nintendo is 125 years old this year, it started off as a playing card manufacturer and branched off into toys (check out Before Mario for extensive details) before finding international success with the games consoles. IGN is celebrating this momentous occasion by playing through the top 125 Nintendo games on it's website, I'm loving watching the games come up and reflecting on my journey with Nintendo. Have a look yourself and see which games you have fond memories of.

Before Mario

Nintendo was established in 1889 as a toy and playing cards company. For the majority of its existence Nintendo was producing Japanese-style hanafuda cards and Western-style playing cards as well as toys and games. However Nintendo's former history is often forgotten due to the success it achieved afterwards with the Game and Watch and various game consoles that followed. 

The Before Mario blog showcases the toys and games Nintendo created in the period from the mid 60's to the early 80's. Starting with the first board games up to the launch of the Family Computer in 1983. 

It really is an amazing website as it taught me so much more about Nintendo than I ever thought I knew. Take a look and educate yourself, I did!

The Ultra Hand, created by Gameboy creator Gunpei Yokoi.

The Ultra Hand, created by Gameboy creator Gunpei Yokoi.