YouTube Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games review

Mario and Sonic’s Olympic Games game if you know what I mean sold like the proverbial hot cakes. Not only did it tap into the spirit of the Olympics but it also brought together two gaming greats as they competed along with their friends and enemies over track and field events – see what we thought of that back in our Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games review. Now they’re back competing over snow and ice but does the game get a chilly reception?

Well, the good news is that this game improves on the last one. You’ll notice straight away that all the events are unlocked from the start which is great news in terms of accessibility. The controls are also tighter and seem less random but this does mean that sometimes gameplay can be a bit too simplistic.

Events vary from figure skating and speed skating to ice hockey, curling and of course racing events as you hurtle down slopes and tunnels on skis, snowboards or even in bobsleighs. Of course, this one’s aimed very much at party play for the casual gamer so expect this to appeal more to non-gamers than the hardcore.

Once again, Sega have tried to implement gestures that fit as closely to the real thing. When curling you ‘brush’ the stone towards the target just like in the real game and when speed skating you thrust your arms to-and-fro to get your speed up. You can even use the Wii balance Board if you have one to distribute your weight left and right in the slalom or lie face down on the floor when doing the skeleton. You’ll need some space in your lounge to do this and it may prove just a little bit too much effort for your Nan, best she just uses the remote then.

On a negative note, it’s a shame there isn’t any Wii Motion plus support. Sega say it’s because they want the game to appeal to as many Wii owners as possible and that’s fair enough, but it would be nice to also support the thousands of gamers who’ve got the peripheral and can only currently use it on a couple of titles.

This game isn’t aimed at the likes of me but I know that families who own a Wii just for party games and the like will enjoy this one. It’s not my cup of tea but if you’re in the casual games camp then you’ll be pleased to know I’m giving it a very good 7 out of 10.

Get Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games now
New: Buy Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games from Amazon.com
Rental: Rent Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games – free rental trial from Gamefly.com
Offers: Use our Godaddy coupon codes for November 2009 to save money on hosting and web domains – watch our GoDaddy coupon video for more details, using the CCS discount code valid for November 2009 ‘AFGAMEFS’ will get you free shipping with any order over $30 and ‘AFGAME15′ will get you 15% off any order over $75, use our November 2009 Square Space coupon code ‘WEASEL’ at the checkout to get 12% off the lifetime of your account.

Related: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games review, Beijing Olympics video game review, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games review

Tags: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Wii, Mario and Sonic, Olympic Winter Games, Mario, Sonic, vancouver, DS, Nintendo, Winter Olympics

YouTube Up review

I had my first experience of 3D cinema the other day when I watched Up. Once my eyes had adjusted I was initially impressed but then I sort of got used to it. It’s the same with videogames. Next-gen machines come out and everyone goes ‘whooo’ but then the bar has to constantly be raised in order to impress. It’s a pity then that not only does Up have average graphics, but it’s also a very average platform game that’s of little interest to me.

You mainly play the game as Carl and Russell as you move round the 3D platform levels attached to your floating house. Similar to the Lego games, you can play with a friend and must work together to get round the environment. For example, Russell can shimmy along ledges and use Kevin the bird to reach new heights, while Carl can use his cane to climb up ledges and keep wasps and spiders away with the screeching of his faulty hearing aid. In single player mode you hit a button so switch between them which sometimes works and can sometimes be frustrating when the AI takes over and moves characters precisely where you don’t want them.

Most of the time you’re just platforming and collecting coins and artefacts as you go. Combat is extremely limited to swinging your cane at things or picking up items to use against the inhabitants of the forest. Occasionally you also get a boss fight but the action throughout is all rather slow and cumbersome. What do you expect from controlling a geriatric and a boy scout?

To break things up a bit you can also take to the skies and literally dogfight with the talking dogs. For some reason this is also the first thing you do in the game which is odd as it’s set in a scene right near the end of the movie.

Young children may enjoy playing as the characters from the film but this doesn’t offer anything for the older gamer. It’s an average platform game so it gets an average score of 5 out of 10.

Get Up now and get Up
New: Buy Up videogame from Amazon.com
Rental: Rent Up – free rental trial from Gamefly.com
Offers: Use our Godaddy promo code for November 2009 to save money on web hosting and domains – watch the GoDaddy coupon code video for more details, using the CCS discount code valid for November 2009 ‘AFGAMEFS’ will get you free shipping with any order over $30 and ‘AFGAME15′ will get you 15% off any order over $75, use the Squarespace coupon ‘WEASEL’ for 12% off the lifetime of your account.

Related: G Force review, Wii Christmas party games, Youtube Up review

Tags: Up, Up, disney, pixar, THQ, platformer, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, DS, Mac OS X, Windows, Single player, 2 player, co-op, multiplayer, Youtube Up review

There could very well be a Wii 2 on the way sooner than you’d think. According to a leaked Nintendo document, the machine may be out in a year’s time, have Blu-Ray support and be able to deliver movies and games at 1080p.

Buy a Nintendo Wii now
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Offers: Use our 2009 Godaddy.com promo code to save money on web hosting and domains – watch the GoDaddy promo codes video for more details, use the CCS coupon ‘AFGAME15′ to get 15% off orders over $75 and ‘AFGAMEFS’ to get free shipping on orders over $30, use our November 2009 Square Space coupon code ‘WEASEL’ at the checkout to get 12% off the lifetime of your account.

Related: Wii hardcore games, Nintendo Wii buyers guide

Tags: Wii 2

Charles Martinet recently joined us for a chat and explains what it’s like to be the voice behind the oldest and most recognisable video game character of all time – Mario. He’s also behind a whole host of other Nintendo characters who’ll be appearing in the forthcoming New Super Mario Bros for the Wii which we’ll be reviewing soon, make sure you order your copy in time for holiday season for what’s sure to be a Christmas hit for all the family.

Preorder New Super Mario Bros now
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Related: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games review, Mario Kart review

Tags: Mario, Charles Martinet, New Super Mario Bros, interview, Wii, Nintendo, DS

So three years after launch Nintendo’s Wii console is still a hot ticket to be the number one system of choice this holiday season. The recent price drop to $199 has spurred sales and finally becomes a more realistic prospect for families or even just for the children’s bedrooms.
We all know that everyone loves the Wii because it brings unique motion sensing gameplay to your living room. The free bundled Wii Sports game is still a worldwide phenomenon to this day and everyone from young children to grandparents enjoy it immensely. Here are my hot tips for the best kids Wii games and that will keep the children entertained over the 2009 Christmas holidays and into the New Year.

Top Wii games for children

Any one of the following titles should be great fun on Christmas Day and beyond, we’ve linked each kids game for the Wii to Amazon.com to help you find the best deal:-

• Wii Sports Resort Special Edition is the fantastic sequel to the original Wii Sports title which comes with a new twist. This time you can become even more immersed in the experience because it comes bundled with Two MotionPlus units which provide a more lifelike motion control experience.
• Active Life Outdoor Challenge brings all the fun of playing outside on Christmas Day without having to go out into the cold weather and risk catching Swine Flu.

• The Beatles Rock Band Special Value Edition gives you a guitar, drums and microphone ready for some 1960’s loving Christmas fun. If you’ve never played a music game before then this Wii title is the best introduction – watch our comprehensive review of The Beatles Rock Band and see just how good this game will be at bridging the generation gap this Christmas when it has 5 year olds and granma singing along to some of the best hits from the fab 4.
• American Idol fans will no doubt love this Karaoke Special Edition American Idol Encore 2 game with free microphone, it features 40 well known pop songs spanning from the 70’s to some tunes of today.

• Diva Girls Ice Skating features all the pretty elements of Ice Skating with none of the broken ankles and expensive Ice Skates.
• Petz Dogz 2 will keep any children’s puppy wanting urges at bay for a little longer, and it doesn’t poop on your carpet. A dog is for life, not just for Christmas – Dogz for the Wii sits neatly in the DVD shelf all year round and works out around $1000 cheaper.

• Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel dispells the myth that motor racing isn’t all about Nascar or Indianapolis 500 you know, the whole family can enjoy kart racing here. Tons of fun Nintendo characters and themed tracks allow all to compete on the same level due to its clever item distribution system which could see Grandpa beating the kids to the finish line. The game comes with a free steering wheel too, extra official Nintendo Wii Wheels can be purchased separately for $9.99 if your family prefer the addon controller that comes free with the game.
• Wii Fit Plus is a great tool for a healthy family who want to keep track of their fitness as a group. Being able to see everyone’s fitness progress is a great way for family bonding and can be good encouragement for all to stick to the happy lifestyle you want to lead.

Offers: Use our December 2009 Godaddy coupons to save money on hosting and web domains – watch the GoDaddy coupon codes video for more details, use the CCS coupon code ‘AFGAME15′ to get 15% off orders over $75 and ‘AFGAMEFS’ to get free shipping on orders over $30, use the Squarespace coupon code ‘WEASEL’ to get 12% off for the lifetime of your account.

Want a Wii that won’t show up the dirt? Well wait until November and you can bag yourself a limited edition black Wii complete with Remote, Motion Plus, Nunchuck and both Wii Sports games. Get in!

Buy a Black Wii now
New: Buy a Black Wii from Amazon.com
Offers: Use our Godaddy coupon codes for December 2009 to save money on hosting and web domains – watch the GoDaddy coupon video for more details, use the CCS coupon code ‘AFGAME15′ to get 15% off orders over $75 and ‘AFGAMEFS’ to get free shipping on orders over $30, using the November 2009 Squarespace discount code ‘WEASEL’ at checkout will get you 12% off the lifetime of your account.

Related: Best Wii games for hardcore gamers, Christmas Wii buyers guide

Tags: Nintendo Wii, Black, Wii Remote, Wii Motion Plus, Wii Nunchuck, Wii Sports games