Super Mario 3D Land Review

P.S. Sorry for my absence over early fall, everyone, it was a rough time for me. But now I'm back as we head into what I think might be the greatest holiday season for not only video games, but movies and tv as well.

Super Mario 3D Land Review (3DS)

Nintendo promised earlier this year, that Mario's first 3D outing would be his best. Super Mario 3D Land mashes-up both the 2D side-scrolling Mario with the 3D exploration Mario. The result? A game that feels fresh and exciting, even though you won't find a lot of new things.

The story, as in most Mario games, is as simple as can be. A special tree in the Mushroom Kingdom is hit by a storm, and all of its leaves have blown off, the leaves have been scattered around the Kingdom in the form of Tanooki tails (more on that later). Mario and toads stumble upon this tree in the morning, and notice a letter from Bowser and, yes, once again, he has kidnapped Princess Peach. The story isn't meant to be all cinematic and plot-like, because that's the beauty of Mario games. Its simple story is enough to keep you interested, and it makes up for lack of story in the gameplay department.

Super Mario 3D Land, like said above, is a mix of 2D and 3D Mario. I think of the game as a blend of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Galaxy, and the result is something magical. The game is set-up in 8 worlds, with more being unlocked after completion, and Mario ventures through each level in the worlds, usually 5, to reach Bowser and rescue Peach. There is a fun little "world map" that represents each level, and Mario can jump between worlds and access toad houses this way. Each level contains 3 star coins for Mario to collect, and these can be brutal towards the end. The levels themselves start very easy, and a Mario veteran could breeze through the first 8 worlds in about 5 hours. Upon completion, however, a special counterpart to every world is unlocked, and these contain extra challenges like time constraints or Cosmic Marios, and I died a ton during these.

The most refreshing part of Super Mario 3D Land is its levels and gameplay. Each level has a flag at the end, and a time limit, which makes it feel like 2D mario. However, the levels encourage exploration, and there are hidden alcoves and lots of other areas to explore, making it feel 3D, as well. Power-ups are aplenty in Super Mario 3D Land. The Tanooki leaf is back, along with its tail-swiping and fluttering abilities, and a new leaf is unlocked after you beat the game. Mario's signature Fire Flower is back, along with the regular Super Mushroom. New is the Boomerang Suit, which gives Mario the ability to throw boomerangs, perfect for getting flying enemies or multiple Goombas at once. Also, a Propeller Box is returning from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which allows Mario to soar to great heights. The only problem I found with these were that they felt too common, and a power-up felt more of a regular, rather than an exciting surprise. They're a lot of fun, but the game seems to just give you these out for free. Mario controls just like he used to, and you'll be running and jumping in no time. The only problem is some of his moves, like long jump and high jump, aren't even necessary, unlike in Super Mario Galaxy 2, and I completed the game without even realizing that they were there. This discourages fast movement and shortcuts, which limits replay value.

Here's my one problem with the game: difficulty. The game starts out slow, and I barely died on my way to World 8. Sure, it picks up at the end, and Mario vets shouldn't be turned off by the early easiness. The problem is there are many additions to the game that make it easy. First, Mario starts each level as Super Mario, so he can take two hits at the beginning instead of one. Second, power-ups are everywhere, giving Mario extra support. 1-Ups aren't even difficult to get, and bonus rooms are all over each level. Getting to the top of the flagpole isn't nearly as hard as it used to be, and I finished World 8 with over 100 lives, which shouldn't be right. If you die, you get free power ups instantly, and a golden Tanooki suit and P-Wing make the game even simpler.

The 3D effect in Super Mario 3D Land is astounding. This game was clearly made for 3D, and it shows. Special rooms are impossible to play without the 3D, and cleverly hidden coins make for interesting 3D puzzles. Bullet bills and fireballs come right out the screen, and you even have the option to choose pop-out 3D or depth 3D at the start of each level. The soundtrack is nothing special, and I would have preferred to see more orchestral pieces akin to Galaxy, and less happy, jumpy tunes, but the soundtrack is still very catchy and fun. There's no multiplayer option, but you can share your completed bonus boxes with friends, and it's fun to compete for best times on each level.

Super Mario 3D Land is an excellent mix of 2D platforming Mario and 3D exploration Mario. The level design is brilliant, as is the wonderful 3D effect. The only turn-off is difficulty, but that's no reason to shun this wonderful 3DS title.

Pros:
Fantastic Level Design
Clever Mix of Old and New
Great Graphics and 3D

Cons:
Easy as Pie!
Limited Controls

Overall: 8.5/10.0

Breaking News: Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, Dead at 56

Apple CEO Steve Jobs lost his battle with cancer today. He was 56 years old. He will be deeply missed. There's no denying that he changed technology for the better. Like him or hate him, Steve Jobs has had a huge impact. I remember having to do a report on a famous admirer back in 7th grade. I chose Jobs. I grew to respect him, as I began to realize all the contributions he's had. Without him, I wouldn't be typing this (on my Mac). Without him, I wouldn't be listening to music everywhere I went. Not only was he the founder of Apple, but he also helped Pixar Animation Studios get off the ground. Two of the largest and most influential businesses in the world. I hope the best for his family and for Apple.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/index.html?iref=BN1&hpt=hp_t1

James Bond 23 Title Revealed??

The site WhatCulture! has revealed this afternoon, that a dozen of domain names containing the name "Skyfall" have been registered under Sony. These URLs contain James Bond buzz words like his name, as well as the words "film" in them.

http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbond-skyfall.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbond-skyfall.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbondskyfall.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbondskyfall.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-film.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-thefilm.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-thefilm.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-themovie.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-themovie.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallfilm.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallmovie.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthefilm.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthefilm.net

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthemovie.com

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthemovie.com

If this is true, not only would it be awesome, but it would be the first James Bond movie with a unique name since Die Another Day back in 2002. Even though a few Fleming novels have yet to have been turned into movies, such as Property of a Lady and 007 in New York, this can be an almost confirmation that the name will be Skyfall.

To me, this sounds like the name of a video game more, but hey, I'm not complaining. It has a Bond-y feel to it, and the movie would most likely involve an aerial atmosphere, hence the name SKYfall. Filming has yet to begin, although it will soon, for a wide release on November 9th, 2012.

Kindle Explosion!

At Amazon's not-so-mysterious press conference today, they showed off the newest family of Kindles, as well as a completely new product, the Kindle Fire.

The newest fourth generation Kindle ditches the keyboard completely, and leaves you with a big home button, 4-way controller, and the page turners. The device is a lot smaller, as well, and much more lightweight. You get all the benefits of the Kindle software, like access to millions of books, newspapers, magazines, and more. Nothing really "new" has been added to this Kindle, with the exception of the hardware. The 4th generation Kindle is out now and retails for $79 with special offers or $109 without.

Next is the Kindle Touch, and Kindle Touch 3G. The names give away the fact that, yes, finally, the Kindle has a touch screen, allowing it to compete with such eReaders as the Nook. All the regular Kindle features are back, as well. The Wi-Fi version costs $99 and the 3G + Wi-Fi costs $149, and they will be released on November 21st.

Lastly, the big announcement, is Amazon's answer to the tablet explosion. Albeit a little late to the party, the Kindle Fire is an impressive device. Full color multi-touch screen, with access to ALL of Amazon's fantastic content. That means music, movies, tv shows, books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, games, the list goes on and on. The Kindle Fire features a fast, dual-core processor, allowing for ultra-fast web browsing from Amazon Silk, Amazon's speedy web browser that supports Adobe Flash. Also included is free storage in Amazon Cloud, meaning all your digital content is readily available for use. Email is also featured, as well as PDF reading. Buyers will also be rewarded with one free month of Amazon Prime, Amazon's movie and tv service. Kindle Fire comes pre-loaded for your use, and you don't even need a computer to use it. Battery life is a disappointing 8 hours, and the device only supports Wi-Fi, although a 3G one sounds imminent. Kindle Fire sells for $199, surprisingly cheap, and will be available on November 15th, just in time for the holidays. I'll have my full thoughts up later this week.

P.S. My computer finally works again, so expect more blog posts from me in the future!

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass vs. Spirit Tracks

As both Zelda entries for the Nintendo DS, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks weren't exactly what Zelda fans were looking for. They were too similar, and too similar to other additions to the franchise, namely Wind Waker. Therefore, I'm going to explain which is better, for your buying sake. Spirit Tracks is definitely better than Phantom Hourglass, for a variety of reasons.

First, the mode of transportation. We already saw a boat in Wind Waker, so boating in PH was no real thrill, and it felt like a chore, and kind of an afterthought. There weren't nearly as many islands in PH as there were in WW, and you lost the sense of exploration like there was in WW when you were exploring a gigantic 7x7 map. In ST, however, we were introduced to train conductor Link, traveling around Hyrule on a steam locomotive. This worked great. The touch controls were easy to use, the cannon was a blast (lol), and it was just much more exciting, as you explored all four regions. You also got a sense of discovery, thinking, "what's around this bend?", and you were enticed to explore.

Second, the central dungeon, as explained above. PH had the Temple of the Ocean King, which you were required to return to and re-explore after each main dungeon. The hourglass gimmick was fun, and racing around the temple before time ran out was a bit nerve-wracking and exciting, but having to re-visit the temple upwards to 5 times was a real chore, and it just became not fun after the first few times. ST kept this same idea of a central dungeon, but it was presented differently. After completing each realm, you unlocked another floor of the tower, and this was completely different from the floor below it, presenting a wholly original challenge each time.

Third, the gameplay that made ST great just wasn't there in PH. PH felt way too similar to WW, and while, I wouldn't mind that, I don't want two identical clones, they have to be at least a bit unique. ST felt new, and even with the similar graphical style, I didn't let that stop me from enjoying an adventure different from PH. Having Zelda along for the ride was a welcome treat, and a constant companion with you was a nice change in the formula. The items in ST were also better suited for the type of game that it is. For example, in PH you receive items identical to games before it, not providing you with much variety, but rather with a sense of deja-vu. ST, on the other hand, had the whip, which was all new, and it was used in very unique ways both in and outside the ocean realm. Also, the deku spinning thing was also cool, and it made for different and more challenging puzzles. The last element that trumps PH is the addition of the Spirit Flute. Similar to the Ocarina and Wind Waker, the spirit flute allowed you to play various songs to trigger outside events. The DS microphone and stylus were put to great use, and, although not very bus-friendly, it was a lot of fun playing the duets with the lokomos.

Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program

Earlier this month, Nintendo unveiled a price cut for the Nintendo 3DS. This was their response to the system's low sales after its weak launch, partially due to the weak lineup of release games. Originally $249.99, this price cut slashed the price all the way down to $169.99. As one of the biggest price cuts in gaming history, those dedicated many who bought the system at launch, like me, felt ripped off. Just because we're dedicated Nintendo gamers, does this mean we'll be left out in the dirt with $80 less?

Luckily, the answer is no, thanks to the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program, which was announced early August and went live today. Nintendo's rewards for those lucky gamers who stuck with the 3DS at launch would receive 10 free NES games and 10 free GBA games through the Nintendo 3DS eShop. The NES games are available today, and will be available at a low price for the non-ambassadors. The GBA rewards will be available by the end of the year, and these are exclusively for ambassadors only. 20 free games amounts to more than $80, so it's a great deal in my book.

The NES games are as follows:
Super Mario Bros.
Donkey Kong Jr.
Balloon Fight
Ice Climber
The Legend of Zelda
Metroid
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
NES Open Tournament Golf
Yoshi
Wrecking Crew.

These are available today, and can be downloaded through the 3DS eShop. Just select the eShop on the 3DS menu, then scroll all the way left to the Settings menu. From there, click "downloaded items", and scroll to find your rewards. It's kind of a pain to download each individually, but they go quick and it's totally worth it. I've had the time to play through a few of these, and there are some great classics on this list that newer gamers and veterans will love. I wouldn't have minded some others, like Super Mario Bros. 3 or Punch-Out!! instead of NES Golf or Wrecking Crew, but hey, you can't argue with free games!

The GBA games (so far), are as follows:
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Mario Kart Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
Mario vs Donkey Kong

So far, only 5 GBA exclusives have been announced, and 5 more will be on the way. These are some of my favorite games, and I'm excited to get my hands on them when they're released later this year.

Livi's Corner : Renting Movies Galore

After a summer of traveling across Europe, I've finally come back with a German exchange student with a love of movies. Unfortunately, none of the ones she rents are good. 

Looking for a movie to rent, or not rent? Here's a few renting quick reviews. 

1. Valentine's Day

Did I mention she likes romance? Valentine's Day is just that, with a bit of drama thrown in. Sorry, scratch that - a LOT of drama. See, I would explain the plot, but it's every soap opera plotline thrown together with a bunch of celebrities, so you name it, they got it. Pregnant lady? Check. Closeted gay? Check. Married guy who cheats? Check. Business affair? Check. They even got phone sex operator in there at some point. Say whhaaaaa? 

Good for mindless brainwashing television at the end of a day. Otherwise, not worth the dollar it costs to rent.

Rating : 1.5/5, for actually getting celebrities to sign on to this.

2. 17 Again

She's also obsessed with Zac Efron. 17 Again is the humorous  tale of a woe-begotten man in the midst of a divorce with a bad relationship with his kids, who is turned 17 again (hence the name). He goes back to high school to help out his kids and etc etc etc. 

It's pretty funny. It wasn't half as bad as I expected, and Efron shows off his talent. It's too bad this B-rated movie is all he got into. He has the skill, just not the script, and this is the type of movie that will be completely forgotten besides a few dire-hard Efron fans in a few years, if not already. The storyline is believable though not original, although the romance between the resident nerd and the principle (who turns out to be a closet nerd) felt like it was stretching it a bit. 

Great for a good laugh, but definitely intended towards teens. 

Rating : 2.5/5

3. Game Plan

If you haven't heard of this old movie, don't read the rest of it. In fact, forget I even typed it up anyways. Yup, it's that bad. Disney has this bad habit of trying to make funny family-friendly movies, and this 2007 film is something you should never rent. Ever. If you own it, shame.

It's about this egotistical famous football named Joe King (Dwayne Johnson) who finds out he has a daughter named Peyton (Madison Pettis), and wacky adventures follow ultimately resulting in King proclaiming his love for his daughter over himself and football, but in typical Disney-Happily-Ever-After fashion, wins over his daughter and the football championship as well.

Pettis can't act. She constantly either acts too young for her character or too old, a common disease of child actors who can't seem to act the age they were cast at. There's a few things that are funny, but it's forced and awkward feeling. This whole movie is a reminder of the downfall of Disney, who pretty much lost all respect when they came out with a horrible sequel to every classic and tanked from there. 

Save yourself, your time, and your money. Don't get this. Ever.

Rating: .5/5, for the poor cameramen who had to film this disaster. 

4. The King's Speech

I finally got to pick out a movie, and I hadn't seen the King's Speech yet. Joey's probably gotten this one down already somewhere, so I won't cover the plotline, but here's my two cents.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. One of the best movies I've ever seen. I think one of the things that most impressed me was the overall dedication to the story there was. All of the costumes, the buildings, the furnishings, the music in the film, everything was really like you had stepped back in time. The characters were completely realistic. The amount of detail that went into the movie was just...wow. There was nothing I would have done differently. Colin Firth, Helena Carter, and Geoffrey Rush along with the other actors all deserve the round of applause they got. 

Buy it. 

Rating : 5/5

Next Review : Harry Potter - Deathly Hallows Part 2 and What Exactly is Pottermore?

Captain America: The First Avenger Review

When people think of superheroes, our good friend Captain America isn't exactly the first that comes to mind. Even though he's not mainstream, like Batman or Spiderman, Captain America still has the caliber to be, thanks to a terrific film that doesn't falter.

Captain America: The First Avenger follows the story of Steve Rogers, a puny, weak, young man looking to join the army during World War II. Due to health issues, he is constantly turned down. But one day, a Dr. Erksine allows Steve to enlist under an experiment that will create the "super human". It is successful, and Rogers is now the ripped and muscular Captain America, who leads the war against Hitler. He meets Colonel Phillips, a skeptic who isn't completely on board with the experiment and Peggy Carter, the beautiful assistant and potential love interest to Steve. Meanwhile, Dr. Zola, has stolen a mysterious tesseract from Norway in an attempt to steal its powers and create an ultimate weapon, and it's up to Captain America to stop him.

I don't know much about superheroes, let alone Captain America, nor do I care for superhero movies that much, but I really enjoyed the plot of The First Avenger. It was nice and simple, without throwing character after character at you and forcing you to remember their names. Although predictable, it was a fun time. Each character was very well-developed, as well, especially Captain America himself, and Carter. The villain, Dr. Zola, or Red Skull, is also very well-done, and his motives are clear. Also to be appreciated is the nostalgia of the 1940s, when war was being waged. You'll admire the set pieces from New York, and the cars and hairstyles are a sight to see. One scene in particular, when Captain America Version 1.0 tours America rallying troops, is very memorable. It's a nice break from the skylines of modern superhero movies like Spiderman. Also, a fun treat lies after the credits, so don't miss it!

The acting in Captain America was good, but not excellent. Chris Evans is fantastic as Captain America, and seeing him in Fantastic Four gave me a good idea of how he would perform. His sarcastic one-liners kind of bored me, but he did a great job bringing the first avenger to life. With that being said, the supporting characters, mainly Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Phillips and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Rogers' friend, are sort of just there. They never evolve from nothing but supporting characters. I guess Captain America is sort of a one-man show. Even his love interest, Peggy Carter, is sort of just there for the ride, and she isn't given the screen time she deserves. Luckily, Hugo Weaving, from V For Vendetta and The Matrix series, does a stunning job as Red Skull, and he really provides the entertainment in the acting.

Special effects were fun, but nothing to marvel at, as the focus of the movie is more storydriven, and less focused on mindless action (*cough WOLVERINE cough*). The post-converted 3D is gimmicky, so skip it. The music in the film is patriotic and light-hearted, and a catchy chorus tune with Captain America touring America will be in your head for days.

Captain America: The First Avenger is a great introduction to what I hope will be a franchise as successful as Iron Man. The movie is purely storydriven, which is wonderful, and Captain America is easily the best superhero film this year.

Overall: 4.0/5.0

True Grit Review

I don't know why it's taken me so long to watch True Grit. My goal this year was to watch every Oscar Nominated film for Best Picture, and I failed up until now. True Grit is a perfectly emotional Western that hits every right note to make one great film.

Now, True Grit is based on a novel of the same name, and it follows the novel very well, or so I'm heard. The story follows a young woman by the name of Mattie Ross, who tells the story of when her father was killed by a Mr. Tom Cheney, when she was just 14 years old. The story is told through her eyes, and follows her journey to avenge her father's death. She does this with the reluctant help of Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn, who insists that she shouldn't tag along. She does so, anyways, and the duo sets off in search of Cheney. Meanwhile, a ranger named LeBouef, who is pursuing Cheney for his own reasons, lends them a hand along the way. This puts the plot in full swing, as they travel across rugged Texas land in hot pursuit. Being a road movie, it's important that the plot never drags. Thankfully, it doesn't, and the pacing is excellent, balancing between more subtle quieter scenes within a cabin, and crazy gunfire chases in the old West. It's this element that makes the film great, since it's never rushed. All this great pacing leads up to an excellent confrontation with Cheney and his goons, and you'll smile seeing your favorite characters aid each other, especially one heartfelt scene between Mattie and Rooster, which puts Mattie's life in danger.

With such an excellent plot, you must expect excellent acting. Like always, the Coen Brothers deliver, and I haven't seen a better cast for any movie in a long time. Jeff Bridges is the star of the show, playing Rooster, and Bridges delivers a fantastic role. He balances humor with stern and care, and his character and Steinfeld's really interact, almost to the point of calling them related. It's truly a wonder to see these two on screen, since they give such a sincere and relatable performance as their relationship throbs up and down. 14 year old breakout star Hailee Steinfeld gives a phenomenal performance as Mattie Ross, and it's no wonder why her role got her an Oscar Nomination. Matt Damon also gives a great role as LeBouef, but his character is never really fleshed out, and is sort of just there for the ride. You'll want him to be developed more, but it never really happens. Thankfully, we get a phenomenal villain played by Josh Brolin, who, up until now, I never really enjoyed as an actor.

Another surprise from True Grit is its soundtrack. Every piece is fully orchestrated, with soft piano beats and violin riffs rounding it out. One track in particular, titled "The Wicked Flee" is sort of played as the theme song for the film, and it's obvious why. A great piano introduction leads into an astonishing orchestra melody, and its emotional quality is surreal.

True Grit is that rare Western that stumbles along and astonishes us all. With a great plot, astounding acting, and a beautiful soundtrack, it's clear why True Grit is receiving all the praise, and it tops my list for best Western film of all time.

Overall: 4.5/5.0

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two Review

My childhood consisted mostly of Harry Potter, Harry Potter, and more Harry Potter. Ever since my mom read me the first book in the series, Harry Potter became more than obsession for me, it became fandom. I've followed the series extensively, going to almost every midnight book release, and many, many midnight movie releases. So, it's safe to say that I'm a huge fan, and had enormous hopes for the finale of the franchise. I can say this: it certainly delivers.

I think that most of us know the plot by now. Voldemort has just gotten the Elder Wand, and Harry and Co. are searching for the remaining horcruxes. This starts with an intense break-in to Gringotts Bank, which is very intense and well done. Once the trio breaks into Hogwarts, that's when things begin. The Battle of Hogwarts is not only the most action-packed sequence in any movie so far, but it sets the stage for some emotional setbacks, so get the kleenexes ready. We also delve deep into Severus Snape's story, and see where his true loyalties lie, and these were among my favorite scenes in the movie. We see our heros journey back to past areas of Hogwarts untouched, like the Chamber of Secrets, and the Room of Requirement, which makes for some blast-to-the-past moments that everyone will enjoy. We even meet new characters, in the form of Aberforth Dumbledore, who helps Harry break into Hogwarts, and the Grey Lady, Ravenclaw's ghost who hides a dark secret. After the dust settles, the film is over, and we get a fun epilogue showing our heros ship their kids off to Hogwarts 19 years later. It's fun to see each character older, and this makes for some theater laughs, as well as some cries.

Being the last film in the franchise, and part two of the seventh book, pacing is key for this movie to succeed. David Yates does a great job of balancing action with more calmer scenes, and this is well appreciated. Some scenes are a bit rushed, especially the Gringotts scene, but the Hogwarts Battle is very in-depth and extensive, down to each character's demise. You'll appreciate the attention to detail that is thrown in, and fans of the book will be in for a special treat. Of course, as a book-to-movie film, there has to be some sacrifices here in there in terms of story. I won't spoil anything, but the producers have done a great job of pretending like nothing was changed, and, in my opinion, some changes were even for the better, and make the movie flow much more effectively. Some character's deaths are glossed over with a brush of the hand, which is disappointing, and just seeing their dead corpse on the ground isn't enough to get emotional about. There is one scene, however, that trumps all the rest, and it involves none other than Mr. Severus Snape, who happens to be my favorite character. Like I said earlier, we jump into his backstory, and a very long scene with his memories being shown is very, very emotional.

Acting in Part II couldn't be any better. We've grown up with this trio, and watched them learn and grow as young actors, which only adds to the emotional quality of the film. Daniel Radcliffe has probably grown the most, and in the stunning conclusion in the Forbidden Forest and at King's Cross, we really see his culmination of all his previous work in past Potter films. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, too, have grown immensely, and we finally see how those two end up. Alan Rickman gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Snape, and it's still a wonder to me of why he's gotten no recognition for this fine role that he's played over the years. Even Michael Gambon, who plays Dumbledore, gets a lot of screen time, what with his character being dead. In one of my favorite scenes, Harry and Dumbledore take a walk through the station, just as friends, and just talk. Other standouts include Tom Felton as Draco and his cast of family, who get to show their allegiance, and they show it quite well. One of the best performances in Ralph Fiennes, as Lord Voldemort, who I think is finally represented as the evil villain in this one, and the final showdown between him and Harry is a sight to behold. One thing about the acting that I really loved was that past Hogwarts friends got a lot of scenes to show their worth. Professor McGonagall, one of my favorites, gets a host of laughs, as she leads the professors in protecting the castle. Slughorn, Flitwick, and even Mr. Filch get well-deserved screen time, and it's a treat to see your favortie professors aid in the battle. Other characters like Neville, Luna, Ginny, and even Seamus and Dean get many scenes, which is well appreciated and will make you laugh out loud, especially when Seamus and Neville blow up a bridge. Neville's final showdown with Voldemort's snake, Nigini, is also a great spectacle.

Of course, being the Battle of Hogwarts, expect a lot of explosions and rubble. It's a sight seeing Voldemort and his Death Eaters cast spell after spell at the castle's protective barrier, and seeing it fall apart acts like a ticking clock for Harry and friends. Seeing the Hogwarts set in pieces is very depressing, especially since we've all grown to love the castle and all its nooks and crannies. Special effects are very well done, and wand flair has received an added touch since previous films, which should be noted. The film was also shot in 3D, so if you get the chance to see it in 3D, definitely do so, as the movie benefits well from it. One gripe about the visuals that I noted is that some characters, mainly villains, kind of just explode into confetti when they die, which is sort of nonsensical, but once again, it's a very minor gripe. Alexandre Desplat also reprises his role as conductor, and the soundtrack is just as good as it was in Part One, balancing emotion with action. We even get to hear past tunes that really bring back memories, like Hedwig's Theme, and the Platform 9 and 3/4 tune.

As the end of an era of wizards, Harry and company get a proper sendoff in the form of Deathly Hallows Part Two. The pacing is excellent, the acting is superb, and the emotional quality that this film can possess is beyond me. Luckily for us, Harry Potter is not over. If you are a true Potter fan then you will listen to the great words of Albus Dumbledore: 'I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me...', 'To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.' The Harry Potter phenomenon isn't going to die, but rather move on, away from the actors and movies. With Pottermore, the theme park, and maybe even more books, Jo knows how to keep fans at bay. Now that the Potter movies are finished, there's only one thing left to say: Mischief Managed

Overall: 5.0/5.0

Just Go With It Review

Just Go With It is a fine blend of romance and comedy that anyone can enjoy, but you won't help feeling that the movie is letting you down. The movie wastes your time with unnecessary scenes and characters, but it's still a hilarious movie with its high points.

Danny Maccabee is your typical bachelor plastic surgeon, who has bad luck with women. He enjoys pretending to have families to hook up with women, and it usually ends in just more heartbreak. That is, until he meets Palmer, a math teacher who's got the looks. She finds out about his faking marriage joke, and assumes that he was hiding his marriage, and she leaves. Heartbroken, Danny returns to work, and gets a crazy idea to use his coworker Katherine, and her children, as his pretend family whom he is divorcing from. Reluctantly, Katherine agrees, and we're thrown into a wild ride as the fake family travels to Hawaii, and Danny has a change of heart.

I didn't explain the plot very well, since there is so much to it, because most of it seems unnecessary. We get introduced to pointless characters, that only add comedic elements and nothing else, and it just becomes a bore to follow the plot. There is no reason why Danny's cousin should be thrown in the mix, or Katherine's old nemesis, and the movie just gets boring after that. Also included is a ridiculously stupid hula competition, and I just couldn't help but wonder why we needed this. It's not to say that the plot isn't enjoyable, and it certainly is. It's fun to see Danny and Katherine pretend to be exes, and some of the situations that they end up in are downright hilarious. The ending is predictable, but it shouldn't have ended any other way.

The acting in Just Go With It is great. I normally despise Adam Sandler, and after Happy Gilmore, he just became annoying, and hasn't made a good movie in a long time. He was still annoying here, but he was a great fit for the role of Danny, and it seems just like something that Adam would do in real life. I'm a huge Jennifer Aniston fan, and seeing her play Danny's pretend wife is a real treat. She does a great job, and it brought me back to seeing her as Rachel way back on Friends, which was an added bonus. Brooklyn Decker, whom I haven't seen much, did a decent job as Danny's newest girl, but she wasn't a standout.

Just Go With It is a confusing mess of a plot, and, although enjoyable at many times, you won't get over the fact that most of it is unnecessary. With good acting and a decent plot, Just Go With It is a perfect one-night rental.

Overall: 3.5/5.0

Super Scribblenauts Review

Super Scribblenauts (DS)

The original Scribblenauts was a sleeper hit. Selling over 1 million copies, the game was a spark of creativity and originality, that encouraged different thinking in unique scenarios. The game's "Write Anything. Solve Everything" campaign has been expanded on in the form of Super Scribblenauts, which retains all the original's charm, but leaves you wanting more from the gameplay.

There is little plot in Super Scribblenauts to speak of at all. You play as Maxwell, the young hero tasked with collecting Starites, which are stars scattered around his world. You have the aid of a notebook and pen, within which you can write any word you can think of, and it will come to life in the game and help you with your objective. Each level plays out differently, and they all have different goals that will make the Starite available. For example, you may need to find something in common between three people. This is where you use your brain, and you can write whatever you need to help you reach your goals.

This mechanic works flawlessly, just like it did in the original, and it's this mechanic that you'll use to advance through the games numerous levels. It's only a shame, that there wasn't more to it. It's just like the original, plus adjectives. In terms of replay value, there isn't much here. You're encouraged to replay each level three times, and be creative in each one, but there isn't much incentive and the reward is unsatisfying. Thankfully, the level creator has been revamped. Instead of editing previous levels, you can now create your own from scratch, and it's a lot of fun designing interesting scenarios that you can share with friends. It does have its problems, and there are limitations to what you can do, but it's still a fun diversion.

New in the sequel is the ability to write adjectives, that help modify your items to make them more specific. There are special adjective-based levels that are loads of fun, and you'll laugh out loud at some of the combinations you can create. As if a plaid elephant isn't funny enough, you can even add more than one adjective and get crazy with it. Adjectives are a lot of fun, and it's a shame that they aren't used more often. The controls in the original Scribblenauts were a mess. Stylus control for Maxwell didn't work at all, almost to the point of frustration. Thankfully, in the sequel, you have the option to use the DS's d-pad, which works ten times better. This is a welcome addition that is definitely for the better.

The visuals in Super Scribblenauts are simple, but purposely. The cartoony-drawn style of animation seen in the game is a lot of fun, but some items look really stupid, and sometimes they don't behave as you'd expect. The music in the game is clean and fun, with the main theme sticking out as the star.

Super Scribblenauts is every bit worthy of this sequel to its predecessor. The game's writing mechanic has been untouched for the better, and, although you'll want more, it's still a fun game that is worth your time.

Pros:
Brilliant Writing Mechanic
Updated Controls
Great Tunes
Level Creator Works Great

Cons:
Not Much To Do After
Weak Visuals

Overall: 7.5/10.0

Cars 2 Review

The original Cars, although not my favorite Pixar movie, was still a ton of fun, and featured a great cast of characters and a great story. I, for one, didn't think that Cars would be in need of the sequel treatment, but it got it anyways in the form of Cars 2, a fun, family film with memorable new characters all wrapped in a confusing and silly story.

Gone is the dirt-ridden town of Radiator Springs and in is bright lights and shining cities in the form of Tokyo, Italy, and London. Our favorite racecar, Lightning McQueen, is challenged to race in the World Grand Prix, and this takes Lightning and his pit crew (including Mater) all around the world to three great races. The race is sponsored by a new alternative fuel source, called Allinol, so you get your eco-friendly fix in the film, as well. Along the way, Mater gets mistaken for an American spy, and gets caught up in a big game with famous spy cars Finn McMissile and Holly Shiftwell, and an evil villain, hellbent on destroying this alternative source. Mater plays the spy game, and it's fun to see Mater in a different position that he's not used to, but the way it plays out isn't ideal. Mater mistaken as a spy results in tough situations between him and McQueen, and their friendship is at stake throughout the movie. It leads to an interesting and unexpected conclusion, which (I hope) wraps up the Cars films.

I had a few problems with this new storyline in Cars 2. First, I could have done with less of the Mater-spy thing. It was fun, and I bet the kids loved it, but for me, a 15 year old who grew up loving Pixar, I had enough. Mater was the star of the show, and he gets much more screentime than the hero, McQueen. This is disappointing, since I went into the movie excited to see Lightning race around the world. There certainly was a lot of racing to be had, and these scenes were great. But for every race, there were three more spy scenes with Mater and his new pals. I couldn't take the film seriously when we were dealing with spy cars that talked. I'll admit, it was fun to see Mater in undercover situations, but I found myself missing the Radiator Springs gang even more. Speaking of which, half of them don't even come to the races, so you lose most of the charm that the original Cars had. Sally is in the film for about five minutes, and it seems to have forgotten about their whole relationship. It was good, however, that the scenes with Lightning and Mater, just being friends, were heartwarming and funny, and Mater really finds himself when others see him as a fool. The whole movie has a "be yourself" message which is great for the kids.

The acting in Cars 2 is great, and you get various new characters that help round out the movie. Owen Wilson is back as Lightning, as is Larry the Cable Guy and Bonnie Hunt as Mater and Sally, respectively. Most of the Radiator Springs voices are back, with the exception of George Carlin as Filmore, who passed away in 2008. Also gone is Doc Hudson, everyone's favorite, which is a shame. New in Cars 2 are all of Mater's spy acquaintances, who all provided top-notch voices. At the top are Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer as Mater's two spy buddies. These two really make the film, and although I didn't care for the spy theme, they still made the movie fun and exciting. Eddie Izzard and Thomas Kretschmann provide the voices for the villains.

The attention to detail in Cars 2, as is with almost every Pixar movie, is amazing as well. Every light, every wheel, every race is detailed down to the point, and this makes for a more realistic and believable experience. The races in particular, are great, and the locations where the races take place look almost real. The cars, too, look great, and cars fans should take note: there are a lot of references to classic cars here. There are a lot of explosions, and kids will love the eye candy, even if they won't get the story.

Cars 2 is a great Pixar film. Although shrouded in a ridiculous and rusty story, the movie itself is still enjoyable thanks to a great cast of characters and a fun movie overall. Even though critics are pandering the film, Cars 2 shouldn't be missed and is a great addition to the ever-growing Pixar library.

Overall: 4.0/5.0

Pottermore: Revealed

J.K. Rowling's exclusive new project, titled Pottermore, was revealed this morning. Pottermore is an interactive website for fans of the books to read the books, play games, meet others, and read exclusive new content from J.K. Players can create an avatar and explore the world of Harry Potter. Also, for the first time, all the books will be available in eReader form. Those who want in can sign up now at pottermore.com and subscribe via email to receive news regarding Pottermore. The site is open to everyone in October, but a select few can enter on July 31st.

As for my thoughts, I was hoping for something else. I really, really, really, really wanted a Harry Potter encyclopedia, in print, that I can refer to and read. This site seems more geared towards the younger crowd, which is a shame, since most of Harry's fans are older now. I admit that it's a great way to attract new fans, and even though Rowling doesn't need the money, there's still some appeal. The whole idea of games and forums and avatar creation has already been done before on other HP fan sites, and the technology seems more like a 1998 kids website. I like the idea of new content, like backstories and such, but I wish J.K. would write like a prequel or encyclopedia or something, rather than make a silly website. However, it's the eBooks that really interest me. I'm confused on what they'll be compatible with, as far as eReaders go, but I'm hoping to have all seven books on my Kindle by the end of the year.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Review

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)

As one of the greatest games of all time, Ocarina of Time is definitely worth of this 3D remake. Not exactly a sequel to the original, OoT 3D is more of an update, with all new features, as well as keeping the original's charm.

The plot in Ocarina of Time is pretty simple. You play as Link, a young boy from the Kokiri Forest, who gets tangled up in a plot to save Hyrule and rescue Princess Zelda. To do this, he'll venture through various dungeons, and even travel back and forth through time. It's these plot mechanics that made the original so compelling, and they're all here in the new one. The plot is engrossing, and still remains a classic today. Like I said, you'll do a lot of dungeon exploration in Ocarina of Time, and there are plenty to keep you occupied as you continue through the story. All of them have their own themes, whether your in the forest or a fish's belly. The dungeons are challenging, but not to the point of frustration. Luckily, you have Sheikah Stones at your hand, which let you view hint movies that will give you clues on how to progress, or to beat a boss for instance. They're similar to the Super Guide, and they're completely optional, so veterans won't feel obliged to use them.

A lot of series staples, such as lock-on targeting and Epona, are also here, so it's the full Zelda experience. Of course, it wouldn't be Zelda without items, and there are loads here, which can be accessed from the push of a button or a tap on the touch screen. You can store up to 4 items at once in these slots, making for easy access when they're needed, especially with the Iron Boots. There's even a spot for your Ocarina, so you won't have to fiddle through your inventory for one item. The control pad is put to great use, and you now have even more control over Link than you previously had. The 3DS's gyroscope is also put to great use, and you'll move it around to aim Link's slingshot, bow and arrow, and more. It's optional, and it does lose the 3D effect if you move it around too much, so I just stuck with the traditional controls. And, everyone's favorite is back: Navi. And she's annoying as ever, and she even reminds you to take a break from playing every 20 minutes.

The whole world of Hyrule comes alive with the 3D effect, and mountains and buildings that were once flat blocks are now vibrant and colorful. All the original locales are back, and no locations have been altered, so it'll be very familiar to oldtime fans. Castle Town in particular is very impressive, and the 3D is the most impressive that I've seen it yet.

I recommend playing with the 3D on full-blast, as it adds depth that was virtually unseen in the original classic. Characters also come to life, too, and Link and Zelda look remarkable in 3D, especially in their famous castle scene. The graphics aren't perfect, but it's understandable, and you still may see blocky pixels up close, or some walls and buildings that don't really make sense within the environment, but other than that, the graphics are amazing.

The soundtrack has not been altered, either (thank god!), and one of the most impressive game soundtracks ever is here, and all your favorite tunes return. From Hyrule Field to Kakariko Village, your ears will be in for a treat. The sound effects have also remained the same. Link's grunts and jumps are similar, and Navi is just as annoying. Of course, why would you buy a 3D version of an identical classic if nothing was new? For me, it's enough, but Nintendo's added a lot of extras to the game, which only increase the replay value. First, there's a boss battle mode that can be accessed from Link's house, which lets you race against the clock to set records fighting all the bosses in the game. It's a fun diversion, and it's addicting to beat your best times. But the best addition of all, is the Master Quest.

Once you beat the main story, the Master Quest is unlocked, which is a reversed edition of the game, with harder enemies and such. Although very difficult, the Master Quest is a fun extra quest that is very rewarding.

The classic. Ocarina of Time is back, with all the original's features, plus all new additions. It's the best 3DS game out right now, and any 3DS owner should have this one in their library.

Pros:
An Updated Classic
All-New controls
Fantastic 3D effect
Remarkable soundtrack

Cons:
Graphics aren't perfect
NAVI

Overall: 9.5/10.0

Joey's Top 5 Must-See Summer Movies

As summer kicks off with a bang at the box office, I thought that now would be a good time for me to post what I think are the top 5 must-see movies for summer 2011.

5. Cars 2 - although definitely not my favorite Pixar movie (and one that doesn't need a sequel), Cars 2 still looks like a lot of fun, and it certainly still encompasses that Pixar charm. I'm not a big fan of the whole "spy" theme, and I wish they'd stick with Radiator Springs, but only time will tell if Cars 2 will hit or flop when it's released next Friday.

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - When I reviewed Pirates 4, I thought, "what makes Pirates 4 better than previous?", and the answer: a LOT. From the completely updated cast to the odd and unique plot, Pirates 4 is a great refresh to a great series, and you can probably still catch it in theaters.

3. Cowboys & Aliens - talk about hype, huh? I've been seeing trailers for Cowboys & Aliens for about a year now, and I'm still way too excited for it.

Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford should equal a hot action flick, and C & A is scheduled to come out July 29th.

2. Super 8 - you all know that Super 8 is dear to me, once I gave it a perfect score last week. Everything about Super 8 is perfect. The acting, the plot, the special effects, everything, and it makes for a must-see summer thriller that's perfect for everyone.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - woah saw this one comin' didn't you? Harry Potter holds a special place in my mind as the greatest series (of anything) of all time. And when the finale wraps up on July 15th, you'll bet that I will be a wreck when I leave the theater.

Super 8 Review

Super 8, the movie shrouded in mystery upon its release, had a lot to live up to. Coming from some of the biggest names in movie making, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg, Super 8 is a fantastic picture that shouldn't be missed, and hits all the right notes for a perfect action thriller.

Super 8 has one of the best plots I've seen in a long time. The movie's plot was kept secret for a very long period of time, and going into the theater, I was under the impression that I was seeing a movie about a train crash and a bunch of kids. That was true, however, there is much much more to the movie than just that. The movie begins with a group of friends on summer break who enjoy making old-school '70s Super 8 films for film festivals. When they go to film a scene near a train track, they witness an intense, explosive train crash. After that event, mysterious things happen in their small town. People disappearing, dogs running away, and the whole town is hallucinating as a result. I won't spoil anything, but the movie is very, very intense, and after the accident, things really heat up. The whole movie screams action, and right from the train accident, you know you're in for one wild ride. The movie is also very emotional, as the main character has just lost his mother in a work accident. There are some heartfelt scenes between him and his dad, as well as between him and his (girl) friend. There's an interesting backstory about his mother, and we get to learn more through his new friend and her father. The ending of Super 8 is phenomenal, and very, very emotional.

What I appreciate about Super 8's plot is that it was kept under wraps until its release, which was good. A lot of times, movies give away the whole plot from a 2 minutes trailer, and when I saw Super 8's tv spot, I just had to learn more. The movie is just downright interesting, and right from the beginning you're thrown into the investigation, and want to know what is happening around town. The entire movie has an old-school vibe, and is a loveletter to any fans of the late '70s, and fans of Super 8 cameras. Abrams does a great job of making the movie feel different, and you really get a sense of what life was like back then.

Another thing Super 8 nailed was the acting. The Super 8 kids are amazing young actors, and really shine in their own unique roles with unique personalities. The kids really bring the movie to life, and as they investigate, you really get to know them. Of course, the kids also provide some great comic relief, as they fight and curse at each other. Newbie Joel Courtney does a great job as the title character Joe, as does his friend, Charles, played by Riley Griffiths. The kids' new friend, Alice Dainard, is played by star Elle Fanning, who is the breakout role as the timid young girl who grows very close to Joe. Joe's dad, the town's police deputy, played by Kyle Chandler, shines as well. After the loss of his wife, he plays a quiet, timid character who wants the best for his son.

Super 8 features many, many explosions, and as the town rages war against the extraterrestrial beings, your eyes will take a beating. The special effects are great, and once we finally meet the creatures behind the strange occurrences, you'll have seen some very cool stuff. The soundtrack to Super 8 is good, too, and although I don't banter on movie soundtracks too often, this one's too good to not be noticed, especially towards the end. Another thing I enjoyed about the movie was the message. The kids don't always fit in, and as we solve the mysteries, the message of "Bad things happen, but we can still live", really becomes evident, making for a moral and emotional journey.

Super 8 is easily one of the greatest movies that I've seen in a long time, and I can't think of anything to give it except a perfect score. Everything, from the plot and acting, to the special effects and soundtrack, are perfect, and Super 8 should not be missed by anyone. It's a shame, then, the lack of publicity the movie is getting, and how well it did this weekend at the box office. Then again, numbers aren't everything.

Overall: 5.0/5.0

Nintendo 3DS - My Second Thoughts

The Nintendo 3DS has been out for more than two months now, and with the new update and all, I thought I'd give my second thoughts on the system as a whole.

I finally got the chance to try out some of the features that I didn't before, mainly being StreetPass. StreetPass is brilliant, and it allows information to be exchanged while the system is in sleep mode with another 3DS system. It's great, and the StreetPass Mii Plaza is a lot of fun. It comes with the hardware, and when you exchange data via SP, your friend's Mii will appear in the plaza, allowing you to do various activities with him. One of them being a puzzle, and whenever you connect via SP, your friend's Mii will come by and hand you a puzzle piece to complete a giant puzzle. It's sort, and fun, but the real fun comes with the next game. It's sort of an action role-playing game that uses the Miis that you collect in your plaza, as they come and rescue you from a castle, using their sword and magical spells. It's a lot of fun, and most of your time in the plaza is spent here.

The newest 3DS software updated added the Nintendo eShop, a virtual shop similar to the Wii Shop Channel, that lets users purchase various games straight from the store. There are a wide variety of games you can buy, which range from straight up Virtual Console titles from the Gameboy like Super Mario Land, to 3-D versions of old classics like Excitebike. Also, there are new exclusive 3DS games like the Pokedex 3D, and all the old DSiWare titles can be purchased, as well as be transferred over via the transfer device. The eShop also features gameplay videos, as well as information about new and upcoming games. As of now, the eShop is obviously limited in what is offered, but with an update coming every Thursday, the eShop has massive potential.

Also new was the Internet Browser. It's nothing new, and it's still the same old browser we got on the DSi. You can freely browse the web, add bookmarks, search Google, and view images in 3D. It's cool, but I still prefer an iPod or a regular computer. It's convenient, but it's kind of disappointing in the fact that it does not support Flash or any other plug-ins. That means, no YouTube or video viewing of any kind, which is a shame. The coolest thing about the browser, however, is that you can access it right through the menu, and even while other applications/games are running, making it very useful for looking up game guides and the like.

Also, in regards to those saying that the Nintendo 3DS is a flop. Consider this: The 3DS just started, and I'd wish if you'd at least give it a little longer before we can discuss this. As far as the future, I'm no soothsayer, but I see bright lights for the 3DS ahead. Sure, their launch titles may have sucked, but the launch isn't everything, just ask the Wii. If you look at the lineup for future 3DS games, and even the ones at E3, you'll see massive potential for this handheld. Ocarina of Time 3D? Yes, please. Star Fox 64 3D, Super Mario 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, MGS: Snake Eater 3D, Mario Kart 3D, Kingdom Hearts 3D, Prof. Layton 3D, Animal Crossing 3D, Paper Mario 3D, just to name a few. I wouldn't write off the system that fast, because the 3DS certainly has a LOT of potential in the handheld market.

P.S. Nintendo also announced this week a flare red version of the 3DS, which is pretty cool.

E3 2011: Nintendo - Wii U and End

A trailer is shown displaying all new launch games for the Wii U, and like I said earlier, it looks very hardcore-friendly. These games look far from done, but they all look very hardcore, and showcase a lot of what Wii U can do in terms of graphics.

Electronic Arts now joined Nintendo on stage, and he's joining them for the first time. He seems very interested in the HD graphics and the new Wii U controller. Nintendo and EA sound very very interested in working together.

Reggie came back now, and is talking about all four consoles: DS, Wii, 3DS, and Wii U, and what they mean in terms of innovation. He talked about the Nintendo Network at E3, and wants us to explore the new gameworlds. That's the end of Nintendo's conference.

E3 2011: Nintendo - Wii U Thoughts

The WiiU looks to be pretty cool. However, the global prez for Nintendo hinted that the WiiU wouldn't work that well outside of the room where the WiiU is, so I'm guessing the Wii has to be on (duh). The all-purpose controller is a fairly creative idea, and I'm impressed. However, to be honest, I'm not happy with Nintendo's decision to remake all of the old games on the 3D. They're using the 'tried and true' sort of mentality - reselling games that they know have fans, instead of some of the crap they're putting out nowadays (Cooking Mama, anyone?). However, the fact of the matter is that 3D games are expensive. I'm curious to see how many people are going to spend money on a remade version of the game that they already own.

One thing is for sure : Nintendo is going to be bringing in a lot of money with the new WiiU and their re-vamping of as many old games they can get their hands on.

E3 2011: Nintendo - More Wii U

Iwata's on now, talking about how a big screen TV is not necessary to enjoy the new Wii U. The controller is shown off, and all it's buttons, and abilities including a touch screen, gyroscoping, and cameras. It's not designed to be a handheld. The TV screen can be used, of course, to display thrilling HD visuals. Also, the controller can just be used. Or, both can be in use for endless possibilities. It's very social as well, and videos can be shared.

Smash Bros. is also announced for BOTH the 3DS and the Wii U. They work together in many fashions, as well. Reggie's back, and he showed a strange video featuring a bird flying through a Chinese village. I didn't get it, but oh well. Reggie announced New Super Mario Bros. Mii, letting your Mii jump into the Mario action. The new controller also changes the world around you in interesting ways. It also interacts with the Wiimotes, allowing for cool new play ways. These aren't actual games, but Reggie announced Lego City Stories in collab with TT Games. City Stories is coming to Wii U and 3DS. Third Party developers are very interested, as well, and a video was shown showing them and what they think of the Wii U. Darksiders 2, Tekken, and Batman Arkham City will all be on the new console. Sounds very hardcore-friendly.

E3 2011: Nintendo - New Console! Wii U!

Reggie's showing a third-party trailer, with many third-party tiles on display for the 3DS. He's talking about the new update, which I already have, and talking about the eShop with Excitebike in 3D, as well as Pokedex 3D.

Reggie's talking about the new Nintendo console, titled Wii U, and says that we can all enjoy the system, regardless of gaming skill. The new controller is also shown, and it has the touch screen, tablet type display, with additional buttons on the side. A trailer is shown, displaying the a ability to switch from your TV to the new controller. As well as the ability to draw on it, use motion controls, and get a new view from the controller. Wii Fit is shown with it, and connecting with the Wii Zapper looked cool too. Video calls and Internet browsing were also shown. An HD Zelda was shown briefly, too. The release is 2012.

E3 2011: Nintendo - 3DS Explosion!

The orchestra plays Miyamoto out, and next up is Iwata, the global president, with Ben Folds playing in the background. He's hard to understand, but he's talking about how players play.

The new platform, he says, will change this, and it will offer wider appeal to ALL gamers. The details will wait, but he wants to tell us that it will serve every player, and this platform will reach the goal.

On the 3DS, a video is shown displaying many upcoming releases, such as Mario Kart, Star Fox, and Mario 3DS, featuring the Tanooki Suit. Kid Icarus is also shown, along with what looks like Luigi's Mansion for 3DS!!!

Here comes Reggie Fils-Aime. He says we want old stuff, and new stuff. Comfortable, and a surprise. Something for everyone. Five key titles will be shown on the floor.

Mario Kart is all-new, and the karts can now fly and go underwater, in addition to just driving. New customization options are also show, with new ways to trick out your kart. It's set for Holiday 2011.

Star Fox is back, and the 3D is all new. Buttons can be used, as well as the gyroscope on the 3DS for controls. The 3DS camera records your friends' reactions in multiplayer this September.

Next is Super Mario 3DS. He's coming with all new and old features. The game looks beautiful, with crisp simple graphics as Mario runs and jumps through a 3D world. The Tanooki suit is back in full-form, as well. The game should be released before the year ends.

Kid Icarus:Uprising has lots if new details. An awesome trailer reveals online play with your friends, which kooks very very cool. The game looks beautiful, too, and look very realistic. An Augmented Reality segment was shown too, with Pit and Medusa duking it out. Pit sounds like he's got a new voice actor, as well. Coming later this year.

Luigi's Mansion is back, too, with Luigi looking as scared as ever as he vacuums up ghosts in a mansion. I haven't played the original, so I don't know what's new or not, but I can say that it looks amazing!! Reggie says it's all new, and features several new mansions.

E3 2011: Nintendo - Zelda News

Miyamoto's talking about LoZ throughout the years, saying how the gameplay, visuals, and music have all evolved. The orchestra is now playing classic Zelda tunes, like the puzzle noise and treasure chest noise.

Miyamoto announced Link's Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS eShop, which will be available later today. And OoT launching next weekend for the 3DS, old news. Nothing new yet, just old chatter.

Also, on DSi, Miyamoto announced Legend of Zelda Four Swords cooperative game for free in September. And lastly, Skyward Sword will be launching this holiday for Wii. A gold Wiimote with the LoZ design will also be released in order to promote the game. Cool, cool.

Also, Zelda 25th Anniversary concerts will be shown around the regions this Fall. Also, two music CDs will be made, one as the OoT soundtrack, and the other is based on these anniversary concerts.

Miyamoto's inviting Zelda producers with names I can't pronounce, onto the stage.

E3 2011: Nintendo - Start

This is it. Nintendo's Conference starts now. Project Cafe, Skyward Sword, 3DS. We'll see all of this, and more. All the hype and anticipation is leading up to these next hours, and this may just be the best E3 Press Conference ever for Nintendo.

This is now completely live. The show is starting late! Grrr....it's 11:02, and I see nothing. It's okay, it's okay.....There's Nintendo Trivia playing on the background, but I see no Reggie, or anything yet. Probably just dragging it out, knowing Nintendo.

Here we go! A symphony is playing, and a Legend of Zelda tribute video is playing on the screen, highlighting Link's best moments in the past. Zelda is shown, in all her forms, and so is Ganon. Lots of OoT 3D footage. New Skyward Sword footage, showing a cartoony Link and Zelda flying. The video is for LoZ 25th Anniversary. Here comes Miyamoto.

E3 Live Blog

Nintendo's Conference starts in less than 10 minutes! And to commemorate this awesome event, I'll be live blogging all that they show off, and talk a bit about what they show, so if you have to miss their conference for any reason, you can just check here!

Also, I'd like to take this time to congratulate Livi Lu, a friend of mine who is joining my blog as a partner. She'll do reviews periodically under her name, so now we have two people doing the work, which makes things run a lot smoother!

Livi's Corner : Kung Fu Panda 2 Review

Jack Black is back as everyone's favorite fat panda in the epic adventure of Kung Fu Panda 2. Unlike POTC 4, Hans Zimmer along with John Powell keep the music fresh and upcoming. Then again, this was the first sequel and not the third, so there was more wiggle room as far as composition goes. The music was pretty intense, matching the mood perfectly in some of the more serious scenes.

And it was serious, very serious at times. Of course, it's hard to have the slaughter of an entire village be the main plot point and not get a little serious. There is no blood, but a lot of characters/grunts meet a G rated death. However, DreamWorks dealt with this wonderfully with some of their beautiful transitions. The flashback sequences merge flawlessly with the 'regular' timeline, although I was starting to get a little tired of the sheer amount of them. I love the 2-D animations. They bring an individual charm to the movie, and really makes it stand out from all of the other animation movies nowadays. In all honesty, I can't find anything I didn't like about the artwork and detail in KFP 2.

I can't find anything really wrong with characterization either. Yes, it's true that the movie focuses a lot more on Po than any other character, but hey, he's the main character, and the whole story is about himself. Po works through a terrible event and suppressed  memories, and the audience gets a front seat to experience his internal conflict as well. Tigress has gotten over her jealousy issues, and we get to see some more glimpses of her caring side. The person I liked most, though, was the villain. Gary Oldman was Lord Shen, an understandable villain. I really don't like it when you are given a guy and told he is a villain and completely evil without justifications or reason. What's even worse is when they try to give a reason in the most cliche way. For example:

Mr. Evil McKevil cackled madly as he watched Hero McChero struggle against his bonds. "Fools! I'm going to make them pay for bullying me as a child. I was so alone. No one loved me. Now they will be forced to recognize me in death! I'm going to use my Weapon of DOOM now. Say 'good-bye' to all of the innocent civilians I'm now going to fry, Mr. McChero! Bweeeheeeheeehee!"

There was nothing like this in KFP 2. It's actually very indirect and subtle. Shen doesn't even come out and give the reason himself - he's prompted by the Soothsayer. Words don't do the characterization justice.

Again, I knew the plot from the beginning, but they say it's the journey, right? And the journey was definitely worth it. Let's face it - the movie was lol level funny, and the fighting scenes included combos that made it interesting and not just a repeat of the last movie. Again, the visual aspects were 110%, leading to the standard of fight scenes I missed in POTC.

In conclusion, Kung Fu Panda 2 was a great follow-up to a great movie. The graphics were beautiful, the characterization was amazing, and although the plot was simple, it was forgiven in place of a never-ending string of  clever jokes and quips. This must-see movie has my stamp of approval.

Overall : 4.5/5.0

Next Review : X-Men 2

E3 2011

Well, E3 is upon us, folks, and on my blog I'll be covering all your Nintendo news from their live media conference tomorrow morning. You can catch the show at 9:30 Pacific time on G4, or just check my blog for updates if you don't get that channel. We'll be seeing the all-new console, Project Cafe, as well as new games like Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and all kinds of 3DS news and games. As always, expect a couple of surprises, so be sure to stay tuned to my blog for all the details.

Coldplay - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

It seems like Coldplay's turned out a new single, which is just as magical as the rest of their music. I'm a huge Coldplay fan, and having listened to them almost all my life, I couldn't wait to hear their new single, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. The song starts out with a catchy, sort of pop beat, which is followed by the chorus. This beat is heard throughout the whole duration of the song, and it sets the tone for their single. The song is beautiful, and Chris Martin delivers some of Coldplay's best lyrics I've ever seen. It also features some astonishing guitar work from the rest of the band, and the song is just fun overall. If you want to listen to it, it's available on iTunes, or here's the YouTube link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kf_6BWcOOg

Thor Review

Thor had a lot to live up to. With the ever popular Avengers film coming out in 2012, Thor needed to show that he's not just another superhero. While this movie doesn't do his character justice, it's still a fun ride with some bumps along the way.

Thor's plot is like every other superhero's plot. Thor gets banished from his home world of Asgard in the skies right before he is to become king. He and his hammer get sent to New Mexico, where he meets up with a few scientists who find him. The secret agency S.H.I.E.L.D. is out to seek his hammer and its power, and it's up to Thor to get it back. Back up in Asgard, Loki, Thor's brother, becomes corrupt and sends a Transformer-like thing to destroy Thor. Thor reunited with his hammer and destroys the robot thing, and he then returns to Asgard to confront Loki. The plot in Thor is nothing special, which is a bit of a shame. I was hoping for a more unique plot that is unique to Thor and his powers, but this seems like the plot could work with just about any other superhero. The movie does nothing to distance itself from the superhero crowd, which is a shame, because when Avengers comes out, we'll all be thinking, "Thor who?"

The characters and acting in Thor are pretty good. Chris Hemsworth is okay as Thor, but he's a bit to "mighty" for my tastes. Natalie Portman does a good job as Jane, one of the scientists who rescues Thor after his banishment. Her character actually shows development, and she eventually becomes romantically involved with Thor. Anthony Hopkins also shines as Odin, ruler of Asgard. I also appreciated the balance between Asgard and Earth, because sometimes in these types of movies, one planet overshadows the other, but in Thor, there were just enough scenes in both to keep the movie balanced and satisfying.

The special effects in Thor are phenomenal, and should definitely be noted for their over-the-top explosions and very elaborate effects. I still go by my policy that effects don't make the movie, and it's true in Thor's case. The movie shows little character development, has practically zero plot elements, and just because it has great special effects, it doesn't make the movie great.

Thor is still a fun ride, but it doesn't do anything to separate it from all the other superhero movies. I hope this isn't the case with Green Lantern, however, as I'm really looking forward to that.

Overall: 3.0/5.0

Livi's Corner: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Second Thoughts

This is a new feature I'd like to run through the course of what will be the best summer ever for Joey's blog! My friend, Olivia, or Livi, would love to rant about things I've reviewed, whether she agrees with them or disagrees with them. So she'll offer her second thoughts about things that I've previously reviewed

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Second Thoughts

The first indication that the movie was going to be anything but original was the music. It was pretty much the exact same as the music from the movie's predecessors. And therein lies the problem - it was the EXACT SAME. Oh, I know, series in a movie tend to keep to the same 'theme' so when a person hears it, she or he immediately recognizes that this music = this movie and makes the connection. Unfortunately, sometimes this tends to backfire, as it did in the case of POTC: On Stranger Tides. You see, POTC was so wildly popular that every band or orchestra concert simply HAD to play the music. Everywhere you went, you heard Jack's Theme and The Medallion. By the time I sat down to the fourth movie and was forced to endure a few hours listening to basically the same thing, I wanted to grab my own pistol and blow my brains out. Hans Zimmer is a great composer, but he failed spectacularly at making this score original. In fact, I have doubts he even tried to make it original. It's like they took all of the scores in the past, added some more choir parts, turned up the volume and called it done. In a shining example of a series music done right, the Harry Potter music has changed a lot since the first movie. John Williams was the initial composer who came up with the tune that we all associate with the Harry Potter films. But did it stay this way? No! By the sixth movie, the theme had been expanded and the music changed just enough to keep it fresh while at the same time touching on those familiar chords. Disney should be on their knees begging the Warren Brothers to teach them musical theory for soundtracks.

Every character had a set personality from the start and by George they kept to it! Jack was a trickster, Blackbeard was evil, Gibbs was blindly loyal, and Barbossa was pretty much the same from the last few movies. Screw character development, this is Pirates of the Freaking Caribbean! Throw a flashy sword fight in and no one will notice the utter lack of character growth, I swear! Some may argue that Phillip, the kindly priest, had some characterization going on there, but only a very small degree - all he did was change his mind that Blackbeard wouldn't be able to be 'saved' at all. And that was because he had fallen in love (predictably) with the first mermaid who garnered pity from the audience. Don't tell me you didn't see that one coming. Angelica wasn't characterized either. She had one motivation : to save poor Daddy Dear's soul. She is also more forgiving and tries to protect the crew to a degree, but that's basically it. She's a more dynamic character than the others, but still stays the same throughout the movie.

Thanks to all of the flat characters, it was easy to see some of the things that were going to happen. Luckily there were still enough twist to keep the movie interesting, but it was no Sherlock Holmes. Every other scene had someone holding someone at gunpoint/knife/pointy thing at their throat, and after the three movies of this going on, it's just not as effective anymore. And all of the fight scenes got boring. POTC outdid themselves in the third movie when Jack, Will, and Barbossa have a three-way duel on a moving wheel of doom. Compare that to barrels falling down, and yeah, sure, impressive, but really....not. At the end I was wishing the fighting would stop. Just nuke the place and hurry up with the damn plot! The ending of the movie killed a bit of my soul as well when I watched Johnny Depp walk along the beach and deliver a perfectly cliche speech with a perfectly cliche parting line : "...it's a pirate's life for me." Can anyone say, "CHEESY"?

The movie had some redeeming points, however. The actors did a great job performing, even if their roles were constricted. The minor characters did a wonderful job : a few of the crew members caught my interest more than the main characters at time. Penelope Cruz was an excellent Angelica, and sometimes overshadowed Depp during some scenes. The chemistry paled in comparison to Knightly and Bloom's, but was passable for a movie labeled in the Action genre. The humorous banter between the two seemed natural, and Jack continued to make me laugh throughout the movie.

The special effects should be appreciated as well. POTC always had some very convincing and realistic effects, and the special effects crew gave their all on this one. The mermaid issue as far as the whole 'walking on land' thing was taken care of smoothly, and the mermaids' tails look great.

Overall, with those in mind, the movie turned out to be disappointing and not as good as the first three. It had some cool points to it, but if you do go to see it, don't expect anything better some witty quips and fancy dueling.

Overall: 3.0/5.0

American Idol - What Went Wrong this Season

Like many, I had insanely high hopes for this season of American Idol. Even though half of the judges were gone, I still felt that Idol could squeeze one more season out of me before I ditch it 100%. The fact of the matter is, however, that this season couldn't have been any worse. From the promises not fulfilled to the awful talent, this season was easily one of the worst in recent history.

Let's start with the good. The judges this season are a surprising fresh of breath air. Jennifer Lopez is NOT the new Paula Abdul, and she actually talks to the contestant on what they can improve on, and usually gives great criticism. Not to mention she is extremely beautiful. Steven Tyler, although a bit crazy, still says things that, for the most part, make sense. Randy, on the other hand, is terrible. He doesn't understand music at all, and he just says a confusing mess of words that sound smart, and then adds "(contestant's name) is in it to win it!!!", and the crowd goes wild.

Were Idol went bad this season, was all the unfulfilled promises that they weren't made. I remember when AI's producers made a huge announcement back in 2010 that said that American Idol would be completely different this season. Sure, the top 24 was gone, for the better, but what about all the stuff they said would change, that didn't? Remember when they said there would be guest judges? Yeah, I didn't see a single new face on the panel all season. How about when they said that contestant's wouldn't be forced to sing genre-specific songs out of their comfort zone? Well, tell that to Naima on Elton John week, or tell it to Casey almost all season. That's why most of the good talent is already gone, and why people like Scotty stayed in all season, because he could sing essentially anything.

The talent this season also wasn't as good as past's. I recall Randy saying that we had the best talent we've had all season, earlier in the top 13. And he was right. Standouts like Thia, Paul, Casey, and Haley really shined, but were eliminated too early. This is partly due to the fact that singers like them can't make it far, because America isn't ready to embrace true talent! (See: Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest).

Scotty McCreary and Lauren Alaina in the top 2? Oh give me a break. Scotty is decent, I'll give him that. He's got a good voice, but how he made it to the finals is beyond me. First, he gets the "12-year old girl vote" (see: Justin Bieber), which isn't a true test of talent. Second, he comes across as the "all-american country boy", which fulfills three more stereotypes. And third, I just plain don't enjoy him. He's awkward, and makes freaky faces at the camera, and shifts his eyebrows up and down and maniacally stares at you. Now, to Lauren. She's sooooooo fake. I'm sick of her act. Her and her mom are the biggest staged family I've ever seen. Not only is she fake, but her singing is terrible. She has virtually no range, and her whole "I broke my vocal cords" thing was just to get the sympathy vote. I miss good talent, like Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams. Those two were my dream top 2, and then the season all went downhill.

Well, with all my complaining, you're probably wondering: well how do we fix it? Simple. America can vote all they want, but they create the bottom 3, and have no say in who goes home. Then, the judges decide who gets sent home, because the judges understand talent, and know who can shine as a good singer. American Idol could learn a thing or two from shows like America's Got Talent, or Dancing With the Stars (which I hate). These shows give judges more say in how the show turns out, which is what I think it would take to revive this dead reality show.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review

Okay, I lied. 1) I said that the next review would be Thor, and 2) I said that I would not settle for another Pirates movie. Even though I said Thor would be next, I felt that while Pirates was still fresh in my head, I should review it first. Pirates 4 was certainly unexpected, and we all thought that we'd seen the last of Captain Jack Sparrow after the third film back in 2007. We were wrong, and, surprisingly, Pirates 4 delivers one of the most exhilarating adventures in years, and is miles better than the second and third films.

On Stranger Tides is a refresh to the Pirates film series. Gone are the boring Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan, and they are replaced with new blood in the form of Sparrow's old flame, Angelica, and her father, the dreaded Blackbeard. The story in Pirates 4 is certainly not it's strong point, but when it came down to it, I didn't care. The film begins with Jack having escaped the hands of British soldiers, and he's in search of a crew. He meets up with Angelica, and boards the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard's cursed ship. This begins a long race to reach the Fountain of Youth, with Captain Barbossa and his soldiers in hot pursuit. Along the way, they all encounter zombies, mermaids, and a cast of new and familiar faces. The plot is simple, and easy for anyone to follow. It's quite predictable, but that doesn't really take away from the film, as you'll find out in a bit.

Pirates 4 is certainly not breaking any boundaries, but the film is just pure fun. Johnny Depp is once again a laugh riot as Jack Sparrow, and Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane do a good job as Angelica and Blackbeard, respectively. It was nice not having the non-pirate duo of Will and Elizabeth in these films, since their boring relationship never really pushed the plot anywhere at all. Thankfully that's gone, and replaced with a love story between a crew member of Anne's Revenge, and a mysterious mermaid. Like I said, the movie is a lot of fun, and their are some very cool action scenes, including one in particular, when the crew has to capture a mermaid, which is thrilling and unexpected.

The special effects are good, and the ships and locales in Pirates 4 look better than ever. Queen Anne's Revenge comes alive at the wave of Blackbeard's hands, and the last battle at the Fountain of Youth is a sight to behold. Of course, Jack Sparrow's catchy pirate tunes are back, and whenever you hear the first notes of "He's a Pirate", you know you're in for a treat.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a bold step forward in the franchise, boasting a grand scale adventure that must be seen.

Overall: 4.0/5.0

NEXT REVIEW: THOR

Lady GaGa - Hair

Hot off her past releases, Judas and Edge of Glory, Lady GaGa once again delivers a new single off her next album, in the form of "Hair". Musically, the song is nothing special, with interesting saxophone pieces accompanying a catchy pop piano medley. What sets "Hair" apart from GaGa's other songs, is the message. She says that she is "as free as her hair" and wants to "die living just as free as her hair". Her past songs have more been about relationships, and "Hair" is different because it expresses her freedom and individuality more. It's a good song, with a good message, but don't expect it to blow you away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okq8xHrIZ8I

NEXT REVIEW: THOR

Knight and Day Review

Knight and Day is a difficult movie to review. It gets a lot of things right, but then again gets a lot of things wrong. It's a confused action romcom with decent acting and special effects, but is burdened with a poor plot and equally poor writing.

The plot is Knight and Day is ridiculous. Knight and Day follows Roy Miller (Tom Cruise) who is a secret agent running from these evil folks. He runs into June (Cameron Diaz) on an airplane, and then their adventure begins. After surviving a plane crash, they are sent into a frenzy of firefights and chases that never seem to end. It seemed like for every non-action scene there was, there were 3 more action scenes. They weren't terrible, but it seemed like the plot went nowhere because bad guys would jump out of nowhere and then they would attack. The ending is equally as silly, and when it finally reaches the end, it doesn't deliver. This same action romcom formula has been done millions of times before, with Killers, The Bounty Hunter, Date Night, etc. Knight and Day needed to distance itself from the others, and it didn't follow through.

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz do a good job together. They have decent chemistry, and the characters they played were funny and enjoyable. Cruise played super-cool spy guy who kills people and moves on, and Diaz played his "kidnapee" who is in shock for half of the film. It's funny, and it works. The writing however, doesn't. The writing is stupid, non-sensical, and there were so many writing cliches and one-liners that I couldn't help but laugh at. All the while the movie was trying to be serious, and when Cruise delivers some stupid line, I can't take the movie seriously anymore.

Where Knight and Day does deliver, is in the special effects area. Since there were action scenes abound, one might expect them to get lazy with effects, but no. Cruise and Diaz did most of their own stunts, and there are some scenes that will make you go "wow". It's a bit upsetting, though, that that's all the movie has going for it, because Knight and Day had a lot of potential.

Knight and Day isn't terrible, but it doesn't do much to distance itself from a world full of action romcoms. It's a good movie, and it's worth a rent, but don't expect it to blow you away.

Overall: 2.5/5.0

The Royal Wedding

Well, today was the day. The day that no one really cared about, except Great Britain and lone housewives. April 29th, 2011 will go down in history as the Royal Wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Kate Middleton. First of all, I'd like to say congratulations!

Now, I don't know a lot about the British Royal Family, but I certainly know that it's a big enough deal for network television to shut down and play 4-6 hour coverage of the big day. I watched the ABC coverage, and no, I didn't wake up at 3 AM to watch, but I enjoyed the commentary that Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, and various other reporters gave, and for once, it didn't put me to sleep. That's not to say that weren't any luls in the "action", and granted, it was kind of boring to watch the royal carriage depart from the cathedral over to Buckingham Palace, but that's what a DVR is for, right?

The grounds were packed, and almost all of London was there, including many exclusive guests, including Sir Elton John. Of course, the whole Royal Family was there, from Prince Charles to The Queen, and it was exciting to see who was coming next in the long parade line. Also, I got my brief history lessons as well, since ABC did a great job in explaining each family member and their ancestry.

The actual wedding was held in Westminster Abbey, London. There were a LOT of songs, with cute kid choirs and some excellent fanfares throughout. The wedding actually wasn't that long, and there were various readers, such as Middleton's brother who did a great job. Of course, Princess Diana was mentioned more than a few times, and many tears were shed acknowledging her heartfelt loss.

Overall, it was a very exciting day, and I wish them all the best.

NEXT REVIEW: KNIGHT AND DAY

Donkey Kong Country Returns Review

Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)

Beginning with the SNES, the Donkey Kong Country franchise has had its fair share of ups and downs. From the phenomenal DKC to the less than mediocre DKC 3, the series is in need of a reboot. Thankfully, our friends at Rare answered that prayer (rhyme?), and Donkey Kong Country Returns delivers a fantastic platformer for the Wii to call its own.

The story in DKCR is short and simple, and that's a good thing. Instead of an over-complicated story like some games have, DKCR keeps it to the point. Basically, a tribe of tiki monsters steal Donkey Kong's coveted stash of bananas, and, with Diddy Kong in tow, Donkey Kong gives chase. The game is split up into a world map, very similar to New Super Mario Bros, with various levels scattered around 8 worlds. Each level has collectibles to capture, like K-O-N-G letters and the very difficult puzzle pieces. Collecting these unlocks special temple levels and collectibles in the menu like dioramas and music. These collectibles, unlike many from other games, are actually worth getting, as they offer a lot of incentive to replay. It's a shame then, that that's all the game has going for it. Its presentation is amazing, but it feels too similar to previous titles for me to notice any difference, and while it may sound cool, it doesn't give off a vibe that DKCR is anything new.

You control Donkey Kong as he chases through all eight worlds to get his banana stash back. You use the Wiimote for his basic actions, like run and jump, and shake it to pound the ground or roll. Diddy Kong is scattered around some levels, and he gives you extra hearts as well as a greater jump distance. Donkey Kong Country Returns is difficult, and I mean it. It starts out easy, and the difficulty quickly ramps up for the final 3 or 4 worlds, and you'll definitely find yourself hurling your Wiimote at your television, and pounding in frustration. But, once you do finish these levels, the sense of accomplishment is profound, and gives you an incentive to continue and beat the game.

There are a variety of levels, and this is what makes the game great. From swinging on vines to invading a factory, DKCR never fails to impress in level design. In addition to your simple run-and-jump, there are mine cart levels, as well as new rocket barrel race levels. These are a blast, and you might expect them to feature tacked-on motion controls. That's not the case here, as each level uses traditional button pressing. These levels are among the hardest in the game, and will really test your skill. Kranky Kong has also set up shop in each world, and he helps you get through each world with a host of items, such as extra lives and Squawks, who helps you find those darn puzzle pieces. Rambi the rhino is also back, and, though he isn't found often, it's still a lot of fun to rampage through the level on the back of a rhinoceros. Co-op play also makes an appearance, although the levels don't seem that they were designed to be played in co-op mode, which is a shame. I prefer New Super Mario Bros Wii's style of co-op play, but it's still fun to play here with your friend as Diddy Kong.

The visuals in DKCR are good, with simple 2-D textures and such. The whole game is really colorful, and the visuals really pop with added flair like moving platforms and triggered events within the levels. The soundtrack in DKCR is also stunning, with remixes of old school tunes like Jungle Hijinx, as well as all-new tunes that are really fitting to each world's theme.

Donkey Kong Country Returns is a welcome return to the DKC franchise, and though it's not perfect, it still offers a lot of nostalgic fun with its phenomenal level design and great, challenging gameplay.

Pros:
Amazing Level Design
Very Challenging
Great Visuals & Soundtrack

Cons:
Very Similar to Previous Games
Decent Co-Op
TOO HARD! (jk)

Overall: 9.0/10.0