Nintendo Power - May 2008 (V228) - Trauma Center 2 DS

[botticus]

Cover
Final Fantasy IV

News
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 (DS, Atlus)
Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS, Activision)
We Ski (Wii, Namco)
WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2009 (Wii/DS, THQ)
Soul Bubbles (DS, Eidos)
We Cheer (Wii, Namco)
Disgaea (DS, NIS)
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (Wii, SE)
Looney Tunes: Cartoon Concerto (DS, Eidos)
Lock Nation (DS, 5th Cell/THQ)
Mega Man Star Force 2 (DS, Capcom)
Rock Band (Wii, MTV)
Blood Bowl (DS, Cyanide)
Moon (DS, Renegade Kid)

Wii Channels (WiiWare/VC coverage)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (WiiWare)
Defend Your Castle (WiiWare)
World of Goo (WiiWare)
LIT (WiiWare)
SPOGS Racing (WiiWare)
DoReMi (VC)
Kirby 64 (VC)
Ninja Gaiden III (VC)
Psychosis (VC)
Puyo Puyo 2 (VC)
Super Turrican (VC)

Previews
Metal Slug 7 (DS)
Wii Fit (Wii)
King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (Wii)
Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles (DS)
Bleach: Dark Souls (DS)
Mister Slime (DS)
Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy (Wii)
Death Jr.: Root of Evil (Wii)
Deca Sports (Wii)
GRID (DS)
Monster Lab (Wii)
The Incredible Hulk (DS, Wii)
WALL*E (Wii, DS)
LOL (DS)
Kung Fu Panda (DS, Wii)
Dinosaur King (DS)

Features
Final Fantasy IV (no release date :()
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness
Boom Blox
Summon Night: Twin Age
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Bangai-O Spirits

Interviews
Takashi Tokita - Creator of Final Fantasy IV
Masahiro Sakurai
Masato Maegawa - Treasure president
Masaya Matsuura

Reviews
Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 9.0
Battle of the Bands (Wii) - 7.0
The World Ends With You (DS) - 9.0
Teenage Zombies (DS) - 7.0
Puchi Puchi Virus (DS) - 7.0
Okami (Wii) - 7.5
N+ (DS) - 7.0
Summer Sports: Paradise Island (Wii) - 3.5
Minicopter: Adventure Flight (Wii) - 6.5
Rondo of Swords (DS) - 6.5
Castle of Shikigami III (Wii) - 7.0
MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars (DS) - 6.5

Next Month
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
FaceBreaker
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed


I haven't had time to do more than skim it myself, but I'll supply details as I get to it between dinner and B19/20F in EO.

[6.8]

Features Final Fantasy IV (no release date :()

:(

[Gigglepoo]

Does We Ski use the Balance Board? And why is it "We" instead of "Wii"? Are companies other than Nintendo allowed to use that moniker?

I'm just glad a new Trauma Center is finally being made for the NDS.

[Costanza]

Trauma Center DS 2 deserves it's own thread

[Seiken]

OKAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

[Error]

where the fuck is DQ4?

Im starting to grow a bit desperate.

[shidoshi]

Rondo of Swords (DS) - 6.5

Boo.

[botticus]

Trauma Center DS 2 deserves it's own thread

I agree, and I will get on that when I can get back to this thread after eating, unless someone else has the magazine and wants the honors. Only one page with no screens, but somehow they managed to keep that announcement under wraps.

[Aeana]

where the fuck is DQ4? Im starting to grow a bit desperate.

And Square Enix removed DQ5 from their Japanese homepage, too.

Apparently, Dragon Quest no longer exists for either arm of the company!

[fresquito]

What's We Cheer?

[jvalioli]

Trauma Center 2 Whaaat?! This wasn't in Famitsu, right?

[farnham]

Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 9.0

[stilgar]

Final Fantasy Fables (Wii, SE)

I might have missed something here.

[Barakov]

And Square Enix removed DQ5 from their Japanese homepage, too. Apparently, Dragon Quest no longer exists for either arm of the company!

What?! lulz

Doesn't really matter, since I haven't beat the remake of DQIV yet.

[Metroidvania]

Damn, no new Castlevania info.

[jvalioli]

I might have missed something here.

I'm guessing they renamed the Chocobo game.

[NeoXDeath]

What did they say about Mario Kart Wii? How is the online? What are the bikes like? Character list (doubt that)? Does the steering wheel controller hold up?

[Taurus]

Final Fantasy Fables (Wii, SE)

Did we know about this? I sure as hell didn't. :o

I'm guessing they renamed the Chocobo game.

Oh... Is this sure thing?

[wsippel]

I might have missed something here.

US release of Mysterious Dungeon. Coming this July.

[Fio]

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 (DS, Atlus).

!!!!!!!!

I really hope it isn't some kind of distasteful April's Fools joke.

[pulga]

Final Fantasy Fables? What the fuck is that?

[Error]

And Square Enix removed DQ5 from their Japanese homepage, too. Apparently, Dragon Quest no longer exists for either arm of the company!

:(

*cries on Aeana's shoulder*

[stilgar]

I'm guessing they renamed the Chocobo game.

Ok. Or could it be a new name for the mysterious Crystal Bearers?

EDIT : Or an April fool joke...

RE-EDIT: Ok, problem solved, thanks!

[Aeana]

Final Fantasy Fables? What the fuck is that?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267148

[Testicular Sound Express]

FFF is that Chocobo Dungeon game.

[Firestorm]

"Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 (DS, Atlus)"

WHAT?!

Also, how good is the Sakurai interview?

[Guled]

Need info on Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 now

[donny2112]

I realize that they didn't need to continue providing strategy sections in the magazine with GameFAQs, et al. around, but I really miss that part of the magazine. :( Reading strategy sections for games I had no interest in gave me an idea if I should have an interest in them.

I do like the newish rapid-fire news section at the front, though.

And Square Enix removed DQ5 from their Japanese homepage, too. Apparently, Dragon Quest no longer exists for either arm of the company!

It outsold the PS1 version of DQIV, so maybe they are going to try to make DQV bigger than they previously planned? I don't know. I thought they wanted to get out DQIV-DQVI before DQIX came out.

[Firestorm]

I realize that they didn't need to continue providing strategy sections in the magazine with GameFAQs, et al. around, but I really miss that part of the magazine. :( Reading strategy sections for games I had no interest in gave me an idea if I should have an interest in them. I do like the newish rapid-fire news section at the front, though.

I never really like the strategy sections. I love the new emphasis on interviews though. Almost every feature has an interview with the developers.

[Nicko]

Okami (Wii) - 7.5

What the heck??? Isn't Okami Wii suppose to be superior in every way to the PS2 version?? What gives?

[bryehn]

Yeah, Teenage Zombies!

wait, Trauma Center: UTK 2? YES!

[JaCy]

The World Ends With You (DS) - 9.0

Great score. I can't wait for it

Okami (Wii) - 7.5

I know it's a year and half old port but what were their complaints?

[Ranger X]

Previews of Jake Hunter and Blastworks? Do tell moar!

[pulga]

Goddamit, I was hoping it would be a new game.

[slaughterking]

This Trauma Center announcement reminds me that europe never got New Blood. ;_;

[donny2112]

I never really like the strategy sections. I love the new emphasis on interviews though. Almost every feature has an interview with the developers.

Personally, I could do without the interviews. I guess that's another place online beats print. There's so much content, that such differing tastes can all be accomodated. I do like having the actual magazine in my hands, though.

[ZealousD]

News Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 (DS, Atlus)

Za?

What is this? A DS adaptation of New Blood... or?

[NeoXDeath]

Why the hell did they dock Okami? I want to read this review. Do they post them online like GI?

[Jazzem]

This Trauma Center announcement reminds me that europe never got New Blood. ;_;

That's not to say it ever will right? :(

[ivysaur12]

I'm so pumped for The World Ends With You.

Thank god FFIV and Chocobo's Dungeon are coming here.

[NeoXDeath]

So according to Nintendo Power, Okami is worse tha--*gets B7*

[Jammy]

Trauma Center: New Blood was one of my favorite games of 2007. It was just so much different compared to everything else out there. The originality, controls, difficulty, co-op, voices, online rankings, etc. were just all there. It'll be hard going back to DS for this franchise, but any new installment in the Trauma Center series should turn heads.

And what the fuck did they say about Okami?

[Costanza]

Trauma Center: New Blood was one of my favorite games of 2007. It was just so much different compared to everything else out there. The originality, controls, difficulty, co-op, voices, online rankings, etc. were just all there. It'll be hard going back to DS for this franchise, but any new installment in the Trauma Center series should turn heads.

I've hated both Wii editions, honestly. The first DS game is still fucking fantastic and I can't wait for this one.

[Sadist]

O... Okam... Okami? WHAT!!!???

Really want to hear the arguments.

[voodoojohn]

Trauma Center: New Blood was one of my favorite games of 2007. It was just so much different compared to everything else out there. The originality, controls, difficulty, co-op, voices, online rankings, etc. were just all there. It'll be hard going back to DS for this franchise, but any new installment in the Trauma Center series should turn heads. And what the fuck did they say about Okami?

Didn't the major outlets almost uniformly take a dumb on New Blood? The scores I saw prevented me from picking it up in that busy gaming season.

[Firestorm]

Didn't the major outlets almost uniformly take a dumb on New Blood? The scores I saw prevented me from picking it up in that busy gaming season.

The reasoning for the scores was that TC: NB was too hard.

[MidiSurf]

Castle of Shikigami III (Wii) - 7.0

<3

Good to see it kees scoring decent numbers.

[Beezy]

Didn't the major outlets almost uniformly take a dumb on New Blood? The scores I saw prevented me from picking it up in that busy gaming season.

How about you actually read the reviews next time?

[Farore]

King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga info, please!

[botticus]

Alright, here goes. This post will be updated with new summaries as I go.

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
-Features Derek Stiles and Angie Thompson
-New operations, new story, new and old characters
-Plot focuses on GUILT aftermath and mysteries surrounding the virus
-Gameplay remains similar to the first game (I'd hope so)
-Some tools will have improved functionality (no word on any new tools)
-Easy difficulty setting for greater accessibility
-Summer 2008

We Ski
-Balance board compatible
-Remote + nunchuk used to gain momentum
-Turn remote/nunchuk left and right to steer if you're not using the balance board
-Single player only with balance board, up to 4 players with controllers
-May 2008

We Cheer
Licensed music (Hilary Duff, Aly & AJ (who?), etc)
-Geared toward the tweens, also fun for adults (uh huh)
-Use two remotes like pom-poms, follow on-screen commands
-Supports up to four players with one remote each, two player co-op where each player controls one arm
-Choose one of 15 girls to participate in tournaments in single player mode
-Exercise mode has you wear the shoes of a personal trainer to earn money to buy outfits

Chocobo's Dungeon
-Jobs like Knight and Black Mage
-Equippable items boost stats and change appearance
-Tur-based battles in randomly generated dungeons

King of Fighters Collection
-King of Fighters 94, 95, 96, 97, 98
-Challenge mode - each match has conditions to meet
-Four control schemes: remote, remote + nunchuk, classic controller, GameCube controller

Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles
-Three cases
-Observe suspects, investigate crime scenes, talk to witnesses, collect evidence
-Control with touch screen or control pad/buttons
-Text-based interface
-Menu-based fisticuffs and hidden passwords

Blast Works
-Grab defeated enemy vehicles and weapons and use them to build your ship
-Every vehicle you touch blocks projectiles and has a unique shot pattern
-Position you grab them determines angle of fire
-Four player co-op
-Level-editor
-Send custom stages to friends over WFC

Mario Kart Review
-9.0
-Bikes turn sharper and enable boosts at any time; only one-stage miniturbo while drifting (karts can power up two stages)
-Hold drift to charge miniturbo
-Miniturbos from performing tricks (flick wheel when you hit a jump)
-Wii Wheel better than expcted - best motion control in a racer so far
-New tracks have more detailed visuals, fresher ideas, and stuff going on than retro tracks
-32 tracks
-Not as revolutionary as Galaxy, not as content-packed as Brawl
-No detailed mention of Wi-Fi

The World Ends With You
-9.0
-Good learning curve for complex and creative battle system
-Great narrative
-Lots of dialogue, excellent writing
-Fittingly eclectic soundtrack

Okami
-7.5
-Beautiful aesthetics
-Lots to do
-Controls didn't make the jump as well as they should have
-Pointing and drawing is faster and allows more freedom than analog stick
-Harder to be precise, resulting in recognition problems
-Awkward combat - slow, timed flicks of remote are required for consecutive hits; swing too fast and it's not recognized
-No motion-based fishing
-Issues can be overcome with practice
-Play PS2 version instead (apocalypse now?)

Rondo of Swords
-Draw movement paths through allies and enemies
-Momentum system - enemies target those doing the most damage
-Side quest system for idle characters
-Mix of grueling difficulty and unclear objectives require you to restart most maps multiple times
-No optional battles to raise low-level characters or grind for exp
-Shopping is a pain: have to send a character on a shopping side quest, money spent randomly with possibly nothing in return
-Satisfying to beat difficult maps
-Have to outsmart opponents, you can overpower them