 |
|
|
|
|
Posted:
10/25/13, 01:02
by |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
If there is one character that is synonymous with the company Nintendo, it has to be Mario. Mario made his debut way back in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong (although he was called Jumpman at that point), and the success of the game propelled him into the spotlight. However, it was really 1985’s Super Mario Bros. that cemented his role as Nintendo’s flagship mascot, a position that he has held without serious challenge ever since. With Mario’s next big platformer (Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U) just around the corner, I felt like it might be a good time to stop and take a look back at the games that have led us to where we are... (more) |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Posted:
10/14/13, 07:09
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For better or for worse, we live in an industry ruled by sequels, where taking risks on brand new IPs is becoming rare, replaced more and more often by regular iterations of established franchises. At least, this is the case on the “AAA” level, and Nintendo is certainly not excluded from this observation. However, I’m not going to get on a soapbox and rant about sequelitis; I’ll save that for another day. And the simple fact is, at the end of the day, developers wouldn’t make sequels if consumers weren’t buying them. When you truly love a game, it is hard to not want more... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
09/28/13, 23:44
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Music in games seems often overlooked, and one kind of theme typically ignored in the background is a game's menu music. These tunes are what we hear when we set up the game, and they vary from laidback to lively as they set the mood for the type of game ahead. Shining a spotlight on these commonly underappreciated compositions, listed here are my favourite themes for when I'm making choices... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
09/25/13, 23:09
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And we’re back, this time with my top 10 NES original soundtracks! Yeah yeah I know, I’m doing things out of order here, sue me. Awhile back I posted my Top 10 SNES Original Soundtracks (OSTs), because the SNES is the best thing ever and its music was doubly so, but I felt like the good ol’ classic 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System deserved its day to shine as well. So here we are... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
08/31/13, 04:10
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So the Ice Climbers did pretty well in the Melee tournament at Evo 2013 last month. They made it all the way to the Grand Final match! And as I watched the daring duo rampage through a collection of fan-favorite franchise characters, a thought occurred: how does a pair of such fearsome cold-blooded killers go nearly thirty years after their debut without another game?.. (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
08/30/13, 20:42
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mega Man 2 is a classic, beloved game, and one of the most important games in the series and on the NES. But personally, it's not my favorite. And that's because MM2 harbors a dark, miserable secret that most gamers seem to willingly block out when discussing the game's merits. That secret is Wily Castle 4, a dank, abysmal place that's sure to ruin your fun with Mega Man 2. It's time I called out this stage for the absolute terribleness that it is, so strap yourself in for a so-very-negative Negative World Top Ten!.. (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
07/21/13, 23:51
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We're over half-way through 2013, and it's already been a terrific year for video games. The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite are not only my two early front-runners for Game of the Year, but both are among the best games of this current generation of consoles. Just by themselves, they are giving this generation one hell of a send-off. Along with other really good games like Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Tomb Raider, I feel that 2013 has already been better than last year, and there's plenty more to come... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
07/13/13, 06:00
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A bear and a bird. Who ever knew these two animals would co-exist in such a way. After Super Mario 64 released in 1996, the 3D-platformer world was the wild wild west. It was open with possibilities and free for the taking. Since Nintendo themselves had no plans to release a new Mario title until the Gamecube era, Rareware stepped in. This was during the prime period of Rareware, when they were the kings of Nintendo gaming. It was a beautiful time that also brought us Goldeneye and Donkey Kong 64 and many more. The game can be seen as an evolution of Super Mario 64 and for that I fell in love with it. The different moves, the unique and entertaining music, and absolutely the level design... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
07/13/13, 05:44
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently on Negative World there has been great debate between two classic platformer-giants of the N64 era. The bitter battle between Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie is not unlike that of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in terms of epic father and son battles go. This debate sparked a desire within me to take a look back at all the great levels these games had to offer in the form of two Top Ten lists. The first of which being for the father of the 3D platformer, Super Mario 64. Super Mario 64 is distinct in that it really paved the way for 3D gaming much in the way Super Mario Bros. paved the way for 2D gaming once upon a time. It's a timeless classic and is loved generation after generation as Nintendo ensures this classic is available on a variety of platforms... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
06/27/13, 07:50
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm gonna do a quick Top 10 before I hit the hay. Sorry for no pictures, but maybe I'll edit tomorrow!.. (more)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
06/10/13, 05:34
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And we’re back for round two! This time I will be focusing on franchises that never made it beyond the Super Nintendo. Whether they started on the NES / other platforms, or were brand spanking new IPs, they had their moment on the spotlight and were quickly retired... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
06/08/13, 22:18
by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With the first glimpse of Smash Brothers 4 likely a few days away, lots of most-wanted character lists have been popping up as of recent, including a top ten from our fearless leader Zero. Instead of adding yet another one, I've decided to do something a little different: list the characters I specifically don't want to see in the game. Nintendo's history is rich with characters, but it also has its share of real stinkers who have no business appearing in Smash Brothers and using up a precious roster spot... (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
