The Latest UK Video Games Chart

Welcome back to the Latest UK Video Games Chart, below is a list of last week’s most popular games.

January 22nd – 28th

The Latest UK Video Games Chart

Well I’m back again with the Latest UK Video Games Chart and I’m still tweaking that pesky layout, below is last week’s list.

January 15th - 21th

Prince of Persia Jumps Its Way onto the 3DS and Wii

Nintendo’s eShop (along with Nintendo DSi shop and Wii Shop Channel) gets an update this week, and included for 3DS and Wii owners are the retro Prince of Persia games.

Depending on where you shop, you will get a different version of Prince of Persia. Those who browse the eShop will find the Game Boy Color version while those who check out the Wii Shop Channel will find the SNES version.

For DSi owners…Yeah you’re screwed as you get no Prince of Persia. On the plus side you get 40-in-1 Explosive Megamix and a cute looking tower defense game called Come On! Heroes. Okay so that’s not much of a consolation, especially with the former sounding like a huge waste of time. At least the latter seems to be charming with a cute visuals and hopefully an amusing story behind it.

You can check out the prices and descriptions below.

For those using Nintendo Video, you’ll be pleased to hear that:

“Available this week via Nintendo Video, is the next instalment of the Circus 3D series. Circus 3D is a series of clips which will transport you into a world of a real life circus and put you the viewer in the heart of the action wherever you may be. Take in a birds-eye view of an acrobat on parallel bars or feel like you are with the artists on stage through innovative points of views. Watch an aerial performance from the floor or the point of view from inside a cage with tigers. Circus 3D will offer you an exhilarating experience which immerses you into circus life as if you were actually there, all in 3D and in the palm of your hand.”

“Also available this week via Nintendo Video is a 3D clip courtesy of Red Bull, showcasing some of the world’s best skiers taking part in the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel, Austria. From the Start all the way down to the finish, this unprecedented 3D clip provides a breathtaking insight into the toughest downhill ski race in the world.”

Puzzler Doodle Fit to Arrive on the eShop, DSi Shop and Wii Shop This Week!

Just what everyone loves, a bit of a puzzler. Well Nintendo have a double dose for you, with challenging puzzles and a make-up master class!

The Christmas season is over and everything is in full swing this month. Fear not, for if you feel that little bit glum, Nintendo do have the answer for you, with a full suite of new games to download on the Nintendo eShop, DSi Shop and the Wii Shop!

3DS and DSi owners have a puzzle for a treat in the form of Doodle Fit. The task that will be set before you may seem simple and easy, filling each given shape with the allotted blocks, however the correct combination will be become obvious immeadiately. You will need to rotate the shap and make sure that you try different combinations to complete each shape, making it colourful in the doodle art style!

Fashionists also get a treat with Make-Up: Style, which is also available on the eShop and DSi shop this week!By using a series of realistic make-up tools, you can become a master make up artist. You can practise on your own face in the game by simply taking a picture of yourself, placing it onto a 3D face in the game and then start applying that make up!

Bobby Carrot Forever is another treat for puzzlers which will be available for the WiiWare this week. Take control of the famous puzzle hare as he searches for the six golden carrots by solving puzzles, collecting carrots and making new friends, in this charming 2D puzzle adventure!

Check out all the latest offerings which are available for download this Thursday
via Nintendo eShop, Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel.

Skyward Sword and Mario 3D Land Smash Their Way Through Records!

This month has marked a fantastic milestone for Nintendo. Lately they’ve been falling behind the likes of Microsoft and Sony who have been dishing out fantastic and epic games including Gears of War 3 and Uncharted 3. But this month it seems as though Nintendo are back on track!

Firstly, Super Mario 3D Land is now the fastest selling Mario handheld game ever, shifting over 500, 000 copies in America alone since its release date. Yes, that means it beat its predessor New Super Mario Bros., marking a big step for Nintendo. This game has marked a new turn for Mario fans, as not only do you get to play in an all new fantastic 3D world, but you also get to play in some of the same styles seen in previous Mario games, giving us that classic Mario feel! The only problem people may face with this game is the difficulty, it may be too hard, may be too easy, we do not know, only you’ll know the answer to that!

Ocarina of Time is undoubtly one of the greatest games ever made. The first full 3D world of Zelda and it broke and pushed boundries that no other game could have achieved in the day! Moving to the future where a new Zelda game lays at bay, Skyward Sword then comes and breaks records not only for the fastest selling Zelda game on the Wii, but also the fastest selling Zelda game…EVER! This game carried a heavy amount of positive reviews even being considered as being on par or greater than Ocarina of Time itself! This month has proved that Nintendo can smash their way back into the holiday season race against their rivals! Not only do they have these two big guns at their dissposal, they also have the release of Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS, which is being hailed as the greatest Mario Kart game ever. We will be putting our review of this game up very soon and we can promise that it brings good news!

So what do you think? Are Nintendo back in the game or will this be a very short lived burst for them? Of course they will need to carry on bringing these epic games out, but they will also need to keep their consumers at bay for more exciting titles that would earn them that hard earned cash!

Mario Kart 7 is released on the 3DS this Friday!

Source: – www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk

Review: Professor Layton & The Spectre’s Call

The Professor is back, and this time with a new female colleague by his side.  This is Level-5′s 4th installment of the Professor and we are still yet to receive the Professors first 3DS title that launched in Japan for the 3DS. If you haven’t checked out our Professor Layton and the Lost Future review then click here to check out our rating.

Story

The story takes place three years before Professor Layton and the Curious Village, making it a prequel to the previous titles. The game takes place in a fictional village going by the name of Misthalley. The story is based around a legend known as specter who rose from the mist to defend the village whenever the Specter’s Flute was played. Now the spectre is known to be causing havoc in this little village which catches the Professor’s Eye to go and investigate. The story begins with a cut scene showing a woman named Emmy Altava, who mentions she has met the Professor before but the Professor insist’s he hasn’t. Emmy who is hired to become Professor Layton’s Assistant at the Gressenheller University where the Professor works.  As the story progress Luke get’s brought into the story and helps with the hunt for the Spectre. The story this time around appealed to me so much more than the other titles. I think probably for the fact that you don’t start the game off with the Professor and Luke so the variety of characters before the orignal storyline open up and you see how the Professor was before Luke helped him with his adventures.

Gameplay

If you have played previous Professor Layton titles then the gameplay style of this wont come to a shock. This installment continues to play as a  puzzle game, with a mix of adventure presented with the story line and gameplay elements.  Throughout the game you will not only play as Layton as there are three protagonists . The game is set in a village called Misthallery. During the game you will notice that the Professor has a new assistant known as Emmy Altava, and don’t worry Luke returns. As you progress you will take control of these three characters and aim to solve the mysteries of the village and progress further in the main story. The village Misthallery sets the story  into separate sections, and you will have to complete a certain section before the other parts of the game can be accessed.  Throughout the game you will be able to find hidden collectibles, investigate objects and unlock more parts of the dialogue, hint coins and hidden puzzles.  The gameplay is solid like the other Professor Layton titles and starts of easy for new players unlike the other titles. I however found that some of the puzzles wern’t interesting enough and felt a bit repetitive compared to the previous titles. There is a lot of new puzzles and some will cause some issues for previous players of the series, if you like a challenge then this title will pack a punch. At first I didn’t enjoy the puzzles as I found them to be a bit to full on, but as I actually sat there thinking about them more I felt proud that I accomplished the puzzles. My brain and I slept well once we completed the game. If you are struggling however don’t forget there are hint coins to give you hints on how to complete that puzzle, I recomend saving them for the harder ones as you may need it.
Some players may not notice whilst playing but there is another feature that grabbed my attention and this was caused by the new small mini-games that are playable in the main game, which come available by selecting them from the Professor’s Suitcase, which you can play whenever you are moving across the town. However you will have to progress far enough in the main game before being able to play the mini-games. The mini-games included are a Toy Train, a Fish, and a Puppet Theater. After progressing far enough into the story, you will also be on the hunt for mice in Misthallery to earn “mouse badges” and gain access to another minigame, known as “Mouse Alley.”

Design

The design still follows the same artistic vision the previous titles have, there haven’t been any noticeable upgrades with the graphical detail with the game, this isn’t an issue at all as the game has always looked amazing. The story location actually makes this Professor title stand out amugst the previous trillogy. The cutscenes still remain to look like a brilliant animated film, keeping animations smooth and looking how we want the Professor to look. I always have wondered however… Does he sleep in that suit?

Soundtrack

The soundtrack in the game made me just sit there with my DS on playing these amazing songs. The theme of The Spectre’s Call welcomed me to the game with open arms and I just wanted to hug the musical notes that were being played. I couldn’t. I would even recommend just picking up the title just to experience the soundtrack for yourself. It makes the game almost perfect and makes it easy to forget it’s flaws. Heck, even Square Enix Music rated the soundtrack an 8 out of 10.

Overall

Professor Layton in the Spectre’s Call is probably one of my favourite titles for the story line, for some reason I just enjoyed the presentation in this title much more than the others and this is one I will revisit to find the hidden gems the game has to offer. The soundtrack makes the experience an even more enjoyable one, with the puzzles still putting a challenge on who ever dares to adventure into the Spectre’s Call.

Cameron’s list of the 10 Worst Pokemon Abilities

Yeah! I finally give pokemon its own list. Doing a list of favorites for pokemon tend to go somewhere into flame territory with so many people asking why so and so didn’t make it into a personal list. So why not make a list of the abilities you would never want your pokemon to willing have? Enjoy.

Free 3D Trailers of Upcoming Mario and Luigi Games Through eShop

Nintendo are giving everyone the chance to download seven exclusive and scrumptious 3D game trailers exclusively through Nintendo eShop, showcasing some of the latest games arriving soon for the Nintendo 3DS. Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land and Luigi’s Mansion 2 will be amongst these new trailers from today, but only for a limited time!

These trailers will showcase some of the most highly anticipated games that are launching on the Nintendo 3DS, giving the hardcore Nintendo fans their pick of games! Some will even star some of Nintendo’s most famous heroes; such as Mario, Luigi and Pit. Other game trailers that will be included and available will be Paper Mario, Mario Tennis, Kid Icarus and the loveable Animal Crossing.

The Nintendo eShop gives owners of the 3DS access to a vast array of exclusive 2D and 3D content, which includes the Pok’emon Pok’edex for free. You all also have the ability to download old school games such as Game Boy, Game Boy Colour etc.

Be sure to check every Thursday for something new and exclusive to download!

Celebrating 25 Years of the Legend of Zelda!

To celebrate 25 years of an amazing franchise known as ‘The Legend of Zelda’, Nintendo are given away countless goodies to keep fans participating.

These are the big exclusives that Nintendo has to offer the Princess for her 25th birthday;

· SOLD OUT SYMPHONY CONCERT TO BE HELD AT THE HMV HAMMERSMITH APOLLO AS PART OF THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

· ENJOY THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: FOUR SWORDS ANNIVERSARY EDITION AS AN EXCLUSIVE NINTENDO DSiWARE DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

· LIMITED EDITION BUNDLE FOR THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD TO BE MADE AVAILABLE

On the 25th October the Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert Tour comes to the HMV Hammersmith Apollo for one night only. This has officially been sold out, which shows that it is a highly anticipated concert. A 70 piece orchestra will be joined by a choir, which will give the music a greater feel and atmosphere, and they will be playing beautiful and iconic music from the franchises 25 year run. This will include hand picked music by composer Koji Kondo, famous for doing most of the music for the Zelda games. His team will also be helping out and guests will also be able to preview the latest upcoming installment in the series…the highly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword!

As if Nintendo would stop the celebrations there. You are also aloud to download and experience The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition on your Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DSi or DSi XL system from the 28th September for a limited time only. New additional areas will be available to play and a single player option will keep the hard core fans and newcomers happy!

On the release date of Skyward Sword, Nintendo will be releasing a limited edition bundle for the game. This latest adventure for Link features one of the deepest and richest experiences ever produced by Nintendo, which has taken more than 100 staff members of the team FIVE years to produce. The limited edition bundle will feature a copy of the game ( ), a CD featuring selected orchestral arrangements from the 25th Anniversary Performance ( ), and a rare golden Wii Remote PLus controller bearing the Hylian Crest ( XD ). It is advised to pre-order this now to avoid dissappointment and to secure you copy.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Swords will be available to play in advance (ahead of it’s November 18th release) at these locations;

· Eurogamer Expo: 22nd – 25th September, Earls Court London

· GameCity6: 29th October, various venues, Nottingham

For more information about The Legend of Zelda visit www.nintendo.co.uk/zelda

For more information on The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary visit www.zelda25th.co.uk

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 Release date lets you take a break from shooting everyone!

November is already quite crowded in terms of shooters and AAA titles, but Warner Bros. has something else incase you need a break from all the high octane action you’ll be having over the next few months.

The LEGO titles have always been popular both with critics and gamers alike with their drop-in drop-out coop and colourful design as well as their ability to capture the essence and character source material perfectly; not to mention their signature LEGO charm.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 will be launching in the UK on November 18th for the (take a breath). Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and PC.

Also worth noting is that a demo for the title will be included for the PS3 in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Blu-ray Combo Pack!

To get a feel for this new title, why not take a look at this new piece of concept art below, as all as a couple of small screens!

LEGO® Harry Potter™: Years 5-7 continues the saga of the Boy Who Lived in this spell-binding adventure for wizards and Muggles alike. This time, players are transported through the final three books and final four films - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – to experience Harry’s last years at Hogwarts™ and battle Lord Voldemort™ in the ultimate fight of good vs. evil. The creative LEGO prowess unites with the expansive world of Harry Potter™ once again to deliver an exciting and rewarding gameplay experience. The game features lessons, spell-casting, dueling and much more for players of all ages to enjoy.