Off the Newsstand: Nintendo Power Issue 280

Absolutely no new retail game releases this week.  Meaning that there will be no Launch Station at all this week.  Now that I got enough time to look at the latest issue of Nintendo Power.  The big Issue 280, only 20 more issues until a landmark 300 issues of Nintendo Power.  Following in suit with all other video game magazines, the July issue revolves around all the big news from this year's E3.

On the cover of Issue 280 is the Wii U, Nintendo's next console.  Considering Nintendo Power has been one of my main sources for Nintendo news, previews, reviews and coverage, I was disappointed that there was not a full article on the Wii U.  It was just a stuck at the beginning of the Power Up section of the magazine.  I remember after Nintendo's big showcase of the Wii at E3 2006, the following Nintendo Power had an amazing article called The Wii Experience that looked at the Wii and some of the big launch titles such as Red Steel, Raving Rabbids, Madden and Tony Hawk.  It was not just a brief look and a list of the Top 10 Wii U Games at E3 2012.  In all honesty, it was a fine look at the Wii U, but I expected much more from Nintendo Power considering this is the official Nintendo magazine for North America and the Wii U report was the cover story of this issue.  If they were not going to have the Wii U as the cover story for this issue, they should have put something else on the cover like New Super Mario Bros. 2.  Speaking of New Super Mario Bros. 2, there was a five page preview of the upcoming 3DS game.  It was a fine preview, but there was nothing too substantial.  Given a few more pages and an interview, this preview could of easily served as the cover story for Issue 280.  Along with that preview was a look back all of Nintendo's releases in 1987, which was pretty cool, but felt more like filler, and a preview of the Adventure Time game for the DS and 3DS.  Even though I have never watched the show, I found the Adventure Time preview easily the best article in this issue.  It gave a substantial amount of information about a game that until now nobody really knew much about and had a very good interview with Adventure Time series creator and animator, Pendleton Ward.  Even though I am being down on this issue of Nintendo Power, there was still some good content in the Download, Preview, Review and Community sections of the magazine.

As a whole, I expected much more from Issue 280 of Nintendo Power.  When you such a big story in the Wii U on the cover, you have to hit the ball out of the park or leave people like yours truly disappointed.  There is still quite a bit of good content in Issue 280 of Nintendo Power, but it is not an issue that you have to go out of your way to read.

Launch Station: Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure

Another week, another rhythm game for the 3DS.  Last week saw the release of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy from Square Enix, this week sees Sega's offering in Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure.  It seems in the dead of summer, the 3DS is getting some love with a good stream of quality games coming out.  Well it is a good time to be a 3DS owner then as there will be a new game to look forward to almost every week this month.

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure is a first -and-foremost a rhythm game with puzzle and adventure elements mixed in.  In Rhythm Thief, you play as Raphael, also known as illusive art thief Phantom R.  Raphael is searching for the whereabouts of his father, who went missing a few years ago.  During Raphael's adventures, he runs into a mysterious girl known as Marie and a seemingly resurrected Napoleon Boneparte, who is trying to take over Paris.  The bulk of the story mode has you going from level to level playing a series of rhythm games.  Each and every level in the game has a different rhythm mechanic that uses each part of the 3DS (touch screen, d-pad, face buttons and gyro) to the best of it's abilities.  For Sega aficionados, Rhythm Thief features parodies of past Sega rhythm games such as Space Channel 5 and Samba de Amigo hidden throughout the game.   Outside of the rhythm game based levels, you are able to travel to various areas in Paris, talk to NPCs, solve puzzles to advance the story, find hidden rhythm games and story branches and use the medals you earn by completing levels to buy mini-games and movie clips from the shop.  Rhythm Thief also features a multi-player mode where you can take on friends in a variety of rhythm challenges and StreetPass functionality that has you challenging the people you StreetPass to beat your high scores and vice versa.

It is great to see for the entire month of July the 3DS release schedule is dominated by third-party games.  Nintendo makes some of the best games on their systems, but the third-party support is what will makes or breaks any system.  So it is nice to see Nintendo step back for the month of July and let other companies take the spotlight on the 3DS.  Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure has been on my radar for awhile.  Everything I have seen and read about the game looks very unique and a lot of fun.  If you want to see for yourself, try the demo on the Nintendo eShop.  It does take a few tries to get use to each levels control scheme, but once you figure out the rhythm the game is a lot of fun.  While I do not plan to pick up Rhythm Thief right away, it is a game that I will eventually pick-up for the 3DS in the near future.  For those looking for another good rhythm game for the 3DS to go along with Theatrhythm, you should definitely considering picking up Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure.

On the Download: June 24-30 Part 1

You are not reading the title wrong.  This week On the Download will be split into two parts to cover the good amount of noteworthy downloadable games released this week.  It did not take long for the downloadable game space to start dropping big release after another.  This week alone, we got the expansion to the biggest RPG of 2011, the extended ending to the biggest RPG of 2012, the next episodes in the Penny Arcade and Walking Dead series of games and two big 3DS downloadable releases.  Got a whole lot to cover in On the Download this week.  Today, we will be looking at the two big 3DS downloadable releases.  Along with these games, you can also download the demo for Rhythm Thief for free and get VVVVV on sale for 5 dollars.

A few months ago, Zen Studios released Zen Pinball 3D for the 3DS.  Now Zen Studios has brought their successful Marvel Pinball game to Nintendo's portable system as well.  Marvel Pinball 3D is the same game you may have experienced on the Xbox 360 or PS3, now with 3D visuals and being able to take it on the go.  Marvel Pinball features four tables that players can enjoy.  The four tables are each based on a different Marvel property.  One for Iron Man, one for Captain America, one for Blade and one for the Fantastic Four.  Each table has a corresponding villain that acts as the boss for the table.  For example, you battle Red Skull on the Captain America table or fight the Mandarin on the Iron Man table.   Marvel Pinball 3D also features online leader broads and in-game challenges to keep players occupied.  For those interested in another pinball game for the 3DS, Marvel Pinball 3D costs 8 dollars to download.

Earlier this year Renegade Kid cut their teeth in the downloadable game space with Mutant Mudds for the 3DS.  Now a few months after their first downloadable, they have released their second exclusively for the 3DS.  The game is Bomb Monkey.  In the world of Bomb Monkey, these creative little primates created a sport by the name of Blok Bombing.  The goal of Blok Bombing is rather simple.  You will have to stop the bloks from rising high enough to knock you off your perch.  By carefully stacking bloks and using bombs, you can set up combos and earn a higher score.  Bomb Monkey puts a creative spin on the puzzle game genre.  Bomb Monkey features several different game modes (Endless, Rescue, 3 Minutes and Numbers) and both co-operative and competitive multi-player modes for all to enjoy.  Bomb Monkey looks like an unique puzzle game that 3DS owners should check.  The best thing is this game will only set you back 5 dollars if you decide to pick it up.

Off the Newsstand: Nintendo Power Issue 275

As long as I have loved video games, I have been a Nintendo fan.  No matter what anybody says or whatever happens, nothing will ever change that.  It is ingrained in my DNA.  For a huge Nintendo fan to pick up an issue of Nintendo Power just about ten years ago, it was one magical moment.  Everything Nintendo-related captured in about 100 page magazine made 11 year old me giddy in side.  After buying a few issues, I asked my parents for a subscription to Nintendo Power for Christmas and well the rest is history.  Through the good times and bad, the thick and the thin, there has been one constant these last ten years of my life.  That I would receive a new issue of Nintendo Power at the beginning of each and every month.  Not every issue has been the greatest thing to grace the printed media, but Nintendo Power has never let me down.  

As has become sort-of a tradition over the last few years, Nintendo Power begins the New Year with a big 35-page preview of the year to come.  In this huge 35-page preview, the editors of Nintendo Power highlight the biggest games that have been announced for 2012 such as Kid Icarus Uprising, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure.  It is one great feature, but the reason you will want to read it is for the excellent previews of Kid Icarus Uprising and Rhythm Thief both for the 3DS.  The preview for Kid Icarus Uprising is extremely comprehensive as it looks at all the features, weapon classes, basic plot and bonus features, much of which was not shared until this feature.  On top of that, Nintendo Power had one incredible interview with the director on Uprising and creator of Kirby and Super Smash Bros., Masahiro Sakurai about the challenges of reviving this 25-year old franchise in this day and age.  After reading the preview, my anticipation for Kid Icarus Uprising has gone through the roof.  The preview for Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure is just as good as Nintendo Power runs down the diverse tasks you be completing by tapping, sliding, tilting and button pressing.  Thanks to Nintendo Power's coverage of Rhythm Thief, I am interested in seeing how good this unique 3DS rhythm game is when it releases in March.  While the big 35-page 2012 preview was the big story in this issue, but it was not the only good thing about this issue of Nintendo Power.  Nintendo Power treats readers to one great interview with Michel Ancel and Sebastien Morin on arguably the best platformer of 2011, Rayman Origins, a list of 40 can't miss games on the Nintendo eShop, a look back at Revenge of the 'Gator, a solid pinball game from Nintendo and Hal Laboratory, and new edition of the always good Power Profiles, in this issue they profile Toshiaki Mori, an illustartor for Capcom.  Along with the regularly solid Pulse, Power Up, Reviews and Community sections, issue 275 of Nintendo Power is one all-around great magazine.

After having such a disappointing time reading OXM, I really enjoyed my time reading issue 275 of Nintendo Power.  While other magazines spend most of their time taking stabs at their competitors, Nintendo Power focuses on highlighting Nintendo's current and upcoming systems and the unique experiences only offered on them.  I would have never been interested in Rhythm Thief if Nintendo Power had not made room in their magazine to highlight this game that has been flying completely under the radar at the moment.  At only 6 dollars, this issue of Nintendo Power is a great read for anybody, not just Nintendo fans like myself.