Know Your amiibo! Episode 1-4: Donkey Kong

Super Smash Brothers Wave 1, amiibo 4 - Donkey Kong

Franchise: Donkey Kong (Introduced via Mario/DK arcade series)

Debut: Donkey Kong (1981)

Creator: Shigeru Miyamoto

Major Releases: Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Konga, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

We have already handled Mario, but what about his first nemesis, the big ape Donkey Kong?  Donkey Kong started his life as an antagonist which ignited lawsuits but eventually came into the platforming hero spotlight with the help of UK developer Rareware.  Since then, he has starred in a handful of spin-offs, including a musical bongo series.  He had been losing relevance when he regained gamer attention with Donkey Kong Country Returns, and while his latest outing did not see the same success, this big ape is certainly going to keep coming back to kick some tail.

I did not anticipate it taking us this long to get Donkey Kong out.  There were a few hitches this time around which kept development slow.  For one, the audio was completely re-recorded AFTER I did a good chunk of editing.  So, editing had to start from scratch to reorganize the video.  Footage wise, we had some help again from Neal of NintendoWorldReport for DKC3, and I have to thank Nintendo for including DK Jr. and DK3 in NES Remix.  The original arcade Donkey Kong, for your information, was found in Donkey Kong 64, a game which proved to be a chore for me to play with and get footage.  It is hard starting in the middle of a collect-a-thon after years of not being played.  Also, if you noticed, Donkey Konga is actually its sequel, but it isn't like you all could tell the difference! Bwahaha!  Anyways, good times were had. 

We will be waiting until after E3 to continue the series, because who knows what might be shown or announced.  Our next episode features someone who we thought would appear at E3, but now he appears to be caught between worlds...

NintendoWorldReportTV's Link

Third Rate Game Play: The Legend of Zelda: WW SD / HD [Part 6: Hyrule and the Forsaken Fortress]

Game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker SD/HD
System: Nintendo GameCube / Wii U
Developers: Nintendo EAD / EAD and HexaDrive
Publisher: Nintendo
Player: Tony / Alex
Experience: Tony has beaten it a few times. Alex has not.

(Check after the jump for the full article)

Know Your amiibo! Episode 1-3: Yoshi

Super Smash Brothers Wave 1, amiibo 3 - Yoshi

Franchise: Yoshi (Introduced via Super Mario)

Debut: Super Mario World (1990)

Creators: Shigeru Miyamoto; designed by Shigefumi Hino

Major Releases: Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Tetris Attack!, Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Touch 'n Go, Yoshi's Island DS, Yoshi's New Island

When it comes to companions, dinosaurs are not exactly the first thing that comes to mind, unless you are Mario!  Yoshi is one of the multiple heroes of the Mario franchise to emerge into his own series.  His life began as an idea for a power-up in Super Mario Bros.' development, but he would actually debut in Super Mario World.  With the great success of his egg-tossing adventure Yoshi's Island, Yoshi became his own franchise, complete with a number of spin-offs in the puzzle world and even a light-gun shooter!  While his newer games have been given mixed reception, Yoshi is still a prominent character in the Mario universe and has at least one more big adventure yet to come.

Yoshi we encountered a number of issues.  We had to get footage of more than a few handheld games, and we also had a couple games we didn't own, which complicated matters a little.  Thankfully, we were still able to get things together in this episode.  We did have to hold back a second to reedit the Future sequence, thanks to the Nintendo Direct from early April, but it could have been worse.  And who cares?  We get plush Yoshiiiiisss!

Join us next time for something a couple steps away from Mario and Yoshi...

NintendoWorldReportTV's Link

Third Rate Game Play: The Legend of Zelda: WW SD / HD [Part 5: Tower of the Gods]

Game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker SD/HD
System: Nintendo GameCube / Wii U
Developers: Nintendo EAD / EAD and HexaDrive
Publisher: Nintendo
Player: Tony / Alex
Experience: Tony has beaten it a few times. Alex has not.

(Check after the jump for the full article)

Know Your amiibo! Episode 1-2: Peach

Super Smash Brothers Wave 1, amiibo 2 - Peach

Franchise: Super Mario

Debut: Super Mario Bros. (1985)

Creators: Shigeru Miyamoto; further designed by Yōichi Kotabe

Major Releases: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2/USA, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Paper Mario, Super Princess Peach

You cannot have a hero without someone to save, right?  Well, Peach happens to be that person about 90% of the time.  Princess Peach is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, and for some reason Koopas find her particularly intriguing enough to kidnap all the time.  However, she has been able to duke it out against villainy, herself, when given the chance.

Note that this episode was completed before Mario Party 10 released, so its including in Future is explained by that.

Like with Mario, this required a lot of playing of older games.  We had to purchase Super Princess Peach, which I had all but completed in a rental before, just to ensure we got footage of the game.  Honestly, I found her to be rather interesting a character to cover, because she has a lot going on that most people might not see.  I mean, she has probably been in more video games than any other woman out there, and her moveset covers a lot of different influences, even if most of it originates from Super Mario Brothers 2, itself another interesting tale.  Anyways, onto the next part.  Hope you enjoyed it!

NintendoWorldReportTV's Link

Know Your amiibo! Episode 1-1: Mario

Super Smash Brothers Wave 1, amiibo 1 - Mario

Franchise: Super Mario

Debut: Donkey Kong (1981)

Creator: Shigeru Miyamoto

Major Releases: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, New Super Mario Bros.

Spin-Offs: Mario Golf, Mario Party, Mario Kart, Mario and Luigi, Paper Mario, etc etc etc

I know, it is silly for us to consider that some people might not know who Mario is in the gaming world, but you never know.  Also, what is the point of doing a series about Nintendo characters if we don't start off with the big guy himself!  Besides, with that fireball, I don't think we should say no.

Note that this episode was completed before Mario Party 10 released, so its including in Future is explained by that.

Mario is quite versatile, which also means his games library is absurdly large.  Thankfully, we own pretty much every mainline Mario game out there.  Can't say the same for his spin-offs, so that became a bit of a pain to figure out how to work.  This being our first episode, we are clearly figuring out how to pace ourselves, and being Wave 1, there is going to be a lot of the bigger characters right off the bat.  I'm not sure how we will be able to do this without going crazy, but that's okay, we're already crazy.

NintendoWorldReportTV's Link

3RM @ PAX East 2015: Puzzle and Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition

If you live in Japan, you are very much aware of the mobile game phenomena known as Puzzle and Dragons.  If you live in America, chances are you know very little about Puzzle and Dragons, but Nintendo and GungHo are working together to help spread the appeal to Nintendo 3DS gamers.  Puzzle and Dragons Z and Puzzle and Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition are both expected to release together later this year, and Nintendo was at PAX East showing off the Super Mario Bros. Edition in a short two-level demo.

What did we think? Check after the bump!

3RM @ PAX East 2015: Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows (Yacht Club Games)

Over the last two trips to PAX East, Yacht Club Games has shown us the developing adventure of shovelry, Shovel Knight, and this PAX East, we got to try out a new take at the game, this time with a dash of mischievous alchemy.  We got to chat with Sean Velasco, Captain at Yacht Club Games, about this new adventure and Shovel Knight’s exploration onto Sony and Microsoft platforms.

Gameplay:

Interview:

Check our impressions after the bump:

Third Rate Game Play: Hey You, Pikachu!

Game: Hey You, Pikachu! System: Nintendo 64 Developer: Ambrella Publisher: Nintendo Player: Brian Experience: Blind

 (Check after the jump for the full article)

3RGP: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker SD/HD - Part 4: Finding Jabun

Game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker SD/HD
System: Nintendo GameCube / Wii U
Developers: Nintendo EAD / EAD and HexaDrive
Publisher: Nintendo
Player: Tony / Alex
Experience: Tony has beaten it a few times. Alex has not.

(Check after the jump for the full article)