Nintendo and Me
First, what do I think about Nintendo calling its new console Wii? I was a little startled at first, but it’ll grow on me. First there was the Nintendo Entertainment System, which speaks for itself. Then came the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which was the same kind of thing but better. The Nintendo 64 ushered in “64 bit” graphics, and the GameCube was just that: a cube that played games. Now we have the Wii which, as Nintendo notes, is all about how we can play together. It’s a good thing they announced the name now, so when E3 comes around everyone will be over it and able to focus on the system itself and things developers can do with it. As for me? It’s different, and I like that.
Moving right along, I’ve actually been playing Super Princess Peach on the DS. It features one of gaming’s most famous women as the roles are reversed this time around. Mario plays the plumber-in-distress and the princess is out to get him back. Granted, one of the fundamental gameplay elements is focused on her feelings, but it’s still damn fun. It’s a charming break from all the Ghost Recon I’ve been playing lately.
Of course, it’s just to hold me over until New Super Mario Brothers (also for the DS) is released. Check out some gameplay footage here: New Super Mario footage at YouTube. The series is going back to its classic platform roots and I think that’s just what it needs.