While in Melbourne we trekked out to Nintendo’s headquarters to test out Nintendo’s upcoming Christmas lineup including New Super Mario Bros Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Style Boutique.

As Christmas fast approaches, so does Nintendo’s holiday lineup, and while we were in town (well in the same state) we headed out to Nintendo’s headquarters to test out their big upcoming titles. Having never been to Nintendo’s Australian quarters, as we entered as world of Nintendo, I felt a little like Charlie in the chocolate factory. Alright, so while it isn’t the mushroom kingdom (business does get done there), Nintendo has decked out a room they dub the ’Playdium" with different zones for Mario games, Wii Fit Plus and DSi areas, with a cool attire for each. Sadly we couldn’t take pictures, but those chairs that look like hands sticking out of the ground? So awesome.

So enough fanboy ranting about visiting Nintendo, let’s see what we played...

New Super Mario Bros Wii

As New Super Mario Bros Wii has been getting closer and closer, our excitement about the title has steadily been getting higher and higher. Having played it now, and with four people to boot, there is no doubt that it is one of the most fun Mario games yet. And if you’re worried about not having anyone to play with, then don’t stress because the single player mode is as fun as ever.

We got to sample 10 different worlds, the usual mushroom kingdom 1-1 world, ice, lava, Bowser’s castle and new worlds that show off the new ’suits’, such as the propeller hat and the very cute penguin suit. The game is easy to pick up and play, and as you would expect, it’s played with the usual Wii Remote on the side configuration (we couldn’t test the + Nuchuck method). Choosing how many players is easy, player one is Mario, two Luigi, three and four two different coloured toad - there is no confusing login or selecting characters just pick up a Wii Remote and join in and away you go.

The game is co-operative in the sense that at times you do share the same game space and can work together to make it easier to get to the end of the level. But a player doesn’t have to help the team and anyone can work as a lone agent and try to get that high score that will let them win the stage. Everyone starts off with a set number of lives, which is good because you will be dying quite a few times. Death is unavoidable unless you’re some sort of Super Mario playing robot. However, if you do die, you’ll return to the default size character and float back into the stage on a bubble which a fellow player can tap (by jumping, hitting, shooting) to release you, or not. (They may be the last one left and want to take all the points for themselves.)

This choosing between yourself and the team also comes into play when a ? block is hit and four power-ups drop out. One person can be a hog and steal all the items for more points or let each member of the team grab a power-up in order to better get through the stage. There are also points where items are out of reach and you need to bounce off the heads of teammates and get up high, this results in a lot of on the fly planning that couldn’t be replicated unless you were all in the same room.

Three of us went to Nintendo, and our Nintendo hosts played along with us. Being Nintendo employees, they have been playing it for a while now, but it was our first go on this title. Happily, we were able to get the hang of it rather quickly as it’s not too different gameplay-wise from the DS version. Wall-jumps and ground-pounds are all in there and you will need to use all these advanced Mario moves to get through. Using only run and jump may get you through, but learning the advanced techniques make it a whole lot easier.

One of the earliest things people mentioned when they played the game was the ’pause’ to the game whenever someone dies, picks up a item or powerup or shrink. While we noticed it we never found it interfered with the gameplay. No one died because of it and it seems Nintendo has toned it down slightly since it was originally shown off. It’s only really noticeable when all four of your team members pick up a power up and it goes pause-move-pause-move etc. The game is very hectic and it requires all your concentration to see everything happening on the screen and to communicate with your team members. So the slight pause can be a welcome respite at times.

We also played the game for a while in single player, and while it is not as hectic as the multiplayer, there is still a ton of platforming fun to be had. On a quick note we’ll mention the sound track which was very catchy, but we didn’t see the Goombas and Koopas dance to the music like they did on the DS - hopefully the final version has this.

New Super Mario Bros Wii is definitely a fun game to play in a group. We were laughing and yelling (and crying) our way through it the whole time. One of the funniest things is seeing a player lagging behind, wall jumping nearing the bottom of the screen telling you to hold on as they try to save themselves because the rest of the team has decided to run off and leave them for dead . Miscommunication is fun.

One thing we didn’t get to try out was the new Super Guide mode, but rest assured we will cover it in our review.


The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

There hasn’t been that much hype for Spirit Tracks around the place yet, perhaps it is too far away or perhaps the mixed reception to Phantom Hourglass has put some people off. Never mind that though as there is a few new tricks up Spirit Tracks’ sleeve, with new gameplay mechanics that proved to be a ton of fun. The demo we played was split into three sections, a boss, a dungeon and a section of gameplay using the train.

The train is the way to get around the world. Forget the boat from The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, this time Link is playing train conductor as he travels around the world tooting his horn, and shooting pigs and rocks. The Fat Controller wishes he was as awesome as Link!

As the train is on tracks, you don’t control it past the need to switch tracks and select it’s speed (or you can slap it in reverse). Your main concern is with the wildlife that wanders onto the tracks and impedes you on the way to where you are going (the demo provided the train area with no context). Shooting bombs out of the cannon is easy. Just touch to shoot, drag the stylus to move the camera. You can also yank on the train horn to alert people on the tracks (or just to be awesome).

The dungeon demo showed off Link’s interaction with the Phantoms, which you can now control by dragging their paths after tapping on them. All of Link’s controls remain the same as Phantom Hourglass. The Phantoms are used to solve puzzles, help fight and you’ll need to use them and time them to get around the dungeon. A new item shown off in the game was the Whirlwind which can not only be used as a weapon to blow enemies around, but also to solve puzzles and collect items. The Whirlwind is activated by the microphone which I found a bit weird as it has to be used a few times in a row, and we all know blowing on the microphone for things is all well and good in your house but when you out and about it can be a bit of a pain.

The last section we tested was a boss battle with a giant stag beetle. It used both screens instead just one, but there wasn’t anything that really stood out about this battle.

Phantom Hourglass polarised Zelda fans. You either loved it or hated it. With Spirit Tracks, stylus controls are back and the people who weren’t fans the first time will probably hate it again. But maybe the train and Phantom gameplay sections may prove more fun for the naysayers than sailing on the ocean again.

Nintendo presents: Style Boutique

Being a twenty-three year old male, I’m probably not the best person to try out this game. It’s not meant to be for me, but for the something-teen or younger female. Still, I went into it quietly curious about what it was all about. Nintendo presents: Style Boutique has you running your own clothing store. You have to run it day-to-day, sell and consult shoppers, choose from a huge range of in-game fashion labels to stock, and get into the fashion world.

Not only do you have to work with the customers who come into your store, carefully picking out something to match what they ask for, you need to provide a good environment for them to shop in. You’ll be the manager of your store’s appearance, even down to what it stocks, the in store displays, the interior design and the music, as well as running sales and doing mail-outs.

While I wasn’t able to test all of this in my limited time with the game, I did get to try out the selling to customers section and picking out outfits for them. The game has a very easy interface and is presented in the ’book style’ like Brain Training. The game also has Wi-Fi multiplayer so you can check out your friends’ houses. You can also style and deck out your own apartment, and of course, give yourself a make over.

Style Boutique is aimed at a certain market, and you will know if you’re in that market or not. For the people who do enjoy fashion and dressing up, this game has more to it than the usual ’fashion’ games on the DS. Now can someone tell me what dressing in ’British’ style is?

New Super Mario Bros Wii is out November 12th, Spirit Tracks and Style Boutique aren’t yet dated but Nintendo tells us before Christmas - so soon.

Thanks to Nintendo for hosting us today at their HQ!