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........................... Nov. 16 - Nov. 29, 2001
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| Nintendo Fights Back To Gain Holiday Season Dominance | |
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The key release dates of a few cornerstone titles for the Playstation 2 made Sony seem like geniuses. All the while, the sleeping giant Nintendo sits waiting to explode onto the market with its stellar GameCube that is sure to give both Sony and Microsoft a run for their money.
Nov. 18 may prove to be more of a blissful day for gamers than its launch date counterpart Nov. 15. While the Xbox launched just yesterday Nintendo isn't going to allow Microsoft to hog all the glory as they launch their pint-sized cube of a system Nov. 18, just three days after the Xbox launch.
Sony also chimed in with the release of some killer apps for the PS2 in late Oct. and Nov. Several other highly anticipated titles are scheduled for release throughout the holiday season in order to keep up with all of the Nintendo and Microsoft hoopla...
Overall, it's obvious who wins the battle; the gamers. No matter which side a gamer owns, they will be showered with great titles to play, and without a doubt lots of fun will be had.
Since the GameCube launch is upon is, here's a look at Nintendo's next generation console.
Specs
Unlike its next generation counterparts, GameCube will not play DVDs. This gives Nintendo a keen advantage, as their launch price can be lowered to $199. Making it seem very reasonable during these uncertain economic times when compared to $299 for a Xbox or PS2. Without DVD playback Nintendo is sending a message that they are making a system strictly for games and nothing else.
Another attractive and clever attribute for the GameCube is its size. The system is a measly six inched tall by six inches wide. Nintendo also changed their format for games for the first time.
The games are on a mini CD measuring just eight centimeters in diameter. They switched to the smaller size in order to prevent piracy.
What is probably the best feature to the hardware is that Nintendo's Game Boy Advance handheld system can be used as a controller with certain games. The screen on the GBA can be used to display extra game information while being used as a controller, providing the gamer with a more interactive gaming experience.
Games
It definitely wouldn't be Nintendo system without some fun and amusing games. After all, this is the company responsible for bringing Zelda, Kirby, Mario, Donkey Kong and Metroid games into existence.
One thing that the big N has going for it is their first party game developing. However, only a few of the games available on launch day have been made by Nintendo. This launch lineup is no slouch though. While it may not pack a punch by having a high number of titles available like Microsoft did, Nintendo shows its strategy of "quality, not quantity" in hopes to win over the undecided gamers.
Super Monkey Ball
Okay, so the name says it all. Well, not exactly in the case of this arcade port by Sega. The premise of the game is quite simple. Players move a monkey that is inside of a ball around collecting Dole bananas as they go.
The catch is that the player moves the platform, not the monkey. This puzzle game is very unique and has hours of replay value, which is a very important feature for a game to have in order to be successful.
Several multiplayer mini-games are available as well, making Super Monkey Ball one of the sleeper games of the year. Players can play Monkey Golf, Monkey Pool, or even Monkey Bowling, all while controlling their monkey that is stuck inside a translucent ball. Monkeys inside of balls, what could be better? The only drawback is that although the game is set up as devilishly clever, sometimes it can be too difficult for amateur game players to handle.
Luigi's Mansion
That's right, this game stars Luigi, not his glory hogging brother Mario. Actually, Mario is missing inside of a haunted house and Luigi sets out in search of him while toting a vacuum cleaner that he traps ghosts with along the way, ala Ghostbusters.
The game is your standard platformer, which Nintendo is ever so great at coming up with, so it should have a very broad appeal. Colorful enemies and a small bit of suspense highlight the green overall-wearing plumber's prowl through the haunted mansion. It is a fairly simple game to play and once it gets picked up it is very hard to put down. Nintendo has a lot riding on Mario's sibling launch day
Star Wars Rouge Squadron II
If the cute and cuddly Luigi and all of his poltergeist friends aren't enough to win over gamers, Nintendo is hoping that one of the most marketable franchises around will. Rogue Squadron II places gamers within the cockpit of some of their favorite starships of the infamous Star Wars trilogy.
Once the John Williams score starts and the opening credits begin to slowly scroll down the screen it is hard to tell if a game is being played or if a lost installment of the trilogy is being watched.
Levels in the game give players the chance to blow up the Death Star, participate in the battle of Hoth and battle through the skies of Cloud City.
The realism level of the game when compared to the film is unbelievable. In other words, if the franchise itself doesn't sell the game, then once gamers see the visuals and how close they mimic their big screen brethren, Rogue Squadron II will become a must-have for the GameCube crowd.
Pikmin
Pikmin is the brain-child of (insert game creator's name here). Players control a spaceman who crash lands on a planet inhabited by small, bright colored teletubby-ish creatures. The spaceman uses the creatures to collect the various parts of his spaceship that are scattered across the planet.
The unique thing about Pikmin is that there hasn't been a game like it before, therefore it doesn't quite fit into a category. The game definitely scores points for originality.
The Winner?
With all of the great games being made available for the holidays, thoughts of Luigi, Halo, Abe, Munch and of course, monkeys in balls will fill gamers dreams come Christmas. It may too sound cliche, but no matter the outcome of these "console wars", anyone who has ever picked up a controller walks away with a victorious smile on his face.
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| by Travis Hay | |
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