Wize Blog

Mario Kart Wii Gets Reviewed

MSNBC likes the familiarity of "Mario Kart Wii," the new game from Nintendo.

Added to the road mix of Mario stunts is a motorcycle that pops wheelies.

The biggest improvement in the game doesn't isn't a part of the game itself, but more about who you can play it with--anyone online.

"The online aspect of the game actually outshines the single player mode. Not only does it allow for up to 12 people to race at once, it lessens the “rubberband” effect (the clumping together of karts by the game’s artificial intelligence) that the series has been faulted for in the past," writes Ken Smith, the MSNBC contributor.

Gamespot has also reviewed the game and gave it an 8.5.  It said: " Mario Kart Wii is still very much the game that you have come to love over the years."

The Hot Game, Wii Fit, Is Coming Soon

The fact that people in Europe are going crazy over the Wii Fit game has people in the US chomping at the bit to get one. They have to wait as it doesn't come out until May 21st.

Pocket-lint writes the following about sales of the game in the United Kingdom:

"Here in the UK, it has already outstripped all previous records on Play.com by selling out the entire pre-order allocation in one day leaving the online retailer 'overwhelmed' by demand."

Here's a description of the game, which is aimed at keeping users in-shape, from the Nintendo site:

"The active-play phenomenon started by Wii Sports now spreads to your whole body thanks to the pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board (name not final), which comes packed with Wii Fit. The board is used for an extensive array of fun and dynamic activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and games. Many of these activities focus towards providing a "core" workout, a popular exercise method that emphasizes slower, controlled motions. Family members will have fun staying active and talking about and comparing their results and progress on a new channel on the Wii Menu."

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Number 1

Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii players sold 2.7 million copies in March according to Information Week. The game's popularity is helping sales of the Wii (rated 97 at wize.com), making it the number one player on the market.

The game is a "brawling, battling, action-packed video game that features a varied roster of characters for four-player simultaneous melees!" according to the smashbros Web site.

The game is based on a damage meter. Hit an opponent and the the meter goes up. Each time he/she gets hit the farther the opponent flies.

There's a variety of attacks you can make using the controller and a variety of characters that are part of the game.

Everything You Want to Know about the Sims

The New York Times went all out in an article today about the Sims. There's a video which describes how the game works and a description of the big bucks the popular video game is making for Electronic Arts, the company that produces it.

There are many Sims games and game packages. Wize.com rates all of them so that you can find the best to play.

One of the interesting things that the article points out is the relationship the Sims video games have to the old board games that people have played for decades and still play today.

In the article the Times asks, "So how did a game in which the action is as mundane as scrubbing a toilet, having a kid or flirting with a neighbor come to captivate so broadly?"

Read the article and you'll find that there are many reasons and thus many uses for the game.

Dualshock 3 Shakes As You Play

This wireless controller rumbles. The DUALSHOCK 3 has pressure sensors that shake with actions. They're coming to stores next week according to the Playstation blog.

Some game titles are already compatible with Playstation 3 (rated 96 at wize.com). You'll know because they'll have the emblem shown on the right.

There's a wide assortment of titles from PAIN to High Velocity Bowling and  Resistance: Fall of Man to Snakeball.

There's a patch available that will download to the PS3 console and that will be needed to play some of the games.

The cost for the controller is $54.99

Top 5 Wii Games at Wize.com

Here are today's top 5 games for Wii with their wize.com ratings.

1. Super Mario Galaxy  rated 98
2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess  rated 96
3. Happy Feet  rated 96
4. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent  rated 96
5. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption  rated 95

Dragon Ball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2 Video Clip

Dragon Ball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2 for Nintendo Wii (rated 94) is featured on wize.com, a game that also has a clip of the Cell Final Ending on YouTube (video pasted below). Enjoy!

Sims 2 Family Fun Highest Rated Sims Game

The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff game was the highest rated game of the Sims series at wize.com.  It rated a 96.

Electronics Arts, the games producers says the following about the game: "Add excitement to your Sims' family with this all-new collection of furniture, clothing, and décor. Decorate the home with an assortment of cool new furnishings, including upscale living room items and adventurous bedroom sets. Dress your Sims in matching attire for an amusing day out with the family. With 60 new items from castle beds to cruise ship replicas, your Sims now have more stuff for family fun."

Here is a video preview of the game:

SPORE Coming to iPhone

Now that Apple is going to let developers create applications for the iPhone (rated 87 at wize.com), Spore, the life simulation game, will be one of the first in line to get Apple's certificate of approval so the game can be distributed Apple's App Store.

Spore, from developer Will Wright, is a journey that takes you from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology and eventually all the way into the deepest reaches of outer space.

SPORE launches on Sept. 7, 2008.

Microsoft to Let Users Create Own Games for XBox Live

Microsoft announced today that the games made with XNA Game Studio Express, a platform that has let users create their own games for XBox 360 and Windows, will appear on XBox Live.

Users will be able to upload the games they have made to be distributed from the Microsoft XBox Live Web site.

The system for submitting games begins with the "Creator's Club,"  a place where seasoned gamers can submit their own games for review by their peers. The games are then reviewed by the gamers' peers. Games that are selected will appear on the site.

You will also be able to put the games on Zune (rated 95 at wize.com), Microsoft's portable music player.