3rd Party Showcase [Index]

[Nester the Lark]

"We love our third party partners, we support them, we ardently want them to succeed." -- Reggie Fils-Aime, President, Nintendo of America

Welcome to the NinDB's official 3^rd Party Showcase!

Here are my older, unofficial third party threads:
Third Party 'Cube Game of the Week
Third Party N64 Games

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3PS Index
1. Rayman Raving Rabbids (Wii, Ubisoft) [Link]
2. Trauma Center: Under the Knife (DS, Atlus) [Link]
3. Gunstar Heroes (Wii Virtual Console, Sega) [Link]
4. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS, Capcom) [Link]
5. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (DS, Konami) [Link]
6. Bonk's Adventure (Wii Virtual Console, Hudson) [Link]
7. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Wii, Sega) [Link]
8. Mega Man ZX (DS, Capcom) [Link]
9. Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (DS, Square-Enix) [Link]
10. Metal Slug Anthology (Wii, SNK Playmore) [Link]
11. Super Castlevania IV (Wii Virtual Console, Konami) [Link]
12. Trauma Center: Second Opinion (Wii, Atlus) [Link]
13. Sonic Rush (DS, Sega) [Link]
14. Elebits (Wii, Konami) [Link]
15. R-Type III: The Third Lightning (Wii Virtual Console, Irem) [Link]
16. Age of Empires: The Age of Kings (DS, Majesco) [Link]
17. SSX Blur (Wii, EA Sports Big) [Link]
18. ToeJam & Earl (Wii Virtual Console, Sega) [Link]
19. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All (DS, Capcom) [Link]
20. Bomberman '93 (Wii Virtual Console, Hudson) [Link]
21. The Godfather: Blackhand Edition (Wii, Electronic Arts) [Link]
22. Tony Hawk's American Sk8land (DS, Activision) [Link]
23. Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits (DS, Konami) [Link]
24. Gunstar Super Heroes (GBA, Sega) [Link]
25. Bonk's Revenge (Wii Virtual Console, Hudson Soft) [Link]
26. Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (DS, Capcom) [Link]
27. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS, Konami) [Link]
28. Ecco the Dolphin (Wii Virtual Console, Sega) [Link]
29. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (DS, Square-Enix) [Link]
30. Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (Wii, Midway) [Link]
31. Contra III: The Alien Wars (Wii Virtual Console, Konami) [Link]
32. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii, Capcom) [Link]
33. Final Fantasy III (DS, Square-Enix) [Link]
34. Streets of Rage 2 (Wii Virtual Console, Sega) [Link]
35. Adventures of Lolo (Wii Virtual Console, HAL) [Link]
36. Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure (Wii, Capcom) [Link]
37. Contra 4 (DS, Konami) [Link]
38. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii, Activision) [Link]

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3PS #1
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
System: Wii

So, maybe you’re disappointed that Wario Ware: Smooth Moves has been delayed in the US until 2007. Perhaps it has influenced your decision as to whether you should pick up a Wii right away, or wait. After all, how will you quench your thirst for mini-game after mini-game that force you to use the motion sensitive remote in fun and unusual ways? Well, Ubisoft has mixed a drink for you. Rayman Raving Rabbids may not be the platform game it started out to be (or that the series originated as), but it will more than fill the Wario gap with its own mini-game extravaganza.

A story mode has you controlling Rayman thru the various challenges that are gradually presented to you in a level-like fashion, and each challenge can be accessed again at any time in the replay mode. There are over 70 mini-games included in the package, and all have been created specifically to take advantage of the Wii remote and nunchuck. Some have even been deliberately designed to be physically demanding. Pumping carrot juice, swinging cows around your head, or simply running from point A to point B will likely tire your arms after only a couple of minutes. But that’s still a lot longer than the three-to-five second twitch experiences that Wario Ware offers.

The graphics are also notable, being sharp, colorful and gorgeous. It goes to show that high technology doesn’t replace great style and art direction. Coming from designer Michel Ancel and his team at Ubisoft, it’s no surprise. His previous games, including Beyond Good & Evil (GCN) and Rayman 2 (N64), presented vibrant worlds with wonderful, dreamy atmospheres. Rayman may be one of the more visually striking games available for the Wii’s launch.

So, don’t wait for Wario Ware. Pour yourself a cool, refreshing glass of Rayman Raving Rabbids. It’s available at launch, and it’s a great showcase for your brand new Wii.

[Old Man Rupee]

W00T! This is a great feature, and I hope it sticks around for a long time

Anyway, Rayman is definitely looking hot. I plan on buying it after all my essential 1st party shopping is done

[Fryguy64]

GAH! Internet! I need internet!!

I need to update the Wii section!! Gah!

[Xeno82]

My brother bought Raving Rabbids, and I'm ashamed to admit I haven't played it yet (busy with Wii Sports, which I'm as bad at as I am at real sports). As per your review, I will definitely give it a try.

[kirbychu]

So Raving Rabbids is good? I was hoping it would be... the ads for it on IGN were hilarious. ;D

BUT THEY CAN DANCE!

[mrmolecule]

Great idea! Nice Nester avatar, don't forget release (November 19th, 2006 US) and some snapshots...

I want "in" too! Here's mine:

3PS #2
M.C. Kids
Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Developer: Virgin Interactive
System: NES
Release: 1992
Written by: Whiskers

A game based on McDonald's? Yes. Is it as bad as a McGriddle? No. The Hamburglar has taken off with Ronald's Magic Bag and its up to Mick or Mack to find it! Featuring both famous and obscure characters (but strangely, no food), Mick and Mack must not only go through the level, but collect a special card to go on! (ala SM64). Eventually, you'll get to the end. M.C. Kids suffered because the NES was near a dead end (replaced by SNES), McDonald's Corp. did not like the final product, and cut it off from Happy Meal tie-ins (ensuring the game's low status), it was too difficult for young players, but some older players have elevated it to cult classic status, going past the Ronald and Co. theme and finding a very deep platforming title. Hopefully I can expand this and give a link to the Wikipedia page that doesn't look like this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.C. Kids

[Nester the Lark]

Of course I encourage discussion of third party games, but M.C. Kids?

Here's this week's official 3rd Party Showcase.

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3PS #2
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus (US, Japan), Nintendo (Europe)
System: DS

Do you suffer from boredom and lethargy? Do you have twitchy thumbs and sore wrists? Does the thought of playing another derivative video game sound about as exciting as passing a kidney stone? These are the symptoms of JGS (Jaded Gamer Syndrome), and it’s a serious condition. Fortunately, noted physician Derek Stiles, PhD., has devised a cure. He recommends you get a healthy dose of Trauma Center: Under the Knife on the DS.

Traditionally, Nintendo has always made the most of its own technology, so it was a bit of a surprise that one of the earliest, most creative, and best uses of the DS’s interface came from Atlus. Trauma Center puts you in the position of a surgeon who must perform various operations. Don’t let the idea scare you off. This is not a simulation.

The clever interface puts your nurse (and other characters) on the top screen where they guide you thru each procedure and give you advice. The actual operating happens on the touch screen, and as you can imagine, it’s a truly hands-on experience. Success will depend on speed, dexterity, and memorization. A steady hand goes a long way in the OR.

The gameplay has often been likened to a puzzle game, or a digital version of the board game, “Operation.” However, I think that’s a misnomer. Trauma Center isn’t so easily categorized, and trying to wedge it into one only undermines its unique experience.

Trauma Center has also been remade for the Wii as Trauma Center: Second Opinion, and it takes advantage of the Wii’s interface just as Under the Knife did the DS’s. It also adds some extra features. However, a detailed diagnosis shall be saved for another showcase.

If you have a DS, Trauma Center is an essential. Pick it up, stat, and make sure you don’t become a victim of JGS.

Warning: Contents may be addicting. Do not use while driving or operating heavy machinery. Side effects include excitability, cold sweats, and drawing fan art of nurse Angie. If your Wii stays erect for more than 4 hours, see your doctor.

[Dances in Undergarments]

coreywoods said:

If your Wii stays erect for more than 4 hours, see your doctor.

I love you. ;D

Very good stuff so far, not that I expected any less.

[Nester the Lark]

Thank you!

And here I thought you didn't like my Wii jokes. ;D

[Dances in Undergarments]

They're like a special seasoning - in the right doses they can add flavour, but use them too much and it just makes you feel sick.

Yes, I eat Wii. Hahahaha. Penis.

[Fryguy64]

In the UK I have it easy. You see, on the internet everyone equates Wii with penis (for some reason - do Americans really call it that?) while here we equate Wii with urine.

So I get two sets of jokes for the price of one.

For example... if I network two Wii consoles, does that make a Wii-Wii?

If only the Brits get it, then GOOD!

[Nester the Lark]

In America, the term is ambiguous. It could go either way, depending on context (and the imagination of the person hearing the joke). Casually, I don't hear anyone seriously referring to a penis that way. I'm sure some very young kids do. (Heck, I used to when I was a little kid. ) But it's one of those words that's usually reserved specifically for jokes, simply because it sounds too ridiculous to use it in a serious context.

Other uses for "wee": Collective pronoun, diminutiveness, expression of joy, the sound a pig makes (besides "oink"), and now a video game console.

Well, that added some class to the thread.

[mrmolecule]

What you could do is make an index, up at the front, linking people to different 3PS titles, mebbe organize them too...

And what's wrong with M.C. Kids? Can't you appreciate "cult classics"?
I came up with the 2nd 3PS, so TC:SO is the 3rd 3PS!

[kirbychu]

mrmolecule said:

I came up with the 2nd 3PS, so TC:SO is the 3rd 3PS!

Corey's doing it officially for Nintendo Database now. So... yours doesn't count.

Plus, I think he wants to focus on more recent games than that.

[Nester the Lark]

Right. This is an official feature of the NinDB. I think it'll be even more official once Fry gets home Internet access back.

And it's meant to cover games available for the Wii, DS and Virtual Console with maybe some occasional deviations. It won't cover only recently released games. It's not really meant to be a review section. It's more of a showcase for essentials, underrated games, and stuff you should just try.

mrmolecule said:

What you could do is make an index, up at the front, linking people to different 3PS titles, mebbe organize them too...

Well, there's already an index up there, but I haven't added links yet, so that's a good idea. I'll add those this weekend.

BTW, here's a VG Cats strip that makes fun of X-Play. They really had it coming.

Why am I posting this here? I'm so glad I asked!

If you haven't noticed, I like to inject a little humor and style into my writing rather than just provide sterile write-ups. I'm hoping that makes the feature fun to read, even for people who aren't necessarily interested in the game. But sometimes I worry that I'm getting into that cheesy X-Play territory where the jokes get really lame and they undermine the content.

I want to be clear that not every feature is going to have a bunch of jokes forced into it. It'll vary from feature to feature, but I want your opinions about this. How do you feel about the humor?