Nintendo Tour Trailer shows off

'Tis the season for sequels, at least according to Nintendo's winter lineup. And I think the developers put a lot more thought into it than a lot of video game designers do.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the latest update in the iconic video game series, is a pretty good example. It goes back to its roots as a side-scrolling platformer, but then takes advantage of the Wii Remote's motion sensitivity in a way that's a bit between gimmicky and revolutionary. When your character loses a life, you reappear in a bubble and have to shake the controller to return to your teammates.

I also got a chance to try out a few levels of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, which is due to be released on Dec. 7. It's a top-down RPG like the original game, but takes advantage of the Nintendo DS' touchscreen to control both Link and companions, as well as the microphone to control one of Link's weapons.

Then there's Wii Fit Plus, an updated version of last year's runaway hit Wii Fit. It's more of an upgrade than a sequel, since it contains all of the features of the previous game, plus some new ones: new games, a new function to design a workout, a way to keep track of your pet's weight and so on. While it's not a giant upgrade, I think Nintendo hit a good mark by making it a $19.99 upgrade for existing Wii Fit owners.

There's some healthy debate over whether the games really are that revolutionary. To me, Nintendo's not aiming at the hardcore gamer market with any of these games, and I think they know Microsoft and Sony have that market cornered. Instead, they're going for the nostalgia gamers, the gamers like me who miss the good ol' days, and the non-traditional gamers.

My take: Nintendo isn't going for the hardcore audience, but it's hitting its mark as a nice alternative.

Todd Dukart, Special Contributor

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When I walked into the Nintendo Tour Trailer, the first word that came to mind was ‘Shiny’ – as in too cool for words. A 24’ Airstream trailer devoted to Nintendo Wii and DS. The familiar faces of Mario, Zelda, Koopa and more smiled down on us as we took a trip down Nintendo lane.

We started out with a 4-player game of the New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Reminiscent of the original console’s game, the addition of multi player co-op added an unbelievable element of fun. We raced across the stage, easily picking up how to play as we went.

A touch of the ‘A’ button saves you from a horrible falling death by wrapping you in a floating bubble - shake your remote and fly back into the game. I’m anxious to buy my copy and get started on beating this bad boy.

Next out, I took a whirl at flying on Wii Fit Plus. The goal is to flap your arms and lean side to side landing on a series of pillars to make your way across the stage. I couldn’t even land the first pillar, but it seemed fun and I would play it more. After that, I took the virtual segue for a spin. It was easy to play and I was quickly zooming around the beach popping balloons. By the end of the stage my calves were screaming, but in a good, excercised way.

While my cohort took a try at Zelda, I moved on to ‘Style Saavy’ where I got to try on being the owner of a clothing boutique. This was a fun game, definitely geared toward the ladies. Customers come and may or may not tell you what they want, either way it’s up to you to find an item for them. If you have excellent style sense the customer not only buys the item you show them but will request that you find them a whole outfit, increasing your total sales. This was a fun game that gives you the chance to run your own boutique with all the pros and cons that come with it.

My take: Nintendo’s games are retro, fun and suitable for the whole family.

Rebekah Fort, Special Contributor