Here is Game Tailer’s video review of Super Mario Galaxy:

In just a few days you will too be dusting off your Wiimotes and firing up Super Mario Galaxy. If you haven’t done so yet, pre-order it from Amazon now, or if you are the adventurous type, you can walk into a Toys R Us on Tuesday evening at 5pm, fight off(or step over) the herd of little kids, to pickup your SMG copy along with a $25 gift card.

I have been playing through the CoD4 single player campaign on the XBOX 360 over the past few nights. The campaign on regular is a bit of the short side, roughly 6 hours or so, but it’s really hard count much against this game. The enemy AI on “regular” isn’t completely dumb, but they also tend to miss a whole lot at close range, while the friendly AI seems more accurate and helpful. At times the game feels very guided as the AI leads you ahead on missions.

There are two more difficult skill levels to choose from, “Hardened” and “Veteran.” While “regular” is fairly easy and you will probably end up getting wasted a dozen or two times or so, Veteran will straight up kick your ass. You better know what your objectives are, and how to complete them because the enemy AI is now extremely accurate. Don’t stray away into the open, or you will be head shotted. Your aim better be top notch and you need to expect the enemy to flank you from all sides. You will see enemy troops jump down from rooftops to try to come around open areas to flank you. Expect to spend an extra 3-6 hours going though the hardest mode.

Once you have completed the game you unlock the “Arcade” mode and the “cheats menu.” Play the arcade mode to get scored and see how you compare against your friends and the rest of the XBL community in the leader boards.

Then there’s the XBox Live side of the game. Anyone who has played the beta knows that this is the most solid online “Call of Duty” game ever made. It was probably not too difficult to improve on crap, so this is a huge leap forward for the series. While there are no achievements for the live portion of the game, Infinity Ward did a great job rewarding you for playing. You gain experience points for playing, and with experience points you unlock different weapons and abilities. You will unlock the ability to create your own class of soldier with what weapons you want to use, and which extra abilities you think you might need. Expect to spend a whole lot of time playing CoD4:MW online.

So with one of the most solid campaign modes on the 360, and an extremely solid multiplayer mode I score “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare”

9.6/10

Buy Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare from Amazon now for $59.99 or buy the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Collector’s Edition for $69.99, either is FREE SHIPPING with Super Saver Shipping.

Big accomplishments can come in small packages. Metroid Prime – Hunters(MPH) has the level of quality that you would expect from a console platform. Done in very similar fashion to Metroid Prime on the Nintendo Gamecube, It scores big in the graphics, sound and game play departments. MPH also has a great multi-player feature that will keep your skills sharp. Throw in a decent story line and you’ve got a game chock full of fun. Its Metroid and you can bring it with you wherever you go!!

The Story
In the most distant reaches of space, beyond the territories controlled by the Galactic Federation, is the Tetra Galaxy, once home to a mighty race known as the Alimbics. An advanced civilization, peaceful, prosperous and powerful, the Alimbics maintained stability over the region forcefully but judiciously. They reigned over a vast region known as the Alimbic Cluster. One day, perhaps thousands of years ago, perhaps tens of thousands, they simply disappeared, leaving behind artifacts, all scattered across the Alimbic Cluster, all protected by a lethal arsenal of the Alimbics’ most advanced weaponry.

Today, for the first time in centuries, the long-dormant Alimbic System is stirring, delivering strange tidings. A telepathic communiqué, originating in Alimbic Cluster, has downloaded into the brains of some of the most exceptional beings in our galaxy. The message translates into a thousand different languages on a thousand different worlds. But the message always is the same: “The secret to ultimate power resides in the Alimbic Cluster.”

This message has intrigued and enticed some of the most formidable bounty hunters in the galaxy to make the long journey to the Alimbic Cluster, each of these great warriors motivated by a different reason. Some desire power for themselves, or for their planet or people, while others simply have a relentless desire to hunt, or to kill, along with a fierce determination to prove themselves the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. Now, it’s a race against time to see which bounty hunter will triumph over the others, who will discover the secret behind this promise of “ultimate power.”

The Galactic Federation has heeded this strange, suspicious communication as well, and has called for the help of Samus Aran. Her mission: to discover the truth about this mysterious message, to protect against a potential threat, and to keep the Alimbics’ ultimate power from falling into the wrong hands.

The Controls
The Controls are nicely laid out on the DS, using the D-pad for walk/strafe and the stylus is used for looking/aiming. To jump you simply tap the screen twice with the stylus. The morph ball, scanner and weapon select are all done through the touchscreen Interface. The left bumper is used for firing your weapon. It does take a bit of getting used to holding the DS with one hand and then using that same hand to move Samus around, but once done it works nicely. There are also a few other control schemes which seem more traditional. I picked up the controls by just playing around, all are pretty intuitive.

Graphics & Sound
Graphics. Where to start? They are simply amazing for a DS game! The level designs are nice, everything has been nicely textured. The Morphball looks pretty cool also. One little annoyance that I had was that some of the enemies were so small at a distance that they seem to vanish, making it hard to aim.. but given the amount of screen real estate that the DS has, I’m not complaining. They did top it off with some very nice FMV sequences though.

Good standard stereo sound with lots of sound effects, and the level music is on par with Metroid tunes.

Lasting Appeal
If you like First person shooters, this game will take up a good chunk of your time. This game really feels like it should just explode right out of the DS and onto a console.. it’s that well rounded and polished. I love bringing it with me where ever I go, and single cart multi-player and online multi-player is a hit! Once you complete the single player mode, take the game online for a little 4 player death-match FPS action. This is another Metroid trophy for my shelf.

iBT scores this game 90%

Mortal Kombat Armageddon is the latest offering from the MK series! This will be the last installment on the Xbox platform, and its going out with a bang. This time all fighters will come together to make the biggest MK fight of all.. Armageddon!!

MK:A comes packed with new levels including new 3d renditions of older 2d levels from past MKs. There is an all new Konquest mode, and the all new Motor Kombat, both of which are an incredibly amusing sidetrack from the action. The Krypt also makes a return and has also been reworked offering a ton of new media stuff. There are two never before seen features in any MK game, they are: Kreate a Kharachter(KaK) and Kreate a Fighter(KaF).

The Story
The fury of Mortal Kombat has brought the realms to the brink of total destruction. Every warrior has been summoned to this last epic battle, where survival depends on their ability to… FIGHT!

I’m calling shortest story EVAR!!!!!! ;)

The Controls
MK:A follows in the footsteps of the last few iterations of the series with its control scheme, so you should have no problem at all picking it up. There is no response issues apparent anywhere. Just classic MK.

Graphics & Sound
Mortal Kombat just looks great! Its been polished to the point where you wouldn’t expect anything more from the Xbox. Everything from the weapons, clothing, arenas and even the blood look very clean and crisp. Particle effects add a nice touch to everything. The sound is clean as usual, but is not any major advancement. Although there are many new sound bits in there. The menu screens get an “A” in my book as well.

Lasting Appeal
This Game is buckets of fun! I felt that the last few MK’s were great but a bit overwhelming in all the fighting styles. in MKA you have kept the best of the 2d and 3d games. Two fighting styles per character along with a weapon for each. Air Kombat has been added, reminiscent of MK2+3, and just looks superb and is as equally fun to watch somebody get whipped into the air then bounced off the ground into an air combo. In KaK and KaF you get to design your own charachter and your own fatalities down to the T. These two features alone will keep you occupied for hours on end just trying to recreate your favorite actor, superhero etc.. And finally with 60+ characters to choose from you wont run out of new kombatants to learn!

Motor Kombat is a fun mini-kart racing game that heavily reminds me of the Mario Kart franchise. It’s a rough game in many aspects but is fun and challenging.

In Closing
Mortal Kombat Armageddon brings it. It just brings it, and we at iBloggedThis are very satisfied with how it’s played. Not only that, but the game actually costs $39.99 which makes that THAT much more appealing. However, we do have a few minor downsides. 1) we do sorta miss the old fatalities, maybe they are in there somewhere, but the new KAF system is HOT. 2) I personally miss puzzle fighter, so i’ll have to keep deception laying around! But those aside its a well rounded game that has brought back the feeling that i had while playing MK3 in the arcade.
For $39.99 this game is a must to add to the collection

iBT scores this game 85%

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is available for purchase now.

Recently, I was lucky enough to get a Sumo Lounge Omni. The Omni is probably different than most chairs that you have sat in. It is basically a huge beanbag or “over sized pillow” that you can easily adjust so you can sit or lay into in pretty much any position which you can imagine.

The Omni is by a company called Sumo Lounge and it’s made from space age rip-proof nylon and is filled with top quality Sumo Beads. The chair weighs in at about 18lbs and it’s 4.5′ x 5.5′. The fact that it’s so lightweight makes it easy to move and adjust.

Setting up the Omni chair in the place and position you want takes mere seconds. Once you sit in it for the first time you will realize why it’s so good. The chair will basically mend around your body, providing your with a very comfortable sitting experience while still being stiff enough so that you don’t feel like you will fall over if you lean on it. Unlike other beanbag chairs, once you get into the Omni it will provide you with good neck, back and arm support.

The Omni can be used for any situation which requires comfortable sitting. If you are going to be playing video games you will probably want to sit upright on it. So just set it up in an upright position which seems comfortable to you, and just lounge yourself in it. If you want to watch a movie this chair will prove to be perfect for your movie experience as well. Lay it flat like a bed and just lay down on it, or just position it so you can just lounge back on it. Either way, it’s going to be comfortable.

Once again the material which the chair is made from is rip-proof and will not damage if liquids are spilled on it.

Verdict:
This is the perfect chair for anyone who wants to be more comfortable while gaming, watching movies or just lounging and hanging out. You can easily move it and adjust it. Just make sure that you have enough room for it. It’s large and comfortable.

The Sumo Lounge Omni is available in 8 colors and it’s for sale now at SumoLounge.com starting at $129.00

iBT Score: 80%

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, is much more than just a sequel to the original 2004 release of the Game Boy Advance title Mario vs. Donkey Kong. This time you take control of the Mini Marios that you frequently rescued in the original game. The best way to explain this game is by comparing it to Lemmings. If you like Lemmings, you’ll love this game! It’s far simpler with a few added twists. March of the Minis will provide you with hours of entertainment, and with simple game play.

Just like Lemmings the point of the game is to navigate your mini Marios through each level and reach the exit. You will have to manipulate their environment, and help them get around obstacles and enemies to exit safely.

There are 8 levels, and each level has 8 sections. Once you have successfully navigated through each section you will reach the boss stage of that level. The boss stage offerings are completely different from normal gameplay in which you will need to defeat DK.

The Story
It seems folks love those Mini Mario toys. So much so that the Mario Toy Company has expanded the line to include Mini DK, Mini Toad and Mini Peach figures to the series. With all these toys bringing him more money than he knows what to do with, Mario decides to fulfill his lifelong dream and open a theme park called Super Mini Mario World.

The opening-day crowd includes Pauline and Donkey Kong, who immediately falls head over heels for the lovely lass. The proud ape tries to show off his Mini DK toy to Pauline, but she picks the Mini Mario toy over his and the jealous Donkey Kong becomes enraged. He smashes the displays, destroys the toys and takes Pauline to the top floor of the amusement park. Players must find Pauline and save the day.

The Controls
Differing from the original game, this spin-off title is completely controlled by the touch screen simplistic and effective. The player controls the individual mini-Marios by tapping them in the direction then want them to move to put them in motion. You can also make them stop moving, or make them jump onto different objects. Tap a mini-Mario that is already in motion to make him stop moving.

Unlike Lemmings however, the minis can interact with each other by bumping into one another and setting minis which are standing still in motion. Once the minis bump into an object or another mini they’ll start moving into the opposite direction. Controlling the game becomes much more challenging when there is a large group of minis which all start to bump into one another. It can get rather frustrating at times.

The player can change the environment by tapping on specific blocks to remove them and place them in holding to use elsewhere when they are needed. You will have to build platforms, protective barriers, or whatever else is necessary to be able to safely navigate your minis to safety.

Graphics & Sound
March of the Minis has great presentation. However, the in-game graphics do not push the DS to it’s limits, nor do they really need to for a game such as this. The sounds are fun with a lot of speech and great music.

Lasting Appeal
This game is hours of fun. There are plenty of levels to go through, and each level has a boss stage. One of the most fun aspects of the game are the boss stages which can be just amusing. However, this is a puzzle based game and at times it does tend to get rather frustrating. You will have to try levels more than once to be able to complete them, but once you get the feel and understand the level and environment it’ll be doable.

The game also offers the “Construction Zone” which is a way to build your own map from the ground up, or just a template which you have unlocked from the main game. It takes some getting used to as there will be a learning curve before you can make your own levels quickly. Once you have made a level you can play it and share it with friends. The WiFi option allows you to swap your custom level with your buddies online.

In Closing
March of the Minis is a good mix between puzzle and action games. While the puzzles are not extremely hard to figure out, you will have to restart and try a lot of them many times. The fact that you can put the minis in motion, stop them and make them interact with different obstacles which you might be able to use to your advantage, makes this game much more than a simple puzzle game. It’s really hard not to make a Lemmings comparison with March of the Minis. So, if you are a fan of Lemmings or games alike, but you are looking for just a little more action.. this game is perfect for you.

iBT scores this game 80%
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is available for purchase now.

We got there about 5:40PM and the event was starting at 6:30. It was cold out. One of the staff members walking around had a DS download station attached to her. We were able to download a few demos and play them while we waited. They offered a demo level of the upcoming Elite Beat Agents, some dart game, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.

March of the Minis was the most complete demo with quite a few levels open to play. Elite Beat Agents was a tease at best – a single part of one level! The dart game, well… you throw a dart, then the computer does. Then you throw a dart, then the computer does. You get the idea.

Once we made our way inside It became obvious very quickly that the venue was way too small to hold the Fusion Tour. The stage for the bands was straight ahead, and the Wii and DS stations were setup in the fairly small corner to the left.

We were one of the first people to get to the Wii demo stations. Unfortunately the very firs thing I noticed was that they only had room to setup 5 units. The games were Wii Play, WarioWare, Excite Truck, Wii Bowling and Wii Tennis. No Metroid. I was pissed. The place was too small to setup a Metroid station which would draw in the largest crowd.

First game was Excite Truck. I only had to wait about 15 minutes before getting my turn to play. The guy manning that particular station placed the strap around my hand, handed me the Wii-Remote and explained the controls.

Let me just say that holding the Wii-Remote(or WiiMote if you will), it just feels like it’s made by Nintendo. It’s solid, lightweight, compact, and very comfortable. You just know that it’s something that come out of Nintendo’s camp.

Excite Truck
This game was my very first impression of the Wii. Controls are basic. To steer left or right you simply turn the Wii-Remote at the direction which you want to turn, tilt back or forward to land your jumps, A for gas, and the D-Pad for turbo. People say that the turning controls are too sensitive. I didn’t find that to be the case. While you only had to turn the Wii-Remote a few degrees in either direction to steer, it definitely was not as sensitive as the impression that I’ve gotten from other people’s reviews. It probably took about 40 seconds to get the turning controls down. Once you understand how much to turn, it’s cake. I finished first in my race, and it ended up being a great first experience. Graphics wise it was at least on par with Game Cube games, if not a little better.

Wii Bowling
Immediately after Excite Truck I get on the Wii Bowling line. Wait time was around 10 minutes or so, and I met a few cool people while waiting on line. One of them had attended E3 and was telling me about the completely insane 5 hour line to get to play the Wii at E3. The controls for bowling are fairly simple as well. Hit A, and you can set where to place your character. Hit A again and you set in which direction to send the ball. Now you are ready. You hold the B button (the trigger), and make a bowling-like-motion, and release the trigger to let go of the ball. The faster you snap your wrist at the end, the more power the ball will have. You can also add a spin to the ball by twisting your wrist at the end right before you release. If you happen to release the trigger too early before your swing, you drop and send the ball rolling backwards. Each person got to play 5 frames. I got 2 strikes – Yeah, that’s right!

Wii Tennis
This game had the longest line at the event. If Metroid was there I am sure that it would had been at least 4-5 times as long. Wait time was about 25-30 minutes. The controls once again are super simple. Use the Wii-Remote like a tennis racquet. There are no buttons to press, just swing at the ball. Easy to play, lots of fun. I got to play against someone else, which made it more fun.

Wii-Remote
The Wii-Remote was spot on for the most part with all the games. Some of the tennis swings didn’t translate exactly. For example if you tried to lob the ball, it might do a normal swing. Other than that, it was perfect, sensitive to movements, and comfortable to hold. Unfortunately, the nunchuk was MIA as none of the games used it.

Unfortunately that is all that we got to play. By the time we got to the Wii Tennis line the bands started to play. This would have been fine if the place was bigger – and the music didn’t suck. It was extremely crowded, and way too loud, for such a small place, which made it very uncomfortable. Some people were walking around with ear plugs, which seemed like an excellent idea.

While a lot of the younger crowd was there for the bands, the crowd for the Wii demos was more mixed. I would say ages ranged from 15 to 45, easily. One surprising thing was the amount of girls waiting to play, which I would estimate 20-25%.

As far as the whole event, I’d have to say it was just “OK”, at best. A larger venue would have made to so much better. They definitely needed more room for additional Wii stations, and Metroid.

If the Nintendo Fusion Tour is coming around you, make sure it’s in a place which can accommodate large crowds and enough room to have more than 4-5 Wii stations setup. The price of admission was worth being able to try out the Wii.

Lastly, we were told that recording equipment and digital cameras were not allowed. A few people brought them in, and I could have used my cell phone, but I figured there’s no point in crappy pictures, especially since theres tons of great images everywhere. There was nothing new to take a picture of.

If you’ve had hands-on time with the Wii, feel free to tell us about it.

iBT Score: 86%

In the spring of 1993 Star Fox was released to the SNES. It was the first game to include the Super FX chip, displaying complex 3D models with polygons which was still new and uncommon in console video games. Star Fox was a huge success and went on to become one of Nintendo’s major franchises with several sequels released since.

Star Fox Command marks the franchise’s first game on a portable system, as well as its first foray into online gaming.

Controls:
The entire game is played and controlled by the touch screen, which also doubles as the map and radar as it displays the location of the enemy. The aircraft follows the stylus around, making for a very interesting and new way to control your ship. Slide the stylus in any direction, and the aircraft will follow. Sliding the stylus to the left or right will make the aircraft turn. Sliding downwards to fall, and upwards to rise. You can double tap on the upper half of the screen to activate your afterburners, and double tapping on the lower half accesses your airbreaks to slow down.

Controlling your aircraft with the stylus might be a little disorienting at first. However, after a very short learning curve it becomes clear how advantageous to game play the new controls are. Aiming is completely accurate, and firing your primary weapon is done by the d-pad. The new control scheme makes the player feel like they have completely control of the ship.

Graphics & Sound:
The game looks great. Solid graphics all around, and it has the Star Fox look, feel and sound to it. The game has great presentation, and it’s very easy to navigate the menus. The sound stays true to the original Star Fox, with the characters speaking in their own language.

Lasting Appeal:
There are multiple endings to this game, which will make you go back and play over and over. Once you have finished the single player mode, you must hope on to mutliplayer. The multiplayer on Star Fox Command is a lot of fun and one of the highlights of this title. It’s basic, competitive and very well done. You basically go up against other aircraft in single player teams. It’s a Star Fox death match. You must take out the other players and take their star to eliminate them and win. You can play off-line with up to 5 other people, or take the battle online against 3 others. Star Fox Command offers hours and hours of fun game play.

Story:
Star Fox Command boasts a deep, branching storyline with memorable characters and multiple endings. The main plot of the story unfolds as follows… Years ago, a scientist named Andross went mad with power. Defeated by Star Fox and banished to the toxic planet of Venom, he dedicated his life to terraforming Venom into a lush, green world that his grandchildren would be happy to call home. Shut off from the rest of the galaxy and hated by all, Andross and his dream were eventually forgotten.

Fast-forward to the present day. A group of aliens called the Anglars, who discovered a way to survive in the toxic Venom Sea, launch an all-out assault on the Lylat system. The Cornerian military turns to team Star Fox for help but are shocked to find that personal issues have forced the team to disband. Fox McCloud, the team leader, agrees to take on the Anglar threat alone … but soon finds himself overwhelmed. After some consideration, he agrees to regroup the team and take another run at the Anglars.

But in order to enter the Venom Sea and take out the Anglars, team Star Fox will need to find the device invented by Andross so long ago. Can they do it? Will the team survive long enough to put aside their personal differences and fight as one? The world waits…

In Closing:
If you are a Star Fox fan, this game is definitely a must buy for you. However you do not have to be a Star Fox fan to enjoy endless hours of great game play. This game stays very true to the Star Fox universe and it’s tons of fun. Game difficulty varies, but it’s really only as hard as you want it to be. Make sure to check out the multiplayer (online or offline) on this game.

iBT scores this game 86%
Star Fox Command is available for purchase now.

The current beta is shaky and has a some issues, but still worth checking out.

The interface is not unlike many other applications for OS X. Upon inspection you can see similarities between it and iTunes and Mail. So using Midnight Inbox follows most of the rules you are used to with the applications that you already have.

…

At the very least, Midnight Inbox is worth a look if you are looking into pulling all of your “stuff� together in one area to help you focus on specific projects during a specific time period.

Read the complete review here

Midnight Beep Softworks is working very hard to have Midnight Inbox released by 9/30/06 or sooner.

Source (Digg)

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Volition
Genre: Third-Person Action
Release Date: August 29, 2006
ESRB: Mature

The excitement for this game is clear: “Saints Row, the single-player demo set a new record for downloads over Xbox Live Marketplace. The file, which hit Xbox Live on August 1, was jacked 350,000 times in its first week of release–the most of any demo for the Xbox 360.” Source

Quick impressions: Saints Row should stack up comparably to the much loved Grand Theft Auto series. This one of the games that should display the great power of the Xbox 360 and figures to impress. The fact that customization of the main character is involved really puts the game over the top. People love to get involved with any story, and making the character feel and appear any way you want is a major plus. This game will succeed for the simple fact that it can be taken onto Xbox Live.

Check out g4’s sneak peak of Saints Row: