We Dance Hands-On Preview

We Dance is the latest in Nordic Games’ “We” franchise for the Wii, which has included several different We Sing games, including a special Robbie Williams-themed version. With dance games such as Ubisoft’s Just Dance series still proving to be extremely popular, it makes a lot of sense for Nordic to branch out into such a popular category.

Having had the chance to spend some hands-on (and feet-on!) time previewing the game, it looks as if Nordic will have another hit on their hands, particularly around the holiday season when it’s really going to come into its own at parties. It also works really well as a fun dancercise workout.

The game comes complete with its own free dance mat, which is a major selling point right out of the box, and simply requires that you duplicate the steps and moves onscreen on the dance mat, in time-honoured arcade-style tradition. However, We Dance adds its own spin to the genre, giving you the choice of three different types of gameplay. You can opt to play with just your feet, which is the easiest mode, with just your hands, which is the medium mode, or with both, which is the hardest. We’ve tried them all, and definitely found hands and feet to be the hardest, and most challenging, but that will probably differ according to the individual playing, and depending on how co-ordinated you are (not very, in our case!).

There’s plenty of variety in the gameplay, as aside from the main game you also have a Warm Up exercise mode, a Dance School mode where you learn the choreography for each song by following the steps onscreen, and Dance TV, where you can take a breather and just sit and watch the videos for each song.

The game also features three separate mini-games for up to four players in Party mode: Jump, where you simply have to jump up as high as possible to avoid the onscreen bar; Step, where you have to step on the correct corresponding arrows on the dance mat, and Pose, where you have to run across the screen and throw yourself into a pose before the song ends.

Of course any decent dance game worth its salt needs a killer soundtrack that makes you want to get up and jump around like a maniac, and We Dance’s 40-song tracklist seems to have a solid selection of the latest chart hits such as Jay Sean’s “Down”, interspersed with classics such as the B-52’s “Love Shack”. All of the songs are graded in terms of difficulty, so you can ease yourself gently into the boogie-tastic action before tackling the more frantic numbers.

Just as with many of the Wii fitness games out there, We Dance also aims to help you improve the more that you play, so it also provides performance stats so that you can work on your weaker areas, as well as top scorer leaderboards.

All in all, a really fun work out, either on your own or with friends. It’s certainly not easy, and you’ll definitely work up a sweat if you’re doing it right, but overall it’s just a lot of fun, and bound to be another hit for Nordic.

Nordic Games will be showing We Dance at its booth at E3, located at Concourse Hall, Room 8005. You can expect to see the game in stores sometime in Q3.

Winter Stars Balance Board Game Announced for Wii

Deep Silver has announced today that it’s bringing a brand new winter sports game to the Wii at the end of the year. Winter Stars enables sports fans of all ages and abilities to compete either with one another or against virtual opponents in eleven winter-themed disciplines: paraskiing, curling, snowmobile, bobsled, downhill skiing, figure skating, biathlon, freeride skiing, snowboard cross, ski flying, and short-track. The game is also fully compatible with the Wii Balance Board.

In multiplayer mode, up to four players can engage in dynamic online or offline competitions for championship titles, or simply enjoy the variety of winter-sports-themed mini-games on offer. The story-driven single-player mode not only features an extensive career system and character development, but also a number of special challenges, such as training sessions that provide arcade-style enjoyment in between events. Console athletes can use the experience points they earn to purchase new equipment and improve their skills in preparation for the diverse challenges ahead, and to support their team in its bid for victory.

Intrigued to see how this works with the Balance Board. The Wii needs a really good winter sports game, let’s hope this is it!

JAWS: Ultimate Predator Takes A Chunk Out of the Wii

Just when you thought it was safe to turn on your Wii, here comes publisher Majesco and developer Tectonic Studios with a game featuring the scariest shark of all time, Jaws! Set 35 years after the events of the legendary film, JAWS: Ultimate Predator is an action-packed and intense game that tips its chewed-up hat to the classic film while putting you in control of one of the most terrifying forces in nature, the great white shark, as you protect your domain from human interlopers and merrily spend your days hunting and killing prey with 20 different advanced attack combos and a Rage Meter just waiting to be filled so that you can unleash hell on your enemies, including deadly bosses such as the Tiger Shark, Killer Whale and Sea Serpent.

The intense underwater action is set in real life locations from Hawaii to the Great Barrier Reef, plus the infamous place where it all started all those years ago – Amity Island. Along the way you’ll also get to discover hidden collectibles and upgrade your special abilities to unleash critical damage with maximum power and speed.

“The Jaws movie defined a generation and forever changed our perception of sharks,” said Jesse Sutton, CEO, Majesco Entertainment.  “Sinking your teeth in as the ultimate predator is a strong and compelling concept underlined by the performance of our best-selling Jaws console games years ago.  Never before released for Nintendo platforms, JAWS: Ultimate Predator lets a new generation experience that same visceral underwater thrill.”

Look for JAWS: Ultimate Predator to hit the Wii this Fall

THQ Kills off SmackDown vs. Raw and Announces WWE ‘12 for Wii

THQ has announced today that it’s giving its WWE franchise a complete revamp by killing off the SmackDown vs. Raw name and replacing it with WWE ‘12, the name change bringing with it long-awaited and critical core gameplay improvements, the most creative and extensive feature set to date, and a visceral, edgy and polished presentation.

“With vital changes to core gameplay, innovative feature support and an incredibly striking presentation, the WWE simulation experience is back with WWE ’12,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. “At E3 2011, this is the definitive WWE videogame experience you do not want to miss.”

WWE ’12 will be playable for the first time at E3, in booth #2001 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, from June 7-9. And as an extra treat, WWE Superstar Alberto Del Rio and WWE Diva Kelly Kelly are due to appear at the booth on Tuesday, June 7 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with WWE Superstar The Miz due to appear on Wednesday June 8 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The game is set to offer players the opportunity to engage in the WWE experience via the new Predator Technology dynamic gameplay system, which is poised to deliver the most fluid, dynamic, authentic and action-packed WWE simulation experience to date. Included are the new Breaking Point submission system, new Attributes and control layout and significant improvements to other key gameplay systems, including Momentum and Stamina. WWE Universe Mode 2.0 will generate new and more impactful elements of unpredictability based on player decisions, while dynamic visual changes to gameplay presentation, such as new animations, camera positions, lighting and improved rendering, will set the tone for the game. Fans can rest assured that old favourites such as the best-in-class character creation suite and the Road to Wrestlemania Mode will also be back bigger and better than ever.

WWE ’12 boasts one of the largest rosters of WWE Superstars, WWE Divas and WWE Legends in franchise history, including cover Superstar Randy Orton, John Cena, The Miz and the debuting Alberto Del Rio. Look for the game to be released on all major consoles including Wii on November 22, 2011 in North America. Meanwhile, you can check out the first official trailer here.

EA and Hasbro Announce Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and Family Game Night Bundles

EA and Hasbro have today announced three new value-priced family game bundles for the Wii: Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and Family Game Night.

Monopoly Deluxe for the Wii features two full Monopoly games (original and Monopoly Streets) plus all-new bonus content all on one disc. The bonus content includes Stratosphere City – an original futuristic world never before seen on Wii, the World Championship Board, and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head as playable characters.

Trivial Pursuit Bet You Know It includes both Bet You Know It and Original Trivial Pursuit on one disc, with lots of fun new categories such as Jingles, 80’s Music & Movies, Videogames, Slang and more.

Last but not least, the Family Game Night Fun Pack manages to squeeze 10 games onto the one disc. The games have all been featured on the second and third volumes of the Hasbro Family Game Night series, and include Operation, Jenga, Bop-It, Twister and Mouse Trap.

All three of the game bundles are scheduled for release on the Wii this fall, with Monopoly Deluxe and Trivial Pursuit Bet You Know It costing $39.99 and Family Game Night Fun Pack costing $49.99.

New Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters Screenshots Released

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has today released new screenshots from the forthcoming Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters game, which is due for release on Wii on June 10. The screens are designed to give fans a good look at some of the powerful Green Lantern constructs, such as a giant sword, a fist, and a fighter jet, as well as a sneak peek at the co-op gameplay featuring Hal Jordan and Sinestro.

In the game, players get to take on the role of gifted pilot Hal Jordan, the first human Green Lantern, creating an arsenal of ring constructs and taking flight in outer space and beyond to restore intergalactic order. In order to defeat the evil android Manhunters, who are bent on destroying the Green Lantern Corps, players must use their Power Ring to build an array of weapons made from green energy. The action-adventure game is packed with intergalactic missions, alien androids and out-of-this-world combat, all designed to deliver the Green Lantern experience right into the hands of gamers.

Duracell Launches Dual Charger, Wireless Sensor Bar, Component Cable and Charging Stand for the Wii

Duracell has gone Wii accessory raving mad today, launching a range of new Wii accessories.

First up we have the Duracell Wii Charging Stand, which is designed to neatly store your Wii console, and also comes with two Duracell Wii rechargeable batteries. Once connected to your console, it also allows you to charge your Wii controllers as well as having storage space for your Nunchuk. The stand is available in black and white.

Next we have the Duracell Wii component cable, which enables you to connect your Wii to any HD TV that has Y, PB & PR connections. The cable also comes with stereo plugs which can be connected directly next to the component connectors on HD televisions.  The cable has gold-plated plugs, and is 2m long.

This next accessory, the Duracell Wireless Sensor Bar, is for those people who don’t like the little wire that connects their Wii console to the sensor bar, as it enables you to go wireless and get rid of that little wire altogether. It comes complete with 4 Duracell batteries.

Last but not least, say hello to the Duracell Wii Dual Charger, which is available in both black and white, and which even charges your Wii Remotes in the cradle when the console is turned off. Two high quality battery packs for longer gameplay are also included.

BEN 10 Returns to the Wii with Galactic Racing

BEN 10 games are always very popular on the Wii with the cartoon’s huge fanbase, so great news yesterday from D3Publisher and Cartoon Network Enterprises with the announcement of BEN 10 Galactic Racing, the first and only racing game based on the BEN 10 television series. In the game, friends compete to become champion of the Galactic Grand Prix, playing as Ben, Kevin or one of 13 alien heroes in an over-the-top, high-speed race through 25 insane Grand Prix tracks on five different planets from the BEN 10 universe, where players get to race with, or against, up to three players in 30 karts.

Of course, this being a BEN 10 game, it’s far from ordinary in terms of the racing action, as Ben uses his Ultimatrix to transform into his alien forms mid-race, and not to be left out, every other character uses their unique special abilities, based on powers straight out of the television series, to affect the outcome of each race. All characters can pick up special Omni-Node Power-Ups with varying alien-based abilities, including an Ultimate move that unleashes a super-charged, race-changing boost of speed and power that is themed to that character’s abilities.

“Working on the BEN 10 franchise has always provided an expansive world of creative possibilities and we look forward to delivering new game innovations for the millions of fans across the globe,” said Peter Andrew, vice president of production, D3P. “With BEN 10 Galactic Racing, players can look forward to immersing themselves in a brand new BEN 10 experience that will offer hours of racing fun to be played with friends and family.”

One other really cool thing about the game that the fans will love is that it features a brand new alien, Fasttrack, making his video game debut. Look for the game to be released for Wii this fall.

Iconic Disney Characters Coming to the Wii With Disney Universe

Disney Interactive Studios has proved that it has still got faith in the Wii today by announcing that its new multiplayer action-adventure game Disney Universe will be coming to the Wii in fall 2011, along with all the other major consoles. In the game, players will experience non-stop action as they visit six different worlds inspired by both animated and live-action Disney films, including titles from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. Players will get to suit-up as one of more than 40 iconic Disney and Disney Pixar characters including Alice from “Alice in Wonderland,” Mike from “Monsters, Inc.,” TRON from “TRON: Legacy” and Stitch from “Lilo & Stitch.” In the course of the game, players will get to power up their hero, battle powerful adversaries and master challenging puzzles, all in a bid to save the universe. Disney Universe offers frenetic gameplay, a multiplayer mode with up to three friends, and slapstick humour that will appeal to players of all ages.

“Disney Universe is a vast treasure chest of Disney properties with memorable characters, places and experiences that gamers, as well as Disney fans will enjoy,” said Adam Sussman, senior vice president of publishing, Disney Interactive Media Group. “The fast-paced, frenetic gameplay combined with wacky humour and hilarious situations make Disney Universe the perfect game to play with family and friends.”

Po the Panda Returns to the Wii with Kung Fu Panda 2 for uDraw Game Tablet

Kung Fu Panda’s lovable hero Po is back on the Wii today, with the release of Kung Fu Panda 2 for the uDraw Game Tablet from THQ, available now for an SRP of $29.99. Players get to control Po with the uDraw stylus and help him defend Gongmen City in story mode, which ties in with the plot of the Kung Fu Panda 2 motion picture. Players can immerse themselves in epic battles with new enemies against a backdrop that they themselves bring to life. An exclusive drawing mode lets players personalize their game experience by colouring objects found throughout the game, which then become part of the story. The uDraw also offers colouring pages and one-of-a-kind mini-games that feature the adorable baby Po, who also stars in the movie.

“The Kung Fu Panda 2 video games offer enormous innovation and creativity that bring the excitement of the movie to your living room,” said Martin Good, Executive Vice President of THQ’s Kids, Family and Casual Games. “We’ve created unique elements for each platform so players can have different experiences with the same great story.”

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