Remember the music, the bananas, the vines and the barrels? Remember when you tried to find all the hidden bonus rooms and K-O-N-G letters, trying to get the 101% in the game?

One of game designer Shigeru Miyamoto’s first ever creations, Donkey Kong first appeared in Nintendo’s popular 1981 arcade game of the same name and was then later converted to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and GameBoy.  On the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Donkey Kong was pitted against an evil crocodile-enemy, King K. Rool, and Donkey Kong Country became one of the biggest-selling 16-bit title of all time, with more than nine million copies sold across the world.

To this day, people talk excitedly about the legendary 101% run – the maximum score that can be achieved in the game. So respected is the score that many of you have uploaded videos demonstrating how it can be done online, which have been watched by millions.

Nearly two decades after the all-action Donkey Kong Country burst onto the scene, many of you still recall how the graphics, gameplay and sheer fun value were all ahead of its time.

To all of you who cherish your memories of the mightiest beast in the gaming jungle, brace yourself: Donkey Kong is back in Donkey Kong Country Returns. Coming exclusively to Wii on 3^rd December, featuring superb new graphics, new environments to explore and, for the first time ever, a two player mode in which players can take control of Diddy Kong and Donkey Kong at the same time.

For players old and new, they will simply be pleased to know, he’s back…

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Designed with the concept  of a traditional RPG brought up-to-date with the best of today’s technology, the game goes back to the basics and origins of the Final Fantasy series.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes Of Light, for the Nintendo DS system will be released on 8th October, 2010.

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This new version of Tetris Party will thrill both old-time Tetris fans and newcomers to the genre, as more than 20 modes, online battles and multiplayer action have been squeezed into this fun-packed game.

Puzzle enthusiasts will be delighted to know that in addition to traditional Tetris game modes, Tetris Party Deluxe also includes many new enhanced modes of play. You can now create your own puzzles, steer a Tetrimino through challenging courses, match a silhouette using Tetriminos and other shapes, clear lines using bombs for explosive chain reactions, and experience intense multiplayer game sessions with your friends and family. You’ll also be able to track your progress for the first time using in-game statistics that award more than 130 achievements.

If you play Tetris Party Deluxe on Wii, warm up your Mii character and make sure you try the capabilities of the Wii Remote, or the nostalgic feel of the Classic Controller. This game takes advantage of a wide range of Wii accessories. Use your Wii Balance Board or Wii Wheel in specially marked game modes, or chat with friends using Wii Speak within the Wi-Fi Battle lobby. Multiplayer modes have been greatly enhanced with this game – interact with up to three other players in local play or up to five other players via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.

Those who play on their Nintendo DS will also enjoy new features, as you can now play against your friends and family like never before. Eight different multiplayer modes allow you to compete against or play collaboratively with others. Using one Game Card you can share a local multiplayer game with up to eight players. If that isn’t enough, going online with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection enables World Battle with up to three other players and the ability to chat with a friend in the Friend Battle Lobby using your built-in microphone.

Put 3^rd September 2010 in your diary now, as Tetris Party Deluxe will be launching across Europe for you to enjoy on your Nintendo DS and Wii.

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Those familiar with Hotel Dusk: Room 215 on Nintendo DS will remember Kyle Hyde – the dark and mysterious character who now returns in Last Window: The Secret of Cape West for another quest to discover the truth.

Last Window is a thrilling and challenging interactive novel packed with hidden mysteries which players must unravel one piece at a time. Just like a great book, players will not only need to hold the Nintendo DS vertically, they will find the ever-twisting storyline so captivating they’ll not want to put it down.

That, however, is where the similarities end – here you can actually influence how the story develops! Decisions you make throughout the game will alter Kyle’s journey and result in different outcomes in the storyline.

Every time the player completes a chapter of the in-game novel Last Window, this episode is adapted into text form to be read at anytime, meaning you not only get to enjoy the captivating gameplay, but a great novel at the same time!  The novel also acts as a hint section, directing players to certain characters should they have missed a clue or conversation.

Set in Los Angeles in 1980, a year after the events in Hotel Dusk: Room 215, the story follows the investigation of Kyle Hyde, a former police officer, as he attempts to solve a mystery involving his father’s murder and secretive past. Knowledge of Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is not essential for you to help Kyle crack the mystery behind Cape West, the former hotel which is now his apartment building.

With beautifully sketched, fully rendered 3D environments, plus easy-to-use touch screen controls for navigating environments and controlling characters, it is easy to lose yourself in this story. You won’t be prompted, but why not try using the Nintendo DS in-built microphone to solve some of the mysteries? Jazz fans will also be pleased hear that Kyle shares your passion – enjoy his favourite music on the Juke Box at any time you like.

While this game is packed with clues, this game will test the keenest puzzle solver. Think Professor Layton puzzle solving, immersed within a great and rich film noir-esque story… and make sure you look out for extra clues in your game packaging manual…

So get ready to uncover the mystery of the year as Last Window: The Secret of Cape West launches exclusively on Nintendo DS family of consoles on 17^th September 2010.

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2K Play is pleased to announce that New Carnival Funfair Games, the latest installment of the popular Carnival Funfair Games franchise that has sold more than six million units worldwide, is shipping this Autumn on the Wii and Nintendo DS.  According to The NPD Group, the original game is the 3rd best-selling third-party Wii title of all time. New Carnival Funfair Games is being developed by Cat Daddy Games, the 2K studio which created the original worldwide sensation.

“Carnival Funfair Games has made a special connection with over six million fans around the globe,” said Steve Lux, vice president of business development for 2K Play. “No other interactive entertainment product so seamlessly integrates youthful memories with the fun and technical innovation required to bring a virtual day at the carnival to life.”

“Our satisfied audience includes kids all the way to grandparents,” added Patrick Wilkinson and Harley Howe, studio co-heads for Cat Daddy Games. “From school teachers to Hollywood celebrities, everyone seems to enjoy playing games for prizes without actually breaking the bank.”

New Carnival Funfair Games for Wii features over 30 new games and attractions, including favourites like Pitch-A-Plate, Bottle Stand-Up, Fish Bowl Bounce, Gold Rush Alley Ball, Bumper Cars and the always frightful – Haunted House. In addition, no carnival is complete without must-have prizes, such as Moon Rocks, Eye-Bots, Decoder Rings and Wacky Wearables - including a Walrus Mask, Dragonfly Wings and Rabbit Ears – more than 300 in all.

In a first for the franchise, New Carnival Funfair Games will be Wii MotionPlus compatible allowing for increased accuracy, enhanced gameplay and more precision than ever before. Expanded multiplayer action for up to four gamers allows for cooperative play or head-to-head competition enabling friends and family to play together in classics like Lucky Toss, Gone Fishin’ and Speed Bingo.

New Carnival Funfair Games for DS is also scheduled to ship this Autumn and offers a unique subset of games, including Balloon Blowout, Pop-A-Score, Speed Pitch and Pie Eating Contest. In addition, the game supports the Nintendo DSi camera and adds new meaning to the word gotcha with the “The Look of a Winner” feature, which snaps your picture the moment you win a game for some surprising and hilarious reaction shots.

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In the first game, players used their imagination to write any word to bring that object to life and use it to solve puzzles. The original Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS has sold more than 1.1 million units worldwide since its launch in September 2009.

Available in autumn 2010, Super Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS expands the innovative elements from the acclaimed first title, offers upgraded controls and provides gamers with hours of original entertainment with ingenious, fun-filled new features. In Super Scribblenauts, created and developed by 5TH Cell, players use the stylus and touch screen to help Maxwell, the game’s hero, acquire the “Starite,” the prize earned from solving the puzzle in even more robust challenges and redesigned levels.

All-new for Super Scribblenauts, players now have the ability to write any object that comes to mind and modify it in any way they desire using adjectives to reach the goal in many levels. Adjectives can change the colour, size, style, behaviours and many other aspects of the object they are describing. Multiple adjectives can be combined together to produce incredibly creative objects, such as gentlemanly, flaming, flying zombies and purple, obese, winged elephants, allowing the player’s imagination to run wild for an even more inspired and individual experience than ever before.

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Millions embraced the launch of The Sims 3 on the PC/Mac last summer making it the biggest PC launch in EA’s history and going on to become the #1 best-selling PC title in 2009*. The groundbreaking The Sims franchise has continued to gain momentum, remaining a worldwide cultural touchstone for its enormous and growing fan base.

“We’re bringing players the best console and handheld game for The Sims franchise to date and are excited to offer a unique experience for all types of gamers on their platform of choice,” explained Sam Player, Executive Producer at EA. “Building on the unique traits system, living open neighborhood, lifetime wishes, and endless customization options, we’ve tailored each platform of The Sims 3 with exclusive features to allow for even more control, creativity, and connectivity.”

In The Sims 3 for console and handheld, players will be able to create Sims with unique personalities, fulfill their desires…or not, and control their lives within a living neighborhood. Additionally, all-new features make it easier than ever to mess with life as players can unlock the ultimate “Karma Powers” for instant control and unleash them on their Sims. Players can help their Sim “get lucky,” bless them with “instant beauty” or be deviant and curse them with an “epic fail.” But players should use these powers wisely—they may have unexpected results and karma may come back to bite.

Rich, immersive gameplay is complimented with a seamlessly integrated exchange system on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms where gamers will be more connected than ever before as they design, build, and share their creations and download content from other players around the world without ever leaving the game.** Facing short and long term challenges, players will reap rewards and trophies and can even share achievements with friends by connecting to Facebook**.

Exclusive to the Wii version, players will be able to enjoy an all-new beach town with unique residents, traits, careers and lifetime wishes. For the first time ever, players can enjoy The Sims 3 with friends by going head to head in the new “Life Moments” game to earn rewards. Finally, players will also enjoy several adventure quests, as the game will challenge them to explore their town and discover the secrets therein.

Never before seen on Nintendo DS, players can use the stylus to build their Sims’ homes with tools, draw walls and floors, and customize virtually everything from décor objects, textures, and more. Players will use the stylus to sculpt their Sims’ facial features, choose hair styles and clothing, and dictate personalities in the most robust Create a Sim yet for a handheld game. In “Story Mode,” players will control multiple Sims within a family and enjoy life’s special moments. For the first time ever on the Nintendo DS, players can enjoy a complete life simulation as they guide their Sims through completing challenges to unlock additional items, new buildings and landmarks, and more.

“The Sims series continues to be one of the most successful videogames of all time by providing universally appealing content and focusing on the player’s imagination, emergent gameplay mechanics, and the innate humor evident in the virtual world of The Sims,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims Studio. “We’re building on this foundation and applying new features that will make for a robust, deep and rewarding gameplay experience. I’m extremely proud of the game that the team is making and can’t wait to bring these exciting new features like “Karma Powers” to life and get them into players’ hands.”

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Pastagames today proudly unveil the tracklist for their unique rhythm-platform opus Maestro! Jump In Music.

Unlike most music games, Maestro! takes you back to the great classics, invites you to rediscover traditional songs, and introduces new interpretations of well-known contemporary theme tunes.

Track List

The 24 titles are divided between the 6 diverse game universes, each full of surprises!

• Green Grove: a colourful and flowery universe, full of exotic animals and lush vegetation. Rhythmic bass and afro beats inspire the music selection here.
• Ludwig Van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5
• Antonin Dvorak – Symphony No.9, From the New World
• Madness – Our House
• Traditional Japanese song – Sakura Sakura
• Purple Sonata: what better music for a 17th Century palace with statues and marbling-a-go-go, than a classical sound, as baroque as you like, that has stood the test of time?
• Jean Sebastien Bach – Little Fugue in G Minor
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – A Little Night Music
• Perren, Mizell et al.– ABC
• Traditional French song – Vent Frais, Vent du Matin

Yellow Allegro: sojourn under the Italian sun in Venice where only the cursed seagulls throw a shadow over the scene. The music is typical of the setting: odes to joy, and love in the form of mandolin solos.

• Eduardo Di Capua – O Sole Mio
• The Animals – The House of the Rising Sun
• Antonio Vivaldi – The Four Seasons
• Traditional English song – Greensleeves

Indigo Flow: a change of scenery and a free-dive to thousands of metres below the water’s surface! Rare air bubbles ring out and myriad species of fish resonate with sound at every touch.

• Erik Satie – Gymnopedie No.1
• Pyotr Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker
• Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – I Put a Spell on You
• Traditional Russian song – Otchi Chornye

Black out Beats: a spatial inspiration for this voyage beyond the solar system against a backdrop of starry skies and melting planets. The sounds tend towards the psychedelic: strange attractors winning out over gravity.

• Johannes Brahms – Hungarian Dances
• Edvard Grieg – Peer Gynt
• Leonard Bernstein – The Magnificent 7
• Traditional song adapted for Bizet’s Carmen – El Arreglito

Red Hot tempo: the Wild West, steam trains and gunslinging cowboys–even Charles Bronson’s reflexes would be put to the test in this Leone-inspired nightmare.

• M. Gore, D. Pitchford – Fame
• Ennio Morricone – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Isaac Albeniz – Asturias
• American Traditional song – When the Saints Go Marching In

The soundtrack was entirely composed by the talented group Yubaba Smith & Fortune.

Maestro! Jump in Music was award the Milthon for best soundtrack at the “Festival des Jeux Vidéo” 2009 in France.

You can listen and download freely a part of the soundtrack on www.maestrojumpinmusic.com. The game will be available for Nintendo DS this autumn (PEGI: 3+).

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In the game the Fire Nation devises a plot to use the power of Sozin’s Comet to rain devastation on the world. The fate of the world lies in the hands of a few young, brave heroes – Aang and his friends – as they prepare for the ultimate showdown against Fire Lord Ozai and his terrorizing army.

Mm, I thought as I cranked up the DS with this title in.   Here goes nothing.  After all, aren’t most TV and movie tie in games pretty poor?  Well not this one it seems.

Very basic in its design (and that is a very good thing) you guide your characters through level upon level trying to solve puzzles in order to advance to further stages.  What could be more simple!  There is also the bonus of collecting coins and lotus flowers for unlockables and adds depth Well luckily enough the game presents enough challenge to get a good gamer thinking.  To progress through the levels you need to open locked doors, dismantle walls using your abilities to manipulate the elements and techniques to your advantage.  Getting this right can sometimes be tricky but adds to a very satisfying experience.  What adds to the puzzles are the fact that a lot of doors need the actions of a combination of two characters to get past.  This is where you can break the link between the two and progress forward to complete a door opening or wall break to get the other character through.  There is also the bonus of collecting coins and lotus flowers for unlockables and adds depth and replay value to a game that may have been put on the trade in list after completion.

The control system is very simple, using the stylus for all your needs and the option of using the d-pad for minor moves.  It is very fluid with a great reaction time to get through all the tricky walkways you may encounter.  The combat system also works from the stylus and any enemies that approach can be headed off with a few taps to them (a little more when you advance further).  As long as you are steady handed then you have will no complaints at all and that comes with a little practice.

Graphically this game is very well presented with a top down 3d approach ala Balder’s Gate.  This allows you to get an overview of part of the level and enough room to see your objectives clearly without having to go backwards and forwards too much. Obviously the DS has limited capabilities but Avatar holds up really well, scrolling smoothly and not distracting from the gameplay at all.

There is a small multiplayer aspect to the game in the form of Volleyball which can be played wirelessly.  The game is basic yet fun and if you have a friend around with a DS then worry not as this part can be downloaded by them for some cheeky multiplayer action.

Into the Inferno is strangely addictive for a game targeted towards followers of the series and I was quite suprised at how many times I have picked up the DS for that “one more go” game.  An excellent addition to your games collection and certainly a game that will have you coming back for more, or if you’re commuting then going back to Victoria agian as you missed it the first time around.

Design – 10

Graphics – 9

Gameplay – 9

Sound – 8

Overall – 9

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