<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1" ?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
<title><![CDATA[Nintendo DS: News]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://kombo.com/news.php]]></link>
<description><![CDATA[Nintendo DS news.]]></description>
<language>en-us</language>
<copyright>Copyright (c) 2009 kombo.com</copyright>
<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:02 -0600</pubDate>
<category>News</category>
<atom:link href="http://www.kombo.com/rss/xml/ds_news.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<image>
<title>Kombo.com</title>
<url>http://www.kombo.com/images/logo.png</url>
<link>http://www.kombo.com</link>
<width>210</width>
<height>92</height>
</image>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[REVIEW: C.O.P. The Recruit  Pushes the DS More Than You Would Think]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[What the Game's About
C.O.P. The Recruit is an open-world game on the DS that puts you in control of Dan Miles, a former illegal street racer turned C.O.P., better known as Criminal Overturn Program recruit. Your partnership with a Detective Winter hits a road block when he is falsely arrested and Dan turns back to his former life to figure out what exactly happened. This time around, he's undercover. The arrest was just one part of a vast conspiracy that has horrible repercussions if the plan succeeds.

What's Hot
If someone were to glance at the game on your DS, they might mistake it for a full-blown Grand Theft Auto game. COP is a much tamer approach to open-world, sandbox-like games; however, the technology that is it built around is some of the most impressive seen on the DS yet. You have free reign over New York City where you run and drive all over the place. There are pedestrians, lamp posts, mailboxes and other background items that bring the city to life. The game runs smoothly with no noticeable slowdown. You can walk around the nine square miles of New York or you can commandeer a vehicle and buzz around quickly. The scope of the city is impressive for the DS for how well the game runs. Sure, there is some draw distance but that is a negligible issue. Inside the tall buildings of New York are equally impressive environments. The police HQ feels like a working office that you could jump right into. ]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7649</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7649</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:44:40 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Media: It's the Spirit of Zelda and She's Really Rad - 17 Images, 3 Vids, and Why Zelda's Playable]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[

We've got a nice heaping helping of Zelda goodness for you today, and at the top of the list are the seventeen new images added to our gallery for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, which includes the above image.  Nothing has been confirmed, but I think we can safely say that this picture rather heavily implies the return of some Four Swords-styled gameplay for Spirit Tracks' multiplayer.  And who knows? Maybe people will get a chance to really play it this time.

Hit the cut to go to the gallery, check out some Japanese gameplay videos, and see Aonuma's explanation for making Zelda sorta-playable.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7657</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7657</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:40:55 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[BLOG: Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Hater]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Before I begin my diatribe, please understand something about me first. I am a huge Kingdom Hearts fan. The original game was pretty much what pushed me from casually playing videogames to becoming a hardcore gamer, particularly in the realm of RPGs. I love the franchise so much that I completed the Chain of Memories installment on the GBA (of which I'm told I'm one of five people to suffer through this game), I imported the Japanese version of the same game just to buy the game again when it was released State-side, and I bought and played Kingdom Hearts 2 as well as the imported Final Mix. So when word first got out about 358/2 Days, I was one pumped little KH fangirl.

I really liked Roxas' character in KH2, so I was excited to get to play his side of the story. However, instead of loving every minute of it like I did with the other games, I've been utterly bored. Roxas' character barely has any personality. This Xion chick is annoying as hell, and I can't wait until she dies off (that's not a spoiler, people, she wasn't in KH2). What's up with all these missions that are exactly the same? You either gather hearts, take care of some nasty boss, shoot globs, ambush the Emerald Serenade, collect emblems, take the occasional endurance test or perform a bit of recon. That's it, rinse and repeat for 93 missions. And this panel system…where have I seen this before and didn't I hate it then? Oh yes! It was in Chain of Memories! ]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7614</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7614</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:40:29 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Satoshi Sakai Talks Phantasy Star 0, Plus the Return of Phantasy Star Online?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Our buddies over at Gamereactor were able to catch up with Phantasy Star 0's producer Satoshi Sakai to talk about the upcoming RPG.  While there, he dropped some big hints of what to expect from the future of the PS franchise.



As you heard, Sakai is looking into a return to consoles for the next Phantasy Star game, which would be celebrating the ten year anniversary of the original Phantasy Star Online's release on Dreamcast.  Not a bad bet, but I'm more hoping for a revival of the ORIGINAL Phantasy Star series.  Seriously!  Phantasy Star V!  Anyone?  No?  Just me?  Okay.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7655</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7655</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:38:13 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[BBFC's Sonic Classic Collection Rating Confounds and Confuses]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[There has been a bit of buzz happening all over the net about a new Sonic collection recently given a rating by the British Board of Film Classification.

Called the "Sonic Classic Collection," it is comprised of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, plus Sonic & Knuckles and its effective combinations with Sonics 2 & 3.  It also contains a Sonic image gallery and a "History of Sonic" video, as well as a trailer for Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7651</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7651</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:31:26 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Media: New LoZ: Spirit Tracks Commercial; NoE Planning Extensive Advertising]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[GoNintendo has managed to get its hands on the first North American commercial for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, which will be available on Monday, December 7th (though it would surprise me little if Nintendo had a launch event the day before at the Nintendo World store).  Here is what to expect to see a bit of before Christmas comes:



I kind of like it... it reminds me of some older Zelda ads.  The familiar theme playing at the end is a nice touch.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Nintendo is planning to release a variety of trailers in order to reach the widest audience possible.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7645</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7645</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:02:05 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[New Lufia Confirmed for DS, Remake of Lufia II]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[

Last week, it was announced that Square Enix would be bringing back the Lufia series, known as Estpolis in Japan.  However, we didn't know the platform.  Now, Famitsu has confirmed that the game will be heading to what seems to be Square-Enix's go-to console, the Nintendo DS.

Estpolis: The Land Cursed by Gods will actually be a remake of the classic Lufia 2, adding 3D graphics and voice acting.  The action will be on the top screen, with the bottom screen used for a map, as well as to switch out party members.  It'll also be developed by Neverland, who worked on the previous games for Taito.

The game is set for release in Japan on February 25th.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7643</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7643</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:13:11 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Nintendo Working on Metroid Prime Hunters Sequel?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The Metroid Prime trilogy may have been completed, but it looks like the hunt may be just beginning.

In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine UK, Nintendo's main man of Metroid Kensuke Tanabe confirmed that the company is working on new Prime games, and that "depending on the timing and the situation, we cannot deny the possibility of realising it on DS or DSi."

Of course, the Metroid Prime series also saw a multiplayer-focused edition hit the DS with Metroid Prime Hunters, so a new installment of that could certainly be in the works.  Still, I think there's a different DS Metroid game that we'd all rather see.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7642</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7642</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:32:42 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Media: Ace Attorney Investigations Demo Online]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[
Can't wait to get your hands on the latest chapter of the ongoing saga of courtroom heroism and betrayal that is the Ace Attorney series?  Then worry not; while the game is still not due to be released until the middle of February, 2010, Capcom has released a special online demo, which you'll be able to find after the cut.

]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7637</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7637</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:55:45 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[REVIEW: Nostalgia Features Both Traditional and Original RPG Elements]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[What the Game's About
Nostalgia is an RPG that takes common elements from traditional RPGs and packages them in a new story. The story follows the tale of Edward Brown and his band of friends and they try to find out what happened to his famous explorer father and what role a mysterious girl named Fiona plays in the evil plans of the Ancient Cabal. Unlike other RPGs, Nostalgia is set on planet Earth and you'll visit famous cities all from your airship. Nostalgia is best described as part steam punk, part new ideas and part traditional.

What's Hot
RPGs have a knack for story telling. Part of the reason they have stayed so popular is because the hero's journey is a tale that people never get tired of hearing. To help sell the story, a unique visual element helps set games apart from each other. In Nostalgia's case, there is a strong visual element that enhances the story. The reason for that is because you'll see the world as you know it in a new light. The characters you come across are immediately recognizable and you won't have to worry about anything looking generic.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7621</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7621</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:10:11 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Questions Answered]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Just as they did for New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine is playing host to some questions and answers about the upcoming holiday hit for the Nintendo DS, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

Of particular note are some answers regarding plot elements and how the game connects to other Zelda series installments, but at the same time, they try to answer such questions about the story without actually giving anything away.  They also answer questions about controls, difficulty, and whether or not it makes better use of the DS hardware.

Of particular note, they say that it "absolutely" feels like a sequel to Phantom Hourglass, "in both tone and feel," and while it's not the best handheld Zelda, "it is better than Phantom Hourglass."

You can check out the full Q&A here.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7635</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7635</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:58:34 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Martinet Wanted to Voice Link, Feels Nintendo Doesn't Have Competition]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[During the interview we conducted with Nintendo voice actor extraordinaire Charles Martinet, the topic came up about whether or not he had tried to score the role of any of Nintendo's other classic icons, and he mentioned a desire to play Link, which Miyamoto had declined.  

More recently, during an interview with That Gaming Site, he expanded on why that would apparently not be a good idea, as well as why Mario's own dialogue has remained fairly limited.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7632</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7632</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:05:21 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Nintendo DSis Pre-Loaded With DSiWare]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[

Among Best Buy's Black Friday deals Nintendo is releasing DSis pre-loaded with DSiWare games later this month.  There are two different sets that seem to be targeted towards different audiences.

One of them is a white DSi bundle that contains some of the more popular mass market software.  It contains all three Brain Age express games: Arts & Letters, Sudoku, and Math.  It also contains one of the Clubhouse Games Express titles – Card Classics.  The last thing the bundle contains is Photo Clock.

The other bundle is a Metallic Blue DSi packed with Mario-branded games.  It includes Mario vs Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, WarioWare Snapped!, Dr. Mario Express, and Mario Calculator, and Mario Clock.

These are theoretically better deals than what originally came with the DSi.  Anyone who bought a DSi between its April North American launch and October was given $10 worth of Nintendo points with which to buy DSiWare.  The white Black Friday DSi bundle contains $28 worth of DSiWare games and the blue one $22 worth of games.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7631</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7631</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:37:48 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[REVIEW: Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter was Made for the Stylus but Not for Portability]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[What the Game's About
Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter is the direct sequel to Drawn to Life for the Nintendo DS. What makes the Drawn to Life series stick out from other DS titles is that you become a de facto art director for the game as you play it. The game starts with a village of Raposa (the indigenous species of the Drawn to Life world) being startled at the draining of color in the world. The village they call home looks like an empty coloring book and the antagonist from the first game, Wilfre, is the cause of the distress. The townsfolk call upon the player, dubbed "The Creator" to send a hero to stop Wilfre once and for all. That is where your drawing skills come in as you embark on a quest to restore color from the same development house as Scribblenauts.

What's Hot
By putting the players in the art design seat, there are multiple levels to the game on which it can be enjoyed. The first level is fairly obvious. It is fun to create your own characters and design far-out things, creatures and weapons as your embark on your journey. The only limit is the boxes you need to keep the lines in and your imagination. The tools to create with are fairly simple but a lot can be accomplished with some creativity and the time set aside to do a good job. There are multiple things to design in the game including all your weapons, different character forms, special platforms, town landmarks and power-ups.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7622</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7622</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:44:44 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[TNA Wrestling Impacts Southpeak Interactive, New Handheld Games Announced]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Since Midway went under, practically all of their old franchises have been sold off to other developers...with the exclusion of TNA Wrestling.  While THQ passed on the organization's license with their acquisition of former developer Midway San Diego (probably because of the, y'know, whole WWE thing?), it looks like the land of the six-sided ring has a new home.

In their Q1 2010 earnings report, it was revealed that SouthPeak has gained future publishing rights to the TNA series.  It also took the time to announced a new game, TNA Impact: Cross the Line, coming soon to both the Nintendo DS and PSP.

As far as for future console releases, we'll have to wait and see.]]></description>
<link>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7624</link>
<guid>http://ds.kombo.com/article.php?artid=7624</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:42:20 -0600</pubDate>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>