Let me preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of music games as well as Rhythm Heaven for the Nintendo DS. That being said, it is no surprise that I was very anxious to play Nintendo's latest entry in the Rhythm Heaven series Rhythm Heaven Fever for the Nintendo Wii. So is this game a sharp masterpiece or does it fall flat?

We asked for it and Nintendo obliged. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Last Story is officially coming to North America and it's about damned time.

Game Info:

• Alternate Name: Monado: The Beginning of the World
• Production/Development: Monolith Soft
• Genre: Role-Playing (JRPG)
• Release Info: Wii Exclusive. 6/10/10 (JP), 8/19/11 (EU), 4/2/12 (US)
• ESRB Rating: Teen

From Tetsuya Takahashi, the mind behind Xenogears and the Xenosaga series, comes (arguably) the best Japanese role-playing game of this generation. (This review is based on the European version and is pretty much spoiler-free, as with all my other reviews.)

Earlier this week, Capcom announced that they are developing a new sequel to the ever popular Ace Attorney series. There are little to no details on this game, so stick around until we learn more info. It can be safely assumed, however, that this game will be released for the 3DS, as all of the Ace Attorney games have been developed for Nintendo handhelds. The other big announcement is that Capcom is developing HD versions of the first three Ace Attorney games for iOS and Android devices. Finally, Capcom shows Android some love!

I can say that once these games are released, you'd be doing yourself a great service if you get them. The Ace Attorney games have some great stories and charming characters, and you're missing out on a lot if you haven't played them yet.

Straight from a conference in Japan, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has announced the Wii U will be released worldwide this holiday season. Nintendo still hasn't revealed an official specs list for the console, but it can be assumed that they will sometime soon, for the sake of investors. Check back for more information about the Wii U, once we learn more!

Good news for all of the 3DS's early adopters. There's finally a release date, and a list of the free Gameboy Advance games that will be available to 3DS Ambassadors. Nintendo's Europe and Japan divisions have both stated that they will be releasing the GBA games on Friday, December 16th. These games will only be available to 3DS Ambassadors, and it is unclear as to whether they will be released on the Virtual Console store later on. Nintendo of America has yet to confirm that the games will be coming out in the USA on the same date. Check out the full list of games below.

• F-Zero Maximum Velocity
• Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
• Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
• Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
• Mario Kart Super Circuit
• Mario vs Donkey Kong
• Metroid Fusion
• Wario Land 4
• Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Microgames

In 1981, Nintendo released a game called Donkey Kong. This game also marked the first appearance of a little known character called Mario (named "Jumpman" at the time). Little did people know, this game started a video game series starring a character whose recognition rivals Mickey Mouse in this day and age. To celebrate such a momentous achievement, 40 Japanese creators created this 18 minute music video spanning almost every game in the Mario series, including some spinoffs.

Cramming 30 years worth of (remixed) music into one video is an impressive feat on its own. But being able to make it look and, more importantly, sound amazing is in a league of its own. I can't recall ever watching a video on Youtube that's 18 minutes long from start to finish that wasn't something that should be removed due to copyright infringement. But I did just that without even realizing it. The video features music from so many games, it's nothing short of remarkable. If you have 18 minutes to spare, I sorely recommend watching this amazing piece of work.

It took 30 years for this to happen. I'll gladly wait another 30 to see what has yet to come.

Mega Man co-designer and former Global Head of Production at Capcom, Keiji Inafune, has announced a brand new action-RPG for the Nintendo 3DS. It's called King of Pirates, or KAIO in Japan, and it's the first game by his new company. Multiplayer is confirmed, and it has been slated for a general "2012" release date. There's already an English press release and an official English website, so it's safe to say the game will be coming to North America and Europe. A story trailer, complete with English subtitles, has been released. So far, there are no further details.

Trailer

Found in a Famitsu Magazine article, there is a small section for Monster Hunter 3 G which showcases the Slide Pad attachment for the Nintendo DS. Written as 拡張スライドパッド / Kakuchou Slide Pad or "Slide Pad Expansion", the attachment gives it an additional pad on the right side and makes it that much more clunky to carry around and use. However, it is said that the Slide Pad is simple to install; it's as easy as mounting the 3DS onto the Slide Pad, holding it in place on the hinges in the back. It is long overdue to add this second pad, but better late than never... if it's cheap.

There is no mention of the cost or release date for this thing, but after the 3DS price cut, this (hopefully optional) accessory might be a factor in bumping the prices back up there.

Square-Enix has confirmed during their press conference that Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku will be released in 2012 for the Wii and Wii U consoles. This game will be, like Dragon Quest IX, a departure from the previous games in the series. This time, it will be an online game. The world will be shared with other players, who can form parties to adventure together, similar to Dragon Quest IX, but with player hubs.

Unlike recent games in the series, this game is being developed and published by Square-Enix. Fans should not be worried though, as the staple Dragon Quest staff members, such as Akira Toriyama and Yuji Hori are involved. Players from both the Wii and the Wii U versions will be able to play with each other, and the press release is hinting at a usage fee, but if the game follows the Wii's normal trend a-la Monster Hunter, North American players will be exempt from this fee. Finally, they have also strangely announced a Famicom version of the game. That's right, an 8-bit, classic version of the game. Be sure to follow us for future updates on the Dragon Quest series! Check out the leaked screenshots from the streamed press conference, and the Famicom version below.