NGamer
Encyclopedia
NGamer is a British
magazine
which mainly covers Nintendo
video game console
s and software, and also to a much lesser extent, Sony
and Microsoft
consoles. The first issue was released on 13 July 2006. It is the successor publication to N64 Magazine
(later renamed NGC Magazine) (1997-2006) and Super Play
(1992-1996), continuing the unique style of those magazines.
The magazine currently covers the Wii
, Nintendo DS
and 3DS
formats, along with news about the upcoming Wii U console. Previously, NGamer has covered the both GameCube
and Game Boy Advance
.
games that the NGamer staff would like to appear on the Wii
's Virtual Console
(Episode 3). Episodes 3 and 4 have both featured commentary by former editor Mark Green, with Episode 4 containing a documentary of some of the NGamer team going to test the Wii. Episode 5 contained a video walkthrough of the first few dungeons and villages in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
. Episode 6 contained a video walkthrough to the last five dungeons of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, as well as a video guide showing small Easter eggs that can be done on the Wii. Episode 7 showed a detailed Virtual Console review guide, as well as a review for Pokémon Battle Revolution
, and a guide to importing Japanese Wii consoles and games. In a post made by Mark Green at the NGamer forums, it was explained why the DVD has no longer been a monthly gift since issue 16.
magazine named NGamer (alternative spelling: [N]Gamer), of Dutch origin with no links whatsoever to the UK's NGamer magazine. It is published bi-monthly and is the longest running Nintendo-related publication in the Benelux
region. This magazine pre-dates the British version by three years; its first issue was released in 2003. Other than the similar name and the shared specialisation, they are wholly unrelated.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
which mainly covers Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s and software, and also to a much lesser extent, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
consoles. The first issue was released on 13 July 2006. It is the successor publication to N64 Magazine
NGC Magazine
NGC Magazine was a British magazine specialising in Nintendo created consoles; which was first printed in 1997 and ran until 2006. N64 Magazine was the successor to Super Play magazine after it ended in 1996 as it retained many of the staff and the style of that publication...
(later renamed NGC Magazine) (1997-2006) and Super Play
Super Play
Super Play was a UK based Super Nintendo Entertainment System magazine which ran from November 1992 to September 1996.Super Play was notable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it covered in great detail the console role-playing game genre...
(1992-1996), continuing the unique style of those magazines.
The magazine currently covers the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
and 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
formats, along with news about the upcoming Wii U console. Previously, NGamer has covered the both GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
.
Current staff members
- Assistant Editor: Charlotte Martyn (issue 57 to present)
- Contributing Editor: Matthew Castle (issue 4 to present)
Past staff members
- Art Editor: Paul Tysall (issues 1 to 9)
- Editor: Mark Green (issues 1 to 19)
- Production Editor: Chrissy Williams (issues 1 to 22)
- Editor: Nick Ellis (issue 20 to 47)
- Deputy Editor: Martin Kitts (issue 1 to 68)
- Art Editor: Andy McGregor (issue 10 to 68)
- Deputy Art Editor: Kim Bissix (issue 1 to 68)
Guest reviewers
These people have occasionally contributed software reviews, but are not regular NGamer staff members.- Alex Dale
- Mike Gapper
- Richard Stanton
- John Walker
- Tim Weaver
- Matthew Pellett
- Rory Smith
- Geraint Evans
- Tom Sykes
Recent changes to the Editorial role
Nick Ellis "vanished" from NGamer HQ after issue 47, so Martin Kitts stood in as Editor until his return. Several mini references to him were made on the 'final word' page. He returned as Editor in issue 54, before leaving for good in issue 56.Sections
NGamer has the following sections or features in its magazine. This is subject to change as new issues are published.- Welcome!: This is where the editor introduces himself and the magazine. It also features a mini legend of everything featured on the cover, and the full credits for the magazine.
- Meet the Team: Small biographies for each member of the NGamer staff, including their answers to select questions that differ every month. This page also shows the guest reviewers for the issue, and what they reviewed
- Contents: Where everything in the magazine is given its corresponding page number for quick browsing.
- NGExpress: A round-up of recent news, rumours, gossip, facts and opinions. Also occasionally includes a one-page interview (known as NGamer Interview), and a release schedule for upcoming games software.
- News Blast: This section contains a page of pictures, each accompanied by a couple of sentences describing a rumour or news story of the last month. It also usually contains the charts for British game sales for Nintendo console formats, as well as international charts.
- Online Desk: A double-page section dedicated to Nintendo on the Internet, including information on upcoming games that will use the Nintendo Wi-Fi ConnectionNintendo Wi-Fi ConnectionThe is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
, choice websites that can be viewed on the Wii's Internet Channel, and a section on flash games that are compatible with the Wii Remote.
- Previews: This section gives previews of upcoming games on Nintendo systems, beginning with a contents page detailing which previews appear in the issue. The major previews can vary in length from one to six pages, with a double-page spread at the end in which other games "they didn't have space for" receive small pictures and paragraphs each. It also has an NGamer Diary, in which each member of the NGamer team writes a short article about their current favourite upcoming game. Although primarily for comical purposes, it does give away small bits of relevant information about the games.
- Reviews: This section has reviews for games already released over the last month, or those available between the current and next issues. It has a front page explaining how they score, along with another contents section detailing the pages of the reviews. As well as UK releases, NGamer also reviews the major Japanese and American releases and has a 'roundup' of other games at the end of the section.
- Feature: A section of the magazine that contains a special feature on a certain subject. These can range from detailed break-downs into the construction of a certain game or piece of hardware to a chart or case file of significant events. A past example of this was "20 Magical Nintendo Moments", a list of the staff's favourite obscure, forgotten or hard-to-reach moments in Nintendo games. In some issues this has been integrated into the World of Nintendo section (see below).
- World of Nintendo: Almost a tribute to Nintendo, this section is varied. Over the life of the magazine it has contained:
- A "20 Nintendo Happenings" feature, usually four pages long, detailing odd Nintendo-related events, websites or objects that the team have discovered or readers have sent in.
- A tips section or walkthrough solution for a specific game, past examples including New Super Mario Bros.New Super Mario Bros.is a side-scrolling platform video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. The game was released in North America and Japan in May 2006 and in Australia and Europe in June 2006...
and Mario Strikers ChargedMario Strikers ChargedMario Strikers Charged, known in Europe and Australia as Mario Strikers Charged Football, is a sports video game developed by Canadian developer Next Level Games and published by Nintendo for the Wii. This game was announced at the 2006 Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany as the sequel to Super...
. - One or two articles that can contain anything relating to Nintendo games - examples include a guide to the toughest stages of the Super Monkey Ball series and a double-page spread of pictures showing 100 ways that Mario has been able to die in his series of games.
- A Top Tips section, where readers can send in tips for various games along with NGamer's own, usually for recently-released games.
- A section about what people have done Nintendo-wise outside of gaming, for example, getting Nintendo tattoos, modifying an NESNes-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
, and creating a cardboard Wii. - An interview with a video game developer, for example Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of Harvest Moon.
- Page 89: A selected page designated for random happenings in NGamer. No longer called this anymore, as movements in the magazine have meant it no longer occupies a selected page.
- Mailbox: The letters section of the magazine, where letters, emails and texts from readers are published. The majority of the section comprises several letters sent in by readers, with the editor replying to each one. It also contains many mini-sections (some of which originated in predecessor N64 Magazine), including:
- "Star Letter", where the best letter received is displayed, with the reader who wrote the letter winning a prize, usually a Wii game or some DS games. Past star letters have ranged from standard letters to poetry.
- "Correction Corner", where readers point out errors in previous issues, including spelling mistakes, inaccurate information, and printing errors. Also occasionally featured alongside it is "Not Correction Corner", where letters are displayed from readers pointing out mistakes that aren't actually mistakes.
- "Bonus Letters", where bizarre excerpts from letters that didn't make the main section are printed, usually with a humorous reply from the editor.
- "So Tell Me This...", a Q&A section where the NGamer team attempt to answer questions that readers send in.
- A section containing the best text messages received.
- An art section where the best artwork sent in is displayed.
- A section displaying the best messages sent by readers to NGamer's Wii consoles. Also a few pictures of the best Miis sent in are displayed, in pictures labelled "From You to Mii".
- A section containing jokes that readers have sent in.
- "Why Haven't They Made...", a section containing a concept, pitch and box art for a new game that a reader has sent in. This section was put in after a post on the NGamer forums.
- Download: This section is dedicated to retro gaming and fielded by "R.O.B.R.O.B.R.O.B. , released in Japan as the , is an accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in July 1985 in Japan and later that year in North America. It had a short product lifespan, with support for only two games which comprised the "Robot Series"; Gyromite and Stack-Up. R.O.B...
's brother: DR64". It usually contains:- A "History Lesson" section which looks at the story of a video game company, character, console or game series - past examples have included the MSXMSXMSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
and Mega Drive. - A Classic Levels series where levels from retro games are looked at in detail. Examples of games that have featured in this section include: GoldenEye 007 and Pilotwings 64Pilotwings 64is a video game for the Nintendo 64, originally released in 1996 along with the debut of the console. The game was co-developed by Nintendo and the American visual technology group Paradigm Simulation. It was one of three launch titles for the Nintendo 64 in Japan as well as Europe and one of two...
- A column called "The Way We Were", which takes a look back at an old issue of N64/NGC Magazine, or occasionally, Super Play.
- A section on the Wii's Virtual ConsoleVirtual consoleA virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
(VC), including announcements and rumours of upcoming games, a list of every VC game released so far, and a challenge section where the staff challenge the readers to beat their high scores or best times on select VC games. Occasionally there is another retro-related article - one of example of this was a two-issue game on how to make an arcade joystick for use with the Wii.
- A "History Lesson" section which looks at the story of a video game company, character, console or game series - past examples have included the MSX
- Meanwhile...: An unusual double-page spread which summarises key new titles and news related to non-Nintendo platforms, usually focusing on the Xbox 360Xbox 360The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3PlayStation 3The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
- Subscribe: A double-page spread describing how to subscribe to NGamer. A free gift is often included in the subscription offer, which changes every few months; sometimes a game, other times a peripheral or a Nintendo-related accessory.
- NGamer Directory: Contains a list of the top 50 wii games judged by NGamer, along with a summary and review score for each one. The Directory also lists NGamers Top 50 DS games, and their top five Game Boy Advance games. It also contains a small mini-section where each member of staff lists what they are currently playing, and a mini-section showing the attempt of each member of staff to draw a well-known video game character using the DS's PictoChat.
- Next Month: This is a single page previewing the next issue.
- The Back Pages: In early issues, the last page of the magazine was a quiz that gave readers a chance to win a prize - previous prizes including a Nintendo DS LiteNintendo DS LiteThe is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It is a slimmer, brighter, and more lightweight redesign of the Nintendo DS, designed to be aesthetically sleeker, while taking styling cues from the Game Boy Advance SP, and to appeal to broader commercial audiences...
. However, the questions were very hard and could only be answered by someone who had read the magazine cover to cover, as it asked very obscure questions. Currently it contains a random image, such as an early photograph of Mark Green trying to play professional wrestlers at a wrestling game on Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
. For issue 12, however, the staff have requested readers to send in Nintendo-related photos of themselves to fill the page. This page also contains "The Very Last Gasp", which contains four or five items that either didn't fit in anywhere else or were only added just before the magazine went to press. On the very last page there is now a Nintendo related picture. In issue 35, this was a Nintendo DSiNintendo DSiThe is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable...
and a circle with a smiley face inside saying, 'NGamer'.
Top scoring games
In Issue 1, the magazine printed their revised review scores for GameCube, Game Boy Advance (GBA) and DS games; made by intense negotiation by the staffers. This was because they felt that review scores in NGC Magazine had been too lenient, so they used a stricter scoring system. This stricter system is used for all NGamer reviews.| Score: | Games: |
| 100% | WarioWare D.I.Y. (DS) (Japanese version) (The 100% score was generally meant as a joke, seeing the game itself was based on making your own games, so they gave it full score. It is not at "Top 20" DS games in the magazines. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is at top with 95% score.) In the redesigned Top 50 DS games (as of issue 61) WarioWare D.I.Y appears with the score of 88%. |
| 98% | Super Mario Galaxy 2 Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It was first announced at E3 2009 and is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy. It was released in North America on May 23, 2010, in Japan on May 27, 2010, in Europe on June 11, 2010, and in Australia on July 1,... (Wii) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is an action-adventure game for the Wii console and the sixteenth entry in the Legend of Zelda series. Developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, it was released in Europe on November 18, 2011 in North America on November 20, 2011, in Japan on November 23, 2011, and on November... (Wii) |
| 97% | Super Mario Galaxy Super Mario Galaxy is a 3D platform game developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It was released in most regions in November 2007, and is the third 3D original platformer in the Mario series, after Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. The game follows the protagonist, Mario, on a... (Wii) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii video game consoles. It is the thirteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series... (Wii) |
| 96% | Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii) |
| 95% | Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil 4, known in Japan as , is a survival horror third-person shooter video game developed by Capcom Production Studio 4 and published by multiple publishers, including Capcom, Ubisoft, Nintendo Australia, Red Ant Enterprises and THQ Asia Pacific... (GameCube) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii video game consoles. It is the thirteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series... (GameCube) The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the fourteenth game in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. It was released after The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii and before The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the Nintendo DS... (DS) |
| 94% | Advance Wars Advance Wars Advance Wars, known in Japan as is a turn-based tactics video game developed for the Game Boy Advance by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. It was released in North America on September 10, 2001, but put on hold in Japan and Europe due to the following day's terrorist attacks in the USA... (GBA) WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! (GBA) No More Heroes No More Heroes (video game) , is an action video game for the Wii video game system. It was directed by Goichi Suda , developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by Marvelous Entertainment Inc., Ubisoft and Rising Star Games... (Wii) Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is a video game for Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, and iOS, developed by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with Rockstar North. It is the thirteenth game in the Grand Theft Auto series, and the very first for Nintendo DS and iOS.-Gameplay:Chinatown Wars has a... (DS) |
| 93% | Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (GBA) Advance Wars: Dark Conflict (DS) Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is an action-adventure video game co-developed by Grezzo and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld console. The game was released on June 16, 2011 in Japan, June 17, 2011 in Europe, June 19, 2011 in North America and June 30, 2011 in Australia; however, it... (3DS) Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) |
| 92% | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, released as in Japan, is an action-adventure game and the tenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series. It was released for the Nintendo GameCube in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 24, 2003, in Europe on May 2, 2003, and in Australia on... (GameCube) Animal Crossing Animal Crossing The Animal Crossing games have garnered positive response. The first three games are among the best-selling for their respective consoles. Animal Crossing has sold 2.321 million copies; Wild World 10.79 million; and City Folk 3.38 million... (GameCube) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords (GBA) Manhunt 2 Manhunt 2 Manhunt 2 is an action/adventure video game developed by Rockstar Games and the sequel to 2003's Manhunt. The game was released in North America for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii on October 29, 2007.... (Wii) (uncut version) Little King's Story Little King's Story is a life simulation/role-playing video game co-developed by Cing and Town Factory for the Wii. The game was published by Rising Star Games in PAL regions on April 24, 2009, by Xseed Games in North America on July 21, 2009, and by Marvelous Entertainment in Japan on September 3, 2009.The player... (Wii) The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, released as in Japan, is the fifteenth installment of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. Developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console, it was released worldwide throughout December 2009 after Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced the... (DS) Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS) |
| 91% | Advance Wars: Dual Strike Advance Wars: Dual Strike Advance Wars: Dual Strike, known in Japan as , is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console... (DS) Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a first-person action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the tenth game in the Metroid series, and the final entry in the Metroid Prime trilogy—excluding two spin-off titles. It was released in... (Wii) Puzzle League DS (DS) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall... (Wii) Ōkami Okami is an action-adventure video game developed by Clover Studio and published by Capcom. It was released for Sony's PlayStation 2 video game console in 2006 in Japan and North America, and 2007 in Europe and Australia... (Wii) Bully: Scholarship Edition (Wii) Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii) Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS) Rock Band 3 Rock Band 3 Rock Band 3 is a music video game, developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, with Mad Catz taking over both roles a year later. It is the third main game in the Rock Band series... (Wii) |
| 90% | Pikmin 2 Pikmin 2 is a real-time strategy video game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan on April 29, 2004, in North America on August 30, 2004, in Europe on October 8, 2004, and in Australia on November 4, 2004.... (GameCube) Super Monkey Ball Super Monkey Ball Super Monkey Ball is an arcade platform game developed by Amusement Vision and published by Sega. The game debuted in Japan in 2000 as an upright arcade cabinet called Monkey Ball and was released the following year as one of the launch titles for the Nintendo GameCube.-Modes:Super Monkey Ball... (Gamecube) Metroid Prime Metroid Prime Metroid Prime is a video game developed by Retro Studios and Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube, released in North America on November 17, 2002... (GameCube) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a third-person action-adventure computer and video game published by Ubisoft. It was released on November 21, 2003 and is a reboot of the landmark video game series Prince of Persia, created by Jordan Mechner in 1989.The Sands of Time, developed internally at... (GameCube) Hitman 2 (GameCube) WarioWare: Twisted! WarioWare: Twisted! WarioWare: Twisted!, known in Japan as is a video game for Game Boy Advance by Nintendo. The game is of a variety and puzzle genre. It was released on October 14, 2004 in Japan, May 23, 2005 in North America, and May 19, 2005 in Australia. It was not released in Europe, despite having been... (GBA) Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (GBA) Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3, released in Japan as , is a platform video game that was developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance handheld game console. It was first released in Japan, and then later released in Europe, North America, and Australia. It is an enhanced... (GBA) Red Steel Red Steel Red Steel is a first person shooter video game published by Ubisoft for Nintendo's Wii console. It was developed by the Ubisoft Paris studio and was unveiled in the May 2006 issue of Game Informer. It was released on November 19, 2006 in North America, the date of the first Wii launch... (Wii) MySims MySims MySims, formerly The Sims Wii and Nintendo Sims, is a video game developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts as a spinoff to Maxis' The Sims franchise for the Nintendo DS and Wii in 2007, then re-released for Microsoft Windows and Mobile phone in 2008.It is the first game in the... (Wii) LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a video game based on the Star Wars-themed toy line by the Lego Group. It is a combination of the game Lego Star Wars: The Video Game and its sequel Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy... (Wii) Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, known as in Japan, is an adventure/puzzle video game published and developed by Capcom for the Wii video game console. It was first released in North America on October 23, 2007, and was later released in Japan, PAL regions, and as one of eight Wii launch... (Wii) The World Ends With You (DS) Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is a football video game in the Pro Evolution Soccer series, which was made by Konami... (Wii) Guitar Hero: Metallica Guitar Hero: Metallica Guitar Hero: Metallica is a music video game developed by Neversoft and distributed by Activision. The game was released in North America on the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 on March 29, 2009 and on PlayStation 2 on April 14, 2009, with a European release in May 2009... (Wii) Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS) Infinite Space Infinite Space , initially announced as "Infinite Line",. is a science-fiction role-playing game developed by Nude Maker and Platinum Games for the Nintendo DS. It was the third of a four game publishing deal with Sega... (DS) Jam With The Band (DS) Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is a puzzle role-playing adventure video game in the Might and Magic franchise, developed for the Nintendo DS by Capybara Games and published by Ubisoft Entertainment. It was first announced in May 2009, and released on December 1, 2009... (DS) Ghost Trick Ghost Trick is an adventure game developed by Capcom for the Nintendo DS and iOS. The lead development was handled by Shu Takumi, the creator of the Ace Attorney series. The game is published by Capcom and was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on June 19, 2010, in North America on January 11, 2011 and in... (DS) Fatal Frame IV: The Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (Wii) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) |
Lowest scoring game
The lowest scoring game in NGamer history is the Nintendo DS game Secret Flirts II, which received a -47, the reviewer stating it to be "A hateful piece of software."Novelty scores
Certain titles have received 'novelty' scores, as opposed to scores that fit in with the scoring system proper. As well as 'WarioWare DIY' and 'Secret Flirts' mentioned above, Witch-touching game 'Doki Doki Majo Shinpan' scored 'No', while a DS entry into the Cabela Hunting series scored ':(' Spelling title 'Mizuiro Blood' scored '???' due to its bizarre nature.NGTV
NGTV is the name applied to the DVD given away with the first 15 issues of NGamer. Each 'episode' contains footage of both newly released and upcoming games, as well as other footage of interest, for example of little-known or unreleased Mario titles (Episode 2) or retroRetro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
games that the NGamer staff would like to appear on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
(Episode 3). Episodes 3 and 4 have both featured commentary by former editor Mark Green, with Episode 4 containing a documentary of some of the NGamer team going to test the Wii. Episode 5 contained a video walkthrough of the first few dungeons and villages in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii video game consoles. It is the thirteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series...
. Episode 6 contained a video walkthrough to the last five dungeons of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, as well as a video guide showing small Easter eggs that can be done on the Wii. Episode 7 showed a detailed Virtual Console review guide, as well as a review for Pokémon Battle Revolution
Pokémon Battle Revolution
is the first Wii incarnation of the Pokémon video game franchise. It is also the first Wii game to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in North America and Japan and the first Wii game to wirelessly interact with the Nintendo DS handheld....
, and a guide to importing Japanese Wii consoles and games. In a post made by Mark Green at the NGamer forums, it was explained why the DVD has no longer been a monthly gift since issue 16.
Dutch [N]Gamer
There is another NintendoNintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
magazine named NGamer (alternative spelling: [N]Gamer), of Dutch origin with no links whatsoever to the UK's NGamer magazine. It is published bi-monthly and is the longest running Nintendo-related publication in the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
region. This magazine pre-dates the British version by three years; its first issue was released in 2003. Other than the similar name and the shared specialisation, they are wholly unrelated.
Brazilian NGamer
In July 2007, a magazine was released about Nintendo with the name NGamer by Editora Europa. It features links with the original NGamer. As well as this, some features from the UK magazine were translated. It is published monthly with a page length of about 100 pages.Spanish NGamer
On 20 October 2007, the Spanish version of NGamer became available in stores. It is published by Editorial Globus. However, it only lasted 19 issues until it stopped being published in 2009. Most of it contents were translated from the UK issues.Recurring themes and in-jokes
The magazine continues the tradition of including in-jokes and themes that may recur for several issues of more. Here are some notable examples- The word "natch" (a shortened slang term for the word 'naturally') appears on a frequent basis in the magazine and has been attributed to former editor Mark Green's fondness of the word.
- The phrase "that is all" is frequently used.
- The NGamer crew have a hatred of Diddy KongDiddy Kong, originally known as Donkey Diddy, is a fictional character in the Donkey Kong series of video games, first appearing in the 1994 game Donkey Kong Country. He lives on Donkey Kong Island in the Kongo Jungle, and is identified by his red hat, which has a Nintendo logo on it, and shirt...
and Tingle.
- Games Editor Matthew Castle is famed (and ridiculed) for his total ineptitude at playing the more difficult games, particularly 2D retro titles.
- There was much uproar from readers after Matthew's import review of Super Smash Bros Brawl awarded the game 93%. Although a high score, it was one of the lowest scores awarded to the game. Readers said that this score was much too low and suggested it should be much higher. In issue 22, NGamer responded via a small article in NGEXPRESS saying "Matthew stands by everything he said," and "Unlike the people sending him internet death threats, he's actually played the game." He calls the Internet Death Threats "Fanboy Bile". He also said that if he were to make a WiiWare title, he would call it, "Death To Fanboy Bile." In issue 29, a sheet of stickers were given out free with the magazine. One of the stickers was the number, '95', which the magazine informs readers can "simply slap on the sticker over his verdict and you can make it look like he actually knew what he was talking about."
- A powerful and destructive character named Ninja Cat, based on an item from the game Tenchu 4, has appeared in several issues.
- The phrase "Worth Seven Pounds" has appeared many times in the magazine, since a free Wii Wheel-style accessory was given away with an issue of the magazine, and described as such.
- On the Welcome! page of the magazines after Thanks To there is No Thanks To.
- In a recent issue, a Beach Ball that mimics Chain Chomp from Super Mario 64Super Mario 64is a platform game, published by Nintendo and developed by its EAD division, for the Nintendo 64. Along with Pilotwings 64, it was one of the launch titles for the console. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, and later in North America, Europe, and Australia. Super Mario 64 has sold over...
has been dubbed Wrong Chomp and the crew include it in contests, and is frequently mentioned when reviewing extremely poor or awkward non-Game Nintendo merchandise. It currently takes pride of place in the magazine's Twitter logo, with the remains of the bird from the Twitter logo in its teeth.
- Recent issues have been haunted by the ghost of Charlton HestonCharlton HestonCharlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
, emerging to review light gun peripherals and assorted tat, normally exaggerating Charlton's personality.
- The team (Matthew in particular) appear to have a fondness for cakeCakeCake is a form of bread or bread-like food. In its modern forms, it is typically a sweet and enriched baked dessert. In its oldest forms, cakes were normally fried breads or cheesecakes, and normally had a disk shape...
s, and often encourage readers to send them in.
- The BBC FourBBC FourBBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
television programme Only ConnectOnly ConnectOnly Connect is a quiz show programme first shown on BBC Four on 15 September 2008, presented by Victoria Coren. In the series, teams compete in a tournament of finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues. Radio Timess listings usually describe it as "a game of patience and lateral...
has frequently appeared in The Very Last Gasp section. On 22 August 2011, editor Charlotte would appear as part of team "Edwards Family" in the second episode of Series 5.