"You can't win unless you learn how to lose."

Although I'm not really the sporty type, there have been some great sports games released by Nintendo the years. When I was at school Nintendo world cup was one of my favourites. For a sports game back then it was really basic, but there was something about those cute 8bit players being able to scissor kick the ball that had me hooked. When the boys and I are having a little one on one gaming session with the 3DS's, we still occasionally have a Mario slam basketball still tournament and we like to get a little competitive with Mario and Sonic at the Rio Olympic games. Nintendo does a great job of adding a less serious, more quirky approach to sports games.

With the release of Mario Sports Superstar, 5 more sports have been given the Nintendo twist. The Football for me didn't have the same nostalgic feel that I got when I recently played Nintendo world cup again at my friends, but... it is still a great game and I loved being able to play as Nintendo's finest. Baseball took us a while to get the hang of, Pitching was fine but when it came to batting we all had teething issues with actually hitting the ball. We had a really good chuckle though at just how bad we all were. 

The tennis and golf were like playing old favourites with a new twist. And the Horse racing was definitely one of my favourites as it was like playing a strange game of Mario kart. Whats great about Mario Sports Superstar is that the fun isn't just stuck at playing the actual sports, there is a lot of strategy that also goes into the game play to help your progress. 

There are a variety of tournaments to get through in single player mode and although I'm yet to fully try out the multiplayer mode , I am looking forward to competing against online players. I'm still holding out for ice hockey to be included in a Mario sports game somewhere down the line, maybe next time. 

"But friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold."

When Paper Mario was released on the N64 it somehow completely slipped my attention and Ive never had the chance to play it since. When Paper Mario on the Wii was release though I was completely hooked. The story was completely different to any other Mario game I had previously played and there was a new villain to try and defeat. Playing as my favourite mustachioed plumber with the added bonus of flipping from 2d to 3d was AMAZING and I became a hermet for a couple of days while I completed it. It did take me a while to work out one part from what I could remember because there was a glitch, but it was worth every minute spent playing.

When Paper Mario: Sticker star was released on the 3ds we rushed out to get a copy because I had told the boys how much I had enjoyed playing the previous game. The boys were not disappointed and they still love playing the game now. So when we were doing our usual mooching around on the Nintendo website and spotted the upcoming game Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Bros we couldn't wait to give the next installment a try. Nintendo do such a good job of dragging you in to the games and most of the Nintendo fans I know have been following many of the characters since early on.

Unlike any of the other Paper Mario titles, Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Bros includes both Paper Mario and his more lumpy counterpart when two alternate universes collide and they need to join forces to help each other out. One of the things that I loved from the very start of the game is that you are controlling both Mario and Luigi on the same screen using one button to make Mario jump and another to make Luigi do the same. When Paper Mario then gets thrown in to the equation too you can perform trio moves to get past obstacles and progress through the game. You can use the trio to add power in to your attacks, totem like The legends of Zelda Tri Force heroes and send the slender brother through tight squeezes With puzzles to complete and Pokemon style battles to take part in along the way the game has something for everyone. 

With two princess' to rescue and two Bowser's to defeat, Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Bros is shaping up to be a fantastic game and I am looking forward to getting stuck in over the festive season. Now I've got to try and get the boys off of the game for a bit of Paper Jam craft, I've made my Goomba!

Happy gaming.

"Everybody's out there wrestling like a robot."

When it comes to Nintendo I love the classics, Super Mario for me as a kid was the best and when Yoshi was thrown in to the equation I was in my element. Although I have followed the mustachioed plumber through his glorious career and plan to continue until I am old older and grey, I think its awesome when I am introduced to something I'd not heard of before like the new Chibi-Robo! Zip lash game. I am however a little disappointed with myself for not realising that the game is a follow up to the earlier release on the Gamecube many years ago (I did own a Gamecube when it was released but sadly girls were also a part of my life at this age so I may have missed a lot).

Chibi-Robo Zip lash is a platform game where the hero adventures through each 6 level world using his trusty power cable to progress, while trying to stay charged. The little robot who whips his way through each level is also big on cleaning up mess along the way and picks up litter that is left about to give to his friend at HQ to gain extra points. 

Opeie was the first to point the game out when we were having a mooch on Nintendo.co.uk and said that the game looked really cute. This is one of the things that will always be a huge factor in why I love Nintendo games so much. Most of their games appeal to all age groups and Chibi-robo is definitely no different. I did think after watching the video that it may be a little difficult for Opeie being only 4 but this mini hardcore gamer of mine flew through the early levels with the greatest of ease. I love that the boys are in to gaming and I will always embrace that as it is something that was big in my life as a child, I do limit them though as I think anything they do should be done in moderation. With each game we play though I do try and find the educational advantage in each (there always is one). The legends of Zelda / Pokemon (strategy), Mario Maker / Animal Crossing (design), Super smash Bros... how to brawl? (I jest). Chibi-Robo though gave me a chance to give Opeie a Nintendo themed home school lesson in 'angles'. As the levels progress you need to bounce your power cable off of angled walls to get to higher sockets and Opeie was getting a little frustrated by not being able to advance. The game is great as when you aim your power cable at an angled wall it shows you the trajectory by dotted line to help you along your way. So my lesson in angles showed Opeie throwing the power cable at different places on the angled wall caused the plug to take a different path, Genius!

Chibi-Robo Zip Lash has been great for taking with me everywhere I go helping to bridge that boring gap when I am waiting in the car (which happens a lot). The levels are short and not too testing, although I am only 3 worlds in and there are fun extras as you progress, my favourite so fare being  'The Adventures of Skater Bot' Where Chibi-Robo! dons a skateboard and whizzes through the level shooting his power cable at sockets while moving

The game is fun, effortless play, the only downside for me (and this is just personal preference) was the product placement throughout the game. Console gaming is frowned up on enough, which I can definitely understand if it is not done in moderation. I don't think that any computer game for children though needs to be advertising confectionery throughout the game, it took me right back to Mcdonald land released in the 90's.

That aside though the game play is a lot of fun and being a lot cheaper than many of the other latest 3ds releases you really cant go wrong. I love the Wii U but I seem to get much more time for handheld gaming as it fits in to all my quiet moments and Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash has become another great Nintendo title to add to our ever expanding collection.

There seems to be a fun amiibo section of the game too, sadly we couldn't find out more about that as we are playing the game on the older 3DS. With all the games being released with amiibo extras I'm starting to think that we definitely need the New 3DS XL.

"The most important thing in the world is family and love."

Saturday felt like a little bit of a wasted day. Mrs M was working for a few hours and the weather was awful so me and the little super hero spent the day in apart from a trip to the game shop to trade in some unwanted games for newbies. Yesterday really made up for it though, the sun was out and everywhere looked cheerful again. We didn't have any plans so we spent the first couple of hours of the morning trying to decide what to do. eventually we decided and packed a picnic and headed to Attingham park. We took a stroll towards the house on the grounds and it was really peaceful, I love walking around holding Mrs M's hand, we don't seem to get to do it very often and it always feels quite romantic.

 Our game of hide and seek in the garden was made a little easier by the big red super Mario hat that Opeie was insisting on wearing all morning. He was looking rather cute though.

After eating our grub and spending some time in the walled garden we jumped back in the car and took a slow drive towards Mrs M's parents house. Opeie was feeling exhausted so it was a great opportunity to get him down for a nap so that he was full of energy for all of those kisses he was going to get off nanny.

After a cup if tea, racing some toy cars and a game of Bigjigs skittles with Nanny and Grandad we all jumped in the car and drove to Auntie Lottie's house...

Opeie was so excited that he got to have a ride around on one of uncle Aaron's vintage tractors and i even got to drive it around the garden too which was lots of fun. The weather was so lovely all afternoon and being around the people we love the most made for a pretty perfect Sunday afternoon.

"Do I look to be in a gaming mood?"

Firstly I'd like to say that working with Nintendo is amazing, if I haven't made that clear with every other post I have written for them. Having the 3ds has rekindled my love of handheld gaming. I find it difficult to find time to play console games on the TV especially due to the fact that Mrs M isn't really that interested in gaming. She asked me a few nights back if I'd love it if she had a DS too and we played some nights, clearly that's a silly question. What I love most about handheld gaming is it fits into my busy lifestyle as a stay at home parent. If Opeie's asleep and I've done everything I need to do around the house, then I'm gaming. If I'm relaxing in the bath... I'm gaming! Seth's physio? We're gaming! and if all is quiet in the house at night and I'm the only one still awake (like most nights) then aside from writing, I'm gaming.

Thanks to those gaming legends me and Seth have gained a new member of our 2ds/3ds gang. A week a go we received a package for Opeie with a very special surprise inside, his very own 2ds, he was so excited and rightly so. If you own one then you know how amazing Nintendo's handheld gaming has developed over the last few years and now Opeie has his very on console to play his beloved Mario 3dland.

As I've said on many of my posts I know across the parenting forums and other blogs, console gaming gets some bad press. I read a great post over at the Bigjigs Bigblog about how you can't replace human interaction with technology and I completely agree. But I also think that anything done in moderation as a family is great for your children's development. Sitting down together and getting stuck in to Mario's many escapades occasionally is great for bonding. With Seth it has been a perfect distraction for doing his physio together and for Opeie I have found it a great way to relax him when he is a little hyper (I'm going to have to film him at some point, it blows me away how good he is at some games at 3)

Well our newest DS member has been making the most of his new console so thank you Nintendo you have made our littlest gamer very happy. His favourite games at the moment include new Yoshi's island, Mario 3d land and Lego Movie. The boys remind me of myself when I was younger excited by completing levels progressing through games. They deserve all the gaming time they get because they are two intelligent and grounded little men.

Thanks Nintendo you are helping to shaping my boys childhoods just like you did mine.

“Tis hatched and shall be so”

Since becoming part of the Nintendo family bloggers network we've been so excited about receiving our first item to review. So when our first game arrived last week with a huge chocolate Yoshi egg attached the boys were all smiles and ready for a bit of gaming. Seth was the first to play so only fair that it was up to him to take the lead on the post...

"hi its Seth, i was so happy when Pauly said our first game had come from Nintendo, i love my 2ds and really wanted to try a new game. I love writing the blog and being able to play with cool things. We have Yoshi's island for the Ds so i couldn't wait to try out the new one.

I really like Yoshi, he's one of my favourite characters, i like toad too. Yoshi's New island has baby Mario and Luigi in which is cute and Opeie really likes the baby Mario characters. I haven't got far in to the game but i love it when Yoshi eats the really big baddies."

"Opeie is really good at playing the game too, actually Opeie is really good at playing most games. I can't even beat him sword fighting on Sports resort. I'm really looking forward to playing the rest of the game".

The boys have been having so much fun playing and as with all the Mario based games i was hooked from the get go. The game follows suit with the previous releases but the graphics as expected have much better definition. I'm only a few worlds in myself but i love the colourful creative themed levels using different art styles. I'm thinking i might take full advantage of some quiet gaming time in the bath again tonight to catch up.

The game is easy to pick up and play and is great for younger children, Opeie being almost 3 picked it up and played it like he had been playing it for months which i think is great when you have younger gamers in the house who want to get involved in the games their older brothers and sisters are playing.

For me the thing that stands out most about this game are the fun graphics but i also love the new additions from the old game like the giant eggs to throw that destroy pipes and walls and the in level mini games where you can take your fingers off the buttons and use the motion sensors in the console to move around. Its a really great touch to the game and gives it a real edge.

(Apologies for the video quality its difficult filming yourself while playing!)
 
When the game arrived we downloaded it on to our 2ds so i cant really write about how good the 3ds compatibility is but I'm sure as its a game released by Nintendo it would be amazing.

Blogging for Nintendo is great and I'm in geek heaven. Stay tuned for all our up and coming gaming posts.

"Twice and thrice over, as they say, good is it to repeat and review what is good."

Ive been meaning to write this post for a week but haven't got round to it till now. Gifts from the Pirates has been asked to join the Nintendo parent bloggers and we can't wait to get stuck in. I'm a big Nintendo geek and the boys have gone Mario crazy since being introduced, so we're really excited to be reviewing products for a company we love so much. All that's left to do now is pop our feet up, hit the tea and biscuits (courtesy of Nintendo) and switch our consoles on.

Our first Nintendo review will be up in the next few days and the boys have been having a good play of our first game Yoshi's New Island and its a good one. Stay tuned for more gaming fun.