Japanese gaming magazine CoroCoro is giving gamers their first look at the upcoming Pokemon Black and White. As promised by the Pokemon Company, the games seem to be getting quite the overhaul – at least graphically, anyways. The magazine provides few new details. What we can see is a more realized 3-D game world, and a revamped battle screen. Apart from this breif look, we’ll have to wait until the 15th for more information about these titles. Serebii.net has scanned all the screenshots for your viewing pleasure, head on over there for the full scoop.

via Serebii.net

As promised, the Pokemon Company has announced two more Pokemon Nintendo DS titles for this year. Dubbed Pokemon Black and White, these titles will usher in the fifth-generation of the franchise when they launch in Japan this fall. And, that’s about all we know right now.

Actually, that’s not true. One new Pokemon named Zoroark was revealed back in February. He/she’s some sort of Monster Fox Pokemon. Although, if you ask me, it looks a lot like the Firefox logo. Lawsuit?

The Pokemon Company site is teasing more information on April 15th. So check back then for the full scoop.

via Joystiq

I was pretty vocal about my dislike for the last Metroid: Other M trailer. Actually, I think just about everybody in the blogosphere was as well. This might explain why Nintendo has released another trailer for the upcoming title. Frankly, this is the trailer we should have got the first time around. Check it out – it may just restore your faith in this whole Metroid relaunch.

video via Joystiq

How is this for a surprise, today Nintendo announced its official successor to the ultra-popular DS platform, entitled the Nintendo 3DS. As you’ve already figured the hardware will feature 3D visuals, however, without the aid of glasses. No other details were given, besides a promise for a full unveiling at E3 (god only know what promoted them to ruin that surprise announcement with today’s news) and a tentative release window between April 2010 and March 2011.

Already the rumor mill is spinning into overdrive. Engadget is citing reports of 3D control sticks, built-in vibration and pixel barrier LCD’s from Sharp. Whatever any of that means is anyone’s guess.

Lest we forget that Nintendo has already dabbled with 3D portable gaming in the past. Perhaps you’ve heard of a little sucess story called the Virtual Boy? Stay tuned for more info.

This Sunday saw the release of Pokemon SoulSilver and HeartGold for the Nintendo DS. To celebrate Nintendo of Canada held a launch event at Wizard World Toronto. They kindly sent along some pictures from the event which you’ll find in the gallery below. Thankfully I wasn’t at the event myself. At 26, I like to avoid any occasions where I will invariably geek out over Pokemon Codexes with 8 years-olds. Then again, that sorta happened at the GameStop when I went to pick up my pre-order. I suppose it’s good I spend time with my intellectual equals.

We have EA Canada to thank for brining back the much-beloved NBA Jam. As evident by the trailer above, lots of care has been taken in updating the original 16-bit look without completely abandoning the cartoony visual style of the original. Big heads? Check. Ridiculous aerial acrobatics? Check. Basketballs exploding into flames? Oh hell Check! Sadly, the rebirth of NBA Jam will only be available on the Wii. Not necessarily a bad thing, however, a come-back of this magnitude might benefit from some extra exposure. The title is expected to drop this fall. Stay tuned for more details.

video via Destructoid

I’ve never cared why Samus Aran became an interstellar bounty hunter, and if this latest trailer for Metroid: Other M is any indication, her reasons are better left unsaid. Brooding melodrama works great on The OC or (in some cases) Final Fantasy, although not so much in science-fiction. Samus has traditionally been an explorer/detective. It’s what made her cool – a rouge bounty hunter facing insurmountable odds just because it was her job. Yet, basing her actions in a pool of regret and doubt seems slightly counter-intuative and, frankly,  pretty lame. I mean, imagine you found out Sonic’s penchant for running was really his need to “run away” from his alcoholic father who had molested him several years earlier. Sort of cheapens the fun of the character, don’t you think?

Either way, we’ll see what Nintendo and Team Ninja have in store for us when Other M drops in June. Thankfully the previous trailer and last week’s screenshots serve as a reminder that Metroid: Other M’s gameplay will, at least, be returning back-to-the-basics.

Oh, also, why is Samus on Coruscant from the Star Wars prequels?

video via Joystiq

As fans of retro, we at Bad Cart are really excited about Mega Man 10 gracing all next-gen consoles this month. Sadly, not all of us will be able to experience the block jumping frustration right away. If you’re a Wii owner who doesn’t like fancy things such as achievements and high definition (a somewhat useless feature considering the game replicates the 8-bit Nintendo era) – then you can download MM10 right now for 1000 Wii Points. Playstation users will have to wait till March 11th when the title hits PSN for $9.99. And finally, Xbox Live users are forced to wait until March 31st before they can purchase the title for 800 points. Why? I can only speculate at this point – perhaps something to do with a certain plumber greasing some very specific pipes.

Despite pulling their previous Metroid Wii collection from store shelves, Nintendo seems to be going ahead with Metroid: Other M. At today’s Media Summit they announced a June 27th release date for the title – as well offered up more details, screenshots and for those in attendance – a hands on demo. Other M is a curious entry in the Metroid series as it returns the series back to its 2D side-scrolling roots. Actually, sort of – there are still some first-person elements in the game. Likewise, its being developed by Team Ninja who are best known for the obnoxiously over-the-top DOA and Ninja Gaiden franchises. An interesting choice – to say the least. Finally, the story will be a direct sequel to 1994’s Super Metroid and promises to fill the backstory on everyone’s favorite female bounty hunter.

Interestingly, Other M will utilize the Wiimote in multiple ways: held sideways for exploration and enemies battles, and using the Wii aimer for first-person battles. So basically a mix of new and old. Screenshots after the break.

Metroid: Other M screenshots:

Today’s Nintendo’s Media Summit gave us a better look at probably their most anticipated release this year – Super Mario Galaxy 2. Sure, it’s very much like the previous iteration, but that’s true of any good Mario series. That said, Galaxy 2 will be coming with some new additions, most notably the return of Yoshi and a new drill with which Mario can destroy precious interstellar ecosystems. Lastly, Nintendo also provided us with a release date for North America – May 23rd. Thankfully, not to far away.

video via Joystiq