Noteworthy Games of 2010 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Meta Melon Isle

The little pink puffball from Pop Star, kind of strayed from the norm of the majority of his games. In this game, the main villain Yin-Yarn, sucks Kirby into a magical sock and transports him to Patch Land which causes Kirby to be made out of yarn. Because Kirby is made out of yarn he can't inhale baddies as air just goes right through him.

While Kirby cannot copy enemies' abilities anymore, Kirby can use a piece of string as a lasso and either unravel enemies or hold them as a means of attack. "Kirby's Epic Yarn" was really praised for its unique style of graphics but was criticized due to its easiness. Kirby games are known for being easy but you can't even die in this game. If you get hit by an enemy or fall down a cliff you just end up losing beads, which depending on how many you get at the end of the level determines what medal you get on it.

The highest honor you can get is a Gold Medal and the lowest is a wood medal. If you get a high enough bead score against a boss you can also get a patch which will open up extra levels.

These bonus levels include Meta Melon Isle in Dream Land. In addition to collecting beads, there are three treasures in each level. Two of these treasures are furniture items in which you can decorate your apartment or get more tenants into the apartment complex. The other treasure is a CD which will often play the music of the level you're in. A new character introduced was Prince Fluff which is the prince of Patch Land and will also be controlled by the second player if you play co-op mode. Other classic "Kirby" franchise characters such as Meta-Knight and King Dedede are also turned into yarn forms and serve as bosses before taking on Yin-Yarn in the final battle.

Answer: HP Up

"Pokemon SoulSilver and HeartGold" version are remakes of "Pokemon Silver and Gold" for the Game Boy Color. Besides a huge uplift in graphics and music, one of the big changes in the new games was that the Pokemon at the lead of your party would almost always walk behind you outside of it's Pokeball. Certain places such as the Magnet Train station it would have to be put back inside it's Pokeball. Also the Battle Frontier, from the Sinnoh region, appeared near Olivine City. Likewise, "Pokemon SoulSilver and HeartGold" added a Safari Zone near Cianwood City.

The Safari Zone allowed players to catch rare Pokemon such as Larvitar earlier in the game. After beating the Elite Four, you were allowed to place items in the Safari Zone which would allow you to catch rare Pokemon after a certain amount of time with the right items.

Some of these rare Pokemon included Riolu, Trapinch, and Bagon. Also a new piece of hardware was introduced with the games known as the Pokewalker. The Pokewalker was a combination pedometer/virtual pet. You would transfer a Pokemon from one of your boxes and walk around with it.

Much like the Pokemon Pikachu virtual pet you would collect Watts as you took steps. These watts could be spent to catch Pokemon native to the path you were walking on, find items, and unlock new routes. Several routes such as the Yellow Forest and Winner's Path were released via Wi-Fi. The Yellow Forest contained nothing but Pikachu. Special Pikachu in the forest could know Flail, Surf, or even Fly. The Winner's Path contained Pokemon that new rare moves and had valuable items. Some of these were a Bronzor that knew Trick Room and a Beldum who knew Zen Headbutt, Iron Head, Iron Defense, and Take Down.

Answer: Kat & Ana

"Warioware D.I.Y" as of the end of 2010, is the newest game of the "Warioware" franchise. It had the same basic premise of completing microgames but in addition, players could create their own microgames and download more microgames via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Alongside, "Warioware D.I.Y. Showcase" was released for the WiiWare service.

This did not allow players to create their own microgames but it did allow them to download games much like it's handheld game as well as play microgames from different characters than on the DS. On the handheld the characters who had microgame stages were Mona, Jimmy T., Ashley, Orbulon, and 9-Volt.

In "WarioWare D.I.Y Showcase" the characters playable were Wario (as Wario-Man), Spitz & Dribble, Kat & Ana, and 18-Volt.

Answer: 3

"Picross 3D" is basically the sequel to the popular puzzle game "Picross DS" also released for the Nintendo DS. Picross is a word that combines the words picture and crossword and that's basically what it is. Numbers are given and blocks are filled in or eliminated by using these clues. What "Picross 3D" did is take the two-dimensional Picross and turn the squares into cubes and force the player to pay attention to the three dimensions of length, width, and height.

However, to make this Picross formatted, some cubes had to have specific shapes on them. If a cube has only a single number on it's side, that means that the number stated is how many cubes there are in that row or column. If a cube has a circle on it's side with a number, that means that there are that many cubes in the row or column, but the number is separated into two different groups.

For example if there was a two in the circle, there would be two cubes in the row or column but they would have to be separated by at least one space. If there's a square on the cube with a number inside it, that means that there are that many cubes in the row or column, but they must be separated into three or more separate groups.

This required a little more thinking than the circle. For example, if you had a four in the square you could have a group of two cubes and then two other cubes all of them being separated by at least one space. Another alternative is you could have each one of the four cubes separated by at least one space.

Answer: Roundabout

"Rock Band 3" is the sixth installment in the famous "Rock Band" franchise. "Rock Band 3" was also released for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and the Nintendo DS. "Rock Band 3" has a whole new set list full of 83 songs and a totally revamped Career mode.

In the previous games, Career mode was basically touring around the world in different venues and playing different set lists. That gameplay is still available although they go by the name of Road Challenges. At each road challenge you will be given three different options of set lists to play.

These could be three random long songs or three songs you pick from the 1970's. It's kind of unpredictable what options you'll get to choose from. What Career mode is now is a list of accomplishments that you can accomplish for each instrument including the new Pro Instruments. Pro Instruments were designed to help give some help in learning to play the actual instrument.

For example, Pro Mode Drums added three cymbals to the already four pads of the original Rock Band drum set. Also in "Rock Band 3" the keyboard was added as an instrument. If you were good enough in completing challenges you could play keyboard with the guitar.

The downside, however is that you would not be able to complete any goals.

Answer: True

"Goldeneye 007" was one of the most popular first-person shooters of the N64 and was usually a staple at party events. In late 2010, "Goldeneye 007" was re-released exclusively for the Wii. However, it was not a simple remake as there were many new improvements. Whereas, James Bond in the N64 version was fashioned after Pierce Brosnan, in the Wii version, Bond is fashioned after Daniel Craig and is also voiced by him.

In the same way Judi Dench does the voice of M. Another feature was that the Wii version fashions itself more closely to the actual movie whereas in some cases the N64 version didn't. Obviously graphics have improved as well. Probably the most notable feature, which made "Goldeneye 007" popular in the first place, is the improved multiplayer. Multiplayer is now available online through Wi-Fi connection. James also has some new gadgets such as a smartphone to gather intel or affect certain things.

For example, in the first level Bond uses his smartphone to take pictures of a helicopter.

Answer: Future Luke

All of these characters appear in the third game of the "Professor Layton" series, and all except for Future Luke and Evil Layton have appeared in the previous two. In the first game "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" Don Paolo is revealed to be the main nemesis of Professor Layton.

In the third game it is revealed why. Hershel Layton, Don Paolo, and Dimitri Allen (who is masquerading as Evil Layton) were infatuated with a woman named Claire. When Don Paolo figured out that Claire found favor with Layton it made him officially go crazy. Future Luke near the end is revealed to be a man named Clive and it is found out that the so called "Future London" is actually a large charade much like a movie stage and is in a subterranean cavern beneath London. Clive, as a boy, lost his parents in the original time machine experiment by Dimitri Allen and vowed to get revenge on them. Underneath the lighthouse, a giant war machine built by Clive breaks through the ceiling of the cavern and starts to destroy present-day London.

Answer: Shadow Clones

"Luigi's Purple Coins" in the original "Super Mario Galaxy" had you collecting 100 Purple Coins, out of 150, in a specific time limit while treading on two different hazardous tiles. The yellow ones started rotating as you stepped on them, the green checked ones disappeared and instant death awaited on you the dark matter spots.

In "Luigi's Purple Coin Chaos" in "Super Mario Galaxy 2" the difficulty ramps up. The yellow tiles don't rotate anymore but you are constantly chased by Cosmic Clones and you have to collect every single coin on the board as there are only 100.

The hazards of dark matter, disappearing green checked tiles, and a time limit are still present. "Super Mario Galaxy 2" is basically the leftovers of what the "Super Mario Galaxy" team didn't get to add into the original "Super Mario Galaxy".

Much like in "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" Yoshi was thrown into the mix but made a lot more appearances than the remake side-scroller. Yoshi also had three abilities. By eating certain items, Yoshi could run really fast, inflate and float up, or become a walking night-light. Also, Luigi made an appearance as well but it was not necessary to play as him to complete the game.

A trend that has appeared in recent games, Super Guide, was also included as a shadow version of Rosalina. This appeared after dying a set amount of times on a star, and if used would net you a Bronze Star which is not as fulfilling as a genuine Power Star. Bronze Stars aren't much different from Power Stars as they share the same function. Prankster Comets appear in this game but with a few changes. The most notable changes is that these comets will only appear if you collect items known as Comet Medals. One is found in each world, on the first mission. Purple Comets can appear before beating Bowser the third time. Daredevil Comets as well as Speedy Comets are still present. Fast-Foe comets are gone and Cosmic Comets no longer have you racing your Cosmic Clone but rather present them as enemies you have to avoid. A new comet called Romp comets make you defeat a set amount of enemies in a set amount of time and sometimes have unique ways of beating them. For example, in the Yoshi Star Galaxy the Romp comet has you defeat Spinies with a Rainbow Star. There are 242 Stars in this game like in the first but the second 120 are different from the first game as you don't have to replay the game as Luigi. The second 120 Stars are Green Power Stars and are hidden around the worlds. Mario has some new transformations as well. As Rock Mario, Mario can curl up into a rock and smash items. Cloud Mario allows Mario to produce three clouds that act as platforms and allows him to walk on clouds without falling through them. Classic forms such as Bee Mario and Fire Mario make reappearance as well.

Answer: Ridley

All of these monsters, except for Kraid, appear in the Wii's "Metroid: Other M". Goyagma is the giant Lava Dragon found in the Pyroshpere while getting the Varia Suit. Vorash is the giant lava whale that tried to eat you shortly after you first entered the Pyrosphere. And of course it wouldn't be much of a "Metroid" game without Samus' main nemesis Ridley.

In the very first sector, the Biosphere, Samus discovers a little white creature that shortly reappears after defeating the War Wasp Hive. Later the hide of the white creature is found busted open and it is turned out to be a purple lizard that attacks you.

The hide of the purple lizard is found busted open as well shortly before facing Ridley. It is later revealed in the game that the white creature was actually a metamorphosis stage of Ridley. "Metroid: Other M" was met with mixed responses, some really liked it and some didn't.

Headed by Team Ninja, "Metroid: Other M" unlike "Metroid Prime" is not a first-person shooter. It combines side-scrolling areas, along with vast expansive areas where you can free roam as well. "Metroid: Other M" actually focuses a lot on story as opposed to the previous games of the "Metroid" series. Beautiful cut-scenes feature excellent voice-overs and some of the most beautiful graphics the Wii has seen as of yet.

The graphic quality doesn't diminish that much either during regular gameplay. Team Ninja also added some new moves to Samus' arsenal mainly including melee moves. These moves allowed Samus to dodge incoming attacks, jump on enemies and blast them, and even overkill them. Taking place in a new area called the Bottle Ship, the game takes place very shortly after "Super Metroid." One of the main complaints of "Metroid: Other M" was the fact that certain features such as the Varia Suit and Grapple Beam are available on your suit from the start, but cannot be used until later in the game. For most items and upgrades, these cannot be accessed until your commanding officer Adam, from the Galactic Federation, authorizes them. Missile upgrades and energy tanks are some exceptions of these. After beating the main game, Hard Mode is accessed where you only have 99 Energy and cannot get Energy Tank upgrades or Missile Tanks. However, a new ability called Concentration helps with this. When your life gauge starts flashing red, or you want to reload missiles, if you hold the Wiimote straight up and hold down the A button, and you're not interrupted, life energy gets replenished as well as missiles.

Answer: Biters in the World Three diorama

"Donkey Kong Country Returns"...wow what else can I say? This is a great game and it definitely deserves the top spot in this countdown. The original "Donkey Kong Country" was released on the Super Nintendo and was produced by Nintendo and Rareware.

It spurred two more sequels and also made various remakes and adaptations on the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. After Rareware went to Microsoft several characters such as Banjo and Conker, original Nintendo game characters, went over to Microsoft as well.

However, since the original arcade game "Donkey Kong" created by Shigeru Miyamoto was released, DK and their characters still belong to Nintendo. "Donkey Kong Country Returns" was produced by Nintendo and Retro Studios. The game adds some new features while still adding the elements of the original that made the game amazing.

In "Donkey Kong Country Returns" Kremlings, the original antagonists are nowhere to be seen as the enemies are the Tiki Tak Tribe. One of the main features that was added was a co-op mode different from the original as both DK and Diddy Kong could move simultaneously. If you were solo, Diddy Kong would ride on your back and give you a slight hover boost if you held down the jump button.

The main thing that "Donkey Kong Country Returns" was praised for was it's challenge for hardcore gamers. Even if you want to just get through the games without getting every puzzle piece, set of "KONG" letters, or time trial medals, some of the levels, especially the mine cart and rocket barrel ones, will test your gaming expertise.