When I was younger, the Official Nintendo Seal of Quality meant the world to me. That little gold emblem ensured that whatever I was about to play was certified by the same people who brought me games like Super Mario Bros, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out and F-Zero.

Something strange has happened to the seal over the last few console generations. Sure, it’s still there — on every product that Nintendo licenses for use on or for its systems, but the Seal of Quality has become known as merely the “Nintendo Seal.” Catch that? The keyword “quality” has mysteriously vanished.

Now, we can all agree that the Wii is one fun little system. Everyone from average gamers to grandma and children can all find something to love on the system. Sadly though, the Wii has also become a seemingly fertile breeding ground for crap games. For every Zelda and Mario, there seems to be a million Ninja Gingerbread man or chicken shoots.

Case in point: Showtime Championship Boxing by repeat offender DSI Games. Everything, from the presentation, design and gameplay mechanics is so sub par, it’s quite laughable until you realize just how much potential this game could have had if released under a different developer.

Showtime Sports has become synonymous with boxing. It’s become one of the premier places to both break new talent and see new stars get their start. Names like Holyfield, Lewis, and De La Hoya have all graced Showtime’s ring from some of the worlds most famous arenas. Too bad you won’t get any of that in the game. There are no licensed elements in the game — at all. Instead we get brawlers with such uninspired names as Lazy Lorenzo, Psycho Sarge and Punching Bag Pat.

Why use the Showtime name if were not even going to get realistic characters?

Sadly, the arenas aren’t much better, but at least there seemed to be an attempt on behalf of the developers to make them familiar. Instead of immortal buildings rich in history, we get bland, buildings named after cities that are supposed to represent actual buildings. For instance, the New York arena is supposed to be Madison Square Garden, Los Angles the Staples Center and Vegas would be Caesar’s Palace. These similarities are in name only as each one looks like a run down bingo hall, with no more than 200 fans in the stands.

You know when you’re grocery shopping and there’s the brand names, then the cheaper, crappier brand X’s of every product? Showtime Championship Boxing feels like the Brand X Boxing title to the great Fight Night series and even the small boxing mini game on Wii Sports. Sure, at first glance it looks similar, but once you actually give it a try you realize just how bad it is, even though it tries so hard to be like those that came before it.

Boxing is based on timing and speed, so it’s a problem when a game cant execute either. In theory, the game controls just like Wii Sports, using the nunchuck and Wii mote as your boxing gloves, delivering jabs and haymakers with your on screen character mimicking your actions. In reality though, the game takes a good two second delay in interpreting your actions on the screen, leaving your boxer open for a pummeling. What’s worse? It seems that no matter what you do, the game will interpret it as a jab.

Motion for an uppercut? Left jab. Haymaker? You guessed it: jab.

With only two real game modes, there isn’t much Showtime Championship Boxing can offer gamers. It’s sad really, this game could have made for a viable opponent to the big boxing titles like EA’s forthcoming FaceBreaker, but instead DSI Games made it a cheap, gimmicky imitation of that which came before. Save yourself some money — stick with Wii Sports.

Quick hits:

Publisher: DSI Games
Developer: DSI Games
Platform: Wii (reviewed), DS
Genre: Sports
Players: 1-2
Launch Date: December 12, 2007

Playability: 1 out of 5 stars
Learning Curve: 2 out of 5 stars
Sound: 2 out of 5 stars
Graphics: 2 out of 5 stars
Overall: 1.5 out of 5 stars

This is the official Blast Magazine preview for the upcoming Electronic Arts game Ninja Reflex for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS.

Electronic Arts revealed some more details on their upcoming martial arts-based party game, Ninja Reflex.

The game looks good, and the only major concern is the potential price tag. EA doesn’t exactly make budget titles, but they have a history of overpricing simple games that carry their cattle branding.

Thankfully, Ninja Reflex doesn’t look chinsy.

Some Key Features Revealed: Ninja Reflex uses a series of martial arts challenges to test gamers’ reflexes and measure their reaction times with millisecond precision. As players develop their ninja skills, they will strive to earn a black belt from their own personal Sensei. Players can also compete for ninja supremacy against their friends in fierce multiplayer battles with up to four players.

Ninja Reflex measures players reaction times to the millisecond — so speed and accurate Wii movements will be key. You go through the game mastering different precise movements trying to earn a black belt from your virtual master.

Reflex has some reminders of Wii Sports and Wii Play — it will be easy to pick up and go. It’s all going to depend on the hope that the developer keeps the gameplay fluid and easy to pick-up.

The game is heavily multiplayer. “Ninja Reflex channels the accessible multiplayer fun of Wii Sports and the self-improvement aspect of Brain Age into a martial arts universe that is ideally suited for the Wii and Nintendo DS,” said David Luntz, President and CEO of Nunchuck Games

Check out the screen shots for these three of the main features:

• Shuriken: Practice defending the courtyard from attacks on all sides with throwing stars
• Hotaru: Test your quickness against the flash of a firefly
• Hashi: Catching flies with chopsticks

You get to make up your own Ninja Name from over 25,000 combinations in this game, which will be available in March for DS and Wii.

Overall, Ninja Reflex has the potential, the budget and the backing to be a hit. It’s all going to depend on gamers’ initial reactions and if the mini-game craze holds out.

For more information, visit www.ninjareflex.com.

Quick hits:

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Sanzaru Games
Platform: Wii and DS
Genre: Party game
Players: 1-4
Launch Date: March, 2008

Pre-launch ranking: 4 out of 5 stars

Electronic Arts and newcomer Nunchuck Games will publish a party-style ninja game based on the multiplayer style that Nintendo Wii users have come to appreciate (Wario Ware Smooth Moves, Mario Party 8, Wii Sports).

Ninja Reflex will test gamers’ martial arts stylings by measuring their reflexes and reaction times with “millisecond precision.” The game lets you earn your video game ninja black belt and challenge your friends in head-to-head competition.

“Ninja Reflex channels the accessible multiplayer fun of Wii Sports and the self-improvement aspect of Brain Age into a martial arts universe that is ideally suited for the Wii and Nintendo DS,” said David Luntz, President and CEO of Nunchuck Games.

And Nunchuck is certainly happy to be working with EA. “Nunchuck Games is thrilled to team up with EA Partners to bring Ninja Reflex to gamers everywhere,” Luntz said. Luntz, the founder of Z-Axis Studios, started Nunchuck Games in 2006.

“Ninja Reflex trains players to be better gamers by sharpening their speed and skill, and is exactly the kind of unique concept and creative design that [Electronic Arts Partners] helps bring to market on a global stage,” said David DeMartini, Vice President and General Manager of EA Partners.

Ninja Reflex will be out in March for Wii and Nintendo DS.