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[The Headliner]

Internet patent hunters have found a curious new listing from Nintendo, for a built-in walkthrough for games.

The idea is that you can press a button to have the computer take control and play through the game for you whenever you want and for as long as you want.

We're actually all for the idea, if it means it becomes a safety net allowing for longer and more difficult games – as in Nintendo's heyday.

Interesting. I guess if you're stuck at a certain point in the game, it's better to let the computer get you past just that bit than use a cheat to skip the whole level or max out your stats, etc.

I assume there'd be bonuses for getting to the end without using this feature though.

[Ethan]

Better to have a feature and not need it, than well you know. Though personally I think it would downplay the games satisfaction. Think about a game you really had to work hard at to beat. That you didn't have a cheat for or didn't know one yet. Then you finally beat it. The relief and satisfaction could be thrown away. How long are you going to hash out a game before you use this button? Do you get the same satisfaction by seeing the credits?

[The Headliner]

The recently announced New Super Mario Bros Wii will be the first to use this feature:

New Super Mario Bros. Wii will utilise Nintendo's 'demo play' technology, which allows players pass control over to the computer for trickier sections of games.

The four player game will be the first to utilise the technology, which is expected to be a part of future Nintendo releases.

"In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, if a player is experiencing an area of difficulty, this will allow them to clear troubled areas and take over when they're ready" Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto told USA Today (picked up by gamesindustry.biz), "We're looking into this for future games, too."

According to GameCentral on Teletext, using this mode costs you any rewards for completing the level, so it doesn't remove the need for effort. It's just something you can fall back on if you desperately can't get past a certain point, and are willing to make other sacrifices to enjoy the rest of the game.

[Kraul]

I could have used a feature like that years ago in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - Carnival Night Zone.

Although I still can't find myself really getting behind it, to be honest.