_____SELECTION: (4/5) The selection at this bi-level boutique is fit to please just about anyone who would walk in the store in the first place. If you have no interest in Nintendo, then I doubt you'll be won over, as there is nothing to be found here but Nintendo products. However, I think there's enough goodies on display to please casual gamers as well as die-hard fanatics. You'll find all the major staples, as well as some more unique finds.
_____Of course, there is a plethora of games-Gamecube, Gameboy, DS-they're all encased in glass and ready to be purchased. Sorry, no, you can't buy any out of print games for your Virtual Boy, or mint-condition carts for your NES. But, you can pick up a brand new copy of all the latest Nintendo has to offer. Metroid Prime 2, Pokemon Pinball, Pac-Pix, they're all accounted for and screaming, "Buy me!" And best of all, you can try most of the stuff before you buy.
_____Don't worry, I'm sure you won't be underwhelmed. This place is way more than just a Nintendo-only Electronics Boutique. This is a true video game Mecca. There's an entire Pokemon section to fulfill all your Poke-needs. It features games, cards, accessories, and cute, tiny, detailed figures of just about every pocket monster there is. Pokemasters will certainly be pleased.
_____If you walk into the Nintendo World Store naked, don't panic, there is plenty of Nintendo wear to be found. Clothe yourself in some of the t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets available in all sizes and for the whole family. And don't forget to accessorize! Perhaps a stylish embroidered baseball cap or a sleek messenger bag will do the trick. You can also find some suitable clothes for your console while you're there. Carry cases for your Cube, DS, or SP are in abundance, and are both handy as well as attractive! The list of Nintendo swag accessible at this store could go on for quite a while. If you're in need of a souvenir for your friends, why not pick up a few Donkey Kong pins, stuffed Pikachus, Gamecube insignia pens, or Super Mario keychains? You don't want anyone to say you're not a good friend, right?

_____VALUE: (3.5/5) Alright, I will be honest here. There really are not any deals to be found at the Nintendo World Store. But after all, this isn't the type of place you'll go to do your bargain hunting…you'll go here to spoil yourself rotten! After all, I'm sure you deserve a treat every now and then. That being said, shoppers are not being ripped off. The prices are reasonable, considering the chic boutique that this store really is. Most games range between $15 and $50. That's $15 for the games that have seen multiple-price drops, and $50 for the more formidable titles. So, you probably won't hate yourself in the morning if you buy a game or two. But, you might not love yourself either! After all, you probably didn't come to the Nintendo World Store for the games-you can pick up those at your local mall. You came here for the stuff! Glorious STUFF! T-shirts aren't priced too badly, most of which can be purchased for under $20. The same can be said for baseball caps and knit winter hats. Sweatshirts and windbreakers are slightly more expensive, but won't break the bank. Keychains, buttons, and other various doo-hickeys are just a few bucks a piece. A fancy-shmancy Gamecube insignia pen will run you about $8. So overall, the prices at the Nintendo World Store are probably on par with what you would expect. You won't be wowed, but you should be able to pick up a few goodies without completely cleaning out your wallet. Anyway, if you're going to make a pilgrimage to this land of pure imagination, you might as well SPLURGE!

ATMOSPHERE: (5/5) What will really impress you about the Nintendo World Store is the atmosphere. It's hip, it's sleek, it's stylish…and yet super nerdy at the same time! It all feels very posh, with a silver and white color scheme throughout the shop. The designers allowed a lot of room for space, and didn't try to crowd every inch of space with merchandise. I would guess that only about a third of the area in the store is actually full of purchasable items. So if you're planning a visit, save time for soaking up the digs. Spend some time at the bar, where customers sit and play Gameboys, instead of ordering drinks. Or test a new Gamecube game in one of the retro-modern egg chairs. You may think you have the perfect gaming throne at home, but these spacey and comfy seats will put your butterfly chair to shame.
_____Also not to be missed is the mini-Nintendo museum on the second floor. It's a small, but awesome exhibit showcased in a few glass cases. (Sorry, no touching!) Some of the gems you can gaze at include a Famicom system from Japan and an original Gameboy that was blown up in the Gulf War but still works. There's even a Gameboy signed by Shigeru Miyamoto. It also showcases some odds and ends that remind you of Nintendo's long history as a company. (For example, real Hanafunda cards and a Nintendo-made musical keyboard). Even if you don't intend to spend a dime in this store, it's worth going to just to see this exhibit.
_____The mini-museum is just one of the surprises one would not find in a normal video game store. Poke-freaks will be pleased to find a whole Poke-center just for them, which includes computers to look up information on every Pokemon in existence. Jigglypuff? Check! Pichu? Check! Lickitung? You bet! Kids will also be impressed by the three-foot tall
Pikachu statue. It's a true monument for a true hero. All in all, the atmosphere is the real reason to come to the Nintendo World Store. If nothing else, it's a great break away from the dull, design-less décor of most video game shops. Someone clearly put a lot of thought into the look and ambience at this boutique, and it shows. If you walk away from your shopping experience disappointed, then you are way too hard to please!

_____LOCATION: (4/5) The Nintendo World Store is located right in the heart of Rockefeller Center in New York City. It's pretty easy to find, and definitely accessible by foot or by subway. If you live in the city and haven't been to the store yet, then what are you waiting for? Get down there! For the rest of us, getting there can be a little bit more difficult. If you're going to be in New York on business or pleasure anytime soon, then I suggest scheduling a little time for the Nintendo World Store. There's plenty of other stuff to check out in that area of the city, so why not go just a little bit out of your way to see what I've been talking about? And the store is boutique big, not Wal-Mart big. So, I'm sure you will have time to take at least a short tour of the shop and still have room for any of those touristy things you might have planned.

_____OVERALL: (4/5) If you're busy planning a vacation and still weighing Paris against New York City, then I say give the Big Apple one more point. But after all, The Nintendo World Store doesn't claim to be anything it isn't. It's just that-a store. I doubt it will change your life, but I think it might brighten your day.