Here Are The 87th Annual Academy Award Winners!

by Derek KraneveldtFebruary 22, 2015

The Oscars are over for one more year, and after an amazing event hosted by man-crush Neil Patrick Harris, I’m still reeling over the wonders of this year’s show. I still can’t believe that Boyhood didn’t take it home, but it was still an amazing few hours (that John Legend and Common performance, right), and I can’t wait to hear what everyone thought.

Now, who won!? Take a look at the full list of winners below, and be sure to let us know who you’re glad took home the gold, who you’re disappointed didn’t, and anything else about this year’s Oscars that you may want to share!

Best Picture: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole
Best Actor: Eddie Redmayne – “The Theory of Everything”
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons – “Whiplash”
Best Actress: Julianne Moore – “Still Alice”
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette – “Boyhood”
Best Director: “Birdman” – Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Best Animated Feature Film: “Big Hero 6” – Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli
Best Animated Short Film: “Feast” – by Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed
Best Original Song: “Glory” from Selma – Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn
Best Original Score: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – Alexandre Desplat
Best Production Design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – Adam Stockhausen (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration)
Best Editing: “Whiplash” – Tom Cross
Best Cinematography: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Sound Editing: “American Sniper” – Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
Best Sound Mixing: “Whiplash” – Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley
Best Documentary Feature: “CitizenFour” – Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky
Best Documentary Short: “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” – Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry
Best Live Action Short Film: “The Phone Call” by Mat Kirkby and James Lucas
Best Visual Effects: “Interstellar” – Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher
Best Foreign Language Film: “Ida” – Poland; Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
Best Costume Design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – Milena Canonero
Best Original Screenplay: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” – Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo
Best Adapted Screenplay: “The Imitation Game” – Written by Graham Moore

There you go! Again, be sure to let us know what you thought of the ceremony in the comments below.

Geekscape’s Favorite Things Of 2014: Movies

by GeekscapeStaffJanuary 2, 2015

Can you believe that 2014 is over? We’ve just abolished that dreaded four for ten more years, and a cool, clean, sexy five has taken its place.

This year has been great for all types of media, so as always, we rounded up our ever-growing pool of writers to share with you our favourite things of 2014. Next up, movies!

Take a look at everyone’s top 5, top 10, or favourite film altogether below, and be sure to let us know yours in the comment section below!

David Traverso

*** Disclaimer: I still haven’t seen A Most Violent Year, American Sniper and Into the Woods.

1. Foxcatcher – With close ties to my neighborhood and my sport of choice growing up, Foxcatcher was I film I had been dying to see for two years until it was finally released in November. Needless to say, it lived up to all the hype and Bennett Miller’s spine-chilling tale of obsession and manipulation is brilliantly brought to life by the onscreen talents of Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo.

2. Boyhood – 12 years in the making and Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking cinematic achievement is well worth the wait. You literally watch the film’s leading character grow before your eyes in a truly magnificent coming-of-age tale that is guaranteed to stand the test of time.

3. Gone Girl – It’s clever, it’s unpredictable and it’s everything we love about the master of thrillers, David Fincher. Despite being a long-winded affair, Gone Girl is a showcase for the Oscar Nom shoe-in Rosamund Pike who helps take this adapted film to soaring heights.

4. Nightcrawler – 2014 was a phenomenal year for dark-toned thrillers and right there near the top of the pack is Dan Gilroy’s Nightcrawler. Jake Gyllenhaal gives an unforgettable turn as a sociopath seeking his place in the work force. As a unique blend of Drive meets Taxi Driver, this is a can’t miss film.

5. Chef – One of the year’s pleasant surprises was the culinary delight, Chef. Jon Favreau hangs up his Iron Man director’s crown and relocates to the kitchen as the writer, director and star of this crowd-pleasing father-son story about a man fully committed to his craft.

6. Interstellar – Filmmaker Christopher Nolan isn’t afraid to take risks, and that’s clearly evident in his latest sci-fi adventure, Interstellar. Nolan uses a handful of wonderful performances to help transform everything we know and understand about time and space in this undeniable instant classic.

7. St. Vincent – One thing we all could use a little more of in our lives is Bill Murray, and his spectacular work as an unconventional role model for his new young next door neighbor is completely priceless. There are plenty of laughs wrapped around a hearty centerpiece that’s enjoyable for audiences of all types.

8. Cheap Thrills – One thing I appreciate here at Geekscape is our access to the great independent films we receive from our friends over at Drafthouse. This year, Cheap Thrills was one of their films that left an imprint. A modern day game of “fear factor” pushes a loyal husband and father to unfathomable extremes as he becomes desperate to provide for his family.

9. The Fault in Our Stars – Some naysayers will unjustly label the teen sensation The Fault in Our Stars as nothing more than unearned sentiment. Truth be told, the film is an insightful and beautiful examination of love through the eyes of cancer-stricken teens who have no idea what the future holds for them.

10. Guardians of the Galaxy – I’m picky when it comes to action-packed films, mainly because I love a captivating story more than visually pleasing special effects. However, Guardians of the Galaxy offers them both together with an abundance of legitimate laughs as well. Once a skeptic, I’m now an eager fan who’s excited for the next installment.

Shane O’Hare

Now I’m probably the WORST Geekscapist when it comes to movies. I don’t often go see them in theaters, and don’t usually see the movies I should until they’ve been out for a while. BUT I was able to find 5 that came out this year that I enjoyed.

5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Not much TOO say about this film. Marvel by numbers and frankly those numbers make for an awesome film. I’ve recently finished Agents of SHIELD and watching it made me appreciate Winter Soldier so much more.

4. Guardians of The Galaxy

Pretty much same as old Cap. Guardians really exceeded my expectations. The film was paced wonderfully. I never felt like I was waiting for something to happen.

3. MLP: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

The second in the line of MLP movies, Rainbow Rocks had me LITERALLY smiling and giggling the WHOLE time. They really stepped up on the animation, and the huge amount of characters that was in it was amazing. If you’re a MLP fan and have been on the fence with the Equestria Girls films, you need to hop off the fence and join the herd!

2. Godzilla

Mutha. Fucking. Godzilla. I saw this movie TWICE in theaters. The atmosphere, pacing and payoff was so on point. It was as accurate to the old school Godzilla films that it could have been, but with that extra US flair.

1. Edge of Tomorrow

Groundhog Day with guns was how this movie was introduced to me. I saw the trailer and was fairly on the fence about the film. Then I was doing some research on the film and found out it was based on a fairly popular light novel from Japan, titled All You Need Is Kill. I found out that there was an English translated audio book version, and it topped in at about 5 hours. So I snagged it and listened to it before seeing the movie.

Having both versions back to back was probably the best way to consume this story. Edge of Tomorrow really paid proper homage to the book. The ending was a little bit too “Happily Ever After/Hollywood” for my taste, especially compared to the books ending.

The action, the pacing, the weapons and characters were all incredibly well done and is EASILY my favorite movie of the year.

Eric Francisco

Despite being a passionate film lover, there weren’t too many 2014-released films I had the pleasure of seeing. I saw the big blockbusters, sure, like Guardians of the Galaxy. But the few in the race for the Oscars (and thus the only films anyone will talk about from now until the awards) or the festival darlings passed me by. So, my claim for the absolute best film of the year will come with a severe handicap, but I assure you I stand by it.

But first, the runner-ups.

Big Hero 6

Twenty years of Power Rangers, Super Sentai, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider were all validated with Disney’s Big Hero 6. It was everything I loved as a kid, made palatable for everyone. Screaming out your attacks as you do them? Total staple of a tokusatsu. With hit after hit from Disney Animation Studios, 2014 may be the year fans turn from Pixar. I suspect a civil war brewing amongst the 3D animators of the House of Mouse. With the same warmth and care given to Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen, Big Hero 6 was like a Disney movie made especially for me.

And yeah, even though they’re cartoons, don’t forget the racial diversity of the characters, and (heavily stylized) Asian-American culture being front and center. That is so cool.

As Above/So Below

There’s a ton of rosy-colored glasses to this one, as it was the very first film I reviewed and interviewed the artists for Geekscape! But even so, I have a feeling As Above/So Below will become something of a modern classic in horror/Halloween marathons in the future. It will have to rise above genre perceptions — found footage is incredibly divisive — but for what it’s worth, As Above/So Below is better than anyone could have asked for. If anything, watch for Perdita Weeks as the very compelling Scarlett. She’s the kind of protagonist all films could use more of.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Anything good I have to say about this movie you probably already know from seeing yourself, heard from a friend, or read from another reviewer. Just know that Guardians may have been my favorite time in the movie theatre this year.

Snowpiercer – Eric’s Best Film of 2014

I’m sorry, Jonathan and Derek. But Snowpiercer is a neo-masterpiece.

Primal. Visceral. Gripping. It holds you and never lets go. This dystopian sci-fi starring Chris Evans, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, and Song Kang-ho stayed with me long after I finished watching. It made me feel how I always want to feel about movies: to be enthralled by the drama, pumped by the action, and forever musing on the aftermath. Much of the film’s detractors often point to the absurd premise; after spending twenty years watching teenagers from California wear multi-colored spandex fighting magical space aliens, no premise is too absurd for me.

And the action. Oh my god, the action filmmaking.

Like, you can watch this movie right now on Netflix. If you haven’t seen it already, the hell is wrong with you?

Jonathan London

2014 will always be memorable here at Geekscape as the year that we put out our first feature film, the Geekscape co-produced Doc of the Dead (now viewable in the States on Netflix, EPIX, VOD, etc. and in foreign markets in a lot of ways). But it was also a good year for everybody else’s movies… which only made it more difficult for me to make a list as I had to leave some great ones off. Of the films I think might be in contention that I just haven’t seen yet, I think Foxcatcher, The Babadook and A Most Violent Year could have been list possibilities. I was also intrigued by smaller films that I didn’t get a chance to watch like Under the Skin and The Congress. This was also a great year for documentaries, two of my favorites being I Am Santa Claus and Particle Fever (a really engaging look at the team behind the Large Hadron Collider, a must for any science fans out there). So with that disclaimer aside, here’s the list!

10 . Edge of Tomorrow (AKA Live, Die, Repeat, AKA All You Need Is Kill)

This one is the big marketing black eye of 2014… and it couldn’t have happened to a less deserving movie. Really, Xbox fanboys, if you want to see what a great Gears of War movie would look like, just watch the last 20 minutes of this film. But Edge of Tomorrow (because I have to call it SOMETHING) is much more than that: it’s one of the funniest movies of a year; an often morbidly hilarious Groundhog Day-style retelling of one completely unqualified and cowardly soldier’s repetitive attempts to first escape duty and then eventually undertake the responsibility of saving humanity. I was prepared for the massive action sequences and heavy FX work going in. I was not prepared for just how funny the movie would be. Watching Tom Cruise get tossed around and killed like a rag doll might be a welcome sight to some of his detractors but what it ultimately does is show that one of our last remaining mega movie stars has a great sense of humor about himself and a fantastic sense of craft. I wish more Hollywood blockbusters had this much of an interesting blend of tone, pace and scale. It’s got small character moments to balance the enormous, heavy action sequences to counterpoint the drama and some of the funniest repeating jokes to juxtapose against the moments in the film where you know humanity’s survival balances on the edge of extinction and the one soldier with a chance at saving it is the one who wanted the job the least. Don’t let this one slip past you because it was fumbled at the finish line. It’s a complete winner.

9. John Wick
I don’t know of John Wick is a good movie by most people’s standards. But I do know that it’s a fucking awesome one. When the unofficial tagline is “They killed my dog… so I killed everyone” you’ve already got me interested. Hearing the word out of Fantastic Fest that this film was a wall to wall action revenge film and a return to form for Keanu Reeves got me in the door. I NEEDED to see him make the bastards pay… and I needed to see him do it in high, gun blazing fashion. The entire movie is impressive from a visual and stunt perspective. Script wise, there are moments that are highly stylized and feel like they could easily have fit in a classic SNL skit. The sequence in which news of retired hitman John Wick’s return to the scene carries up the ladder of the Russian mob is one of the most hilarious, kick ass parts of the movie. “What did you do!?!” “I killed his dog.” Long dramatic beat filled with dread. “Oh (shit).” If you love your heroes with endless bullets and karate moves, this movie is a complete blast and I can’t wait to watch it again. And again. And again. Sequel please.

8. Animals
This movie is incredible, a semi-autobiographical telling of lead actor (and writer) David Dastmalchian’s battle with drug addiction on the streets of Chicago. It’s an incredibly personal and pensive experience and director Collin Schiffli’s often lyrical long lens way of telling the story both keeps you up close to the characters and the desperate battles they are fighting (and often losing) but it also keeps them trapped and isolated from each other in their self made prisons. This is the best movie that I saw at this year’s SXSW and watching Dastmalchian’s emotional post-screening Q&A about revisiting the tougher parts of his life in order to process, exorcise and possibly come to terms with his own past choices exemplified the power that film can have in changing people’s lives and creating a connection. You’ll cheer for these characters even as their decisions horrify you and you’ll pray that they find salvation before their demons drag them down for good. Put this at the top of your lists. It’s difficult to watch at times but it’s worth it in the end.

7. The Raid 2
Holy shit. Talk about a completely different yet equally breakneck experience than The Raid (which was on this list two years back). I wish all sequels dared to do what The Raid 2 does rather than the usual retread of the first film’s successes. If The Raid was a self contained powder keg of a single location action thriller, then the sequel is that powder keg’s resulting explosion. It both elaborates and escalates the storyline of the first film and does it in a way that is more stylized and complicated than the first. Here the setting isn’t a single battle up a criminal infested tenement building. It’s the entire city and criminal underbelly across a sprawling number of characters and locales. Watch this film for the prison yard fight and the car chase sequence if nothing else. It will all leave you on the edge of your seat. From the stunts to the choreography to the loud rogues gallery, The Raid 2 is a worthy successor to 2012’s best action film.

6. Blue Ruin
Another movie that a lot of people told me about that I didn’t watch until the groundswell around it became too great to ignore. first met Jeremy Saulnier at SXSW 2007 and we talked about his movie Murder Party, which he and his friends shot on a shoestring in Brooklyn. It sounded like fun but you’d never know from watching Murder Party then that Jeremy and collaborator Macon Blair would come back with one of the most gripping, sometimes dark and sometimes humorous revenge stories in recent memory. The movie starts off with such incredible visual and narrative momentum that you can’t help but hope that the pieces being set up don’t burn out by the end of the film, as they all circle the drain towards their inevitable conclusion. I’m glad to say that they don’t. In fact they surprise and exceed all your previous expectations. Don’t miss this movie. It’s dark. It’s mesmerizing. And it’s fantastic.

5. Birdman
Michael Keaton might be one of the best overlooked actors of the last 20 years and Birdman is both evidence to that fact and commentary on how it came to be. Not only does Keaton give arguably the best performance of the year (Eddie Redmayne in a completely chameleon-like role in The Theory of Everything is his stiffest competition) but he does it in a way that delivers skewering commentary on Hollywood, our current cultural obsession with big budget superhero films and Keaton’s own career. The entire film plays out in one long uninterrupted sweeping movement, the ensemble cast all deserve recognition and the technical and visual mastery from Alejandro Iñárritu and company deliver an emotional thrill ride that is as exhilarating as it is hilarious. Birdman is probably one of more artistic films of the year, and definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you are in the mood to appreciate some of the best work from some of the best artists currently working in film it will reward you with a very thought provoking and entertaining ride.

4. Big Hero 6
This year’s best superhero movie didn’t involve the X-Men or the Star Spangled Sentinel of Liberty. And it sadly wasn’t about your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. And of course, none of the Guardians of the Galaxy are superheroes at all. They’re aliens and science fiction characters. The best superhero film of 2014 was Big Hero 6… and it celebrated the idea of being superheroes in a great, colorful way. It’s easy to compare Big Hero 6 to Pixar’s The Incredibles, and with good reason. They’re both fast, fun commentaries on the idea of superheroes and comic books in general. But where The Incredibles is a fantastic roll through the history books of the Golden and Silver Age, Big Hero 6 is all about the modern day superhero. It’s sometimes dark and at times sad but always filled with a fresh attitude and inspiring sense of diversity and purpose. Oh… and it’s also the funniest movie I saw this year. You’ll be crying both from the humor and some of its most heart wrenching moments.

3. Whiplash
I love this movie. Holy crap, what a bunch of energy… and some incredible performances from Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. I put off watching Whiplash for a long time, simply because I couldn’t be convinced that a movie about a kid going to a prestigious music academy and butting heads with his instructor would be interesting to me. Legions of friends told me otherwise but I resisted. Man, what a mistake. From the opening shots I knew I was in for a great film. Then the dialogue starts up and you’re in hook, line and sinker. Whiplash is phenomenal, one of my favorite films of the last few years. Everything about it strikes with the right amount of honest storytelling precision and I loved seeing the character’s machinations and mind games fall into place. It’s suspenseful, exhilarating and inspiring and I can’t recommend it enough. Please don’t make the same mistake as me and seek this film out.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy is the most fun movie of the year, and like it’s characters, the biggest underdog story as well. Who’d have thought after Captain America 2’s big box office take that the movie with characters that nobody had heard of would become the biggest domestic earner of 2014? Nobody. I knew at the beginning of the year that I was definitely more interested in discovering what Guardians of the Galaxy was all about than I was about returning to the familiar world of Captain America 2 (a pattern that is repeating with my interests this year with Ant-Man and Avengers 2). I’m just more intrigued by the unknown. A talking raccoon and a sentient tree? How the hell is this going to play out? Sure. I was familiar with the characters… but as a movie? I was excited to find out if James Gunn could pull off the same magic he had on films like Slither on a scale this big. Well, he could. This movie has tons of personality, loads of energy and is one that I can watch over and over again and have a great time with. I can’t wait to see what’s cooked up for the return trip in a few years.

1. Boyhood
This is an easy run away favorite for me. Not only was Richard Linklater one of my longtime hometown heroes, someone that inspired me to go into filmmaking myself as someone from my own backyard, but he now made his best film to date, his most auto-biographical, and one that resonates with me on multiple levels. As an experiment alone, Boyhood is impressive. As a story, it’s incredible. As a film, it’s mindbogglingly phenomenal. Did it strike a deep chord with me as a native Texan and a child of divorce? Maybe. But I think the movie’s small charms and broad strokes would work on any male (or person) who remembers their coming of age years as a ping pong ball’s emotional vacillation between hopelessness, frustration, empowerment, discovery and back again. Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke give the performances of their careers and Linklater’s simple, laid back observations about his own life pour together into a rich, emotional tapestry that profoundly and honestly captures those adolescent years. I’m shaken with so many emotions every time I re-watch the film.

Karson Braaten

For me 2014 was the year of animated movies. There are a few films I’ve yet to see that might make their way onto my list (notably Gone Girl, Boyhood, When Marnie Was There) but I loved these ones none the less!

Lego Movie

The Lego Movie proves that when taken seriously, anything can make an endearing, successful movie. The animation is fantastic! The lego pieces moved just as they do in real life. It’s packed full of humour, creative storytelling and a couple of surprises!

Big Hero 6

This movie makes you feel. There are moments of excitement, anxiety, sorrow and joy just to name a few. It delivered everything you could hope for from a movie right up to the credits (and after!). The short that plays before the movie, Feast, is every bit as awesome as the movie itself. It’s safe to say that Walt Disney Animation Studios has hit it’s stride.

The Boxtrolls

Laika’s follow up to ParaNorman is another visual masterpiece. The script is both tight and witty. I found myself laughing more at The Boxtrolls than Laika’s previous offerings. While it may not have the widespread appeal of Big Hero 6 and The Lego Movie, I still loved it.

Chef

I find something incredibly enjoyable about seeing people doing and pursing things they love. Yes, it probably oversimplifies becoming a successful food truck vendor. Yes, there are lot of Twitter pop-ups throughout. However, I think this feel-good movie is full of heart and there’s lots to love and learn from it.

Need For Speed

I had no expectations for this movie. There was no reason to think that it wouldn’t be a Fast and Furious rip off and in the best possible way that’s exactly what it was. While it took the Fast and Furious franchise a few movies to get their core group of characters nailed down, Need For Speed gets it right off the bat. While it’s sometimes over the top, I completely bought in and had a blast from start to finish.

22 Jump Street

This was hands down the hardest I’ve laughed at a movie all year. While it drug on a tad near the end, the laughs more than made up for it.

Derek Kraneveldt

I’ve missed a few heavy hitters over the past few months (Foxcatcher, The Boxtrolls, Whiplash, Wild, etc), but I saw more than my fair share of brilliant films this year. As always, the films listed below are not necessarily the best of the year, but they’re the movies I enjoyed more than any others. Just like last year, they’re in no particular order, aside from number one.

The Babadook

This movie is scary as shit and absolutely beautiful. The performances, with Essie Davis slowly descending into murderous madness and Noah Wiseman being the creepiest kid to ever be caught on film are beyond stellar. Writer/Director Jennifer Kent did an incredible job at keeping The Babadook (film and monster) terrifying well through its third act, and the fact that the film holds so many hidden and deeper means makes the conversations that follow the film wondrously deep.

This may not be my favourite horror film this year. This may be my favourite horror film ever. And it wouldn’t have happened without Kickstarter!

Guardians of the Galaxy

Ever since first seeing the film’s first trailer way back when, I knew we were in for something special with James Gunn’s latest. Then I got to go to the freaking WORLD PREMIERE. I still remember the moment Chris Pratt picked up that little lizard to use it as a microphone for Redbone’s ‘Come and Get Your Love’ during the film’s opening, when Jonathan leaned over to me and said “This is already way better than Iron Man 3.”

How right he was. I’ve seen the movie half a dozen times since then (and half a dozen more times than I saw Iron Man 3) and it really, really never gets old. It’s action packed, hilarious, heartbreaking, and more, and it’s definitely my favourite Marvel film to this date.

Gone Girl

Fuck. This. Movie. I went into Gone Girl having only seen a trailer or two, and I left wanting to sleep with one eye open. Fincher, Flynn, and crew did a commendable job at turning us against (and for) Affleck’s Nick Dunne (over and over again), and I don’t think anyone (well, anyone who didn’t read the novel) could have seen that ending coming. It’s an extremely powerful movie to watch a second time, as there are so (so) many elements you glossed over entirely the very first time, that are blatantly obvious in repeat viewings.

Big Hero 6

I was not expecting to cry during Big Hero 6. I was not expecting to cry multiple times during Big Hero 6. But I did. I also laughed my ass off and fell in love with Baymax. I wasn’t overly aware of any of these characters before seeing the film, but exiting the theatre (after wiping the tears away) I was beyond interested in these characters and their further stories.

This movie was gorgeous, and so much fun. Each and every character was lovable, and it’s also a rare film that really has you feeling for the villain at its conclusion. Baymax, of course, stole the show.

I can’t wait to watch this one again on Blu-Ray.

1. Boyhood

There’s really nothing that I could say about Boyhood that hasn’t been said a thousand times already, but this is really a life-changing and once-in-a-lifetime film.

Never mind the film’s incredible 12-year production or its Oscar-worthy performances (we better see some nominations here). Walking out of Boyhood this July seriously made me rethink the way I live day to day. It’s a movie about growing up (obviously), but it puts such an emphasis on the little moments. The moments we take for granted and often forget about, and the moments that I’ve spent far too long saying “no” too. I left Boyhood wanting to experience more of these moments, and have found myself trying to be more of a “Yes Man” (Jim Carrey style) ever since.

I love, love, love this film. It clocks in at just under three hours long, but I’d have happily watched another three hours if I could have.

Geekscape’s Favorite Things Of 2014: Video Games

by GeekscapeStaffDecember 31, 2014

Can you believe that 2014 is coming to a close? In just a couple of days, we’ll abolish that dreaded four for ten more years, and a cool, clean, sexy five will take its place.

This year has been great for all types of media, so as always, we rounded up our ever-growing pool of writers to share with you our favourite things of 2014. This time, video games!!

Take a look at everyone’s top 5, top 10, or favourite game altogether below, and be sure to let us know yours in the comment section below!

Shane O’Hare

5. Destiny

A lot of people will probably say that this is one of their biggest disappointments of the year, alongside AC: Unity of course. Destiny didn’t deliver on its promises, and in all actuality is a pretty thin game. But I cannot stop playing it! The MMO Grind feels rewarding. Playing with friends is a fucking blast, and meeting new people to run the raids is awesome.

4. Titanfall

This game came out with a bang. The game was polished and played perfectly on launch, and with most of the other AAA titles at the time having severe issues, Titanfall shone bright. The incredibly fast paced parkour action was exactly what I wanted in a title. It was an amazing break from the methodical matches of CS:GO. The incredible amount of free content that came alongside the expansions also show how dedicated Respawn is to the title.

3. Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 2

Not REALLY a full title, but any chance I can sing the praises of Bioshock: Infinite I will. You may remember Bioshock: Infinite was my game of the year 2013, and Burial at Sea Episode 2 is a perfect punctuation to THE best game I have ever played. Playing as Elizabeth was a great change of pace, and that story. THAT STORY!

2. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

This game came out fairly quietly, and god damn was I impressed with it. If your computer can handle it, turn the graphics up ALL the way because the environment is amazing. The skyboxes are gorgeous, and when you get the the bridge in the first area your jaw WILL drop. The story is impeccable but the ending falls a bit flat. Where it does excel is where the intense paranormal events get explained by fairly innocuous items or memories.

1. This War of Mine

This War of Mine is one of the most important games of our generation. The team at 11 Bit Studios have created a title that focuses on a group of people that don’t get representation in war games. Their AI emotion system is something to behold. Characters actions can make them depressed and their effectiveness will hurt. This game may look simple, but it can be extremely overwhelming. And when you’re in day 30 of survival and you LOSE someone because you made a mistake, you the player will really feel it.

Jonathan London

Amiibo Hunter – The Real World MMO (That’s Destroying Our Lives)

Only one game has taken over my life in 2014. Sure, Season 2 of Telltale’s ‘The Walking Dead’ was as perfect and engrossing a follow up to Season 1 as you’ve been told by reading all of its praise from other outlets. Absolutely has ‘Mario Kart 8’ surpassed ‘Mario Kart 64’ as the best entry in the Mario Kart series. And of course all of that other redundant FPS, Triple A title stuff got shoveled down your throat this year, just as it did last year and the year before that. But NONE of those games had me sitting outside of a Best Buy at 8am waiting for the doors to open so I could beat other gamers (and scalpers) to the shelves to come out on top. And no other gaming experience has given me the same levels of frustration, elation and straight up confusion as the real world MMO that we all call Amiibo Hunter: The Quest for $13 Nintendo Toys. When they were unveiled at E3, we were intrigued. When we saw the announcement of each Wave and their interactivity with games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8 we were interested. And when we bought our first one… we were fucking obsessed.

Now Derek, Juan, Josh and I are in it to win it. We’ve collected all of Waves 1 and 2 and pre-ordered Wave 3. Hell, I don’t even play Super Smash Bros and I’m getting all of these little plastic statues. Why? Because I have a sickness. And Amiibo Hunter played right into it. I’ve been elbowed by scalpers, celebrated by fellow Amiibo sub-Redditors and have started a coast to coast search (successfully I might add) for rare Amiibo among my friends and loved ones. Unlike any other gaming experience in recent memory, at least in my adulthood, Amiibo Hunter has brought my collecting friends and I together as we scour the landscape for these overpriced little plastic pieces of junk. Never have I traded so many texts, phone calls and emails all relating to a single video game as I have with Amiibo Hunter. It’s bad. It’s at a fever pitch. And it’s going to get a whole lot worse before a cure is found. Bring. It. On.

Juan Carlos Marquez

Wii U Game of the Year: Bayonetta 2 by Platinum Games

Let’s rewind the clock back to September 2012. Nintendo had just made the surprising announcement that the sequel to Bayonetta would not only be coming to the Wii U, but that it was also being published by Nintendo–making the game a Wii U exclusive. As expected, a number of XBOX and PlayStaton owners filled social media with negative comments directed toward Platinum Games–accusing them of betraying the loyal fan base by releasing the game on a console fans of the original didn’t [yet they fail to recognize that Bayonetta 2 wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for Nintendo], but a few went as far as making death threats towards Nintendo and Platinum Games developers unless they released the game to ‘real’ consoles.

Well, Bayonetta 2 remained to be a Wii U exclusive and was released this October, and as of this writing, there have been no reports of any suicides or attempted murders towards anyone working at Nintendo or Platinum Games. Thank goodness for that.

A Metacritic score of 91, and perfect scores from Game Spot, EDGE, and Destructiod, several Game of the Year awards and nominations, after all the death threats and negative criticism, Platinum Games, Nintendo, and Wii U owners certainly had the last laugh.

3DS Game of 2014: Bravely Default by Square Enix

The DS had a number of fantastic RPG titles in its library. The handheld boasts an incredible an already incredible library of RPGs with the likes of Fire Emblem: Awakening, Shin Megami Tensei IV, Code of Princess, and Monster Hunter Tri. Square Enix added one more gem to NIntendo 3DS in Bravely Default–one of the beautiful RPG’s ever to grace the Nintendo 3DS. When the demo launched in January, North American gamers got a taste of Bravely Default and quickly found out why the game quickly became one of Japan’s hottest titles since 2012. With another Bravely Default game already coming our way, Square Enix has found themselves with another hit on their hands–a hit which has earned the title of best 3DS Game of 2014.

Derek Kraneveldt

It seems like this year was both phenomenal and terrible for gaming. We saw a ton of great, great new titles, sequels, and indies, but also far too many remasters (one of which made it on my list… yeah), a ton of delays, and a myriad of broken-at-launch ~~Ubisoft~~ titles. There were so many games that I wanted to love, but couldn’t even stand (Watch Dogs for instance), a bunch that ended up mediocre as hell (Destiny, though I couldn’t stop playing it) and a ton of acclaimed titles that I haven’t yet had an opportunity to play (Bayonetta 2, Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter just to name a few). I’m really looking forward to 2015, if not mostly to play the games that were delayed in 2014, but also to play all of the games that I missed this year! Again, the games below are in no particular order, aside from #1.

The Last of Us: Remastered

Yep. One of the best games I played this year was an upscaled and remastered version of the best game that I played last year. That is how freaking stellar The Last of Us is. Reliving that beautiful, heartbreaking campaign but with much improved graphics and sound had me just as in awe as the first time I’d played it. It’s so hard to imagine that my first experience with TLoU had only been a year prior, but it’s a game that I can’t wait to experience once again.

This is a world that I’m terrified of, but it’s also a world that I simply can’t get enough of. Everyone needs to experience this title.

Amiibo Hunter

Amiibo Hunter is a game that I love with all of my heart, and hate with all of my wallet. I went back and forth about Amiibo figures, deciding after seeing prototypes at SDCC that I would definitely be buying a few, but changing my mind and deciding not to buy any after seeing leaked particularly bad looking figures shortly before launch.

Then, launch day rolled around. I strolled into my local Toys R Us just planning to take a look… and walked out with a Mario (little did I know that the half dozen Marth, Villager, and Wii Fit Trainer figures that were sitting on that shelf could have paid for my next trip to Comic Con).

Then, the next day came. That day I bought Link. The next day, Kirby. Now, I’m here:

It’s also brought me closer with my Geekscape brethren, which is my favourite feature of Amibo hunter. We’re all watching each other’s backs, looking for Amiibo that some of us still need, and messaging each other the hilarious stories that come up on our hunts. It’s a blast, and I can’t wait for my Luigi to get here from Alaska (thanks Shane).

On the flip side, gah, my wallet!

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad is a fucking bad ass. We all knew it when we played the original Captain levels in 2013’s Super Mario 3D World, but we were beyond excited to learn that the Captain would be getting his own game this holiday season.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fairly easy play through, but you’ll definitely be pounding the table in frustration trying to complete some of the tougher challenges. For the most part, it’s one of the most relaxing games that I’ve played in some time, and it’s the most fun I’ve had playing a puzzler in years. It’s also a freaking budget title, coming in at just $39.99. It’s more than worth it.

If you’re looking for more on Captain Toad, here’s my full review. TL;DR: buy the hell out of it.

Alien: Isolation

This game scared the shit out of me… before I ever even saw the Alien.

It’s also the first game that I ever played using a headset, which didn’t help the situation at all. Alien: Isolation completely slipped under my radar. By slipped, I mean that I ignored it because the Alien games have largely been terrible for years now (remember Colonial Marines), and the franchise has essentially been tarnished to the point where I didn’t even care as I walked passed their stellar booth at SDCC.

Then, the game came out and I read the reviews. Then I bought it. Then I shat my pants.

I still haven’t finished Alien: Isolation. Every time that I think about playing it, I instead think about how I don’t really feel like being scared right now and play something else. But I’m looking forward to the day when I can get back to it and take on that Xenomorph once more. The game adds some incredibly original mechanics, makes excellent use of depth-of-field, and (especially with a headset) is the scariest game that I’ve played in years.

Gah.

1. Mario Kart 8

I’m not putting Mario Kart 8 at the top of my list because I’m really, really good at it. I’m putting Mario Kart 8 on my list because I’ve put far more hours into it than any other game this year, and because that’s something that I don’t see changing any time soon.

Plus, Mario Kart 8 made my often Nintendo-bashing roommate sell his PS4 and games to buy a Wii U, which he has put far more hours into than he ever did his PS4. That has to count for something.

Whether playing along, online, or with three other people on your own couch (thank you Nintendo), there is no game in recent memory that I’ve had as much fun with as I have Mario Kart 8. It’s an absolutely gorgeous title, with a buttery-smooth framerate, and SO many tracks (and it just got eight more, with another eight coming in March).

Back when I reviewed the game in May, I said that “Mario Kart 8 is the most fun I’ve had playing a video game this year.” And that holds true to this day. It’s the best game that I’ve played all year, and I can’t wait to play it some more!

Honorable mentions: The Walking Dead: Season 2, The Wolf Among Us Super Smash Bros. Papers, Please (iOS), Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, P.T.

Joshua Jackson

Honorable Mention: Amiibo Hunter

For all intents and purposes, Amiibo Hunter is the worst game that you can get caught up in. It’s stressful, sucks up days out of your life, and constantly asks you to dish out another $12.99 for its physical DLC. It’s internal clock forces you to wake up at obscene hours to increase your chances of unlocking the latest characters, and you have to keep an eye out for douchebags in sunglasses who are looking to take them all for themselves. It’s all around terrible, but we can’t stop playing it! That alone deserves a mention, and might have actually made the list if it was a real game, rather than the sad, sad state of our lives at the moment.

14. InFamous: Second Son

The InFamous series made some huge changes when it made the jump to the Playstation 4. Aside from its obvious visual upgrade, the game took its first steps into the real world with its Seattle setting to follow its new protagonist who could learn a variety of powers. What we got from Second Son was the first glimpse of greatness from Sony’s latest console, with a memorable story and entertaining game play that made each of its miniscule eight hours of play time enjoyable. Sadly, that last aspect holds the game back, being a significantly smaller game than its two predecessors. Even still, Second Son has earned its place as one of 2014’s bright spots, so let’s hope Sucker Punch can expand on this exciting world in the inevitable sequels.

13. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

No matter how much time goes by, I don’t think the world of Middle Earth could ever get old. If you need any proof, Shadow of Mordor released as an original story within the Lord of the Rings lore, placing you primarily in the boots of a murdered ranger seeking revenge for the loss of his family. Part Batman: Arkham City, part Assassin’s Creed, Shadow of Mordor allowed us to explore Tolkien’s vision in a way we never have before, with a huge open world, many familiar characters, and an army of Uruk to destroy, this game had something to offer for fans and non-fans of the property alike.

But most impressive was its ambitious nemesis system, a non-linear system where killing certain enemies affects the enemy army. But if someone escapes your wrath or kills you, they’ll rise through the ranks and receive promotions based on their accolades over you. Even defeated enemies may come back with wounds that reflect what you did to them during your last encounter. Such ambition in a new IP is rare, and earned Shadow of Mordor a spot as one of 2014’s highlights.

12. Titanfall

As one of the most anticipated games of the year, Titanfall succeeded in almost every way that it sought out to. Its focus on movement and mechs rather than at camper friendly environment that many other shooters foster forced you to change the way you play, with large scale online battles against people all around the world. Offering some of the most fun I’ve had in a game this year, interest waned when the community started falling out and its half hearted story failed to offer much of a reason to stick around. Still, that doesn’t change how much of a blast Titanfall was, and can still be. Let’s just cross our fingers for a proper campaign next time.

11. Sunset Overdrive

Sunset Overdrive had a lot to prove. After an exciting, yet vague debut trailer, Insomniac, (of Spyro and Ratchet & Clank fame,) literally came out with guns blazing with their first Xbox exclusive. A completely tongue in cheek take on the open world game, the company took all of the lessons they learned from Ratchet and amplified them with this shooter/platformer. Framed by an anti-consumerism story where the latest energy drink is turning its consumers into mindless monsters, traveling through the city, shooting enemies while in motion, and inexplicably bouncing from car to car between power line grinds was the most fluid experience of the year. Being able to do so much in such an intuitive fashion made you feel like an instant badass, which is only held back by its barren city and repetitive missions. Still, not bad for its debut title! If nothing else, it proved that a post apocalyptic shooter doesn’t have to be grey and brown.

10. Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire

2014 marked the year that Hoenn was finally confirmed, bringing remakes of the beloved 3rd generation of Game Boy Advance games to the 3DS. Unlike most remakes however, the game went above and beyond with new features, including a series of new story elements, an expanded roster of Pokemon, and a new way to catch your favorite creatures thanks to the stellar sneaking/Pokenav mechanic. Sadly, with its status as a remake brought many of the issues that held back the originals, namely the removal of some popular features and an over-reliance on HMs that over encumbered your team with useless attacks for the majority of the game. Even still, OR/AS give me hope that the series will take some huge steps in the future to help the long running RPG series innovate in ways that it hasn’t before.

Read Josh’s review here.

9. Hyperdimension Neptunia: Re;Birth 1

I never would have expected to enjoy this title as much as I did, but yet, here we are! Named one of the best RPGs I’ve played in years, Re;Birth 1 is everything a remake should be. With a complete reconstruction of the story, an altered real time turn based battle system that took the best parts from previous entries and perfected them, and rebuilt worlds to explore, it was exactly what the starving Vita needed in terms of exclusive games. The Remake System was icing on the cake, allowing players to alter dungeon items, enemies and difficulty as you play, helping to create an experience catered to the player. Throw in the trademark Neptunia charm, silly writing that doesn’t take itself seriously, and a fair share of fan service, (assuming that doesn’t turn you off from a game,) and you get my biggest surprise hit of the year.

8. South Park: Stick Of Truth

In my review earlier in the year, I was pretty hard on Stick of Truth. Its technical issues, short length and inability to return to dungeons that you’ve completed were big problems that weighed down an otherwise entertaining RPG. But as the months have gone on, there are few games that have released this year that have stuck with me as much as South Park has, both because of its simplistic, yet effective battle system that relies on status effects, and its insane scenarios that range from gut bustingly funny to gag inducingly disgusting. At the end of the day, a game that will be remembered for years to come for its personality can help it rise above any issues the game might have had. So while Stick of Truth might not be *better* than the games below it from a technical standpoint, the strength of its overall package help make it a game we won’t ever forget.

7. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Retro Studio’s second go at the Donkey Kong franchise was everything that you would expect out of a sequel to the incredible Wii title, Donkey Kong Country Returns. Adding Dixie Kong, and the playable debut of Cranky Kong to the fray, Tropical Freeze fixed the biggest complaint that was thrown at the original. Namely, Nintendo’s stubborn decision to only allow motion controls. Now, with a variety of control options, the rest of us can experience how well designed, (and soul crushingly difficult,) these new DK games can be, namely how shocking the game can be as you progress through levels. I don’t think I’ve screamed at my TV more than I have when sharks would eat the tracks in front of my mine cart, or when a giant squid would attack while I was fighting powerful currants. Fun, challenging, well designed, and a fantastic co-op experience, there’s no doubt that Tropical Freeze belongs in every Wii U owner’s library.

6. Inazuma Eleven

Sports. RPGs. Two genres that are completely opposite from each other, yet somehow Inazuma Eleven works so well! Reminiscent of the Blitzball mini-game made famous in Final Fantasy 10, Inazuma plants you on the soccer field as a struggling team that’s in danger of being disbanded if they suffer another loss. The result is a fast paced “battle” system and crazy special moves that range from the ball being lit on fire to defenders creating mirages of themselves. Local multiplayer functions, hundreds of recruitable characters, nearly endless customization and a so absurd, it’s incredible story carries Inazuma to the 2014 championships, and it’s really telling that this port of a game that’s about half a decade old holds up so well in its long overdue North American debut. Please, let us get the sequels!

5. Fantasy Life

This has been a huge year for Level 5. Not only were they the ones behind the above mentioned Inazuma Eleven, but Professor Layton took his final bow in Azran Legacy, alongside his highly anticipated crossover with Phoenix Wright courtesy of the developer. But out of all these titles, Fantasy Life was their definite highlight. This 3DS action RPG allows your custom character to live out their “Life,” this game’s word for job class. Except instead of being a warrior or mage, you can choose to be a tailor, blacksmith, miner… Basically any of the support roles in the background of most titles in the genre. Or if you want to do everything, you can make your own armor, then switch classes and tear monsters up with your home made equipment! These features are only amplified by a simplistic, yet addicting battle system, a focus on material gathering, and a witty script that constantly put a smile on my face. Online and local multiplayer for huge monster hunts only further prove why Fantasy Life was one of the highlights of the year for me.

4. (Tie) Mario Kart 8/Forza Horizon 2

I’m not typically a huge racing guy, but Mario Kart 8 and Forza Horizon 2 exemplify everything that I love about the genre on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. With Mario Kart, we have an easy to pick up and play multiplayer funfest, where skill is just as important in the game’s 32 tracks as what item you end up with to screw your opponents over.

Forza on the other hand, offers the most beautiful open world racing environment I’ve ever seen, complete with the “Drivatar” feature that was highly touted during the Xbox One reveal. Being able to jump straight into this huge world and explore, buy cars, start events or drive side by side with real people in a mostly seamless fashion, and you get the most impressive racing sim I’ve played since Test Drive Unlimited.

They may be complete opposites when it comes to style, but these two games show off how great racing games can be in their own, distinct way, making gaming in 2014 much better off.

3. Bayonetta 2

From the minute this game was announced, the storm of controversy surrounding it could be heard all around the Internet, (and had nothing to do with how little its protagonist was wearing for once.) Yes, Bayonetta fell into that familiar trap where pockets of the gaming community claims Nintendo needs to “grow up with their audience,” yet declares that a game like this “doesn’t belong on a Nintendo system,” when they are released. Hey, if Bayo is in the same company as games like Madworld and No More Heroes, then I’d say she’s doing something right.

But when the game finally released in October, it was everything we could have wanted from an action game and so much more! Tight, fluid game play and a fairly steep challenge was expected, but the ridiculous amount of unlockables costumes, weapons, difficulties and fights still managed to blow away an action game veteran like myself.

Platinum Games wouldn’t stop there though, adding an online cooperative challenge mode with a variety of selectable characters that keep the game fresh after all the single player difficulties have been conquered. And to think, this title almost never saw the light of day. Nintendo deserves a special thank you for taking a chance on a game that other publishers wouldn’t touch, awarding us with the best action game of the generation so far.

2. Super Smash Bros for Wii U/3DS

Easily my most anticipated game of 2014 from the moment Mega Man debuted in that incredible trailer from last year, both versions of Smash fired on all cylinders to bring us the most fun, frantic fighter of the year. The ridiculous amount of characters, faster paced game play compared to Brawl, numerous stages to get beat in, an ample amount of new items, and a much improved online mode, these features alone would have been enough to top any game of the year list.

But this wasn’t all Smash delivered in its fourth entry. The 3DS version brought the game into the world of StreetPass, encouraging us to have the game at the ready for tags, which could always lead to battles! While it did have to make some conscessions when bringing such a huge title to the small screen, it managed to recreate a faithful experience that we could take on the road, complete with new features like character customization and Smash Run, a substitute for Adventure Mode that wasn’t very good. Regardless, portable Smash was an achievement in and of itself.

Which brings us to the Wii U version, which is clearly the much more realized title between the two. As the series’ first foray into an HD world, the console version abandons Smash Run for a four player board game mode that’s more fun than it should be when you’re playing with four real people. But the real main event is 8 player Smash, making an already hectic 4 player experience go completely insane! Within its chaos though, lies some of the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I’ve seen friends that I haven’t visited in years because everyone is so eager to give the game a go, and I can honestly say that Smash is single handedly reviving local multiplayer, which is a powerful thing. The wear and tear is showing on my Wii U from having to take it with me so often, but it’s impossible to complain, and is easily my game of the year.

Or it would be, until an unexpected wave of despair took me completely by surprise…

1. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc/Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

Even I find it hard to believe that a Japanese based text adventure that almost never made a Western debut, and on a platform most have forgotten about would be able to beat out games like the PS4’s killer app, a legendary Mario series, and the most anticipated fighter of the decade, but Danganronpa managed to do just that.

Released in mid February with little fanfare, the original Danganronpa was a screwed up game. Pitting some of the most memorable, beloved characters I’ve encountered this year in a literal death school, where the only way to escape was to get away with murdering a classmate, all orchestrated by an adorably evil teddy bear, was such a demented concept that I just couldn’t look away. Sacrificing some of the reward that comes from a game like Phoenix Wright, which asks you to solve mysteries with the evidence provided, Danganronpa 1 narrowed it down to create a faster paced experience in the form of class trials. Carried by hysterical dialogue, the class was tasked with discovering the true killer for each case, which were filled with moments that I won’t soon forget.

Danganronpa 1 could easily be on this list as a standalone title, which is a testament to how truly fantastic Danganronpa 2 was. Building on everything that its predecessor laid out while improving the amount of options given for each scenario, a brand new cast of characters with even crazier scenarios came about on the Island of Mutual Killing. While poking fun at some of the nonsensical plot points of the first game, the new adventure quickly engrosses the player in a mystery that ties up all of the loose ends left by its prequels, while leaving more bread crumbs to leave us frothing at the mouth for more. From a story standpoint, nothing comes close to Danganronpa this year.

With that in mind, I’ve said time and time again that game play is king. Without great game play, story doesn’t mean anything. It is a video GAME after all. But while Danganronpa could have relied on its morbid narrative and colorful characters, the developers at Spike Chunsoft decided that wasn’t enough, becoming a genre defining series that changes the concept of what a text adventure can be. Tying in elements of dating sims, item hording, rail shooters, logic puzzles and even snowboarding games into something that’s typically thought of as nothing but a point and click read-a-thon. It’s always admirable when a developer takes such risks in an industry that’s becoming more and more satisfied with complacency, but it’s rare that they pay off in such a big way. Danganronpa is one such case, making it the clear choice for 2014’s game of the year. Bravo, Spike Chunsoft, and by the way, thanks for Warrior’s Way!

So, how’d we do? Let us know if you agree with our choices, and be sure to share yours, in the comments below!

The Top 12 Gaming Waifus Of 2014 (Spoilers)

by Josh JacksonDecember 30, 2014

Since I first selected Chun-Li at that laundromat Street Fighter II arcade so many years ago, I quickly learned a lesson that has stuck with me throughout all my years of gaming; that girls are just better characters. Sorry guys, but it’s true. As a matter of fact, unbeknownst to some people, (like Derek) many a gamer have associated their favorite female game characters as their “waifu”. Whether or not you associate this term as a girl you would marry, a character you admire, or just an all-around bad ass chick, 2014 surely wasn’t short of some incredible female heroines to draw inspiration from. Thankfully, we’ve compiled 12 characters from 2014 who are certified waifu material, using their power, brains, beauty, or sometimes all three, to leave their own mark on their games and our heats. So without further ado…

Honorable Mentions: Chihiro Fujisaki (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc) and Princess Kenny (South Park: Stick Of Truth)

Chihiro was an early standout in the first Danganronpa. As the Ultimate Programmer, the genius level intellect required for such a title was held back by a timid personality and severe self esteem issues. Early into the story, she decides that enough is enough, and takes steps to become stronger in an attempt to help her friends survive the horrors of the Hope’s Peak Academy killing game. Although things take a turn for the tragic early in the story, Chihiro’s legacy lives on through Alter Ego, an A.I. that would not only create a window for the survivors to escape, but played an important role in the second game as well! Her strength finally showed through. It’s just too bad she wasn’t around to see it.

Princess Kenny on the other hand, is a powerful archer with the power to control animals. As the most kawaii princess in all of South Park, she proves to be a valuable asset in the fight for the Stick of Truth. But behind that gorgeous smile, those flowing locks, and that orange hood hides something much more sinister.

Obviously, these are strong qualities that anyone would want from their perfect waifu. So why aren’t they on the list? Well… Neither of them are actually girls. Chihiro took on the identity of a woman since he felt like he was too weak to be a man, (with Japanese gender roles firmly in play), while Princess Kenny is obviously just Kenny roleplaying as a woman. Still, these “ladies” managed to leave a huge mark on 2014, being prominently featured in two of the best games of the year. They’re everything you would want in a strong female character. You know… except for the “female” part.

Miigan (Tomodachi Life)

Tomodachi Life puts Mii’s on an island and allows them to live out their life in a multitude of crazy ways. Whether or not they want to make friends, fight their neighbors, or have a nightly rap battle, one thing that even Mii’s can’t escape is the call of marriage.

Enter Miigan, the Mii based on my real wife. Even more shocking than the fact that a woman actually decided to marry me, was the fact that my Mii was dumb enough to plant her firmly in the friendzone, despite hanging out constantly and being labeled as each other’s favorite person. Well, it’s okay in the end. Miigan ran off and got married to the local transient by the name of Hungry Hungry Hobo, while InuJoshua floats around the island with Fils-A-Mech in a sad, lonely stupor. All’s well that ends well, right?

Toadette (Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker)

As Captain Toad’s loyal assistant, Toadette is just as capable as her boss, solving puzzles, uncovering treasure, and chasing adventure with the best of them. While she may start off kidnapped, she gets a real chance to shine when the tables are turned and she has to rescue the Captain. Eventually, she gets tired of the whole damsel in distress role, and rescues herself late in the game. So what if Toad’s are technically asexual? That doesn’t change the fact that in a game full of treasure, Toadette is the most precious of all.

Bayonetta (Bayonetta 2)

The witch is back! Bayonetta completely understands what it means to use her immense power to her advantage. Whether its destroying enemy angels with her powerful summons, toppling giant bosses with over the top attacks, or trolling opponents with her sexuality, she definitely isn’t a woman to mess with. The only thing keeping her from being higher on the list is that the thought of being someone’s waifu would probably result with a bullet in someone’s head.

Espella Cantabella (Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)

The mysterious woman who is the catalyst for bringing the Top Hat Professor and the Ace Attorney together. While her potential status as a witch is a major plot point that the two continuously try to refute, the one thing that’s apparent is her unwavering strength when it comes to protecting the people she cares about. Any doubt is erased at the point where she volunteers to be executed as the Great Witch Bezella, all in the hopes that the witch trials will cease with her death. While things don’t go exactly as planned, (on top of her background causing additional trouble for our heroes after the fact,) there’s no doubt that this newcomer holds her own in the presence of such legendary characters.

Palutena (Super Smash Bros for 3DS/Wii U)

The Goddess of Light makes her playable debut in the latest Smash Bros., and she’s just as endearing as she was in Kid Icarus: Uprising. Not only does she have the distinction of being the character with the largest range of unique custom moves, but she even takes the time to give Pit advice between fights if certain conditions are met. Compassionate, wise and nurturing, yet powerful, funny, and a sarcastic jerk. She reminds me why she was one of the best parts of that incredible 3DS game from two years ago. Now, can we PLEASE get an Amiibo for her?

Princess Zelda (Hyrule Warriors)

It’s never been a secret that Princess Zelda is one of the most powerful beings in all of the Zelda universe. Often seen as too huge of a threat to Ganon’s power to allow to run free, she’s typically forced to support Link from the background while either in hiding, or flat out kidnapped. That all changes in Hyrule Warriors, where she finally gets to put that power to use. Fighting as both a powerful fencer and a magic wielding ninja in her Sheik form, using her was a definite highlight from one of the biggest surprise hits of the year for me. Just try to kidnap her now. We’ll wait…

Yukiko Amagi/Yukari Takeba (Persona 4 Arena Ultimax/Persona Q)

It’s true that Persona 3 was far from the first “Waifu Simulator”, a game that allows you to build relationships with your party members, (with a bit of romance thrown in when approaching the ladies,) but it’s definitely credited with making them popular in the West. For my money, Yukari and Yukiko were the top Waifu’s from 3 and 4 respectively. Seeing them return with their powerful spells, the Personas they control, and the revelation that Yukari is a freaking Power Ranger in Arena, combined with the attachment built from their core games, make them easy inclusions. But most importantly? They starred in two games this year! That’s a lot of Waifu to go around.

Kohaku (Tales Of Hearts R)

In the world of Tales of Hearts R, a person’s power and personality is shaped by their Spira, a crystallized manifestation a person’s spirit. As the girl with the perfect Spira, Kohaku has the perfect balance of emotions, partially due to a goddess that resides within it. Obviously, this becomes problematic when protagonist/bumbling idiot, Kor Meteor, shatters it in an attempt to save her. When the shards of her Spira scatter across the world, this sparks an adventure that pits Kor, Kohaku and their party against various enemies who would want to her power for their own means. But damn it, if you weren’t endeared by the girl’s personality, especially with her reactions as each emotion is put back into her, then we can’t be friends.

Yuelia (Fantasy Life)

As the daughter of the Goddess who saved the land of Reveria from certain doom decades prior, Yuelia comes down from the heavens to follow in her mother’s footsteps. After taking the form of a butterfly for the majority of the game, her magical prowess and hysterical wit are almost matched by how adorable she is. Plus, the bond she builds with your character makes them total ship material, and just might be the strongest bond between two protagonists this year. When you consider that your character rarely talks, Yuelia deserves all of the credit for anchoring one of the most charming games of the year.

Ibuki Mioda (Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair)

What can I say about Ibuki that can properly describe her in text? She’s unique. Her hair style is impossible to figure out. She’s laugh out loud hysterical, and completely owns the title of Ultimate Musician with her ridiculous music. As my personal favorite character in a cast of numerous strong candidates, Ms. Mioda has this quality about her that brings out the joy in a situation as dire as being locked on an island with the only means of escape being to kill the rest of your friends. Sure, she might have the strange habit of pointing at nothing mid conversation, writing songs of questionable quality, and uncontrollably foaming at the mouth at the slightest sign of distress, but that’s why we love her. Here’s to hoping Ibuki sneaks her way into future games, because I surely haven’t had enough of this girl’s wild style.

Ibuiki might not have lasted very long on the Island of Mutual Killing, but that doesn’t mean that she didn’t make every minute count.

Neptune (Hyperdimension Neptunia: Re;Birth 1)

If there was a perfect girl for your average gamer, than it would be hard to come much closer than Neptune. As a literal video game goddess, she helps defend Gamindustry while taking the form of Purple Heart, complete with an outfit that would make Bayonetta blush. But outside of battle, she’s lazy, irresponsible, and doesn’t do anything but play games all day.

Sound familiar?

But beneath the slacker facade lies a cute, funny, charming, and powerful girl who puts herself at risk to protect her land of Planeptune, her friends, and even her enemies. Neptune leads her game with a level of quirkiness that made Re;Birth 1 a game that I won’t soon forget, which ALMOST makes her the top candidate for waifu of 2014.

Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair)

Yet, topping the list is Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer from Danganronpa 2. Like Ibuki, she’s trapped on an island with the rest of her class, with the only sure means of escape lies in getting away with murder. Like Neptune, she’s obsessed with gaming, claiming to be an expert at every genre available aside from dating sims. Well… That’s conveniently where our role as husbando comes in, and anyone who played the game would tell you that getting to know her is one of the definite highlights of an already fantastic game. While she has her fair share of airhead qualities, (including falling asleep standing up,) she’s all business when it comes to solving Monokuma’s twisted mysteries. Often leading the protagonist and the rest of the class through threads of logic they wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise, Chiaki is a literal lifesaver.

Which makes the moment of her death all the more disheartening.

Because despite technically being a mole who was working for those who put everyone on the island to begin with, she always sees the best in her classmates, giving up her life so that they could live on. Much like those who she was working for, she has an undying faith in the group’s ability to serve as the ultimate hope in the fight against despair. Whether she’s standing up for her little sister, Usami, bravely facing an inevitable demise, or helping the lead turn Super Saiyan, Chiaki is all that you could ask for in a partner, a friend, and especially a waifu. Oh, did I mention she’s an AI? She’s sure to fall right in line with the virtual girlfriends the rest of us have.

So how right is this waifu list? Did we leave out your favorite Japanese gaming heroine? Let us know who we’re missing, and here’s to another great year of virtual crushes!

Geekscape Roundtable: Our 2014 Holiday Wishlist!

by GeekscapeStaffDecember 12, 2014

The holiday season is here yet again (wasn’t it just December 2013?), and regardless of the exact holiday that you plan on celebrating this year, we know that you’re just in it for the presents (well, and the family/friends, and the food, and some other things too, but mostly the presents).

Instead of doing a traditional gift guide (if your giftee likes x, get them y, etc), we thought we’d take another route: tell you what we‘d want for our holiday gifts. You know our writers, so chances are that if you need to pick up a gift for someone similar, they’ll probably be into the same stuff.

Here goes! Enjoy, and be sure to let us know what gifts you’re hoping for in the comments below!

Jonathan London

‘King Dork Approximately’ by Frank Portman

This is a follow up to ‘King Dork’, the 2006 YA book that was recognized as one of the Best Books for Young Adults in 2007 and was optioned by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay as a film that same year (the movie has yet to happen but I’m hoping)! The original book followed high school outcast Tom Henderson as he defends against the slings and arrows of sophomore year while investigating his father’s death, trying to identify a girl he made out with at a party and start a rock band… but the fun plot wasn’t the highlight of the book. It was Portman’s colorful and wry writing style that was as fun to read as his own rock band The Mr. T Experience is to listen to. This year’s ‘King Dork Approximately’ promises more of the awesome same, as Tom navigates the 10th grade. You don’t have to be a big Young Adult reader to enjoy this book, as the original ‘King Dork’ was my first since grade school, but this would probably make the most sense for any high-schoolers in your life.

Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises and Kiki’s Delivery Service Blu-Ray+DVD

We love Hayao Miyazaki here at Geekscape. In fact, we worship him. So why not help spread the Studio Ghibli gospel with some of his best works from the past 25 years? ‘Princess Mononoke’ is arguably his best film and is presented here on a brand new Blu-Ray+DVD treatment with both the English and Japanese audio and original storyboards. It’s the perfect movie for anyone between 15 and 45 who appreciates incredible storytelling. If you’re looking for a gift that skews a little younger, Miyazaki’s classic ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ also received the gorgeous 1080 HD treatment. This one is a classic and also includes a French audio track. And finally, older audiences will probably appreciate the recent Miyazaki film ‘The Wind Rises’, which was a 2013 Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature Film. The movie is a historical romantic drama centered around the designing of Japanese airplanes, so even though it’s not the most commercial of Studio Ghibli’s films, the filmmaking on display is Miyazaki at the top of his game. I can’t recommend all three of these films enough and Disney, Touchstone and Studio Ghibli really went out of their way to bring audiences the best presentations possible.

Shane O’Hare

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2

Much like last year, I want more DJ gear! The Traktor Kontrol Z2 is an independent 2 Channel DJ mixer. The best part is that it reads Traktor’s special timecode vinyl records! The way it works, is the records when played normally, emit this constant high pitched tone. When the software reads that tone, it translate it into software manipulation. So if you scratch the record, the MP3 file will scratch. This mixer is exactly what I want to go with my two new (to me) Technic 1200 turntables.

WeLoveFine Night Mare Vinyl

The folks at We Love Fine make some of, if not THE, best My Little Pony figures. They’ve been able to take the very unique shape of the characters, and translate it to a 3D space. If you’ve seen some of the disastrous toys from Hasbro like most Brony’s have, then you’ll understand. This Nightmare Moon vinyl is so freaking awesome, and I want it so desperately to sit next my other We Love Fine figs.

ShapeWays Mane 6 #3

To stay on the MLP hype train is this awesome 3D printed toy from shapeways. Very recently Hasbro decided to NOT sue the crowd sourced 3D printing company, and rather join forces! AND THANK GOD, because we would have to be out some of the incredible fan created 3D toys. This Rarity fig is of the Diva herself enjoying a good cry on her Chaise lounge.

Rocketeer Adventures Volume 1 Hardcover and Rocketeer Adventures Volume 2 Hardcover

It’s no secret that I am a gigantic fan of The Rocketeer. IDW has been putting out some incredible Rocketeer books these last few years. They are really doing the original comics justice. I am absolutely craving these two issues in Hard Back to go on my shelf of Amazing Rocekteer Things. Full disclosure, I have all the single issues, I just want dat hard cover binding.

Eric Francisco

Legacy Dragon Dagger

In the never-ending celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Power Rangers, Bandai America has released the most iconic weapon of the equally iconic Green Ranger in a 1:1 scale complete with the epic summon tunes of the Dragonzord. You or your loved one can finally complete that Green Ranger cosplay with a more size-appropriate side-arm, and not a puny children’s toy. Never mind that, yeah, this is still a toy. BUT STILL! I can’t wait to put this on my shelf.

“Yes Please” by Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler’s new book isn’t quite an autobiography, a memoir, or a self-help book. Rather, it’s basically all of that! The nice lady who rose the ranks of the Upright Citizens Brigade to Saturday Night Live and starred in the soon-to-be fabled Parks & Recreation tells the stories and challenges that defined her and gives advice that can inspire anyone, women, men, and anyone in between. Future generations will hate that they missed her. In a world where people brag about carrying guns, I want to brag about carrying this.

Batman: The Complete Television Series (Blu-Ray)

You either die a hero or you live long enough to make people realize just how much you rocked. Thing is, I really DID love this show with no irony whatsoever! Batman is cool when he’s gritty, but AWESOME when he’s hamming it up. This complete Blu-ray set not only has the expected remastering of picture and sound, but it contains 3 HOURS of bonus features and a handful of collectible items, including a Hot Wheels replica Batmobile! Gotham on FOX and the upcoming Zack Snyder films will ensure Batman will be dark for years to come, but you and the Bat-fanatic in your life can relive a time when having fun wasn’t looked down upon. Also, if I get this, I am immediately watching The Green Hornet crossover episodes!

“Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation” by Blake J. Harris

If anyone considers themselves a “gamer” or a “’90s kid” or whatever buzz-word people need to identify themselves, indulge them with author Blake Harris’ excellent, must-have chronicle of the late ’80s-early ’90s corporate war that took place in our living rooms. I was barely seven when I played on the SNES and Sega Gensis, and reading this book instantly took me back to those golden early years. A documentary is in post-production and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are working on a feature film adaptation. Should any of those movies live up to the book, they will go down as a classic in their own right. Think “The Social Network,” but with Sonic and Mario.

Broadcast News (Criterion Collection) (Blu-Ray)

Having watched this movie several times while at Rutgers, I can’t help but need it in its definitive form. This incredibly funny and still-relevant 1987 comedy classic from James Brooks is not only a sentimental reminder of my undergrad years, but as a textbook to study from. How can I make a smart, funny, and important movie people will remember in the years to come? I’ll find out in this high-def Criterion Collection release, which contains new audio commentary from director James Brooks, a new documentary, deleted scenes with Brooks on commentary, an interview with CBS veteran Susan Zirinsky, and an essay from critic Carrie Rickey.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Lens

A necessity for all DSLR filmmakers and photographers. A 50mm prime lens will really teach you how to frame a shot, as the 50mm measurement is the closest to mimicking the human eye. If you have an aspiring filmmaker or photographer in your life, this lens would be a big help.

NBC To Renew Constantine

PLEAE DON’T CANCEL CONSTANTINE. PLEASE. #SaveConstantine

Derek Kraneveldt

Nintendo Wii U

Yep. I totally had the Wii U in my Wishlist piece last year too. Nothing here has changed (except that the console has gotten SO MUCH BETTER). Nintendo’s latest is still the only console that you should be looking at if local multiplayer is a thing that you enjoy (it is) and the library has only gotten more and more stellar with games like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and even more that I haven’t yet had an opportunity to play.

With some great bundles available to get you started (I think that the Super Mario 3D World or Mario Kart 8 bundles are the best value), you absolutely, positively cannot go wrong with a Wii U this season.

SAXX Underwear

Yes, this is a geek blog, and yes, I’m talking about underwear.

This shit is life changing. I never in my life thought that comfort and underwear could be synonymous, but then I discovered SAXX, and everything changed. Chafing? I don’t know the meaning of the word.

Yeah, some people have scoffed at me for spending $30+ on a single pair of underwear, but then, those people haven’t tried it. Plus, let’s switch gender roles and put it into perspective: women (clearly) require their support up top, and from what I’ve heard have no problem spending $30-$50 on a single brazier. Why is it then ridiculous to spend a similar (or smaller) amount on an undergarment designed specifically for areas where men need support.

Seriously, dudes. Buy one pair, then go broke on them, and then you can thank me. I <3 SAXX.

Godzilla Blu-Ray / Graphic Novel

I’ve been enamoured with Legendary’s Godzilla ever since I was lucky enough to experience the Godzilla Encounter event at San Diego Comic-Con 2013. Following that, I waited patiently, ate up every image, trailer, clip, and teaser, and even had the fantastic opportunity to interview the film’s screenwriter.

Then, the movie came out. Jonathan saw it way before me and took to reviewing it for Geekscape, and I wholeheartedly agree with his thoughts on the film. I loved it, and I cannot (cannot) wait for the series to be expanded. The Blu-Ray edition of the film looks absolutely gorgeous (though you will miss the big screen of the theatrical experience) and boasts a ton of special features in its multitude of beyond-intriguing featurettes. If you’re at all interested in the monster, his history, or what director Gareth Edwards and his cast and crew did to bring the film to life, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up.

And don’t forget about the prequel graphic novel, which acts as a great introduction to the film and its titular creature (and the MUTO). The pair would make a great gift for existing Godzilla fans, as well as those who haven’t seen it yet!

Nintendo’s Amiibo

These things are crack. Jonathan, Juan, Josh and I actually refer to them as drugs at this point. I didn’t even want them, and now I own several, and I can’t and won’t stop until I own each and every one.

Any gamer, young or old, would love to have these on their shelves. The figures look great (especially for their price point) and their in-game functions are just beginning to be realized. It’ll be really, really interesting to see how Amiibo evolves over the next couple of years.

Be warned, if you’re planning to pick these up as gifts, you better get on it. They’re selling like hot cakes, some of them are reportedly already being discontinued, and prices are skyrocketing online. Wave two does release very soon however, so if you can jump on those as they come out, you could definitely be a hero this holiday season.

Also, they’re crack. So unless you want an addicted little (or big) monster, be very, very careful.

“Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation” by Blake J. Harris

Eric already covered this above, and Jonathan definitely covered it in his review of the book, but Console Wars was one of the most intriguing, revealing, and hard to put down books that I read all year.

I was born in 1990, so I was a little too young to understand the console war as it occurred, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t interesting as hell to read about it. Don’t worry about gifting me this one though, as I’ve already got a copy signed by author Blake Harris, Tom Kalinske, Al Nilson, and more!

Matt Kelly

Do you have a horror fan in your family tree? If so, there’s really one two places your attention should be. The first is Scream Factory. This all Horror & Cult branch of Shout Factory has been dominating in the last year with tons of titles we never thought we’d see on any format other than VHS.

They gave us gifts like the 70’s Musical Phantom of the Paradise starring Paul Williams. This disco/rock version of Phantom of the Opera is a real delight. Throw in some great songs, good special effects and an amazing Blu-Ray transfer and you’ve got a great gift for that friend of yours who’s been obsessed with Rocky Horror Picture Show since high school.

They’ve also given us amazing collectors editions of The Funhouse, Night of the Comet, Day of the Dead and other well loved classics but the true gift that keeps giving to any horror fan is the Nightbreeed Director’s Cut (also known as the Cabel Cut). Over 2 decades since Clive Baker’s film was infamous cut against his will we can finally see the full story he wanted to tell.

Now sadly some films we will probably never see on DVD or Blu-Ray. For those titles you can really shock your friend or family members mind with a purchase from VHSPS (The VHS Preservation Society). These “VHS copies” include all the magic of your 90’s VHS memories on a DVD.   VHSPS is not in the business of stealing money from other companies. Their titles are available on their website until the day an official DVD/Blu-Ray is announced. Once they know that they have successfully preserved a film’s legacy they remove it from the store. Currently they’re the only way you can enjoy classic cult titles like Fade to Black, Possession and Linnea Quigley’s Horror Workout

The final gift is the gift that keeps giving to even the most mild Wrestling fan. A Subscription to the WWE Network. The fact that for $9.99 a month you have access to new shows, every pay-per-view and a constantly growing library of matches throughout wrestling history is nothing short of astounding.

On December 1st the Network blew up Twitter with a live Podcast between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon. Their original content has continued to be great, be it the countdown show (creatively named Countdown) or Legends House in which aged wrestling icons like Mean Gene, Roddy Piper, Hacksaw Jim Dugan and Pat Patterson all lived under one roof together for a month.

But at the end of the day the biggest reason to make this purchase is the Pay-Per-Views. Every month you get a new pay-per-view that in the pre-network days would have been a $60 investment FREE with your subscription. It’s never been a better time to be a wrestling fan and it’s never been an easier time to get into wrestling.

But better than all of those combined is the gift of the Saint Mort Show which you can listen to for free at www.thesaintmortshow.com and www.soundcloud.com/thesaintmortshow

Josh Jackson

What do you get for the gamer who has everything? Even more stuff! Luckily, there’s hardly a shortage on that, so let’s jump into the coolest gaming gifts a high interest GameStop credit card can buy!

First4Figures Vyse Statue

Straight out of the Dreamcast and onto your shelf, this limited edition figure displays the lead of Skies of Arcadia in all of his Sky Pirate glory! For nostalgic gamers who fondly remember pirate ship battles before Assassin’s Creed made them famous, or a time when JRPGs were actually good, this would be the perfect gift. That is, if you have $200 lying around and you REALLY like the person.

Winter Fest Lob Star

If you’re more on a budget, but you really want to do right by your figure loving friend, then you can’t go wrong with Winter Fest Lob Star. This special holiday edition of the water element Trap Master from Skylanders: Trap Team is great to display OR play with. Plus, I guarantee that you won’t find a toy with a beard as sweet as his.

Disney Infinity 2.0 Aladdin, Jasmine, and Stitch

If Disney is more your thing, then the recently released Aladdin, Jasmine and Stitch figures are the way to go. With a strong amount of detail and plenty of personality to match, taking these characters into the Toy Box that you and your family have been making since September will surely be a blast! And if you need to start the fireplace on those cold, winter mornings, you can always buy a couple Merida figures to throw in. Brave will finally be good for something!

PDP Disney Infinity 2.0 Play Zone and Power Disc Binder

Chances are if you have kids, (or are a kid at heart), you already have most of the Marvel and Disney figures that have hit the shelves. For those times that you want to bring your haul to a friend’s house, why not show off the hundreds of dollars you’ve spent than with a sweet carrying case? The Play Zone doubles as a travel bag that holds a portal, 10 power discs, and anywhere from six to about 20 figures depending on how you arrange them, which is perfect for those extended Play Set sessions.

If 10 power discs slots aren’t enough, the new Power Disc Binder is much improved over the albums. Replacing the hard to grab slots, the binder replaces them with traditional sleeves that hold up to 90 discs. And if you have 90 discs to hold, then I think an intervention is due.

Marth Amiibo

Speaking of interventions, Amiibo are like drugs. We’re hooked, and desperate for our next fix! Sadly, many of us are missing the hard to find Marth figure, sending us into a Tickle Me Elmo style frenzy! If you manage to snag this for someone, then you’ll surely be their hero for life.

PDP Nintendo Fight Pads

But let’s be honest. Most of us gamers are going to be too busy playing Smash Bros to buy anything. With that said, if you do get a few minutes to buy SOMETHING for that fighting aficionado, make it one of these Fight Pads. With designs for Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi that match each of the Wii Remote Plus designs that released over the last year, they simulate the GameCube experience without the adapter. Besides, there’s nothing more satisfying than spiking your friend using a neon pink controller!

That’s it for us! Again, be sure to let us know what you’re hoping for (or planning to give) this holiday season!

Comikaze 2014: Stan Lee, POW! Entertainment & F84 Games Team Up To Present ‘Hero Command’

by Josh JacksonNovember 11, 2014

At Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo, you can pretty much do whatever you want when you have a convention named after you, so it’s fitting that the man himself took the stage to unveil his latest project.

Hero Command, a free to play mobile game that takes us into the world of super heroes, will give us the option between three characters to choose from. Jumping into the tights of either Captain Steamhammer, The Twins, or Seer, each hero will be tasked with taking down their arch nemesis, with unique abilities that have cooldown periods to prevent spamming. Is there a way to access those powers quicker? If only there was a way to exchange currency for the chance to use more attacks. Hmm…

New heroes, missions and worlds are scheduled to be periodically released after the game’s initial launch for iOS and Android devices, with a public beta that can be signed up for by emailing info@floor84studio.com. Are any true believers out there planning on heading to the app store to pick this up? Let us know!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8ukTT4pTd0

Comikaze 2014: ‘Dragon Ball Z: The Fall Of Men’ Proves We Should Send Our Anime Adaptations To France

by Josh JacksonNovember 11, 2014

Finally, it seems like we could end up with the live action Dragon Ball Z film that we deserve, but it’s not coming from 20th Century Fox.

Dragon Ball Z: The Fall of Men is a passion project from filmmakers Yohan Faure and Vianney Griffon, taking place in an alternate timeline where Cell has brought the Earth to the brink of destruction. Aiming to create a world without Goku or Vegeta to protect it, Cell is now systematically taking out the remaining Z Fighters, leaving Trunks as the planet’s final hope.

When you consider that the film is low budget by nature, the special effects are impressive! Seeing the way that the world was set up, the path of destruction Cell has left in his wake, and the desperation that the brief trailer sets up, and it’s clear that even with little to work with in the way of funds, these guys just get it. At the very least, the trailer manages to resemble DBZ more closely in a few short minutes compared to the entirety of Dragon Ball Evolution.

That’s not to say some liberties weren’t taken. With the intention of making a standalone version of what they thought a post Goku world would look like, the creators gave most of the characters a more realistic look, (so don’t go expecting purple and blue hair). Even Cell got a change in the looks department, taking bits and pieces from his three main forms to create a frightening, new version.

Excited yet? Check out the teaser trailer below, and get hyped like we have! If you want to show your support, head over to the team’s Indiegogo page and drop a couple of bucks. The whole world is at stake!

SDCC 2014: Hands-On With ‘Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney’

by Josh JacksonAugust 7, 2014

Literally years have passed since the initial announcement for Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, one of the most unexpected crossovers in recent memory. After tons of speculation and a fear that the title might never get localized, those thoughts were put to rest when an official announcement was made confirming its impending release earlier this year. Now, we find ourselves about a month away from being able to play it for ourselves, but we got a small taste of what’s to come, courtesy of the Nintendo Lounge at San Diego Comic Con.

Divided into two sections, the game features both Professor Layton‘s trademark puzzles and Phoenix Wright‘s trial sections. On Layton’s side of the equation, his game play is essentially identical to his native titles, leading him and his assistant, Luke, to examine environments via the touch screen for hint coins and puzzles. Ranging from logic tests, math based scenarios, mazes, and many other challenges in between, a certain amount of puzzles need to be completed before progress can be made. While these challenges can range from insultingly easy to frustratingly difficult, the demo was kept on the simpler side of things, allowing progression to flow smoothly.

SDCC 2014: Hands-On With The ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Play Set From ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’

by Josh JacksonAugust 6, 2014

After playing the Avengers and Spider-Man Play Sets at E3, we were already confident that the campaigns would easily surpass the level of freedom and fun offered by its predecessor. As if these two open world sets weren’t already enough, a post launch Guardians of the Galaxy story was revealed just in time for the film’s big release. At Comic Con, we got some time to play within the confines of Knowhere, and found that despite being part of the same game, this Play Set manages to stand out as its own, unique experience.

Unlike the open world sand box games that the previous two sets play like, the Guardians set plays much more like an action/platforming title, facing off with waves of enemies while you traverse the mechanical environments. Featuring large scale battles that will pit you against everything from foot soldiers to enemy space ships, there’s no telling how much crazier the full set will actually be, all the way up to the inevitable showdown with Ronan The Accuser.

Each of the Guardians plays distinctively from one another, which is further showcased by the huge skill tree that has become one of the cornerstones of the upcoming sequel. For example, Star Lord uses a mix of his pistols and jet boots for a variety of attacks, Gamora relies on her sword to cut down the opposition, Drax displays his strength and battle prowess with his twin knives, Rocket fights with his arsenal of explosives and automatic guns, while Groot’s slow, lumbering movement balances out his immense power and long reach. In addition to their standard combat abilities, special moves also come into play, which charge up as enemies are defeated. Gamora’s increased speed and Drax’s power boost, for example, further distinguish each character, which will surely lead to sibling fights when the game is available for purchase.

Rounding out the cast in the demo version were Yondu, (who also appears as a temporary support character through his Marvel Sidekick Power Disc), The Collector, and Cosmo the Dog, who all provided missions for the team to tackle as the adventure progressed. Sadly, Howard the Duck was nowhere to be found, but there’s still time between now and this holiday to squeeze him in. What do you say, Disney? It has to be done!

From what we’ve played, it looks like we have three varied campaigns, a nearly limitless world creator with the Toy Box, and numerous ways to customize our favorite characters. The first game had six Play Sets by the time it was all said and done, so it’s safe to say that there will be even more in store for us as the game ages. Perhaps an X-Men Play Set?

What other Marvel worlds are you hoping make the cut? Disney Infinity 2.0 will hit stores as both a standard, and incredibly awesome collector’s edition, on September 23rd.

http://youtu.be/ncIACV_Q17A

SDCC 2014: McFarlane Toys Annouces Building Sets; We’re Going To Go Broke!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 30, 2014

I still remember my very first McFarlane Toy. I was a wee lad of maybe seven or eight years old, and once day my dad came home with an incredible Spawn figure that held more detail than any other figure I’d ever owned. I was a huge Spawn fan at the time (much to the dismay of my mother), and I can still recall staying up way too late watching the animated series with my father.

It took me some time to realize why this first figure wasn’t infinitely posable, but once I did, I set it in its base and marvelled at its intricacies and wondered how a figure like this could have been so perfectly pulled out of the comic book. Then a year or so later I received a Violator figure and it scared the hell out of me to the point where it had to be put away at night.

I can't wait to see stop-motion created with these. — I can’t wait to see stop-motion created with these.

I still have that Spawn figure displayed on my desk. That being said, I haven’t purchased anything resembling a toy in years, but later this year I’m afraid I’ll be going flat broke, both on Nintendo’s Amiibo’s (which I finally saw in person at SDCC), and then on the just-announced McFarlane Building Sets, which take the idea of a Lego style buildable, customizable playset, except that once it’s built, it no longer looks like a pile of bricks.

I had peeked a few images of the cool-looking building sets, but once I saw these The Walking Dead sets in person and had the awesome opportunity of listening to McFarlane passionately talking about the idea and how he came up with then, I knew that he had an absolute winner, and I knew that I’d be shelling out a lot of money on it.

As with all McFarlane Toys, the detail in each and every one of these pieces and hand-painted figures is impossible. On getting into the building toy business, Todd stated that “it’s the same reason why 20 years ago I got into the action figure business. They [toy companies] keep leaving gaps for guys like me, and the gap here is art. They’ve got the functionality down, but 20 years ago when I walked down that aisle, I asked a simple question and it was why can’t they just look cooler? That started my company. Just I don’t understand why that can’t look cooler. It’s just plastic, it doesn’t have any intelligence, it’ll go into whatever shape you put it in. Why they choose to not put it into realistic and highly detailed shapes? I don’t know, go ask them after we finish this conversation. We’ve won a lot of awards for our realistic sports figures, and the question that you guys from the media keep asking me is “Todd, how do you keep making your sports figures so realistic” but that’s the wrong question. The question should be “how for 40 years could they not?”

That was a mind-blowing, and incredibly powerful thing to hear. Just about as mind-blowing as these figures, which when assembled, look phenomenal and not-at-all like they came out of a building block set.

As mentioned, the McFarlane Building Sets will begin with products based on AMC’s The Walking Dead, though McFarlane said that they are actively exploring other IP’s as well. The first sets will launch this Fall, and be a Toys R’ Us exclusive until 2015, after which the floodgates will open and they’ll go international too.

I cannot wait to get my hands on all of these.

The ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’ Collectors Edition Is Finally Revealed

by Josh JacksonJuly 25, 2014

Remember during Sony’s E3 press conference when they announced that Sony consoles would get an exclusive Disney Infinity 2.0 collectors edition, featuring The Hulk? Well, after over a month of silence since, the package has finally been revealed, and it includes a lot more than just angry Banner.

Included in the package is the entire Avengers team from the film, including the three standard pack ins, (Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow), in addition to Captain America, Hawkeye, and of course, Hulk. The green giant will only be accessible through this package for the first month, at which point, he will be released in stores for everyone’s consumption. But who really wants to wait a month to complete the team?
And yet, that’s not all that the collectors edition has in store for us. In addition to the three extra figures, every box will come with a huge Infinity Base that doubles as a display, featuring a humongous Frost Giant in the background. Said to glow when plugged in, this base is the perfect way to both play, and display your new Marvel figures in style.

Retailing at $149.99, paying double the price for a game that already promises to eat through your wallet with its numerous characters to buy is a bit of a hard sell. Yet, if you’re planning on buying all of the characters, and they continue to retail for $12.99 each, it seems like a good idea to plunk down the extra thirty bucks or so for the base too. Plus, I’m already imagining displaying a super team to take down that giant. Frost Giant vs. Snow Queen, anyone?

In addition, the announcement also detailed a new PS3 bundle, featuring the standard starter pack and a 12gb console for $249.99, so if you have kids who want the game, but no PS3, this seems like the way to go. Too bad there aren’t any console bundles that include the collectors edition.

With so many games fighting for your dollar this holiday season, are the Frost Giant base and early access to play as Hulk enough of a reason for you to pick up this deluxe edition?

Step Onto The Red Carpet At The ‘Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods’ World Premiere

by Josh JacksonJuly 22, 2014

Just in case you haven’t heard, Dragon Ball Z is back in a big way, thanks to its first movie in over a decade, Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods. A few months back, the people at Funimation announced that the dubbed version of the film would be getting a limited theatrical run so that Z fans across the country can experience it with the big screen treatment.

We were on the red carpet of the film’s premiere in Downtown Los Angeles, and got to see all of the stars hit the scene moments before the first official screening of Funimation’s dub. Featuring voice actors Kyle Hebert, Christopher Sabat, Sean Schemmel and Mike McFarlane amongst so many others, the event definitely had that big time feel… Aside from the gift bags full of iPads. Those were oddly missing.

And in case you were wondering, the movie was amazing, thanks to some brilliant voice acting, especially in a certain scene featuring Vegeta. As our review of the film stated, Battle of Gods is much more than an hour long fight, bringing tons of humor and cameos that in my opinion, not only celebrate DBZ, but the entirety of the Dragon Ball franchise. Not bad considering series creator, Akira Toriyama, was directly involved with the development of the film.

Check out our photos from the red carpet event below, and don’t forget to check the film’s website for a growing list of theaters that will be screening the movie. Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods will run on August 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th.

NIS America Announces Two New Anime Releases For 2014

by Josh JacksonJuly 20, 2014

During a weekend full of announcements, NIS America revealed their own anime releases hitting stores in 2014.

First, Hanasaku Iroha the Movie ~ HOME SWEET HOME ~ is coming in a premium edition box on October 14. Retailing at $49.99 , the package gets you the Blu-Ray film and an art book containing interviews with the staff behind the film.

From the press release:

About the movie:

In the days before the Bonbori Festival, Ohana’s friend Yuina comes to Kissuiso for training. While cleaning up after her, Ohana discovers a logbook kept by Beans from when her mother, Satsuki, was still a youth at Kissuisso. Through the logbook, Ohana catches a glimpse of her mother’s struggles, and realizes that maybe the two of them aren’t so different after all. Meanwhile, the rest of the inn staff are caught up in dealing with a blackout.

About the extras:

– Hardcover art book (full color, 32 pages) which provides a deeper viewing experience through scene-by-scene director commentary, staff member interviews, concept sketches, and setting illustrations.
– Original Japanese commercials

Second on the list is Nyaruko: Crawling with Love! Complete Second Season, also coming in a Premium Edition package on November 11th. Promising to pile on the charm in between saving the world, this 12 episode collection will also include its own art book at $59.99 MSRP.

Check out the synopsis from the press release:

About the show:
Mahiro has become accustomed to his protection detail of Nyaruko, Kuko, and Hasuta making his life interesting. Nyaruko starts scheming with Tamao to turn up the charm and sway Mahiro’s resolve, while Kuko reconsiders her own stance on love. Things get tricky as the gang deals with a monstrous monkey, an unexpected visitor from Kuko’s past, balancing love and duty, and of course, saving the world.

About the extras:

– Nyarlathotep-tested, alien-approved hardcover art book (full color, approx. 36 pages) with episode guide, character info, and gorgeous full color illustrations.
– Clean opening and endings, Japanese trailers

For more information on either series, visit NISAmerica.com/iroha and NISAmerica.com/Nyaruko, and check back with Geekscape for more anime news, impressions and reviews!

Anime Expo 2014: The ‘Sailor Moon’ Cast Is Reunited At The 90’s Dub Panel!

by Josh JacksonJuly 20, 2014

If you’re into anime and you’re as old as I am, you probably were introduced to it by one of three shows. For me, Sailor Moon was the first series that really engrossed me while showing me that the show was more than just an early morning cartoon that aired before school. It’s overarching story, developing characters, deeper themes that went beyond what I was used to from American shows at the time, and its use of a unique type of super hero made sure that I was glued to the screen whenever that iconic song came on.

Now, years later, I’m more familiar with the name Usagi than I am Serena. I know the Sailor Scouts, (Warriors, or Senshi if you want to weeb it up), were killed, and not captured by the Doom and Gloom Girls. And I know that Rini/Chibiusa pulled a gun on Sailor Moon when they first met. Yet, despite the differences between the original dub and the original source material, DiC’s Sailor Moon will always have a special place for me, which is why it was absolutely amazing to see members of the original English cast back together again.

Out of the many activities taking place during Sailor Moon Day at Anime Expo, few were as exciting as seeing the actors many of us grew up with reminiscing on their time as the voices of these iconic characters, including how the characters shaped them in their everyday lives, when they realized the impact this show had, and a story about how Sailor Jupiter saved a house from a threatening raccoon!

Hearing the actors call out lines from the old show took me back to 1995. Take this chance to feel like a kid again and check out the panel in the videos below, then take it to the comments and tell us what your favorite parts were!

SDCC 2014: Enter To Win A Limited Edition ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Peavey Guitar!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 12, 2014

Briefly: This is so cool.

Diamond Comic Distributors has just announced an awesome contest for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con attendees. It’s a Peavey Limited Edition 2014 Comic-Con Eastman/Laird Rockmaster guitar, and it features some amazing glow-in-the-dark artwork on it.

100 of the guitars will be available for sale at the Action Figure Express booth (#3345), but at Diamond’s booth (#2401) you can enter to win one for yourself.

Check the release below for all the details, and be sure to let us know if you’ll be entering to win this one, and don’t forget to come visit us at booth #3919!

Peavey Electronics® and Diamond Comic Distributors have teamed up at the Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) to give away a Limited Edition 2014 Comic-Con Eastman/Laird Rockmaster® Glow-in-the-Dark TMNT Guitar from Peavey.

Attendees can enter to win exclusively at the Diamond PREVIEWSworld Booth #2401 starting July 23 until July 27.

The Peavey Limited Edition 2014 Comic-Con Eastman/Laird Rockmaster® guitar features officially licensed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® “Glow-in-the-dark” artwork by TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. In 1983, these two friends and comic book writers created what would become an iconic brand of pizza-eating, skateboarding, crime-fighting mutant reptiles.

The Rockmaster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle guitar has a high gloss finish on a basswood body, providing excellent balance, playability and tone. With a maple neck and rosewood fret board for fast rhythm and lead playing, plus sealed tuner gears and an adjustable bridge to keep your guitar in tune longer, this guitar is ready to rock. It also comes with a cable, strap and picks.

This Limited Edition custom guitar is available exclusively from Action Figure Express who will have the guitars on display and available to purchase for $275 at their booth #3345 during SDCC. Only 100 Glow-In-The-Dark TMNT Peavey guitars are available for sale, with each one individually hand numbered.

“This is the type of one-of-a-kind collectible that TMNT fans will be clamoring for at SDCC,” said Diamond Brand Manager Erique Watson. “Old-school Eastman & Laird art, the awesome glow in the dark feature, custom collectible packaging, and only 100 guitars available make them absolutely amazing. Seriously, when the convention floor opens, I suspect there’ll be a mad dash for this exclusive!”

Anime Expo 2014: The Classic ‘Sailor Moon’ Series Is Getting A New Box Set!

by Josh JacksonJuly 9, 2014

Since it was announced a few months back that Viz would be re-dubbing and re-releasing the entire Sailor Moon series after winning a years long bidding war for the licensing rights, Moonies have been patiently waiting for more details on when the episodes would start rolling out. Based on Viz’s Anime Expo announcement, it looks like Christmas will be a very happy time for lovers of all things magical girl.

Releasing on November 11th, the first box set will be episodes 1-23 of the first season as a double pack, spanning three DVDs and three Blu-Rays in a two sided case. In addition, each box will include an 88 page color art book, a double sized box to hold the second half when it hits shelves and art work on the back that will line up with all subsequent boxes, making a full image when season five is eventually released. If that wasn’t enough cool stuff to throw in, early preorders at rightstuf.com will come with an exclusive collectors coin while supplies last, (which will also fit in the box for those completionists out there). The price? A low, low 79.98, and I mean that will all the sarcasm I can muster.

It’s great to finally know when we can start throwing money at this thing, especially when you consider that numerous episodes, (including the entirety of the final season, Sailor Stars), have never been dubbed, or even released in the West. On the other hand, if each half season is going to be $80, there are going to be a TON of broke anime watchers in the next year or two.

Will you be picking up any of these releases? Do all the extras make it too hard to pass up, or will you wait until the final box is released? And are you anxious to find out when we’re getting dubbed Sailor Moon Crystal!?

Geekscape Games Presents: The Games of 2014

by Josh JacksonJanuary 13, 2014

If our list of the greatest games of 2013 taught us one thing, it’s that last year was a fantastic year to be a gamer. With that said, 2014 will mark the first full year that all of the now current gen consoles will be available. In addition to the continued stream of solid software for the 3DS while we STILL cross our fingers for the Vita to have a strong showing, there are plenty of games across the board that are worth getting hyped for. With that said, there are some that just can’t be ignored, which is why we’ve compiled the games you should look out for in 2014.

Watch Dogs

Starting off as one of the most anticipated games of 2013, a packed holiday season and the need for some extra development time shifted Watch Dogs into 2014. The ability to essentially hack an entire city promises to bring some fresh ideas to the sandbox genre, and with all of the videos and screenshots shown so far, this one’s looking like it’ll satisfy that action craving too.

Watch Dogs is coming to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PS4, Xbox One and PC in mid 2014.

Metal Gear Solid V

Buried under all of the controversy surrounding MGS V, (including long time Snake voice actor, David Hayter, getting the boot in favor of Kiefer Sutherland,) is another potential must own from the developers at Kojima Productions. Promising to delve deeper into the motivations of Big Boss and further detail his eventual creation of Outer Heaven, this fifth game will be the first to take the signature stealth of the series into an open world setting. Split into two parts, Ground Zeroes will come to the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on March 18th with Phantom Pain’s release date still listed as TBD.

The Elder Scrolls Online

After much rumor and speculation, The Elder Scrolls Online was finally confirmed to be a thing last year. Scheduled for a summer release, gamers will finally be able to combine their love for the environments, lore and abilities of The Elder Scrolls franchise with their slightly higher enthusiasm for berating each other in an online setting with their “vast” gaming knowledge. Get ready to pwn some n00bs starting on April 4th for PC and Mac users, while PS4 and Xbox One owners will soon follow suit in June.

Destiny

As the first outing for Bungie since breaking away from Microsoft and the Halo franchise that put them on the map, Destiny has a lot to prove. Thankfully, looking at all of the information we know about the game, it seems like it’s on the right track. Combining their FPS know-how with customizable characters, co op missions and a desolate environment, and we’re looking at what could be considered a marriage between a game like Halo and Borderlands. Destiny will land on September 9th for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

InFamous: Second Son

The first InFamous set the stage for being a super powered conduit with a city as our playground. The second allowed us to combine and expand our powers while fighting in a world where we weren’t the only one with powers anymore. Second Son is looking to build upon the legacy that Cole and company left behind with new powers, upgraded visuals and a new cast that’s truly looking to put the PS4 on the map. InFamous will release on March 21st.

Titanfall

As one of the most talked about games at last year’s E3, Titanfall seems to be the reason to make it to another year for FPS fans. Part arena shooter, part mech fighter, the game has some serious potential in the sense that it can bring a ton of new dynamics to the multiplayer shooter playground. As the first game from Respawn, the team consisting of the scorned devs formerly of Infinity Ward, (the core Call of Duty team,) Titanfall is another title that has a lot to prove, yet doesn’t seem like it will have much of a problem doing so come March 11th, exclusively to Windows, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Project Spark

One of the most impressive pieces of tech shown off at E3, Project Spark is part world builder, part action/platformer and all gorgeous. Using Smartglass technology, players can alter the world, interact with characters and mold their experience with a touch of their finger. Scheduled for a 2014 release barring any delays, Windows, 360 and Xbox One gamers can look forward to put their god playing skills to the test.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Another title that got pushed from the end of last year, Donkey Kong Country appears to be well worth the wait. Considering that Donkey Kong Country Returns was such a fantastic display of what the 2D platforming genre can do, the addition of Dixie and Cranky can only give the good people at Retro Studios even more ideas to squeeze out of the old ape. DKC: TF is coming exclusively to Wii U on February 21st.

Mario Kart 8

The success of Mario Kart Wii and MK7 prove that this series is a gaming juggernaut, selling millions upon millions of copies every time a new entry in the popular racing franchise is released. Every new version brings something new to the table, with 8 being no exception thanks to the anti gravity tracks that were shown off during its reveal. It blew us away at E3, and now we can’t wait to get our hands on the steering wheel again in a few short months. Look for Mario Kart 8 in Spring, also exclusively for Wii U.

Hyrule Warriors

At the end of 2013, Hyrule Warriors went from being completely unknown to being one of the most talked about games heading into the new year. Combining the characters, environments and weapons of The Legend of Zelda with the hack and slash game play of Dynasty Warriors did more than just raise a few eyebrows, but watching the game in action was an incredible sight that turned most of us into believers. Hyrule Warriors has a loose release date of 2014.

Bayonetta 2

Speaking of controversy, the memory of Bayonetta 2 being announced as a Wii U exclusive is still vividly burned in my memory. Despite the outcries of disloyalty, (despite the fact that the game would’ve reportedly never been possible without Nintendo’s funding,) Platinum Games seems to be providing what it’s gained that loyalty with in the first place; tight, refined game play with over the top enemies and characters. Action games don’t get much better than their offerings, and after trying out Bayo 2 myself, I’m comfortable in saying this tradition will carry on strong. Bayonetta 2 is set to arrive sometime in 2014.

Super Smash Bros.

Easily in the running for the most anticipated game of 2014, Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS will bring back the blockbuster mascot fighter to consoles AND will also mark its handheld debut. New arenas, characters, (including Megaman!) and features are sure to make Super Smash Bros a must own on almost anyone’s list. Scheduled for a vague 2014 release, we can calm our excitement with daily updates at smashbros.com… although sometimes I think it makes the wait so much worse!

Chibi Robo: Photo Finder

Another late 2013 surprise, Chibi Robo didn’t get nearly as much fanfare as Hyrule Warriors before it. Nonetheless, for a series many considered all but dead outside of Japan, seeing Photo Finder get a U.S. release date was a high note for fans of the cult Gamecube classic. Once again being tasked with bringing joy to all around it, Chibi Robo must help create a museum of artifacts by collecting your own household items. Photo Finder is available now on the eShop for an insanely low price of $10, so I suggest checking it out. Expect a full review in the coming days!

Bravely Default

As I mentioned in my preview article, Bravely Default hits all the right notes for old school RPG fans looking for a nostalgia trip. Its tough enemies, interchangeable job system and classic fantasy setting blends in well with the new features added, especially the Brave, Default and StreetPass functions. Are you an RPG and a 3DS fan? Then mark February 7th on your calendars, because Bravely Default is looking like a fantastic ride.

Yoshi’s New Island

Produced by Takashi Tezuka, the creative director of the original Yoshi’s Island, Nintendo is looking to bring the modern feel to the classic Yoshi game play in the same way New Super Mario Bros has for gaming’s most popular plumber. Coming this spring, Yoshi’s New Island is looking to kick off a great year for Mario’s noble steed, especially if Yarn Yoshi makes it into 2014 as well.

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

2014 marks the year of the gentleman with a double dose of Professor Layton. First up, the Professor, Luke and Emmy will head off towards their final showdown with Descole in Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, which will simultaneously serve as the final game of the prequel trilogy AND the reported final game of the series. With more mysteries, picarats and puzzles you can tip your top had towards, this beloved series will get the sendoff it deserves come February 28^th.

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney

The second Layton game this year will be the crossover that many have been clamoring over for what feels like forever, (myself included!) After being in localization hell for far too long, 2013 confirmed that we would FINALLY see the Ace Attorney and the Top Hat Professor team up Stateside. Combining the court room drama of Ace Attorney with the puzzle solving challenges of the Layton series, a 2014 release window means we’ll finally get to experience this dream team.

Kirby’s Triple Deluxe

Kirby’s 3DS debut is coming later in 2014 for us, but word out of Japan, (where it just released this weekend,) says that this game is a must own for platforming fans. Bringing back old and new copy abilities alike, with upgraded stage design thanks to foreground and background portions of each level, the long awaited debut of the pink puff ball on the 3DS seems like it will be worth the wait. Plus, the bonus “Kirby Fighter” mode seems like an interesting use of multiplayer, pitting Kirby against Kirby in a fight for copy ability superiority. Keep an eye out as details emerge for this title.

Soul Sacrifice Delta

As one of the better Vita exclusive games last year, it’s no surprise that Soul Sacrifice is getting a follow up with Delta. From the mind of Keiji Inafune, the father of Megaman, this “kind of, but not really” Monster Hunter clone will once again pit sorcerers against various monsters told through the journals of sorcerers of the past, but this time, players will be able to reject the gods by choosing neutral options rather than be forced to sacrifice or save fallen enemies. With a March 2014 release date in Japan, look for it to hit stateside later in the year.

Of course, there are numerous games slated for 2014 that weren’t listed here, but that’s just a testament to how great of a year this is looking to be for gamers across all platforms. Is there a game here that you think isn’t worth mentioning? How about a favorite upcoming title that we missed? Let us know below and let us know what you’re looking forward to in this upcoming year of gaming!

The 2014 Golden Globes Are Over, Here Are The Winners!

by Derek KraneveldtJanuary 12, 2014

Tonight, thousands of pretty and talented Hollywood bigwigs gathered to give recognition to the best performances, films, shorts, and television series’ of 2013. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted this year’s gathering, and though I haven’t yet watched the presentation myself (I was out seeing Her instead), I’ve read a multitude of positive thoughts on their hosting tonight.

Also, everyone (everyone) is talking about this:

So, here’s the list of your 2014 Golden Globe winners! Be sure to let us know what you thought of the ceremony in the comments below!

Best Motion Picture – Drama
12 Years a Slave

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
American Hustle

Best Actress In A Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, American Hustle

Best Actor In A Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Animated Feature Film
Frozen

Best Foreign Language Film
The Great Beauty, Italy

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Director – Motion Picture
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Spike Jonze, Her

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Alex Ebert, All is Lost

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Ordinary Love, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy
Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Best TV Series – Drama
Breaking Bad

Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Best Actress in a TV Series – Musical or Comedy
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best TV Movie or Mini-Series
Behind the Candelabra

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing On the Edge

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

There you have it! Who deserved what, and who got snubbed? Sound out below!

‘World Of Warcraft’ Movie Adaptation Moving Forward

by Shawn MaddenAugust 2, 2012

With the success of Game Of Thrones and the upcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected
Journey hitting screens later this year, it’s no surprise that Legendary are still eager to get an adaptation of the similarly themed World Of Warcraft moving along. However they hit a bit of a speed bump when Sam Raimi, who was originally set to direct, left the project recently.

Now Variety reports that a new writer has been hired to move the project forward. Charles Leavitt, who has previously penned the fantasy flick The Seventh Son for the studio. Next up for the studio is to find a new director. Legendary has quite a bit going on at the moment with numerous upcoming projects and releases so it’s pretty unlikely we would see the movie before 2014. But still this must make fans of the massively popular MMORPG very happy and they may have left their basements to run upstairs and yell out the news.

Just kidding. Kind of.

‘Ant-Man’ To Be Marvel Studios Third Major Release Of 2014!

by Shawn MaddenJuly 30, 2012

By now we have all heard about the test footage for Ant-Man that was shown at this years San Diego Comic-Con and I have been talking about this movie quite a bit in the recent months. A few weeks ago I reported that Simon Pegg had tweeted that “Edgar Wright will shoot Ant-Man next year”. And now it seems that news has been confirmed. From what I have been hearing and reading around, Marvel is going to be aiming to have Ant-Man step into Marvel’s London production branch as soon as principal photography on Thor: The Dark World wraps.

There has been a rumor for quite some time that Marvel was aiming to adding a third in-continuity film during their “Phase Two” and this would totally make sense. I mean the buzz alone on Ant-Man after Comic-Con has been ridiculous. If this all pans out expect Ant-Man to begin production around late spring/early summer 2013.

Marvel Studios Mystery Movie For 2014? ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’.

by Shawn MaddenJune 28, 2012

It’s not a suprise. After the news of Marvel filling trademarks for ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ it was obvious it was coming. But according to Latino Review (who has been pretty reliable about Marvel Studios news)…it’s coming a lot sooner than we thought. Kevin Fiege has been talking some time now about doing a space epic and now it’s coming.

For those unfamiliar with ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’, the comic first appeared in 1969 and was resurrected in 2008. The story centers on a group of alien beings in the 31st century who are each the last of their kind. They eventually travel back in time and interact with 20th century Marvel characters which would most likely be how the movie would end and tie into ‘The Avengers 2’.

It’s reported that we will get an official announcement at the Marvel Studios panel during San Diego Comic-Con in two weeks. We are also told to expect Nova and that the script is “incredible” and will lead up to ‘The Avengers 2’ in 2015. Oh and is Thanos in it? Yes. Yes he is.

Is This The First Poster For ‘Transformers 4’?

by Shawn MaddenJune 19, 2012

Cine1 has just posted an image that they are claiming to be a provisional poster for ‘Transformers 4’.

Could this be fake and fan-made? Sure. It totally could be.

Wait…has this movie even started production? No? Then why the hell am I posting this? Because this site actually has been reliable in the past and with San Diego Comic-Con less than a month away. Why wouldn’t Paramount start advertising now? Especially when their movies come out a year after the dates they originally set. I kid I kid. Kind of.

Well anyway…here it is!

Honestly as great as some of those fan posters are…this kind of looks real. And even though its not that great i’m a huge Transformers fan in general so I love everything TF related….except ‘Revenge Of The Fallen’. One of the only movies I refuse to ever see a second time. But ‘Dark Of The Moon’ was great and fun. I’m definitely looking forward to a fourth film. More Sideswipe please?

UPDATE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Reboot Pushed Back to 2014

by Shawn MaddenJune 15, 2012

For those who were looking forward to seeing the pizza loving turtles return to the big screen in 2013…I have bad news for you. THR is reporting that Paramount has decided to move the film back to 2014. This makes the third Paramount movie to get a massive delay.

Sources are claiming that the reason for the delay is due to the script which is being written by Kevin Eastman and Andre Nemec. Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans) is set to direct and the movie is being produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. Could this be like GI Joe: Retaliation where there is more to the story than is being told? I mean…what could be wrong with a TMNT script written by well…the creator?

UPDATE: Deadline is reporting now that Paramount pushed production back 10 weeks in order to cut the budget down $10-20M to $125 million. Also, the new release date is going to be May 16th, 2014.