Tag: 3DS

Geekscape 486: We Preview E3 2018 And All Those Video Games!

by Jonathan

E3 2018 is NEXT WEEK and there are so many anticipated video games and potential announcements to talk about! Luckily, Geekscape Games co-host Josh Jackson is on the show to talk through all of them with me! Is Nintendo phasing out their super successful 3DS? Can Microsoft and the XBox One earn back fans’ good will? What surprises does Sony have in store for the rest of the PS4 lifetime? How will the Let’s Go Pokemon games play out? How will the Overleague compete against Twitch viewership and what does it mean for EVO and competitive gaming? Is crossplatforming the future? Will we see anticipated titles like a new Metroid, Last of Us 2, a new Bethesda title or a Switch Animal Crossing? And this isn’t HALF of it! Thanks to our friends at Fan Guru for being a part of this episode and our E3 experience! Definitely go check them out!

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‘Detective Pikachu’ Finally Comes To America With Release Date & Amiibo!!

by The_acz

2 years ago the internet exploded after finding out about the then Japanese exclusive game Great Detective Pikachu.

A mystery detective game similar to Phoenix that takes place in the world of Pokemon with a talking deep voiced Pikachu? Sign me up! Sadly, details about a western release for the game were very quiet after its foreign release. The only real news America ever received about Detective Pikachu was that film company Legendary had acquired the rights to make a live-action/CGI hybrid film written by Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch and starring Ryan Reynolds. Thankfully, fans no longer have to wait anymore.

Yesterday morning out of the blue, The Pokemon Company announced that Detective Pikachu will officially be getting a  U.S and U.K release on March 23rd, 2018. Not only that, but the game will also release alongside the gorgeous Detective Pikachu Amiibo. The figure comes in at around 13.6CM! That’s almost half as big as the regular Smash Bros series Pikachu. With the Amiibo, users will be able to tap it to receive hints on how to solve the current mystery their investigating. 

Are you excited that this game is finally making its way to the U.S? Are you planning on buying the game, or are you done with anything having to do with the 3DS now that the Switch has been dominating the market? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below, and check out the official announcement trailer right here.

10 New Amiibo Released This Week. We Unbox All Of Them

by Josh Jackson

The past seven days have been big for amiibo collectors out there. After over a year of anticipation, the Super Smash Bros line is finally complete with the release of Cloud, Corrin and Bayonetta. If that wasn’t enough, three new Inklings hit the scene day and date with Splatoon 2, while the Pikmin themselves made their solo debut in plastic form today, lining up with the release of Hey! Pikmin on the 3DS.

As if the addiction wasn’t apparent enough, we’ve gathered all ten and have unboxed them for your viewing pleasure. Check out the video below to see them up close, and let us know which ones are your favorites in the comments! Don’t forget to subscribe! 

E3 2017: ‘Fire Emblem Warriors’ Carries Over Some Of That Hyrule Magic

by Josh Jackson

Out of the many Warriors spin-offs out there, Hyrule Warriors particularly stood out thanks to its ability to seamlessly blend traditional Zelda mechanics into the army slaying hack-and-slash action we’ve come to expect from Koei Tecmo’s series. When it came to Fire Emblem Warriors however, knowing that this series is a lot closer to the core Warriors franchise led me to believe that we would end up with a much more traditional interpretation when it was Chrom’s turn to take up his blade. Once I got some time to play the E3 build of the game for myself however, I quickly learned how wrong I was. A little bit of creativity goes a long way, which is why Fire Emblem Warriors truly surprised me with how well it blends the hectic combat with the conventions of Nintendo’s strategy RPG series.

At its core, Fire Emblem Warriors is still a Warriors game, following the decade plus tradition of using a single character to wipe out hundreds of soldiers at once. Only this time, it’s with some of the most popular characters from Nintendo’s strategy series. Playing as Marth, Chrom, Corrin, Xander, and Ryoma felt distinct despite all of them being sword wielders thanks to the attention to detail that stays true to the series. For example, Xander fights on horseback while Corrin uses her dragon transformations to compliment her fighting style, complimented by some fantastic animations that need to be seen in action. The two new characters never felt out of place either, with some amazing looking shield combos put into action. Needless to say, the game looks beautiful in motion, oftentimes looking like the jaw dropping cutscenes that the 3DS games have featured.

Visuals aren’t the only piece of Fire Emblem to make the transition. Defeating enough enemies leads to a level up, with the stats gained being random. So yes, the heartbreak of getting one point up out of a potential six or so will be felt playing through this. While it was said that the weapons triangle would be in the game, meaning certain weapons are strong and weak against others, we weren’t able to put that in action when everyone in the demo used swords. It’ll make that character swap ability to take over any ally on the field at any time important when you find yourself in an unfavorable matchup.

Or you could just bring a partner with you, since the pair-up mechanic from Awakening makes the transition here as well. By linking up with a teammate on the field, you’ll gain a variety of options, including switching on the fly, creating opportunities for double team combos, or unleashing powerful ultimate attacks that combines the might of your paired warriors. In typical Fire Emblem fashion, consistently using the same pair and constantly fighting side by side will unlock special conversations, all the way up to S-Ranks. Does this mean we’ll be able to have Marth and Lucina have some kind of weird, centuries old incest going on? I doubt it’ll go deep enough to include marriage, but it’ll be interesting to see characters who would never be able to interact otherwise like Tiki and Corrin find their way to each other.

With so much of Fire Emblem‘s identity enveloping Fire Emblem Warriors, I find myself being even more excited than I was before I played it. The attention to detail will make this feel like a truly special love letter to longtime FE fans, and if it ends up being anything like its Hyrule counterpart, then we’re going to be playing this for a long, long time. Let’s just hope the roster lives up to its potential.

Fire Emblem Warriors will go to war on the Switch and 3DS this September.

Are The Amiibo Worth Hunting For In ‘Fire Emblem Echoes’?

by Josh Jackson

All the amiibo hunters out there know the feeling running down their spine when they hear that new Fire Emblem amiibo are coming. As some of the rarest figures on the market, it’s usually a mad dash to track down Nintendo’s premiere swordfighters, as the characters have very few printings despite their series becoming one of Nintendo’s most profitable franchises. Once again, a new game asks you to track them down to use them in your game thanks to the release of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, but are they worth tracking down for it?

Early into the game, unlocking Mila’s Turnwheel gives you access to the amiibo menu, which asks you to tap the warriors from a distant time to join your battles as Illusory Heroes. Using the Marth, Roy, Ike, Lucina, Robin and Corrin amiibo, (when the latter is released,) gives Alm or Celica the added ability to summon them to the field for one turn at the cost of 10 HP. From there, the CPU takes control of your summoned warrior for one turn, allowing them to deal one powerful blow before returning to the ether.

If you ask me, (and if you aren’t why are you reading this?), the cost isn’t worth the reward. 10 HP can be what leads to a sudden game over, and considering that your main characters are the only ones that can use this ability, their deaths mean an instant game over regardless of the difficulty you’re playing on. Add to the fact that the heroes would sometimes waste their one turn by making some completely braindead moves, and you’re better off just powering through as Alm or Celica, since they’re likely to be two of your best units at any given time anyway.

But while the older amiibo aren’t very impressive, the actual Alm and Celica amiibo are much more exciting to use. Tapping them unlocks a special dungeon containing equipment that can make the early game much easier to manage. Once your main characters are powered up, you can also save their stats to make them Illusory Heroes for your game, or a friend’s game if they need an extra boost. But most importantly, these saved stats will carry over to new games, so if you want to speed run a second playthrough, saving their stats onto the amiibo and uploading them at the start of the game will help you plow through armies with your unstoppable power couple.

Aside from the game play functionality though, these amiibo are some of the best looking ones yet. Compare them to the laughably awkward looking Marth from the amiibo launch day, (also known as amiibogeddon,) and it’s clear that Nintendo upped the quality control quite a bit in the last two years. Check out the comparison for yourself.

Alm and Celica look like they’re silently judging Marth.

All in all, the old amiibo aren’t worth tracking down just to use in this game. However, the Alm and Celica figures are great additions both to the game itself and to your amiibo collection as some of the best looking ones to date. Word is they aren’t nearly as hard to find as previous Fire Emblem figures have been, so I say jump on them before they disappear.

Want to know more about the latest Fire Emblem title? Check out our full review here, and find out about all the goodies the limited edition includes over here. Let us know in the comments if you’re planning on adding this pair to your collection!

Unboxing The ‘Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia’ Limited Edition

by Josh Jackson

Fire Emblem Echoes has arrived for the 3DS! So as expected, Nintendo’s latest turn based strategy epic launched with a limited edition that left fans of the game mashing their refresh buttons for a chance to get their hands on the special release. Packaged with a soundtrack, a hardcover artbook and three pixel pins featuring Alm, Celica, and series poster boy Marth, we were able to snag one of the boxes to share with all you wonderful people. So if you were unable to get one yourself, or just wanted to see what the big deal was, take a look at our unboxing gallery below and check out all the goodies.

The unboxing begins.

The art book is loaded with detailed notes and concept art for many of the game’s cast.

The design of the CD has to be the nicest looking part of the package.

To think Celica could look any cuter.

 

The pin backings hid some cool erm… emblems.

While the CD may look gorgeous and I’m always a sucker for pins, the art book goes above and beyond the meager offerings I’ve come to expect from limited editions I’ve bought in the past, making it the highlight of the package for me. Its solid cover highlights its contents, which are filled with a decent amount of insight to accompany the evolution of the character designs. For an extra $20, it’s hard to walk away as anything but satisfied.

Check out our full review of Echoes here. Are you on the fence about picking up the amiibo for the game? Find out if they’re worth it before you go on the hunt. Let us know what your favorite items in the limited edition were in the comments!

Why ‘Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia’ Eclipses Its Predecessors

by Josh Jackson

Fire Emblem Gaiden was seen as the black sheep of the Fire Emblem series. Released on the NES exclusively in Japan, Gaiden followed the examples of other early Nintendo sequels like Zelda II, Super Mario Bros. 2 and Metroid II: Return of Samus by being so drastically different from its predecessor that it became generally shunned by those who played it. By adding towns, extra battles within dungeons, two protagonists with two different armies, and the ability to level grind rather than needing to strategically fight story battles evenly amongst your troops, many felt like Gaiden lost its edge with these new inclusions. But in a post Awakening world where making the series more accessible has led the once fledgling franchise to become one of Nintendo’s most profitable series’ someone at Intelligent Systems thought it was a good idea to bring Gaiden back in the form of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, a full remake for the 3DS. While it does lose some of the charm that made Awakening and Fates international hits, the once controversial changes add so much to the game that I’m comfortable in saying that Alm and Celica’s adventure overtakes its predecessors to become the best Fire Emblem game on Nintendo’s handheld.

Celica, my heart.

Rather than focus on one protagonist, Echoes splits the story amongst its two leads, Alm and Celica. These childhood friends become separated by mysterious circumstances, growing up in separate parts of the land as Alm continues his training as a swordsman and Celica grows to become a powerful priestess. However, fate calls for them to be reunited when an evil empire attempts to take over Valentia, forcing Alm to take up arms and defend the kingdom as Celica investigates the apparent disappearance of the goddess Mila. But as their paths intersect, the pair may not stay on the same side of the conflict.

From the opening moments teasing a shocking death as soon as you hit the start button, Echoes sucked me in immediately with its connection between its two main characters to the point of making me tear up within the first ten seconds. Staying true to its original format, the game removed the dating simulation aspects found in the other 3DS entries and replaced them with defined relationships between the cast. This might be disappointing for those who enjoyed putting their own relationships together, but the result is a much more focused set of interactions between most of the characters. Fighting alongside certain teammates will give you brief interactions between them, giving you a bit more insight into what their motivations are. Most character exposition however, is found when exploring towns, which acts as a type of investigation mode found in games like Phoenix Wright. Aside from discovering side missions from the townsfolk or usable items to help you on your journey, speaking to party members gives them deeper backstories than the somewhat trope ridden characters in Fates or Awakening. Unfortunately, this also means that the interactions are much fewer, since only characters relevant to each other’s stories can speak with each other, rather than everyone having the potential to explore their relationship. Even then, the dialogue on the battlefield can often be short to the point of being useless. It’s not perfect, but in the end, the result is tighter, more meaningful storytelling.

Alm charges into battle as the game shows off its new art style.

Despite these changes, the core game play is generally the same, but with some bold tweeks that change how battles need to be approached. The game still uses a grid based turn based strategy format, where certain types of units have strengths and weaknesses to others in a type of  feudal rock-paper-scissors. Except the weapons triangle has been done away with, performing like a more traditional RPG where stats are king. Weapons and spell books don’t break anymore, and instead have an unlimited amount of uses. Sticking with the same weapon type over time will unlock more skills, allowing you to use Arts on command at the cost of some HP. Most games in the series make these special abilities random as you battle, but allowing us to use them at will was balanced out by making them much weaker than what we’ve come to expect from our armies’ strongest attacks. I found them to be less beneficial than just using regular attacks in most cases, essentially rendering them useless.

The biggest change in combat however, has to be how mages are handled. Rather than losing their spells over time, casting spells now costs HP, making an already fragile character type even more susceptible to being killed on the battlefield after a bad move. Thankfully, they come off as much more powerful than normal in most cases, which makes using them a high risk, high reward type of unit. But if this isn’t your style, Alm’s side of the army allows you to customize your first few units any way you want. You’ll just want to be careful and avoid creating weaknesses in your composition, since these choices will follow you through the rest of the game.

Once you have your armies in order, you’ll have numerous opportunities to put them to the test. Lengthy story battles, optional battles on the map, and full 3D dungeons for you to explore each give you opportunities to raise the strength of your soldiers. Dungeons in particular add a few unique mechanics, allowing you to attack enemies on the field in real time, destroy objects for hidden silver, (which never gets old), and a fatigue system where fighting multiple battles without leaving leads to your characters to slowly dip in strength. These areas were the highlight of Echoes’, giving us something new to do in between the constant battles. Hidden items, well springs that let you raise particular stats, and side quests that lead to some powerful gear make you want to explore every inch of these dungeons, giving you the opportunity to get stronger while you’re at it.

Celica summoning her flame to explore is one of my favorite animations.

Which is why story battles can have severe spikes in difficulty, which is one of the game’s most glaring faults. I’ve said it before in other games, but there’s little more frustrating than being able to steamroll one army, then get completely destroyed by the next one. Echoes can be especially bad at this, where at times, a single boss unit can wipe out your whole team right after they mopped the floor with his cronies. Using the ability to level grind as a type of crutch makes moments like these a chore to get through, especially when you’re anxious to see the next page in the story turn as opposed to fighting pointless battles for a few hours before you can advance. Not to mention that the dreaded random stat boosts return with a vengeance, meaning your characters can be rewarded for that hard work with next to no benefit. In a series that already has issues with having little to do outside of constant battles, forcing the need to grind only makes the problem all the more apparent.

Luckily, Mila’s Turnwheel, a new item that allows you to rewind time when you screw up a turn, can be a literal godsend during these overwhelming moments. What will surely be the new big controversy among the portion of the fanbase who thought that adding a casual mode that eliminated the game’s trademark permanent death mechanic hurt the franchise, the Turnwheel allows you to rewind time so you can redo multiple turns. Giving you step by step reminders of what happened during each move, the game makes it really easy to find where your error was and make a different move, whether or not it was one turn ago, or ten turns ago. You can only use it a limited number of times per battle, keeping it from being completely overpowered, but if you ask me, this can only be an improvement for the series going forward. Making it all the way to the end of a battle only to miss an attack or have the opponent hit a critical at the last second, eliminating an hour plus of progress, was one of the most frustrating parts of playing Fire Emblem, so allowing us to rewind single turns instead of having to start all over is a huge plus. Besides, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it. It’s a win-win!

Mila’s Turnwheel has saved me more than I care to admit.

Controversies aside, Echoes‘ biggest flaw is its map design, which often consists of big, open fields during the first half of the game. As a problem that Awakening had while Fates was much more consistent when it came to decent maps, it’s disappointing to see such flat areas that end up coming down to which army makes the first stupid mistake. This becomes less of a problem late game, with some incredibly taxing layouts that can take an hour plus to complete. Yet, once you’re able to start taking down fortified castles full of snipers, armored knights and summoners, then work your way up to the castle’s boss without any losses on your side, it’s an amazingly rewarding experience. It just takes about 10-15 of the game’s 40 hours to get to that point.

You’ll have to sift through some plain maps before getting to more interesting ones like these.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia still comes off as an experimental mixed bag of ideas, many of which remain bold choices in the face of popular entries like Awakening. Not everyone will like the removal of marriages, children, the weapons triangle or the more detailed interactions among the entire cast. But what we gain in the process is a more focused story, better developed characters in most cases, a variety of side quests and extra areas that aren’t usually found in the series, and full 3D dungeons that break up the monotony of constant fighting. It isn’t without its flaws, namely its insistence on level grinding and some poor map design in the early game, but overall, Echoes brings enough common sense ideas to the table that make it the best entry on the 3DS. If the upcoming Switch entry can keep a Mila’s Turnwheel-esque mechanic to let us redo turns, bring back more detailed dungeons to fight our way thorough, and figure out a way to have the openness of the relationship system without constraining the story, and Fire Emblem fans will have plenty to look forward to in 2018. Until then though, Shadows of Valentia is an engaging substitute. It’s safe to say that Alm and Celica’s adventure has risen out of its black sheep status to stand tall as one of the series’ finest.

tl;dr

+ A much more focused, engaging story.

+ The inclusion of dungeons provides a much needed break from combat, with secret items and areas to discover.

+ Mila’s Turnwheel keeps unlucky moves from being a demoralizing mess.

+ Victory is as rewarding as always.

– The early game is full of flat, boring maps.

– Side character interaction has been severely dumbed down.

– Difficulty spikes seemingly come out of nowhere.

– The changed combat systems are more trouble than they’re worth.

Final Score: 4/5

‘Pokemon Ultra Sun’ And ‘Ultra Moon’ Take Us Back To Alola On November 17

by Josh Jackson

It looks like we’re getting our Pokemon Sun and Moon sequels, just not in the way many of us were hoping.

During the Pokemon focused Nintendo Direct, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were revealed for the 3DS. Arriving on November 21st, they didn’t give us a whole lot of information to sink our teeth into. What we do know is that the game will once again take place in Alola, serving as an alternate story to the original. New Pokemon will be featured, but we don’t know if that means we’ll get brand new Pokemon, new Alola versions of old Pokemon, or straight up old characters are being added to the region. The only new Pokemon we did see were versions of the cover legendaries, Solgleo and Lunala, fused with #300 itself, Necrozma. What this means for the story, we have no idea, but it’s looking like the first game’s tale might not play into this one at all. Is it an alternate telling or set years apart? Hopefully we’ll find out more at E3.

I can’t say that I’m all that excited since we just came off of Alola and the original games a little over six months ago, but I’m going to keep an open mind and hope The Pokemon Company can wow me in the days leading up to its relatively close release date. It may not be on the Switch, but more Pokemon can’t be a bad thing, right?

This news follows the reveal of Pokken Tournament DX for the Switch and Pokemon Gold and Sliver for the 3DS virtual console. So we will be getting Pokemon on the Switch, just not in the way many of us were hoping.

Adam and I had plenty to say about the originals in our audio review, But I want your thoughts on these sequels. Are you ready for more Pokemon action, or is it too soon for sequels? Does this mean that the idea of a “third” version is dead and gone? Would you have rather had more time in between releases to possibly put these on the Switch instead? And does anyone else think the names sound incredibly bland? Fast forward to the end of the trailer below to catch all the footage we have, and let’s get the discussion started in the comments!

‘Pokemon Gold’ And ‘Pokemon Silver’ Will Shine Again On 3DS This September

by Josh Jackson

Outside of the Pokken Tournament DX and Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon reveals during the latest Nintendo Direct, there was one last surprise that sneaked into the tail end of the presentation. Following the success of the original Red Blue and Yellow on the 3DS Virtual Console in 2016, Pokemon Gold and Silver, their Game Boy Color sequels, will get their own retro revival on September 22, day and date with Pokken‘s Switch release.

Hailed by many as one of the greatest Pokemon generations of all time, Gold and Silver introduced many of the mechanics that have become mainstays in the years since, including breeding, berries, the ability for Pokemon to hold items, shiny Pokemon, special Poke Balls, the Special Attack and Special Defense split, and the debut of the steel and dark types. Some features like the Pokegear, which let you arrange rematches with trainers you’ve defeated, play a radio to manipulate encounter rates, and the day and night cycles where different Pokemon might appear depending on when you play have either been lost in time, or have sporadically popped in and out of the games, but with how much these sequels toyed with the mechanics, it’s no wonder why it’s so fondly remembered. Oh, and did I mention that you can revisit most of the map from the first game too? Why hasn’t that happened since!?

Like the previous Virtual Console release, these titles will also be Pokemon Bank compatible, meaning you’ll be able to transfer what you catch into Pokemon Sun and Moon, and presumably Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. But remember, you can’t transfer them back, so don’t let go of anything that Johto is too attached to!

Who else will be sitting in front of the eShop refreshing their screen this September? As my second favorite generation, I’m very excited to have a reason to play these again. Let us know what your favorite Gold and Silver moments are below!

Geekscape Games Review: ‘Blaster Master Zero’: A Blast From The Past!

by The_acz

Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch
Also Available For: Nintendo 3DS

Review Copy Provided by Publisher

MSRP: $9.99 

After almost 30 years since the original NES game, and a handful of sequels that seemed to lose sight of what the series was, Blaster Master Zero is a great return of an old series that seems to have been forgotten in the last couple of years, and we couldn’t be happier for its return.

Blaster Master Zero serves almost as a reboot of the series, but also a sequel of sorts. Your goal remains the same though as you’ll once again be guiding Sophia III through 8 metroidvania inspired areas as you blast your way through a variety of enemies and bosses all in the name of trying to find your pet frog Fred. The story is full of camp and pretty cheesy, but it does the job and is pretty enjoyable throughout the game’s 10 Hour campaign. 

One of the best things about BMZ is its art style. Developer Inti Creates did an amazing job on the sprite work. All the areas you remember from the original Blaster Master are here and they’re looking just as vibrant and colorful as ever. Same can be said for the characters as they look great during cinematic cut-scenes and even in their portraits.  Music is also very nice as the tracks are all updated versions of the original music, and don’t stay their welcome too long as by the time a track is starting to wear on you, you’ll already be in another area with a new song.

One of the most notable things about the Blaster Master series is the gameplay shift that happens when you exit Sophia to enter a dungeon area. All of a sudden the gameplay shifts to a top down side scroller with a completely different arsenal at your side. you start off with a basic blaster, but can constantly upgrade your gun by picking up power ups dropped by enemies, although you can easily lose those upgrades if you get hit too much. This makes for an initial approach that encourages being more methodical during boss encounters than just run and gun. 

As stated earlier, the game is in the metroidvania genre. This means you’ll be re visiting previous areas multiple times, but finding new paths through them thanks to the great variety of weapons and sub weapons you receive from defeating bosses. Can’t reach a dungeon because you can’t jump underwater? Get through the next couple of areas and then return later. Another nice touch with the game is that just like its NES counterpart, the game doesn’t bombard you with tutorials and instructions like a lot of modern games love doing. When you start the game you’re thrown into the world without hesitation. Don’t worry though, you can always check the controls in the pause menu by pressing -, and later you can even get hints from your assistant Eve on the sub menu screen with +.

Sadly the game is far from perfect and has a couple of notable issues. While at first its smart to be more methodical with the top down gameplay as to not lose your weapon upgrades, this becomes an issue later on in the game as you can easily collect a power-up that allows you to take damage without losing an upgrade. This would be fine, but the recharge rate on the shield is a bit too fast. As a result, not only will you be plowing your way through dungeons with the most powerful upgrade, but this also causes boss battles to be way too easy and a bit anti climactic. 

Not only that, but some of the bosses are also nothing but a variety of regular enemies that constantly spawn in a room, and there’s a bit too much for us. The ending of the game also suffers as it pulls a pretty dirty trick on the player at the end of the game. Let’s just say that you’ll be wanting to 100% the game on your first run through. 

Overall, Blaster Master Zero is a great comeback for the series, and we wouldn’t be opposed to seeing the franchise return for a couple of more games. While the bosses, and final act of the game do weigh it down a bit, the game is still tons of fun to play and experience. If you’re a Blaster Master fan or even a newcomer to the series, don’t hesitate to strap into Sophia III and get blasting.

Final Verdict: ★★★★ 

Geekscape Presents: The Top 16 Gaming Waifus Of 2016

by Josh Jackson

We owe so much to our waifus, who often give us sad, lonely gamers love when reality shuns us. Pay your respects by checking out our lists from years past!

2014

2015

But anyway, off to the present!

WARNING: Potential spoilers for every game listed. Unless you’ve finished them or don’t care, skip the entries you’re worried about before you yell at me.

2016 has drawn to a close, which means it’s time to evaluate all of the top gaming waifu candidates for the past year. We at Geekscape take this process very seriously, which is why this year’s list has made its way to your screens a little later than in previous years. Because we always aim to deliver as the authority on all things waifu, (and because of how indecisive I am), this year’s list is the biggest one yet! Upping the tally to a massive 16, this year was a fantastic year for female characters, memorable companions and the downright freaky. Ranging from the sweet to the sadistic, the gamers to the inanimate objects, and from mechs to movie stars, here are the top 16 gaming waifus of 2016! But first…

Honorable Best Girls:

Ayane (Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 / Senran Kagura: Estival Versus)

Ayane will always hold a special place in my heart as one of my favorite video game characters of all time. Brought up as an outcast who was forced to live in the shadow of her half sister due to being a child born from rape, her resentment reflected through her relentless tactics as a master ninja. Often aiding Ryu Hayabusa throughout his missions, she’s shined as a co-protagonist in the Dead or Alive series over the years. I’m not the only person she’s left an impression on, appearing in both Dead or Alive Xtreme 3, and Senran Kagura: Estival Versus as a guest DLC character! While she had no prominent roles throughout the year, her growing popularity makes her worthy of a mention. Now if only Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water had released in 2016, that might have been enough to push her into the list proper as a guest in that game as well, but unfortunately, butt bumping and volley ball can only get you so far here.

Marie Rose (Dead or Alive Xtreme 3)

Speaking of Dead or Alive, I can’t mention 2016 without the unprecedented rise of Marie Rose. A newcomer to the DOA scene, she gets a tip of the hat due to her winning a fan poll that not only got her into Xtreme 3, but got her the cover of the game itself! It’s impressive enough as a new character, but considering she’s the only “Justice” character in a game full of “Plot”, it’s great to see such diversity shine through in the formerly rigid world of Dead or Alive.

Elena Fisher (Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End)

Elena *SHOULD* have been on the main list. She’s brave, daring, doesn’t take any crap, and manages to keep a carefree soul like Nathan Drake in line… Most of the time. But boy, did her chances fall apart when she forgave Drake so easily for lying to her about going on another adventure despite the two settling down after all of ten minutes. C’mon, at least punch his face in or kick him in the dick! Anything other than what happened. So we still love you, Elena. Just don’t take any more crap!

Shantae (Shantae: Half Genie Hero)

Shantae is FAR too kind to the citizens of Sequin Land. As their guardian genie, she’s always protecting its citizens for little thanks, to the point where the mayor is constantly trying to fire her. Half Genie Hero is a more personal adventure for the half genie, as she tries to find ties to her mother in the Genie Realm. While it hurts not to put her on the list, she really needs to put her foot down and stop letting herself be mistreated. Maybe we can impeach the mayor? Can you do that to a mayor?

UltraDimension Neptune / Big Neptune (MegaDimension Neptune VII)

More Nep is always a good thing, especially when you have two in one game. This dual blade / pistol wielding version of our 2014 runner up has all the personality of Nep proper, but without the CPU powers. This means as a human, she can age and grow in order to earn her nickname of Big Nep. She can hop dimensions and catch bugs with the best of them,but she’s not on the list because of her convoluted plan to infiltrate the bad guys from inside their group, which in typical Neptune fashion, fails spectacularly. This led to me being forced to fight her outside of non-cannon material, and I NEVER want to have to fight Nep if I can help it. She’s far too precious, and I don’t appreciate the trauma.

And so, without further ado…

16. Iris Amicitia (Final Fantasy XV)

Yes, I know that Final Fantasy XV hammers home the idea that Noctis and Luna are destined to be together, and in a way, that’s true. But for the short amount of time that she’s with you, Iris is much higher on the quality waifu scale than The Oracle ever was. She can’t die in battle, she constantly keeps you healed when your friends are bumbling around taking pictures, she gives you items that distract enemies, and she apparently becomes a bad ass monster hunter, (off camera!) Oh, and she’s cute as all hell!

But aside from her cuteness, she’s a go-getter who takes what she wants. I mean, some might call her a homewrecker for blatantly flirting with a guy who’s on his way to get married, but I call her assertive! In retrospect, considering that Luna was destined to die and knowingly led Noct into a situation where he would also be killed, all under the guise of him getting married to her, he was better off with Iris. Even if that meant having that asshole, Gladio, as your brother in law. And you know what? I felt more than justified when I took a picture of her to admire in the afterlife to distract me from being stick with Luna for all eternity. And she’d be much higher on this list if she had more screen time.

15. Those damn stained glass mirrors (The Last Guardian)

The Last Guardian could be an insanely frustrating game to play, mostly because Trico was literally programmed to only listen to your commands when he felt like it. But there was one thing that your dog / bird / snake… thing, would stop in its tracks for. Those stupid stained glass mirrors!

Your character claims that Trico was “scared” of them, but when’s the last time you saw someone blow kisses out of fear? Much like when your best friend meets that new girl, these are constantly getting in between your bro time with your companion. However, it might be a bit of an overreaction to cope with this new life change by shattering your competition into a million pieces, but it’s not like anything else makes sense in the game. Besides, if you saw Trico make that kiss face where he grows lipstick with his pink eyes, you’d do what you could to make it disappear as fast as possible.

14. Chun-Li (Street Fighter V)

Let me start out by saying that without Chun-Li, there probably wouldn’t be a waifu list. As the first character I picked in Street Fighter II back when I was five years old because of how unique she looked compared to the otherwise all male cast, she became my very first “main”. I also ran into my first “rage quitters” in the form of high schoolers that would poke me as a distraction until I lost to Sagat because I kept beating them in our matches.

Anyway, I would love nothing more to strap a rocket onto the self proclaimed “Strongest Woman in the World” and launch her up the list simply because she’s still my primary pick in Street Fighter V all these years later. But with all things considered, she’s pretty terrible in the game’s story mode, constantly getting beaten by characters she should be able to handle. Hardly fitting for a character of such caliber, but at least she enjoyed the top tier for awhile!

13. Mai Shiranui (The King of Fighters XIV / Dead or Alive 4 Last Round)

It pains me to put Mai above Chun-Li because she’s the antitheses of everything Chun is. Mai was also the first lady of Fatal Fury, but rather than being noticed for her martial arts skills or interesting backstory, she’s mostly known for her uncontrollable breasts that may or may not be independently living entities. (En-titties?) Anyway, I won’t let my personal distaste for her character get in the way of the scientific process of determining the top waifus of the year, and Mai had an incredible 2016. As one of the characters leading the revival of the King of Fighters franchise, her strong loyalty to Andy Bogard still holds true. But while being a character in an ensemble fighting game may not be enough, being a guest character in Dead or Alive, a game that might not exist in its current form if Mai never “busted” onto the scene all those years ago, helps things come full circle in a way. Not to mention that she’s always been fun to play!

So enjoy your time in the spotlight, Ms. Shinarui. You’ve earned it!

12. Ditto (Pokemon Sun / Pokemon Moon and Pokemon Go)

Despite being an E rated game geared towards children, Ditto is the one that trainers around the world go to when they want a good time. As the most accepting waifu on this list, Ditto can be anything you want it to be. Do you want a beast? Field? How about a Water 2? If you want it, Ditto’s got it, regardless of whether or not you “get along,” or “don’t like each other very much”. This trait is both a blessing and a curse for the purple blob, making its reliability a sought after trait, while its promiscuity is something we’d rather avoid. When you have a waifu who would reproduce with its own kids if given the chance, you might need to be a bit careful around this one, even if you owe your competitive team to it.

11. Arnice (Nights of Azure)

Arnice is a holy knight who ironically became half monster. Partaking on a mission to an isolated land that’s overrun with monsters, she takes up the task of ridding monsters from the land by employing the assistance of monsters herself. But one doesn’t just invade a beast infested land for the hell of it. Arnice uses her strength to protect the one closest to her, who in this case, is her best friend, Lilysse. Often hinted at having a relationship that is more than platonic, their story tilts towards the tragic side, considering Lilysse is a saint who’s destined to be the key to eliminating the blue blood that fuels the monsters by destroying it’s source. Except Arnice also carries the blood of the Ruler of the Night, so doing so would destroy her as well. Knowing that each enemy slain is one closer to her potential death, Arnice marches on, setting her safety aside for the benefit of her friend.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Arnice has one of the best designs out of anyone on this list, so that always helps!

10. E-Sha (MegaDimension Neptunia VII)

Gold Third is a group of four humans that were given power that rivals the Goddesses of Gamindustri. Each one represents a major third party, consisting of C-Sha, (Capcom), K-Sha, (Konami), B-Sha, (Bandai Namco), and S-Sha, (Square Enix). So where does E-Sha come into play? As you learn more about S-Sha’s past, it turns out that she’s made up of two former rivals who fused in order to ensure both of their survival. As a parallel to the stoic and cold S-Sha, (who shares her attacks, design and quotes with famous characters like Cloud and Squall), E-Sha is much more caring and compassionate. After all, it takes a special kind of girl to keep their biggest rival alive when they’re knocking on death’s door.

She was too pure for this world… So she left it.

As an obvious parallel to the real life merging of Squaresoft and Enix to form Square-Enix, E-Sha ends up being an underappreciated member of the cast considering S-Sha’s usually the personality in control. Still, with such a selfless attitude and some hilarious Dragon Quest inspired attacks to boot, we’re making sure that Ms. Enix gets her due.

9. Renka (Senran Kagura: Estival Versus)

Senran Kagura is a bizarre game to explain. As most probably know by now, its premise is to have high school ninjas fight as their clothes come off in creative and absurd ways. Yet, the narrative of each game tends to be more and more serious, somehow asking you to form an emotional connection with these characters as they stand around nude.

However, Renka manages to do a good job making a connection despite her tattered outfit. As one of the new characters introduced in Estival Versus, Renka is the eldest of the three Mikagura Sisters who serve as priestesses with the power to help bring people back from the dead. Competing against the Hanzo, Hebijo and Crimson Squads in the hopes of getting their wish granted at the end of the festival, the trio secretly wants to draw out a mysterious figure who led them to a cave right before their village was slaughtered, leaving them as the only survivors. But when she’s not carrying that uncharacteristically heavy burden, Renka was easily the most fun to play with, using electric taiko drums as her key weapon. When she’s not squaring off with dangerous ninjas, she’s drawing faces on her stomach and dancing to entertain her firework obsessed sister to keep her from literally exploding.

The game leaves that tidbit about the village slaughter and the mystery person up in the air, so I’m hoping we see Renka and her sisters down the road.

8. Lusamine (Pokemon Sun / Pokemon Moon)

Lusamine is someone who loves hard. Way too hard, some might say. So hard that she’ll abandon her children, create what’s surely a multi-million Poke yen dollar research organization, absorb a criminal gang into said organization, and use all of her resources to draw out otherworldly beings that could potentially destroy the planet just for the chance to see the object of her affection one more time. But in the end, after assimilating with a jellyfish monster and trying to kill her son, daughter and their friends, it all came from a good place! She just became a tad obsessed after her researcher husband vanished while investigating the Ultra Beasts. Now that’s real dedication! I mean, who needs THE world when YOUR world is no longer in it?

Thanks, Lusamine. Most people see you as an evil and neglectful villain, but I appreciate you.

7. BT-7274 (Titanfall 2)

Much like Ditto, BT isn’t necessarily a male OR female, so I’ll just draw my own conclusions. Turning the tables as what most would consider from a waifu, BT protects YOU, who is the one that is too pure for this world. It’s a nice change of pace to have your smile protected for once. This abandoned Titan who’s pilot was killed during a pivotal battle quickly takes you under its wing, adapting its abilities to help protect you while either giving you direct control, or fighting alongside you as true partners in arms. As the only waifu on this list that you get to be inside of, BT also doesn’t take kindly to other Titans moving in on you, who has the somewhat concerning habit of tearing their insides out and taking their abilities so it will be everything you might have loved about them. When push comes to shove though, BT cares the most about your well being, which is why it pulls an Iron Giant during the final moments of the game while taking his spot alongside Terminator X John Connor as one of the greatest robot and human ships in all of fiction. But like a long lost ex, it seems like BT will find a way back to you if the post credits scene means anything.

6. Athena Asamiya (The King of Fighters XIV)

The ultimate idol of the SNK universe, Athena has always been one of my favorite characters ever. Once again referencing Chun-Li, Athena was my King of Fighters equivalent, serving as my main for 22 years now. This hasn’t changed in King of Fighters XIV, with such a wide variety of moves that constantly keep opponents guessing. But when she’s not fighting, singing, or hitting fans with Psycho Balls in the face as a contest prize, she has so much more significance. As the reincarnation of the goddess Athena who starred in her own game back in the 80’s, this version of Athena has starred in its follow up, Psycho Soldier, and a lesser known survival horror game. Her profession as a singer comes from her game being the first one to feature vocalized lyrics in video game history, making her somewhat of an icon in the industry.

But that has nothing to do with 2016. What DOES have to do with it is how strong of a fighter she still is after all these years, all without having aged a day. And I mean this literally, since I’m pretty sure she’s been in high school for 30 years now. Either that, or she’s far more interested in fighting than studying.

5. Marie (Splatoon)

It’s unprecedented for a waifu to make this list twice in a row, but Marie earned it. Last year, she landed at the number two spot alongside her partner, Callie. This year, a rift came between the Squid Sisters, asking players to choose between the two for the final Splatfest. When the ink settled and all the kid squids went home, Marie barely edged out her sister to become the ultimate victor. The sarcastic bad cop to Callie’s overabundant good cop took the win graciously, alongside other milestones such as having her own amiibo made and her return announced, (possbily alone), for what would eventually become known as Splatoon 2. Apparently, the final Splatfest was like Highlander, where there could be only one since Callie has yet to be seen. Anyway, I may have voted for the purple squid, but if this Splatfest would have happened a few months later, I would have been Team Marie all the way! But more on that later…

4. D.Va (Overwatch)

Some waifus become waifus because they have incredible personalities, a strong resolve, an undeniable cuteness, or make perfect companions. Others are designed specifically as waifu bait, carefully crafted to specifically appeal to the sad, lonely gamers of the world. D.Va falls on the latter side of that spectrum, and I took the bait hook, line and sinker. She’s a young, attractive professional Starcraft player who’s skills landed her a gig in the South Korean military as one of the only people in the country with the reflexes to fight the perceived Onmic threat. And did I mention she fights by piloting a mech that’s sponsored by Blizzard?

But sometimes, you and your waifu just click, and that’s what happened when I first hopped into that bunny robot and captured my first point in Overwatch. With 53 hours and counting, 440 wins under our belt, and all the obnixious voice lines I could purchase, this is a relationship that keeps on delivering. We did well even in the dark ages of D.Va, when her Defense Matrix wasn’t togglable and her Self Destruct Ultimate killed her if she was in its blast radius, but every since Blizaard decided they no longer wanted to sponsor someone so vulnerable, they used their pull to boost her up. Now, we can protect teammates, eat damage, rush the point and push the payload in ways that surely frustrate our foes to no end. And even without the mech, Zero Suit D.va is no slouch herself, becoming a medium range shooter that can deal the damage quickly. Sure, I may have dabbled a bit with my side chicks like Mercy and Pharah, but I always come crawling back to Queen B.Va when it’s time to get serious. So while “WaifuWatch” has plenty of incredible female characters, making this list was easy mode for the gaming goddess.

3. Uzume Tennouboshi (The Neptunia Series)

As the newest CPU on the block, Uzume already had her foot in the door by being the Neptunia representative for the Dreamcast, one of my favorite consoles of all time. But even without being loved by association, Uzume has something special that even the best CPUs seem to lack. Her combination of toughness, her strong sense of duty, and the fact that in her world, she’s the only goddess left alive while protecting Gamindustri all by herself, what you’re left with is one of the best characters out of any game in the franchise. Alongside her companion / Seaman knock-off, Umio, the two have rounded up the remaining monsters and serve as their protectors while Ms. Tennouboshi does all she can to find a way to restore peace to Planeptune.

Obsessed with all things cool, this attitude hides the fact that she’s a girly girl at heart. As with the rest of the goddesses, her true nature shines through when she transforms into her CPU form, Orange Heart. While she may take up a much sweeter personality, her powerful fists and trusty megaphone still get the job done, and eventually saves her world not once, but twice over the course of the game! When your main antagonist ends up being the bitter version of yourself that formed when people didn’t accept the Dreamcast, it goes to show that your awesomeness can’t be contained in a single body.

Then again, whether or not Uzume survives the conflict is up to the decisions you made throughout the game. But even if she bit the dust in your playthrough, that wouldn’t be the last we saw of Orange Heart this year. Appearing in three different games, this just might be the most appearances for a single character in their debut year! MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune vs. Zombies brought her into the action game realm, while SuperDimension Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls had her literally square off against Dreamcast in the Vita’s crossover RPG. But no matter how you played as her, we’re really hoping we see the return of Planeptune’s crimson savior again in 2017.

2. Tsubasa Oribe (Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE)

Imagine that one day, you’re a normal high school girl who wants nothing more than to enjoy her latest Kiria album while trying to win a talent contest to become a Japanese Idol, all to find clues on the whereabouts of your missing sister. Then all of a sudden, you’re pulled into an alternate universe where entertainment is a source of energy, and you fuse with an ancient Pegesus Knight to become a warrior that protects the world from this Mirage threat under the guise of a singer. Sounds like a normal day in Japan, but this was the start of what would become one of the most creative game premises of the year.

But between traversing dangerous dungeons and teaming up with legendary Fire Emblem characters while teaching them the virtues of song and dance, this game was mostly about Tsubasa’s growth as a performer and as person. She’s klutzy, she’s not the most reliable and she can be a bit dim. But each and every time she was thrown into the deep end in an industry that she had zero familiarity in, she pulled through when it mattered the most. Whether she was asked to become an all star model, a television actress, or star in the latest soda commercial, the pressure of knowing that the world could end if you failed would break weaker waifus.

Tsubasa’s growth makes Tokyo Mirage Sessions a pleasure to play though.

Tsubasa isn’t a weaker waifu. Even if that meant she had to endure verbal abuse, face down towering monsters and fight side by side with those she looks up to, she always found a way to push through. Even when that included learning how to be seductive by talking to a stray cat. And in the end, she stood tall as a peer next to titans of the industry, all while fighting alongside Caeda, her high school friend, Itsuki, and by extension, Marth, to put the Shadow Dragon down once more. But what’s most impressive about Ms. Oribe is her ability to be laugh out loud hilarious, incredibly sincere and extremely dedicated, to the point where it felt so rewarding to finally see her come into her own as an artist. Seeing her go from her debut performance:

To her final performance:

It feels like the culmination of a long journey that you took alongside her, even if she technically went from an unknown to a national superstar in a few months. With all this considered, I had a hard time deciding who would be numbers two and three on the list, but with these factors in mind, Tsubasa’s perseverance more than deserved to stand above all the rest. Well, all except one.

We’ve counted down fifteen incredible waifus, showing that 2016 had no shortage when it came to some fantastic female, (and not so female), characters. But there can only be one who sits on the top shelf, so this year’s Best Girl deserves nothing short of an introduction worthy of Hollywood. So here to present our winner is 2015’s Waifu of the Year, Nepgear.

So without further ado, the 2016 Waifu of the Year goes to…

1. Eleonora Yumizuru (Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE)

What can I say about Ellie that can encompass how beyond exceptional she is in almost every way? In battle, she’s a powerhouse who can use her expert archery skills to instant kill entire fields of enemies, even when caught in a normally difficult Savage Battle. Story wise, she acts as a mentor for her less experienced peers despite being slightly younger than they are age wise. And there aren’t many people out there that can provide better advice when it comes to all things acting, considering that she’s a consummate professional who takes her career aspirations very seriously.

You see, Ellie is often misunderstood, with her no nonsense attitude often mistaken for the stereotypical “tsundere” trope often found in anime and games. But much like every aspect of Tokyo Mirage Sessions, it takes these cliche ideas and adds enough depth to make you really feel for these characters. Ellie might be the best example of this, as you get to know her through your mock “dates” as she prepares for more romantic roles. Unforunately for her, she stands out in Tokyo as a biracial actress, which makes her feel uncomfortable in her own skin. As someone with comes from a mixed background, this resonated with me far more than I ever expected from a silly game about singers fighting demons. But something about her interactions felt so real, because it’s not like being biracial even hinders her. She’s not discriminated against… In fact, it’s implied that she gets more opportunities because of how “beautiful” and “unique” she is. Hell, even the character designer said she was his favorite character to design since she has this air of beauty and elegance about her. But the experience doesn’t have to be negative or malicious to make you feel like an outsider. Sometimes, it’s when you know that the person isn’t trying to hurt you that hurts most of all.

It’s hard to explain without living through it, but just knowing that someone sees you as different because of something you can’t control just makes you feel… Wrong? Always on the outside looking in? So she works so hard to become recognized as an actress to the point where she’s obsessed with Hollywood. Because she sees Hollywood as a land of opportunity with so many different kinds of people that she’ll just be “normal” once she becomes a big Hollywood actress. Not half Japanese and not half Scandinavian, but just an actress. So she drinks their smoothies, she accepts nothing but perfection, and she won’t allow herself to ever be second best. And yet, through all of that, she always takes the time to lift those up around her to be as great as she wants to be, even if that means she has to push herself harder. When you wrap up her side missions and you see her dreams come true, finishing the battle against the Mirages so she can star in her Hunger Games knockoff in Hollywood with no regrets, I was so proud to see success for this fictional girl that I had known for about 30 hours.That’s not just top waifu material, but top character material, so while Ellie is admittedly relatively unimportant to the main plot, her path to acceptance and the eventual realization that home lies less with where you are and more with who you are with is one that will stick with me for a long time.

I’ve been struck by cupid’s arrow. <3

Part of the reason why this article is later than in past years is part of me felt weight under the idea that this entry was more than just a silly waifu blurb, and was instead a deeply personal attachment that I don’t think I’ve ever felt in any form of fiction before. Because I saw myself and some of my own life experiences in her struggles, so I feel like I’ve been there before.  Looking back… I think I did as well as I could have! So here’s to you, Ms. Yumizuru. Here’s to hoping we meet again down the road.

So there it is! After a full year, more games than I’ve played in a long time, and 5000 words, here is your 2016 waifu of the year! To celebrate this grand occasion, here’s an extended cut of Dream Catcher, the collaboration between Ellie and Tsubasa where the pair do their best Callie and Marie impressions to the tune of Splatoon‘s Calamari Inkantation.  The top two waifus of the year dressed as 2015’s runners up singing a song reminiscent of the final boss theme from 2015’s game of the year? What better way to send us off?

Special thanks to the talented FantasyGodiva, who put this extended cut together. Make sure you check out her channel for even more videos and walkthroughs!

Share your waifu picks below and tell me how much you hate my list! I’m not scared, I’ll protect my waifus to the death.

So Tsubasa, Eleonora… Play us off!

Alm And Celica Amiibo Are Launching Side By Side With ‘Fire Emblem Echoes’

by Josh Jackson

For fans of Fire Emblem Gaiden, they’ll have more to look forward than just Fire Emblem Echoes. Launching alongside the game on May 19th, Alm and Celica are getting their own amiibo set!

Launching as a double pack like the Callie and Marie amiibo from last year, these two figures look absolutely gorgeous. Which probably means that they’ll look like McDonalds toys when they hit the shelves. Regardless, we’re more than happy with seeing more Fire Emblem characters get the toy treatment. I’m just hoping Nintendo releases more than a dozen this time around.

Is it too early to make Celica waifu of 2017?

How they will function in Echoes or any other games is currently a mystery, but I’ll be perfectly happy just keeping them on my shelf. Is anyone else planning on grabbing this pair? Let us know in the comments, and keep up with the rest of our Fire Emblem news, including more info on Warriors, Heroes and the upcoming Switch game!

UPDATE: ‘Pokemon Sun & Moon’: Mythical Pokemon Magearna Now Available!

by The_acz

UPDATE: Magearna is only available to US & JP territories right now. EU/UK will be available tomorrow. Article will update when it happens.

 Heads up for Pokemon fans, The distribution for the mythical Pokemon Magearna is now going on for Pokemon Sun & Moon. Please note that you must beat the initial story mode If you’re interested in receiving it. To claim Magearna, use the games QR Scanner to read the following QR code below this article. Afterwards, head to the antiques of the ages shop located in Hau’oli city at the Hau’oli mall. Are you excited about legendary distribution starting for Sun/Moon? Tell us in the comments below!

U.S Code
U.S Code

 

JP Code
JP Code

 

‘Pokémon Sun and Moon’ Break Nintendo Sales Records!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Incredible.

Yeah, every new Pokémon game is super popular. I certainly saw a resurgence in the popularity of the brand this Summer with the launch of Pokémon GO, in that a multitude of people who seemingly had no interest in Pokémon were suddenly obsessed with it.

Apparently that obsession carried over to the latest titles in the main series, because Pokémon Sun and Moon are breaking some major records in the Americas.

Nintendo today revealed that after becoming the most pre-ordered games in Nintendo history (worldwide), the games have now become Nintendo’s fastest selling games of all-time, selling a combined 3.7 million copies in just two weeks. As Ninty notes, this is an 85% increased on the previous record holder during the same period, which was naturally Pokémon X and Y.

Pierre-Paul Trepanier, Nintendo of Canada’s General Manager and Senior Director notes that “With these huge sales figures, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moonhave proven themselves as two of the hottest video games to buy this holiday season. With great reviews and outstanding fan response, these next iterations in the Pokémon series are sure to please any player in the family.”

I haven’t yet had an opportunity to pick the game up, but I can’t freaking wait to see what the Alola region has in store for me. What have you thought of Pokémon Sun and Moon so far?

The Pokemon Finder Brings ‘Snap’ To ‘Sun’ And ‘Moon’ While Ultra Beasts Make Their Debut

by Josh Jackson

In the latest trailer for the next entries in the storied Pokemon franchise, Pokemon Sun and Moon, multiple new features, Pokemon and characters were introduced, one of which will look very familiar if you’ve been hoping for a sequel to Pokemon Snap for the last decade. Check out the trailer below, then get hyped with us as we break down its many reveals!

Making the most out of its two minute run time, we’ll start with the new Pokemon. Following up on Thrusday’s reveal, Alolan Raticate was shown, with a pair of puffy cheeks to go with the new Dark/Normal typing and the Gluttony/Hustle abilities it shares with its previous form.

But how did it get so fat? Its environment, of course! According to The Pokemon Company,

Raticate in Alola live in urban areas, leading to a higher-calorie diet than that of Raticate elsewhere. This means they have tough bodies but have gotten a lot fatter. They stockpile huge amounts of food in their nests and prefer fresh fruit and high-class ingredients. Alolan Raticate is the Totem Pokémon of the trial that takes place in Verdant Cavern on Melemele Island in Pokémon Moon.

Pokemon Sun Moon 9616 Raticate

Next up is Jangmo-o, a determined Dragon type with the Soundproof and Bulletproof abilities. A determined warrior who is constantly seeking to become stronger, could this be the first in a line of this generation’s main Dragon type?

The Scaly Pokémon Jangmo-o has the pride of a warrior and never neglects its training in its pursuit of becoming stronger. This Pokémon uses the scales on its head as a weapon both offensively and defensively. It lives in harsh locales, like canyons, where it can train.

Pokemon Sun Moon 9616 Jangmo-o

 

Last on the list of standard Pokemon is, Type: Null. No, that’s not a new typing, but the name of the new synthetic Pokemon that’s made up of different parts. Sporting a fin, an armored head with a helmet that keeps it under control, and other various limbs to make up its body, its easily one of the most openly morbid designs the series has produced. With the Battle Armor ability, which keeps it from receiving critical hits, we’re expecting this one to give us trouble as we progress through the story and face off with Team Skull’s enforcer, Gladion.

Type: Null is a Synthetic Pokémon which was constructed to synthesize the strengths of various Pokémon, making it adaptable enough to complete a mission that requires a Pokémon as strong as the Pokémon of mythology. The mask fitted to this Pokémon’s head is a piece of equipment designed to control its power. Type: Null is the partner Pokémon of a newly revealed character—Gladion, the taciturn enforcer of Team Skull, who places a high value on being strong in battle.

Pokemon Sun Moon 9616 Null

After all this time, it seems like the evil team finally has a unique, menacing Pokemon to fight with. Nothing against a sea of Rattatas and Zubats, but it was hard to take them seriously.

If these are the new Pokemon, what are the Ultra Beasts? That’s what the Aether Foundation hopes to find out. This new organization led by Lusamine, Faba, and Wicke, is researching these otherworldly creatures alongside their employees. Knowing that they could pose a threat to humans and Pokemon alike. what direction will they take the story into once they’re introduced? Could we be getting a more detailed story again like in Black/White? I wouldn’t even be surprised if Aether has some ulterior motives of their own…

But perhaps the most important reveal of all was the Pokemon Finder, a new camera based mini game that might look familiar to those N64 gamers who have been clamoring for a certain photography based sequel. Using your Rotom Pokedex, trainers will be able to view the environment through its lens, taking pictures of Pokemon in the wild and unlocking new upgrades with the points they score for good shots. While not a full-on Pokemon Snap follow-up, it’s great to see its game play be adapted into the main series.

Pokemon Sun Moon 9616 Finder

Rounding out the trailer was the differences between each version and a side quest that explains how we’re going to come across those Zygarde Complete Formes. While the two versions have always had variations in their character roster, Sun and Moon takes that further with each version being scaled 12 hours apart from each other. So it will be night time during the day in Moon, while Sun follows the normal flow of time. This effects certain events in the game as well, such as some Totem Pokemon being different between each version. Either way, trainers will eventually come across Dexio and Sina, Professor Sycamore’s two assistants from X and Y, and help them gather Zygarde Cells throughout the environment, to eventually compile enough to give the legendary Pokemon its true form.

With so much news, there was plenty to love. But what was your favorite part of the trailer? Let us know in the comments!

 

‘Pikmin’ Comes To The 3DS! But It’s Not What You Think…

by Josh Jackson

Since the original Nintendo DS launched over 10 years ago, Pikmin always seemed like it would be a natural fit for the touch screen, (which was proven on the Wii U with Pikmin 3.) It may have taken a decade to land on handheld platforms, but Olimar and his army of adorable carrots are finally coming to the 3DS. Except… It’s nothing like what any of us would expect.

Trading in its real time strategy game play for what can only be described as an action focused 2D platformer, Pikmin for the Nintendo 3DS looks to turn what we know about the series on its head. Alternating between the fire resistant red Pikman, the high flying yellow Pikmin that laugh off the dangers of electricity, or the blue Pikmin, which are the only type that can survive in water, Olimar will use them to attack, solve puzzles, and fight bosses as he works his way towards the end of each stage.

Not much is known about the game outside of its reveal trailer, such as whether or not the other Pikmin variants like the white, purple, pink or rock Pikmin will make an appearance, but I’m approaching this one cautiously at the moment. What we’ve seen looks good so far, but we only have to look to last year’s Chibi Robo: Zip Lash to find a sequel where an established game was converted to a 2D platformer for the sake of wider appeal, only for it to lose much of what made it special in the process. Let’s hope Olimar and his crew avoid this pitfall.

Thoughts on the new Pikmin? Are you excited about the new direction, or would you prefer the classic style to return? Sound off below and let us know!

New StreetPass Games And A 100 Mii Update Are Now Live!

by Josh Jackson

Just when you thought StreetPass Mii Plaza was quietly retired, we get pulled back in.

During today’s 3DS focused Nintendo Direct, it was announced that a much needed update to the popular StreetPass Mii Plaza, where 3DS owners could retrieve information and characters from other handhelds that they cross paths with to use in a variety of mini games. Players who find themselves passing by droves of people will finally find relief in the character cap increasing from 10 to 100, making it so you’ll have to empty it out far less frequently than in the past. Personally speaking, the biggest reason why I don’t use the feature nearly as much as I used to is because it defeated the purpose of bringing games with me when I would have to be glued to this app in order to constantly empty it. Being able to speed through the Mii introductions and accumulate ten times the amount of characters at a time is a very welcomed improvement, even if this change should have come years ago.

Considering most hardcore StreetPassers would have gotten everything they wanted out of all the games by now, Nintendo also revealed five new Plaza games that can be purchased immediately following the presentation. Promising to be even less time consuming than games past, each one aims to give you quick, yet satisfying rewards from building your community of players. The released games are:

Slot Car Rivals

A racing game where you compete against the best times of the people you StreetPass with.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Slot Car Rivals

Market Crashers

Make stock market predictions based on the advice of the Mii’s you StreetPass and become a digital Bernie Madoff.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Market Crashers

Ninja Launcher

Stuff ninja clad Mii’s in a cannon and shoot them at things!

StreetPass Mii Plaza Ninja Launcher

Mii Trek

Giving the step counter a purpose outside of Play Coins, the accumulated steps from the Mii’s you collect allow your team of characters to travel farther and discover unknown treasures.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Mii Trek

Feed Mii

Use ingredients gathered from Mii’s to make the perfect meal.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Feed Mii

Of the five, your choice of either Slot Car Rivals or Market Crashers can be downloaded for free. From there, you can purchase any of the four from within the app for $2.99, or all five in a bundle for $8.99. For those taking the plunge, you’ll want to be near a wireless hotspot this weekend as well, since another National StreetPass Weekend will allow you to gather Mii’s from across the country at select locations.

Let us know what games you’re planning on picking up, and if this update is enough to get you to go back to your StreetPassing ways!

Alola Form Rattata, New Z Moves, And An Early Purchase Bonus Revealed For ‘Pokemon Sun’ and ‘Pokemon Moon’

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s 3DS focused Nintendo Direct presentation couldn’t have gone on without some new Pokemon news. As expected, the highly anticipated Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon got their share of the spotlight, with a new version of everyone’s favorite candy and stardust fodder, Rattata. Alongside some new moves and a bonus for early buyers, the reasons to get excited keep on piling up!

First, following the trend of giving the original 150 new forms, Rattata now comes as a dual type, adding Dark to its typical Normal typing. Standing in a bipedal stance and seemingly wearing armor, the things look as terrifying as you would expect a giant rat would. Coming equipped with either the Gluttony or Hustle, the Route 1 mainstay will either eat its equipped berry faster, or have increased attack at the expense of physical move accuracy. We can only assume that a new form will follow for its evolved form, Raticate, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer for official confirmation.

Pokemon Sun Moon Rattata Banner

Next, you know those fancy Z-Moves that we’ve been talking about? The super attacks that are supposed to be type exclusive? Well, now we’ve learned that some Pokemon will now have Z-Moves exclusive to them. Showing off Alola Form Raichu’s Stoked Sparksurfer attack in the trailer below, (as if the surfing themes surrounding it weren’t strong enough), Pikachu’s evolved form will ride its tail through the sky, only to crash down for a devastating electric attack. While without its own Alola Form, Snorlax will squash opponents flat with its Pulverizing Pancake, bringing new meaning to the phrase, “throwing your weight around.”

Speaking of Snorlax, early purchasers will receive a special Munchlax. The pre-evolved version of Snorlax holds Snorlian-Z, a special item that allows it to tap into its most powerful move once evolved. You’ll have until January 11 to redeem it, so make sure you don’t sleep on it.

We must ask though, are Z-Moves completely replacing Mega Evolution? They work similarly by needing a hold item to activate, and the Alola forms seem to cover new versions of old Pokemon. Considering we haven’t heard a peep about Mega Evolving throughout the entire build towards the Sun and Moon release, will it make a return at all? We’ll surely know once we get closer to the game’s November 18 launch, but until then, let’s keep speculating!

New Pokemon, Alola Forms, Donald Trump, The Death Of Gyms & Z-Moves Featured In Latest ‘Pokemon Sun/Moon’ Trailer

by Josh Jackson

In the latest trailer for Pokemon Sun/Moon, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company dumped so much information on us, we had to turn off tracking to keep our brains from overloading. Including new forms for old Pokemon, new evolutions and characters making their debut, and some serious format changes are making the next generation of Pokemon look like the most varied yet.

Let’s start with the most interesting reveal. Many of our old favorites are getting huge makeovers thanks to their new Alola forms. Shown in the trailer were Eggsecutor, who goes from being a coconut tree to a giant, long necked coconut tree. If a pile of eggs becoming a tree wasn’t strange enough, its new form changes its typing to a Grass/Dragon type. How that thing is a dragon, I have no idea. Then again, I stopped looking for logic in the series years ago.

Pokemon Sun Moon Eggsecutor

Speaking of not making sense,  fan favorite Pokemon, Vulpix, has gone from a Fire Type to an Ice Type, with a beautiful redesign to match. Its evolved form, Ninetails, becomes an Ice/Fairy type, making a Pokemon who got new life in X/Y even more interesting going forward. Lastly, Sandshrew and Sandslash are going from Ground types to Ice/Steel, which will ironically make it week to its original typing.

Old Pokemon have been getting a lot of attention between this and Pokemon Go!, but that doesn’t mean that the new Pokemon don’t have plenty of room to shine. I mean, how could you not with great creatures like Oricorio, a dancing bird that changes its style of dance and type based on which one of Alola’s islands it’s on. How this will work in competitive battles hasn’t been said, but this is something to keep an eye on, since its ability to gain stat boosts from dance attacks used by enemies will be a great counter to dragons. Other interesting inclusions such as Minior and its apparent ability to use one free Substitute, Formantis and Lurantis, who have a brand new Solar Blade Grass attack, and Gumshoos, the evolved form of Yungoos, who doesn’t help its first form’s Donald Trump resemblance. I mean, just look at it! Who doesn’t love Gumshoos? Everybody loves it, they tell me all the time.

New characters and forms aren’t the only changes coming however, since the trailer is hinting at some major changes to the game’s formula. Apparently replacing gyms are Island Challenges, where trainers will have to accept special missions from Trial Captains. Once completed, trainers will end up battling Toten Pokemon, powered up versions that can call on its friends for help. With the Totem Pokemon defeated, we’ll have to square off against one of the four island’s Kahuna, which we’re guessing is a new type of Gym Leader.

With so much danger to fend off, we’ll be given an extra advantage thanks to Z-Moves, single use special attacks that vary depending on a Pokemon’s type. These screen clearing moves have the potential to completely change how we’ll approach battles going forward, much like Mega Evolution did in 2013. Z-Moves aren’t the only tricks the Pokemon have learned this time around, since riding them seems to be a bigger feature this time around. With Tauros and Charizard featured, let’s hope we can become even more immersed by using our favorites to help us in the field. Could this be replacing HMs?

Watch the trailer below and watch all of these details for yourself. What do you think of this new direction?

Level-5 Confirms ‘Lady Layton’ Will Come Stateside In 2017

by Josh Jackson

Video games and comic books share so many qualities, one of which being that the end is never *THE END*. When Professor Layton wrapped up his adventures with Unwound Future, then delivered what was said to be his final game when the prequel trilogy came to a close with 2014’s Azran Legacy, it seemed like that would be the last we would see of the top hat professor. It turns out that this was only half true. While the ultimate gentleman may be out of the spotlight, his daughter has arrived to take up the puzzle solving mantle, and we’ll be playing it in the West much sooner than expected.

Announcing Lady Layton: The Millionaire Araidone’s Conspiracy, the debut trailer introduces us to Katrielle, a dectective who is exploring London in search of her father. With her talking dog at her side, it’s clear that Kat’s adventure will be just as offbeat, charming and quirky as the previous games in the series, all on display thanks to the game’s animated cutscenes. The lengthy trailer gives us plenty to dig into, but we still have so many questions. What happened to Luke and Emmy? What about Layton’s son that was featured in the professor’s mobile spin-off? Considering Luke had the special ability to talk to animals in the past, what’s the deal with the animals actually talking? Where’s Professor Layton? And most importantly, considering how Hershel’s true love ended in tragedy, who was he able to find happiness with again in order to have a family in the first place?

Luckily, we won’t have to wait too long to find out. Check out the trailer for yourself and speculate with us, and make sure to dust off your thinking cap, since we’ll have a whole lot of puzzles to solve once next year hits.

Lady Layton is set for a 3DS, iOS and Android release.

Anime Expo 2016: Looks Like ‘Azure Striker Gunvolt’ Is Getting The Anime Treatment

by Josh Jackson

During their Anime Expo 2016 panel, Intl Creates had two big announcements regarding their Azure Striker Gunvolt action platforming series. First, the first and second games would be getting a physical release in the form of the Striker Pack, courtesy of Yacht Club Games. But perhaps more surprisingly, the series will soon be getting its own anime adaptation in the form of an OVA.

While little was said about what the show would cover, we do know that it’s likely to be a single episode considering how it’s being classified. Whether or not it will be a short episode or movie length is unknown, but chances are it will be long enough to cover the events of the first game.

The irony is that Mighty No. 9, which was co-produced by Intl Creates, announced its own anime version a few years ago at the very same convention, but not much has been said about it since. Yet, much like the games that they’re based off of, Gunvolt is ahead of the game, with its sequel, AND its anime counterpart debuting in 2016. No extra Kickstarters required!

Check out the teaser below and let us know what you think. Expect the OVA to be out by the end of the year, with the Striker Pack hitting stores on September 30.

Anime Expo 2016: The ‘Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack’ Ushers In A Physical Release This September

by Josh Jackson

Azure Striker Gunvolt is one of the highlights of the 3DS eShop. The developer behind 2D platforming classics like the Mega Man Zero series took their expertise and showed that they didn’t need Mega Man to shine, creating some compelling mechanics that showed how creative minds can reinvigorate an old genre. With the second game on the way, it looked like the team wanted to give us all an interesting way to catch up.

At Anime Expo 2016, the team announced that they were partnering up with Yacht Club Games, (the group behind the excellent Shovel Knight), to deliver both the first and second games to store shelves as physical copies. Called the Striker Pack, $29.99 will get you both the first and second game one one cartridge, which will mark the first time the series is being released outside of digital platforms. Taking some obvious inspiration from their previous works, the simple, yet effective action platforming made it more important to tag enemies for long range damage instead of shooting them to death. With the second game introducing a second character who locks on by dashing into his foes, these two play styles seem to be suited for both the defensive and offensive player.

With the anime being announced during the same panel, it looks like Gunvolt is making big moves. Check out the game in action below, then make sure to check back with us as we post our hands-on impressions of the new mechanics from the show floor. Are you planning on picking up the game when it releases on September 30? Let us know in the comments!

Anime Expo 2016: Welcome Back Maya In The Latest ‘Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney- Spirit Of Justice’ Trailer

by Josh Jackson

2005 was the year that Phoenix Wright took the courtroom by storm here in the West, and where Phoenix was, Maya Fey wasn’t far behind. But after getting in her fair share of trouble across the first three games as Nick’s spirit channeling assistant, the pair went their separate ways, failing to make a significant appearance in the series since.

As you might have heard, that’s about to change with the sixth mainline Ace Attorney game. Considering Spirit of Justice partially takes place in a country known for spirit mediums, you know Maya can’t be far. Splitting protagonist duties between two characters for the first time in series history, Phoenix will be by Maya’s side in the country of Khura’in while Apollo takes back his starring role as he holds the fort at the Wright Anything Agency. As detailed in our E3 preview, Phoenix will take on a court system that has banished lawyers, (thanks to its method of viewing the final moments of the deceased when they were killed), with some new mechanics that will help turn the tables. On the other side of the world, Apollo and Athena will use their unique skills, (including Athena’s psychoanalyzing that debuted in the fifth game), creating a unique gameplay experience for each.

Naturally, we’re expecting plenty of strange spirit shenanigans with Maya back in the mix, but will we see the return of any of the other Fey girls? What’s Pearl up to these days? It can’t be any weirder than that time Maya helped Nick fight Marvel’s strongest heroes in Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. Either way, make sure to watch the trailer below and watch Maya’s return fully voice acted, then check back with us as our coverage of the Spirit of Justice panel goes into detail on what we can expect from the next big turnabout.

E3 2016: Don’t Pick More Than One Palico In ‘Monster Hunter Generations’!

by Josh Jackson

One thing that Monster Hunter has lacked is a pure support type character. Certain weapons, like the Hunting Horn for example, allow its wielder to buff and heal the team, but they’re also capable fighters in their own right. On the flip side, the games have never had a shortage of Palicos, CPU controlled cat sidekicks who either join you in battle, or can be discovered on the field with important items. Now that Monster Hunter Generations is debuting these mascots as a playable class, I couldn’t wait to take down a giant monster with such an adorable fighter. As I quickly learned however, this wasn’t the best idea after one of my partners also chose it, leading to a largely ineffective combination. In other words, do not pick more than one Palico!

E3 2016 Monster Hunter Generations Screen 1

Essentially a pure support class, the Palico has a series of fundamental differences that separate it from your typical hunter. Most noticeably, it doesn’t have a stamina meter, allowing it to run, climb, jump and attack to your heart’s content. Its weapon never goes dull, and it has two extra lives, meaning that it can die twice before it starts detracting from the team’s total pool of three lives. On top of that, it has more starting health than any other human character without eating food before going on a mission. Coming equipped with its own special abilities, it can even heal and buff the party, summon its own items, and trigger special attacks that are unique to it.

So at this point, you might wondering what the problem is. I had the same thought while I was playing, feeling like this character was a glorified Easy Mode. I quickly learned that wasn’t the case. First of all, the Palico does very little damage with horrible range, having to get right up on a monster in order to hurt it. This naturally leads to taking more damage, which is harder to recover from since it can’t carry any items other than the ones generated from its special abilities. To access them, you’ll have to charge your special meter, which can only be done by successfully attacking enemies. But as we mentioned above, that can be easier said than done.

E3 2016 Monster Hunter Generations Screen 2

After learning these details in the midst of a battle, I started to appreciate how well a team could gain an advantage with a strong performing kitty. From an offensive standpoint however, you’re essentially going in with a three person team assuming you’re in a four player party. Add in a second Palico, and you’re down to two, which is what happened with my group. We fought the Rathalos we were preying on for the full 15 minutes, but despite it limping and drooling for a long time, (telltale signs that it’s near death), we couldn’t do enough damage to seal the deal before our time was up.

With just a taste of what a full support character can do, I’m looking forward to learning more about the Palico class in Monster Hunter Generations. What abilities will it learn? What weapons can it wield? Is there a way to make it stronger, and will its support capabilities suffer? We’ll be sure to let you know when the game releases on July 15 for the 3DS, but you’ll be able to get a taste for yourself when the demo goes live to the public on June 30.

Strider Hiryu’s Cipher Sword And Armor Come To ‘Monster Hunter Generations’

by Josh Jackson

While no stranger to crossovers, Strider Hiryu’s latest appearance might be his greatest one yet. Capcom has announced that the purple clad ninja’s gear and trademark weapon will be available for your hunters in Monster Hunter Generations.

As the star of his own brutally difficult side scrolling platformer that were all the rage when it released in 1989, Strider was unique with the game’s futuristic setting, robotic gear, and the ability to wall climb. Largely forgotten until his re-appearance in Marvel Vs. Capcom skyrocketed him to gaming super-stardom, the character has since received two more games, and guest appearances in non-Capcom games such as Project X Zone 2. With most of his modern following stemming from these crossover games, it’s no surprise that Monster Hunter Generations would add Hiryu to its growing list of cameos, joining Arthur from Ghosts n’ Goblins, Ametarasu of Okami fame, and Marth’s equipment found throughout Nintendo’s Fire Emblem  series, Strider seems like a perfect fit.

Out of all of the guest appearances, which ones are you looking forward to the most? Are there any you hope return from Monster Hunter 4? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to check out our impressions of the E3 demo when you’re done!

E3 2016: Pokemon Sun And Moon Gameplay Enhancements Breakdown, New Reveals, and More!

by Matt Rodriguez

The Nintendo Treehouse presentation of Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon was fantastic!  Not only did they introduce new elements to the games, but new Pokemon were revealed as well!  While it’s very easy to note the obvious differences, I will also cover the enhancements to the system that will make the game more accessible to newcomers, as well as help Pokemon veterans!  Let’s have a look at some of these amazing changes!

A clear difference at the start of the game, and one that most already know, is the proportions of the environment in relation to the characters are much more accurate.  Mountains tower way above the character, trees loom with an exact height, and even distance from the edge of a cliff to a beachfront has a sense of immersion.  Within Pokemon battles, not only is the (silly) circle beneath Pokemon eliminated, but also, the Pokemon are shown to be battling right beside their trainers.  This more accurately depicts the theme of Pokemon having a bond with their trainer, but also shows how large Pokemon are in relation to the humans in game.  Just imagine how cool a Snorlax would look right next to its trainer?

In relation to the fighting system, I will provide screenshots to accompany the points I will make:

sm1

For section one, you will notice a handy shortcut to the Pokeball menu.  Veterans of the game will rejoice at this option because previously, you had to flip through several menu screens in order to reach that section.  Section 2 depicts a two dimensional sprite version of the battle, and allows you to tap either Pokemon with your stylus.  Doing so leads us into our next screenshot:

sm4

This screen not only displays typing, as well as other info, but is also a shortcut to see the buffs and debuffs that each Pokémon has!  Veteran players have always had to keep track of this information in their mind–for example, if you do a Swords Dance, the game states that it “sharply raises the Attack stat.” However, delve deeper into competitive battling, and you will know that the move increases your Attack by “two stages” out of six.  If you try to increase past six, the move will fail.  This isn’t directly noted anywhere in the game, so this nice additional screen will allow new players to understand this level of battling, as well as take away the burden of memorization from veteran players.  But that’s not all!

sm2

sm3

These images are seen at different points in the demonstration, but they are very telling.  First, you can press L+A to see a detailed description of the moves, but also, there is fine print underneath the moves that marks how effective a move is against an opposing Pokémon.  Previously, you had to go through several menus to read the description of a move, and type effectiveness was based on a person’s knowledge of the game’s mechanics.  Now that the information is on the screen, new players won’t feel as burdened, and matches may be able to move a lot smoother!  I’m curious if this takes more than typing into effect–for example, an Earthquake will not affect a Pokémon using an Air Balloon as an item at all.  Only time will tell!

The Pokedex is experiencing a huge revamp, but one new feature revealed in the demonstration is the registration screen, where you will see the Pokémon you have captured, as well as all existing evolutions and forms you have yet to experience!  These forms will appear on the screen if they have been previously caught, and all unregistered forms will appear as gray Pokeball icons.

sm5

The demonstration later takes you to a battle with a rival, where I couldn’t help but notice that the backdrop of the battle was special.  Put simply, there is a Street Fighter-like crowd surrounding the Pokémon battle.  Special backdrops aren’t new to the series, but were previously limited to Gym Leader battles in sixth generation.  It looks like this may be expanding even further to rival battles and even more!

sm6

Another new battling style is coming to Pokémon Sun and Moon called Battle Royal!  Not to be confused with its wrestling counterpart (but ironically set in a wrestling ring), this is a four player free-for-all with special rules!  All trainers get to take their turn at the same time and attack whichever Pokémon they would like.  The match doesn’t end until one trainer loses all of their Pokémon.  This decides the loser, but doesn’t necessarily decide the winner.  When the match has ended the game uses a series of algorithms, such as total number of Pokémon defeated, to determine the winner.  Coupled with many of the previous mechanics, the possibilities are endless–ganging up on one player, running stall tactics, etc.  It will be fun to see which new strategies this gameplay style can bring to the table!

sm7sm7Sun and Moon truly looks like a game ready to shake the foundation of the series and bring lots of new players in!  As I find new enhancements throughout the year, I will be sure to let you all know!  How do you feel about the improvements?  Please let us know in the comments!

E3 2016: New ‘Super Mario Bros’ Amiibo Announced Alongside ‘Mario Party Star Rush’

by Josh Jackson

The Nintendo Treehouse presentation was full of surprises, one of which included Mario Party Star Rush. The next entry in the long running party game series will be exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS and plans to shake up the admittedly stale formula by separating characters on the board rather than keeping them confined to a shared vehicle, and having players all move at the same time instead of waiting for everyone to finish their turn. But most importantly, we’re getting new Amiibo!

Seven new characters are joining the Super Mario Bros line that accompanied Mario Party 10 last year, three of which are never before released. Aside from Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Rosalina and Wario getting new poses outside of their previously released Super Smash Bros. versions, Waluigi, Daisy and a glow in the dark Boo are making their Toys To Life debut. Waluigi in particular has a passionate cult following for some reason, so there’s plenty to be happy about when it comes to this announcement. Personally, I really want the Boo.

Check out the trailer below and see the Amiibo in action. Are you interested in the shake ups the game will present, or are you all partied out? Let us know in the comments!

E3 2016: Nintendo Announces Newest IP! ‘Ever Oasis’ Comes To The 3DS From Final Fantasy Legend Koichi Ishi

by Shane O'Hare

Yesterday, Nintendo let loose that their newest RPG-IP would be announced today during their live Treehouse event. Everyone was wondering what it would be. Now we know. Check out the trailer for Ever Oasis.

Ever Oasis comes to us from Grezzo, the company responsible for some of our favorite 3DS games, like Flower Town and the Legend of Zelda games. Grezzo is ran by Koichi Ishi. Yeah THAT Koichi Ishi. The man responsible for producing Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy XI, The Secret of Mana series. The man who created chocobo’s and moogles. The MAN THAT CREATED THE FINAL FANTASY JOB SYSTEM! HE IS A RPG GOD!!!!

This man has pedigree, so we know Ever Oasis is going to come from a brilliant mind and direction. This game looks cute as hell, and reminds me of Final Fantasy: Chrystal Chronicles.

No word on release date yet.

E3 2016: The Closest Thing To A Samurai Jack Game, ‘Severed’ Is Coming To Wii U & 3DS

by Shane O'Hare

This game looks awesome as hell! Originally released on the PS Vita, Severed is coming to Nintendo consoles this summer! Check out the newest trailer below.

Take control of a one-armed warrior named Sasha, wielding a living sword on her journey through a nightmare world in search of her family. Swipe-based touch controls will let you solve puzzles, find secrets, and do battle with a host of disturbing monsters. As the journey goes on, you’ll unlock new abilities, ascend an RPG-style upgrade tree, and tease apart the mysteries of the dark fantasy universe Sasha finds herself in.

I am so intrigued with this game, and surprised I haven’t heard of it before. The art, the concept and gameplay all look top notch. I was getting mad Samurai Jack vibes from the trailer. This is going to be a day one pick up for me, FOR SURE!

Check out Severed on the Nintendo eShop this summer.

Zygarde’s New Formes Will Appear In ‘Pokemon Sun’ And ‘Pokemon Moon’

by Josh Jackson

Remember a few months back when we talked about how Zygarde was getting new formes in the Pokemon anime and predicted that they would make their first in game appearance in an unannounced Pokemon Z? As we know now, Zygarde got no game, but that doesn’t mean his alternate versions won’t turn up. As announced in the game’s latest trailer, it will just end up debuting in Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon.

Showing off two of its possible appearances, its 10% Forme takes the shape of a scarf wearing dog, which seems to be paired up with a set of new attacks. Thousand Arrows fires a series of energy blasts into the sky, with each one raining down on its opponent, while Thousand Waves transforms the pup into a cluster of data, which surrounds its enemy before it’s hit with the strike.

In its Complete Forme, Zygarde looks much more like a human shaped monster, which promises to be its most powerful version. Using a new attack called Core Enforcer, the Pokemon does its best Zorro impression by taking to the sky and blasting away its foe with a powerful beam that draws a Z into the ground. Aside from these attacks, any ability changes, stat alterations or how these transformations take place is yet to be revealed, but we’ll report it as soon as it’s known.

With these answers come so many questions. Namely, will the standard 50% forme from X and Y be needed for these new versions? Will the smaller formes like the core play a role in any of this? And why didn’t Zygarde get its own version? While we contemplate these pressing questions, watch the adaptable Pokemon in action below, then let us know what you’re hoping to see in Pokemon Sun and Moon in the comments below!