Danganronpa is known for destroying its fans by getting them attached to the characters that make up its colorful cast, then killing them in some of the worst ways possible. With a whole new set of deaths to discover with the impending release of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, we ranked the executions from the first three chapters of the story, sorting out the most despair inducing punishments in the series. From the gruesome to the silly and everything in between, it’s time to watch our friends die all over again.

Mikan Tsumiki: Bye-Bye Ouchies!

Kicking off the list is Mikan’s execution, which was the worst one by a long shot. Things didn’t seem quite right in Danganronpa 2, which felt apparent when the executions were a lot more out there than the first outing, but this one just left me confused and unsatisfied, contrary to the sexual undertones of her big death scene.

After being discovered as Ibuki and Hiyoko’s killer, she launches into space on a giant arm that’s been injected with some kind of… fluid. Matching up with her Ultimate Nurse talent, there were so many more interesting ways this could have went down. Instead, we got what was essentially an off screen death for someone who had embraced her dark side at this point in the story, making me feel robbed of the satisfaction of watching one of the bad guys lose AND an interesting death. Thankfully, they get much better down the list.

Monomi’s First Death

Serving as less of a formal execution and more of a wake-up call to the main cast letting us know that this second killing game is serious, the former Usami is gunned down by one of the fearsome Monobeasts, clearing the way for Monokuma to take over the second class. This one is low on the list considering there’s a lack of emotional connection since you just met Monomi, her death played up the comedy aspect of a stuffed bear getting shot up, and it’s extremely temporary since she comes back minutes later, but it was still an important scene for Hajime and his friends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EWS-gydlMk

Alter Ego: Excavator Destroyer

Much like the above entry, this one is eventually undone, and it’s not the same feeling when you watch a computer get killed instead of a friend. Still, Alter Ego’s death was especially shocking at the time I played it since it died spying on the mastermind when we thought it had gotten away, AND it was a total surprise since the real killer of the case couldn’t be executed due to it being a suicide. True despair rose to the surface as our only way to discover the circumstances around the school had seemingly been crushed, but this wouldn’t be the case for long.

Jin Kirigiri: Blast Off!

The very first execution of the series gains much more significance once the game has reached its conclusion compared to when you actually watch it play out, but it’s important for a few reasons. One, much like Monomi’s death was a wake-up call for the cast of the second game, this being the very first scene you see when you start the game let players know what they were about to be taken on a wild ride of death sprinkled with a bit of lighthearted cartoon imagery. Finding out later that the unnamed victim was both the Headmaster of the school and the father of one of the main characters gives it much more weight in retrospect.

Celeste Ludenberg: The Burning of the Versailles Witch

Celeste was a true manipulator, pulling off the first double murder in the series after manipulating the gullible Hifumi to help her kill and cover up her first victim before tying up loose ends by killing her accomplice. Being granted a death fitting for the noble she pretended to be, the Ultimate Gambler has her perfect death snatched from under her feet when her death by burning is interrupted by a fire truck falling on her. As the first comedic punishment, it managed to have a decent amount of anticipation before the bait and switch, which both helped and hurt its position on the list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8ynirdsev8

Teruteru Hanamura: Deep Fried Teruteru

Teruteru’s execution was one of the saddest. As the first class trial came to a close, it turned out that the Ultimate Cook killed his victim by mistake as he did everything he could to prevent the Ultimate Son of a Bitch, Nagito, from killing a member of the group in his quest for the the brightest hope in the face of despair.

If it was an accident, then why risk his friends’ lives to try and get away with the killing? It turns out he has a sick mother who he desperately wanted to see, making him fight tooth and nail for his own survival. Yet, we never find out her fate. Instead, we get a battered, deep fried chef who’s turned into a literal tempura after being dipped into a volcano. Considering the previous executions were relatively grounded, this was the first clue that Jabberwok Island wasn’t as it appeared, as the cast of the second game would later learn.

Mondo Owada: The Cage of Death

Equal parts funny and disgusting, Mondo’s execution after his insecurities led him to murder the Ultimate Programer, (and everyone’s favorite trap,) Chihiro Fujisaki, the former motorcycle gang member goes out as he lived. While strapped to the seat of his bike, he’s placed in a stunt cage and drives around so fast while being simultaneously electrocuted, that he ends up being liquified. Signaled by the reveal of Monokuma’s new favorite butter, it’s pretty disgusting when you see the bear eating the remains of your friend on top of his stack of pancakes.

Junko Enoshima: The Ultimate Punishment

As the mastermind who led both your classmates and the entire world to go on a murderous rampage, we should have reached peak satisfaction when it was time for Junko to get what was coming to her. Yet, her comeuppance felt bittersweet, considering the despair obsessed psychopath was actually excited to feel the true despair that only death can bring. Rather than setting up a unique execution for herself, she ends up going through every other execution from the first game! It makes you wonder what this girl is made of to survive being burned alive, crushed by a truck, electrocuted and bulldozed before finally being smashed to death by a giant weight.

And even then, this wouldn’t be the last we heard from Ms. Enoshima…

Gundham Tanaka: Gundham Tanaka Stampede

Gundham seemed to be a polarizing figure in the second game, and I landed on the side that couldn’t stand him. His obsession with the occult, his absurd speech mannerisms and his belief that he was some kind of demon king above all us mortals was only slightly offset by the Ultimate Breeder’s adorable crew of hamsters, the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. But even then, I couldn’t help but feel bad for the guy once his time finally came.

After reaching an agreement to fight and ultimately kill a fellow classmate as a sacrifice to spur the waning crew back into action, Gundham is placed in the path of a heard of stampeding bulls. Not being one to take his fate lying down, he sets up a magic seal, seemingly making good on the demonic power he claimed to possess all this time. Unfortunately for him, his spell doesn’t activate in time, leading him to being trampled to death. In his last moments, he gives a comforting look to his pets before the animals that had long since passed carry his spirit up into heaven. Part silly and part heartbreaking, seeing how much he cared for his companions meant he couldn’t be all bad. Right?

Makoto Naegi / Kyoko Kirigiri: After School Lesson

This one barely counts since one is a “what if” scenario if you make the wrong choice during the fifth trial, and the other one doesn’t go through. Regardless, it ranks high on the list mostly due to the tension it creates when experiencing it for the first time.

Setting up a fake murder for the purpose of getting rid of the Ultimate Detective, Kyoko Kirigiri, the player as main character Makoto Naegi has the choice to either fall into the trap, leading to Kyoko being killed and the remaining classmates living the rest of their days trapped in Hopes Peak Academy, or having Makoto take the fall, leading to our lead being killed instead. Naturally, things don’t go as planned, because just as Makoto is about to be crushed on the conveyor belt, Alter Ego comes back from the dead and shuts down the device just in time to save him.

On another note, I feel like dying while being strapped to a desk and being taught reproduction by a robot teddy bear would be a terrible way to go out.

Chiaki Nanami and Monomi: Please Insert Coin

Considering how serious this moment is, it’s almost unfitting to see such an important character die via Tetris block. But that’s what happens with Chiaki Nanami, our inaugural waifu of the year in 2014.

The Ultimate Gamer was a beacon of hope and encouragement for the class in the second game, especially when its protagonist, Hajime Hinata, felt completely lost. All the while, the class had an underlying suspicion of one another since it was established early on that one of their peers was a mole sent by the mysterious Future Foundation. As it turns out, Chiaki was that mole, but all wasn’t as it appeared to be.

You see, Chiaki was actually an AI created by Alter Ego from the first game designed as a sort of anti virus to help prevent outside interference. It turns out the entire game was a virtual simulation meant to rehabilitate some of the worst criminals the world had ever seen, but it had been hacked by the true mastermind on behalf of Junko from the first game. Nagito, that lunatic that I mentioned from Teruteru’s execution, discovered the truth before anyone else and decided to set up an unsolvable murder, using himself as the sacrifice. He planned on killing himself and all of his classmates, ridding the world of the criminals they really were and leaving Chiaki as the only survivor. Only things didn’t pan out this way, and Chiaki’s undying faith in their true selves helped her convince them to choose her as the killer. A choice that ended up being both correct, and completely unbearable. Luckily, AI’s never truly die, and both her and Monomi (as Usami), return to help the survivors during their final showdown.

And to think, this isn’t even the worst of what Chiaki ended up going through.

Peko Pekoyama: One Woman Army

None of the class were supposed to have known each other when waking up on Jabberwok Island, but two of them had an instant familiarity with each other. Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman and Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, the Ultimate Gangster, were childhood associates, with the former being the latter’s bodyguard. All of this was unbeknownst to the rest of the group, so when case two came along and it turned out that Peko killed a classmate in Fuyuhiko’s name after being threatened by the victim, who was really responsible?

Ultimately, it was Peko who was sent to her death since she was the one who actually committed the act. But what makes her death even more noteworthy isn’t so much over how much of a badass she came off as while slicing down all of the dummies trying to kill her, but that in the process, the tough exterior of her boss fades away as he pushes through the danger to try and help her. What he gets in return is an accidental near death experience, as Peko inadvertently slices through him while cutting down one of the puppets. In her sorrow, she cradles her friend as she’s stabbed to death be her endless hoard of enemies.

As the only execution that made me audibly gasp once it appeared as if we were getting two deaths in one execution, we ended up getting a much more cooperative, level heading Kuzuryu, taking Peko’s death to heart. He may have lost an eye, but in return, he gains a whole new level of maturity that carries him through the rest of the game.

Chiaki Nanami: The first punishment

You may be wondering why Chiaki is here again if she was already killed above? It turns out that the AI from the game was based on a real person, and she was the victim of the first true execution as we would come to know them.

As the only real punishment in the Danganronpa 3 anime, the real Chiaki was the class representative to the Danganronpa 2 class. The anchor that held them all together so to speak. So when Junko decided that she needed a group of followers to help her spread despair around the world, she used a combination of brainwashing and the murder of their beloved classmate to drive them all insane by forcing them all to watch her death.

Mimicking video games like Gauntlet, the Ultimate Gamer was forced to traverse an endless labyrinth full of deadly traps, each one landing with brutal effectiveness. Over the course of what’s essentially a ten minute murder porn session, we witness this girl who both the characters and the viewers grew so attached to have her arm broken, her eye smashed, her foot impaled and her physical limits pushed to the absolute brink before finally finding the exit and reuniting with her friends.

Or so she thought. As she seemingly escapes, a room full of spikes shoot from the ground, impaling her entire body and leaving her in a bloody heap. As she bleeds to death, she sees her friend Hajime one last time, now approaching her as the artificial Ultimate, Izuru Kamakura. In her final moments she cries out her desire to see her friends again, leading the emotionless Izuru to cry for the first time since transforming into what he had now become. Compelled by Chiaki’s undying will, he realizes that Junko’s brand of chaos isn’t the only way to reach one’s full potential, leading him to go behind her back and set up the Chiaki AI. Seeking to see which ideology is the strongest, he sets up a scenario where their ideals will clash one last time in the final showdown between hope and despair.

This scene showed that despite how charismatic and humorous she could be, Junko was a real monster. But most importantly, it showed the catalyst that led to the events of both games, even if we had to have our souls completely crushed in the process. I still get sad thinking about this scene… But there can only be one top execution, and for that, we’ll have to go from the end to the beginning.

Leon Kuwata: The 1,000 Blows

As the saying goes, you never forget your first.

Leon Kuwata, the Ultimate Baseball Star, was the first character to be executed after being outed as the murderer of Sayaka Maizono. She was planning to murder Makoto in an attempt to escape and discover what had happened to the bandmates in her idol group, but after being spotted by Leon, a series of events took place where he ended up killing her instead.

As the first execution, the game wanted to make sure to leave a lasting impression on us, and that it did. From not knowing what to expect as the first real conclusion to a case, to the haunting animation that would be associated with the rest of the punishments going forward, to the way he is chained and dragged away kicking and screaming is a level of fright that none of the other executions have achieved since. But then, we get to the actual execution, one fitting for a baseball star such as himself.

After being tied to a pole, Kuwata is shot with a ball from a pitching machine. And then another. And another. Suddenly, he’s being shot with hundreds of baseballs all over his body to the point where he eventually dies from the endless injuries being inflicted upon him in such a methodical, painful way. As the last bloody baseball rolls to the camera while his limp body hangs in the background, it’s at this point that you know you’re going to be in for a sick, twisted affair of a game.

You know what the crazy part is? This version is actually more tame than the original concept! As the only execution that was altered due to the graphic nature of the scene in the anime adaptation, the game version was actually toned down from the beta version. There, the scene plays out similarly, but eventual blood splatter starts flying from him while he’s still alive. Each ball results in another splatter until the whole room is eventually full of the stuff as if we were suddenly playing Mortal Kombat. It’s hard to imagine that this death could get any worse than the one we were presented with, and yet, here we are.

If you couldn’t tell, it takes a special kind of sadistic to come up with these executions. With a whole new game right around the corner, I can only imagine what new, sickening ways the developers will come up with when it comes to killing off our friends. Yet, its this despair that keeps us coming back, and I can’t wait to feel that sting all over again in two weeks.

What would your execution rankings be? Do you think any of them are off base? Let us know in the comments!

‘Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls’ Is A Much Better Game On PS4

by Josh JacksonAugust 12, 2017

Back in 2015, I reviewed Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls, a third person shooter that spun off from the point and click adventure games that have been all the rage on the Vita. When I first played it, I adored its creative use of weapons, its creepy atmosphere, and its variety in enemies, with my biggest complaints centering on the camera issues. Having fewer buttons made handling all of the game’s tasks a bit awkward on the handheld, which ultimately held it back from being as great as it could have been. That all changed with the PS4 remaster releasing ahead of the much anticipated Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, allowing a wider audience to enjoy this quirky action title with a slew of improvements. After playing through it again on the big screen, it’s clear that Komaru benefited greatly from the jump to Sony’s home console.

Trapped in the devastated Towa City with an army of Monokuma robots out to kill anyone they can find, Komaru Naegi finds herself fighting off the machines with one of the first game’s survivors, (and part time serial killer), Toko Fukawa. In between them and their freedom are the Warriors of Hope, a group of children who are seemingly responsible for the chaos with ties to series antagonist, Junko Enoshima. Part horror movie and part coming of age drama, tying Komaru’s journey of a regular girl in a world of geniuses to the loose ends of the first two games is done masterfully, still serving as an entertaining backdrop to all of the chaos that surrounds you.

As a remaster, my thoughts haven’t changed much regarding the game as a whole compared to the Vita version. Considering how shooters haven’t advanced much since 2015, Ultra Despair Girls still feels incredibly fresh with its unique use of weapons for both combat and puzzle solving. Using your gun to hack, destroy enemy weak points, push Monokuma robots into water and forcing them to dance among other functions are still equal parts fun and hilarious. It’s always nice to see a dark game that manages to retain a sense of humor. Still, long cutscenes reminiscent of its text adventure roots tend to hurt the flow of the action while the game makes it hard to keep track of what you’re missing for all of those completionists out there. With the improvements made to the controls, the PS4 version makes an already easy game slightly easier, meaning it won’t last terribly long from a game play standpoint.

But there are some key improvements that make the game worth checking out a second time, as well as making it a can’t miss game for PS4 owners who never had a Vita to play the original on. As soon as the game gives you control of Komaru, it’s immediately noticeable how much smoother the game runs on the console. The frame rate has received a boost, making moving the camera and exploring Towa City a much more seamless experience. Komaru, the city itself and the enemy character models look much more vibrant this time around, taking advantage of the high definition boost the game received in the upgrade process. But what was probably the original’s most glaring flaw, its awkward controls when trying to both shoot and move, have been improved with the addition of extra shoulder buttons. Now, what was once a clunky, unintuitive movement method that asked the player to make concessions with comfort is much easier to play. Adopting the Resident Evil model of control is always going to come with a certain amount of clunkyness, but it’s minimized to the point where I barely noticed them during my time with the game. However, aiming is still annoyingly slow, which is by design since one of Komaru’s skills during upgrading is her aiming speed. Hey, we can’t win them all…

With Danganronpa 1+2 Reload and Ultra Despair Girls both on the PS4 and the Danganronpa 3 anime available on demand, there’s little reason to miss out on the entire saga before we dive back into this world in Danganronpa V3. But even without that extra incentive, Ultra Despair Girls is a worthy action title that’s worth checking out. Whether its your first time or your next of many trips to Towa City, the game’s small annoyances can’t take away from this creepy, funny, incredibly dark but never dull shooter that always manages to keep things interesting. Whether you consider yourself an Ultimate Gamer or a regular old player, you’d do well to check this game out and see what all the fuss is about. Who knows? Maybe you’ll jump on the V3 hype train with us in the process!

SDCC 2017: ‘I Am Setsuna’ Is Alive And Well With ‘Lost Sphere’

by Josh JacksonJuly 28, 2017

I Am Setsuna promised to scratch the itch of the classic JRPG fan who longed for the days of turn based battles, Active Time Battle meters, (known more commonly as ATB), and a more methodical game play style. After delivering on a multitude of platforms, Tokyo RPG Factory is back at it with Lost Sphere, a spiritual successor that continues the style introduced by Setsuna. With a new world and new cast, much of the early moments of the game manage to hold onto some familiarity with the first game while showing off a few new tricks in the Comic Con demo on display at Square Enix’s booth.

Using an identical graphic style to Setsuna, Lost Sphere recreates the classic feel of a 32-bit era RPG while using chibi style 3D models for the characters to match the dimensions of the world around them. Much like Chrono Trigger, enemies are spotted on the field, and any enemies around them will join the battle once its time to draw swords. From there, you’ll manage your party by deciding to attack, use special abilities, rely on items to get you out of a pinch, or defend to help reduce unavoidable damage. Positioning plays an important role, since most attacks have a certain radius that can lead to dealing damage to more than just your target, but this is where the biggest change in Lost Sphere surfaced.

With some of the abilities offered, they allowed the characters to line up their attacks to get the most out of them. For example, a shot from one of our allies could potentially pierce through their enemy, draining the HP of any foe unfortunate enough to be lined up directly behind them. While Setsuna did have attacks like these, Lost Sphere made it more noticeable, which in turn made it easier to plan out how we wanted to do the damage. As an extra layer of strategy, it helps the game feel like you’re doing more than just picking options in a menu. That kind of engagement is what separated the great RPGs from the rest back in the day, and it’s no different now.

After exploring this sample of the game, I’m looking forward to seeing what other ways Lost Sphere separates itself from I Am Setsuna. With this classic style of engagement taking a backseat in recent years for more flashy, real time combat, it’ll be interesting to see how far we can ride the nostalgia wave. If the developer’s previous efforts are any indication, then I can’t wait to play more of the game when its released in 2018. With PS4, PC and Switch support, we’ll be able to keep on adventuring whether we’re at home or on the go!

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

by Josh JacksonJuly 28, 2017

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: ‘Fifa 18’ On Switch Might Dodge The Pitfalls Of Ports Past

by Josh JacksonJuly 18, 2017

As an avid Wii U fan, there was little more frustrating than the “third party support” the system failed to enjoy. Not so much because of the lack of it, but because what we did get was usually low effort, overpriced, and flat out better on other platforms. When I read that Fifa 18 for the Switch was going to release without the story mode and the Frostbite engine that have both become highlights of the game for the Xbox One and PS4, I figured EA was going to continue down this path that leaves Nintendo gamers in the dust. But after playing it for myself at E3, utilizing the Switch’s strengths give this version a good chance of avoiding the pitfalls that the Wii U was filled with.

Game play wise, if you’ve played Fifa in the past, then there’s not much to point out here. As the premiere worldwide soccer simulator, two players pick their favorite international teams and jock for position to create tense, exciting back and forth matches where one small opening can lead to that game winning goal, or that heartbreaking block.

Where the Switch version stand out however, is its portability. The DS family and Sony’s handhelds have had their shots, but they always felt like the expected lesser versions, sacrificing quality for the ability to play it on the go. This wasn’t the case when playing the Switch version, because while the visuals weren’t at Frostbite levels, the portable screen ran the game so well that it was barely noticeable. For the first time, a full console quality Fifa game could be played on the road, and I can see this being a big hit with the game’s worldwide fanbase.

It’s disappointing that a major feature had to be cut out at all, but considering most people buy Fifa for the multiplayer, the Switch’s inherent ability to have out of the box two player matches with the joycons make it an inexpensive way to keep the rivalries going away from home without compromising quality. Now, rather than gamers having to choose what platform they want the game for, I can see the most hardcore players buying one for home and one for the road. I’ve said in the past that third party versions on Nintendo consoles are at their best when they highlight the unique features of the system rather than trying to keep up with the competitor’s consoles, and this looks exactly like what Fifa is doing.

What say you, futbol fans? Can you see yourself picking up an extra portable copy, or will the Switch version be your only copy? Is the portability enough to forsake the story mode and Frostbite engine? Let us know in the comments!

E3 2017: ‘Fate Extella: The Umbral Star’ Goes Portable On The Nintendo Switch

by Josh JacksonJune 30, 2017

Last year’s Fate Extella: The Umbral Star brought the Fate universe to current gen gaming with a Musou style hack and slash. With the release of the Nintendo Switch, Sabre and her allies will get a second chance in the spotlight with a portable version of the crowd pleasing brawler. As usual when it comes to third party Nintendo games, we come in with skepticism, wondering if any concessions were made in the transition. After playing a build of the game, it’s clear that those concerns can be put to rest.

Outside of the cast of characters, Fate Extella is similar to most Dynasty Warriors inspired games on the market. By choosing from one of many characters from the Fate series, you travel from map to map effortlessly slaying hundreds of enemies at a time while you vie for control of the map. As you progress, more powerful foes will confront you, leading to some more challenging battles. Using unique combos, special attacks, and transformations that unleash your character’s full potential, seeing these moves in action are just as exciting to watch as they were last year. This is coupled with the fact that this game moves much faster than your typical Musou game, with the map being divided into smaller regions that you can transport to in what seems like an instant. I can see this cutting down on the monotony that games of this genre can face since removing the padding of travel can only work in its favor.

When it comes to the Switch version specifically, Fate Extella didn’t make any noticeable concessions when making the transition. The hundred plus characters on screen at once didn’t affect the game’s performance during my play session, and combat felt as fluid as it did when I originally tried the game on PS4. While the initial release was far from technically taxing, Nintendo third party titles have still earned a reputation of being inferior in some way, shape or form, so it was easy to see why some would be concerned. Thankfully, everything seems to be in order, offering fans of the original something that feels like a faithful port of the original so far. Only this time, the game doesn’t have to end when you’re away from the TV.

I’m optimistic about how Fate Extella: The Umbral Star will turn out on the Switch. With no noticeable shortcomings compared to its first go around, complete with the large amount of enemies on screen at once, let’s hope that this will be a sign of things to come when dealing with third parties in Nintendo’s new system. Any reason to get reacquainted with the cast is good enough for me, so I can’t wait to see if the full version holds up.

Fate Extella: The Umbral Star is scheduled for a July 25 release.

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

by Josh JacksonJune 26, 2017

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!

E3 2017: You All Owe ‘Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle’ An Apology

by Josh JacksonJune 24, 2017

When Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was leaked a few weeks ago, the reaction was about what we would expect. Why is this being made? Who asked for this? Who thought this was a good idea? This was the basic sentiment shared by many, only using much more colorful language. Yet while the Rabbids haven’t always been synonymous with quality gameplay, titles like the first two Raving Rabbids games and Rabbids Go Home were proof that these psychotic bunnies could put together a great game when they need to. With a collaboration as big as one with Mario for the Switch, I had little doubt that they would knock it out of the park. Based on what I played of Kingdom Battle on the show floor at E3, Ubisoft is on their way to doing just that.

The comparisons that have been made with Xcom since its initial reveal are apt on the surface, with this bizarre mishmash of characters coming together in a turn based strategy game that involves the Mushroom Kingdom’s finest and cosplaying Rabbids getting into gun fights with the bad guys. I found myself mapping routes, sliding into cover, (and enemies for extra damage), exchanging Mario’s iconic golden coins for better equipment mid battle, and whittling down enemy HP with each shot. When you can’t quite reach that perfect position to wipe out your enemies from, teamwork goes a long way when two units make contact. Once they do, the non-active unit will spring the character you’re moving into a far off spot, allowing you to get some extra distance before launching your attack. Special abilities eventually come into play, such s Mario’s ability to increase his attack strength for a certain amount of time, or the hilariously creepy Rabbid Peach being able to heal allies in her, (its?), vicinity. A variety of objectives led to victory, between eliminating the entire enemy squad to positioning your squad to claim a section of the map.

But outside of combat is where the mashup really comes together. Battles start when your team is ambushed on the world map, which you travel through in real time as if it were a typical Mario adventure. Scanning the environment led to finding bonus coins, extra items that you could take into battle, and bonus sections in the environment where you could observe the Rabbids as they interact with your favorite Mario environments in some hilarious ways, all while your annoyed narrator explains how truly obnoxious these things can be. That’s not to say that your references stop once the action starts. Maps become even more interesting when explosive crates, warp pipes and chain chomps all become strategic elements of this wacky war you find yourself caught in. Luring enemies into the Chomp while trying to avoid it myself was especially fun, knowing that this indiscriminate animal would attack whoever came near it. This was especially useful when the stronger units started to overwhelm us, forcing us to use our wits to get us out of some tough situations.

We were promised that the full game would have even more depth, so expect genre staples like terrain, additional hazards, and character growth for more strategic options. At the conclusion of the demo, I left feeling even more excited for what a full campaign would be able to produce, with local co-op expanding the possibilities of the game to an even wider scope. Many doubted this seemingly nonsensical combination of characters, but it’s safe to say that we all owe Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle an apology. It’s looking damn good.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will launch exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on August August 29.

Kid Ink And ‘Tekken 7’ Team Up To Record ‘Now It’s Personal’

by Josh JacksonMay 25, 2017

Tekken has been a fighting game mainstay for over a decade, so it’s no surprise that people from all walks of life have landed a punch or two in Namco Bandai’s brawler. One such fan is platinum selling artist, Kid Ink, who put his fandom to work while recording Now It’s Personal, a new track inspired by the upcoming Tekken 7.

Giving us a glimpse at the recording process while learning about the artist’s history with the series, the track is inspired by the final showdown between Heihachi and Kazuya, the father and son who are set to fight to the death in the game’s story mode. But in between all of the music mumbo jumbo is some insightful advice for would-be fighters who are hoping to step in the ring. Namely, it’s important to master the game itself before trying to stick with one or two characters, leading to more versatility between the entire cast. Not bad!

Take a step into the studio and watch the making of video below. What do you think of the collaboration? Would you want to see other artists get involved in the fighting game scene? Let us know in the comments!

Tekken 7 will release for the PS4, Xbox One and Steam on June 2.

Catch Up With The ‘Tekken’ Saga With This 8-Bit Recap

by Josh JacksonMay 24, 2017

Tekken 7 is right around the corner, which promises to resolve their 23 year feud in its expanded story mode. Are you thinking about checking the game out, but don’t have the time to delve in two decades worth of confusing material? Then fear not! Learn all you need to know about the first three games in the first Tekken Retro Recap!

Following a classic father-son story where the father dumps his son off of a cliff, the son gets possessed by the devil after murdering his father out of revenge, and the son in turn gets tossed into a volcano, the only events that make any sense involve the head of a global organization walking out on his pregnant mistress. Nonetheless, this insanity has kept fans like myself clamoring for the next big twist, wondering how all of this will reach its conclusion.

Check out the video below and share your thoughts with us on Tekken‘s long history, then learn about the game itself with our hands-on preview from E3 last year.

Depths of Gaming Episode 11

by NecroscourgeMay 16, 2017

Warning: Full frontal reconstruction immanent

Depths of Gaming Episode 4

by NecroscourgeMarch 27, 2017

Necroscourge and Jahith come back yet another week to discuss: D&D Beyond’s Beta Release, Black Desert Online’s ban of a aggressive player, Jontron’s lost voice deal, and in Answers Nobody Wanted we discuss paid Game Master work.

Warning: D8 Weresharks appear!

Depths of Gaming Episode 3

by NecroscourgeMarch 19, 2017

Necroscourge and Jahith discuss the System Shock 3 announcement, Crawl getting a release date, and we tackle a D&D conundrum in Answers Nobody Wanted.

Warning: I prepared Explosive Runes today.

Depths of Gaming Episode 2

by NecroscourgeMarch 12, 2017

Necroscourge and Jahith get in long grognard rants about Youtubers, Heroes of the Storm characters, Dungeons & Dragons, and Death within Dungeons & Dragons.

Warning: Consumption of this media may cause fevers, mild sweating, and cranial implosions.

Orisa Announced : New Overwatch Hero Looks Impressive

by Courtney DossettMarch 2, 2017

Blizzard delivered this morning with the reveal of their new hero, Orisa. The OP from 4chan was pretty accurate with their predictions for this character – she is a quadruped robot tank, functioning as a team anchor – although “Orisa” is way better than Anchora for a character name.

Orisa’s general look looks a lot like a centaur bot, but with a oxen look more than a horse look. Her voice line “your safety is my primary objective” reminds me a lot of Big Hero Six.

Orisa seems like a blend of Winston, and Zarya. She has a stationary shield that sounds a lot like Winston’s bubble, although it doesn’t protect you from attacks on all sides. Orisa’s cannon reminds me a lot of Zarya’s cannon, but with no reload, and she can also deploy a graviton charge that draws enemies into an explosion, slowing/stopping them in their tracks. Her Fortify lets her reduce damage taken and makes her impervious to anti-action effects, which could make her a great counter for Mei’s freeze ray.

From what I’ve been able to see from various game play videos, Orisa looks to be a hard hitter.I personally cannot wait to give her a shot in game, and see if she can help me diversify my go-to hero list (although Mei and D.Va can never be replaced in my heart!).

Orisa is available now in PTR – if you have access, give her a try and let us know what you think!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 105 – ‘They Finally Flipped The Iceburg’

by GeekscapeStaffFebruary 3, 2017

Join Adam, Courtney, Josh and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

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This Week:

Creator of Pac-Man Masaya Nakamura passes away.

Nintendo Switch online service pricing revealed.

Club Penguin closes down after 12 years.

The Club Penguin Iceburg actually flipped over!

PeTA want’s GamesWorkshop to stop using fur in their WarHammer 40,000 lore.

Zenimax awarded $500 Million in lawsuit against Oculus.

Overwatch.

CS:GO.

The Division.

Fire Emblem.

Mission Objective:

“What MMO or online game/service do you miss the most?”

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

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Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 104 – ‘Mei Confirmed THICC’

by GeekscapeStaffJanuary 27, 2017

Join Courtney, Derek, Josh and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

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This Week:

Josh’s Top Waifus of 2016 list is out!

Mei from Overwatch character model is bugged out, she is a lot THICKER than appears in new skins.

D.VA bug on Watchpoint:Antartica is pretty hilarious.

College study claims video games are a better stress reliever than sex!

Marvel and Square Enix team up for a series of Avenger’s games.

Little Nightmares release date announced; physical preoreders come with awesome figure.

Apocalypse Now game Kickstarter in effect.

Mission Objective:

“Who is your favorite waifu?”

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Celebrate The Lunar New Year With Overwatch’s Latest Event! Check Out ‘The Year Of The Rooster’

by Shane O'HareJanuary 24, 2017

The best thing that Blizzard is doing with Overwatch (that is going to contribute greatly to it’s longevity), are their Seasonal Events. Summer games, Halloween, and Christmas were all a hoot to play. Players get access to awesome character skins, emotes and game-modes; while some levels got a nice makeover. All have been well received by the community and really show that Blizzard cares about the quality of life for Overwatch. Valve, take note. Santa hats on the CS:GO chickens aren’t enough.

A few weeks ago we got teased for their newest event celebrating the Lunar New Year, and today we finally get the full list of details! Check out the trailer below.

We got ourselves a HUGE series of goodies to track down and fight for. Over 100 different cosmetic items can be had from Lunar New Year Loot Boxes. As always, players can earn them from play or buy them for real cash.

The event starts TODAY and goes until February 13th. You can find me frantically searching for that Mei skin. Mei is bae.

Geekscape Presents: The Top 16 Gaming Waifus Of 2016

by Josh JacksonJanuary 20, 2017

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!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 103 – ‘Mario’s Is Missing: Plan B Edition’

by GeekscapeStaffJanuary 20, 2017

Join Carlos, Courtney, Josh and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

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This Week:

Carlos’s opinion on the Nintendo Switch.

Fire Emblem Direct.

Fire Emblem: Heroes coming to iOS and Android.

Marvel VS Capcom 3 Ultimate is coming to PC and Xbox.

Mission Objective:

“What is your biggest CONCERN with the Nintendo Switch”

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The Official Final Fantasy Remix Of Ariana Grande’s ‘Touch It’ Can’t Be Real? Can It?

by Shane O'HareJanuary 19, 2017

I guess it can! Last few weeks on the Geekscape Games Podcast, we have been discussing the collaboration between SquareEnix and Ariana Grande.

The recording artist is being added as a playable character for the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. In fact you can snag Dangerous Ariana starting TODAY! If players complete the “Dangerous Woman” event on easy you can snag the pop idol yourself.

That’s not why you’re here, is it? No. You want to hear the OFFICIAL orchestra remix of her song Touch It. A song about sex with the ex. A song about her vagina. Remixed by an orchestra. The Final Fantasy orchestra.

WHAT EVEN IS REALITY ANYMORE?!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 102 – ‘We Have A Switch!’

by GeekscapeStaffJanuary 13, 2017

Join Adam, Courtney, Derek, Josh and Shane as they discuss the Nintendo Switch Reveal event.

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This Week:

We give our general impressions of the recent Nintendo Switch reveal event.

Check out our entire coverage of the Nintendo Switch reveal below!

Mission Objective:

“What was your favorite part of the Switch Reveal?”

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‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ Trailer & Collector’s Edition Have Us Going Crazy

by Courtney DossettJanuary 12, 2017

Switchmas is finally here, and one of the most exciting announcements from the Nintendo Switch Event was the concurrent release of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Shortly after the press conference ended, Nintendo posted not only a Collectors Edition, but also a Masters Edition of the much anticipated title on their website. The stand alone game will be $59.99.

The Collectors Edition, priced at $99, a Nintendo Switch Sheikah Slate Carrying Case, Sheikah Eye Collectible Coin, Relic of Hyrule: Calamity Ganon Tapestry and Weather-Worn Map, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sound Selection CD.

The Masters Edition includes all that as well as a Master Sword of Resurrection figure, and will sell for $129.99.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will have amiibo compatibility with the Wolf Link amiibo from Twilight Princess HD (which will be re-issued as a stand alone February 3, 2017), the Zelda 30th Anniversary series amiibo. There will be new The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild amiibos, including one for Zelda and a Bokoblin, which will retail for $15.99 each, except for the larger Guardian amiibo, which will be $19.99.

Breath of the Wild promises to be an amazing experience, if you didn’t get to see the new trailer, take a look below!

Which version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will you be purchasing for your Switch? Let us know in the comments below!

The 12 Days Of Switchmas: Day 12 – Merry Switchmas!

by Shane O'HareJanuary 12, 2017

MERRY SWITCHMAS!

We’d like to thank everyone for following along with here at Geekscape as we talk about our hopes and dreams for the Nintendo Switch (check out the previous 11 days here). Today is the big day, It’s Switchmas!

Tonight at 8PM PST, Nintendo will be live streaming a huge reveal for the upcoming console, The Switch. They will be going over the price of the console (rumored to be around $300 USD), launch titles and upcoming software.

We invite all ‘scapists to join the crew of Geekscape Games tonight at 8PM to watch the conference with us. We’ll be going live around 7:30 PM PST so be sure to join the chat. You can watch below, or head on over to GeekscapeTV on Twitch!

Watch live video from GeekscapeTV on www.twitch.tv

The 12 Days Of Switchmas: Day 9 – Virtual Console

by GeekscapeStaffJanuary 9, 2017

On the 9th Day of Switchmas Geekscape gave to you, A VIDEO! That’s right, our fantastic friend Carlos Lopez (from AngryBananas) has put together a nice video detailing as his hopes and dreams from a Switch Virtual Console.

From titles and interfaces, to online connectivity and library management. Check out Carlos’s thoughts below!

The 12 Days Of Switchmas: Day 8 – TableTop Crossover

by Courtney DossettJanuary 8, 2017

The Geekscape staff have done a great job of covering so many different aspects of what we want out of the Switch, but what about tabletop applications?

I like to play games with friends in the same room, which means hauling your gear over for a LAN party (console or PC).The gear is heavy and cumbersome (I’ve almost broken my monitor on more than one occasion), everyone’s rig takes up a lot of room, and it’s hard to get everyone into the same room without overloading a power circuit. This is one of the reasons why I love playing tabletop games, especially Dungeons and Dragons, because you can have a large (read: more than 2 or 3) friends come over and play without having quite so much hassle.

What does that have to do with the Switch? Well, I’m hoping it could mean that there will be options for tabletop gamers to use the Switch to enhance their role playing for table tops. There are some great programs already available for PC, like TableTop Simulator, and Roll20, which allow you to have your player sheet, character avatar, maps, ambient sound and music, and roll your dice, all digitally. If these programs, or one like it, could run on the Switch, it would be like creating your own RPG with your friends, that you could see on TV in real time.

There are two ways that I think this would work. The first option option would be to have one Switch that would be controlled by the dungeon master would be able to show maps on the TV, control the character placement, and could also incorporate sound effects and music. The second option would be if every player and the dungeon master had their own Switch. The players would be able to access all their player sheet, have custom spell cards, and roll dice available on their individual tablets. The dungeon master would be able to control the map display and character placement. Currently in Roll20, dice rolls are shown in a chat on the side bar, as well as on the map, so that the whole group can see how good or bad your roll is.

This is a screenshot from Roll20, which operates in a browser. The turn order and character placement make playing live a lot easier.

Custom figurines are also really popular in Dungeons and Dragons, and could possibly cross over into an amiibo option that you could integrate with the Switch, so that as your character changes and levels up, you can level up your character in game.

I haven’t been able to find anything specifically related to tabletop gaming for the Switch, however, there are some options available already for the NVIDIA Shield, and Steam Machine, so it’s not a completely crazy idea for Nintendo to add this capability to the Switch.

Do you think tabletop gaming would marry well with the Switch? Let us know in the comments below!

The 12 Days Of Switchmas: Day 7- Focus On The Exclusives!

by Josh JacksonJanuary 7, 2017

Here at Geekscape, we’re all incredibly thrilled for the Nintendo Switch. Going into day seven of our series of wants for Nintendo’s next console, my colleagues have all touched on some excellent points. From the importance of innovation to the horrid purchase management of previous Nintendo consoles, all the way to the ever present third party issue that’s hung over the company for a few generations now, you can read these thoughts and more here!

But my wish for the Switch is a simple one! One that might seemingly fly in the face of conventional thinking while being completely obvious at the same time. That is that third party support shouldn’t be the goal! Rather, focus on your exclusive content.

Splatoon was a creative, new take on the arena shooter genre. But it still felt like the Wii U wasn’t necessary to play it.

Let’s think about the most successful periods that Nintendo has enjoyed in a post Playstation world. The GameCube sold far less than their previous efforts, but had plenty of memorable exclusives that keep the system in the conversation when it comes to its great library. For all of the Wii’s faults, it sold tens of millions of units simply because it was so different, rounded out with software that took full advantage of the system’s capabilities. Even with Nintendo’s untouchable portable empire standing tall today, the mainstream press completely slammed the DS as a flimsy gimmick… Until developers made the most out of its dual screen functionality to help make it the best selling handheld of all time! The 3DS would continue this trend with an expanded focus on communication thanks to its StreetPass functionality that you couldn’t get anywhere else!

ZombiU revolved around the Game Pad, while Tokyo Mirage Sessions helped you communicate with your party with text messages. Two of the rare games that felt special on the console.

For some reason, the Wii U didn’t follow suit. If the console faltered anywhere outside of its advertising, it was that so many of its games felt like something you could play on any other console. As Jonathan alluded to in his piece, games like Nintendoland and ZombiU excelled because the Game Pad and its features were so vital when it came to getting the most out of those games. As time went on, what made it unique became less and less important. Even great games like Xenoblade Chronicles X, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze and Super Smash Bros felt like any other game to an extent, ones that you wouldn’t need a Wii U to play if they weren’t made by Nintendo or its second parties directly.

Smash was a blast to play, but it hardly pushes innovation when it was literally bundled with a controller from over a decade prior.

So when it comes to the Switch, its biggest focus absolutely needs to be making its console the exclusive home for a large variety of content, even if they’re the only ones pushing that envelope. Because as a huge Nintendo fan, I’m being realistic when I say that porting games like Skyrim and Dark Souls to the Switch will make a negligible difference when the only people who will want those types of games likely already have a PS4 or Xbox One to play them on. Even though the Wii was Nintendo’s largest home console success, you STILL had many gamers balking at games like Madworld and Monster Hunter Tri because those games, “should have been on the PS3”. Regardless of its justified, Nintendo is a damaged brand, and it would take at least a decade of good faith for Nintendo to become the first choice again. You’ll build that good faith by being the only place to get the best games.

Don’t get me wrong though. Third parties still have a place in this scenario, but simply porting games like EA did with Mass Effect 3, then throwing their hands in the air and giving up because their poorly adapted game that was years old at full price didn’t set the world on fire won’t cut it. Instead of that short sighted shell of “support”, give us the old EA! Give us the one that made games that centered around the console’s features! Because while people won’t buy Madden on Switch just because, but they did on the Wii when you had a chance to chuck your controller through your TV. Or when you actually swung your golf club in a game of Tiger Woods. Hell, even when NBA Street Vol. 3 didn’t have online support on the GameCube, you better believe that was the one people bought if it meant they could play as Mario, Peach and Luigi when tearing up the court.

It’s not street ball until Princess Peach dunks on Carmelo Anthony.

At the end of the day, Nintendo’s focus should be on rebuilding to show gamers and the casual audience that the Switch is THE destination for gaming. If this is going to happen, it’s not enough to just be a fourth PC with a few exclusives. It needs to push the envelope at all angles in a way that makes it stand head and shoulders above the competition. If they need to do that by themselves, then so be it. Now would be the opportune time to do it too, since the other two consoles are still primarily remaster and port machines with their exclusive content barely trickling out. So you can keep your Overwatch and Call of Duty… Unless I can play as Samus storming the beaches of Normandie or Fox McCloud (not) escorting the Payload of course.

Thanks for reading our seventh day of Switchmas! Be sure to check back tomorrow for our next round of thoughts, and make sure to share your own Switchmas wishes in the comments as we approach the big Switch conference!

Kingdom Death Monster 1.5 Triple Funded

by NecroscourgeDecember 11, 2016

Returning with a vengeance and on it’s last month of funding is the new Kingdom Death Monster Kickstarter Campaign sitting pretty at 7.3 million in funding and three times it’s original backers. The project revolves around a 1.5 edition of the core game being printed along with an ever-growing list of secondary and tertiary expansion content; with an update kit tier for those that already own the core game. I keep calling it a new “edition” but my understanding is that it’s a reprint with a new expansion tucked inside it that lengthens the core game with an even more final boss. And announced during the campaign is the new Screaming God expansion that adds further final bossness. Because hey, game was too easy amirite?

In addition to the core game the campaign presents the Gamblers Chest, otherwise known as “The Gigantic Box Of Expansions”. Every day or two Adam Poot’s rolls 2D10 and updates the boxes contents accordingly. Inside is everything from advanced game rules, “Narrative Character” mini-expansions, topless men with solid iron nipple-rings, and more! It’s basically for people like me that must have every single bit of game content or I feel dead inside.

I’ve been watching this campaign extremely closely because I feel like it’s a landmark for the tabletop hobby as a whole. Adam Poots is using Kickstarter exactly for what most people argue it should be for: Pushing through a complex labor of love project no sane corporation would touch. This lack of executive meddling is part of what makes the game so organic in presentation.With less than a month to go and plenty of content to reveal it’s too early to wrap up exactly what your pledge will get you besides many, many miniatures; even now there are monsters in the darkness that have yet to make themselves fully known to us.

I keep calling the game complex, why? Having watched a lot now I know that the table setup is pretty manageable compared to other big box games. There’s less than ten miniatures on the table at any time, all of the decks are placed in specific places in a neat row during play, and you assemble miniatures as they are needed session by session. Those are major selling points, but I call it complex because of how extremely intimidating the game can be for the uninitiated. Looking at any individual part of the game, the kick-starter campaign, or really anything KDM related without the entire product as context can be absolutely maddening like an eldritch artifact. You really do have to watch a full session of the game being played before your brain clicks and you get it, just reading a rulebook won’t do. And that’s also a selling point.

Kingdom Death Monster is currently on it’s last month of it’s Kickstarter Campaign. To sum up what’s what: Kingdom Death Monster 1.5 is the core game, the Gamblers Chest is a big box of extra game content, and the other expansions are large chunks of extra game content.