New Trailer Details ‘The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD’ Amiibo Functionality!

by Derek KraneveldtJanuary 21, 2016

Briefly: I nearly forgot that we’re just two months away from replaying this fantastic title.

Nintendo has just debuted a new trailer showing off the fairly extensive Amiibo functionality supported by the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD.

The physical version of the game, of course, comes packaged with the Wolf Link and Midna figure, which will open up the ‘Cave of Shadow’ challenge area in the game, which sounds like a fun distraction if you’re simply looking to tear up some baddies.

Other, Legend of Zelda Amiibo offer up different functionality as well. Link and Toon Link will refill your arrows, Zelda and Sheik figures will restore your hearts, and the Ganondorf figure, naturally, will make your experience tougher by making Link take more damage when hit.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Are you looking forward to the Twilight Princess HD release? The title will release on March 4th!

An ‘XL’ Announcement For Fire Emblem Fates — And DLC Details!

by Matt RodriguezJanuary 20, 2016

Fire Emblem Fates is one of the major Nintendo titles being launched early this year on February 19, and some new details just have been announced!

The options for purchasing the game are plentiful: there are two main games–Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright and Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest. These can both be purchased individually at retail for $39.99 each. When the player has reached chapter 6, the game will give the players the option to purchase the other game for $19.99. According to a recent announcement by Nintendo, the third story (called Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation) will be available at a purchase price of $19.99 for all players that own either Birthright or Conquest, on March 10. A special edition was also previously announced, that will have all three games on a single game cart, an artbook, as well as a Nintendo 3DS XL pouch, for $79.99.

In other breaking news, a special New Nintendo 3DS XL will be available to purchase on the same day of the game’s launch! Set at a MSRP of $199.99, this Nintendo 3DS XL sports beautiful art inspired on the game on both the top and bottom of the clamshell design. However, we regrettably report that the game will not be included with the system, and must be purchased separately (NOOOOOOO!!!!).

The Fire Emblem franchise is a turn based strategy game focused on medieval warfare, with the prime elements being strategy and companionship. The previous entry, Fire Emblem: Awakening brought substantial attention to the franchise in the West, and was one of the best selling titles. We are excited that they are bringing even more Fire Emblem games here, and even other products such as the special New Nintendo 3DS XL!

Are YOU excited about the newly announced DLC details, the New Nintendo 3DS XL, or both! Will you be purchasing these games? Please let us know in the comments!

Source: BUSINESS WIRE

More Info On ‘Bravely Second: End Layer’s North American Release Surfaces

by Natalie KipperJanuary 19, 2016

It looks like North American gamers awaiting Bravely Second: End Layer for the Nintendo 3DS (plus the 2Ds and New Nintendo 3DS) will only have to wait about three more months to get their hands on the title, when it releases on April 15. The Japanese role-playing game is the sequel to Bravely Default.

And much like its predecessor, the title will also see a Collector’s Edition (shown below) available for purchase, also releasing on April 15 . It’s suggested retail price is $69.99. What’s inside this special package? Collectors can look forward to a 10-song soundtrack, a 250-page art book, and the game (of course). Sadly, we will not be getting the mini-figure of Agnes that comes bundled with the European and Japanese Collector’s Editions.

Want to get a head-start on your journey? A special demo, entitled Bravely Second: End Layer – The Ballad of the Three Musketeers, will make its way to the eShop prior to the title’s release. The demo will feature a unique side story not found in the full game. And just as importantly, StreetPass tags and certain other bonuses acquired from the demo will transfer over to the full game.

Who is planning on purchasing Bravely Second: End Layer? Are you getting the Collector’s Edition? Let us know in the comments!

[header image via Nintendo Everything]

‘Pokemon’ Gets A Live Action Commercial During The Super Bowl… But What Is It For!?

by Josh JacksonJanuary 18, 2016

If you’re into Pokemon as much as we are here at Geekscape, then you surely have kept up with the Pokemon 20th anniversary announcements made last week, which included a year’s worth of Mythical Pokemon, an exclusive New 3DS which includes Pokemon Red, Blue and two sets of cover plates that feature the original games’ cover art, and the Western release of Pokken Tournament. But the most surprising, (and most mysterious,) announcement was that the popular game series will get its own Super Bowl spot!

Don’t believe me? Here’s the quote from the press release.

To kick-start the celebration, The Pokémon Company International announced today that it will air a new ad during Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, February 7, which will encourage fans to Train On. In that spirit, fans are encouraged to share their favorite Pokémon memories on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube using the hashtag #Pokemon20.

With that said, what could the announcement be!? Here are some of our ideas leading up to the big game.

A celebration of 20 years of Pokemon.

I would think this possibility would come up in the hopes that the additional exposure aimed at adults who might have thought Pokemon was a fad that died in the 90’s would trigger some extra interest with a dash of nostalgia. My tempered expectations make me think this option is the most likely, since the tone of the press release makes the ad sound like a celebration of the entire series that encourages us to “Train On,” (I wonder how much we’ll hear that phrase this year?) But then again, why spend so much money on a live action commercial for the notoriously expensive Super Bowl? That might be reserved for a new announcement. Such as…

A Pokemon Z Reveal!

It’s coming. It’s inevitable. And I want it now. It’s safe to say that after taking 2015 off, Pokemon Z is pretty much a sure thing for this year. Considering the anime is already introducing new forms and characters that have yet to appear in any of the games and that the third cover Pokemon has already been established with Zygarde, is there any doubt at this point? And that’s aside from the fact that the actual name of the show has shifted to Pokemon X, Y & Z! Still, game announcements like this are more likely reserved for E3. How about something that’s already announced, but that we know little about? Something like…

A release date for Pokemon Go!

Yes! As the possibility that I’m most hoping for, Pokemon Go has set the Pokemon fandom on fire since it was revealed in September. Then… Nothing! We haven’t heard a detail, hint or peep about the mobile game since. When you think about it though… That commercial was live action. Almost everyone has a phone, regardless of whether or not they still play Pokemon, (or if they ever did.) Announcing a release date during the freakin’ SUPER BOWL would be the top story of every gaming site immediately! This HAS to be the announcement, right? With a 2016 release already promised, hopefully we’ll find out when we’ll be blindly walking into traffic looking for Pokemon through our phones.

What do you think the big commercial will detail? Are there any possibilities we missed? Share your ideas, along with your Pokemon memories in the comments below, and keep your eyes peeled during the big game to see what Pokemon has in store for us on February 7th.

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘LBX: Little Battlers eXperience’

by Josh JacksonJanuary 16, 2016

Robot battling games have always been a low key favorite of mine. From Custom Robo to Virtual On, and Armored Core, there’s just something rewarding about being able to build your own character and fight it out with your friends. Sadly, games of this nature are fewer and far between these days, but that’s changing with LBX: Little Battlers eXperience, the latest game from the well versed developers at Level-5. The thought of this team bringing this type of game to the masses was an exciting one, but once my time with LBX was finished, I was left feeling like it never reaches its full potential.

In the near future, the LBX craze is at its peak. Children and adults alike can often be found squaring off against each other with their armed cardboard bots. As Van Yamato, a boy who is obsessed with the toys, is barred from having one after his father, the creator of the original LBX model, was killed in an accident. However, a group in the shadows is hoping to reprogram the toys for a much more menacing purpose. Once one of their researches escapes and sneaks a special model over to Van, him and his friends are swept up in a deep rooted conspiracy involving assassinations, the circumstances surrounding his father’, and the fabric of the LBX robots as a whole!

If you couldn’t tell, this game goes hard with its over dramatic, anime inspired plot. Not to say that’s a bad thing, but it’s humorous to think how much of this world revolves around these toys, (I’ll take this as a sign that it’s only a matter of time before amiibo start killing people.) As Van and his friends traverse the world of LBX, players will have the option to battle NPCs for items, experience and parts, buy new parts from the local shop, or progress with the story to earn some of the better equipment. Stopping to fight every so often isn’t a bad idea, since each individual part, on top of the player as a whole, will level up, unlock special abilities and get stronger with each battle. Being prepared is a necessity, especially when certain sections of the story are filled with random battles that tend to wear you down. Speaking of wearing down, your LBX won’t perform well if you don’t take care of it, so oiling it after around ten battles is necessary if you want to keep it in tip top shape.

Of course, keeping it in shape doesn’t mean much if you’re not equipping your LBX with the best parts. Thankfully, the game offers hundreds of ways to customize your machine. With certain types of framework to switch your robot into a particular category, (like the Strider Frame for speed, or Knight Frames for your all around types,) picking a play style and equipping parts that complement them are a key aspect of succeeding in your battles. From there, players can equip two weapons, which adds to the depth. Do you equip a melee weapon and a long range firearm? Or do you equip a shield instead for extra defensive power? Or do you just equip two melee weapon types so you can switch on the fly and keep your opponent guessing? This aspect of the game is where LBX really shines, offering what feels like a huge amount of customization options, especially when it comes to the extensive post game content after the 25-30 hour story mode is cleared.

Battles themselves are fairly straightforward, adopting RPG elements to go with the real time action mechanics. Taking place within a variety of terrains inspired by cities, forests and canyons to name a few, using cover in between long range attacks as you close in for the big melee damage seems to be the way to go in both single and multiplayer combat. Preventing players from getting too trigger happy, each attack costs a certain amount of tension. Once that meter fills, your robot becomes significantly weaker for a short time, so knowing when to attack is important when your toy robot has the fate of the world hanging over it. When in trouble, your LBX can use items to gain an advantage, or use devastating Special Attacks that increase the chances of earning bonus parts if you finish a battle with them. While fights are over relatively quickly, different battle modes, like team battles topping off at 3 vs. 3 and modes where each LBX gets three lives before being put down for good, extends the fun found in the battles.

At least, that’s the case for the first ten hours or so, but when it comes to the single player content, battles are so frequent that they wear thin faster than you want them to. With damage being so high and battles being so short, the set up and loading screens tend to be longer than the actual fights in some cases. Considering that you’ll constantly find yourself fighting these battles, with similar opponents, stages and weapons, and you’ll start to get worn out long before the story sees its end.

This is a similar problem that other games in the genre, such as the aforementioned Custom Robo ran into, since all the customization in the world doesn’t matter when you spend your time continuously KO’ing brain dead AI. Fortunately, the latest game in that series had online play, which let you put your combinations and play style to the test against opponents from around the world. Unfortunately, LBX doesn’t offer this luxury, being restricted to local multi card multiplayer only. Let’s face it. A game like this is more of a niche title, making it so that it may be hard to find a wide variety of opponents who live in your vicinity. So without online play, it might be hard to round up a group of batllers to test your strategies with. In that case, all you’re left with is a repetitive single player mode, where its absurdly entertaining story might not be enough to keep you playing the same battles over and over again.

After an extensive amount of time with LBX, it’s not quite the revival of the robot battling genre I was hoping for. While all of the customization, weapon types and combat depth can be found within this package, it ends up being bogged down by the lack of online multiplayer or single card download play, a repetitive single player mode with easy to beat AI, and short battles that are over long before you’re ready. The well produced cutscenes, sharp handheld visuals and a world of potential aren’t enough to help LBX rise above more than an average game, which I’m hoping will get better with subsequent releases. For now however, we’ll have to keep waiting for another strong build and battle experience.

tl;dr

+ A large amount of weapons, models, items and battle types, creating a wide variety of strategies.

+ The ridiculous story mode that puts the fate of the world on the backs of these inch tall robots, mostly told through well produced cutscenes.

+ Fun, addictive combat, that unfortunately…

– Gets old after numerous, repetitive fights against the easily beatable CPU.

– The lack of online or single card mulitplayer makes it hard to explore the game’s full potential.

– Short single player battles wear out an already repetitive single player mode.

Final Score: 2.5/5

The Past And The Future Square Off In The First ‘Splatoon’ Splatfest Of The New Year!

by Josh JacksonJanuary 15, 2016

For the first time since Callie’s Team Naughty stood tall over Marie’s Team Nice, Splatoon is back with another North American Splatfest, this time, pitting the past against the future!

Asking Inklings whether or not they would rather visit the past or visit the future, this event will take place during its usual time, from Friday, January 15 at 9 PM PST to Saturday, January 16 at 9 PM PST. Each team’s popularity and win percentage will be tallied to decide who the ultimate winner is, with early voters chiming in as to why they chose the side that they did.

Callie on the other hand, has a different reason for why she would rather visit the past than explore all of the potential advancements of the future, or at least scope out the next set of lotto numbers.

Well, I guess we all have our priorities, but what are yours? Are you Team Past, or Team Future? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to include your Nintendo ID’s so we can get claim turf together!

Images courtesy of www.reddit.com/r/Splatoon

Celebrate 20 Years Of ‘Pokemon’ With These Eleven Mythical Pokemon Distibutions!

by Josh JacksonJanuary 13, 2016

With all the news surrounding the 20th anniversary of Pokemon, from the New 3DS with exclusive cover plates, to the first three movies being remastered, perhaps the most exciting piece of information was that we would be getting a full year of distribution events starting in February!

After the initial announcement, pokemon.com released the full list and schedule for releasing what they’re dubbing as ‘mythical Pokemon.’ Starting from generation 1 and working all the way to gen 5, each Pokemon will be at level 100 and will be obtainable either through a Nintendo Wi-Fi event, or at participating GameStop stores, depending on the event. If you’re worried about being able to EV train them when they start out at their max level, remember that Super Training and Vitamins can still get them up to snuff, albiet in a less convenient way than your standard training with Pokerus.

Considering these Pokemon are usually very hard to come by, with limited releases before disappearing for years at a time, now is the time for trainers to complete their collection, especially since each one will work with both X/Y AND Ruby/Sapphire, a rare occurance since most events since the gen 3 remakes released have been exclusive to the newer titles.

To make things easier to figure out, here are the details for each event in the order of release:

Mew
February 1-24 2016 at GameStop
Ability: Synchronize
Moves: Pound

(Note: Considering Mew can learn every TM and HM, its lack of a preset move pool shouldn’t worry trainers considering the possibilities with the original event Pokemon are nearly limitless.)

Celebi
March 1-24 via Nintendo Network
Ability: Natural Cure
Moves: Confusion, Recover, Heal Bell, Safeguard

Jirachi
April 1-24 via Nintendo Network
Ability: Serene Grace
Moves: Wish, Confusion, Rest

Darkrai
May 1-24 via GameStop
Ability: Bad Dreams
Moves: Dark Void, Ominous Wind, Nightmare, Feint Attack

Manaphy
June 1-24 via Nintendo Network
Ability: Hydration
Moves: Tail Glow, Bubble, Water Sport

(Note: As the only mythical Pokemon that can breed, pair Manaphy with Ditto at the Daycare to pop out a bonus monster with Phione.)

Shaymin
July 1-24 via Nintendo Network
Ability: Natural Cure
Moves: Seed Flare, Aromatherapy, Substitute, Energy Ball

Arceus
August 1-24 via GameStop
Ability: Multitype
Moves: Judgment, Recover, Hyper Beam, Perish Song

Victini
September 1-24 via Nintendo Network
Ability: Victory Star
Moves: Incinerate, Quick Attack, Endure, Confusion

Keldeo
October 1-24 via Nintendo Network
Ability: Justified
Moves: Aqua Jet, Leer, Double Kick, Bubble Beam

Genesect
November 1-24 via GameStop
Ability: Download
Moves: Techno Blast, Magnet Bomb, Solar Beam, Signal Beam

Meloetta
December 1-24 via Nintendo Network
Ability: Serene Grace
Moves: Quick Attack, Confusion, Round

What an exciting time to be a trainer!

Which Mythical Pokemon do you need to round out your collection? Or do you already have all 720 and are looking to double up throughout the year? Comment below and let us know, and continue to follow us all year long to celebrate 20 years of Pokemon!

Soon You Can Add ‘Splatoon’ To Your Manga Library!

by Natalie KipperJanuary 11, 2016

Nintendo’s hit alternative-FPS Splatoon has already invaded multiple aspects of geek culture, like cosplay and fan art, and now the squid-kid hybrids have set their crosshairs on our bookshelves.

Japanese magazine Famitsu announced that the game is set to receive not one, but two manga adaptations. The first is a four-panel comic, Honobono Ika no 4-Koma, by Kino Takahashi, the artist behind the Terra Battle play diaries. The second series is entitled Splatoon Play Manga and will showcase different artists and depict their experiences with the game. Release dates for either series have not yet been revealed.

Which artists would you like to see illustrate a Splatoon manga?

[via Crunchyroll]

Geekscape Toys: Travel To Lorule With figma Link: ‘A Link Between Worlds’ Ver.!

by Natalie KipperJanuary 9, 2016

It is a good time to be a Legend of Zelda collector. First, there was the news of GameStop carrying Nendoroid Link Majora’s Mask ver. Now, pre-orders are open for Good Smile Company’s figma Link: A Link Between Worlds ver., available in both standard and DX editions.

This figma stands approximately 110 millimeters in height. The figure is able to be posed in many different positions and is packaged with a stand. Link is also able to switch out facial expressions and comes with a smiling face as well as a serious one. Both editions include the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and an illustrated sheet of Link when he is merged to a wall.

If all that is enough for you, you should be just fine with the Standard edition. But who wouldn’t want more Legend of Zelda goodness? That is where the DX edition comes in. The DX edition not only includes everything from the Standard edition but also packs in the Tornado Rod, Hookshot, a Bomb, a Baby Maiaimai (so cute!), a rupee, and a pot. Before you ask: no, you cannot smash the pot.

You can pre-order these figures now at the Good Smile Company online store. The Standard edition costs ¥5,000 while the DX edition will set you back ¥6,000. Keep in mind that orders are limited and will close on February 3 at 9p.m. Japan time. They are scheduled to release this August.

The Top 10 Gaming Waifus Of 2015

by Josh JacksonJanuary 8, 2016

Warning: Potential spoilers follow!

The New Year is here! Which means for many of us, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the past year and think about what you did right, what you can improve on and how you can tackle 2016 in the best way possible. Or for the rest of us, you think back on all the fictional characters you were totally crushing on through 2015.

Yes, that’s right! It’s time for the second annual waifu of the year list (check out last year’s list right here), and if you were expecting it to be a one and done feature after I would have been inevitably added to the sexual offenders list, I’m just as surprised as you are. But before we get into the list, let’s show some appreciation for the fantastic waifu candidates that just missed the cut this year.

Rise Kujikawa (Persona 4: Dancing All Night)

While in the midst of a big comeback tour, a pop idol should probably spend her time brushing up on her choreography and screaming at interns for bringing them the wrong mineral water. Yet, Ms. Kujikawa decides to spend it saving her understudies from the clutches of monsters who must be fought with the power of dance. It was hard to list Rise over the new girl, Kanami Mashita, but considering the new girl is a big reason why the crap hit the fan to begin with, her senpai gets the nod here. The only reason why Rise didn’t make the main list is because her time to shine is essentially stolen by the swagtastic Yu Narukami, but that doesn’t mean her contributions shouldn’t be acknowledged.

Toko Fukawa (Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls)

In the original Danganronpa, Toko was often rude, shrewd, and oh so smelly, to the point where her alter ego overshadowed her in every possible way. When you consider that said alter ego is a serial killer, then you must really be a special kind of awful. Then Another Episode came along, and we were reintroduced to a strong, steadfast girl who was able to be Komaru’s voice of reason when being trapped on a secluded island full of killer robot Monokuma’s become too much to bear, (pun intended af.) So much so in fact, that even Genocide Jack develops self control along the way, serving as an invaluable ally for the Future Foundation. Toko would have normally been a shoe in for this year’s waifu list, except that she still only has eyes for Byakuya Togami. Anyone else would likely wind up dead, so yeah… There’s that.

Quest Receptionist (Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate)

Always there to greet you with a smile and a bad joke right before you take off to fight towering beasts that are likely to maul you, the mission girl is the cornerstone of any successful caravan. Now if she actually did something more than sit in a chair and make fun of you, then she would definitely be top waifu material. Regardless, she left her mark on the hearts of the Monster Hunter fandom, and that’s what counts.

Ayumi Shinozaki (Corpse Party: Blood Drive)

A shy girl with good intentions, this spiritually sensitive girl will do anything for her friends, even if it means diving back into a haunted school where most of them were previously killed in the hopes that she can revive them. Such loyalty is rare these days, which is why Ayumi deserves a nod. But we should also mention that her friends are essentially dead because of her, and returning to revive them means the ones that are still alive could end up killed as a result! But you know, an A for effort, Ayumi.

The Criminal Girls (Criminal Girls)

Now we can’t compile a list as ~~pathetic~~ amazing this one and not talk about the Criminal Girls, a group of mostly underage female inmates that are forced to help you as a guard, (who’s essentially a Pokemon Trainer if the monsters were girls of questionable morals,) escape a prison overrun with demons. That would be all well and good if criminals had any respect for the law, but considering these girls have an NWA attitude towards your authority, the only way to get them to follow your commands is to tie them down and spank them into submission… I mean, that really says it all, doesn’t it? The girls might have made the proper list if the game they star in wasn’t an absolute bore to play, but the concept is too absurd to ignore. So here’s your time to shine girls! And we’ll see you in 2016 in the sequel!

So after asking yourself how this made publication in the first place, you might be wondering who could have made the final cut with so many great characters on the sidelines! From weeaboo bait, to some of the biggest titles of the year, we scoured the gaming landscape and compiled the definitive list of waifu’s 2015 had to offer. From ninjas, to CPUs, vault dwellers to squids, and even a dude. Crack open your ramune and curl up with your favorite body pillow as we proudly (?) bring to you the top 10 waifus of 2015!

10. Homura (Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson)

An evil ninja formerly of the Hebijo Clandestine Girls’ Academy, Homura and her squad have become renegade ninjas, on the run from their former allies after helping the good ninjas of Hanzo Academy foil Hebijo’s plan for world domination at the end of the first Senran Kagura. Despite being rightfully known as the game that was specifically created for 3D boobs on Nintendo’s handheld, the games have deceptively strong storylines behind all the clothes tearing and shameless zoom ins. But what makes Homura stand out beyond all of the other Senran Kagura girls is that despite her cold, distant exterior, she’ll do anything to protect her friends, even if it means putting herself at risk. Whether that means shielding her fellow renegades from the wrath of their old school, or fighting alongside her childhood friend / good ninja rival, Asuka, Homura is never one to let pride get in the way of doing what’s right. To top it off, when her 10 kitanas, (which are incredibly badass by the way,) can’t get the job done, her Crimson Mode helps her take the battle to the next level.

9. Lin (Xenoblade Chronicles X)

The girl with the Monado hair pins. Lin Lee Koo is the resident prodigy of New Los Angeles, serving as the top mechanic for the BLADES as they explore the seemingly uncharted planet of Mira. In addition to being the one who services the team’s giant mechs, or Skells in this case, she also manages to hold her own in battle, wielding a heavy shield that’s as big as she is. It also helps to be tech savvy when everyone in town is using a substitute mechanical body.

But more so than all of that, Lin finds herself on the list mostly because of all the controversy that surrounded the ability to dress her up. After Nintendo added some extra cloth to a costume that they felt was too revealing for a 13 year old in the West, a segment of Xenoblade fans had a meltdown, fighting the decision tooth and nail to protect the integrity of the original work. Others might have just wanted to see her half naked, but the point is people were obsessing over her look for a very long time. Her being awesome is just a bonus!

8. Me (Fallout 4)

After spending enough time in the wastelands of Fallout 4, I came to the conclusion that I’m a pretty awesome wife. In a time that’s easily full of confusion after waking up from a cryogenic sleep, only to find everyone who was with you has been long dead and the last thing you witnessed was your spouse getting killed as your son was kidnapped, it’s all a lot to take in. But I pushed on, hell bent to rescue my son from the monsters who ripped him from my husband’s arms, eating and drinking as much radioactive meat and water as I can along the way. But in between developing stage 3 lymphoma with every meal, maybe I can help these passerby’s along the way? Or find this missing item for this questionable traveler? Wait, who was I supposed to rescue again?

If my version of Fallout Wife wasn’t so easily sidetracked, she could have been much higher on the list, but since I play as if my kid isn’t as important as these shady strangers I keep coming across, my priorities are clearly all out of whack. Number 8 sounds like a good place since I should get around to saving my son. Eventually…

By the way, Fallout 4‘s female lead voice actor was just on Geekscape this past week, which you can listen to right here.

7. Me (Hatoful Boyfriend)

I had trouble finding a picture that captured my good side in Hatoful Boyfriend. Oh, I know, how about this?

When I’m not a decapitated robot scarecrow tied down with a burlap sack, I’m a mild mannered middle school girl attending St. PigeoNation’s Institute for birds. I also happen to be the only human attending. In Hatoful Boyfriend, I have the capacity to love everybirdie, so much so that I’m acting as a secret liaison to re-establish human-bird relationships, unbeknownst even to me! Some of my friends have weird tastes in clothes, but still not any less weird than a human dating a pigeon.

As a hunter-gatherer who has enough compassion to not only serve as the ambassador for an entire species, but to fall in love with men of other species, my Hatoful self was a no brainer for this year’s list… Especially since I spend half the game without a brain. Whether I’m going to festivals with my bird boyfriend, or curling up next to him as a head in a jar while an army of bloodthirsty soldiers look to murder us in what could be our final moments, I must say that this time around, I’m a pretty good catch!

6. Me (Amnesia: Memories)

Making the list three times!? I think I’ve set some kind of waifu record!

When it came down to all of the different iterations of “me” this year, the top waifu goes to my female self in Amnesia: Memories. Imagine being a college girl who’s memories get erased when a well-meaning demon accidentally gets trapped in your brain, and said demon is the only person you can trust as you try to piece together your life while keeping your memory loss hidden from those who might take advantage of it. Sucks, doesn’t it? But despite all this, Amnesia me has such a big heart. Despite my potential husbandos being completely awkward around me, having magical eyes that make every girl *except* me fall in love with him, being so protective of me that they lock me in a dog cage so I can’t leave the house, or even a man with a split personality, one of which wants to kill me, the fact that I’m still able to find the capacity to love these men is amazing in and of itself.

Above all else however, if I get tired of a guy and want to dump them, rather than break their heart, I can just jump to a different dimension where I never dated them at all! If nothing else, at least I’m empathetic.

5. Jonah (Rise of the Tomb Raider)

What’s the first thing you notice about Jonah?

Yes, Scott. But aside from that. Jonah is the only companion from the Tomb Raider reboot to follow Lara into her latest adventure, serving as the textbook definition of her ride or die. Anyone can say that they would follow you to the ends of the earth, but Jonah really means it. Whether he’s traveling to war torn Syria, or to the Siberian mountains to track down an ancient relic that may or may not exist, the man even takes a knife for her! Forget that he’s so deep in the friend zone that a pair of pickaxes couldn’t dig him out, because he’s always there for Lara when she needs him.

Yes, he’s a guy, and I know that I disqualified guys last year, (no matter how feminine they looked,) but I would give Jonah a shot as my waifu just on the merits of how awesome he is.

4. Plutia (Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation)

In last year’s list, Neptune took the number two spot primarily on the basis that she was essentially every gamer’s dream girl. If you took those qualities and applied them to Plutia, she would be Neptune cranked up to 11. A perpetually sleepy and highly impressionable girl who will only greet the day if it means being able to play video games, knit dolls, or balk at any and all responsibility, the goddess of V Generation‘s alternate version of Planeptune doesn’t seem like much at first glance. But if you make her angry, she takes up a form that strikes fear in the hearts of friend and foe alike.

In her CPU form, Plutia’s personality takes a complete 180 as Iris Heart, a goddess that takes as much pleasure in punishing her friends as she does her enemies. Nicknamed “Sadie” for her sadomasochistic tendencies, her whip and high heels can grind any foe into submission, leading her allies to dread the occasions when Iris Heart is forced to show herself. Yet, some of you might be into that kind of thing, getting the best of both worlds from this polarizing Neptunia character. And if you are indeed that kind of person, Plutia will make her playable return in this year’s multiplayer extravaganza, MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies. Get hyped!

3. Komaru Naegi (Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls)

Often touted as a regular girl who can’t do anything special, everything that takes place in Danganronpa: Ultra Despair Girls flies in the face of that idea. Despite being trapped on an island full of killer robots that are out to kill her, while a group of insane children turn hunting her into a game, Komaru doesn’t do too bad for herself! Armed with a special megaphone that can destroy and manipulate almost all of the machinery in Towa City, the girl who initially only known as the little sister of former protagonist Makoto Naegi, grows into a defender of hope in the face of growing despair.

Despite secretly being groomed to become the successor to the Ultimate Despair, Junko Enoshima, Komaru forsakes revenge and spares the lives of the innocent Monokuma Kids in the process, ending her adventure with both the kids and the adults out for her head. What the future holds for Komaru might still be unknown, but being able to make such a difficult choice, taking on all of the hatred of an entire town and carrying it on her back, earns her the number three spot on this illustrious list.

2. Callie and Marie (Splatoon)

Whether you’re a kid or a squid, there’s not a person who has played Splatoon who hasn’t fallen in love with Callie and Marie, collectively known as the squid sisters. Acting as news reporters who make sure to clue you in on all of what’s happening in Inkopolis each time you boot up the game, the girls are known to up the stakes every now and again with occasional Splatfests. Unlike any other waifu on this list, Callie and Marie have the power to manipulate Inklings around the world to fight in their name over such important matters as deciding if burgers are better than pizza.

However, rumor has it that in addition to keeping the world of Splatoon up to date, the two are said to secretly act under the guise of Agents 1 and 2, protecting the city from the hidden Octoling threat. As driven career women, it’s amazing that they’re able to find the time to work as undercover agents while managing to make wise cracks at each other in between discussing new stages. And if you think putting both girls on the list as part of the same entry is a cop out, it is! Because I can’t decide which one between the two is best girl. While Callie’s energetic personality would usually win out, Marie’s sarcastic wit delivered what had to have been the best line of the year, declaring that Team Science lost against Team Art because her team “had jobs to do.” Right in the feelers, Marie.

Whichever one you prefer, it’s undeniable that Callie and Marie have become the icons of what’s arguably the biggest new IP of 2015, so get used to those faces, because I expect to see them for a long time. And as always…

We’ve gone through a lot of amazing characters, but only one can stand alone as the undisputed “Best Girl” of 2015. So without further ado, the top waifu of 2015 is…

1. Nepgear (Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2: Sisters Generation, Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation)

Releasing in very early 2015, we were re-intruduced to Nepgear in Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2: Sisters Generation, and from the moment the download started on my PS Vita, it was love at first byte. As the resident techy of the group, Nepgear rocks at tinkering as much as she rocks that school uniform, often daydreaming of all things robotic.

Being the little sister of the series protagonist means having to live up to some high expectations, especially when said protagonist and all of her friends from the previous game start off as captured and powerless. From the point of Nepgear’s escape and rise from the ashes was one of the most enjoyable journeys I played during the year. Yes, I know that seemingly the majority of the fandom craps on the second game due to it losing a big portion of the first game’s humor in favor of a doom and gloom story with heavy anti-piracy themes. From a narrative standpoint however, Nepgear and the rest of the little sisters, under her leadership, are able to rise above hate, never give up and eventually surpass the goddesses, becoming incredibly powerful in their own right.

Nepgear in her CPU form as Purple Sister

Which is more the reason Re;Birth 3 broke my heart a little when it came to Nepgear. The game regained its trademark humor, turning the fans’ dislike for the second game, turning it into a big joke, and directing it straight at Purple Sister herself. Despite the fact that her only sin was coddling Neptune way too much, that didn’t stop her beloved sister from constantly putting her down, mocking her status as former main character, and turning her friends against her to the point where she even convinces her allies from the second game that it’s perfectly okay to leave her trapped in another dimension when it came to the “good” ending of the third game. A dimension she wouldn’t have been in in the first place if she didn’t travel between worlds to rescue Neptune AGAIN!

But speaking of alternate endings, the most controversial moment in the entire series falls squarely on Nepgear’s shoulders during the Conquest Ending of Re;Birth 2. The only thing Nep Jr. loves more than her sister and friends is Gamindustri itself, and this ending proves how far she will go when it comes to protecting the world she’s come to care for so much. In a desperate attempt to vanquish their enemies once and for all, the girls learn of a forbidden weapon that absorbs the life energy of CPUs to build its strength. From here, its open season, as Nepgear travels from land to land, slaughtering all of her friends, including her best friend, Uni, and the twin girls, Rom and Ram, the former of which looks up to Nepgear like a big sister. Eventually, only Neptune herself is standing, but not for long…

What the goodness!?

After all the Re;Birth 3 shenanigans, I almost wanted this to be canon, but when she’s not slaughtering everyone she holds dear, Nepgear is a strong, reliable girl who’s managed to charm the knee socks off of us. Plus, we’re humans, so when the inevitable day comes when Nepgear finally snaps, is there anyone better to be in your corner?

So there’s your list of top waifus for 2015! Did your favorite make the cut, or were our trash waifus far too inferior to deserve the honor of best girl? Share your thoughts, picks, and all the reasons why I’m wrong with us in the comments below, and tweet me your suggestions @InuJoshua!

Geekscape’s ‘Super Mario Maker’ Course Of The Week: Zelda: Tire Swing Of Seasons

by The_aczJanuary 7, 2016

What’s this? A featured course a day early? Hell yeah, because why not?

Today’s course of the week comes from the user Brian with his take on one of the weirdest (and under-rated) handheld Zelda titles. Today’s course name is The Legend of Zelda: Tire Swing of Seasons.

In this level, you play as Link (later on Zelda & Ganondorf) as you traverse through many treetops and tire swings that span through all 4 seasons. From the growth of the vines in Spring, to the icy waters of Winter, this is a level that combines the season changing of the Zelda series with the platforming of the Donkey Kong Country Series. Also bumpers, lots of them. If you think you’re up for the challenge then give it a try at: BF73-0000-0165-215A. Until next time, keep creating and playing awesome levels!

Will 2016 Be The Year Of The NX? Further Rumors Emerge!

by Matt RodriguezJanuary 6, 2016

The internet is buzzing, due to predictions and statements made by Nomura Securities analyst Junko Yamamura. These statements (via Barron’s Asia), point towards a “concept reveal” sometime between March and May, a full console reveal during E3, and even a console release in time for the holiday season of 2016. While this is a possibility, it is no guarantee that we will see a 2016 console release, although other similar news have surfaced to strengthen this theory, such as a report that claims Nintendo will ship 20 million NX units in 2016.

The 3DS was initially launched in 2011, and Nintendo most commonly follows a five to six year console cycle between new systems, so a 2016 or 2017 launch year for its successor would make a lot of sense. The Wii U was launched in 2012, so although a refresh on that console is unlikely, it isn’t entirely possible since there has been some speculation that it failed to meet the bar that its predecessor, the Wii, has set. If there would be a “concept reveal”, my best guess it would be through a Nintendo Direct, which is Nintendo’s dedicated news platform for streaming news to gamers through video. An E3 reveal for the console would also make sense, because E3 is the industry standard outlet for major gaming news, including, but not limited to, console reveals. I think that a 2016 launch is still a bit of a stretch, but if the other two come true, it may very well be possible.

We have already an article on a NX patent utilizing “additional computing devices“, so we are excited by the potential new ways of gaming it could bring to the table! Do you think that we will see this exciting new console in 2016? Please let us know in the comments!

Source: Barron’s Asia, via IGN

New York’s Nintendo World Schedules A Gigantic Facelift!

by Natalie KipperJanuary 6, 2016

If you have a particular fondness for the way Nintendo’s Rockefeller Center-based Nintendo World Store is now, you had best visit before it closes for a remodel on January 19. The store will reopen on February 19 under a new name, Nintendo NY, and will feature an overhauled look.

The updated interior will have a 15-foot gaming screen, brand new demo units for both the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS, and additional surprise elements. The store’s new tagline, “Where everyone comes to play,” will be emblazoned on a bronze coin at the store’s entrance.

The grand opening weekend for Nintendo NY, February 19 through 21, will host special activities, giveaways, plus the chance to see costumed versions of Mario and Luigi. Collectors take note: several exclusive souvenirs will be on sale this weekend only, such as limited editions shirts featuring Link or Mario.

Who’s planning on paying a visit to the updated Nintendo NY when it opens? I know I wish I had a plane ticket!

Live In Japan? Check Out These Awesome ‘Splatoon’ Watches!

by The_aczJanuary 5, 2016

It’s been about 8 months since Splatoon launched on Wii U to commercial and critical success, and it doesn’t look like it’ll be slowing down anytime soon.

On top of a fully illustrated artbook Ala Legend of Zela: Hyrule Historia, It looks like Splatoon is about to add themed watches to their list of awesome merchandise you’ll want to waste your money on. The sad news? You’ll only be able to purchase these from toy capsule machines in Japan only. Hopefully the U.S isn’t too far behind. Check out the announcement HERE!

Rumor: Are We Getting A Big Zelda Announcement Soon?

by The_aczDecember 28, 2015

Things have been pretty mysterious regarding The Legend Of Zelda Wii U since its quiet tease in last month’s Nintendo Direct, but it looks like that’s about to change soon.

According to a website by the name of Gaming Professionals, Nintendo is gearing up to show a trailer related to The Legend Of Zelda for what’s said to be a very important event happening soon. This isn’t hard to believe, as next year is the 30th anniversary of the beloved series and Nintendo would want to do everything in their power to hype this up. It also makes sense, seeing as how the 30th anniversary is on February 21st which is a little less than 2 months away. The video supposedly shows a father and his daughter bonding over the series with what’s said might be some new clips from the upcoming Wii U title. as well as footage from past games.

Do you think this rumor has any truth to it? Comment below and let us know! If you want to check out the original article, feel free to read it right HERE!

Celebrate The 20th Anniversary Of ‘Pokemon’ With New 2DS Systems And A Cover Plate The West Will Never Get!

by Josh JacksonDecember 27, 2015

Want to feel old? In a few weeks, it will be 2016, which marks the 20th anniversary of Pokemon, the monster collecting RPG that has remained a global phenomenon essentially since its debut. With the announcement of the original titles hitting the Virtual Console early next year, what better way to celebrate than with a ton of new hardware to kick off the celebration?

At least, that’s the case in Japan. Though the 2DS has been a retail fixture in the West over the last few years, Japan will finally get their hands on the handheld thanks to these special designs that represent each of the four versions of the debut titles. Launching with a Red, Green, Yellow and Pokemon Center exclusive Blue system, each one comes with a digital copy of the game that matches the color of the handheld. Check out the units up close below:

For those who already have enough handhelds in the 3DS line, those with a New 3DS will be able to decorate their systems with a 20th anniversary Cover Plate set. Sprinkled with sprites from the old games, the only bad part about these plates is that they’ll probably only be available in the West through importing. Considering that the New 3DS got a quiet release as part of the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer bundle, then went through the holiday season without any Cover Plates released Stateside outside of the Nintendo World Store in New York, and it’s safe to say we’ll have to hit up our favorite Japanese retailers once the plates hit the market.

Lastly, whether one of the games is purchased through the bundles mentioned above, or downloaded independently through the eShop, each buyer will get a code to download the ever elusive Mew in their copies of Pokemon X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire. As the original, and now, one of many event Pokemon that only come along once every few years in some cases, this is more of an incentive for trainers to take a return trip to the Kanto region. I mean, assuming they didn’t have enough of a reason as it was.

The only catch is that all of this awesome news is only confirmed for Japan. However, in recent years, The Pokemon Company and Nintendo have been pretty good with sharing the wealth, so don’t be surprised if we hear something about an International release soon. Well, except for those Cover Plates.

What say you, readers? Which 2DS would you get if you’re getting one at all? Are you excited for the eShop re-releases? Comment below with your thoughts!

Source: NintendoLife.com

Blaze Across Space (Again) In A ‘Freedom Planet’ Sequel!

by Matt RodriguezDecember 27, 2015

In their own version of a Christmas, GalaxyTrail has just revealed a sequel to their wildly popular franchise Freedom Planet! It seems not long ago that we wrote about the possibility of a 3DS port of the original, however, we are excited to hear that it’s getting a continuation!

While the trailer sets the baseline for their new story, information about the mechanics of their new game can be found at their website. It already appears to have much of the Sonic-esque momentum based combat that we’ve all come to know and love from the first game.

The Freedom Planet franchise is about a spunky dragon girl and her friends who go up against a deadly alien force, and uses momentum based combat similar to the Sonic the Hedgehog games of the 16-bit era. It was designed as a throwback to platformers of its style, but we believe this sequel will cement it as its own franchise, and step out of the shadows of the games of yesteryear!

Freedom Planet 2 will be available on PC and Wii U.

Source: Freedom Planet 2

‘Puzzles & Dragons Mario Edition’ Get’s A Puzzling New Update

by The_aczDecember 26, 2015

It looks like Puzzles & Dragons Mario Edition for the 3DS has gotten a sudden update.

The update launched 2 days ago on the 24th and has added a wealth of new content. This includes new leaders such as Metal Mario, Boomerang Luigi, Gold Mario, and more! Among that, there are also new transformations, allies, new challenges, and even world rankings and a replay system to show off some of your best combos! Not only that, but on January 31st 2016, P&D developer GungHo will be sponsoring the Puzzles & Dragons International Championship in Japan. Have you tried the new update yet?

Turn Up The Heat With ‘Super Mario Maker’s New Update!

by Matt RodriguezDecember 23, 2015

Nintendo’s highly anticipated Super Mario Maker December update is now live! The update adds some never-before-seen items, as well as the launch of Super Mario Maker Bookmark!

The new items, directly from Nintendo’s website, include:

-Fire Koopa Clown Car: This volcanic vessel is capable of shooting fireballs as well as a powerful charged shot that can even destroy Blocks. It’s perfect for creating shoot-’em-up-style courses.

-P Warp Doors: Unlike regular Warp Doors, these are only visible while a P Switch is active—perfect for creating truly devious Ghost House courses.

-Bumper: This bouncy donut-shaped object sends Mario bounding away when touched.

-World Records: Now pages will display the World Record for each course uploaded, displaying the fastest clear time.

-Super Mario Maker Bookmark: Levels that players have bookmarked to play later using the Web portal will be accessible from the Course World tab.

Super Mario Bookmark is a web based tool to help you find Super Mario Maker courses to play when you’re not at home. It also includes many filters to find courses, such as difficulty, and even incorporates search tags, such as “automatic”, so you can even look for a style of level! We have seen similar endeavors, such as with Sony’s LittleBigPlanet series. These options make it wonderful to search for courses while you’re at work, or busy outdoors, so when you get home, you can just concentrate on playing! The tool is available right now, right here.

Super Mario Maker is a platform where you can build your own Mario levels, using many tools provided by Nintendo, such as enemies, music, and blocks. We at Geekscape recommend Mario Maker levels weekly, our latest article details an unreal Metroid-vania style user-created level.

Source: Nintendo

Geekscape Toys: First 4 Figures Recreates Ganon’s Puppet Zelda

by Natalie KipperDecember 21, 2015

First 4 Figures, purveyor of fine gaming art pieces, recently listed their latest work for pre-order, “Master Arts” Ganon’s Puppet Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Inspiration for the piece is taken from the scene where Link is forced to battle Princess Zelda, who is in caught in the grips of Ganon’s curse.

While I personally find this statue to be spooky nightmare fuel, the craftsmanship that First 4 Figures is known for is still evident. You can get a better look at the figure, from all different angles, at First 4 Figure’s site. I was particularly impressed by the detail on the dress and the eerie markings on her skin, indicating the curse. Ganon’s Puppet Zelda is 1/4 scale, standing at 15 inches tall, including the base. Each one is cast in polystone then hand-painted. This piece is limited in edition size but exact numbers have yet to be released.

“Master Arts” Ganon’s Puppet Zelda is scheduled to release in the third quarter of 2016. The figure will cost $349.99. The payment can be made all at once upon shipment of the figure or in three monthly payments (see the listing for more information).

Geekscape’s ‘Super Mario Maker’ Course Of The Week: Dungeon Vania!

by The_aczDecember 18, 2015

Another Week Another Level.

Today’s level comes from a japanese user. The level itself is Dungeon Vania. The idea of this level is that there is more than one way to get to your goal. Sometimes going through a pipe might cause you to die or force backtracking in order to get another item, but this doesn’t constantly happen so you still feel in control. In some ways the level is actually more like a puzzle.

Before you enter a pipe to a puzzle room, you’ll see certain symbols of items or enemies in small boxes above it. These are used as clues for what to expect from those pipes. Some might involve using kuribo shoes & POW blocks, but others might take use of fire flowers or piranha plants. Can you successfully navigate your way through the dungeons tricks and traps to get to the goal?

If you think you can take this level head on try it at: 8EB7-0000-011D-E29B. Comment below if you have any levels that you think should be showcased. Until next week, keep creating and playing awesome levels!

‘Super Smash Bros.’ Direct Reveals New Characters, Costumes, and More!

by Natalie KipperDecember 15, 2015

Today marked the final Super Smash Bros.-dedicated Nintendo Direct and, boy, was it a doozy. Not only did it go into further detail about Final Fantasy VII‘s Cloud Strife‘s upcoming inclusion, it also announced the overall top pick for the Fighter’s Ballot poll along with another combatant. So without further ado, here are the new fighter’s joining the roster:

Bayonetta (of the Bayonetta series)

Coming up as the top pick in Europe and amongst the top five in North America, Bayonetta was the winner of the Fighter’s Ballot. The Umbra Witch’s fighting style will focus on stringing together combos of various attacks. Her move “Witch Time” slows down the movement of any opponents nearby. Bayonetta’s signature stage, The Umbra Clock Tower, features moving platforms and and an alternate version of the stage. Bayonetta and her exclusive stage are scheduled to launch in February 2016. The download can be purchased for the Wii U or 3DS for $5.99 or both systems for $6.99.

Corrin (of Fire Emblem Fates)

If you are asking the question, “Who the heck is Corrin?,” odds are that you haven’t been following the development of Fire Emblem Fates. This fighter (you can select the gender, just like Wii Fit Trainer and Villager) has the ability to transform into a dragon and pull off powerful attacks including ones that pin your opponents. Corrin looks to be available to download in February 2016, on individual platforms for $4.99 each or together for $5.99.

Cloud Strife (of Final Fantasy VII)

We were briefly acquainted with Cloud in the previous Nintendo Direct, but today we were able to look more deeply at the mechanics of his fighting style as well as see what makes Midgar, his exclusive stage, special. As we saw before, Cloud will have two costumes available, his original SOLDIER uniform along with his outfit from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. And just like in FFVII, our hero will have his “Limit Break” ability, which can be activated once the limit meter is full. The meter fills as Cloud takes and gives damage as well as when he performs his Down Special Attack. Let’s talk about the Midgar battle stage. Throughout the stage, summon material will appear, allowing players to wreak arena-wide damage from which only the summoner is protected. Expect cameos from summon spirits like Ifrit, Ramuh, and Shiva. Cloud’s DLC will be available later today, costing either $5.99 for individual consoles or $6.99 for both the Wii U and 3DS.

If you thought that was it, you are wrong. Dead wrong, in fact! There were a host of new Mii Fighter costumes revealed too. From top to bottom, they are: Ashley, Geno (yes, Geno from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is in Smash (sort of)!), Chocobo Hat, Bionic Armor (available for both genders), Takamaru, Tails, Knuckles, and Gil. The Geno and Chocobo Hat costumes will launch with the Cloud DLC while the others will be released in February 2016.

But wait, there’s more! Like all Smash Bros. characters, Bayonetta, Cloud, and Corrin will be getting Amiibo. Our wallets weep.

What is your favorite part of the news? Post in the comments!

New Volcanic Legendary Pokémon Announced!

by Matt RodriguezDecember 14, 2015

A new legendary Pokémon has been announced, Volcanion! This is the first Pokémon that is both Fire and Water typing! As such, steam will be its main theme. The only announced competitive attribute is that its ability will be Water Absorb, which is an ability that absorbs water attacks to heal HP. We are sure they will announce the details on how to get it soon; traditional legendary Pokémon distributions have taken place at Mcdonald’s restaurants using the 3DS SpotPass feature.

The Pokémon Company has recently announced that they’re changing the official format for Pokémon tournaments, namely trainers can now use up to two legendary Pokémon on their team (some restrictions apply), so this will definitely shake up the metagame at Premier Events!

Pokémon is a franchise in the RPG genre of gaming, where you assume the role of a child embarking on an adventure from home, and training native creatures called Pokémon to progress through the game. Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire are remakes of the third generation of Pokémon games, Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald.

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 57 – ‘I Guess We Should All Go Play System Shock Right Now’

by GeekscapeStaffDecember 11, 2015

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

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

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This Week:

System Shock 3 information has been leaked.

Things get heavy when we talk about the race to the bottom / free-to-play market.

Final Fantasy VII in game footage released.

Nolan North was so funny at The Game Awards

Value of video games?

Ni No Kuni II announced.

Smash Bros. direct incoming.

Nintendo NX rumours and discussion about Nintendo’s future.

We have a lot of unplayed Steam Games.

CS:GO R8 Revolver and adjusted spray pattern controversy.

Fallout 4.

Yo-Kai Watch.

WWE 2k16.

John Cena!

Listener Mission Objective:

Do you think modern AAA video games are worth $60? More? Less? Why?

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Geekscape’s ‘Super Mario Maker’ Course Of The Week: Happy Tale Of Helping

by The_aczDecember 11, 2015

It sure feels good spotlighting another level after last weeks crazy game awards announcements.

Today’s course is a level so small that only about a handful of people have actually played it. It actually plays out more like a small story than anything. The name of this course is titled happy tale of helping, by Kieran.

The level stars you as lonely goomba just trying to find your way home. Upon entering the underground on your way home, you’re quickly greeted by another goomba who can’t help but noticing that you’re struggling a little bit with trying to get home. He then proceeds to offer you help by jumping on a music block and summoning a quick vine to climb. Thankful for having helped, you decided to repay the favor and give him a hand.

A bit later, you also run into a friendly koopa troopa who also decides to tag along on your adventure. Will you both make it home safe? Find out by playing the level at: 27A7-0000-010C-0593! Until next time, keep playing and creating awesome levels!

New Nintendo NX Patent Suggests Some Revolutionary Technology Is Incoming!

by Matt RodriguezDecember 8, 2015

Nintendo’s newest console/platform, codenamed the “NX” is right on the horizon, and Nintendo just filed a patent that is likely related to the technology involved.

This patent in question will utilize “additional computing devices” in order to bolster the system’s capabilities, similar to purchasing an upgrade. These devices may or may not be wired in nature.

The last time that Nintendo tried an upgrade approach was for the Nintendo 64, with a device called a “Jumper Pack” used to bolster the system’s memory–this device was required to play titles such as Donkey Kong 64. Even moving forward, Nintendo developed ways to connect to external devices, such as the Game Boy Advance/GameCube translator cable, the ability to connect the Nintendo DS and 3DS wirelessly to the Wii and Wii U, as well as the latest technology that connects the Wii U’s Gamepad Controller to the Wii U as an additional screen. However, NONE of these technologies pushed off processing power to the additional devices.

What can this possibly mean? There is already speculation abound that it might be extra “upgrade parts”, and will function very much like cluster technology. Without going heavy on details, the PS3’s “Folding @ home” technology can be used as an example, where using the software added your PS3 as part of a cluster with all of the other PS3s around the world to be able to do complex computing to help find the cure for many types of cancers.

I have a different theory, though.

With the background knowledge that Nintendo’s console and handheld departments have recently started working in the same building , I think it’s very much possible that Nintendo may be trying to market its portables and consoles together as a bundled value. One of the few advantages of having a home-based console is stronger graphics, so if, for example, you could purchase a handheld system, but when not in use, allow it to be used by your home console to bolster it’s capabilities, then it doubles as both an upgrade for your home console, AND a handheld gaming device at the same time. This way, you can get extra value by owning a handheld, but not lose any value on the home console if you choose not to purchase one.

Reggie Fils-Aime of Nintendo of America has already noted that they won’t be saying anything substantial about the NX until next year’s E3. Although we’re getting very excited, we’ll have to wait and see!

How do you all feel about this new patent? Is it a game changer, and do you have your own theories about how it can be implemented? We would like to know!

Sources: USPTO, Extreme Tech, WiiUDaily

‘Minecraft’ Is Digging Its Way To Wii U!!

by The_aczDecember 7, 2015

Great news for Nintendo fans out there!

Mojang has just announced that Minecraft will be officially coming to Wii U starting next week on Thursday December 17th. It’ll be availble to purchase on the E-shop for $30 ($10 higher than the usual amount Minecraft costs), but comes with 6 of the most popular add-ons for the game including:

Battle & Beasts Skin Pack
Battle & Beasts 2 Skin Pack
Natural Texture Pack
City Texture Pack
Fantasy Texture Pack
Festive Mash-up Pack

On top of that, the game will also include all current and previous DLC skins and packs on the e-shop for an additional cost. These include:

Festive Skin Pack
The Simpsons Skin Pack
Doctor Who Skins Volume 1
Doctor Who Skins Volume 2
Star Wars Classic Skin Pack
Star Wars Rebels Skin Pack
Star Wars Prequel Skin Pack
Mass Effect Mash-up Pack
Skyrim Mash-up Pack
Plastic Texture Pack
Candy Texture Pack
Cartoon Texture Pack
Steampunk Texture Pack
Pattern Texture Pack
Greek Mythology Mash-up Pack
Halloween 2015 Mash-up Pack

The game will also include off TV play, 4 player splitscreen co-op (one player uses the gamepad), 8 Player online, and yet to be announced Nintendo specific content. Get excited with the announcement trailer below! Are you excited for Minecraft: Wii U Edition?

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 56 – ‘Stand With Kojima’

by GeekscapeStaffDecember 5, 2015

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

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

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This Week:

The Game Awards happened.

Konami’s lawyers banned Hideo Kojima from attending Game Awards.

FarCry: Primal.

Shaq Fu sequel.

Psychonauts 2 crowd funding starts.

/r/slutoon.

Game Award Winners.

Mortal Kombat X get’s Leatherface & Xenomorph DLC.

Project M canceled.

Platinum Games announces TMNT arcade brawler.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

Splatoon.

Nintendo Badge Center.

Listener Mission Objective:

What is your game of the year?

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The Game Awards Are Today!! Here’s What You Need to Know.

by The_aczDecember 2, 2015

The best night for video games are just around the corner!

To help you prepare for The Game Awards, I’ve compiled this short, but informative Q&A to help you understand what they’re all about.

Q: What are The Game Awards?

A: The Game awards are an award show for the video game industry. Originally started in 2003 on Spike TV, The VGA’S were created to ‘celebrate’ video games, although it wasn’t really entertaining or PC. In fact, it was downright cringey and aggravating at some points (Madden 04 game of the year? Seriously?) After re-branding and once again failing to deliver an entertaining experience in 2013, Spike officially cancelled the yearly show, but former awards producer Geoff Keighly took it upon himself to create a brand new awards show. This time, it would be a real respectful celebration of all things video game.

Q: Is there anything else besides just awards?

A: Yes. Not only do you get to see some of your favorite video games get the recognition they deserve, but there are always special surprises sprinkled throughout it. This year, there will be 10 World Premieres for Brand new games and first look gameplay at previously announced titles. There are also special musical performances including some this year by Deadmau5 and CHVRCHES. There is also an industry icon of the year award where an important person or group of people are celebrated for shaping a part of gaming.

Q: Where can I watch this?

A: Almost anywhere online! While you won’t be able to watch this on TV, you can easily go to http://thegameawards.com/ to watch, on top of that you’ll also be able to catch it on game sites such as IGN, and you’ll even be able to leisurely watch it from the comfort of your Xbox One, PS4, and even Wii U. Streams start at 6:00 PM PST with a pre show at 5:30, so don’t miss out!

For more info on the awards check out these small interview clips.

Nintendo’s Upcoming Film Re-Emergence Must Succeed, Here’s How It Could Happen!

by Matthew MorrellDecember 1, 2015

Back in August, Nintendo’s most esteemed creative genius, Shigeru Minamoto, entertained the possibility of expanding the company’s beloved properties onto the silver screen; capitalizing on the perfect time to bring legendary characters to life. The Fortune article brought hope, wonder, and fear, to the hearts of Nintendo fans the world over.

Over the past decade, the global phenomenon of aggressively translating superheroes from comics into billion dollar blockbusters brings to light a concept that was once unheard of in the past. It is undeniable that the superhero genre has ostensibly flooded the modern film market.

However, even the greatest of floods eventually dry up: what to do then?

A common criticism that has been brought up is that unlike comic books, video games are to films as driving a Ferrari is to watching Nascar. Mr. Miyamoto even commented in an interview with Fortune at E3, stating “Because games and movies seem like similar mediums, people’s natural expectation is we want to take our games and turn them into movies. … I’ve always felt video games, being an interactive medium, and movies, being a passive medium, mean the two are quite different.”

https://youtu.be/wtMZKYnLg5c

First, don’t reinvent the entire franchise. There are easily identifiable moving parts within the iconic franchises of Nintendo that can be applied to existing thematic machines that audiences can easily grasp; a process that is far simpler than you’d think.

Don’t stray from the foundation of the story: a hero of humble origins travels to strange new worlds to save a princess. It doesn’t need to be anymore complicated to be a successful film. That story description applies to Star Wars, Super Mario Brothers or an endless list of franchises, but the underlying foundation is a sense of timeless adventure.

Second, for the love of God, get a hold of yourselves Nintendo.

There are a myriad of reasons why 1993’s Super Mario Bros. failed, and you can read all about it in the lengthy tell-all Console Wars by Blake J. Harris (which we review right here). One of the greatest factors however, was a loss of creative control behind the minds with an intimate knowledge of the material; drawing yet another similarity between Marvel and Nintendo.

Denying Marvel’s ability to create a successful juggernaut of a cinematic universe would be absurdly obtuse. It’s vital to understand however, that their success stems from their uncanny ability to maintain creative control and a succinct driving vision over their properties. Regardless of the flaws their films, television, and streaming content may have, the majority of their content works thematically, tonally, and generates a profit.

For fans of Marvel, they have been rewarded with the iconography of what once was on the page, successfully represented on the screen. Perhaps the key this time around is for Nintendo to keep a firm hold on the reins.

Undeniably, Marvel has developed a formula that works for their scope of beloved characters and stories, and the next closest company to follow in their footsteps not only can be, but should be, none other than Nintendo.

In the near future, whether by design or decrease in audience demand, the superhero machine will run out of steam. In the wake of one genre, an opportunity will arise for the next wave of mass marketable media. Something new, but familiar.

Something with a nearly infinite amount of characters and content to mine.

Something, that at its most basic level encourages us to keep exploring, keep fighting, and keep pushing forward until we claim the prize.

The next wave of cinematic pop culture niche is building, and Nintendo should be planning to ride it into shore when it begins to crest.