Tag: Nintendo

Geekscape Games: ‘Sonic Boom’ Isn’t As Bad As It Looks!

by Josh Jackson

And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

But seriously, when the new Sonic title was unvieled by the former Naughty Dog developers at Big Red Button, I couldn’t remember an Internet hatestorm as big as that in a very long time. Despite the change in appearance for some of our favorite characters, (like whatever the hell happened to Knuckles), some of that anger was quelled when it was revealed that Sonic Boom would be its own series as opposed to being part of the core Sonic universe. Considering we’ve survived the blue hedgehog turning into a warewolf, becoming a medivil knight and falling in love with an underage human girl, I’d say fresh hands on the franchise with no effect on the main timeline can’t be too bad, right?

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So when you take away the jarring character designs, all that’s left is the game play, right? Well, game play is king as they say, (who they are I have no idea). After trying my hand at the console exclusive Rise of Lyric, it’s safe to say that Sonic Boom is aiming high where it counts, to the point where I wasn’t even thinking of the hedgehog of old when the controller was in my hands.

During my playthrough, the influence of games like Uncharted was immediately noticable, placing this version of Sonic and friends in the roles of treasure hunters. The demo gave me the ability to switch between Sonic and Knuckles on the fly with both characters on screen at all times. Certain areas can only be accessed by using a particular character’s special ability, (like Sonic’s spin dash or Knuckle’s knuckles). Yes, there are still core mechanics synonymous with the franchise, so each cast member will have a distinctive role in how the adventure proceeds. You might be reading this and think, “Hey, that sounds great for co-op!” Well, I’ve got good news on that front, because full jump in/jump out co-op play is confirmed for the title as well. Now all I need to do is find some friends…

With a much bigger emphasis on exploration and platforming over speed, much of the demo was spent fighting enemies and solving puzzles, most of which needed the crew’s new tether called the Enerbeam. The beam was used for pulling and throwing enemies with a spin of the control stick as well as pulling far away platforms towards you to advance. Combined with actual attack combos that consist of more than just jumping on things and a health bar that’s tied to how many rings you collect, and you’re looking at a huge departure in Sonic’s standard game play to go with the visual change.

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And as they say, change is scary, but it can also be a good thing. So far, Rise Of Lyric is looking to be a VERY good thing, breathing some fresh life into an on again off again series. I wish I could say the same for the 3DS version, Shattered Crystal, but the brief moments that I had with it made the portable version feel inferior. Developed by Sanzaru Games, (the team behind The Sly Collection and Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time), the 3DS game acts as a 2D side scrolling maze. Four of the playable characters were available to switch between at once with the tap of the touch screen, including series newcomer Sticks the Badger, using their unique abilities to reach areas that the others cannot. Compared to its console counterpart, the puzzles, action and stages felt much more one dimensional, and felt more like a chore than fresh. When you take away Sonic’s trademark speed, you have to have a solid bag of tricks to back the game up. So far, Shattered Crystal has some catching up to do.

With months left before the release though, there’s plenty of time to do just that. When reflecting on my play time, I feel like Sonic Boom just might be the right direction for the franchise to go in after all. The new ideas that the console version introduced made me excited for what the future holds, but we’ll have to wait until November to see if it avoids the Sonic Cycle.

E3 2014: ‘Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call’ Hits All The Right Notes

by Josh Jackson

Final Fantasy has seemed eager to hit every genre possible over the last few years, but most of the spinoffs haven’t come close to being as enjoyable as Theatrhythm, the rhythm title that blended RPG elements with touch based music mashing to the beat of the best themes to come out of the legendary series. Now with a sequel on the horizon, Square Enix is hoping doing everything they can to make sure Curtain Call is bigger and better in every way, and based on their E3 showing, they’re on track to do just that.
If you’ve played the original, then game play will be immediately familiar. After creating a party of four characters spanning the entire Final Fantasy series, your team then attacks monsters to the beat of the music. Tapping, swiping the stylus or sliding it along paths depending on the prompt will build up successful combos, which makes your group stronger and results in bigger, better bonuses. Also making their return are the Field Music and Event stages, which involve the character traveling to a new area or tapping to the tunes of popular cutscenes respectively.
While I didn’t get a chance to try them in the brief demo that I played, new features will include a Vs. mode, an Airship Field Music mode, (like the original field stages, only with the fantastic airship music in the background), and a new Critical Hit Trigger power up, which increases the chances of getting critical hits during battle. Think Star Power in Rock Band, only with monster smashing!

 

Theatrhythm Curtain Call Screen 1

With multiple new modes, over 60 playable characters and 200 songs, is there any reason NOT to be interested in the upcoming sequel? If you loved the first one, missed it, but love the music of Final Fantasy, or you’re a rhythm gamer who needs a solid fix, this one is looking like more and more of a no brainer by the day. The Square Enix Store even has an exclusive limited edition for the hardcore fan! But regardless of which version you get, it’s looking like Curtain Call will surpass its predecessor in every way. What more can you ask for?

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call will release exclusively for the 3DS on September 16th.

E3 2014: Will You Become The Hunter Or The Prey In ‘Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate’?

by Josh Jackson

Hunters throughout the West have sat back in envy as Japan has enjoyed the latest Monster Hunter title since late last year. While the idea that we’ll never get to see the standard version of the fourth game isn’t a pleasant thought to take in, at least it seems Capcom is cutting the crap this time and skipping straight to the Ultimate version.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is the updated version of the original game that came to Japan, featuring giant weapons and even bigger monsters both new and old at our disposal. Coming exclusively to the 3DS, weapons like the Insect Glaive and Charge Blade join tried and true favorites like great swords and bowguns to help prove your superiority in the wild. Checking out the action in the latest trailer, it’s definitely looking like a hunt we won’t want to miss. Let’s just hope there won’t be a Ultra Hyper 2016 Edition down the road…

What monsters are you looking forward to fighting when Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate releases in early 2015?

 

E3 2014: ‘Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney’ Is Ready To Deliver Its Own Brand Of Truth!

by Josh Jackson

It’s been over three years since one little trailer brought the gaming community to tears, collapsing in sheer joy over the thought that the impossible was now possible. That trailer would bring two worlds together, more significant than anything that was going on in our collective lives at that moment. This trailer… was Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a dream team of crime solving, mystery seeking, puzzle loving juggernauts that sent both fan bases into states of shock.

Then time passed… the game released in Japan without a whisper as to when, or even IF the game would be localized anywhere else. It wasn’t until a few months ago that a U.S. release was confirmed during one of the Nintendo Direct presentations, but it wasn’t until E3 that we FINALLY, have our own full fledged release trailer. Spoiler alert: it’s all kinds of awesome.

Taking place in a fantasy world formed by the pages of a magical book, Layton, Phoenix, and their assistants, Luke and Maya, are tasked with solving the mystery of the witch hunts. The trailer shows off tons of animated footage from the game in action. This comes with the territory for Layton fans, but the snippets of footage in Dual Destinies were never at this level of detail, even though the voiceovers are a little iffy for the Ace Attorney crew. Maybe it’ll be easier to get used to once we put more time into it?

Combining game play from both series, players will solve puzzles, seek out hint coins and solve mysteries with Layton, while Phoenix is shown battling witnesses and prosecutors in court as he proves his client innocent during the witch trials. Even the judge looks just like his modern day counterpart! Ah, some things never change.

Even though the game has been completed for awhile, we only have to wait a few more months before we can play the title ourselves and safely tread the Internet without fear of spoilers once again. Check out the trailer and tell us how excited you are about this team up finally finding its way to us on August 29th.

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Project Giant Robot’ and ‘Project Guard’

by Josh Jackson

When it’s announced that Shigeru Miyamoto is working on a new IP, people pay attention. The famed creator of Mario, Zelda and many more of Nintendo’s most popular franchises has a strong track record of releasing fun, innovative products. So when it was revealed that there would be not one, but TWO new IPs credited to his name, you just know we would have to try them out.

Starting with Project Giant Robot, the game puts players in the pilot’s seat of a giant mech. After customizing your colorful robot with a variety of parts that can be made as big or small as you want, it’s time to take it through the four in game missions the demo provided. Plodding through the city towards various threats, taking them out requires use of both your body and the buttons on the game pad.

ProjectGiantRobot

This physics based game’s unique control scheme is where Miyamoto really leaves his trademark on the game. Alternating the trigger buttons moves the mech, while the face buttons shoot your optional gun and the analog sticks swing the robot’s arms. The winner of each round is the one that can knock their opponent over, which can be difficult if your own mech is set up unbalanced.

Combining motion controls with the buttons, players will have to rotate their bodies with their punches, lean back and forth to regain their robot’s balance or risk ending up on the losing end. While the controls were a little much to get used to, once things clicked, the game was a lot of fun to play, and I’m excited to see what the final product might look like once the concept is fully fleshed out.

Project Guard is more of a multiplayer game, placing the player in a type of command center surrounded by gun mounted security cameras. Each camera shows robots that are trying to invade your base, and winning or losing is dependent on whether or not you can destroy a certain amount of robots before too many get into your base.

ProjectGuard

But it’s hard to keep track of 16 cameras all at once, especially when spread across the television. That’s where your friends come in, encouraging others to shout out which cameras are in danger. From there, the player will use the Game Pad’s map to switch to the proper camera and turn the robots into scrap.

Project Guard had its moments where it was really exciting and hectic, while encouraging crowds to back seat game with you. The experience was fun, but it’s hard to imagine this turning into a full fledged game, much like how Giant Robot seemed like it was just scratching the surface on what could be possible with the concept.

With that said, this is my biggest concern with these two demos. Rather than experiencing two individual IPs, I walked away feeling like they’re more likely to be two mini games that will be apart of a larger collection. While I have nothing against a collection of smaller games as long as they’re good, I’m not sure this is what most people had in mind when they were expecting a brand new Miyamoto game.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Keep your eyes on Geekscape.net as we bring you the news on these two titles as well as the rest of what was on the E3 floor.

E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’

by Josh Jackson

The original Disney Infinity left a big impression on me, so much so that I considered it my game of show at last year’s E3. With the promise of multiple single player campaigns in the form of play sets combined with a nearly limitless level designing tool in the toy box, the possibilities seemed to echo the title. Much of these impressions carried over to the actual release, although my expectations fell short in certain areas, namely the same-ness of many of the characters, how bare bones some of the play sets felt and how the game initially promised to not need sequels while possibly replacing movie tie in games with Infinity content, (which was quickly proven wrong by the 3DS’s Olaf’s Adventure and the very game we’re talking about).

Still, the game had a ton of untapped potential that a sequel could capitalize on, especially because of Disney’s acquisition of giant properties like the Marvel universe. With that in mind, playing 2.0 was a top priority for me this year, both as a fan of the original and someone who was eager to see if Disney Interactive would adapt to the comic book universe or perish in a sea of broken promises and failure to improve. After an in depth playthrough of the game’s two play sets, I’m happy to say I’m leaning towards the former.

InfinityCap

To me, the biggest problem with Disney Infinity was that the campaign style play sets mostly felt like samples of what could be done in the toy box as opposed to fully fleshed out games, (aside from the Pirates set, most of what each was built from was ripped straight from Toy Box). With 2.0, this criticism has been fully addressed, giving us a huge open world city to explore as our favorite characters. The Avengers version of New York is promising to be more than twice as big as The Incredibles, with capsule toys, side quests and story missions still waiting to be found, all put into context by a full story penned by longtime Marvel scribe, Brian Michael Bendis. It’s a huge improvement from the opening and ending cutscene that greeted us at the end of the first game’s stories.

On top of that, the increased level cap of 20 allows us to unlock between 20 and 30 skills per character, which is a huge improvement compared to the original’s puzzling decision for level ups to mean absolutely nothing aside from unlocking new Toy Box parts. Making this even sweeter was how different each character felt. Firing off trick shots with Hawkeye, throwing down with Captain America, web slinging between buildings as Spider-Man or flying through the city at top speed with Iron Man felt distinctive, as opposed to many of the first game’s characters playing or feeling exactly the same. To top it off, the heroes each have a unique super move with varying in levels of awesomeness, (like Iron Man’s missile barrage vs Black Widow’s… invisibility turning? I know who I’m not playing as…)

InfinityHawkeye

Even the original game’s characters are getting skill trees when they’re transferred into the new games, although theirs won’t be as robust as the new characters being brought in. Still, the fact that they’re getting upgraded at all is a great way to reward players who maxed out their figures despite their lackluster move sets. Plus, maybe some characters can be more fleshed out this time, specifically Anna and Elsa. The developers obviously knew very little about since they were developed before Frozen was released, so let’s hope they can be done justice the second time around.

Joining the heroes will be new power discs that were on display for the E3 demo. Aside from the Toy Box backgrounds, perks and weapons that came with the blind pack DLC of the original, Marvel’s version will also include sidekicks who fight at your side for a limited time, and costumes for specific characters. Ever get the feeling that you want to play as Captain America in his First Avenger gear? Or how about black suit Spidey? Ever wanted to fight side by side with The Winter Soldier after he blew us away in the latest Phase 2 film? Now’s your chance, with these discs that feel like a lot more than just fluff. My wallet is going to hurt.

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On the mission front, both the side and story missions felt more involved, forcing me to travel through more of the city to accomplish whatever the goal was. Whether it was racing on Nick Fury’s bike to escorting a scientist to key points in the city as symbiotes were viciously attacking us, these missions made the game feel like a full fledged experience. And while some of the bonus quests I played were still ridiculously easy, some of them presented a nice challenge, like the web slinging missions that I couldn’t get better than a bronze in.

If someone would have told me I was playing the new kid friendly Marvel game and not one that’s attached to a world building simulator, I would have completely bought it. But to think that a game where the single player content is more of the side dish to the Toy Box’s entree plays so well surpassed what I expected after playing the first game. I’m not sure if it’s a testament to Infinity’s developers or a knock at the other guys when web slinging feels more fun in this spinoff than it does in a core Spidey title. My only complaints are that there were some massive bugs, causing mission sensitive enemies to teleport across the map, and that traveling with non-flying or swinging characters felt like a chore. Having to drive as Black Widow when Thor can zip from one end of the map to another in minutes leaves an unbalanced feeling.

Both areas are said to still be in development, so let’s hope these get patched up come September.

http://youtu.be/W1P3b4YU8so

E3 2014: ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’ Goes Ultimate With The Announcement Of The Spider-Man Play Set!

by Josh Jackson

Whoa, Disney Infinity 2.0 hasn’t been announced for more than a month and we already have our second play set on its way!

Scheduled to launch day and date with the Marvel Super Heroes starter pack, (which comes bundled with an Avengers play set already), early buyers will also get the chance to swing through New York with Spider-Man, starring in his own adventure alongside some of his amazing friends.

Centered around a plot by The Green Goblin and Mysterio to harvest Venom’s symbiote, Venom clones are running rampant throughout the city, and it’s up to the web slinger to stop this latest attempt to take control of the city. Thankfully, he’s not the only one who has arrived to stop the threat, with Nova, Iron Fist, Nick Fury and Venom himself joining the fight, complete with their own figures to display when you’re not playing.

The Spider-Man play set will come bundled with the wall crawler and Nova, while the other three will be sold seperately, likely as individual characters and in a set. While details on pricing, bundles and future characters aren’t known yet, I’d be willing to bet that it would cost around $35 like the play sets for the previous games. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Goblin and Mysterio bundled with Avengers villain, Loki, at some point. After all, Randy, Syndrome and Davy Jones were all released for the first game, so it wouldn’t be too much of a shock.

If you wanted to know more about the upcoming play set, check out the trailer below and tell us if you’re planning on emptying your wallet for the Marvel and Disney mash up. Both Disney Infinity 2.0 and the Spider-Man play set are rumored to release on September 23rd.

http://youtu.be/clajnwqBNr4

E3 2014: Hands-On With Nintendo’s ‘Splatoon’

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s often accused of relying on their classic properties rather than creating new franchises like the days of old. While that’s never been true considering games like Chibi Robo, Endless Ocean, Geist, Magical Starsign, Wii Fit, Wii Sports, Excitebots, (kind of), and many others are real life things, what can’t be argued is that the company rarely displays them in a prominent light. That changed when a quirky little third person shooter stood tall in the sea of your Legend of Zelda‘s and Smash Bros. trailers contained in the Nintendo E3 Digital Event. Splatoon looked like a fun, creative take on the tried and true genre, so I had to jump on the chance to give the game a shot!

As a squad based team shooter, Splatoon‘s objective isn’t to shoot your opponents to death, (even though it doesn’t hurt to do so). Instead, the team has to work together to shoot their ink all over the floors of the battlefield, with the winning team being the one who can claim the most land with their team color within a three minute limit.

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Playing as Inklings, squids who can switch to a human form, these guys can transform between stages at will. Taking the human form is the only form where players can shoot, so this state will obviously get a ton of play time. Shooting efficiently is both the key to traversing the land and winning the matches, since walking through enemy ink slows down your speed significantly. This can be helped in a few ways, namely by using the bomb, the bazooka or by defeating opponents.

Using a bomb will splatter a huge area with paint, destroying any opponent who is in its radius in the process. These powerful weapons can only be used when your total ammo is nearly filled, so you’ll have to be careful how you decide to use it. After contributing enough to your team’s success, a meter in the corner fills until its fully charged, giving the player a temporary paint bazooka! This thing leaves a trail of paint when fired, covering an entire straight line of land and destroying any enemy Inklings that stand in its path. And of course, if you do destroy opponents, there’s a huge reward for doing so, with them exploding in a sea of your colored ink, claiming the area around them for your team.

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But of course, you can’t shoot without ammo, which is where the squid form comes into play. Transforming sinks your character into the ground, allowing them to fast travel through any ink your team controls while refilling your gun in the process. This works in a variety of ways, including stalking opponents Jaws style or avoiding battle when trying to move into an unclaimed area. And for those times you do get shot down, you can fast travel to the side of any teammate on the map, letting you jump right back into the fray if that’s what you’re aiming for.

My only issue with Splatoon was with the controls, since it used both the right analog stick AND the game pad to aim, throwing off the fine tuning of my shots. While it’s something I could get used to, I really hope you can turn off the gyro controls in the final version, or at least give us the option to use the Wii Remote. That thing was PERFECT for shooters.

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Aside from that small hiccup, Splatoon is looking fantastic, and can only get better as development continues. While the core experience feels a little shallow, I fully expect the main game to be much bigger and more fleshed out when it releases in 2015. Plus, I’ll always welcome fresh ideas that turn genres on their head, and Splatoon does just that. Challenging me to focus on shooting things other than the opponent? Sign me up!

Check out the game in action below and let us know if you’re excited by what you see!

E3 2014: Famed Developer Shigeru Miyamoto Working On New Star Fox; Two New IPs!

by Josh Jackson

Rumors have been running rampant about how the man who is considered the father of Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, has been working on a new IP for Nintendo. On the other hand, fans have been begging for a new Star Fox game, one that hopefully brings the series back to the same level of prominence as Star Fox 64 in a way that every sequel since has failed to do. But at the closing moments of Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event, Miyamoto could be spotted playing a curiously familiar game on his Wii U. It wouldn’t be until afterwards that it would be confirmed. Yes, a new Star Fox game is in development alongside not only one, but TWO potential new IPs. Did that get your attention?

Details are nearly non existent in regards to Fox McCloud’s next adventure aside from the fact that it will put players back in control of the Arwing and Landmaster Tank, and will be on the Wii U sometime in the future. As far as the other two projects, Nintendo had a little bit more information to offer up.

Code named Project Giant Robot and Project Guard, both games have distinctive play styles that use the Wii U game pads functions in different ways. The former puts players in control of a mech, who will fight threats in a Tokyo-ish city. The latter has players defending a base against robots who are trying to invade our territory, and the only way to shoot them down is to switch between a variety of security cameras that are displayed on the screen.

Two new IPs and a game that fans have been begging for for years. It’s safe to say that everything went better than expected. We got some hands on time with both new IPs, so expect an in depth preview later today, but until then, sound off and tell us what other Nintendo franchises you’d like to see revived, and check back as new information on Star Fox releases over the coming months!

Has Walmart Leaked The ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’ Roster?

by Josh Jackson

After Disney Infinity 2.0 was announced last month, questions were running rampant as far as what Marvel and Disney characters would make the cut. Well, thanks to Walmart, we might have the answer… only months before it was intended.

Thanks to a recent preorder listing, the figures shown on the monster retailer’s website matches many of the figures that were recently confirmed at E3, bringing some credibility to the listing. From Guardians of the Galaxy to the recently announced Big Hero 6 and a few surprises in between, it looks like we’ll have a ton of new figures to collect throughout the next year and beyond.

If you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading here. For everyone else, below are the list of figures that might make their way onto store shelves for the next Infinity release.

-Stitch

-Donald Duck

-Tinkerbell

-Hiro and Baymax from Big Hero 6

-Drax

-Rocket Raccoon

-A Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set, including Star Lord and Gamora

This is in addition to Groot, who was already announced, rounding out the Guardians. When including the recently unveiled Merida from Brave and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, (who’s likely in to promote the DVD release of her self titled film when it inevitably hits in a few months), the roster is getting pretty huge, which means a shrinking wallet for us!

While seeing a GotG or Big Hero Six set isn’t surprising in the slightest, seeing characters like Tinker Bell and Donald Duck are welcomed surprises, especially considering Goofy can’t be following too far behind. The game desperately needs more Disney characters, so it’s good to see that they won’t get completely overshadowed by the inclusion of Marvel into the franchise. Yet, there are still some glaring omissions, namely Ferb, who was teased back when Fineas and Agent P were shown for the original, but has yet to be revealed, and Aladdin, who is strangely absent for a game that contains Agrabah guards, the Cave of Wonders, and even Abu in the form of an elephant. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re just scratching the surface of what 2.0 will have to offer.

So what do you think, Geekscapists? Do you like what you see so far? And who else do you want to see make the cut? Check out the latest reveal trailer and let us know what you want to see from the upcoming sequel.

Source: vinylmationkingdom.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBb8JyjSsU

E3 2014: Hold It! ‘Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy’ Is Heading To The Nintendo 3DS!

by Josh Jackson

It’s official; Capcom is bringing the Phoenix Wright trilogy to the West! It was announced that the Turnabout Attorney will return to the 3DS, courtesy of this collection of the first three games in the popular text adventure series. This gives gamers a chance to relive the rookie lawyer’s early triumphs, only now with improved visuals and all in one handy download.

I’ve championed these games since the original was released in 2005 thanks to their immersive stories, tense game play and hysterical writing. Even years later, some of the cases contained in the original three titles stand out as some of the very best, making piecing together mysteries, presenting evidence and pressing witnesses on your path to the truth is still one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever played. The series has had its ups and downs in recent years, (namely Investigations 2 never getting released outside of Japan and the latest adventure, Dual Destinies, only getting a digital release), but this announcement shows that Capcom still has faith in the franchise outside of Japan. Having said that, the game has already been re-released on iOS and the Wii, so it’s hard to want to rush out and buy them again for a potential fourth time. But if you STILL haven’t played these games after all these ports have come and gone, the 3DS version is as good of a reason as any to finally stand at the defense’s bench.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy will hit the 3DS this winter through the Nintendo eShop, but we’ ll let you know what it’s like in motion during E3 2014! As you wait on baited breath for that, check out the game’s reveal trailer and let us know if you’ll be returning to the courtroom!

E3 2014: ‘Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire’ Shows Off New Mega Evolutions!

by Josh Jackson

It looks like new Mega Evolutions are on their way!

A new trailer for the highly anticipated Pokemon remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire surfaced during E3, giving us a glimpse at the remade Hoenn, shots of the new trainer designs, the confirmed return of Steven, the original generation III champion, and the revamped looks of Team Magma and Team Aqua, including the apparent return of each team being exclusive antagonists to each version.

Of course, all of that plays second fiddle to the new forms of some of our favorite Hoenn Pokemon. Joining the already released Mega Balziken, fellow starters Swampert and Sceptile are each getting new forms as well, complete with boosted stats and the Swift Swim and Lightningrod abilities respectively. Sceptile even loses its dark type in favor of dragon, doubling its resistance to electricity at the expense of gaining a double weakness to ice. It will surely be a valuable asset in double or triple battles, especially since electric doesn’t have too many weaknesses.

But you didn’t think the starters would be the only gen 3 Pokemon to get Mega forms, did you? Shortly afterwards, Nintendo revealed that Sableye and the as of now unreleased Diancie would be the next one to get mega treatment. Then of course, there are the cover legendaries, Groudon and Kyogre, who are being classified as taking on “primal” forms, which may or may not be different from full on Mega Evolutions. Not much is known on what might change, but we do know that Groudon will gain fire typing while Kyogre will grow twice as big with a Special Attack boost to boot. As if these monsters weren’t strong enough already!

The Pokemon series didn’t have a huge presence during Nintendo’s Digital E3 Event, but the information we did get was pretty big for those who follow the series. Now Blaziken isn’t the obvious favorite as the only Hoenn starter to have a mega form, the announcement of Sableye promises that it’ll be one of many new generation 3 Pokemon to get a mega form, and while it’s strange that Diancie will have a mega before she’s even released officially, it’s good to know that gen 6 is getting some representation considering it was the gen that started Mega Evolutions. Now, where’s my Mega Volcarona?

What other gen 3 Pokemon do you expect to get new forms? Breloom? Swellow? Tropius? Primal Rayquaza? I’d say Metagross is a sure thing since Steven is back, but what do you think? Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will arrive on November 21st.

E3 2014: ‘Mario Party 10’ Launching On Wii U Next Year!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I was a little disappointed when a new Mario Party title wasn’t announced during Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event. I’m a huge fan of the earlier titles, and with the Wii U already being a fantastic console for local multiplayer, I couldn’t image a more fun night with gaming and non-gaming pals.

Then, they revealed it ~10 minutes after the event ended. I don’t know why Nintendo didn’t just make the event longer, but I’m just happy that it’s coming.

The game will launch on Wii U in 2015, and looks to have an awesome sounding new 5 player mode, in which one player acts as Bowser (the gamepad player), while the other four team up to try and defeat him. Bowser, as always, will screw with everyone on the board, and will also battle the group in the new mini games.

I’m sold. Check out the trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up too!

Oh, it also has Amiibo support. Yep.

A DS Classic Gets A Sequel With ‘Kirby’s Rainbow Curse’!

by Josh Jackson

In the early days of the original DS, back when we only had an N64 remake, a glorified tech demo and an admittedly brilliant WarioWare game to play, a new Kirby game with fully integrated touch screen controls become one of the early highlights of the growing handheld. Kirby’s Canvas Curse became known as one of the most creative, challenging and rewarding experiences in the series, but like many of Kirby’s spinoffs, many of us thought we’d never see it again.

Well, think again. Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event revealed a Wii U exclusive sequel! Titled Kirby’s Rainbow Curse, this game is already looking like it’s set to bring back everything that made the original so memorable while building on what was already great. Using the game pad to draw paths for a ball shaped Kirby to navigate, the demo shows new abilities such as a tank transformation, all presented with a claymation visual style. Don’t mess with the pink puffball, man!

Kirby’s Rainbow Curse is scheduled for a 2015 release, making that year seem like an even sweeter one for Wii U owners. Watch the trailer and let us know of your greatest memories Canvas Curse memories!

E3 2014: ‘Yoshi’s Wooly World’ Is Adorably Creative

by Josh Jackson

After months of delays and eventual silence, it seems like that Yoshi Yarn game is finally on its way, and based on the E3 trailer, it will be well worth the wait.

Renamed Yoshi’s Wooly World, this pseudo-sequel to Kirby’s Epic Yarn brings the experience of such titles as Yoshi’s Story to an adorable, colorful and creative land where everything is made of yarn. Featuring both single and multiplayer modes of play, the title seems to offer numerous ways to solve in game puzzles, both by yourself or with a friend.

Watching the environments and characters unravel, knit together and change shape, (like Yoshi’s propeller flutter jump), makes this game look absolutely stunning. In typical Nintendo fashion though, the visuals are about more than aesthetics, so watching how the yarn is integrated into the game play makes me very excited to get the chance to try it out. From unraveling the environment to reveal hidden items, spitting a partner out of Yoshi’s mouth to reach out of the way areas and using eggs to create cloud paths in the style of Yoshi’s Touch n’ Go are just some of the possibilities shown.

Personally though, I’m sad to see Prince Fluff get the boot completely. If you remember, the prince was set to star in the original Epic Yarn, but was relegated to side character status since Nintendo wanted a recognizable face like Kirby to sell the new IP. Now he’s nowhere to be seen, effectively becoming the Asagi of Nintendo. Let’s hope he starts commandeering other games down the road.

The E3 trailer is now live, and can be viewed below. Let us know what you think, and check back throughout the day for hands on impressions of this, and other titles from the show floor.

Pac-Man Coming To ‘Smash Bros’, Putting Our Gaming Icons In One Huge Game!

by Josh Jackson

As the first full day of E3 came to a close, Nintendo wanted to prove that they weren’t done yet when it came to big news. Once their latest announcement was made however, it’s safe to say that in this case, it really couldn’t get any bigger than this.

Pac-Man, the 80’s video game icon and a longtime face of the entire industry, has officially been revealed as the latest combatant coming to Super Smash Bros for Wii U/3DS, bringing him, Mario, Mega Man and Sonic together for the first time in history.

Using his Pac Man World design with abilities inspired by that series of platformers, the original Pac-Man arcade games and calling upon help from classic characters from games like Galaga, Xevious, Mappy and Dig Dug, his move set seems way more creative and bizarre than I ever imagined. It’s even more strange than his Mokujin mech in Street Fighter X Tekken.

While this reveal is exciting, the writing has been on the wall for awhile. Namco has been helping Nintendo develop games since at least the Gamecube days, with games like Star Fox Assault, Pac-Man Vs. and the arcade version of Mario Kart. Since then, the company has been heavily involved with the development of the upcoming Smash Bros. in addition to releasing Nintendo exclusive titles like Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition and Tank! Tank! Tank!… but let’s forget about that last one.

Oh, and like Dark Pit in Palutena’s reveal, Mr. Game and Watch is teased at the end. Will he end up making the final cut?

How do you feel about Pac-Man being added to Nintendo’s growing fighter? And who’s side will you pick between these four gaming icons? Check out the trailer to see him in action, and check back with Geekscape for all your E3 needs!

Not One, But THREE Different Mii Fighters Join The ‘Smash Bros’ Roster

by Josh Jackson

During Nintendo’s Digital Event, what many considered a foregone conclusion was confirmed as Mii’s were officially added to the Smash Bros. roster. What we didn’t expect however, was how much of Mii were were actually going to get.

Representing the many roles Mii’s have taken over the years, your custom avatars will be able to take the roles of either a brawler, swordfighter or gunner, (complete with the Samus outfit from Nintendoland), each with their own unique movesets and abilities.

I’ve never been one of those people who were heavily against Mii’s getting into the game. On the contrary, I’ve felt that not only was it inevitable considering how much they’ve been in every other Nintendo game as of late, but games like Find Mii and Nintendoland have increased their move pool posibilities tenfold. While not all of the games they’ve been in have been shown as inspiration for these three styles, the fact that they display so many abilities are a sign of how prominent they have been, and will likely continue to be.

All this was revealed in one of the most RIDICULOUS trailers I’ve ever seen, which you can watch below. Make sure to check back with more E3 news, including our coverage directly from the show floor.

Can’t Make It To E3? Nintendo And Best Buy Bring It To You Courtesy Of Smash Fest!

by Josh Jackson

Want to try out the latest Smash Bros. title, but can’t get to Los Angeles, won’t be allowed into the convention center or don’t care for being trapped in giant buildings for hours on end? Don’t worry, Nintendo and Best Buy have your back.

Today, June 11th from 4PM-9PM and Saturday, June 14 from Noon-5PM, select stores will have the complete E3 demo on display for the public to play! Promising a variety of sales, promotions and bonuses, a commemorative coin just might be the greatest one yet. The only catch? These only go to the first 70 people at each location that pre-order the game on site, so you better get there early if you want your shot at taking one home.

A complete list of stores can be found at this link. Find your nearest store and join in on the festivities, and make sure to check back with Geekscape while you wait for your turn to play! We’ll be updating the site with our hands on impressions, the latest trailers and breaking news as it breaks!

‘Persona Q: Shadows of the Labyrinth’ Is Getting The Collectors Edition Treatment!

by Josh Jackson

This team up between Atlus and Nintendo just keeps getting sweeter.
In addition to a new trailer for Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth that debuted just in time for E3, it looks like there will be even more of a reason to pick up the upcoming 3DS dungeon crawler.
Persona Q: The Wild Cards Edition will release side by side with the standard game at the price of $79.99, which for those keeping count, is double the price of a typical 3DS game. So what do you get with the package that can justify the price? How about a Persona themed case with Teddy on the inside, an artbook, a soundtrack and a set of tarrot cards? Do I have your attention yet?

Persona Q Collectors Edition

Persona Q brings together the casts of Persona 3 and Persona 4 in a first person dungeon crawling spinoff, all with a superdeformed art style that’s a big departure for the series. Being able to watch Yukiko, Yukari, Junpei, Yosuke, Chie, Akihiko and the rest of this large cast fight side by side is one of the main experiences I’m looking forward to this year. Now the only problem is, which version do I get? Hmm…
First prints of the standard edition will also include the set of tarrot cards, which are half of a set that mirror the in game cards. The other half will be packaged in the PS3 fighter, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, which might be the sneakiest form of marketing I’ve ever seen. Then again, if you’re getting one, you’re most likely getting the other, so for some, this could be seen as a bonus.
Watch the E3 trailer below and tell us who you plan on using in your party! Persona 4 Q is scheduled for a fall release.

E3 Liveblog: Nintendo’s 2014 Digital Event!

by GeekscapeStaff

Nintendo’s digital event is live at 9am, and we’re here to tell you everything that the company has coming.

Sure, we already know about Mario Maker (could that be their big reveal?), but what else will the big N surprise us with? New Smash Bros. characters? Mario Kart 8 DLC (please), Majora’s Mask 3D? Will the Wii U Legend of Zelda finally be revealed?

Read on, find out, and let us know what you think!

E3 Liveblog: EA’s 2014 Press Conference!

by GeekscapeStaff

EA’s 2014 press conference is live at 12pm, and we’re here at E3 to tell you everything the company has coming.

We know that Mirror’s Edge 2 will be making an appearance, and we’d bet they’ll be showing off Battlefield: Hardline too, but what else could EA have in store for us? SimCity DLC? A new Army of Two title? Another Command & Conquer? Some sort of sports game?

Read on, find out, and be sure to let us know what you think!

Geekscape 330: The 2014 E3 Preview With Malik Forté!

by Jonathan

E3 is upon us and we’ve got a whole bunch of rumors and predictions swirling around! To help us pick through them, Nerdist video game specialist Malik Forté joins on this video game heavy episode! What is Mario Maker and will we get a Majora’s Mask 3D? Will we ever see The Last Guardian? Will Microsoft actually make any original programming for their XboxOne channel? Will we see Fallout 4? It’s all in this episode as we set our sites on a week of gaming news, both expected and unexpected!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:15 — 28.8MB)

Geekscape Roundtable: Our Predictions For E3 2014!

by GeekscapeStaff

Another year has passed, and E3 is nearly upon us once again! As always, we’ll be covering the event live and remotely, so stay tuned for tons of announcements, trailers, and news that you expected to hear, and hopefully a whole lot of reveals that you weren’t anticipating.

Each of us here at Geekscape have our hopes raised for things that may or may not come to pass, but we’ve also got some predictions for games and announcements that we’ll be seeing next week. You can take a look below for each of our thoughts, and be sure to stay tuned throughout next week for all of our live coverage!

Don’t forget to let us know what you hope to see next week in the comments below!

Shane O’Hare

I feel like this year’s E3 is going to be one of the best. All the new consoles are out and have a certain level of pedigree, so this year’s E3 is all about flexing the power of each unit. We will definitely see more on Halo 5 and a whole lot of Kinect garbage we won’t care about from Microsoft. Sony is going to be hyping (hopefully) The Last Guardian. Nintendo should be bringing the heat with Smash Bros, and I think it is time they fill out their roster and let us all know some hard release dates. It will also be interesting to see what they bring to the table in regards to their new NFC gaming device. Also, fingers crossed for some more Bayonetta 2 news. My French homies over at Ubisoft would be stupid not to have something new for The Division. There was a casual statement from a developer on that project and he said “We barely have our engine, 2015 might be pushing it as far as a release date”. JUST GIVE US SOMETHING UBI! ANYTHING!

TheDivision

Juan Carlos Marquez

Nintendo has tremendous momentum heading into E3 this year. With over 1.2. million copies of Mario Kart 8 flying off store shelves last weekend (here’s our review), this may mark the much-needed turnaround for the Wii U–very much like Super Mario 3D Land pulled the Nintendo 3DS from its funk. That being said, expect Nintendo to continue the positive upswing with a couple of huge announcements.

#1 Gamecube Virtual Console HD Games Announced

The Virtual Console for the Wii U offers NES, SNES, N64, Gameboy, and Gameboy Advance games. The only thing missing from the equation (other than the Virtual Boy) is the Gamecube. While not a sales juggernaut, the Gamecube offered an impressive library of games. Due to the success of Wind Waker HD and the recently announced Gamecube Controller Adapter for Wii U, I wouldn’t put it past Nintendo to roll out some of the best GameCube games available on the Virtual Console, such as Super Mario Sunshine, F-Zero GX, Viewtiful Joe, Time Splitters 2, and Wave Race: Blue Storm. While GameCube systems may be cheap to purchase today, their games are not. Used copies of Smash Bros. Melee start at $6o. A used copy of the brutal shooter Ikaruga goes for $55, and for those wanting to play Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance need to spend $125 for a used copy! While brilliant these games may be, not everyone has the means to purchase them. An updated Virtual Console service which includes GameCube games would only boost the Wii U’s library.

#2 Youkai Watch Announced for 3DS

It is part Pokémon/part Dragon Quest…and Japanese gamers love it. With its own manga series and a successful anime, Youkai Watch could very well be a huge hit here in North America–and Nintendo is going to bank on that. Nearly 1 million copies of the first Youkai Watch game quickly sold in Japan and it has been a constant presence atop video game sales charts. A sequel is slated for release this July and chances are North American gamers will be able to play it themselves. Level-5’s trademark filing for Yo-Kai Watch for North America lends me to believe that the Japanese megahit will be making its presence at E3.

Youkai

#3 F-Zero AND Star Fox coming to Wii U

Mario Kart 8, New Super Mario Bros. U, Super Mario 3D World, and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games–four different Wii U games featuring everyone’s favorite princess-saving, mushroom–eating plumber, yet some of Nintendo’s other core franchises have been painfully absent. It has been nine years since a new Star Fox game has landed on a Nintendo system and a decade for an F-Zero game. A decade!

At the Nintendo investor’s meeting last April, Saturo Iwata stated that the company would allow licensing of their characters to third parties, and I would fully expect an announcement in the realm of a new Star Fox from Platinum Games or an F-Zero game from SEGA. It appears that Iwata realizes Nintendo not utilizing many of their IP’s, and allowing other third parties to take some of these franchises–just as we are seeing with Hyrule Warriors— would keep a healthy supply of games for Wii U owners to look forward to. All I know is that fans have been clamoring for a new title from either series for years, and I can’t imagine after the popularity of Captain Falcon and Fox McCloud that neither would be denied their own games, just as they were for the Wii.
The saying goes that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, but Nintendo finds themselves in that exact situation. The Wii U has suffered some pretty negative press–some deserved, some not-so deserved. E3 2014 allows Reggie Fils-Aime to hit the reset button and showcase some of the fantastic games the Wii U has to offer and show the industry, gamers, and the press that not only does the Wii U have games, but games and experiences consumers will want to take part in this year.

Jake Lopez

Better and Smoother Looking Titles

While the Kinect may not have taken off as Microsoft planned, an argument can be made that the accessory is still widely used outside of playing a game. Regardless, a recent change regarding the system’s GPU can mean better looking and smother games for the Xbox One. You should expect to hear “1080p” and “60 FPS” tossed around too. Here’s what Microsoft has to say on the matter:

For consumers, simply unplugging Kinect will not impact the performance of Xbox One. The June SDK released to developers gives them access to additional GPU resources previously reserved for Kinect and system functions. Accessing the additional GPU resources is done by the developer, and how developers choose to access the extra GPU performance for their games is up to them.

For titles that ship in the future, if a developer has taken advantage of this SDK change they may access this additional GPU resource. We have started working with a number of developers on how they can best take advantage of these changes, and we’ll have more to share in the future.

What does this mean for us? Well, should the developers take advantage of the additional GPU space at their disposal, we could potentially see sharper textures and smoother frame-rates.

mse31

Transmedia Projects

Yes, Microsoft excessively used “TV” during their presentation last year, but wait, where are the shows?! Well, expect to hear AND see more of their transmedia projects, starting with Halo. It has been reported that a Halo project has begun filming in Belfast, Ireland.

This new project has Ridley Scott as the executive producer and Battlestar Galactica’s Sergio Mimica-Gezzan as director. It’s important to note that this project is entirely separate from the Steven Spielberg Halo project that was announced last year. Rumor has it that Ridley Scott’s project may not entirely feature Master Chief at all. In any case, prepare yourselves for a teaser.

With Halo out of the way, one could expect to hear about other transmedia projects Microsoft has in the works. Each show should correspond with first party titles. Expect announcements and/or teasers!

Video Games

Obviously, we’re getting a Halo 5: Guardians teaser, but the Halo won’t end there. I’m sure we’ll get another detailed announcement of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This collection was rumored here on Geekscape way back in January.

Beyond that, we may get word of a Halo 5 Beta to be included with purchase of Halo 2. We may also get an in-depth look at Halo 5’s story and word of another Spartan Ops season.

mse313

Gears of War is a franchise we don’t have to look too far back to remember. After turning over everything Gears of War related to Black Tusk Studios, the franchise appears to be ready to make the leap to the Xbox One. One thing to keep in mind during the presentation is a point of interest for Rod Fergusson, Studio Manager at Black Tusk Studios:

This isn’t a great way of phrasing it but I always talk about shipping a sequel to customers as ‘managing betrayal’. They want something new but they don’t want something so new that it doesn’t feel like what they want. But if you put out something that’s very familiar and is the same as the game they just had, then it’s like ‘I’ve already had this. This isn’t new enough.’

You actually have to betray them enough to give them something new and surprising but not so much that they disconnect, and I think that is a big thing that we have to focus on,” Fergusson added. “It’s how we can innovate and bring something new to the franchise while at the same time really proving that we understand Gears – that this is the franchise that you know and love.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if we revisited old franchises such as Crackdown, Dance Central, or maybe even a resurgence of Rock Band. In all, I have a feeling they might save the best for last: A new Mass Effect title. However, this might be instead showcased during the EA press conference.

Josh Jackson

Pokken will be real. And it’ll be awesome.

For months, there have been rumors swirling of a Pokemon fighting game. Ever since an image of an HD Lucario and Blaziken about to face off surfaced, it’s been a huge topic of discussion in the Pokemon community.

Since then, word has been that the guys behind Tekken are the ones who are developing this potential title, which will be a full fledged fighting game featuring various Pokemon, all set to the mechanics of the popular 3D fighter.

It makes perfect sense considering how many popular fighting type Pokemon are in existence, how buddy buddy Namco and Nintendo have been as of late, (including their fighting game devs helping with work on the upcoming Smash Bros.), and even appeared in the credits of Mario Kart 8. Plus, we haven’t seen a core Tekken game since Tekken 6, with their last game being Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition, which introduced Nintendo items and costumes into the King of the Iron Fist Tournament. Coincidence? I think not. Will it be another killer app for the Wii U’s groing library? Who knows? But I know I’ll be first in line when it DOES get announced.

pokken

Super Smash Bros. will get six character reveals, three of which will be new.

Super Smash Bros. is easily the most hyped game of the year for Nintendo, (sorry Mario Kart), so what better way to build up excitement right before their live streamed tournament than to reveal a sizable amount of new characters?

As far as new characters are concerned, I’m guessing we’ll see… Paulatena, Chrom and Pac-Man, assuming Ridley is still off the table. They’ll want to end with a big reveal, so that would be the perfect time to show him. If not, I fully expect Pac-Man to take his spot as a gaming icon and knock down drag out brawler. Hey, he’s shown up in Street Fighter X Tekken, stranger things have happened!

Oh, and old characters need to be ones people are afraid are gone for good. C’mon, Mewtwo, Ice Climbers and Snake!

The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D Will Be A Reality!

At this point, Zelda is essentially an annual franchise for Nintendo between its console and handheld releases. I can’t think of a better way to hype up the upcoming core Zelda title for the Wii U with a remake of one of the most polarizing entries in the series this side of Zelda 2.

Fans have been begging for it since Ocarina of Time 3D hit stores, and considering that Nintendo has been far less tone def since the surprising success of Xenoblade Chronicles, you better believe that this title is in the works. No better time to announce it than the present!

Microsoft will be all about games. For real this time!

Saying Microsoft has had a rough year with its Xbox One would be a huge understatement, and most of it stems from the controversy last year over their attempt at console DRM and forcing Kinect on everyone who buys the console. A little over six months later, and Kinect is gone while DRM is a distant memory that the company hopes that we forget. They were blasted for catering to frivolous features over its core functionality of gaming, so they’re going to do whatever they can to change that perception.

Will that result in a new Crimson Skies or Mech Assault like I’ve been begging for for years? Maybe an update to Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts? Or maybe someone over there will remember that they have an incredible list of first party titles that they’re just sitting on? Although we’ll probably just get a ton of 3rd party timed exclusives. But hey, you have to start somewhere.

The Vita will officially become a PS4 controller.

Last year alluded to it, the recent PS4/Vita bundle furthers it… we just need official confirmation from Sony.

Let’s face it. As a handheld system, Sony has all but given up on the Vita. For the last two years that I’ve owned the thing, I’ve waited on baited breath for the company to announce something… ANYTHING in the way of quality first party titles.

But aside from the occasional bone thrown our way, (like Gravity Rush and Soul Sacrifice), we’ve had to rely on niche game companies like Atlus and NIS America to do well by us handheld gamers. With the announcement of the bundle on top of everything we know about Sony’s plans, I don’t expect much of anything to be shown game wise aside from maybe a game we know about like Gravity Rush 2, only to be bombarded with buzz words and hype about how amazing the Vita is… as a controller.

And they still won’t drop the price of memory cards!

VitaControlle

The majority of the press will say that Nintendo was disappointing while Sony and Microsoft blew them away regardless of the content of their conferences.

True Story.

And lastly, The Last Guardian Will Be Announced For The PS4, while Shenmue 3 won’t.

But they have one thing in common. They’re never coming out. Sorry!

Derek Kraneveldt

I really wish that I was down in LA for this year’s E3, as I feel like we’re set to get some HUGE announcements and revelations this coming week that would be absolutely shocking to see in person. Instead, I’ll be reading about them online and receiving confusing messages from my in-person co-Scapists… but that doesn’t mean I’m any less excited. I hope that it’s a great expo for everyone headed there, and I can’t wait to see what’s coming down the pipeline!

Here’s what I think (or at least really, really, hope) we’ll be seeing this year.

The PS3 is dead… at least to Sony

The PS4 has had a huge start, and with six months behind it and more than 7 million units sold, Sony is ready to say goodbye to its tough start-great finish Playstation 3. Sony is likely to reveal a PS3 title or two that’ll be making the jump to its newest console, but other than that, they don’t even want to look at the thing.

E3, Ubisoft, and other developers have announced continuing support for the console, but I wouldn’t expect anything new from Sony anytime soon.

We’ll get more details on Playstation Now.

Including pricing, more release date details, and hopefully when other countries will be able to jump in. I want this so much, but they haven’t talked about Canada yet at all.

The Last Guardian will be re-revealed.

This has to be the year. It just has to. The third game from Team ICO was first announced all the way back in 2009, and has really never been spoken about again. Until recently, when someone stated that the game was on an indefinite hiatus, and then Shuhei Yoshida himself said that it was still in active development.

This is my biggest hope for E3. Sony, make it happen or I’m smashing my PS4 and dusting of my Vita so I can smash it too.

http://youtu.be/EHzHoMT5eRg

The Vita will get a price cut.

And will be essentially not spoken of otherwise. Unfortunately great hardware means nothing when there aren’t any games coming out.

Bethesda will announce Fallout 4.

A long shot, but my fingers are crossed so hard that it just has to happen. New Vegas came out in 2010, so it’s time to reveal the future of the series.

We won’t get the huge Wii U Zelda reveal that we’re all hoping for…

Nintendo will confirm they’re working hard on the title, but that it’s not yet ready for primetime.

…But they will reveal Majora’s Mask 3D (which we’re also all hoping for).

If they want to continue printing money like they have been with Mario Kart 8, that is.

Nintendo will have a huge NFC reveal, and it’ll blow us away.

Seriously, it’s way cooler than Skylanders. 

nfc

Way more Definitive/Remastered Edition games announced for all platforms.

Let’s face it, none of our favourite current-gen consoles have the game libraries that we were hoping for at this point (well the Wii U has a pretty sweet collection so far, but we all know what everyone seems to think of that console), and brand-new games are just so expensive to develop that we’ll likely see a influx of remastered editions of PS3/Xbox 360 games.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as having remade games released is better than releasing no games at all (especially for someone who missed out on the titles last-gen), but it is a little annoying to see a good chunk of games for our newest consoles be retextured rereleases.

That being said, I can’t wait to play The Last of Us (again) on PS4, and I missed out on most of Halo, so this rumoured Master Chief Collection is right up my alley.

S.J. Borger

There’s a lot of buzz around E3 this year—with the two new consoles out and going strong,  companies—from the big AAA guys like Bethesda and Ubisoft to the smaller independent studios—will be out to show they’ve got the games to go with the hardware.

Let’s not forgot Occulus Rift, either. We saw at GDC that VR is something all the big studios are looking at when it comes to next gen gaming; Sony announced its Project Morpheus in March and Microsoft is rumored to be working on a VR system as well. A number of games have Rift-support now, but we haven’t seen very many that were meant to played with a VR headset—EVE Valkyrie being the one major title, and we had to chance to demo that at GDC and it was amaze-balls. So, exciting to see what the next major title will be to enter the Rift-enabled world will be—and how it will look.

A few other items of excitement:

Bethesda: Fallout 4. Oh, please, let it be Fallout 4. With the announcement last year that Fallout 4 is definitely in development (read all about it here), E3 is the right time and the right place for Bethesda to announce the game we’ve all been waiting for FOR SO LONG.

Square Enix: Square Enix has a number of super-secret, hush hush titles—including an MMO—that will be announced at E3. I’ve gotten a sneak peak at some of them and all I can say is OH MY GOD. And Kingdom Hearts will hopefully get some love.

Projekt Red: The Witcher team announced the release date for The Witcher 3 just this week, as well as the closed Beta for The Witcher Adventure Game. But they also said they had more waiting to be announced at E3—what could that be??

Witcher3

In a related note, Good Old Games will announce their new gaming client GOG Galaxy, which is a DRM-free, completely optional game client that includes the ability to allow players to socialize with their friends who are using a different game client.

EA: They will roll out their expected salte of new games to loud roars of approval. I mean, Sims 4. Dragon Age: Inquisition (have you SEEN THE latest trailer? Holy pretty, Batman…)…these games look amazing. They will also tout how nice they are, now that they too give away games every once in a while on Origin. No mention will be made of SimCity.

Microsoft/Xbox: They will make much of their new Live Gold membership—free games! (I predict that a lot of the platforms and clients will be talking about all the FREE GAMES you’ll get if you sign up for their client). And HALO, of course. We’ll hear a lot about HALO, and maybe some about how they are branching out into content creation (Microsoft recently started a new content team out here in LA).

That’s it! Those are our predictions for this year’s E3! Be sure to check back next week to see what we were right about, and where we failed horribly!

Nintendo Registers Trademark For ‘Pokemon Delta Emerald’, What Does It Mean?

by Josh Jackson

Late last week, Pokefans were shocked when Nintendo officially trademarked the name Pokemon Delta Emerald. An obvious reference to the recently announced Alpha Ruby and Omega Sapphire remakes, this information has led to speculation that a third version will eventually be made.

Whether or not this is actually the case is yet to be revealed, but as far as I can tell, it’s safe to say that nothing will come of this. Why? First of all, it’s not out of the ordinary for companies to trademark names that they never use for the purpose of keeping others from using the name while simultaneously owning it in case they ever do decide to make something out of it.

What would be out of the ordinary however, would be for Nintendo to make a third version of a remake, Pokemon is somewhat notorious for milking their main games with extra versions, starting with pokemon Yellow. Every generation has had a third version, (assuming you count Black 2 and White 2), but no remake has ever taken the plunge. FireRed and LeafGreen never had a LightningYellow or whatever. HeartGold and SoulSilver never saw a version of Crystal. So what would be the reason to do so now?

And lastly, it wouldn’t make much sense. For the most part, third versions would refine the game play and make small changes to the story while usually integrating exclusive aspects of the first set of games into one nifty cart. The remakes however, have traditionally been closer to the third versions than the original two that they’ re named after, making FireRed and HeartGold feel mostly like Yellow and Crystal respectively. Why would this be any different this time around? I fully expect a showdown between Kyogre and Groudon. I would be surprised if you don’t battle both Team Magma and Aqua, And most of all, I’d be surprised if Rayquaza doesn’t swoop down to stop it all like he did in Emerald. Coming up with a third version just to retread content ‘that was already a retread to begin with sounds highly illogical.

Having said that, I’m excited to see what kind of changes await our return to Hoenn, regardless of how many versions there are. Would you like to see Emerald remade, or are two versions enough? Be heard, Pokefans!

Mario Kart 8 Sells 1.2 Million Copies

by J.C. Marquez

The Mario Kart franchise has always proven to be a hit with casual and hardcore gamers. Prior to the release of Mario Kart 8, the franchise has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, so it should come as no surprise that the latest entry in the series would be one of the fastest-selling video games of the year.

This morning, Nintendo of America announced that the highly-anticipated Wii U title sold 1.2 million copies in its first weekend of release. Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime commented on the game’s opening weekend success:

“The early response to Mario Kart 8 demonstrates that the best days for Wii U are still ahead. This year’s E3 is just days away, and it will be all about the future games for Nintendo platforms. This milestone is a great place to start!”

Time will tell if Mario Kart 8 will be able to surpass the worldwide sales of Mario Kart Wii which stands at 35.5 million copies. With Mario Kart 8’s breathtaking visuals, glorious soundtrack, and the free Wii U game download promotion, Mario Kart 8 has a pretty decent shot of doing just that.

Source: Nintendo of America Press Release

Yes, You Will Be Able To Drive A Mercedes-GLA In Mario Kart 8

by Shane O'Hare

http://youtu.be/_AkgJZGspCM

What you saw just now, was not a hoax or a prank. Not an actment of internet auteurs. That was an official commercial for Mercedes of Japan featuring a hunk of a Mario.

Details are slim, but Nintendo promises more info will be released soon. The good news is that it will be FREE DLC!

For more info (if you can read Japanese) head on over to Game Watch Impress.

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Nintendo Reveals GameCube Controller Support For Wii U!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: A few weeks back, Nintendo gave word that it had partnered with PDP to develop an officially licensed GameCube-styled classic controller for the Wii U launch of Smash Bros.

Today, they took it one step further. The big N has just revealed a GameCube controller adapter for the Wii U. You simply plug the adapter into your Wii U’s front USB ports, and then plug in up to four GameCube controllers into the adapter.

There’s been no word yet if it’ll work with Wii U titles other than Smash Bros., or if it’ll support the WaveBird (though why wouldn’t it), so we’ll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more. Will you be picking up an adapter? Do you hope that Nintendo starts selling GameCube controllers again too? Sound out below!

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Geekscape Games Reviews: ‘Mario Kart 8’

by Derek Kraneveldt

I stated back in my review for the fantastic Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze that “with exclusives like Super Mario 3D World, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101, Lego City Undercover, and not to mention the still-coming-this-year Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8 (just to name a few), you shouldn’t really need another reason to pick up a Wii U.”

Well, we’re finally on the eve of Mario Kart 8‘s anticipated release, and as expected, it’s simply another reason for you to own this console. I’ve been playing the game extensively for a few weeks now, and I absolutely can’t put the thing down. I even picked up Ubisoft’s fun yet flawed (and don’t even get me started on the broken promises) Watch Dogs on Tuesday, which I put a few good hours into… before turning it off and jumping right back into Mario Kart 8. It’s gorgeous, it’s smooth, it’s addicting as hell, and it’s the most fun I’ve had playing a video game so far this year.

The game remains fundamentally similar to its seven (yes, there has been that many) fantastic predecessors, but every aspect of the title has been tuned and retuned to produce the slickest and fastest racing game this side of F-Zero. A steady stream of unlocks keeps you saying ‘just one more cup’, as a multitude of new characters, car unlocks, stamps, and more come at a steady pace. There are some absolutely hilarious car/wheel/glider combinations that had me laughing every single time I used them, and each unlocked part can really change things up. You’ll definitely want to try out every combination, as the vehicle you think is the ‘best’ may feel even better once you change its wheels.

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Some welcome changes have also made the cut. Gone are the frustrating days of a rival racer loading up on six red shells, as an item now stays in your inventory until they’re completely consumed. This also means that you can’t hold a single shell or banana at your back in order to pick up another item, you have to use what you have before you can grab something else. Honestly, I don’t understand how it took eight iterations to make this change, but it’s definitely a case of better late than never. The game’s biggest addition lies in the neat anti-gravity mode added to most (if not all) of its tracks. Many levels have twists, turns, and entire sections (going up a gigantic waterfall, and then back down for instance) that would be impossible to traverse in a regular vehicle, so in these areas your wheels turn sideways, your traction is reduced, and you regularly find yourself completely upside down. Skilled players can utilize extra speed boosts in these sections by bouncing off of opponents, but it’s definitely a risk/reward move, as you may find yourself instead flying off of the track.

The changes to Battle Mode, however, are changes that I could have gone without. There’s nothing inherently wrong the the new version, but instead of specifically designed, symmetrical battle tracks, you’re speeding through altered versions of the games racetracks. Rather than fighting each other until all balloons are lost, the default setting has you fighting for three minutes. The winner is not the last character standing, but simply the one that has collected the most balloons at the end of the time limit. It’s still fun, but it can’t shake a stick at the classic battle mode, and acts as more of a distraction than a full-fledged ‘let’s go play’ battle mode.

Nintendo has also added a trio of new items to this version, and all three of them quickly rose to sit among my favourites. The Boomerang Flower acts similarly to a green shell; it emerges straight in front of (or behind) you and flies in a straight line along the track… except it’s a boomerang, so it comes back to you. You get three throws with the item, and it can take out opponents as it travels in either direction. It’s great to see the boomerang fly past an opponent (especially a human one), only for it to collide with their character as it returns. Next up is the Piranha Plant, which gobbles up everything in front of you when it’s active, and I mean everything. It’ll grab coins, take out opponents, grab banana peels, shells, etc, making you nearly invulnerable for the time that it’s active. Then there’s the Super Horn, which nets you one use, and basically blows everything that surrounds your character when activated away from you. This includes banana peels, other racers trying to catch a draft, and it’ll also get rid of that pesky (and previously impossible to avoid) blue shell if timed right. I’ve never felt more badass than I did the first time I got rid of the blue shell in this manner… which is probably a testament to how much of a loser I am.

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As expected, Mario Kart 8 looks and sounds phenomenal too. The game runs at 720p at a locked 60 frames-per-second (30 in three or four player split-screen multiplayer, but more on that later), and even though it doesn’t come close to the magical, anything-less-is-crap 1080p, it’s probably the best looking game I’ve played in some time. The vibrant, colourful artstyle of the the tracks, characters, and karts lend themselves so well to the upgraded visuals, that it’s impossible to think that this isn’t an astonishingly beautiful title. It’s said nearly every time Nintendo releases another gem for the Wii U, but Mario Kart 8 is the best looking game that the company has released.

I’m happy to say that each and every one of Mario Kart 8‘s 32 tracks (16 new and 16 refreshed retro levels) are welcome additions. You’ll race through every terrain imaginable, in a variety of new and familiar locations, and you’ll love every freaking second of it. Whether it’s a completely redone Donut Plains 3 (complete with previously mentioned anti-gravity sections) or the new Rainbow Road, there simply isn’t a dud in the entire bunch. They look fantastic from every angle, which you’ll see in the game’s new ‘Highlight Reel’ after every race. The quick (~20 second) reel shows you some of the coolest things that happened in each race, and you’ll probably spend way too much time watching these in silky smooth slow motion. You can even edit and share these reels on YouTube. It’s probably the only replay mode in any racing game ever that I’ve actually spent some time with.

My favourite part of Mario Kart 8 is the feature that other developers and consoles have all but forgotten: split-screen multiplayer. I only own one controller for my Playstation 4 and Xbox One, and that’s a fact that likely will never change. Local multiplayer on other consoles is so rare that it simply doesn’t make sense to own additional controllers (especially at the price of controllers these days). On the Wii U however, I’ve played through New Super Mario Bros. U, Super Mario 3D World, and now Mario Kart 8 (among other games) with three friends by my side, as in, on the same couch. I’m so happy that the conversation is “Hey, do you guys want to come over and play Mario Kart” rather than “Hey, do you guys want to come over and take turns playing Mario Kart.” Two players can head online at once (the game features 12-player online multiplayer, which I can’t wait to get more time with), but the shining star here is the four-player split-screen. Yep. Four-players, at the same time, on the same console. The game dips to 30 frames-per-second when you’re playing with three or four players, but it still looks great, and it still plays just as well as I’ve spent the last 1200 words describing. You’ll have access to every cup, track, and battle, all while sitting in the same room as your friends.

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Mario Kart 8 is a beautiful, insanely fun racer that is far and away worth picking up a Wii U for. As if the game wasn’t already worth the cost (it is, and more), buying and registering the title on Club Nintendo before July 31st will get you another game FOR FREE. We’ve had a lot of great gaming experiences thus far in 2014, but as mentioned, Mario Kart 8 is the most fun I’ve had playing a video game this year.

Pros and Cons / TL;DR :

+ Phenomenal local multiplayer.

+ Gorgeous graphics, great soundtrack.

+ New items are welcome additions.

+ Great mix of tracks.

+ Antigravity.

– New Battle Mode is lame compared to old Battle Mode.

– Online is a step in the right direction for Nintendo, but still too limited.

– I’m not playing it right now.

Final Score: 4.5/5

The Saint Mort Show Episode 084: Scott Roger of Survivor Girl

by Saintmort

For episode 84 of the Saint Mort Show I sat down with my internet friend Scott Roger who cohosts of the Reddit Horror Club Podcast with me every week. Scott has been in three different music project throughout the year or so that I’ve known him but we barely discuss any of them. Instead we just well… chat. Then his wife comes and joins the convo. Wish I was better at selling this episode but that’s basically all that happens (If that isn’t selling the shit out of a podcast I don’t know what is).

Check out Scott’s projects!
Ichabod Crane
Survivor Girl
Console Crash

Also the song playing during the intro is II off Athletics album Who You Are Is Not Enough

Follow Saint Mort on Facebook and Twitter

If you really like the show get Matt something nice off his AmazonWishList

Subscribe to Us on iTunes

 

 

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Cancelled Survival Horror ‘Sadness’ Resurrected, Headed To Wii U!

by Derek Kraneveldt

This, we did not expect.

Sadness was always an intriguing project. The game was one of the earliest announced for Nintendo’s Wii console (yes, Wii, not Wii U), and was to be a realistic survival/psychological horror title with black and white graphics that was set in pre WWI Ukraine.

The game was initially supposed to launch in Q4 of 2007, and a live-action concept trailer was released to garner excitement for the game. Here’s the trailer:

Oddly enough, the game was cancelled… without any gameplay footage ever being released. The original developer shut down, and Sadness disappeared. Oddly enough, the game has just been resurrected, and is targeting a 2016 for Wii U. NintendoLife caught up with HullBreach Studios’ Randy Freer and Jeremy Kleve of Cthulhi Games about the games resurrection.

You can head to NintendoLife for the full interview, but Randy stated that:

We’re here today to tell you that our two studios — HullBreach Studios and Cthulhi Games — are working together on bringing back the Sadness IP. Your readers are probably looking at their screens in disbelief. Quite understandable! I think we should let them blink a couple more times and let this sink in!

 

For anybody in your audience who isn’t familiar with us or who I am, surprise! I’m the IGN user Twiilight_Prince, who years ago (before starting HullBreach Studios with my brothers Daniel and Robert Gump) released the only three 100% real screenshots of Sadness thanks to Piotr Bielatowicz. I fought trolls for years, proving the game existed across the internet, while nIBRIS regrettably struggled in development with their Gamebryo programmers at Frontline and their graphics partner Digital Amigos, up until Sadness officially went vapor in 2010. Jeremy Kleve and myself have basically been unofficially involved in Sadness across the last 6 years in the background. I have to admit all those years of excitement is probably the foremost reason for me getting more involved in the video game industry today, without a doubt!

You can take a look at the only real screenshots from the Wii title below, and let us know if you’re interested in Sadness!

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