Tag: Wii U

Meta Knight Returns To ‘Smash Bros.’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following the reveal of Chrom, Lucina, and Robin late last month, another fan-favourite fighter has just been confirmed for the upcoming iterations of Smash Bros.: Meta Knight!

Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai revealed the news on Miiverse earlier today, stating “Looks like there was an impostor in the earlier posts, so I introduced him to my sword!” …I’ll leave it up to your imagination if he really said that or not. The veteran hero, Meta Knight, returns to battle!! We didn’t forget the Battleship Halberd either!!”

Sakura continued, detailing one of the character’s special moves: “Meta Knight’s Up Special Move, Shuttle Loop, changed quite a bit in this game. The glide is gone, and the attack slashes opponents twice while spinning in a large loop. This has turned into a highly technical and effective move.”

I’m a big Mario player myself (though I cannot wait to try out Pac-Man), but you can take a look at the first Wii U Meta Knight screen below, and be sure to let us know who you’re most excited to play as when Smash Bros. hits later this year!

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SDCC 2014: Hands-On With ‘Hyrule Warriors’

by Josh Jackson

Hyrule Warriors, the marriage between the Legend Of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors, has been well documented since its surprise reveal many a Nintendo Direct ago. New characters, weapons and enemies have been revealed at a rapid pace, and yet, it was still hard to get too excited over a game that at first glance, appeared to be another Dynasty Warriors with a Link skin. Could this new game bring some of the Zelda flair to a game play style that has felt stale for years now? Being ever so diligent, we hit the Nintendo Lounge at San Diego Comic Con to find out.

Featuring Link, Zelda and Midna as playable generals, I got the chance to play as the two ladies on display. Link gets enough screen time, don’t you think? At first glance, it may not look like it matters too much who you play as, but both characters offered a variety of combat options, making them both feel distinct.

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Starting with Zelda, the Princess of Hyrule shows off her plethora of light magic attacks to eliminate foes that happen to surround her. With a unique mechanic that forces her to charge up her skills, a quick tap of the A button would fill up the meter, allowing her to end combos with devastating attacks, combining her newfound rapier skills with her proficiency with spells. When her special meter is all charged up, a light arrow that destroys anything in front of her emphasizes her dominance. It’s no wonder she’s usually in the background of the core franchise games. We can’t have her overshadowing the legendary hero, no can we?

With Midna, she doesn’t fight with a traditional weapon, and many of her attacks force her to get right in the faces of enemies. Yet when she attacks, she does so in a few ways, both of which take advantage of her magic from the Twilight Realm. Standard attacks create a wolf that she temporarily mounts, which attacks with the ferocity that Link had back in Twilight Princess. When surrounded, Midna does her best Bayonetta impression by swinging her transformed hair, damaging the enemies around her. After powering up, she uses her hair to spike a giant ball of energy down onto the field, devestating the opposition in the process. Well played, Twilight Princess.

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Aside from the combat, the Zelda series has its fingerprints all over the objectives from the demo. While the structure of the maps will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s touched a Dynasty Warriors game, leading your character to different points on the map to eliminate enemy generals, the goal of each mission was surprisingly varied. For example, enemy reinforcements burst through a cave, opening a hidden path with a treasure chest containing bombs. Now added to my arsenal, they could be used to uncover paths as well as in combat, just like a core title.

When it came time to face off against the stage’s boss, (King Dodongo from Ocarina of Time), hacking and slashing wasn’t enough to take it down. In true LOZ fashion, puzzle solving came into play, forcing me to throw bombs in its mouth to do heavy damage. The reward for playing well was a cinematic flurry of attacks, leading to an easy victory once played right.

I might be still on the fence as to whether I would pick this up on day one, but from what we’ve seen, Hyrule Warriors offers more than we could have ever expected, joining aspects of both franchises to create a potentially special experience. In addition to the Adventure Mode, new weapons and characters shown during its dedicated Nintendo Direct, and it’s looking like this game is becoming more and more deserving of being on our radars.

Are you a believer yet? Hyrule Warriors will launch exclusively for Wii U on September 30th.

SDCC 2014: Getting Acquainted With The Trap Masters Of ‘Skylanders: Trap Team’

by Josh Jackson

As with the previous iterations of the Skylanders series, the upcoming fourth game in the series, Trap Team, is bringing a brand new type of character in the form of Trap Masters. While not as big as giants, yet still dwarfing the Swap Force and regular Skylanders, the Trap Masters do increased damage to bosses, as well as using their translucent, Traptanium weapons to break through obstacles that only they can open. Since we played the game at E3, even more playable figures have been put on display. Naturally, that meant we had to give them a spin at Comic Con, bringing a few surprises along the way.

Snap Shot

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Everyone should get well acquainted with Snap Shot, since he will be the default Trap Master to come with every copy of Trap Team. This water Skylander uses his giant bow to shoot water arrows at enemies from afar, dealing big damage in the process. When up close, he uses his brute strength to knock back enemies with the bow, becoming effective at both long and short distances. You didn’t think the weapon was just for show, did you?

Wildfire

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The fire lion that proves a flame shield can be used for more than just fending off Internet hate. Coming packaged with the Dark Edition, and having what is easily my favorite Skylander design thus far, Wildfire imposes his will by rushing down foes by charging through them with his shield at the ready. Otherwise, he dominates with his powerful punches, making the villains wish for the safety of a trap.

Wallop

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Wallop seems like the typical Earth Skylander, using a pair of Traptanium hammers to pound away at enemies and the environment alike. Somewhat resembling a more humanoid Tree Rex, Wallop was the first one to look a little more friendly, and not deathly serious like the previous two. While powerful in his own right, he didn’t show off too much in the demo that hasn’t been done numerous times with other characters. Between other Earth characters like Rubble Rouser and Granite, I think we’ve pretty good in the hammer wielder department. Still, the figure itself looks pretty sweet!

Gearshift

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If you’ve been anywhere near a Skylanders section in your favorite electronics store, you’ve surely heard of Gearshift, with a pre-order drive that’s nearly as aggressive as the one for the game itself. After playing with her, it’s more than worth the deposit. She’s easily the most fun I’ve had with an individual Skylander, and I’ve played them all! This Tech Trap Master uses her giant gear for attacks, but it can transform into three different forms. The standard one is like a hula hoop, attacking enemies in her immediate radius. From there, the gear can break off into twin blades, inflicting damage to enemies in front of her, or transform into a whip, giving her mid range attacks. With such versatility, it’s no surprise why she’s the most exciting Skylander to arrive in a long time.

Gusto

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The rotund genie of the Air Element brings a level of strength not typically seen with characters of this element. His oversized boomerang works in multiple situations during battle, allowing him to either swing or throw the weapon, (obviously, since, you know… Boomerang). These options more than make up for his slow speed, and his charming design will surely make him a favorite when he’s released.

Krypt King

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With a name like Krypt King, was there any doubt that he would be the Undead Trap Master? Looking like Chop-Chop on steroids, Krypt King battles with his giant sword to subdue the villains, which makes since considering he’s a giant suit of armor. While his design is all kinds of awesome, his slow speed and the secondary haze ability that seemed all but useless made him my least favorite of the set on display. Upgrades in the later game will surely alleviate this, but so far, I’m not ready to bow down to the king just yet.

That’s it for the Trap Masters, but that doesn’t mean that there weren’t more standard characters on display to collect. Figures like Chopper, (a tiny T-Rex with propellers attached to his back), Funny Bone, (a skeleton dog that resembles a dead Hot Dog), and Food Fight, (living lettuce with a tomato bazooka who will be included with starter packs), will continue to add so many more game play options… As well as figures to buy. And that doesn’t even include the villains to trap, like Sheep Creep, a heinous foe who is literally a sheep with rockets strapped to his back. But of course, they need trap figures to capture. Oh, our poor, poor bank accounts.

Will you be ready to join the Trap Team when the latest Skylanders title arrives on October 5th?

Three Mercedes-Benz Vehicles Coming To ‘Mario Kart 8’ As Free DLC!

by Josh Jackson

To celebrate the 22nd anniversary of Super Mario Kart‘s release, Nintendo has announced that three Mercedes-Benz vehicles, based on real models that have been developed by the car maker, will arrive as free DLC on August 27th.

Consisting of the Silver Arrow of the 1930’s, the 300 SL Roadster from the 1950’s, and the modern GLA, (which comes with its own special wheel options), this DLC pack will kick off a “Mercedes Cup” tournament. Taking place between August 27th thru September 23rd, players from all around the world will be able to put these new vehicles to the test, and prove their luxury car supremacy.

In addition, the game will receive a new update, with a plethora of fixes and enhancements that will surely improve the game. According to Nintendo’s official press release, they include the following:

Drivers will now have the option to display the course map on the TV screen during races.
The order of the menu after each race will be changed to “Next Race”, followed by “Watch Highlight Reel”.
The game will remember the most recent kart options that were selected, even if the Wii U system was powered down.
Users will be able to change options of other players’ Mario Kart TV downloaded highlight reels, such as changing the focus to different characters or actions.
A score screen will be added so players can see how many coins they’ve collected, the win-loss record of their online battles and their frequently used characters.
Improved the stability of the online connection to enhance user experience during online battles.

Free DLC and a ton of fixes? Not too bad if you ask me! Of course, you can always show your appreciation for all the free stuff by downloading the original Super Mario Kart, which hit the Wii U eShop today for $7.99. Or not, if soul crushing difficulty and a wall-less Rainbow Road isn’t your idea of a good time.

Now that Mercedes-Benz in Mario Kart is officially a thing here in the States, is there anything else you would like to see come to the franchise? And who else will be participating in the tournament? You’ll be sure to spot me in your rear view mirror, assuming they go back that far.

‘Hyrule Warriors’ Gets New Modes, Characters, Costumes!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Nintendo held a fantastic new Direct Presentation last night. This time around, the video focussed on the upcoming Hyrule Warriors, which will hit stores on September 26th, and should be very different from any game we’ve played starring these classic characters before.

If you’re interested, you can watch the entire direct in the player below… Or you can read further for all of the info conveyed in the presentation.

Here’s the gist of everything that Nintendo talked about during the presentation:

–Adventure Mode: Players are faced with a grid of challenges that looks like the map from The Legend of Zelda on NES. Completing each challenge unlocks a new region of the map, and with it, a new level of Adventure Mode. Certain characters and weapons can only be unlocked in Adventure Mode.

-Costumes: Club Nintendo members who buy and register Hyrule Warriors within four weeks of launch will receive a set of alternate Ganondorf costumes as free in-game downloadable content. More details will be made available on http://club.nintendo.com. For certain other characters, Nintendo will make downloadable alternate costumes available as pre-order bonuses from select retailers in North America. Nintendo will announce more information about how to get these cosmetic add-ons in the future.

-Playable Characters: In addition to Ganondorf, players can opt to play as various characters from The Legend of Zelda universe. Each character carries his or her own specialty weapons: Link (Hylian Sword), Princess Zelda (Rapier), Impa (Giant Blade), Midna (Shackle), Sheik (Harp), Agitha (Parasol), Darunia (Hammer), Princess Ruto (Zora Scale), Zant (Scimitar), Fi (Goddess Blade), Ghirahim (Demon Blade) and Lana (Book of Sorcery).

-Weapons: A Chain Chomp will make a guest appearance as a weapon. As the story advances, new weapons will become available to some characters, such as the Magic Rod for Link, the Baton for Zelda and Spear for Lana. Weapons have special abilities called Skills that increase attack damage, or perhaps increase the chance of finding Hearts. Filling the Focus Spirit magic gauge will temporarily increase a character’s abilities and help to mow down huge numbers of enemies. And Bombchus are back, just bigger and more explosive.

-Game Play: Players can level their characters up to increase HP and attack skill, or they can grab materials dropped by defeated monsters to craft Badges to increase a weapon’s number of attacks, create longer combos or extend Focus Spirit time.

-Co-Op Mode: Two players can play a local co-op match, with one player looking at the TV and the other looking at the Wii U GamePad controller. Single players can also play on the TV, or using only the GamePad in off-TV play.

-Locations: Players will face down hordes of enemies in familiar locations, such as Skyloft from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Lake Hylia from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Twilight Field from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Classic Zelda Elements: Players will recognize items from their favorite Zelda games, including bombs, arrows and a Hookshot. The game is filled with familiar Zelda staples, such as Cuccos, Rupees, Gold Skulltulas and plenty of grass cutting.

A lot of great stuff here, huh? I, for one, cannot wait to grab those costumes, and I absolutely love the idea of the multiplayer being split between the two screens.

A new trailer for the game also debuted last night, so take a look at it below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to Hyrule Warriors!

Buy ‘Skylanders: Trap Team’ On Wii, Get A Free Wii U Copy! No, Really!

by Josh Jackson

When you think of Skylanders, you’re likely to think about the second mortgage you have to take out to buy each of the new figures every year. Especially with yesterday’s Dark Edition announcement, it’s clear that Activision is still finding new ways to keep the interest, (and the cash), of the Skylander faithful. But what if the series actually found a way to save you money? Preposterous!

Yet, that’s exactly what’s happening with Wii versions of the upcoming Trap Team, because anyone who purchases the game for Nintendo’s last generation console will be able to redeem a FREE digital copy for the Wii U. And yes, since the news was made public, it has since been confirmed that this will include copies of the Dark Edition as well, making this an easy decision for families who either own a Wii U, or are looking to upgrade.

This isn’t the first time the Skylanders franchise has thrown a bone to the Wii U. Just last year, an exclusive, golden Swash Buckler figure was included with special Swap Force console bundles just in time for the holiday season. Between this news, last year’s support, and the many titles that have been made available in the past year and a half from Activision, it’s looking like the company is one of the few third parties to continuously support the Wii U, which in my humble opinion, is great for everyone involved.

What does everyone think of the news? Has it affected your console of choice when Skylanders: Trap Team launches on October 5th?

Sheik, Darunia and Princess Ruto Join The ‘Hyrule Warriors’ Cast

by Josh Jackson

Famitsu’s latest scans have revealed three new characters coming to Hyrule Warriors, the Zelda spin on the Dynasty Warriors franchise, and one thing’s for sure. Whoever chose the latest reveals must have been huge on Ocarina of Time!

First, Darunia, the Goron leader and the Sage of Fire will roll through swarms of enemies when he hits the battlefield. Second, Princess Ruto must have gotten tired of being carried around everywhere, because the Zora princess / Sage of Water is looking to bring the fight herself. And lastly, Sheik finally puts those ninja skills to good use, being the first time that the character has been playable outside of Smash Bros. We always knew she LOOKED badass. Now it’s time for her to prove it.

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This brings the playable roster up to 10, including Link, Zelda, Impa, Midna, Fi, Agatha, and newcomer, Lana. It’ll be hard to claim that the Zelda doesn’t have strong female characers now! I wonder how much restraint Team Ninja had to use to actually clothe them all?

Who are you most excited about playing with? Hyrule Warriors will launch on September 26th, exclusively for Wii U.

Activision Announces The ‘Skylanders: Trap Team’ Dark Edition; Snatching Wallets In The Process!

by Josh Jackson

In a move that will likely surprise absolutely no one, Activision has announced that the upcoming Skylanders: Trap Team, the fourth game in the title that started the “toys come to life”, craze, will receive its very own limited edition.

Titled the “Dark Edition”, Trap Team seems to be following very closely in the footsteps of its predecessor, Swap Force. Each package contains Raider colored versions of the standard pack ins, which include Snap Shot and Food Fight in addition to a Life and Water trap. Coming exclusively to this version however, is this badass looking fire lion, (appropriately named Wildfire), and a black Kaos trap, designed to capture the longtime series antagonist. The package will retail for $99.99.

Collectors are sure to eat this up, and I know plenty of people who wouldn’t mind dropping the extra cash for the alternate colors and bonus figures. Having said that, I REALLY hope this trap isn’t the only way to capture Kaos. The ability to do so has been a big selling point after all. And it’s too bad that they didn’t decide on some other gimmick, since we already got Dark Spyro and Dark Eruptor from the 3DS versions and a Dark Edition of Swap Force. I mean, aren’t there any other ideas other than painting them black? I sense a Rolling Stones song in the distance…

There’s no word as to whether or not this version is a Toys R’ Us exclusive in the same manner the last limited edition was a GameStop exclusive, or if we’ll be able to purchase this from any retailer that we please. But with Disney Infinity brining in Marvel and Nintendo tying their Amiibos to Smash Bros, Skylanders will have more competition than ever when it comes to your toy buying dollar. Let’s hope the game continues to build on its much improved prequel to stay strong in the public eye. See, folks? Competition at its finest!

Do you plan on sticking with Trap Team this holiday, and if so, are you going with the Dark Edition? The Skylanders’ latest adventure will be available for every major platform when it releases in October.

Stitch and Tinkerbell Are Coming To ‘Disney Infinity 2.0’… With A Few Surprises!

by Josh Jackson

Disney Interactive has released a new Disney Infinity 2.0 trailer, showing off their two newest character reveals, (which means two more figures we’ll have to throw money at). After teasing Stitch last week, the adorably destructive alien is joined by Peter Pan‘s Tinkerbell, both of which will be able to work their magic in the Toy Box mode of the game.

While two new Disney based additions to the roster are definitely welcomed, the bigger news might be the new vehicles and environments hinted at in the trailer. A Gravity Falls theme? Darkwing Duck’s Ratcatcher motorcycle complete with side car? It begs the question… What else will 2.0 have in store for us when it releases? Either way, it looks like the game is looking to include properties spanning generations to reach the young and the young at heart.

Considering that many people were concerned over a potential lack of Disney with the obvious focus on Marvel, these additions on top of the previously revealed Maleficent and Merida figures ease those concerns a little bit. Even still, we’re yet to see any Disney themed Play Sets, so we won’t know if we’ll be able to take these new characters into their own campaigns until later. With that said, these figures and items are seemingly great additions, especially when you consider Stitch’s blasters and Stitch’s surfboard, (complete with Stitch on the nose), were in the first game, making his inclusion overdue. What if Stitch rides the surfboard though? Stitchception!?

Which characters, items and themes do you want to see make it in? Does seeing The Ratcatcher in a new game hit that nostalgia bone? And who else wants to see some Rescue Rangers content next? Tell us what you want to play with when Disney Infinity releases this fall!

Watch The First Trailer For The Wii U Exclusive ‘Fatal Frame: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: After the series’ continuation was revealed back in April, Nintendo and Tecmo Koei have finally, finally revealed the next instalment in the celebrated Fatal Frame franchise.

Apparently, neither company is aware that Nintendo consoles are only for children (right?), because this game looks terrifying. The game is called Zero: Nuregarasu no Miko, which roughly translates to Fatal Frame: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden.

The game sounds like it could be Fatal Frame‘s most terrifying iteration yet, as players will use the gamepad to control the series’ staple Camera Obscura.

Take a look at the first trailer below, and let us know what you think! The game will launch in Japan on September 27th. While a North American release date has not been revealed, we sure hope it’s announced soon.

SDCC 2014: See ‘SONIC BOOM’ at Comic-Con!

by jake108

New games? Yes. New merchandise? Yes. New TV show? Wait, what?

Nerd HQ will once again be the destination for the SEGA fan in you as they will be using Petco Park as a platform to showcase Sonic Boom™: Rise of Lyric (Wii U) and Sonic Boom™: Shattered Crystal (Nintendo 3DS).

If for some reason you can’t make it there, you can find these titles and experience the “boom” on the main SDCC floor at the Archie Comics Booth #2842!

Geekscape Games: Hands-On With ‘Kirby And The Rainbow Curse’

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event was full of surprises, but few were as unexpected as the latest Kirby title heading to the Wii U.

As early Nintendo DS adopters can tell you, Kirby’s Canvas Curse was a bright spot on what was otherwise a painful start for the dual screen handheld. But although it used the touch screen as its primary control type to draw paths, tap characters and block obstacles for a a ball shaped Kirby, it wasn’t a mini game collection. It wasn’t a glorified tech demo either. To many a gamer’s surprise, it was one of the most innovative, challenging and fun titles the pink puff ball had been in for a long time. With a sequel on the way nearly 10 years after we all scratched up our handhelds with our frantic drawing, it was time to see if Rainbow Curse could carry over the magic that the canvas left behind.

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Instead of using sprite based art, Rainbow Curse has opted to go with a claymation visual style, which gives a ton of charm to an already adorable series while making it stand out from the dozens of Kirby titles already on the market. Like its predecessor, the controls consist of drawing paths for Kirby as he rolls forward on his own. Getting creative with your pathways with tricks like drawing loops often lead towards hidden areas and bonus points that played into my overall rank at the end of the stage, but doing so is easier said than done since there are enemies and traps at every turn.

Tapping Kirby will make him charge forward, defeating certain enemies and destroying blocks in the process. For those times where your foes actually wisen up and use stronger blocks to hinder your progress, holding the stylus on Kirby will charge him up, allowing him to plow through stronger obstacles while doing his best Sonic impression. Keeping a close eye on the stages leads to additional treasure that can be discovered as well, so some well timed drawing is in order to get the most out of each world, especially for the completionists out there.

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Eventually, stages get a lot more complex, especially with the water stage shown off in the demo. Using currents to move Kirby in the right direction, the paths drawn act as more of a barrier, keeping the star warrior safe from hazards and enemies that he would otherwise float aimlessly into. And when opponents get too big to fight with conventional methods, Kirby’s new Tank form turns him into a missile firing weapon of mass destruction, switching to an action shooter-ish play style that’s a departure from the standard path drawing. There’s a reason why the pink puffball is considered the strongest warrior in the universe!

Familiar, yet with some new tricks up his non-existent sleeves, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is poised to bring us back to the greatness of its predecessor while making some fresh improvements to the formula. Still challenging, still adorable and still unlike any other game out there, here’s to hoping Rainbow Curse will continue to surprise us when its released in 2015 exclusively for the Wii U.

http://youtu.be/aH9znuWkdbI

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: 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.

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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.

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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.

InfinityIronMan

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!

E3 2014: Zelda and Midna Join The ‘Hyrule Warriors’ Cast

by Josh Jackson

One of the most surprising announcements in recent memory was Hyrule Warriors, the first team up between Nintendo, Tecmo, and Team Ninja since the polarizing Metroid: Other M. Placing Link and the Zelda universe into the game play of the long running Dynasty Warriors franchise seemed crazy enough to work, which is only reinforced by the newest gameplay trailer.

As with Dynasty Warriors, there are sure to be a variety of playable characters to tear through the battlefield with. While Link and Impa were shown in previous screenshots and videos, it was a big surprise to not only see Zelda, but Twilight Princess’ own Midna getting their own chances to shine as playable warriors as well. Based on the trailer, Zelda uses her wisdom to destroy foes with her powerful magic while Midna rides her wolf into battle, (which may or may not be Link this time), while holding back foes with her dark magic.

Seeing how different their fighting styles seem so far gives me hope that the game will be more than just Dynasty Warriors with a Legend of Zelda skin. But the only question is who else will be added to the playable cast? Ganondorf is teased at the closing moments of the video, but will he be the primary antagonist? Or even better, can we play as him? Outside of fighting games, the wielder of the Triforce of Power has never been playable, I’m crossing my fingers!

Hyrule Warriors is planned for a September release exclusively for Wii U. Take a look at the new trailer below, and let us know what you think!

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: ‘Bayonetta 2’ Comes Bundled With The Original ‘Bayonetta’; Gets A Slew Of Nintendo Themed Costumes!

by Josh Jackson

The wait has been a long one for Bayonetta 2, the Wii U exclusive action title and follow up to one of the best action games of the last generation. Since our preview at last year’s E3, it looks like the game has advanced nicely, with the newest trailer showing off many of the huge battles, twisted environments and over the top attacks we’ll have at our disposal. But the crazy thing is that there was much bigger news that we got from the trailer.

At launch, every copy of Bayonetta 2 will come bundled with the original Bayonetta, which will be the first time the game has appeared on a Nintendo console. Giving new fans the chance to catch up with the series while being able to experience one of the best action games since Devil May Cry 3 is a welcomed surprise, one that’s been highly requested, yet strangly avoided by the official information coming out for the sequel. I guess they really were listening to us!

In addition, Bayonetta will receive a set of special Nintendo themed costumes for her to hack and slash in. Showing off her Peach, Samus and Link witch outfits, the Link one in particular showed Bayo putting her Master Sword to good use. Will there be more costumes, and will the rest of them have additional attacks and abilities?

It looks like a sweet package is getting even sweeter. Has the inclusion of these costumes or the original Bayonetta swayed your decision to pick up the sequel? Or even a Wii U altogether? We’ll finally get our chance when Bayonetta 2 releases this October.

E3 2014: ‘Xenoblade Chronicles X’ Stuns Us With Its First Full Length Trailer!

by Josh Jackson

After pressure from fans forced Nintendo of America to release Xenoblade Chronicles in the U.S., the game became a surprise smash hit. Since then, images and short game play videos have been slowly released under the title of X, the Wii U exclusive follow up to the popular RPG, but nothing solid as far as what we could expect aside from mechs. During Nintendo’s Digital E3 Event however, we were finally treated to a full preview trailer, showing us the world that will become ours to explore when the title is released. Now titled Xenoblade Chronicles: X, I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt blown away.

Large space battles, a world at war and plenty of JRPG melodrama seems to be the running theme throughout the trailer, all backed by some gorgeous visiuals and a fantastic soundtrack. Knowing Monolith Soft’s previous work, the game definitely gave off some Xenosaga and Xenogears vibes at certain points, which can only be a good thing, (as long as we don’t get hour plus cutscenes like the former made famous).

Combining that mech action with the large open world of its predecessor sounds like it could be a must play experience, but even with the trailer answering many of our questions, some still linger. How exactly will the combat system play, or will it be just like Xenoblade like early game play trailers have suggested? How much of the game will take place in space and how much will be on land? And with the title revision, does this game tie in to the last game, or is the name only for branding purposes? The very end of the trailer suggests there could be a link, but we’ll have to wait a little longer to know for sure.

Xenoblade Chronicles: X is slated for a 2015 releases. Check out the E3 trailer below and let us know if you echo my sentiments.

E3 2014: ‘Devil’s Third’ Is FINALLY Coming, And It’s A Wii U Exclusive!

by Josh Jackson

Oh, Devil’s Third. I thought you were going to go the way of Starcraft Ghost and the Wii Vitality sensor and never see the light of day. After floating in development hell for more than a year after THQ folded with few details on what the game was even about, it looks like the game has finally found a home. But it’s probably not where you expect.

Devil’s Third is the first game by famed director, Tomonobu Itagaki (the mind behind Dead or Alive and the first two Ninja Gaiden Xbox titles) after a very public split from his bosses at Tecmo. Itagaki has a lot to prove with his new IP, which we finally get a chance to see in action. Only this time, the title has shifted to Wii U exclusively, giving me potential flashbacks of Madworld. And by that, I mean a great, violent game that most people will shut their eyes and cover their ears at while they scream to the world that Nintendo is “kiddy” or “casual”. Let’s hope this title can be given more of a chance.

Keeping up with the ultra violent game play of his last action game while combining it with his love for rock and roll, a first glance makes this look more like a Suda 51 game than anything. Switching seamlessly between first person shooting and third person slashing, the game is looking like it could be an interesting blend of genres. But will it be enough to push the genre forward like some of his previous work has done? Only time will tell.

Honestly, I was excited to hear that the game was coming, mostly because I’ve been a big fan of Itagaki’s work for years. After watching it though, it looks a little choppy for my tastes. I’d hope a game with as much development time as this would come off looking better, but I still have hope that the new team at Valhalla Games can pull it together before its 2015 release.

So Devil’s Third is finally on its way. Will you be picking this up for your Wii U? Check out the trailer below and as always, check back in the days to come for all your E3 needs!

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.

E3 2014: Nintendo Reveals NFC Amiibos… We’re Going To Go Broke

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I haven’t purchased a toy in years, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t going to buy every single one of these.

During yesterday’s Nintendo Digital Event, the company officially unveiled its NFC platform, called Amiibo. The official reveal was pretty amazing, and featured Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime and Satoru Iwata duking it out:

We don’t yet know too much about just what Nintendo wants to do with Amiibo (outside of Super Smash Bros. that is, which has some great optional functionality), but Nintendo’s Bill Trinen explained everything in the following trailer:

Did you see that smug look on his face? That’s because he knows that the company is going to make a killing off of these. We can’t wait for them to hit stores shelves.

Are you planning to pick up any Amiibo? What functionality do you hope they add to non Smash Bros. titles?

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!

‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’ Turns The Best Part Of ‘Super Mario 3D World’ Into Its Own Game!

by Josh Jackson

I couldn’t have been the only one who played the 3D mazes featuring Captain Toad in Super Mario 3D World and thought, “hey, this would make a really great game on its own!” Apparently, someone at Nintendo agreed, because the company announced Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker exclusively for the Wii U during its E3 Digital Event.

The brave little Toadster got his start in Super Mario Galaxy, but now’s the time for him to take charge in his first staring role. The trailer shows off larger, more in depth and far more dangerous mazes to explore, with the fun lying in how to get to the goal while avoiding all of the hazards.

Anyone who’s played 3D World knows how fun these stages can be, so the thought of a dedicated game makes me feel that those original stages are only scratching the surface of what’s possible with this concept.

Are you ready for adventure with Captain Toad? Watch the E3 trailer below and let us know what you think! Treasure Tracker is set for a retail and digital release

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!

Palutena Shines Her Light On The ‘Smash Bros’ Arena!

by Josh Jackson

As Nintendo’s digital event drew to a close, the company made sure to leave us with one last piece of information in regards to its biggest title of the year, and it was huge for Kid Icarus fans!

Lady Palutena, the goddess of light and guardian of the angelic warrior, Pit, will be joining the fray as one of the latest additions to the Super Smash Bros. cast. Using many of her abilities she displayed as a boss in Kid Icarus Uprising combined with a moveset that shows off the variety of special items that Pit could use in the stellar 3DS title such as the reflect shield, heavenly light, black hole and mega laser, (the last two of which seem to make up her Final Smash), and we have someone with a ton of combat potential. Oh, and I don’t want to forget to mention that she looks incredibly fun!

And what’s up with that Dark Pit tease at the end? If that means he’s going to be his own character, I won’t be opposed to it. Pit is essentially representing the original Kid Icarus, and while Palutena uses many of the items from the 3DS reboot and a few weapons from the title have been shown as items, they don’t even scratch the surface of how many skills Uprising contains. There would be no better way to display those skills than with Dark Pit.

Check out her reveal below, in which Nintendo pulled out all the stops to make it have as big of an impact as possible thanks to a return to the Studio I.G. produced anime shorts that accompanied Uprising when it was initially released. And even though the Uprising only came out in 2012, listening to the banter between Pit, Palutena and Viridi gave me so many nostalgia feels!

Are you excited to add the goddess of light to your growing pool of fighters, including Mii? Keep checking back for more E3 news as it breaks!

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.