About the author: Ed Acosta
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Terraria (XBLA/PSN) Review
Mar 27, 2013
For those who haven’t played before, Terraria is similar to games like Minecraft where you’re given the reigns to explore an open world. You embark on a quest to use the environment to create tools, build objects with said tools, dig down deep/build high up into the sky, find interesting areas, and play with your friends online; these are all things that you would expect in this genre of game. Terraria sets itself apart here by having the players explore the world in pixel based 2D. You move from left to right exploring this randomly generated world while avoiding zombies and monsters at night and annoying little slimes during the day. The game starts you off with basic tools to get started, things like an axe, pickaxe, and sword so you can chop down trees, dig dirt, and defend yourself. Pro tip to anyone playing, build a house first and foremost once in the game or you’re going to regret going into that first night without shelter.
Terraria out on consoles today! here’s a launch trailer
Mar 27, 2013
[youtube=http://youtu.be/2bZHoIV81h8]
Terraria just released on both the XBLA and PSN today. 505 games and Re-Logic sent us this nifty new launch trailer to go along side the releases. Also later today, be on the lookout for my review of the game. Is it just as good as the PC version? Does the game pad work well with this game? When will I get a chance to eat a McRibb again? All those answers* and more get answered.
*I do not know when the McRibb will appear again nor is it answered in my review. For all I know it’s actually available right now.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate Review
Mar 16, 2013
Mirror of Fate is set after the events of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, a title released for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The game begins with Trevor Belmont setting out on a quest to avenge his mother’s death at the hands of his father, Gabriel Belmont. If you haven’t played through Lords of Shadow, I’m about to spoil something for you so you may want to skip to the next paragraph. During the first set of cut scenes it’s explained that Gabriel Belmont has become Dracula, and his infant son Trevor has been taken under the protection of the Brotherhood of Light. Gabriel is unaware of Trevor’s existence and as Trevor grows, he too has a son of his own, Simon. As with his own father, Simon is also separated from his parents at an early age. The game has you play the roles of several different characters, but you begin with Simon as he enters Dracula’s castle. He’s come to avenge the death of his father many years ago.
Demo the WiiU eShop title Chasing Aurora today, then buy it on sale.
Mar 14, 2013
A free demo to Chasing Aurora is now available in the Nintendo eShop for your enjoyment. The demo features 1-5 player multiplayer and the game mode Freeze Tag. In addition to that, there are four new single player challenges. Last week Chasing Aurora was updated with smoother framerate, Wii U Pro Controller support, new gameplay, and a more challenging single player mode. That’s not all either, to celebrate the new demo they are holding a sale in the eShop for 50% off which brings the game to a tiny $7.49 until the 21st of March.
More details about the update are posted on their Tumblr:
http://brokenrulesgames.
Metal Gear Rising; Revengeance Review
Mar 12, 2013
Back in 2002, I remember being so excited to play the newly released Metal Gear Solid 2. The memories of playing through the Boat level and imagining how much fun playing as the gruff Snake was going to be will always be a great moment in gaming for me. I always like to tell the story of how my brother was playing, got spotted, and ran into a locker. A guard started opening neighboring lockers and once he opened my brother’s locker the alert timer had expired. The guard looked away and my brother closed the locker door. The guard had turned back to the locker, stood there a bit, and walked away. It was a magical moment in gaming where we both looked at each other and said, “Did that really just happen?” The rest of the game eventually shifted when you entered Big Shell with this effeminate looking guy. The colonel called him Jack, then gave him the code name Raiden. To my dismay, I ended up playing as him for the rest of the game and again I asked myself, “did that really just happen?”. Disappointed was quite the understatement and thus began my dislike for the guy. Here we are in 2013, Raiden in the lead again but do I still dislike him or this game? I only need one word, amazing.
Darkstalkers Resurrection now available
Mar 12, 2013
Darkstalkers is back and battling it out on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. You can pick up your copy today for $14.99 (1200pts) while European players will get their chance tomorrow March 13th. Resurrection contains both Darkstalkers 3 and Night Warriors: Darkstalkers revenge polished up with HD Filters, upgraded Matchmaking using the same online system as Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online and Marvel vs. Capcom Origins, replay sharing, and a new tutorial mode for players to tone up their skills. On which side will you stand when darkness falls?
[quote]Capcom is thrilled to confirm that Darkstalkers Resurrection is now available to download in North America on PlayStation Network (PSN) for $14.99. On March 13, the game will be released in Europe on PSN (€14.99 / £11.99) and across all territories on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points.
The beloved Darkstalkers fighting game franchise is back and ready to take the fight to current gen consoles. Featuring a unique and colorful cast of characters blended with fast-paced fighting action, Darkstalkers Resurrection contains two games (Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge and Darkstalkers 3), for the price of one. The two-for-one priced combo breathes new life into each game with a slew of features including robust GGPO-enabled online game play, HD graphical filtering with multiple viewing options, replay sharing, Spectator Mode, in-game achievements, Tutorial Mode and an unlockable vault filled with concept artwork, videos and more.
Building upon the online system previously introduced in Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition and Marvel vs. Capcom Origins, the online gameplay in Darkstalkers Resurrections now includes upgraded matchmaking with additional options such as region matching, ping lock and ping display. The Tutorial Mode contains trials to help players deepen their knowledge of the characters and their specific strategies.[/quote]
Liveblog of the Playstation Meeting 2013
Feb 20, 2013
The Press Conference started at 6pm Eastern (3pm Pacific). It is now over, read our thoughts here.
Serious Sam Double D XXL Review
Feb 19, 2013
From the get go you’ll know the tone that Serious Sam Double D XXL sets; I mean look at the name. Don’t let that get you down though, even though they get a little ridiculous the game is still a hoot to play. You’re Serious Sam and in this day and age, who doesn’t know about this Duke Nukem like action star? You get guns, you blow crap up, all while being the manliest of men. You’ll notice the artwork first and boy is it interesting, it feels flat and almost flash game like in the way the animation moves. That’s not knocking the game either as, in a way, it adds to the charm. The artwork itself, it’s ok but you won’t sit there long enough to admire the scenery when you’re constantly blowing shit up.
Dungeonland Review
Feb 16, 2013
Dungeonland is an action RPG dungeon crawler that plays out in the isometric angle; think Diablo, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Skylanders. There are three themed levels to choose from that doesn’t make much of a difference play-wise but gives a different aesthetic to the environment. Also included is a special Dungeon Maestro mode that was very fun, dare I say some of the most fun I’ve had in a PC multiplayer game in a while.
Grease Up that Hamster Wheel, Brain Age: Concentration Training is Out Now
Feb 11, 2013
Brain Age is back and is now on the 3DS; Brain Age: Concentration Training is out today at Retail or available for Download from the eShop for $29.99US. New this time around are the Devilish Training exercises, they’re challenging activities that set out to stimulate concentration and working memory. These new Devilish Training activities challenge players to focus on two tasks simultaneously, quite evil indeed. This time around the difficulty of the training puzzles will increases or decreases based on the players’ results.
Also new in the 3DS version is the ability to StreetPass, by StreetPassing, you’ll be able to find Training Partners to review results or to compete with in Devilish Battles.
I’m ready to give my brain another workout, aren’t you?
[quote]
Focus Your Distracted World with Brain Age: Concentration Training
Pick Up Nintendo 3DS and Train to Improve Your Modern Mind
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– A working mom rushes to schedule a meeting while answering emails and getting dinner ready for the kids. A student crams for a midterm the morning before an exam, but can’t stop thinking about the urgent paper he has to complete later in the week. A video game fan plays her favorite game for hours, but starts to forget where the key to the final dungeon is located after updating social media and checking out the latest blog post on her favorite website.
What all these people have in common is a need for a more focused mind. Having a focused mind can help lead to better performance in all life activities, especially in this modern world full of distractions. Whether it is in the office, the classroom or a far-off fantasy kingdom, distractions come from all directions, making it easy to lose focus and difficult to concentrate on the tasks at hand. Actually, it is almost inevitable that … wait, what were we saying?
With the launch of Brain Age: Concentration Training for the Nintendo 3DS system, multitaskers can refocus their busy modern minds and get their concentration back on track.
“With so much happening around us on a constant basis, it is very easy to get distracted,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The Brain Age series has always been about training the brain, and Brain Age: Concentration Training continues this trend while also helping to improve concentration.”
The first two games in the Brain Age series on Nintendo DS surprised the world by demonstrating how brain training for just a few minutes a day could be fun. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! and Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! each went on to sell more than 3 million in the U.S. alone. Brain Age: Concentration Training builds on the winning formula of the first two games, while introducing new activities designed by Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, a neuroscientist in Japan, to specifically focus the mind and help with everyday distractions.
New to this game are the Devilish Training exercises, challenging activities that set out to stimulate concentration and working memory. These activities can be played for five minutes a day, making them the perfect exercises to pick up while going through the morning routine. These Devilish Training activities challenge players to focus on one task while simultaneously tracking another, and range from Devilish Calculations, a series of tricky math problems, to Devilish Mice, a clever memory game. The difficulty of each activity increases or decreases based on players’ real-time results. This helps to consistently train players at the limit of their abilities.
Many other modes are also featured in Brain Age: Concentration Training. In Supplemental Training, fan-favorite activities from previous Brain Age games make a return. These select activities were designed to complement Devilish Training, and include activities like Word Attack, a hectic word-recognition exercise, and Time Lapse. Under Brain Training, players are offered additional training opportunities, such as Block Head, an exercise that finds players taking turns occupying blocks to score points against Kawashima. There is also Relaxation Mode, which contains a collection of restful activities created to give brains a much-needed break. Additionally, players can use the game’s StreetPass feature to find potential Training Partners to review brain training results or to compete in Devilish Battles.
With more modes and more activities than ever before, Brain Age: Concentration Training is the biggest game yet in the celebrated series. It’s time to use new concentration skills to start training the modern brain and eliminating distractions.
Brain Age: Concentration Training is now available in retail stores or as a full download in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS.
Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visithttp://www.nintendo.com/3ds.
For more information about Brain Age: Concentration Training, visit http://brainage.nintendo.com/.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4 billion video games and more than 651 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.
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Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Demo News and Release Date Confirmed
Jan 17, 2013
Big news for Wii U and 3DS owners today as Capcom has confirmed the release dates for the anticipated game Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. You can begin your journey when the game hits retail stores on March 19th in the US and March 22nd in Europe. Within that timeframe, Capcom says that the digital eShop version will be available as a full retail release as well. As one can expect, players will take on the role of a hunter and are sent to explore the Monster Hunter universe slaying monsters.
You’ll be able to play the game alone or in four player online or local play using Nintendo 3DS; Wii U players will be able to hunt with Nintendo 3DS players via a local wifi. Those with both a Wii U and Nintendo 3DS can take advantage of the inter compatibility of save data between the two consoles, taking the hunt from the living room wherever they go. Also of note is that Capcom says the Wii U version will fully support voice chat which has me excited for some good team strategy.
If you want to get a taste of the action to come, Capcom will release the demo for the game on the eShop for both the Wii U and 3DS versions on February 21st.
[quote]Capcom today confirmed that Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the Wii U system and Nintendo 3DS will bring the battle to retail stores in North America on March 19, 2013 and across Europe on March 22, 2013. The full game will also be offered for digital purchase on both systems during this launch timeframe and the Wii U game will fully support the voice chat functionality available on that system. For hunters looking to embark on their journeys sooner, free playable demos on the Wii U system and Nintendo 3DS will be available on February 21.
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Wave goodbye to 2D Sprites in Pokémon X and Y
Jan 08, 2013
[youtube=http://youtu.be/VzO6J981nAw]
It has happened folks, Pokémon has finally entered the 3D space with an all new main adventure hitting this fall. Pokémon X and Y will feature new graphics unseen in a Pokémon game before; travel towns and battle these pocket monsters in polygonal 3D. Gone are the classic 2D sprites in favor of graphics this game has sorely needed for years. It’s something that needs to be seen and the Nintendo Pokémon Direct that was viewed this morning gave a good glimpse into the action. Along with the news of the new graphics, Mr. Satoru Iwata revealed that the game will be releasing in all the major regions in October of this year. No more waiting for those outside of Japan. Please excuse me while I dance around the room like a cheerful little schoolgirl.
[quote]INTRODUCING POKÉMON X AND POKÉMON Y: AN EPIC NEW 3D ADVENTURE LAUNCHING WORLDWIDE IN OCTOBER 2013
New Pokémon Adventure Featuring All-New Pokémon Set in a Spectacular 3D World
BELLEVUE, WA—January 8, 2013—The Pokémon Company and Nintendo announced today that the next generation of Pokémon video games, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, will launch worldwide in October exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS system. New Pokémon, a new storyline set in a spectacular 3D world, and dynamic battles instantly make Pokémon X and Pokémon Ytwo of the most highly anticipated video game titles of 2013.
“The worldwide launch of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y this October allows players to begin their adventures at the same time,” said Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of The Pokémon Company. “Now, Pokémon fans across the globe can discover the secrets of Pokémon games and can collect, battle, and trade with each other immediately.”
“We brought Pokémon into an entirely new dimension and we’re incredibly excited to bringPokémon X and Pokémon Y to fans,” said Junichi Masuda, video game director at GAME FREAK inc. “The stunning visuals, a completely redesigned environment, game scenario, music, and communication features will bring smiles to the faces of video game players around the world.”
Want an early sneak peek at Pokémon X and Pokémon Y? Visit Pokemon.com to watch a video introducing this new Pokémon adventure, including an exciting first look at the new starter Pokémon in battle! Fans can also catch a glimpse of the newest Legendary Pokémon and gameplay footage from the upcoming titles.
Pokémon X and Pokémon Y will be the blueprint for an exciting array of new animation, Pokémon TCG, and toys debuting around the world.
Be sure to visit Pokemon.com, Like the official Pokémon Facebook page atFacebook.com/Pokemon, and follow Pokémon on Twitter @Pokemon to ensure you’re receiving the latest Pokémon X and Pokémon Y news!
About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.
About Nintendo
The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4 billion video games and more than 637 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.[/quote]
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Trailers and Screens are gorgeous
Dec 23, 2012
[youtube=http://youtu.be/McIjQcx9Vxg]
Square-Enix has released a few new screens from Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII and boy oh boy are they looking purdy. Along with the screens are the two trailers; one of which was the leaked trailer from a few days ago (below) and the other is the trailer Square-Enix released at the Jump Festa Event this past week.
I’ll be honest, the game is looking very good and if that battle system is more action oriented than previous Final Fantasy titles, I’ll dive right on in. I’m excited to hear more information about Lightnings new tale and how the game will play out with it’s 13 day time clock. It wasn’t mentioned here but I heard some chatter back when the game was first announced about being able to customize your lightning with different outfits, so for those who are a little less than pleased with lightnings new getup, might have options.
The game is scheduled for release in 2013 for both the Xbox 360 and Playstaion 3 and you can now download track used in the trailer, “Crimson Blitz,” from composer Masashi Hamauzu on the iTunes Store for $0.99.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/MOOassM6f0g]
[quote]
LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII sees the return of series heroine, Lightning, in a world that only has 13 days before total annihilation. These new assets offer a first look at the more action-oriented combat system where the player has direct control of the character. Also introduced is Luxerion, the divine city of light and prayer, where Lightning will encounter new enemies and monsters.
LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII sees the return of composers Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta and Mitsuto Suzuki, who have all worked on the soundtrack for the previous title, FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. Hamauzu’s track used in the trailer, “Crimson Blitz,” will be made available for download on the iTunes Store on December 23 for $0.99.
LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system in 2013. LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII is not yet rated. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings.
Related Links
Official Homepage: finalfantasyxiii.com/LR
Official Facebook® Page: www.facebook.com/
Official North American Members YouTube® Page: www.youtube.com/user/
Follow LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII on Twitter®: @OfficialFFXIII
About FINAL FANTASY
Since the release of FINAL FANTASY in 1987, this unique RPG series continues to showcase the spectacular visuals, highly imaginative worlds and rich stories leading the industry and earning the highest accolades from users around the world. Titles of the series have so far achieved a cumulative shipment of over 100 million units worldwide.
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix Group. The Square Enix Group operates a global network of leading development studios and boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property, including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 59 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at www.na.square-enix.com.
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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon coming to a 3DS system near you
Dec 21, 2012
Looks like Pokémon will be making it’s first leap into the 3D gamespace with the Mystery Dungeon series. To be released on March 24th, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity will let the player take control of one of five hot shot Pokémon adventurers; Pikachu, Snivy, Oshawott, Tepig or Axew. There will be over 20 randomly generated dungeons and being a 3DS game, you can explore them in glorious 3D. The new hotness in this release will be the Magnagates. I’m not exactly sure how this will work but they say that you take a picture of round objects in the real world which somehow extend the adventure. Also a first for the series will be wireless multiplayer but we’ll get more information on these new features the closer we get to the 24th of March. For me, it’s a toss up between Pikachu and Smugleaf….er I mean Snivy.
[quote]
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity to Release on March 24 for Nintendo 3DS
On March 24, the popular Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series will make its debut on the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity. With vibrantly detailed 3D graphics and more than 20 Mystery Dungeons that change every time they are entered, nearly limitless adventure awaits players and their Pokémon friends in this new game.
Become one of five popular Pokémon from the fan-favorite franchise – Pikachu, Snivy, Oshawott, Tepig or Axew – and journey through infinite dungeons, battle and befriend other Pokémon, collect treasures and explore the game’s vast, beautiful world – all in amazing 3D. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, there are many labyrinths called Mystery Dungeons that change their form every time a player enters. Pokémon, items and treasure within a Mystery Dungeon will change location every time a player re-enters.
Players can gain access to additional Mystery Dungeons through “Magnagates.” To open the Magnagates, players scan circular objects in the real world using the Nintendo 3DS Camera, allowing them to continue their adventure, even after they have completed the main Mystery Dungeons.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity also introduces wireless multiplayer features to the series. More details on this functionality will be shared in the future.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity will be available in retail stores, and also as a download from the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS. For more information, visithttp://www.pokemon.com/
For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.
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A Happy Holidays from our friends at Capcom
Dec 21, 2012
Our good friend’s at Capcom sent us a Holiday card with artwork of Dante from the new Devil May Cry game. Those are quite the booty shorts on those angels, am I right?
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