The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Is New Title of next 3DS Zelda Adventure. E3 2013 Nintendo Direct Trailer Videos, Screenshots

The perspective and 3D is insane!

Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the official title of “Link to the Past 2” for 3DS, the next Zelda game that is a direct sequel, and in some ways remake, of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for SNES. But with all-new snazzy and incredible stereoscopic 3D graphics!

The Legend of Zelda 3DS: A Link Between Worlds, as previously reported, has an amazing new mechanic where Link can turn into a 2D drawing that paints itself onto walls, where he can then navigate across the wall! This effect looks absolutely amazing and the puzzles that Nintendo can dream up using this mechanic will hurt your brain even briefly seeing it in action.

What’s unclear and a bit interesting plus disappointing (not for me though) is the fact that The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a re-imagined sequel to Zelda: A Link to the Past, the SNES classic from 1992. It is set in the same world as the original game, but features a new storyline, new mechanics, new puzzles, and basically looks to remix A Link to the Past. A fact that some people find disappointing, as you’ll be retreading very familiar ground for the most part.

2D Link YES! Sooo creative!

However it IS an all-new game, and thus the game will feature all-new elements including new dungeons. Whether other additions include new weapons and items, new enemies, new bosses or new characters remains to be seen. What we do know, is that the game features many of the same elements from the previous games, including the same dungeons (albeit likely remixed), same weapons (Bow & Arrow, Bomb, Magic Hammer/Mallet, Master Sword), same enemies, same bosses (including the giant worm boss), etc.

How much of this content is new? How much of this content is remixed? And how much of this content is literally simply a stereocopic 3D graphical upgrade of the same exact dungeon/overworld layout, weapons, items, etc. of the original A Link to the Past? This question remains unknown.

One definite change is the Magic Meter. Instead of picking up potions to refill it, it refills on its own gradually.

Classic dungeon GET!

However, either way you slice it, returning to the world of A Link to the Past is an extremely exciting proposition. Boosted by the fact that the game features incredible stereoscopic 3D effect that take advantage of the 3DS features like few games before it. And the 3D really has to be seen (in 3D particularly) to be believed. Once you see it in person, you WILL be impressed.

The viewpoint is the same as the original, but features new tweaks that really make you feel like you are in the world. Bones thrown at your shield will fly up towards the camera/screen for example. Additionally, dropping and getting bounced up to higher or lower levels of a dungeon, seeing enemies that pop up towards you… It all looks extremely impressive.

Less impressive, to me, is the art-style, which doesn’t look as cool as the 2D style of the original, which almost had a painterly, cartoony look to it. This new game features polygonal graphics, that don’t look nearly as artistic. However it features fully orchestrated remixes of the classic Zelda: Link to the Past music, which is awesome! That fact alone makes up for the less-artistic graphic style.

Having said that, the ability to turn into a literal Link painting (which looks like the Link from the stained-glass window artwork in Zelda: The Wind Waker) and walk along walls is ABSOLUTELY GENIUS. That mechanic and new hook sells the game itself, and I can’t wait to see the way Nintendo’s master designers, including Shigeru Miyamoto, use 2D Link!

This game will be released this November 2013!

Official Synopsis
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a new game with a new storyline set in world of the Super NES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Key Features of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds:

* A daring adventure awaits Link in Hyrule, where he can use his new ability to become a “drawing” and move along walls of dungeons. This opens up new ways to explore and puzzle elements that give Link access to locations he could not otherwise reach.
* The game brings this top-down, 2D world to life with elevation and depth made possible by the Nintendo 3DS system’s stunning stereoscopic 3D visuals that reinvent classic Zelda gameplay at a constant 60 frames per second.
* Players can Use the touch screen to touch and drag the items/weapons from the Equipment Window and switch the items assigned to the X and/or Y buttons.

 

Bayonetta 2 E3 2013 New Trailer Videos. First Gameplay Footage (WiiU Exclusive Screenshots)

Freakin’ awesome!

Bayonetta 2 is a WiiU exclusive and we got to see the first video footage of the game in action at E3 2013 and via Nintendo Direct.

Bayonetta 2 is being developed by the same team that created the first game, Platinum Games, and is being published by Nintendo (making it only Nintendo’s second ever M-Rated game. The first being Eternal Darkness for the GameCube). It will be released in 2014.

So far the game looks exactly the same as the first game, and is just what you’d expect from a Bayonetta sequel. Given that it’s on the WiiU, the game looks like an Xbox 360/PS3 title, so the graphical fidelity has not been improved. This will come as a disappointment to many, who would’ve swooned at seeing Bayonetta running on a truly next-gen machine, but the hyper-fast, super crazy, psychedelic action you know and love remains in Bayonetta 2.

This time the title character herself has short hair for a slightly different look (don’t worry though, her crazy hair attacks and nudie flesh moves remain), you’ll team up with the girl from the first game, Jeanne on multiple occasions, and you’ll fight epic battles against not only enemy Angels, but also enemy Demons!

Same Bayonetta, new look!

Bayonetta 2 looks like more of the same, but with an awesome game like Bayonetta, that is not necessarily a bad thing! Fans of the first game will definitely want to pick this game up, but they’ll have to buy a WiiU to do so. Thus this makes Bayonetta 2 one of the most powerful system sellers for Nintendo’s next-gen console. And an Mature-rated game to boot!

Speaking of Platinum Games, be sure to check out their other WiiU-exclusive title, The Wonderful 101, if you haven’t seen it.

Bayonetta 2 Synopsis:

Bayonetta Makes Her Return
In this climactic sequel to the critically acclaimed Bayonetta action game, players will be on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Brimming with jaw-dropping battles and gorgeous cut scenes, this game never lets up on the action. Fight on top of a jet as it soars through a downtown city. Duke it out against a giant Cyclops, who bears a whip for an arm, on top of a speeding train. And take to the skies in a fight against a demonic dragon while ascending to the top of a skyscraper.

Key Bayonetta 2 Features:
* Armed with new weapons and abilities, Bayonetta has her enemies baffled by her new moves and torture attacks. In exchange for magic points, she can unleash a new ability called Umbra Climax to summon demonic monsters and deliver mighty attacks repeatedly.
* Choose between Normal and Touch play styles. The Normal Mode represents the technical control scheme unique to BAYONETTA, an acclaimed control scheme that fans of the previous game love and all action game fans will enjoy. The Touch Mode, on the other hand, offers a more convenient play style for those unfamiliar with action games or simply looking for a new spin on action. Players can use the Wii U GamePad controller’s touch screen controls to easily manipulate Bayonetta as she moves, attacks and evades enemies.
* Bayonetta’s longtime friend and fellow Umbra Witch, Jeanne, appears in the game (as a non-playable character) to assist Bayonetta in performing combination attacks and in doling out intense punishment against enemies.
* Take the action off the big screen and enjoy off-TV play using the Wii U GamePad controller.

 

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze WiiU Announced. Dixie Kong Returns. Sequel to DKC: Returns With Even Crazier Level Design. Trailer Videos, Screenshots, Developer Interview

Dixie Kong Returns! :D

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is the tastily-named WiiU sequel to the Wii/3DS hit Donkey Kong Country Returns. This time featuring the modern-debut of Dixie Kong from Donkey Kong Country 2 on SNES! AWESOME!

I’ve always hoped they would bring Dixie back. Hopefully she’ll also be playable in Super Smash Bros. 4 Wii U/3DS!

This game looks to play almost exactly like DKC:R but the level design has truly been kicked up a notch and looks like an absolute blast! Literally, as the camera shifts and rotates around to show different viewpoints on the action as you blast yourself from the token Donkey Kong Country barrel cannon to barrel cannon in super quick fashion…

Looks absolutely gorgeous!

And believe you me, the barrel blasting action looks absolutely phenomenal.

Then of course you have Dixie Kong, who has been added to the roster for the first time since her debut. Just like in the classic 16bit Donkey Kong Country 2 originally released for Super NES in 1995, Dixie can use her long blonde ponytail hair to hover through the air, and reach higher areas. This game also has a large focus on Minecart levels, and cool visual tricks just like in the first game.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze looks very similar to the last Donkey Kong title, but even so, it just looks flat out fun. And the level design is top-notch.

Here is an in-depth discussion on the game with the developers.

I also must mention that you face off against a group of animal vikings! From Viking Penguins to Viking Boars… YES! :D Absolutely awesome.

While Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze looks like an absolutely solid, fantastic, must-play classic-style platformer, many people were disappointed that this is the new project that Nintendo’s Retro Studios, makers of the Metroid Prime series, are working on.

People were hoping that Nintendo would reveal a new Metroid game (Like Metroid Dread WiiU), or a new IP, or an all-new entry in a classic series like Star Fox, and that it would be developed by Retro. Instead, we get another Donkey Kong sequel.

However, as I pointed out earlier, Nintendo likely chose to make a Donkey Kong Country Returns sequel because they already had a game to build off of, and they needed another hit that they could quickly put together, of high quality, and quickly release to drive sales of the WiiU this holiday.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is that game, and fills that void. Rest assured, hopefully Nintendo has a new Metroid lined up that we’ll see next year that Retro will start working on, or is already working on (or a new IP or something else), as they put the finishing touches on this new Donkey Kong.

The game will hit this November 2013 exclusively for WiiU.

 

Is Wart In Super Mario 3D World? Put Him In Smash Bros. Wii U Nintendo!

Please, please put Wart in Smash Bros. WiiU & Super Mario 3D World!

Is Wart the boss of Super Mario 3D World?! COULD IT BE?!

Wart is one of the greatest Nintendo villains ever conceived, and served as the end-boss of Super Mario Bros. 2 for NES (originally a non-Mario game called Doki Doki Panic in Japan, but let’s ignore that fact).

Beautiful artwork of King Wart!

Sadly the hulking green frog who despises veggies and desires Mario’s flesh, has not been seen in a single game SINCE Super Mario Bros. 2 for NES, released in 1988! However an updated version of Wart appeared again for the first time as a Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee or Brawl (…. WAIT! Or am I mistaken? After googling I could not find an image of a Wart Trophy…. I could have sworn he appeared as a Trophy in one of those games though, but maybe I’m getting him confused with King K. Rool) that you could collect and see what he’d look like today with modern graphics. He also made a brief appearence in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening as the giant frog “King Mondo Mondo”, who teaches you one of the three Ocarina songs.

Now, however, we have a game in which Princess Peach is a PLAYABLE CHARACTER. This means that Bowser cannot kidnap her for the story line. Bowser has not been mentioned… So, this would be the PERFECT time to REVIVE WART as the end boss of Super Mario 3D World, AND follow that up by making Wart a playable character in Super Smash Bros. WiiU/3DS!

COME ON NINTENDO! This is the perfect opportunity to revive an absolutely badass character in King Wart! DOOO IT!

Sooo awesome! I love this character!

Here is the trailer for Super Mario 3D World for WiiU, with Princess Peach playable. Naturally no mention of Wart…

Here is the trailer for Super Smash Bros. WiiU/3DS! Again, no mention of Wart…. *sadness*

Last but definitely not least, here is the Super Mario Bros. 2 End Boss Wart Fight!

 

Super Mario 3D World Is New Non-Side-Scrolling Mario Game (WiiU). Cat Suit Power Up And 4-Player Simultaneous Play As Peach, Toad, Mario, Luigi (Ala Super Mario Bros. 2)

So out of leftfield! I love it! Cats! :D

Super Mario 3D World for WiiU has been announced via Nintendo’s E3 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation which showed off footage of the all-new non-side-scrolling Mario game.

This game expands on last year’s 3DS title “Super Mario 3D Land”. As the name suggests, it is not “Land” (like “Super Mario Land”) but “World” (Like Super Mario World), and thus is a step-up and giant expansion of what we saw on the 3DS, this time on the WiiU with console-lized HD graphics and cool new features.

The biggest feature of Super Mario 3D World is the addition of Peach, Toad and Luigi as completely separate playable characters all with their own separate abilities modeled after Super Mario Bros. 2! Not only that, but you can play as… wait for it…. CAT MARIO! The Cat Suit allows you to transform into Cat Mario, Cat Luigi, Cat Peach or Cat Toad with some really cool new abilities.

I love the way you can leap between platforms as a Cat!

The Cat Suit allows you to run very fast, quickly “pounce” and shoot downward towards platforms as you leap, catlike, from hill to hill, and best of all, the ability to climb walls! While the Cat Suit sounds completely ridiculous at first, once you see it in action you will cheer. It really makes the game look so much funner than it would without it and makes the platforming pop even more above and beyond standard Mario.

Get a much more in-depth view of the game with this Developer Interview.

Other than that, this game looks like Super Mario 3D Land, just not in stereoscopic 3D. The viewpoint is the same as in the 3DS game, and Shigeru Miyamoto emphasized that this game will have a greater focus on Pipes and Warp Pipes in this game, and you can actually see inside the pipe as your three other buddies go through them.

Remember these levels? Now with four players!

All in all, Super Mario 3D Land is a nice surprise, although not as huge of a leap for a new non-side-scrolling Mario game than say, the first time we saw Super Mario Galaxy. In that sense it is a bit disappointing, but once you see the game in action and realize that you get to play through it with four of your buddies on the couch in local multiplayer (will it support online multiplayer? We can only hope!), you will be hard pressed not to have a smile on your face. I know I sure did! Can’t wait to play it, and definitely more excited for this game than New Super Mario Bros. U.

It should be noted that this game and the new Donkey Kong are the titles Nintendo seems to work be working on first, and trying to get them out quickly to boost sales of the WiiU. Therefore, these games are based on previous games (Donkey Kong Country Returns and Super Mario 3D Land), which allows Nintendo to build and make them much quicker than if they had to build a completely new, and more innovative and unique game, in the vein of what we saw with Super Mario Galaxy. So take heart, a more innovative Mario game will definitely come soon enough, albeit probably not for another year or two.

 

Mario Kart 8 WiiU Announced. Features Hovercraft For Crazy F-Zero Style Tracks. Plus Carts, Bikes, Underwater and Hover Gliding

Awesome tracks in this new Mario Kart 8 for WiiU!

Mario Kart 8 has been announced for WiiU at Nintendo’s E3 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation!

(Be sure you watch the trailer in HD!)

This game looks absolutely phenomenal. It is seriously a huge step up from Mario Kart Wii for Wii and Mario Kart 7 for 3DS, taking elements from both of those games (such as the motorcyle bikes from Mario Kart Wii and the ability to hover or glide through the air and go underwater from Mario Kart 7) and then adding insane new tracks inspired by F-Zero with new hovercraft that the standard carts can change into at will.

Once in hovercraft mode, players will be able to drive along the walls and the ceiling, and the tracks now feature winding, crazy looks, tracks that go upside down and along walls, just like in the F-Zero series!

You have to see it in action to truly appreciate how awesome this game looks. I was not a big fan of Mario Kart 7 or Mario Kart Wii (which I didn’t even play), but this new game has my attention. Additionally the graphics look great, finally an high-definition, graphically impressive Mario Kart game!

All of the returning characters you know and love return including Toadette(!), Mario, Luigi, Toad, Bowser, Peach, Yoshi, Koopa Troopa, Wario, Donkey Kong, Waluigi, and Daisy. Surely more characters will be featured in the game, which always feature tons of Mario characters. I wonder if they’ll finally add NINTENDO characters to the game. I really want to see Link and Ganon driving carts!

 

Mega Man Joins Super Smash Bros. 4 WiiU, 3DS! Retro Awesome To the Max! New E3 2013 Trailer Videos (Nintendo Direct)

Bad freakin’ ass! Mega Man joins the Smash Bros. cast!

Mega Man is in Super Smash Bros. 4 WiiU/3DS, and you can see the Blue Bomber in action with this new E3 2013 Nintendo Direct gameplay reveal trailer which showed off the first official footage of the new Super Smash Bros. games in action!

The game looks really good, the graphics look great, and all of the classic characters you know and love are featured, including: Samus, Link, Donkey Kong, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Pikachu, Fox, etc.

Two new characters were revealed: Mega Man annnnnd…. Villager! The Villager is from Animal Crossing, and has awesome Animal Crossing inspired moves like Cutting Trees and hooking your opponents head with his net!

But Mega Man is the one who stole the show! He has the most badass classic Mega Man, retro gameplay look and has moves inspired by all of the original NES Mega Man 1 8bit bosses! I was also extremely impressed with the way they made Mega Man’s Buster Arm Cannon shoot completely differently from Samus’.

SO. AWESOME.

Officially entitled simply “Super Smash Bros.”, it will be released for WiiU and 3DS in 2014!

 

InFamous PS4 Game Is Awesome. Titled Second Son, Trailer Is Mighty Impressive

I love this part of the trailer!

InFamous: Second Son is definitely a killer-app for the PS4 and impressed many with this awesome gameplay trailer shown at Sony’s E3 2013 Press Conference.

The game features an open-world design but a very, very strong focus on story and character development. The new moves you can do in this game are phenomenal, and even though I’ve never played the previous two games, this game immediately shot to the top of my list. Fans will notice a lot of familiar moves as well as tons of new ones. This game just looks super tight.

Definitely a must-have game for the PS4.

 

Does PS4 Require Always Online Internet Connection? No. No Online Check For Single Player Either

PS4 does NOT require an always online Internet connection, nor does it require an online check! Want to play a single player game offline without ever getting online? You can do exactly that!

An absolute sucker-punch to Microsoft and their tough DRM policies that have gotten the house that Xbox built in hot water… Will all of this force Microsoft to reverse course? Let’s all hope so!

 

PS4. How To Share, Lend, Borrow, Rent Games On PlayStation 4. Instructional Video (Genius Sony Marketing In Action)

Used Games ftw!

How do you lend, borrow, share, trade or rent games on PS4? Is it complicated? Absolutely not… Behold!

One of the most genius marketing moves EVER! Bravo Sony! Bravo! Well played!