Luigi co-stars in Mario Party 3DS announced via Nintendo Direct. More details coming soon.
Mario Party 3DS Announced. Releases Winter 2013
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Expansion Release Date Is April 23 2013 (Xbox 360, PS3). Speedrun Mode, New Missions and Areas, Full Japanese Voice Track, New Enemies And More
Evil personified.
This new expansion pack will include all-new missions and areas, all-new enemies, a Speedrun Mode, tougher difficulty, the full Japanese language option and VO and more. All kinds of new content will be available for players, such as a new character named Baroque who can give you a new tier to the weapons in your party.
The focalpoint of this expansion is the new “Dark Arisen” quest, where players will get to explore an all-new location called “Bitterblack Isle”, whose evils have sucked up many adventurers who’ve dared to set foot on it. You’ll meet with an NPC (Non-Player Character) in the first town who will give you the quest and lead to the ability to sail over to the island.
The awesome boxart for Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen.
A major new foe you’ll encounter is Death himself, who not only wields a wicked Scythe, but will literally hunt you down throughout the game, much like Nemesis from Resident Evil 3. Thankfully any damage dealt to Death will accumulate from fight to fight, giving you some degree of hope that you may actually be able to defeat him. Just be warned that he is extremely powerful, and will deal death (natch) to your peons with one blow.
Another of the biggest new updates in Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a new texture pack that will greatly lessen load times, graphical pop-up issues and other problems (which is an optional install). The fast travel system has also been enhanced with more ferrystones available to make things easier and less frustrating to get around.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, it’s worth noting, is a retail title and not a download or Downloadable Content (DLC). The reason is due to the vast amount of new content and upgrades, which go behind your typical DLC or Expansion.
However if you own the original title, you can import your save into Dark Arisen for bonus content and items that new players won’t get.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will be available at a budget price of only $40.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Synopsis:
Just off the Gransys mainland is the cursed Bitter black Isle where gamers will embark on an all-new quest to discover an underground realm, complete with new terrifying foes and incredible treasure. Owners of the original Dragon’s Dogma will be able to export their existing characters and all other saved data to continue their journey as the Arisen, and face a new threat that has emerged from the cavernous depths.
Players will be able to take their characters to new heights with brand new high-level skills and augments as well as all new weapons and armor sets. Furthermore, owners of the original Dragon’s Dogma will receive 100,000 Rift Crystals, unlimited Ferry stones and the Gransys Armor Pack consisting of six brand new costumes for free, upon purchasing Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen.
For those that missed Dragon’s Dogma the first time around, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen provides the opportunity to start their journey from the very beginning before tackling the all-new content. Based on player feedback, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will make the Dragon’s Dogma gameplay experience even more satisfying with improvements such as easier travel and a more intuitive menu system.
For those who already own Dragon’s Dogma and then purchase Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, these improvements will be automatically retrofitted to their original game save data.
Key Features of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen include:
* Explore the expansive depths of Bitterblack Isle and uncover the dark force that lurks below.
* Fully compatible with your existing Dragon’s Dogma save data. Import your characters and continue your journey as the Arisen!
* 25 new terrifying new enemies to face including, Goblin Shaman, Elder Ogres, and Death himself!
* Dark Arisen provides each character class with a new higher tier of skills, giving players new devastating abilities and magicks to master.
* Includes over 100 pieces of new high level weapons and armor for players venturing into the underground caverns.
* 14 all new passive skills give players new ways to customize their character’s abilities.
* All new tiers of equipment enhancement allow players to forge the mightiest weapons and armor.
* Brand new character customization options give you even more ways to design and customize the look of your hero.
* Improvements to both the menu and travel systems provides an overall improved gaming experience.
* Also includes the full Japanese language option and VO.
* For owners of Dragon’s Dogma, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will include special free bonus items including 100,000 rift crystals, an all new Armor Pack consisting of 6 costumes, and an Ferrystone with unlimited uses.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII PS4 E3 2013 News Coming? Nomura Says Announcement Soon
Noctis is still waiting on his throne… impatiently.
Question:
“I’ve been excitedly waiting for any news regarding Final Fantasy Versus XIII. When will we be hearing more?”
Nomura:
“Any information about Final Fantasy Versus XIII is very… sensitive, even within Square Enix. We’ve been quiet about it for the past year, but the day of being able to remove its information ban has already been decided, and we’re currently preparing for that day. When that time comes, we’ll also reveal our reason for the delay of any form of announcement.”
Take that as you will, but it could mean that a major announcement will be given at the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. Not only that, but the latter part of Nomura’s answer: “When that time comes, we’ll also reveal our reason for the delay of any form of announcement,” could be interpreted as a hint that the game has been moved from PS3 development (where it was announced way back in May 2006, with development starting in 2005!) to PlayStation 4… Where it will surely be a MAJOR killer-app for both Square Enix and Sony.
Time will tell… But let’s hope this is the case.
WatchMePlay Fire Emblem Awakening 3DS Let’s Play Part 7 – Donnel’s Death. Farmboy Goes Down
WatchMePlay Fire Emblem Awakening 3DS Let’s Play Part 7.
This farming mission proves to be extremely difficult for me… and we get to see poor Donny’s death! I’M SORRY FARMBOY! :( :( Read the rest of this entry »
Castle of illusion Featuring Mickey Mouse Remake Hits This Summer 2013 (XBLA, PSN, Steam). Remaster of the Genesis Classic
Classic is classic.
Sega will be publishing with Sega Studios Australia set as the developer. The game will be completely remastered from the ground up, including stunning new graphics and visual effects, and all-new gameplay mechanics that update the game for the modern era but will remain faithful to the original; As players step into the big black shoes of Mickey Mouse himself on a quest to save Minnie Mouse from the clutches of the evil witch Mizrabel.
The original game was released way back in 1990 for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive (also developed by Sega) to critical acclaim, with outstanding control, graphics, music and a unique feel. That was the first game in a series. It was then followed by “Land of Illusion” for Sega Master System in 1992 (ported to Sega’s Game Gear portable in 1993), and “World of Illusion” released in 1992. Finally, the last game in the series was “Legend of Illusion” released for Game Gear in 1994 (it was also ported to Master System exclusively in… BRAZIL, of all places, in 1998). Additionally, the portable version of the second Epic Mickey game was titled “Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” for 3DS and was a reference, a tribute, to the phenomenal Illusion series.
“The original Castle of Illusion was tremendously entertaining and has a well-deserved reputation as a SEGA classic. Castle of Illusion Featuring Mickey Mouse brings this great game to a new generation,” said Chris Olson, vice president of Digital Business at SEGA of America. “Mickey is back and he looks fantastic.”
Strangely the game has not been announced for the WiiU eShop, hopefully WiiU owners will not get the shaft…
DuckTales Remastered Remakes 8bit NES Classic. Hits Xbox Live Arcade, PSN, and WiiU eShop This Summer
Soo awesome!
Capcom announced at PAX East 2013 that they are completely remaking this 8bit masterpiece for release this Summer on Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA), PlayStation Network (PSN) and WiiU eShop!
DuckTales Remastered seeks to take the levels and layout of the original game, but will greatly expand and update them to create essentially an all-new title in the spirit of the original. The graphics have been completely upgraded to modern-day standards, beautifully recreated with luscious hand-drawn visuals, backgrounds and animated sprites, which re-invisions the look of the 8bit classic.
In addition, and a HUGE, HUGE bullet point, Disney and Capcom have brought back the ENTIRE VOICE CAST of the original DuckTales cartoon series from 1987 (it ran until 1990) including the 94-year-old Alan Young, voice of Scrooge McDuck! He, in addition to everyone else, has recorded all-new material for all of the DuckTales characters, significantly enhancing the game and giving it the authentic feel that fans of both the voiceless 8bit original NES platformer, and the 80s cartoon series, will love and appreciate!
Man this takes me back!
Like in the original game, players will take control of Scrooge McDuck himself and his unstoppable pogostick (used to jump on enemies and reach higher areas) as you explore the various themed worlds of the game and collect hidden treasures in order to become the world’s richest duck… This includes some deviously hidden secrets.
Although my memory of the game is very vague, I can recall unlocking the secret to an island that rises up from the sea (or something) and my young mind being absolutely blown. Just like sinking into the quicksand in Super Mario Bros. 2 to appear on the otherside of the wall, the secrets in DuckTales were plentiful and extremely mysterious, really stretching the young mind to new levels of wonder. Whether this game will still have that effect on me or not is doubtful, but I haven’t played the game since the late 80s or early 90s, so it will be a REAL treat to go back to it! In the meantime I may just have to track down a copy of the original NES cartridge to play on my NES2, and bust out some nostalgia!
Capcom promises that the renewed voicework from the talent behind the animated series will bring the in-game characters sparkling to life with “charm and wit”. Additionally, all of the classic melodies, songs and music from the original 8bit NES game and the animated series have been given a modern twist and remixed to great effect, further updating this new version.
A tutorial level has been added to acquant new fans to the iconic Pogo Jump and Cane Swing that form the basis of the gameplay in this side-scrolling 2D platformer, and an additional and all-new “Scrooge McDuck’s Museum” will track all of your stats that you can compare with the world in global leaderboards. There, of course, will also be new Achievements and Trophies to unlock. Hopefully there will be more stuff to unlock as well…
DuckTales Remastered is being developed by acclaimed developer WayForward Technologies, who are well known for creating hit downloadable titles like LIT, Mighty Switch Force, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, BloodRayne: Betrayal, Double Dragon Neon and retail hits for DS/3DS/Wii/PS Vita like Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Aliens: Infestation and Silent Hill: Book of Memories. So the game is in good hands!
It’s worth noting that two additional DuckTales games were developed after the original 1989 NES title. They include DuckTales 2, released for NES and Game Boy in 1993 (developed by Capcom and a direct-sequel), and DuckTales: The Quest For Gold released for PC and developed by Incredible Technologies in 1990. If this game does well enough we just may see the re-release of DuckTales 2 as well, which would be great. Hopefully from there they can remake or re-release other Disney hits like Chip N’ Dale, Darkwing Duck and TaleSpin! :D
Here is an interview that gives a few more details on DuckTales Remastered.
Batman Origins: Blackgate Release Date Is October 25 2013 (3DS, PS Vita). Side-Scrolling Action Adventure Recalls 8bit 16bit NES SNES Batman Days
Awesome. Absolutely awesome.
The portable version of the game is being developed by Armature Studio (founded by several key team members who developed the Metroid Prime series). To that end, Blackgate will play similarly to excellent 2D action adventure games of yesteryear, with a “2.5-D Metroid-style exploration action game.”
Like Metroid, players will be able to explore the open-ended environment however they see fit, with a non-linear path to obtaining new Batman equipment and Gear that will increase Batman’s abilities and allow him access to new, previously unaccessible areas, and allow him to gain deeper access to the Blackgate Prison. Gear that increases your abilities will replace XP or the concept of “leveling up”, with the focus instead being solely set on exploration and acquiring new abilities instead of simply beefing up stats.
Like in Mega Man, bosses that you will encounter can be defeated in any order the player chooses, but will be weak to specific Weapon types, which will be an incentive to fully explore every area. One neat feature is the ability to save anywhere, as opposed to say Metroid or Castlevania where you have to save at certain Save Rooms.
Despite the side-scrolling nature of Batman Origins: Blackgate, developer Armature is banking on making Blackgate appear as similar to the console Batman: Arkham games as possible, with the feel and all the elements players expect, fully intact in portable form. These include the free-flow combat system, the ability to access new vantage points, the ability to go in and bust-heads or use stealth, a deep countering system and a deep Detective Mode. Enemies reactions and behavior will also be regularly transmitted to the player as they explore, with any changes in their behavior noted, using various visual and audio cues and the like. This is due to the fact that less of the world is available to see visually because of the side-scrolling nature of the game, thus the developers had to put some thought into how to make the player more aware of the environment and enemies around them.
Hopefully this new portable Batman Origins: Blackgate game will restore the Batman videogame franchises to the style that was beloved with the original NES Batman and SNES Batman Returns, games that were highly regarded as great action titles of the 8bit era. It has been a very long time since we’ve seen a side-scrolling Batman game like that, so I see this as a welcome announcement!
Look forward to E3 2013 in June to learn much more about this promising new handheld AAA title. Personally I can’t wait!
Remember Me Videogame Release Date Is June 4 2013 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC). New IP From Capcom
Remember Me will be released on June 4th 2013 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC for this newest IP from Capcom.
Here is 10 minutes of awesome gameplay footage of Remember Me.
Remember Me is an action adventure title that features an innovative “memory gameplay” mechanic where the combat and battles are highly customizable.
Synopsis
Neo-Paris. 2084. Personal memories can now be digitized, bought, sold and traded. The last remnants of privacy and intimacy have been swept away in what appears to be a logical progression of the explosive growth of social networks at the beginning of the 21st century. The citizens themselves have accepted this surveillance society in exchange for the comfort only smart technology can provide. This memory economy gives immense power over society to just a handful of people.
Remember Me is a 3rd person action adventure where players take on the role of Nilin, a former elite memory hunter with the ability to break into people’s minds and steal or even alter their memories. The authorities, fearful of her knowledge and capabilities have arrested Nilin and wiped her memory clean.
After her escape from prison, Nilin sets out on a mission to recover her identity, helped by her last and only friend. This search for her past leads to her being hunted by the very people that created this surveillance society. During the course of the story, Nilin will start remembering who she was and re-learning all the fighting moves that made her one of the world’s leading memory hunters.
Here is the Remember Me Debut Trailer.
Key features of Remember Me include:
* Speculative, Stunning Vision of Our Future – Discover Neo-Paris 2084, where augmented reality and memory digitization have taken control of people’s lives.
* Play As Nilin, An Elite Memory Hunter With A Clouded Past – Become the most wanted memory hunter in Neo-Paris and experience the power to break into people’s minds to steal their memories. Gain the information you need directly from people’s heads, to complete your missions and recover your own memory.
* Memory Remix – This innovative new gameplay mechanic allows players to use Nilin’s powers and alter parts of people’s memories in real-time gameplay. This will change characters’ complete perspective on their self-image and the people around them, which can have grave consequences for the world in 2084.
* A Balanced Mix of Combat and Exploration – Fight your way through the different environments Neo-Paris has to offer, using Nilin’s proficiency in martial arts, as both hunter and prey!
* Combo Lab – Remember Me will allow players to fully customize the combos Nilin uses during the game. Players can adjust combos on the fly to suit every situation.
Batman: Arkham Origins Release Date October 25 2013 Announced (WiiU, PC, Xbox 360, PS3). 3rd Game In Series Starring Young Batman. Rocksteady Not Developing (Warner Bros. Montreal Is)
Batman returns in a younger state with Batman: Arkham Origins.
Batman: Arkham Origins is a prequel tale telling the Origin-story not young Bruce Wayne, the that everyone knows and loves of how he turns into the menacing Caped Crusader and dons the cowl & cape to hunt criminals in the night as Batman (although I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of that pop up in the game), but rather the origin of Batman’s relationship with a lot of various characters and villains in the series. This game will also mark the first time that Batman gets to explore the streets of the iconic Gotham City.
Game Informer broke the worldwide exclusive on their cover.
The biggest change this time is the fact that Batman: Arkham Origins is being developed by Warner Bros. Montreal, an in-house WB Games studio, instead of Rocksteady; who was made famous by developing the first two games to incredible critical acclaim (highly regarded as the greatest superhero games ever made) and super sales that put the studio on-the-map. Thankfully, the team will be utilizing existing assets from Rocksteady’s portfolio in order to ensure that this game maintains the look that fans expect.
Hopefully we’ll get to see what Rocksteady is working on for WB Games (who bought them out after the wild success of Batman: Arkham Asylum) at E3 2013 in a couple months.
One of the lead designers on Batman: Arkham Origins is Eric Holmes who previously worked on the critically acclaimed Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction for last-gen systems as well as the Prototype series, so he knows a thing or two about creating successful superhero games. Thus Batman: Arkham Origins is in capable hands.
Looks very similar to the previous Rocksteady games.
Players will encounter new villains that haven’t yet been seen in the franchise (although that’s pretty much a given), including a number of assassin’s who converge on Christmas Eve to kill The Bat as a team.
Batman: Arkham Origins will be released on October 25th 2013, just in time for the holiday season. And may very well be one of a group of “swan song” triple-A titles released for current-generation consoles as we transition to the next-generation. Although a PS4/Xbox 720 release wasn’t announced, I wouldn’t be surprised if the game hits those systems at some point in the future.
Press Release:
“Batman: Arkham Origins features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline occurring several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City.
Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous villains and assassins, the game showcases a young, raw, unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.
As the story unfolds, witness identities being formed and key relationships being forged.”
“WB Games Montréal is honored to have the opportunity to create Batman: Arkham Origins, a new chapter in this amazing franchise,” Reid Schneider, Vice President of WB Games Montréal said. “We are huge fans of the franchise and are committed to creating an experience that offers players more of what they love, as well as the chance to play as a younger Batman within a fresh storyline and expanded world.”
Resident Evil: Revelations Remake Coming Next Month. Hits May 21st 2013 (WiiU, PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Can’t wait to play this game on consoles and PC!
The fear that was originally brought to players in Resident Evil Revelations on the Nintendo 3DS system returns redefined for home consoles and PC complete with high quality HD visuals, enhanced lighting effects and an immersive sound experience. This latest version of Resident Evil Revelations will also deliver additional content including a terrifying new enemy, extra difficulty mode, integration with ResidentEvil.net and improvements to Raid Mode.
Raid Mode, which was first introduced to the series in the original version of Resident Evil Revelations, sees gamers play online in co-op mode or alone in single player taking on the hordes of enemies across a variety of missions whilst leveling up characters and earning weapon upgrades. New weapons, skill sets, and playable characters including Hunk, take the Raid Mode experience to new depths.
The critically acclaimed survival horror title takes players back to the events that took place between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, revealing the truth about the T-Abyss virus. Resident Evil Revelations features series favorites Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, plus their respective BSAA partners – Parker Luciani and Jessica Sherawat. The action begins on board a supposedly abandoned cruise ship, the Queen Zenobia’, where horrors lurk around every corner, before players head for the mainland and the devastated city of Terragrigia. With limited ammo and weapons available, the race is on to survive the horror of Resident Evil Revelations.
The WiiU version will feature specific enhancements including: Transfer the horror to the GamePad with Off-TV Play or play with the pro controller and TV alone. Utilizing the Miiverse functionality, leave dying messages on the Game Over screen for other players around the world, or add a personal message to fellow Raid Mode players with the Creatures Voice feature. Use your equipment – Analyze enemies and investigate areas with the Genesis scanner on the GamePad to reveal hidden items.
Key Features of Resident Evil: Revelations (console) include:
* Enhanced for Consoles: The fear that was brought to players in Resident Evil Revelations on the Nintendo 3DS system returns redefined complete with high quality HD visuals, enhanced lighting effects and an immersive sound experience.
* Classic Survival Horror Gameplay Returns: The campaign mode’s single player experience sees gamers investigating a range of different locations including the dark confined spaces of a cruise ship and the treacherous snow covered mountains. With limited ammo and weapons, fight off infected enemies that lurk around every corner.
* Hell Just Got Hotter: Infernal Mode, a new difficulty mode for console versions, is not just more challenging than Easy and Normal modes but also remixes enemy and item placement, so even those familiar with the game will discover new terrors.
* Meet the Wall Blister: A brand new enemy , the Wall Blister is a mutated creature borne from the T-Abyss virus that spreads through water, adding to the horrors that lurk around every corner
* Residentevil.net Support: Resident Evil Revelations will take full advantage of Residentevil.net with content available to users once the game launches. Earn weapons and custom parts and use them in-game, collect figures that can be used in dioramas and check your stats through the online web service.
* Improved Raid Mode: New weapons, skill sets, playable characters including Rachel and Hunk and enemies exclusive to this mode are added for the this latest version.
Fans who pre-order at GameStop will net themselves the exclusive “Signature Weapons Pack” that contains the following:
* Samurai Edge – Jill Valentine S.T.A.R.S. model was originally based on the custom M92F “Samurai Edge” that Jill used during her time in S.T.A.R.S., but it has since been changed to the M9A1 and refined to match modern tastes. This handgun greatly increases your firepower
* Government – Parker Luciani B.S.A.A. model is based on the powerful Government handgun, but given a stylish design made especially for Parker. Its ammo capacity has been sacrificed in order to add more power, due to Parker’s reputation for high precision.
* PC 356 – Jessica Sherawat F.B.C. model has increased ammo capacity. A tan frame with the FBC seal carved into the polymer slide hides a weapon built for efficiency
Watch Us Play Games 