Batman: Arkam City Armored Edition Drops Into Retailers

 

For my money, it’s looks as if the Wii U has one of the more impressive launch.launch window lineups for a new console this generation (er, next generation? whatever – there are some strong titles coming between now and the end of the year).  Yeah, yeah, yeah – your jaded self has already played this on the PS3, Xbox 360 or PC (or all three if you’re that obsessed), but given that this (and every other Wii U) game is made first and foremost for Nintendo-only fans who may have never laid a pinky on any previous version AND Rocksteady has gone above and beyond the call in not shoving a straightforward quick port out the door, this may be the definitive version of the game.  Anyway, I say shut up and play it – if it’s good, it’ll silence the critics – if it’s bad, it’ll get them babbling doom stories about the systems like those overpaid analysts who don’t play games at all but spend too much time comparing everything to Apple’s success or claiming consoles are dead because too many people are playing mobile games or whatever.

On the other hand, if it’s BETTER than any of the previous versions, well… I say apologies are in order from the naysayers directly to WB, the developer and any gamers who were falling for the hate hype. Fair is indeed fair after all…

Got A Legend of Zelda Fan on Your Holiday Gift List? STL Ocarinas Will Get Them Grinning…

Whether you’re a gamer or not you probably know someone who’s a Legend of Zelda fan. Trust me, even if you don’t THINK you do, all you need to do is ask around and in under five minutes, it’s like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (And yeah, I have a weird connection to Mr. B as well – live in NYC long enough and that sort of thing happens). Anyway, if that person or person just so happens to be someone you like enough to want to gently drop a holiday or other occasion day present into their hot little hands, one (or more) STL Ocarinas should make them smile for years to come and then some…

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TANK! TANK! TANK!: Is It The Wii U’s COMBAT? Mmmmm, Could Be…

 

As soon as I saw the first video for this Wii U port of the popular Japanese Namco Bandai arcade game, I thought about Atari’s classic pack-in that became an instant hit remembered by anyone who picked up a joystick back in the day. Of course, with the Wii U bringing a new controller into things, this simple-looking blast-fest could be the one game that has similar impact should the console take off into the stratosphere (as Nintendo hopes). As always, we shall see, but I think no matter how the system does, this is one of those games that will get a LOT of play long into the system’s life cycle. That said, fun games really don’t need silly-ass trailers like this. Just show the gameplay and I’m all in.

DIsney Epic Mickey 2: Solo Or Co-op, This Is Going To Be A Total Blast To Play

 

Having seen and played a bit of this a few months back solo and co-op, I can safely say that it’s one of the better player-friendly games I can recall. You have a few different ways (all up to you) to get through the levels and while a second player does make things more fun, even in solo play you have enough freedom to have fun getting from point A to point B. November 18th, folks – I need to decide which version I want, as I was leaning towards the PS3 one for its Move support initially, but the Wii U version is tempting me with that shiny new (and innovative) GamePad.

Castlevania: Mirror of Fate Will Make You Want A 3DS For The Holidays… Or Now.

Ah, Konami… how you tempt me so. Castlevania looks so lovely on the 3DS and I know core fans of the long-running franchise will be pleased as punch that the handheld is getting a great-looking game. Of course, unless both Lords of Shadow games come to a Nintendo home console (I’d say the Wii U can handle them just fine), those users aren’t getting the whole story. And THAT, ladies and gents is exactly why I’m platform agnostic.

November’s Here (And So Is The Wii U)…

With all the big games hitting this month for other consoles, it’s actually going to be Nintendo’s big Wii U launch that will probably be key to a huge part of this year’s holiday sales successes or failures. The system has a number of solid-looking launch titles from first and third parties with more on the way in enough different genres that almost all bases are covered. Granted, there are a few things that could spoil Nintendo’s financial fun from idiot speculators dooming the console prematurely to families simply not having more money to spend of a new system this holiday season in favor of buying cheaper Wii games or even another console. I know for a fact that NO ONE with half a brain will be buying a tablet or other device OVER a console, despite the fever dreams of those in the mobile industry sitting on the cheap games bubble about to burst and take a lot of them down to reality sooner than later. People want dedicated consoles because they want to play games that aren’t all short bits of pay to play addiction or clear clones of other successful casual games. That and hell, Mario isn’t coming to iOS or Android any time soon and Nintendo has him and a few other classic characters you won’t see anywhere else but on a Nintendo system (which is how fans prefer it). As always, we shall see what’s what soon enough – I think the console will indeed do well, but Nintendo needs to get people used to paying a premium for a replacement controller (the one thing that will make some rethink a Wii U purchase down the road)…

Thundercats DS In Stores Now: The Retro Revival Continues!

 

Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man – the 80’s cartoon hits just keep on coming to gamers these days (but hey, where’s the Twinkle the Dream Being game?!). Anyway, Namco Bandai has released Thundercats into the wild for the Nintendo DS. It certainly looks pretty awesome and heck, my nostalgia meter says this one will be a ton of fun. As usual, it’s up to the hands-on time and final impressions from dopes like me and other editor-types that will sway you one way or the other, but I trust in Lion-O to NOT be in a stinker. Mumm-Ra, maybe (which is why he’ll never get his own game), but not Lion-O. Anyway, we shall see what’s what in a few days when my review copy pops up.

Call of Duty MW3 TV Spot: It’s Guy Ritchie’s Turn To Show He’s A Gamer Too…

‘Ey! What’s all this now with popular directors tackling video game ads? First it’s David Fincher producing a wild and intriguing Halo 4 ad and now Guy Ritchie on this CoD MW3 commercial… hmmmmm. Well, I guess people need to work and hey, it’s always great to find out some quality movie talent are gamers, right? So it’s all good in the end. It’s also good that we’re not seeing these guys tackle adaptations of the games they’re doing ads for as full-fledged movies. I know I said in an earlier post that it would be a good idea to see longer form works from great directors based on games, but given that you’d end up with 21 writers trying to fit too much into a two-hour flick and the creative control disasters that would result from this sort of collaboration, TV spots and quick trailers are a better thing in the end foe gamers concerned about quality and continuity. OK, someone dial up Ridley Scott – I’d love to see him tackle some upcoming title (if he’s got an interest in gaming at all, that is)…

Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why’d You Steal Our Garbage? Trailer – Welcome to Candy Kingdom!

Hmmm… it looks as if this 3DS and DS game based on yet another popular hipster kiddie cartoon I’ve yet to see other than when flipping through channels at random or something like that is DONE and all set for its November 20 launch. I may not have seen the show, but I really want to play this game, as it looks like a hell of a lot of fun. That and WayForward Technologies really knows how to make some awesome games. D3Publisher of America has at least two games I’m really pleased to see coming – this one and EDF 2017 Portable (which is pretty stellar stuff from the many hours I’m sinking into the import version). Anyway, Candy Kingdom? My teeth aren’t pleased by that location, but the brain, eyeballs and fingers are happy campers…

Nintendo “Sizzle” Reel Time: High Steaks on the Video Game Grill…

Nintendo really wants you to know it’s that time of year again (no, not that time… THAT time – holiday shopping season), so here’s a little reminder that they want you to think about the 3DS if you haven’t already. That and hey look – their eShop is up and running nicely, they have a new console on the way they want you to buy (you may have heard of it) and yeah, if you’re a gamer (and Nintendo fan), all is pretty much right as rain these days. Or something like that – there’s a ton of stuff coming out, that’s for sure.