Most Recent: Articles

Square Enix ships 1 million copies of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD on the back of FF15 demo

Posted on April 10, 2015 by John Scalzo

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It’s an undisputed fact that including a demo of a hugely popular game will help sell copies of a possibly less-anticipated title. It worked for Zone of the Enders back in the PS2 days and it worked for Crackdown nearly ten years ago. Now, Square Enix has shown that it worked for Final Fantasy Type-0 HD too.

The action RPG was released for the PS4 and Xbox One on March 17, packaged with a playable demo of Final Fantasy XV. Since then, Square Enix has shipped more than one million copies of the title to retailers worldwide.

To celebrate the good news, and to update fans on Final Fantasy XV’s progress, Director Hajime Tabata will host a special “Active Time Report” through Square Enix’s Twitch channel on April 27 at 11:00 PM (Pacific Time). If you’re interested in providing Tabata will feedback on the Final Fantasy XV demo, there’s still time. Head over to FinalFantasyXV.com/poll to voice your opinion now.

If you haven’t picked up Final Fantasy Type-0 HD yet, copies of the Final Fantasy XV demo-containing “Day One Edition” are still available at most retailers.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Call of Duty: Black Ops III will take place in a “dark, twisted future”

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Hidden within the source code of Call of Duty’s official website is our first hint at what Call of Duty: Black Ops III will offer. According to Activision, the game will take place in a “dark, twisted future” where “the lines are blurred between our own humanity and the technology we created to stay ahead.” In addition to this dystopian vision of the world, we also know that wars will be fought using “cutting-edge military robotics.”

Sounds peachy. Actually, it sounds a bit like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. You can read the full description right here, which also confirms the return of Treyarch’s popular Zombies Mode:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is the first title for next-gen hardware in the critically acclaimed Black Ops series. Developed by Treyarch, the award-winning creator of the two most-played games in Call of Duty history. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 deploys players into a dark, twisted future where a new breed of Black Ops soldier emerges and the lines are blurred between our own humanity and the technology we created to stay ahead, in a world where cutting-edge military robotics define warfare. With three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombies, providing fans with the deepest and most ambitious Call of Duty ever.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III will be released this November. But first, gamers will be introduced to the game during a “World Reveal” on April 26.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Insert Quarter: Should Mega Man Make a Comeback? Maybe We Don’t Need Him…

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Insert Quarter is our showcase for some of the best and most interesting writing about video games on the Internet.

With Shovel Knight, 20XX, and the upcoming Mighty No. 9 giving the gaming populace their fill of homages/spiritual successors to Mega Man, some people have started to wonder if a new game starring the original Blue Bomber is even necessary. GameRadar’s David Roberts is one of those people.

According to Roberts, Capcom is so handcuffed by the Mega Man formula that we might just be better off with the imitators. I’m not sure I agree, but he makes an interesting case:

It’s been nearly five years since Capcom released the last official Mega Man game. Mega Man 10 was just like all the other Mega Man games (Mega Mans?) that came before it; crunchy 8-bit graphics, a series of themed robot bosses, and soul-crushing difficulty. Since then, Capcom has released a fan-made Street Fighter/Mega Man crossover and let the Blue Bomber fight against a stable of Nintendo characters in Super Smash Bros. That’s all Mega Man has to show for the last five years; everything else has been cancelled. And you know what? Maybe that’s for the best.

The full article is available for your perusal at the GamesRadar.

Posted in 3DS, DS, Insert Quarter, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

See how much faster Mario Kart 8 is about to get in these 200cc vs 150cc videos

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

Mario Kart 8 is about to get a lot faster with the pending release of the 200cc Class update. But just how much faster is it than 150cc Class? Quite a bit, actually. And we can see for ourselves in a pair of side-by-side comparison videos recently released by Nintendo UK.

The video above showcases a single lap in Piranha Plant Pipeway. In 150cc, Mario zooms around the entire track in about 50 seconds. That’s a pretty respectable time, but in 200cc, it’s possible to do it in about 35 seconds. The difference is just as pronounced in the Dolphin Shoals video, which has been embedded after the break.

Are you ready for 200cc? Is your braking technique solid? We’ll all find out together when it’s released as a free update for Mario Kart 8 on April 23. (more…)

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Pokemon Rumble World, more

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

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It’s a big week for the Nintendo eShop as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is available to download for the 3DS. But remember, not just any 3DS system can handle Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. You’ll need a New 3DS XL in order to play Nintendo’s beautiful remake of the Wii hit. But if you’ve got one, you’ll be able to download the game through the 3DS eShop on April 10 (AKA tomorrow).

If you’re looking for something on the 3DS eShop today, you’ve got a few options. Atlus has released Etrian Mystery Dungeon, a procedurally-generated dungeon-crawler that merges the Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon franchises. Also available today is Pokemon Rumble World, a free-to-play arena brawler starring all 700 of your favorite Pokemon.

Over on the Wii U eShop, players will be able to download a pair of DS games through the Virtual Console and Affordable Space Adventures. Affordable Space Adventures offers exactly what it says on the tin… a space simulator on the Wii U that is completely affordable by the average person. And players with a love for the DS will want to know that minigame collection WarioWare: Touched! and stylus-based platformer Yoshi Touch & Go are both now available to download.

More information on all these games (and one more new release) can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged

First Call of Duty 2015 teaser confirms CoD: Black Ops 3 reveal on April 26

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

After two days worth of teaser teasing, Activision and Treyarch have delivered a teaser trailer that all but confirms the next Call of Duty game as Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

There are a few clues in the trippy video above that point to a third Black Ops game. For example, dialogue from both Black Ops games, some of which references “Mason,” the franchise’s main protagonist, is peppered throughout the video. And at one point, the swirling letters morph into a perfect replica of the box art from Call of Duty: Black Ops. Oh, and the trailer ends with giant roman numerals that spell out “III.” It’s subtle, but I think I’ve cracked their code.

The trailer closes by promising that a “World Reveal” of Call of Duty: Black Ops III will take place on April 26.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Move over Skylanders… Lego Dimensions enters the toys-to-life game on September 27

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

Who knew that Activision’s “toys-to-life” initiative with Skylanders would lead to multiple franchises and multiple toy lines that meld little figurines and video games? In the immortal (and paraphrased) words of Chief Brody… we’re going to need a bigger toy aisle.

That’s because WB Games and The Lego Group have announced Lego Dimensions, a game that brings specially-designed Lego sets into a game that mashes together different Lego universes such as DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, The Lego Movie, The Wizard of Oz, Lego Ninjago, and Back to the Future. As expected, TT Games will develop the dimension-hopping game, which will be released on September 27 for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U. The Starter Pack will include three minifigs (Batman, Gandalf, and Wyldstyle), a Lego Toy Pad to bring the figures into the game, and 269 Legos for fans to customize their own Lego Gateway.

A variety of expansion packs will also be available this Fall that will add “new buildable characters, vehicles, tools and gadgets, as well as compelling game content with new mission-based levels and unique in-game abilities” to Lego Dimensions. The first wave of expansions (though more will be announced and even more are coming in 2016) include:

  • Back to the Future Level Pack with Lego Marty McFly
  • Lego Ninjago Team Pack with Kai and Cole
  • Lego Ninjago Fun Pack #1 with Jay
  • Lego Ninjago Fun Pack #2 with Nya
  • Lego Ninjago Fun Pack #3 with Zane
  • DC Comics Fun Pack #1 with Wonder Woman
  • DC Comics Fun Pack #2 with Cyborg
  • The Lord of the Rings Fun Pack #1 with Lego Gollum
  • The Lord of the Rings Fun Pack #2 with Lego Gimli
  • The Lord of the Rings Fun Pack #3 with Lego Legolas
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #1 with Emmet
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #2 with Bad Cop
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #3 with Benny
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #4 with Unikitty
  • The Wizard of Oz Fun Pack with Lego Wicked Witch of the West

“When kids play with Lego bricks, they build beyond the singular brands, intermixing all of their favorite characters and universes, and we have come up with a way for players to experience that in games,” said Jon Burton, the Founder and Creative Director of TT Games. “Now for the first time in a videogame, Lego fans can play in the virtual world and in the real world – combining everything without restrictions. Imagine putting Lego Gollum from The Lord of the Rings behind the wheel of the Lego DeLorean Time Machine in New Ninjago City – the creative play is endless.”

If Lego Dimensions has piqued your interest, be prepared to open your wallet real wide, the Starter Pack has been priced at $99.99.

Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Daily Scoop: April 8, 2015 – One of those days

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Nicole Kline

It’s a rainy day here in Philadelphia, and it’s only the middle of the week, so it’s extra dreary! But I am planning on heading home tonight and cuddling up on the couch with my Vita and some Persona 3 Portable. What do you play on dreary days, readers?

There aren’t a lot of deals today! At Steam, the only new thing is the Daily Deal. They’ve offering Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion for just $9.99.

There are a few games on sale this week at the Humble Store. You can get Joylancer: Legendary Motor Knight for $4.99, Out There for $8.99, and Anoxemia for $6.39, among others. You also have under a day to pick up the Humble Weekly Bundle: ARGGGHHH!! These Games Are Hard edition.

Just two shirts today! (more…)

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