Most Recent: 3DS

Bandai Namco adds Fire Emblem, Xenoblade characters to Project X Zone 2 in TGS trailers

Posted on September 21, 2015 by John Scalzo

To prepare fans for Project X Zone 2, Bandai Namco unveiled two new trailers for the game during last week’s Tokyo Game Show. The nearly four-minute “Brave New World” trailer, embedded above, delivers an extended look at many of the game’s characters and a good chunk of gameplay. But its the second trailer, available after the break, that will definitely get gamers talking.

New challengers enter the arena as characters from a fourth company will join Bandai Namco, Sega, and Capcom in the massive crossover event. Nintendo will lend Fiora from Xenoblade Chronicles and Chrom and Lucina from Fire Emblem: Awakening to Project X Zone 2. Bandai Namco also confirmed that KOS-MOS, from Xenosaga, will make a return appearance in the strategy franchise.

Project X Zone 2 is all set to be released for the 3DS on February 16, 2015. (more…)

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New Releases: Lego Dimensions, FIFA 16, NBA 2K16, More

Posted on September 20, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Sport fans should gather up their foam fingers and beer hats once more as the soccer shenanigans of FIFA 16 and the raucous roundball of NBA 2K16 will both arrive on store shelves this week for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Blood Bowl II, and its fantastical version of football, will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

But if you’re a Lego fan, the release of Lego Dimensions is likely a much bigger deal this week. Mashing together more than a dozen media franchises, Lego Dimensions could very well be the ultimate Lego game. Developer TT Games has clearly come a long way since 2005’s Lego Star Wars. Sadly, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker won’t be part of the magic, but characters from DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, Scooby-Doo, The Simpsons, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Doctor Who, and many, many others will appear in the PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One game.

Finally this week, 3DS owners will get to play decorator as Nintendo will release Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer for the handheld system. It will launch alongside a new range of Amiibo-powered cards and a New 3DS + Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer Bundle.

All of this week’s new releases are available in a handy list format after the break. (more…)

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Nintendo Download: Year Walk, Skylanders SuperChargers, Senran Kagura 2, more

Posted on September 17, 2015 by John Scalzo

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I’m dedicating this story about this week’s Nintendo Download update to all the Skylanders fans out there, as Activision is almost ready to release the next entry in the popular franchise. Beginning September 20, Skylanders SuperChargers will be available to download for the Wii U through the Wii U eShop. Players will need to own a Portal of Power, but as long as they do, they’ll gain access to the full game and digital versions of the Instant Spitfire and Instant Hot Streak. Also available this week for the Wii U is Year Walk, Simogo’s artistic and dreamy adventure game that was originally a smash hit on iOS devices in 2013.

There’s only one new release this week over on the 3DS half of the store, and it’s Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson. The latest Senran Kagura game is a 2.5D side-scrolling brawler that features all the “high-flying, clothes-ripping battle mechanics” the series is known for. In a first for the franchise, Deep Crimson will also include two-player co-op.

More information about all of these games (and a few other new releases such as overhead racer Rock ‘N Racing Off Road DX and RTS/tower defense hybrid Zombie Defense can be found after the break. (more…)

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Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice release date spin dashes into 2016

Posted on September 16, 2015 by John Scalzo

sonicboomfireandiceSega has released new games in the Sonic series at a pretty steady clip over the last 25 years. But it looks like 2015 will be the year without a hedgehog as the publisher cconfirmed that Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice has been pushed into 2016.

Writing on the Sega Blog, a representative from the publisher said the 3DS title is in need of additional time and polish. They also added, “it’ll be ready when it’s ready,” a time-tested statement for public relations folks everywhere. While it’s easy to be cynical about this announcement, Sega believes that it will result in the creation of a “stronger, more enjoyable” game:

In the grand scheme of things, while the downside is that you won’t be playing the game this year, the upside is that what you’ll play next year, and what fans will continue to play for years after they pick up the game, will be a stronger, more enjoyable experience.

We think that’s important, not just for this one game, but for all future Sonic titles.

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice is in development at Sanzaru Games and, once again, it’ll be ready when it’s ready.

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New Releases: Destiny: The Taken King, Forza 6, Skylanders SuperChargers, More

Posted on September 13, 2015 by John Scalzo

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We’ve got a lot of ground to cover in this week’s new release report, so let’s get right to it…

Destiny’s “Year One” slate of content will come to a close as Activision and Bungie will release the last major update Destiny: The Taken King for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360. The expansion will add a variety of missions and tweaks to the team-based shooter, but the biggest is likely Nolan North’s replacement of Peter Dinklage as the voice of Ghost.

Microsoft and Turn 10 will release their latest automotive simulator, Forza Motorsport 6, for the Xbox One. It astounds me that while Sony continues to struggle with DriveClub and the seemingly non-existent Gran Turismo 7, Microsoft has developed and published two critically-acclaimed Forza games.

If you’re looking for something for the kids, Activision will release Skylanders SuperChargers this week. The popular game franchise has a racing theme this time out for the Wii U, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360… and dozens of new Skylanders action figures have begun appearing on store shelves. A Dark Edition will also be released and a spinoff game, Skylanders SuperChargers Racing, will be available for the 3DS and Wii U (complete with an exclusive Skylanders/Amiibo hybrid figure for each platform).

To close out the week in new games, a pair of popular sports simulations will also be available. EA Sports will bring NHL 16 to the PS4 and Xbox One (and NHL: Legacy Edition to the PS3 and Xbox 360), while Konami will publish Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Finally this week, a number of new console bundles will be released. Sony will launch a 500GB PS4 + Destiny: The Taken King Limited Edition Bundle, while Microsoft is prepping a 1TB Xbox One + Forza Motorsport 6 Limited Edition Bundle. Both feature custom case designs (the Forza Blue color scheme is particularly nifty), one controller, and bonus downloadable content for their respective games. A 1TB Xbox One + FIFA 16 Bundle will also be available, but it doesn’t feature a custom paint job.

More information on all of these games can be found after the break. (more…)

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BOOM! Madden NFL 16 is the best-selling game of August 2015

Posted on September 11, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Whatever your opinion of Tom Brady and Deflategate (for the record, I agree with Tony Kornheiser, the suspension was “completely unjust”), it looks like nobody can take the air out of EA’s Madden NFL franchise. And don’t just take my word for it. The latest entry in the series, Madden NFL 16, topped the NPD Group’s newest monthly report and was declared the best-selling game of August 2015.

Madden NFL 16’s ascendance to the top of the list was a foregone conclusion, but August was an unusually quiet month for new releases. Just look at the three remakes/re-releases that broke into the top ten. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition chainsawed its way into the #3 spot, while the 30 games in the Rare Replay compilation collectively landed at #6. Finally, a Combo Pack containing Call of Duty: Black Ops + Call of Duty: Black Ops II claimed the #8 position (two spots ahead of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare at #10, I might add). The only other new release to crack the top ten was Sony’s Until Dawn at #7.

But the real story of the month might be that Minecraft continues to sell. Even though its been available on the PS4 and Xbox One since last year (and another year on the PS3 and Xbox 360), the game continues to sell month after month. Only Madden NFL 16 was able to outpace Mojang’s creation in August as Minecraft is sitting at #2 on the best-sellers list.

A complete look at August 2015’s top ten is available after the break. (more…)

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Nintendo Download: Super Mario Maker, Tecmo Bowl, Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX, more

Posted on September 10, 2015 by John Scalzo

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You couldn’t design a better Nintendo Download this week if you tried. But then, any designers in the audience will be quite busy beginning tomorrow when Super Mario Maker is added to the Wii U eShop. More than a mere Mario level editor, Super Mario Maker will include dozens of pre-built courses and the option to download an unlimited number of levels from the Wii U community. Also, you can use an Amiibo figure to drop Link (and many other characters) into a Mario game for the first time.

The Wii U eShop received a bounty of new releases this week in addition to Super Mario Maker. For starters, Tecmo’s famous football sim for the NES, Tecmo Bowl, is now available through the Virtual Console. Seems appropriate on Kickoff Thursday. Also available to download today are a pair of puzzling adventures including steampunk caper The Swindle and the first-person environmental brain-twister QUBE: Director’s Cut.

Finally this week, Sega will bring Japan’s most famous blue-haired idol, Hatsune Miku, to the 3DS in the rhythm action game Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX.

More information on all of these titles (and a few others) can be found after the break. (more…)

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Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows will infect all platforms on September 17

Posted on September 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Yacht Club Games has announced that Shovel Knight‘s Plague of Shadows expansion will be available to download on all platforms and in all regions on September 17. The free update will completely transform the game, allowing players to take control of the villainous Plague Knight as he does battle with his fellow knights of The Order of No Quarter.

However, this challenge is only for expert players as the Plague of Shadows campaign will remain locked unless you’ve beaten the game as Shovel Knight.

Unlike some cinematic knights, prospective Plague of Shadows players won’t need to choose wisely as Shovel Knight is currently available for the PC, 3DS, Wii U, PS3, PS4, Vita, and Xbox One. Yacht Club will continue to expand the world of Shovel Knight in the future as campaigns centered around King Knight and Specter Knight are in the works. In the nearer future, a Shovel Knight Amiibo figure, which will unlock a Co-Op Campaign on the 3DS and Wii U, will be released sometime this Fall.

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