Most Recent: Wii U

New Releases: Grand Theft Auto V, The Wonderful 101, More

grandtheftautov-box-largeThis week’s edition of “New Releases” will be considerably shorter than normal because of one game: Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V. Almost every other publisher is taking the week off to avoid the PS3 and Xbox 360 juggernaut. The theme of GTA5 is “The Almighty Dollar” and with almost no competition this week, Rockstar will be sure to rake in a lot of them.

But Nintendo has never been a company that cares about what other publishers are doing, so they’ve slotted The Wonderful 101 into the calendar as the week’s other big release. The Platinum Games-developed strategic superhero squad simulation is available in stores today for the Wii U.

The remaining new releases are made up of a smattering of budget titles including Hot Wheels: World’s Best Driver (3DS, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360), We Sing: 80s (Wii), Takedown: Red Sabre (PC), and a boxed copy of Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded (PC).

Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

The Wonderful 101 Review: Another Golden Hit From Platinum Games

wonderful101-header

With its crazy sense of style, colorful worlds, and oddball humor, The Wonderful 101 feels like Director Hideki Kamiya’s spiritual successor to Viewtiful Joe. As the title suggests, instead of controlling just one masked superhero, you take charge of a 100-strong battalion as the 101st member of the squad. So how does controlling an army of shape-shifting warriors handle?

In a word? Viewtifully. (more…)

Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Wii U | Tagged

New releases lead the way in August 2013 NPD report of best-selling games

maddennfl25-sandersThe NPD Group has released their monthly report on the financial health of the video game industry and, good news, retail game sales in August 2013 increased 21% over the same period last year. The entire retail game industry (games, consoles, and accessories) raked in $521 million, an increase of 1% over August 2012. Though the report estimates this number accounts for only half of all video game spending in August when you factor in used games, rentals, digital sales, add-on content, subscriptions, mobile apps, and social network microtransactions that the NPD doesn’t track.

Most of the increase in game sales was due to a stronger than usual slate of August releases. In fact, only two games in the August top ten are holdovers from previous months (Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition at #5 and NCAA Football 14 at #7).

The remainder of the top ten is populated entirely by new titles: Madden NFL 25 (#1), Saints Row IV (#2), Disney Infinity (#3), Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist (#4), Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (#6), Payday 2 (#8), Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (#9), and Pikmin 3 (#10).

If you’d prefer the top ten in list format, you can find it right here:

Bestselling Games in August 2013
1. Madden NFL 25 (Xbox 360, PS3)
2. Saints Row IV (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
3. Disney Infinity (Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, Wii U, 3DS )
4. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC)
5. Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (Xbox 360)
6. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (3DS)
7. NCAA Football 14 (Xbox 360, PS3)
8. Payday 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)
9. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (PS3, PC)
10. Pikmin 3 (Wii U)

[Source: GameSpot]

Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Nintendo Download: Zelda II, Tecmo Bowl, Wonderful 101 (Sunday), more

wonderful101-header

It’s another big week for the Nintendo Download as Platinum Games’ strategic superhero smash ’em up The Wonderful 101 will be available on the Wii U eShop on Sunday.

If you’re looking to download something today, the Wii U’s Virtual Console expands by one with the addition of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Over on the 3DS, everyone’s favorite football game, Tecmo Bowl, can be downloaded just in time for the start of the season.

And we’re still not done. The DSi is back this week with three new titles… a word game compilation (Letter Challenge) and two interactive storybooks (Tales to Enjoy! Little Red Riding Hood and Tales to Enjoy! Puss In Boots).

You can find more information on all of these titles after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii U | Tagged

Princess Peach joins Super Smash Bros. 4

smashbros4-peachA New Challenger Approaches!

Nintendo updated the official Super Smash Bros. 4 website this morning, revealing Princess Peach as the next challenger to approach the game’s roster. The publisher also uploaded ten new screenshots to the site, which show Peach delivering the smash to Pit, Star Fox, and Mario on the 3DS and Wii U.

Super Smash Bros. 4 will be released in 2014.

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged ,

Activision has released a new campaign trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts

Activision has released a new trailer focusing on the campaign from Call of Duty: Ghosts and it looks like Infinity Ward’s first person shooter franchise has been injected with a little James Bond flavor.

The trailer opens with a Moonraker-esque gun battle… IN SPACE! After the firefight, a massive satellite codenamed Odin unleashes a Die Another Day-like barrage of missiles on the United States… FROM SPACE! So yeah, in this version of the story, James Bond got his crotch lasered off by Goldfinger and the supervillain’s plan was a complete success. That’s where the Ghosts come in:

Ten years after a devastating mass event, the nation’s borders and the balance of global power have been redrawn forever. As what’s left of the nation’s Special Operations forces, a mysterious group known only as “Ghosts” leads the fight back against a newly emerged, technologically-superior global power.

Call of Duty: Ghosts will be released for the PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 on November 5. The game will also be released for the PS4 and Xbox One sometime in late November.

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

Mighty No. 9 adds stretch goal for PS4/Xbox One edition

mightynonine-header

The Kickstarter train for Keiji Inafune’s Mighty No. 9 continues to steam ahead with the announcement of a third set of stretch goals. The newly expanded goals include another batch of bonus modes and the possibility that the game might be released for the PS4 and Xbox One if the pledge total reaches $3.3. million.

Inafune delivered the good news during yesterday’s update by saying: “We heard your calls and are proud to report we can finally offer next-gen versions of Mighty No. 9 here! We know by the time the game ships in 2015, many of you will be proud owners of one next-gen system or the other — or maybe both! If we reach this level of funding, we can add the PS4 and the Xbox One to the list.”

A possible PS4/Xbox One edition wasn’t the only addition to Mighty No. 9’s stretch goals. Here’s what else Inafune and his team at Comcept plan to add to the game if donations continue to flow in:

  • REACHED – $1.2 Million: Two More Stages
  • REACHED – $1.35 Million: Mac and Linux Versions
  • REACHED – $1.5 Million: New Game Plus and Turbo Mode
  • REACHED – $1.75 Million: The Making of Mighty No. 9 Video Documentary
  • $2 Million: Boss Rush Mode
  • $2.2 Million: PS3/360/Wii U Versions
  • $2.4 Million: Challenge Mode!
  • $2.55 Million: Extra End Stage & Boss!
  • $2.75 Million: Beck & Call Online Co-Op Challenge Mode!!!
  • $2.9 Million: ???
  • $3.1 Million: ???
  • $3.3 Million: PS4 & Xbox One Versions!
  • ?: ???

As of this writing, backers have pledged a little over $1.96 million towards Mighty No. 9. With 21 days remaining, all of these stretch goals are certainly reachable.

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

Stan Lee is the ultimate power in the universe in this Lego Marvel Super Heroes trailer

Who is the most powerful character in the Marvel universe? Is it Wolverine and his nigh invulnerability? Is it The Hulk and his limitless smashing ability? Or is it the big brain on Reed “Mr. Fantastic” Richards? The answer is actually none of the above. The answer is Stan Lee. Exclesior!

The famed comic book creator will be included in Lego Marvel Super Heroes and, instead of the super cameo powers he displays in the Marvel movieverse, he’s packing a boatload of superpowers of his own. Stan Lee is Wolverine and The Hulk and Reed Richards and many others, all rolled into one. Check out the trailer above and watch as he drops the hammer (sometime quite literally) on the supervillain community in the game.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes will be available for the 3DS, PC, PS3, Vita, Wii U, and Xbox 360 on October 18. A PS4 version will be released on November 15 and an Xbox One edition will follow on November 22.

Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged