Nintendo cuts price of Wii U Deluxe Set to $300

Posted on August 28, 2013 by John Scalzo

wiiudeluxe-console

Beginning September 20, Nintendo will cut the price of the Wii U Deluxe Set to $299.99. No reason was given for the $50 price drop, but presumably it’s to help the Wii U compete better against the PS4 and Xbox One this holiday season.

“Nintendo has one of the strongest and most diverse video game lineups in our history,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and COO. “Today we’re making those unique Nintendo experiences more accessible and affordable. However you play and whatever you play, Nintendo has you covered.”

Nintendo did not mention what this means for the Wii U Basic Set, which currently retails for $299.99.

Posted in News, Wii U |

Nintendo announces 2D-only version of 3DS handheld

Posted on August 28, 2013 by John Scalzo

Well this was unexpected. Though Nintendo has attempted to downplay the 3D capabilities of its 3DS handheld ever since it was released (including Shigeru Miyamoto stating that the 3D feature wasn’t necessary for all games).

Today, the consolemaker has announced the 2DS, a new handheld that plays all 3DS games, but only in 2D. As with the 3DS, DS game support is also included. The handheld, which has been priced at $129.99, is being aimed at families looking for a more affordable system. And in another interesting twist, it doesn’t share the clamshell design of the 3DS (or the DS, DSi, and DSi XL for that matter). Instead, it’s one solid piece and will be available in two colors: Blue and Red.

The Nintendo 2DS will be released on October 12, the same day as Pokemon X and Pokemon Y.

Posted in News | Tagged

MS bringing Killer Instinct, Battlefield 4, Forza 5, Ryse, “other suprises” to PAX Prime 2013

Posted on August 28, 2013 by John Scalzo

microsoftgamestudios-logo

PAX Prime practically takes place in Microsoft’s backyard and the consolemaker will have a large presence at the show, taking over three booths (#412, #422, and #432) and a hefty chunk of the Washington State Convention Center. But they only plan to have eight games on display, and one of them is on loan from Electronic Arts.

Four Xbox One games will be playable on the show floor including Crytek’s Ryse: Son of Rome, Turn 10’s Forza Motorsport 5, Double Helix’s Killer Instinct reboot, and DICE’s Battlefield 4.

Microsoft also plans to erect a massive theater in their booth that will showcase developer-guided demos of four additional games on a 30-minute rotation. The rotation includes new looks at Rare’s Kinect Sports Rivals:, Capcom’s Dead Rising 3, the game creation game Project Spark, and the lone Xbox 360 game in their booth, Fable Anniversary. According to Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb, “other surprises” may be in store for the Xbox booth as well.

This year’s PAX Prime expo runs from August 30 through September 2. More details on all of the demos can be found after the break.

Press Start to Continue →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will be released on October 4

Posted on August 28, 2013 by John Scalzo

legendofzeldawindwakerhd-header

We knew it was coming sometime during the tenth month of 2013, but Nintendo has gotten more specific and confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will be released on October 4.

Fans of the Zelda series will get a chance to play a game a bit earlier during the Seattle stop of the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert tour on September 12. Demo kiosks featuring The Wind Waker HD and this Fall’s other Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS, will be installed in the lobby of Benaroya Hall.

Nintendo also plans to display fan-created artwork during the show. If you want your Zelda-themed piece to be considered, apply for Nintendo’s “Fan Art Challenge” on their Facebook Page.

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

PSN Today: Madden NFL 25, Final Fantasy XIV, Lost Planet 3, more

Posted on August 27, 2013 by John Scalzo

newreleases082713

A quintet of new PS3 releases have made their way to the PlayStation Store on the same day as their retail release.

The games include Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Square Enix’s second shot at an MMORPG; Lost Planet 3, the latest entry in Capcom’s alien ice planet action series; Hatsune Miku Project Diva F, a rhythm game from Sega; Killer Is Dead, the latest game from Suda 51; and Madden NFL 25, EA Sports’ annual prfessional football simulation.

Also available this week is Spelunky, a quirky platformer that comes to the PSN and PS Vita as a Cross-Buy title, and Sweet Fuse: At Your Side, a PSP game where you play as Keiji Inafune’s niece. Sure, why not?

More information on all of these titles (and several others) can be found after the break. And, as always, a complete list of this week’s new game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation Blog.

Press Start to Continue →

Posted in News, PS3, PSP, Vita | Tagged , , ,

DuckTales Remastered Review: Blessed Bagpipes or Cursed Kilts?

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Mike Ryan

ducktalesremastered-header

The original DuckTales game for the NES was one of my favorite games. I remember receiving the game as a Christmas gift when I was ten years old, and getting to the last level that very same day, only to have my older brother turn off the system during the final boss fight, because, as he put it, I “shouldn’t finish a game the same day I got it.” So I beat it the next day. And the day after that. For months, DuckTales was the only game that inhabited my NES. The gameplay, the controls, the music – it was in every way a perfect game. Fast-forward twenty-five years, and I am sitting at my desk at work when I see the announcement of DuckTales Remastered. Pulling up that announcement trailer, I was in a state of shock. One of my favorite childhood games, being remade by one of my favorite developers, WayForward – this was just too good to be true. After playing the new title, I can say that while it’s a great game, DuckTales Remastered is not all it’s quacked up to be.

Press Start to Continue →

Posted in PC, PS3, Reviews, Top Story, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Ubisoft’s PAX Prime 2013 Lineup: Watch Dogs, The Crew, AC4: Black Flag, Rayman Legends

Posted on August 27, 2013 by John Scalzo

ubisoftlogo

After a big showing at last weekend’s Gamescom, Ubisoft is gearing up for another big demonstration of their upcoming lineup at this weekend’s PAX Prime. The publisher plans to show four games at their booth with an additional pair (The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot and Might & Magic: Duel of Champions) in the LAN Area.

Ubisoft’s booth (#612) will include demo stations for The Crew, and Rayman Legends. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Watch Dogs will also be on hand, though both will be hands-off only.

Ubisoft’s booth will include a host of other activities such as a picture station with Black Flag’s pirate assassin, Edward Kenway. Black Flag fans will also be able to score an inflatable cutlass sword while Watch Dogs watchers can collect a logo-branded lanyard.

Ubisoft’s only playable next-generation game at PAX Prime is the “massive open world action-driving game” The Crew. In addition to a hands-on demo, fans will be able to drive away with an exclusive keychain.

PAX Prime 2013 will take place this weekend, August 30 through September 2, in Seattle. I hope you’ve already got your tickets, because they’ve been sold out for months.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD will include a harder “Hero Mode”

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Andrew Rainnie

legendofzeldawindwakerhd-header

Not content with just offering the normal difficulty setting, Nintendo has announced that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will feature an additional difficultly setting called Hero Mode. The higher difficulty setting, also seen in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, will remove healing hearts from being found in the environment, forcing Link to seek out fairies or potions. Not only that, but enemy AIs will dish out double the damage they do in Normal Mode.

This new feature is one of several to be added to the original game, including Swift Sail, which allows players to control the King of Red Lions ship directly, rather than indirectly changing direction by controlling the wind. The GamePad’s second screen will also allow players to effectively play the game as an FPS, in a similar way to Link’s Crossbow Training on the Wii. Along with the improved HD graphics, this version of Wink Waker is shaping up to be a must-own game.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will be available in October.

[Source: Polygon]

Posted in News | Tagged , ,