Nintendo Download: Wonder Boy The Dragon’s Trap, Rayman 3, Rayman Advance, more

Posted on April 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo’s Switch continues to be a home for interesting retro-themed titles, as two more are now available to purchase through the Nintendo eShop.

Developed by Lizardcube, Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a remake of 1989’s Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap, and the side-scrolling platformer has been updated with a hand-drawn visual style and a re-orchestrated soundtrack for its Switch debut. Also available to download this week is Fatal Fury, a re-release of one of SNK’s earliest fighting games.

Nintendo’s other platforms will receive a handful of new downloadable titles this week, including Urban Trial Freestyle 2 for the 3DS. Developed by Teyon, the stunt racer asks players to “pull off insane stunts on top of skyscrapers, speed down busy highways, and take intense rides through the suburbs.” There’s even a few new games available for the Wii U this week, including Virtual Console re-releases of Rayman Advance and Rayman 3.

You can learn more about all of these games (and a few other new releases) after the break.

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

Bandai Namco files a trademark application for “Pac-Man Maker” in Europe

Posted on April 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

The maze from Pac-Man is likely seared into the memory of every gamer who has ever played the character’s eponymous arcade debut. But if Bandai Namco’s latest trademark application is any indication, Pac-Fans may soon get the chance to design their own mazes.

According to the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the publisher recently filed a trademark application for a new game known as “Pac-Man Maker.”

As is always the case with trademark applications, there’s a possibility that this filing won’t lead to the announcement or release of a new game. And it’s very possible that Bandai Namco is just squatting on the name after the success of Super Mario Maker.

Either way, I’m sure we’ll learn more about what Bandai Namco has planned for their most-recognizable character soon.

Posted in News |

New Hot Shots Golf will launch in North America as Everybody’s Golf on August 29

Posted on April 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Brace yourself… New Hot Shots Golf is no more. But don’t worry, Sony still plans to release the goofy golf simulation this Summer.

You might be asking yourself, “How can this be?” Well… Sony is dropping the Hot Shots Golf name in North America and will release the next game in the series as the Everybody’s Golf. You might recognize the new name for the franchise as Sony has used the “Everybody’s Golf” name in Japan and Europe for the past 20 years. With that kind of history behind the name, it seems likely they’ve been preparing to tee up this change for for quite some time.

If you’re still bothered by the name change, developer Clap Hanz recently published a new post on the PlayStation Blog to assure fans that a lot of features from their favorite franchise will also be included in Everybody’s Golf:

Not only does Everybody’s Golf boast the same three-click shot mechanic our fans have come to love, but the series returns with new features such as more character customization, robust online modes, and other fun activities including fishing, buggy racing, and treasure hunting in the open world environment. How you enjoy the game is up to you.

Everybody’s Golf will be released for the PS4 on August 29, and in addition to a new trailer, Sony also revealed that players who pre-order the game through the PlayStation Store will receive a “Day 1” bonus pack that includes an Everybody’s Golf Original Avatar, a 20th Anniversary Course, a Rabbit Mascot Costume, two Unique Shirts, a Premium Kart, and a PS4 Dynamic Theme.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

Brainiac invades in Injustice 2’s “Shattered Alliances Part 5” trailer

Posted on April 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

The heroes are trying to pick up the pieces of a broken world as Injustice 2 opens, and we’ve gotten a glimpse of their progress thanks to NetherRealm’s “Shattered Alliances” series of trailers. But Part 5 takes things a step further with the introduction of Brainiac.

Brainiac will likely serve as the final boss to Injustice 2, and his goal for Earth is nothing less than total destruction… starting with Superman. Can the Man of Steel be redeemed? And will he be able to fight alongside Batman to protect the Earth? We’ll all find out together when Injustice 2 launches in less than a month (on May 16) for the PS4 and Xbox One.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

New trailer confirms an April 25 launch date for The Walking Dead: A New Frontier – Episode 4

Posted on April 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Fresh off the release of Guardians of the Galaxy: Episode 1 – Tangled Up In Blue, Telltale Games is back with a new entry in their other ongoing episodic series.

Thanks to a new trailer that dropped this morning, we now know that The Walking Dead: A New Frontier – Episode 4: Thicker Than Water will be available to download for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices on April 25. The episode continues to ramp up the pressure on Javier, who will “”decide the shape and nature of [his] chosen family”:

Upon discovering the true nature of the New Frontier’s leadership, relationships within the Garcia family have come to a head. As Javier, you will decide the shape and nature of your chosen family. All the while, a herd of walkers moves ever closer to Richmond, putting pressure on allies and enemies alike. With distrust running rampant, you’ll have to determine if blood is thicker than water…

The conclusion to The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, Episode 5: From the Gallows, is expected to be available sometime in May or June.

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

/Reality Review: A Fresh Take On A Controversial Genre

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Brittney Williams

Interactive novels tend to get a bad reputation, but it’s understandable. Because video games are such a young medium, there still remains some confusion surrounding the definition of what exactly a “video game” is. /Reality is not one of those games that further muddies the waters by barely walking the lines of interactivity. No, /Reality is, by far, one of the most “interactive” interactive novels that I’ve ever played.

/Reality centers around a socially withdrawn young woman in her early 20s named Lilya. Lilya, a virtual reality enthusiast, is selected to beta test the Penta, a state of the art virtual reality neural device. What looks to be an exciting weekend spent traversing through the Penta’s Vitalia simulation quickly turns in to something far more complex that forces Lilya to question her own perception of reality.

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Posted in PC, Reviews, Top Story |

Xbox Store Today: Voodoo Vince Remastered, Guardians of the Galaxy, Flinthook, more

Posted on April 19, 2017 by John Scalzo

Microsoft is taking us back to the early days of the original Xbox with today’s Xbox Games Store update.

Vince, the “plucky Voodoo doll” that starred in 2003’s Voodoo Vince, is back at it in Voodoo Vince Remastered. The Louisiana-set platformer has received a high definition makeover for its Xbox One debut, and as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, fans will also receive access to the game on Windows 10 with a single purchase.

Xbox One owners with a nostalgic streak actually have a lot to choose from in today’s Xbox Games Store update. Telltale will spin some classic tunes in Guardians of the Galaxy: Episode 1 – Tangled Up In Blue… Tribute Games will launch a side-scrolling platformer starring an adorable space pirate in Flinthook… and Capcom will bring back six classic NES-era Disney games in The Disney Afternoon Collection.

You can learn more about all of these games (and the rest of this week’s new releases) after the break.

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Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment campaign update dated for 3DS and Wii U

Posted on April 19, 2017 by John Scalzo

Yacht Club Games has announced that Shovel Knight fans will soon be able to play the Specter of Torment campaign on the Wii U and 3DS.

Specter of Torment won’t be released as a standalone download on either platform, but the campaign will be available to download as a free update on April 21 (on the Wii U) and April 25 (on the 3DS):

Yacht Club Games previously broke ground on Shovel Knight’s Specter of Torment campaign for Nintendo’s Switch (March 3) and the PC (April 5). It’ll also be available later this month for the PS4 and Xbox One (as a standalone download), and the PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and Vita (as a free update to Shovel Knight).

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged