Blaster Master Zero Review: Tanks for the Memories

The Nintendo Entertainment System was my first foray into real gaming. Granted, I played a lot of Atari and Intellivision back when I was a young ‘un, but the NES was a huge part of my childhood, and helped shape me into the gamer that I am today.

As a young hardcore gamer (did that term exist back in the day?), one of the things I loved doing was signing up for video game magazines. At Doc Lewis’s behest, I joined the Nintendo Fun Club. When I would get my allowance, I would head over to the local Woolworth and pick up the newest GamePro magazine. And yes, I was a subscriber to the short-lived Sunsoft Game Time News. I loved reading about their newest games, learning tips and tricks, and bugging my mom for $5.00 to order that Xenophobe T-shirt (I never did get it, though). One of the games that always piqued my interest in the Sunsoft newsletter was Blaster Master. It looked like a fun game, with lots of action and adventure.

Unfortunately, my only experience with the title was renting it once at the local movie rental shop. While it was a somewhat fun experience, I was pretty much lost and didn’t know what to do. I also never played it again, because I was knee deep in Mega Man, The Legend of Zelda, and Dragon Warrior. But I always regretted that decision, because Blaster Master has a reputation as one of the great games from the NES era. Well, fate as smiled upon me, as now I am able to play a new Blaster Master… and I don’t even have to hook up my old system!

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Posted in 3DS, Reviews, Switch, Top Story | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Bulletstorm Full Clip Edition, Galaxy Fight Universal Warriors

Xbox One owners will be able to download two new games through the Xbox Games Store today…

People Can Fly’s Bulletstorm: Full Clip edition is a remastered re-release of the unique shooter. First released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2011, the Full Clip Edition includes all of Bulletstorm’s previously-release downloadable content, enhanced graphics, and an appearance from Duke Nukem (courtesy of publishing partner Gearbox).

Also available to download today is Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors, a one-on-one fighting game that was originally released for the NeoGeo in 1995. Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors features eight characters and an authentic 16-bit aesthetic.

You can learn more about both of these games after the break.

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Candy Crush developer King is working on a new Call of Duty mobile game

King, the prolific developer best known for Candy Crush Saga, has revealed they’re working on a new Call of Duty game for mobile devices.

The untitled game was confirmed via a Recruitment page on King’s website, which describes the game as “a Call of Duty experience on mobile that will strive to transform the best console experience fans know and love, while also breaking new ground for mobile and redefining the genre”:

We are a new King team, located in Stockholm, Sweden, and we’re working on an exciting new project. The team is adapting one of the most iconic game franchises of all-time: Call of Duty, to become a mobile experience. This is a rare and exciting opportunity. Our challenge as a team is to create a Call of Duty experience on mobile that will strive to transform the best console experience fans know and love, while also breaking new ground for mobile and redefining the genre.

Our approach and ambition is to be fresh, social, and highly accessible, while providing a very authentic game experience. The team will prototype extensively, have the freedom to think outside the box, and be encouraged to stretch their expertise in ways to create surprising results.

Activision has released multiple mobile games in the Call of Duty franchise over the years including Call of Duty: Zombies (2009), Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies (2011), Call of Duty: Strike Team (2013), and Call of Duty: Heroes (2014). It’s unknown when King’s mobile game will make its debut, but the next Call of Duty game on PC and Consoles will be released this November.

Posted in Mobile, News |

Weekend Pipeline: 4/7/17 – Convention Fun for Everyone!

It’s Friday again, which means I’m back to give you the rundown on what’s what this weekend. The convention scene is looking rather hefty this weekend, with multiple conventions taking place across the nation, and offering activities for everyone. Whether you’re a furry fan looking for like-minded individuals in a safe setting, or a parent on a budget in search of wholesome family fun, there’s a convention for everyone!

We’ve also got some sweet deals for you this week, a few esports events worth checking out, and a couple of demos/betas that are really worth looking into. So if you haven’t made weekend plans just yet, now is the perfect time to do so.

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Rising Star Games will serve up Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop for the 3DS on May 16

Cooking Mama is back… and this time, she’s bringing dessert.

Set to be published by Rising Star Games and in development at Office Create, Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop will be available for the 3DS on May 16, and dozens of recipes and more than 160 minigames will be on the menu:

With over 60 different recipes to create, spread throughout 160 different minigames, players use the stylus to slice, stir, bake and decorate their creations – you can even use the microphone to blow and cool your delicacies! Create a wide assortment of delicious looking sweets and puddings, and serve customers in the shop to keep them happy. The more sweets you create and complete, the more your shop expands. You may even trigger a special event! Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop also features a competitive multiplayer mode for two to four players… challenge your friends and see who can make the tastiest treats. And just like always, don’t worry if you make a mistake… Mama will fix it for you!

For an appetizer, the first trailer for Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop has been embedded above.

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Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End named “Best Game” at 2017 BAFTA Games Awards

Nathan Drake is going to ride off into the sunset with one last “Game of the Year” award. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosted the ceremony for the 2017 BAFTA Games Awards last night, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End was selected as the year’s “Best Game.”

Playdead’s Inside didn’t win the big prize, but the indie game scooped up four BAFTAs including “Artistic Achievement,” “Game Design,” “Narrative,” and “Original Property.” Ghost Town’s Overcooked (“Best British Game” and “Family”) and Campo Santo’s Firewatch (“Debut Game” and “Performer” for Cissy Jones) also managed to collect multiple awards as part of the festivities.

A whole slew of titles were able to pull out a win in one category last night, and they include That Dragon Cancer (“Game Innovation”), Rocket League (“Evolving Game”), Overwatch (“Multiplayer”), Pokemon Go (“Mobile & Handheld”), The Last Guardian (“Audio Achievement”), and Virginia (“Music”).

A complete list of winners and nominees from the 2017 BAFTA Games Awards is available at Video Game Canon.

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Nintendo Download: Lego City Undercover, Graceful Explosion Machine, Vroom in the Night Sky, more

Four new games are now available to download for the Nintendo Switch… and three of them will offer players plenty of explosions.

Lego City Undercover is an open-world action game that takes the gritty “cops and robbers” genre and gives it a family-friendly makeover. Players will take control of Chase McCain, an undercover officer who has been ordered to take down notorious criminal Rex Fury. But they’ll also be able to keep themselves busy with “more than 20 unique districts to investigate, car thieves to bust, hilarious movie references to discover, vehicles to drive, and hundreds of collectibles.” Oh, and an explosion or two.

As you’d expect, Graceful Explosion Machine is also packed with fiery detonations. In this side-scrolling shooter, Switch owners will pilot the Graceful Explosion Machine, using its quartet of weapons to blast a bunch of aliens. If you prefer your shooters to scroll vertically, Alpha Mission II, which was originally released for the NeoGeo in 1991, is also available to download today.

Finally this week, Switch owners will be able to download Vroom in the Night Sky, which doesn’t appear to include explosions of any kind. Instead, players will fly through the night collecting Stardusts to unlock the Magical Gate.

You can learn about this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop (which also includes several 3DS and Wii U games) after the break.

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

The Society emerges as a threat to the Injustice 2 universe in “Shattered Alliances Part 4”

After Superman’s Regime came to power in Injustice: Gods Among Us, they managed to end all crime on Earth by executing any supervillain that fought back.

Naturally, this lead to some sore feelings, and now that the Man of Steel is in prison, the supervillain community has roared back in Injustice 2 as a terrorist organization known as “The Society.” Gorilla Grodd is leading Bane, Cheetah, Catwoman, Captain Cold, Deadshot, Scarecrow, and others against Batman’s forces, and it’s going to be a bloody confrontation.

You can learn all about Grodd’s machinations by viewing the “Shattered Alliances Part 4” trailer embedded above, and catch up with the rest of Injustice 2’s story in “Part 1,” “Part 2,” and “Part 3.”

Injustice 2 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 16.

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