E3 Expectations! Let's Get Ready!!!

We're only weeks away from E3 and I couldn't be more excited for this years expo. With so much on the line for all three companies this year, its hard to imagine anything but their best when the presentations start. The next generation of systems are already out, so I'm expecting nothing less than a full on barrage of new game announcements from the big three.

 Nintendo cant afford to not impress, especially with the way the Wii U is selling in North America. Hopefully, starting with the release of Mario Kart 8 the Wii U will see a significant boost in the amount of consoles being moved. Lets not kid ourselves though, Mario Kart is going to sell crap loads, but they cant rest on the success of that. MK should give Nintendo the momentum needed to head into E3 strong, but in order to keep that going they have to announce( and release) some good heavy hitting titles. We all know Bayonetta 2 is on its way, same with Hyrule Warriors, Watch Dogs, and Super Smash Bros Wii U. After that though, what else is there? I highly doubt Zelda is dropping this year or even early next year(though I do believe they will announce one), and what about a new Metroid? Its been awfully quiet in regards to a new Metroid game Prime or otherwise, and even if there was one in development it wouldn't be out this year. So here's hoping that we get some release info and announcements from not only Nintendo but from 3rd parties as well. We all know Nintendo is going to make great games, buts its about time the 3rd parties put their money where their mouth is and start making some games for the Wii U.

Lets not forget about the always reliable 3DS. One thing the big N always does well is the handheld, and the 3DS is still selling great, destroying all competition. I'm sure we will see some great games announced for the system this year, but one game I'm praying will be announced is Symphony of The Night 2. I know that leaked E3 list was probably just a troll( which is why its isn't mentioned above), but come on? Wouldn't you just explode if this game was announced?

Now on to Sony and Microsoft. Both of their next gen consoles had strong release dates, although they have both slowed to a crawl. Microsoft suffered from bad press and a steep price tag, while both consoles are now suffering from what I call Wii U syndrome, or more specifically no games. Besides Titanfall and Infamous there aren't many reasons to invest in these new systems, not yet anyway. This is what needs to change after E3 this year, and why I feel all three companies need to focus mainly on announcing software. 

We have the hardware, we know what it can do, now wow us with games. If this was a battle of exclusives, Nintendo has them both beat by miles. I'm hoping to see some blockbuster exclusives announced by both Microsoft and Sony in the coming weeks. I've yet to purchase either system, because there aren't any games that appeal to me that I cant get on PS3 or 360. They have already announced the new Halo Guardians, and it seems likely that we get some info on the new Gears of War game, but these are both Xbox One exclusives. There are plenty of PS4 games coming out, don't get me wrong, I'm just not sure on what exclusives they'll announce. We have all heard the rumors of a PS4 The Last of Us, but no matter how excellent that game was its still a year old. Uncharted 4 an d God of War 4 seem likely, but where on earth is The Last Gaurdian?

As for everyone else? You already know the 3rd party developers are going to be bringing their A games, considering titles like Final Fantasy 15, Kingdoms Hearts 3, Metal Gear Solid 5, Mass Effect(4?),  and Dragon Age Inquisition(just to name a few) are going to be showcased at the event. With so much on the line this years E3 is poised to be one of the best we've had in some time. As long as the focus of the event stays on games. E3 2014 will be held June 10-12, with live streaming for the event on most video game media outlets.

One Of My Faves #2 Mass Effect

Mass Effect. I'm not sure if there is any other game that has consumed so much of my time as this one game has. I mean, i have replayed this trilogy several times, and have completed the original more than I care too count. Looking back, I can clearly remember the first time i played Mass Effect. I rushed through, playing the game as though it was a pure shooter. Just judging the game by the shooting mechanics it wouldn't be very good, and that's why I wasn't impressed by it. To be honest, I had never heard of the game, and so my expectations and interest weren't very high.

 One day, i decide sit down and give it another go and immediately I noticed how cool the game actually looks. The Mass Effect trilogy is gorgeous, and one thing developer BioWare does well is create worlds and characters that look amazing.

This is our generations Star Wars. Pretty high praise right? There is just so much to see and do within Mass Effect, and even more to learn about the games universe. So many stories are hidden away in BioWare's recreation of the Milky Way galaxy. Its not just the story though that keeps me coming back for more, Mass Effect is technically a third person shooter rpg hybrid, and its amazing. The games mechanics  and rpg elements keep you from just run and gunning the entire time, which makes the experience so rewarding. Customizing your characters attack style and leveling up is addictive, as it should be in a good rpg. Are you a soldier or a biotic? Whatever you choose the play styles are vastly different and adds to the games replayablity.

 Another aspect of the game and perhaps the most important is that you create the story. To clarify, many of the games decision are based on you the player. These decisions aren't just limited to turn left or right, but are integral to the story and effect the outcome of situations through all three games. It is one of the reason the game is so immersive, because the Mass Effect universe responds to the actions you choose. For example, you can save someones life in Mass Effect 1 only to be saved by the same character later down the road in Mass Effect 3. The game is all about you,and what you want to do. 

From my fully customized Shepard to my fully upgraded SR-2 Normandy, the attention to detail throughout all three games amazes me. Every world is unique, beautiful, thriving, or abandoned. Every npc given life by the games amazing dialogue. BioWare does such a great job of storytelling and making the player feel as though they are actually in the game. This gives the galaxy life in a way I don't believe any game before ever has.

Mass Effect gives me the same feeling as a great book. Great stories keep you invested, giving you no choice but to constantly think about what happens next, and most importantly makes you care about its characters. If I were to describe Mass Effect in three words it would be captivating, immersive, and epic. This is one of my favorite games ever, and I cant wait for the new one so I can return to the Mass Effect universe.

What Happened To Metroidvania?

I'm glad that Castlevania was able to evolve and continue to do well on consoles, the same way I'm glad Metroid Prime did as well as it did. Both of those games, although very different from their predecessors,  maintained a little of what made those past games amazing, while at the same time growing to appeal to new audiences. But where on Earth has metroidvania gone? 

Dave Cox, Lords of Shadow series producer had this to say, "We needed to make a change and so we did. The Castlevania series wasn't going anywhere, sales were dwindling and it was appealing to only a very small hardcore base of fans. That's how franchises die."

Cox went even further, comparing the state of the franchise before Lords of Shadow was released to that of Capcom's Mega Man. In Mega Man's defense, the state of that series can be blamed on mismanagement by Capcom, not on the series getting stale, but lets get back on track.

Alucard about to kick ass...

...Gabriel about to kick ass..

I can understand adapting with the times, but it almost feels as though developers sometimes turn their backs on the things that made their games so memorable in the first place. The last time there was a 'traditional' Catslevania game released was back in 2008, with Order of Ecclasia. You have to go even further back to find a Metroid game not named Prime or Other M, and that was 2004's Metroid Zero( a remake of the NES original). I'm all for developers trying to preserve franchises, but when it comes at the expense of the FANS, then it becomes a problem. 

Yes, you've broadened the audience for your game, but you've also alienated a portion of your actual fan base. Fans that buy your games solely on its name. And as for your new" FANS" you've acquired, they'll drop interest in your game as soon as something new or similar comes out. What I'd like to see is a medium, where both can live and be profitable. Take Mario for instance. No matter if Mario is racing, using a water gun, or running around in a cat suit, there will always be traditional Mario games for those that want them. It doesn't have to be one or the other. 

Classic platforming at its best.

The Wave Beam.

Looks familiar.

The Nintendo 3ds offers a way to do this, by using the handheld for the more traditional 2d styled games like Metroid or Castlevania, and the relying on the console for the more action oriented 3d releases. Konami was doing this until a few years back, but Nintendo has completely forgotten classic Metroid. I applaud what they tried to do with Other M, attempting to blend 2d and 3d action, but it still isnt the same. To be honest, they actually did a pretty good job gameplay-wise, the only problem with the game being the story and character portrayal. There isn't a reason for the long drought of these types of games. Metroid Fusion is regarded by many as one of the best games in the series, and that was a released on gameboy advance.

My only wish is that the developers realize and understand that there is still a market for these types of games before it is too late. It took Square Enix three sub par Final Fantasy games and the release of the well received Bravely Default, to see that people still wanted traditional rpgs.  That isn't to say the Lords of Shadow series is sub par, but that there is room at the table for both, and that one doesn't need to be sacrificed for the other to succeed. Who knows, maybe this E3 well see teaser trailers for a sequel to Dawn of Sorrow or Metroid Fusion. A guy can dream, right?

Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution Special Editions Detailed

The new title in the popular Naruto fighting game franchise, Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution, is expected to be released in the fall of 2014, but in the meantime we can salivate over these awesome images of special editions to be released. Namco Bandai Games Europe has revealed two different collectors version of the title. There will be a 'Rivals' edition for first day buyers of the game which will include a Sasuke outfit for Naruto and a Naruto outfit for Sasuke (see bottom).

Collectors Edition

The Samurai edition, which will probably be the more expensive of the two, will come with a Samurai Naruto figurine and a collectible metal case.  For buyers that preorder, you'll also get samurai skins for Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke as a bonus. 

Day One Bonus

Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution is the 5th game in the Storm franchise and is expected to be released on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 later this year. The above information is based on the European release, and may or may not match the North American release. Thank you goes to Saiyan's Island for the information.

New Minecraft(xbox 360) Update & Texture Pack

Right on the heels of title update 14, the guys over at 4J Studios have prepared a new update to fix some of the issues presented by it. Annoying problems like blocks reappearing and the issue with the first item in your quick select being moved, have now been fixed along with many other issues. Along with TU15, the new Candy texture pack is also available to download now. If you are wanting to turn your world into a virtual candy land the pack is available on Xbox Live for $1.00.

Ginger bread Golem!!!

Smash Bros Release Info And New Characters Revealed

Its been quite for a few months now on the Super Smash Bros front, but thankfully the big N held a Nintendo Direct yesterday for both the Wii U and 3DS version of the much anticipated game.

 Needless to say, the Wii U version is breathtakingly beautiful to look at. Everything is fluid and moving at a wonderful 60 fps. For what many call an under powered console this game looks stunning. 

During the Direct two new characters were revealed, Charizard and.....Greninja! Which is cool, because a buddy of mine and I were just talking about how cool and badass Greninja was, and the next day its announced as a combatant in the new Smash Bros. ! Thanks Nintendo! The trailer below is from the Direct, and showcases both characters and some of their moves.

During the presentation Nintendo finally gave out some info on when to expect these games. The 3DS version will be released sometime this summer, and as for the Wii U we can expect its iteration this holiday season. Another notable piece of news is that character transformations have been removed. So fighters like Zero Suit Samus and Shiek will have their own character slots, but dont worry the characters are being fleshed out and new moves are being added.

First Impressions: Warface Beta

 Just spent some time with the Warface beta for Xbox 360 and surprisingly had a good time with it. I'm not saying that its going to replace Call of Duty, but for a game in active development it wasn't too bad. The game has a very simple look and feel, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. You can tell its borrowing from some of the more popular franchises out there, most notably Ghost Recon and the above mentioned COD.

The games setting is standard fare for the genre,  with abandoned foreign villages and middle eastern deserts. The game's. Sound is also rather generic and is what you'd expect from a 360 arcade game.

Now i know it sounds like I'm being extremely hard on this game, but really I'm not. The game is a free-to-play fps, you downloadable from Xbox Live. I was never expecting Battlefield 4. Games of this type have two objectives; to get you to put tons of hours into them, and to get you to spend money through in game purchases. And this is where this game may succeed.

Gameplay from Call of...I mean Battle...I mean Warface.

Its paint by numbers approach may be its greatest strength, because even though it doesn't do anything new, it does most everything well. The game controls ok, and is easy to pick up and play.

When you shoot the opposition they normally take damage, which is always good in a fps. Seriously though, it controls well enough and takes obvious cues from some of the more popular franchises. One major gripe is that all of the enemies look and react the same. After playing through a few levels of co-op this stood out like a sore thumb. The jury is still out on the multi-player, and I'll update this as soon as the full game is released. So far though the game seems to be decent, but not much more than a time waster. Its fun to play, but to get the most out of it, it appears you'll have to be willing to put up some cash for weapon upgrades and such.