Now We Just Need Z

Poképro Marriland shares with us some interesting thoughts and analysis on the new Pokémon X and Y games. If you're interested in the games at all (and who isn't?) be sure to check it out because he brings up a lot of great speculation that may just turn out to be true!

The next generation of monster-catching is due this October -- but surely you must know that much, right?

Beyond the Great Aether: What To Play In 2013

Yes, I know this is some three weeks late, but we've officially survived 2012 without the planet going up in flames!

So, what is there to look forward to now that we've dodged our inevitable doom? Well, Nintendo fans surely won't be bored this year. Check out the box arts below to see what's in store for the 3DS and WiiU in 2013!

What games are you looking forward to this year?

The Worst Disappointment in Mario Kart 7?

I can live without single-player VS mode, but really, excluding the character that was made for the sole reason of being kickass in the Mario spin-offs? Something's not right.

Did we really need Honey Queen? Definitely not. Wiggler can stay, though, because he's actually been a relevant enemy for more than one game.

Ally Or Traitor?

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward, the sequel to highly-acclaimed Visual Novel 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors on the DS, was released in North America this Tuesday. Anyone who's played the first should certainly look into getting the next game; for those of you haven't tried 999, I strongly urge you to give it a a go. (Unless you're adverse to reading, in which case I pity you because you're missing out!)

You can read more for my thoughts and analysis on the English animation above.
Beware of spoilers for 999 if you choose to continue.

Poll Sunday: Blades and Bows and Clubs, Oh My!

Due to real life complications I should have seen beforehand, Poll Monday will be changed to Poll Sunday.
Each poll is still open for seven days, though!

This week: Best Kid Icarus Weapon Class?

No matter how diverse a player is in playing style in Kid Icarus: Uprising, everyone has a preferred weapon type. From the ranged speedster set-up of Orbitars, to the brutal melee focus of Arms, each class has significant differences from the rest. Of the nine, which one do you value the most?

Don't Default Yet

A generous Japanese blogger received the Collector's Pack for Bravely Default: Flying Fairy just recently and shared some photos of their treasure. (More of which you can see by reading more below.) They look gorgeous, but I can't help but be disappointed that Bravely Default still isn't confirmed for a localization - the 3DS is in serious need of RPGs in the Western market.

However, Tomoya Asano of Square Enix has urged the fans to "keep talking about it on Facebook and Twitter" and what do you know, some fans have already started localization groups on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Maybe if we make enough of a commotion, Square Enix won't bravely default on the rest of the world.

Take Some Pointers From These Guys

Impressive! The original characters in the background add a sort of ominous feeling, juxtaposed with the four protagonists we've grown to love striking some epic poses. There's no better way to get two fanbases riled up than that. Although Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney has yet to have a localization confirmed, here's hoping one will be announced soon. (Lest the fans object to Level-5's localization policy.)

Yellow!

I'm very partial to Pokemon and the colour yellow. And it seems someone on Deviant Art feels the same, too. It's a shame that this is only fan art - I'd happily give Nintendo another $170 for one. (More if it came bundled with an actual Pokemon Yellow remake. We can only dream.)

Edit: What do you know, dreams do come true. Too bad it's Europe-exclusive for now and only in XL version. (And there's still no word on Pokemon Yellow 3D.)

This Is Objectionable

Old news, but Ace Attorney 5 recently received a nifty-looking trailer. The Ace Attorney series is, in my opinion, one of the best series to come out of the original DS line and I'm absolutely ecstatic that we're finally getting concrete details after a five-year wait.

The 3D models are a welcome upgrade; I'm amazed at how much they retain the style of the original 2D sprites. The animations seem much more varied and they'll hopefully make courtroom scenes even more hectic. Phoenix returning as the protagonist instead of Apollo puzzles me, though. I'm sure he'll pop up with Trucy sooner or later, but I will be sorely disappointed if they dismiss him after one game. At the very least, he should take over a few cases a la Mia Fey in Trials and Tribulations. Phoenix's new design is kinda iffy and the new assistant doesn't strike me like Maya and Trucy did, but I'm sure they'll look better with time.

At the very least Capcom confirmed a localization for the game almost immediately, so us non-Japanese fans won't be left in the dark again after the whole Ace Attorney Investigations 2 fiasco.

What do you think of the game so far? Share your opinion in the comments!

The Five Most Overpowered Weapons in Kid Icarus: Uprising

Hurray for teamwork!
(Pfft, that guy with the First Blade totally did all the work)

Uprising is the newest game from Masahiro Sakurai, the first (and last) from Project Sora, and the latest instalment in the Kid Icarus series following a 25-year hiatus. It boasts an epic story, heaps of content, tight gameplay, and some of the wittiest dialogue to ever grace a Nintendo title. All of this alone would label it as one of the finest new experiences in gaming.


Of course, this neglects to mention Together Mode, Uprising's multiplayer mode. To most players, this mode is arguably the game's defining aspect, and with good reason. Not only does Light vs. Dark provide a refreshing take on the team-based shooter, but the hundreds of obtainable weapons add a myriad of different playstyles and strategies to suit just about anyone.
Like any other multiplayer-based game, though, there are bound to be some balance issues. Unfortunately, Sakurai's games (namely Smash Bros) are notorious for their unbalanced gameplay. While his attempt to bring a competitive scene to this beloved old franchise isn't quite as bad, it's clear that some weapons perform much better than others, often unfairly so. With six months experience of the game, I'll try to address some of the absurd and absurdly powerful weapons in Uprising.