Pokémon X and Y isn't quite an impassioned love letter to the series, but it's damn close. Players can finally experience this world in full polygonal 3D, and despite its remaining grid-based roots, the sense of freedom and openness is tangible and real. Its story-remains kid friendly and its core gameplay hasn't changed drastically, but with the inclusion of new Pokémon types, new moves, and mainstream access to advanced techniques via Super Training, X and Y are two Pokémon releases 3DS owners absolutely should not miss.
Just like in Hollywood, there are certain videogame genres that have been milked completely dry. Though innovation can always reverse this effect if implemented effectively and at the proper time, it's often hard to tell whether a game will innovate before its release. The result? There are a whole lot of games I just don't get around to playing. I love zombies as much as the next guy, but if I hear about yet another zombie shooter and there's no real indication that it will be anything beyond just pretty good, I find myself wishing the developers would at least attempt something out of the ordinary to grab my interest. Apparently, the folks at Phosphor Game Studios and Nether Productions understand this, and have responded with a surprisingly awesome live action teaser for their upcoming survival shooter, Nether.
It's hard to believe there are any remaining angles from which Grand Theft Auto V sales can be analyzed, but for all of its record-shattering, money-inhaling reatail success, there hasn't been a whole lot of talk about how Rockstar's mammoth impacted videogames as a whole. That is, until now.
AquaPazza. It's the hot new thing, yo. Atlus is bringing Examu's cute and cuddly 2D fighter to North American PS3s this November, and if you haven't been hotly anticipating it, then shame on you. Go stand in the corner and feel bad. Once done, take a look at these new character bios in the gallery below.
For all you folks hoping that most of the tail-end seventh generation blockbusters would find their way onto PS4 and Xbox One somehow, Naughty Dog is here to burst your bubble - or at least poke a few holes in it. Despite the game's critical acclaim, impressive sales and general public laudation, the studio apparently prefers more of an "onwards and upwards" approach, as they recently confirmed that The Last of Us will remain firmly planted in the current generation.
So companion apps to big budget games are all the rage now. Joy. Though I've never been a fan of buying an additional app on top of my $60 game purchase, even if it's optional, that doesn't mean I'm completely against the idea either (and yes, I'm aware that buying $25 Dead or Alive DLC makes me a huge hypocrite). Luckily, the upcoming fighting-game companion to WB Montreal's Batman: Arkham Origins looks like it may actually be pretty enjoyable.
Contrast is not a game that I was all that familiar with until recently, but it may have caught my attention at just the right time. As a pseudo-retired jazz musician myself (believe it or not, I'm actually serious), the game's 1920s setting is one that interests me greatly, and was just enough to get me perusing the title's numerous other appealing bullet points.
Is it any surprise that Grand Theft Auto V had yet another successful launch day and week? Though still not quite spreading like wildfire compared to games originating from within the region (Pokémon currently reigns supreme, as usual), GTA V's Japanese debut managed to rack up some impressive numbers, and also broke records for Western game releases in Japan in the process.
It's not often a developer can get as much bang for your buck as Two Tribes has managed to get out of its 2001 Game Boy Color puzzler Toki Tori, and it sounds as if the Dutch studio has no plans of taking its time-tested champion out of the spotlight anytime soon. According to a recent announcement on Twitter, Toki Tori has been approved for the eShop by Nintendo in both Europe and the US, and if all goes smoothly could arrive by the end of October.
Sometimes, content in games isn't trying to bring about any new players. After watching the above Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate trailer -- essentially a dopey visual feast that shows off the game's upcoming Halloween DLC -- I have to say that I can't imagine it being put together for anybody but DoA fans and DoA fans alone. It wasn't more than 30 seconds in before I was cracking up at series resident lovable toolbag Zack as he hurtled through the air in a green skeleton jumpsuit and "Let's Party" top hat, only to be instantly countered in bone-crunching defeat. Some guys just never learn.
