I wish I could tell you why I've yet to play--or even buy a copy of--Falcom's Gurumin.
I can't even claim ignorance, as I've known of this adorable action-adventure game's existence for years now.
On top of that, I've heard nothing but good things about Gurumin's gameplay, which appears to be one part The Legend of Zelda and one part Mega Man Legends.
Although I could bite the bullet and buy the PSP port of the game--both Japanese and North American copies are pretty cheap these days, especially used ones--I have a feeling I'll pass on that option and instead plop down $14.99 on the just-announced Gurumin 3D.
What on earth is Gurumin 3D, you ask? Why, it's a 3DS port of the game that'll hit the North American eShop sometime next month. (It'll hit the European 3DS eShop later this summer.)
Yes, that means Gurumin 3D is a digital-only title. No, I'm not thrilled about that. Yes, I'd prefer to purchase and own a physical version of the game.
Despite the above, I'm pretty sure Gurumin 3D will soon take up space on one of my North American 3DS systems, as it's far more likely I'll actually play it than the above-mentioned PSP release.
Here's a trailer for the game, for those of you who are curious. Once you've watched it, let me know what you think. Also let me know--in the comments section below, naturally--if you intend to buy this title or if you've already played some other iteration of it.
Showing posts with label The Legend of Zelda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Legend of Zelda. Show all posts
Monday, June 20, 2016
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's first real trailer is pretty magical, don't you think?
I haven't paid much attention to this year's E3, I have to admit. That's not because I don't care about the current-gen consoles, mind you; it's because I'm busy as all get-out (at work) right now.
Still, I couldn't help but step away from it all yesterday and spend a few minutes watching the following trailer, which is for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Which is kind of funny, when I think about it, as I haven't been too keen on the Zelda series since, oh, The Wind Waker was first released back in 2002 and 2003.
That's pretty appropriate, actually. After all, Breath of the Wild's art style brings to mind the one showcased in The Wind Waker.
All that said, there's almost no chance I'll pick up a Wii U so I can play through this beautiful, open-world adventure. I've very likely I'll buy an NX--or whatever Nintendo's next system is called--down the road, though, so assuming that happens, maybe I'll get to experience that iteration of Breath of the Wild.
How about all of you? For starters, what do you think of the footage seen above (or here)? Also, are any of you chomping at the bit to purchase either the Wii U or the NX version of this latest entry in the Legend of Zelda series?
Still, I couldn't help but step away from it all yesterday and spend a few minutes watching the following trailer, which is for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Which is kind of funny, when I think about it, as I haven't been too keen on the Zelda series since, oh, The Wind Waker was first released back in 2002 and 2003.
That's pretty appropriate, actually. After all, Breath of the Wild's art style brings to mind the one showcased in The Wind Waker.
All that said, there's almost no chance I'll pick up a Wii U so I can play through this beautiful, open-world adventure. I've very likely I'll buy an NX--or whatever Nintendo's next system is called--down the road, though, so assuming that happens, maybe I'll get to experience that iteration of Breath of the Wild.
How about all of you? For starters, what do you think of the footage seen above (or here)? Also, are any of you chomping at the bit to purchase either the Wii U or the NX version of this latest entry in the Legend of Zelda series?
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Monday, January 12, 2015
#ADecadeofDS: Okamiden
Amount of time devoted to this DS game in the last week--Seven hours, 23 minutes.
Most recent boss toppled, location reached or milestone achieved--Defeated Bullhead in Agata Forest.
Overall comments on the experience--Although I've been keen on the Okami series (if such a thing can be said to exist) since it debuted in 2006, I'd only ever spent a handful of hours with the original PS2 title before I booted up Okamiden for the first time last weekend. That rather anemic playthrough took place a number of years ago, though, and I can only barely remember it today, so it may as well be said that I came into this DS follow-up with fresh eyes.
It would be easy (and kind of lazy, too) for me to say that my favorite of Okamiden's many "parts" at the moment is its art style--which is, without a doubt, pretty darn stunning. In reality, though, the game's aesthetics are at least matched in my mind by its story and boss battles. The former can seem a bit trite at times, actually, but for whatever reason I've more often than not found it sweet and even touching. As for the latter, they almost always overstay their welcome, but they're also inventive and interesting--or at least the one's I've experienced so far have fit that bill.
Another highlight: getting to know and use the "Celestial Brush" that serves as the centerpiece of this portable, Zelda-like offering. Sure, the game's often a bit too willing to spell out for players when and where to utilize these stylus-enabled symbols, but thankfully that rarely seems to dent the unique appeal this gameplay element brings to the proceedings (especially the battle scenes, which otherwise would feel simplistic and repetitive).
Will I continue to play this game in the coming days, weeks and maybe even months?--Definitely, and hopefully all the way through to the end credits.
Do I recommend it to others?--Yes. Some may find the art style to be disorienting or even off-putting, but they're the only folks I'd even think of dissuading from playing this game.
Next up--Catch! Touch! Yoshi! (aka Yoshi Touch & Go)
See also: Introducing #ADecadeofDS
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Thursday, November 06, 2014
Looks like I'm finally going to play The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
I don't know if you heard, but Nintendo finally, officially announced a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for 3DS during yesterday's Nintendo Direct.
That "revelation" excited me less than it excited some folks, I'm sure--in part because Nintendo has been teasing this sucker for what seems like eons now--but it excited me nonetheless.
Why? Because I've never played this particular Zelda adventure. My older brother and I owned a copy of the Nintendo 64 original back in the day, but I never actually played it myself--though I did watch him play through a good chunk of it.
Anyway, I've wanted to experience it for some time now, but I've failed to do so because, well, I just haven't been all that interested in picking up a copy of the game and then shoving it into and playing it on my mothballed Nintendo 64. (I know I could buy it via the Wii's eShop, too, but I'm even less interested in going that route these days.)
Are any of you also Majora's Mask virgins who will be, uh, addressing that issue when the 3DS remake drops next spring?
That "revelation" excited me less than it excited some folks, I'm sure--in part because Nintendo has been teasing this sucker for what seems like eons now--but it excited me nonetheless.
Why? Because I've never played this particular Zelda adventure. My older brother and I owned a copy of the Nintendo 64 original back in the day, but I never actually played it myself--though I did watch him play through a good chunk of it.
Anyway, I've wanted to experience it for some time now, but I've failed to do so because, well, I just haven't been all that interested in picking up a copy of the game and then shoving it into and playing it on my mothballed Nintendo 64. (I know I could buy it via the Wii's eShop, too, but I'm even less interested in going that route these days.)
Are any of you also Majora's Mask virgins who will be, uh, addressing that issue when the 3DS remake drops next spring?
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Monday, August 11, 2014
Impossibly, I'd never seen this crazy Japanese TV commercial for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past before yesterday
Now that I've seen it, I'd really like to know how TV viewers at the time received it. Did they consider it corny or cheesy, as most of us surely would today, or did they consider it kind of cool?
Or maybe the target audience simply reacted to it with awe, which is how I probably would have reacted to it. It did, after all, herald the coming of a new entry in the Legend of Zelda series.
You know what? Now I'm thinking Nintendo of Japan should've made a sequel to this commercial in order to promote last year's A Link Between Worlds. Doing so certainly couldn't have hurt.
See also: 'The Great Gaymathon Review #64: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)'
Or maybe the target audience simply reacted to it with awe, which is how I probably would have reacted to it. It did, after all, herald the coming of a new entry in the Legend of Zelda series.
You know what? Now I'm thinking Nintendo of Japan should've made a sequel to this commercial in order to promote last year's A Link Between Worlds. Doing so certainly couldn't have hurt.
See also: 'The Great Gaymathon Review #64: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)'
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Thursday, February 20, 2014
The Great Gaymathon Review #64: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
Game: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
System: 3DS
Release date: 2013
If I were to boil down this review to a single sentence, it'd probably read something like this: A Link Between Worlds is so magical (yes, magical) that it's singlehandedly rekindled my long-lost interest in the Zelda series as a whole.
This could hardly be considered much of a review if I stopped there, though, so I guess I should get to typing. But where should I start? Here's as good a spot as any, in my humble opinion: A Link Between Worlds, as you may have heard, is a years-in-coming follow-up to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, aka one of my all-time favorite games.
The thing is, that 1992 release is one of the few Zelda games I've ever enjoyed (with the others being the series' very first game and the original Nintendo 64 version of Ocarina of Time--although I've got to admit I haven't spent enough time with A Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask or The Wind Waker to have formed a solid opinion of them). Even then, I came into A Link Between Worlds with monumentally low expectations. In fact, I nearly decided to pass on the game entirely--that's how disinterested I am in this vaunted series these days.
After putting just over 20 hours into my particular copy of the game, though, I can safely say my initial fears--and my aloof attitude--were unwarranted. One of my main worries, by the way, was that A Link Between Worlds would be little more than an unattractive retread of A Link to the Past. And guess what? That couldn't be further from the truth.
Sure, there are a lot of similarities between the two games--they're both set in the same world (although most locations are different), they both feature the same basic gameplay, they both feature the same music and sound effects (although the former are re-arrangements)--but despite that A Link Between Worlds does an admirable job of presenting itself as an engagingly unique effort.
In large part, that's because of this game's signature "gimmick," which allows Link to turn into a piece of graffiti and scamper along walls and shimmy through cracks, but there are other reasons, too. A couple of them: the open-ended gameplay (you can tackle its dungeons in whatever order you choose, basically) and the ability to rent the game's appealing assortment of both old and new items (yep, you no longer acquire them within each dungeon) nearly right from the start.
It's also worth noting that although there's a story that helps move players along, it's the definition of barebones (while still proving to be at least somewhat interesting, of course) and never gets in the way of the action--which is how I like it in my Zelda games.
All of the above takes a back seat to the most important aspect of A Link Between Worlds' appeal, however; that being how it "feels."
By that, I mean that quite literally everything feels great (and "right," if that makes sense) and is a joy to experience in this game--from moving Link around, to slashing at enemies (who tend to bounce away as if they were made out of rubber) or tall clumps of grass, to smooshing anything and everything with the "magic mallet" (my favorite item), to turning into painting and stuttering along walls.
That, to me, was the thing that most blew me away while traipsing through this particular Zelda adventure, and it's also the thing that's most likely to bring me back for second, third and even more playthroughs in the coming months and years.
Sure, its graphics are surprisingly, even shockingly, charming and its soundtrack is filled with tunes that will prompt even most hardened gamer to hum along, but they really just serve to make A Link Between Worlds look and sound nice. Even without those elements, this game would play like a dream, and that's all that should matter in cases like this, isn't it?
Monday, January 27, 2014
I'm getting such a kick out of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds that I'm seriously considering buying a second copy
I'm sure the statement above seems more than a smidge ridiculous to some of you, but here's the thing: the copy I'm currently playing was given to me (thanks again, anonymous benefactor!). Also, it's a digital copy of the game--and you know how much I love owning actual cases and cartridges and manuals and such. (Not that I'm expecting A Link Between Worlds to come with an actual manual or anything.)
As a result, I'm considering buying the Japanese version of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce 2). At some point. Which could, of course, mean later this week.
Why the Japanese version, you ask? Um, I like its box art (which can be seen above)? Also, I'm itching to own a few more 3DS games that hail from the Land of the Rising Sun.
In related news: although I've yet to finish the North American version of A Link Between Worlds, already I can say with some assurance that it's one of my five favorite 3DS games--along with Animal Crossing: New Leaf, THE "DENPA" MEN, Mario Kart 7 and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.
As a result, I'm considering buying the Japanese version of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce 2). At some point. Which could, of course, mean later this week.
Why the Japanese version, you ask? Um, I like its box art (which can be seen above)? Also, I'm itching to own a few more 3DS games that hail from the Land of the Rising Sun.
In related news: although I've yet to finish the North American version of A Link Between Worlds, already I can say with some assurance that it's one of my five favorite 3DS games--along with Animal Crossing: New Leaf, THE "DENPA" MEN, Mario Kart 7 and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Shall We Do It? (Attack of the Friday Monsters, Bravely Default demo, Hometown Story and more)
So, here we are, the very first installment of "Shall We Do It?" Like I said just under a week ago, this and subsequent installments will focus on short, but hopefully also sweet, impressions of some of the games named in the "Now Playing" list located on the right side of this blog. This time around, that means blurbs devoted to the following five 3DS titles: Attack of the Friday Monsters!, the Bravely Default demo, Gunman Story (aka Gunman Clive), Hometown Story and A Link Between Worlds.
Attack of the Friday Monsters!--Although I bought this eShop game right before Christmas, I didn't actually get around to booting it up until a week or so ago. Sadly, I'm already done with it--after just three hours of play time. They were a surprisingly enjoyable three hours, though; full of pseudo-nostalgia and nerve-racking card battles. If you're looking for a short game with a heart-warming (if a bit heavy-handed at times) story, I'd highly recommend picking up this one should you have the dough.
Bravely Default demo--I'm done with this one, too, although I played it about five hours longer than I played the title above. Anyway, considering I spent just over eight hours on this demo (and loved every second of it, I have to say) I'm fully expecting to love the full game, which hits our shores on Feb. 7, even more--especially if the word on the street is accurate and the retail release is far less focused on fetch quests.
Gunman Story (aka Gunman Clive)--I picked up this digital title early in the week while randomly perusing the Japanese 3DS eShop. I've only played a few stages (five, if memory serves) so far, but I liked them well enough that I'll definitely be coming back for more as soon as I'm able. I especially like the art style, by the way, which reminds me of the overlooked Wii gem, Ivy the Kiwi, of all things.
Hometown Story--This is another game that I bought long ago but ignored until now for all sorts of silly and stupid reasons. Anyway, I've now played this shop-owning sim for a little over an hour ... and I'm not entirely sure what I think of it. I really like its aesthetics--which surprised me, as I deemed it "cheap-looking" before I got my hands on it--but the gameplay seems kind of thin (as in, mobile-game thin) at the moment. Hopefully a bit of depth will be revealed when I put some more time into it later this week or this weekend.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds--Those of you who follow me on Twitter likely have heard me express my reservations not only about this title but about the series in general in recent months. (I haven't been excited about a Zelda game since Wind Waker's original release.) All that said, I'm really enjoying A Link Between Worlds so far. Not only does it look surprisingly lush in motion, but it feels like a classic Nintendo game--which is always a huge plus in my book. Here's hoping I stick with it longer than I stuck with Wind Waker.
Attack of the Friday Monsters!--Although I bought this eShop game right before Christmas, I didn't actually get around to booting it up until a week or so ago. Sadly, I'm already done with it--after just three hours of play time. They were a surprisingly enjoyable three hours, though; full of pseudo-nostalgia and nerve-racking card battles. If you're looking for a short game with a heart-warming (if a bit heavy-handed at times) story, I'd highly recommend picking up this one should you have the dough.
Bravely Default demo--I'm done with this one, too, although I played it about five hours longer than I played the title above. Anyway, considering I spent just over eight hours on this demo (and loved every second of it, I have to say) I'm fully expecting to love the full game, which hits our shores on Feb. 7, even more--especially if the word on the street is accurate and the retail release is far less focused on fetch quests.
Gunman Story (aka Gunman Clive)--I picked up this digital title early in the week while randomly perusing the Japanese 3DS eShop. I've only played a few stages (five, if memory serves) so far, but I liked them well enough that I'll definitely be coming back for more as soon as I'm able. I especially like the art style, by the way, which reminds me of the overlooked Wii gem, Ivy the Kiwi, of all things.
Hometown Story--This is another game that I bought long ago but ignored until now for all sorts of silly and stupid reasons. Anyway, I've now played this shop-owning sim for a little over an hour ... and I'm not entirely sure what I think of it. I really like its aesthetics--which surprised me, as I deemed it "cheap-looking" before I got my hands on it--but the gameplay seems kind of thin (as in, mobile-game thin) at the moment. Hopefully a bit of depth will be revealed when I put some more time into it later this week or this weekend.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds--Those of you who follow me on Twitter likely have heard me express my reservations not only about this title but about the series in general in recent months. (I haven't been excited about a Zelda game since Wind Waker's original release.) All that said, I'm really enjoying A Link Between Worlds so far. Not only does it look surprisingly lush in motion, but it feels like a classic Nintendo game--which is always a huge plus in my book. Here's hoping I stick with it longer than I stuck with Wind Waker.
Monday, November 11, 2013
An artistic mash-up I'd never considered before now: Kirby x Zelda
Before today, I could've envisioned a couple of game series being successfully combined artistically with Kirby--Mario and Pokémon among them--but The Legend of Zelda? Not even a consideration for me--until I came across the example below, of course.
The Zelda elements all can be found within the giant Kirby, by the way. Some are images while others are text.
This painting--made using posca, which is supposed to be some sort of water-based marker--is yet another product of artist and blogger Oskunk, by the way. To see more samples of his work, check out custom-art.blogspot.com.
The Zelda elements all can be found within the giant Kirby, by the way. Some are images while others are text.
This painting--made using posca, which is supposed to be some sort of water-based marker--is yet another product of artist and blogger Oskunk, by the way. To see more samples of his work, check out custom-art.blogspot.com.
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Tuesday, August 13, 2013
LEGO Hieroglyph Link
I may not be as interested in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds as some 3DS owners, but that doesn't mean I'm completely disinterested in it.
For instance, I really like the feature that allows players to transform Link into a hieroglyph that can move along walls to reach new areas.
Flickr user lego27bricks recently used that ability as inspiration for the following creation, which, as his username implies, was pieced together with LEGO blocks.
A few in-the-works photos of this unique piece of art can be seen here, here and here, for those of you who are curious.
Are any of you planning to pick up A Link Between Worlds, by the way? If so, why is that? Are you big fans of the Zelda franchise, for instance, or do you have fond memories of A Link to the Past?
As for me, although I consider A Link to the Past to be one of my all-time favorite games, I'm still on the fence when it comes to this follow-up--in large part because of what I consider to be its "iffy" art style.
For instance, I really like the feature that allows players to transform Link into a hieroglyph that can move along walls to reach new areas.
Flickr user lego27bricks recently used that ability as inspiration for the following creation, which, as his username implies, was pieced together with LEGO blocks.
A few in-the-works photos of this unique piece of art can be seen here, here and here, for those of you who are curious.
Are any of you planning to pick up A Link Between Worlds, by the way? If so, why is that? Are you big fans of the Zelda franchise, for instance, or do you have fond memories of A Link to the Past?
As for me, although I consider A Link to the Past to be one of my all-time favorite games, I'm still on the fence when it comes to this follow-up--in large part because of what I consider to be its "iffy" art style.
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Friday, August 09, 2013
Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD edition)
Because I'm a few days late to this particular parade (the one that's centered around the unveiling of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD's box art, of course), I thought I'd give this post a bit of a boost by including the original GameCube cover illustrations as well.
Speaking of which, here's the colorful piece of cover art that greeted gamers when they wandered into Japanese stores searching for copies of Wind Waker back in 2002:
And here's the cover art that North American (and European ones, too, basically) gamers looked for when the cel-shaded title hit store shelves in their region three months later in early 2003:
Thankfully, Nintendo's designers decided to stay far away from the latter version's minimalism while creating Wind Waker HD's cover art.
In fact, I'd personally go so far as to say the Japanese--and European, in this case--box art (above) for this Wii U-based re-release is the best of the bunch.
I can't say the same for the North American version's cover imagery (also above), though, due to the over-the-top and out-of-place filter that makes it look like Tingle emptied his bladder on it.
As always, that's just my opinion on the matter. What's yours?
Note: the Japanese and North American Wind Waker HD covers were nabbed from tinycartridge.com.
Speaking of which, here's the colorful piece of cover art that greeted gamers when they wandered into Japanese stores searching for copies of Wind Waker back in 2002:
And here's the cover art that North American (and European ones, too, basically) gamers looked for when the cel-shaded title hit store shelves in their region three months later in early 2003:
Thankfully, Nintendo's designers decided to stay far away from the latter version's minimalism while creating Wind Waker HD's cover art.
In fact, I'd personally go so far as to say the Japanese--and European, in this case--box art (above) for this Wii U-based re-release is the best of the bunch.
I can't say the same for the North American version's cover imagery (also above), though, due to the over-the-top and out-of-place filter that makes it look like Tingle emptied his bladder on it.
As always, that's just my opinion on the matter. What's yours?
Note: the Japanese and North American Wind Waker HD covers were nabbed from tinycartridge.com.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A few thoughts on this morning's Nintendo Direct
As any long-suffering Nintendo fan knows, the company's "Nintendo Direct" broadcasts tend to be hit-or-miss affairs. Although some of them have produced bonafide megatons (like when Bayonetta 2 was announced), just as many others have been utter snoozefests.
Given that, I wasn't at all sure what to expect from this morning's trio of Wii U-focused Nintendo Directs (one for Europe, one for Japan and one for North America). I had a feeling at least a few bombs would be dropped thanks to the rather ho-hum launch of company's latest console, but would they be "we're working on a sequel to Wii Party" bombs or would they be "Bayonetta 2 will hit store shelves in May" bombs?
Interestingly enough, Nintendo is working on a sequel (of sorts) to Wii Party. That was about the least interesting of all of the announcements that were part of this Nintendo Direct, though, so I think it's safe to say that this particular broadcast was far more "hit" than "miss."
Specifically, here are what I considered to be the high points of this morning's address:
* The look inside Platinum Games' office, where the company's staffers seem to be hard at work on Bayonetta 2, was all sorts of awesome. Sure, we didn't get to see any actual gameplay footage, but we were given enough glimpses of in-the-works enemies and environments to know the final product probably is going to rock our respective worlds.
* OK, so it wasn't all that surprising to hear that new 3D Mario and Mario Kart games are being prepped for Wii U. To hear that both games will be shown in playable form at E3 2013, though, was pretty shocking--as was Satoru Iwata's utterance that we'll finally get to see some screens of the next Smash Bros. title at the same event.
* Considering it's been rumored for a while now, I doubt many people fainted or felt heart palpitations after Iwata revealed that the Wii U will receive a Yoshi-focused platformer in the near future. My own heart certainly starting racing, though, when I heard that it's being developed by the geniuses at Good-Feel and saw that it's going to look more than a bit like that group's Kirby's Epic Yarn.
* So, let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly: Atlus is working with Nintendo to produce a Wii U game that brings together the characters and settings of the Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem series? If so, uh, I'm not sure what to think, to tell you the truth. I mean, it certainly sounds interesting, and I'm sure the resulting game will be stellar, but I can't quite picture it yet, you know?
* What I can picture: making my way through Monolith Soft's next game--which looks a lot like their last one (that being Xenoblade Chronicles), actually, but about a million times better--with a humungous grin on my face. You know, because of the gorgeous visuals. And the huge environments. Oh, and the transforming mechas.
Given that, I wasn't at all sure what to expect from this morning's trio of Wii U-focused Nintendo Directs (one for Europe, one for Japan and one for North America). I had a feeling at least a few bombs would be dropped thanks to the rather ho-hum launch of company's latest console, but would they be "we're working on a sequel to Wii Party" bombs or would they be "Bayonetta 2 will hit store shelves in May" bombs?
Interestingly enough, Nintendo is working on a sequel (of sorts) to Wii Party. That was about the least interesting of all of the announcements that were part of this Nintendo Direct, though, so I think it's safe to say that this particular broadcast was far more "hit" than "miss."
Specifically, here are what I considered to be the high points of this morning's address:
* The look inside Platinum Games' office, where the company's staffers seem to be hard at work on Bayonetta 2, was all sorts of awesome. Sure, we didn't get to see any actual gameplay footage, but we were given enough glimpses of in-the-works enemies and environments to know the final product probably is going to rock our respective worlds.
* OK, so it wasn't all that surprising to hear that new 3D Mario and Mario Kart games are being prepped for Wii U. To hear that both games will be shown in playable form at E3 2013, though, was pretty shocking--as was Satoru Iwata's utterance that we'll finally get to see some screens of the next Smash Bros. title at the same event.
* Considering it's been rumored for a while now, I doubt many people fainted or felt heart palpitations after Iwata revealed that the Wii U will receive a Yoshi-focused platformer in the near future. My own heart certainly starting racing, though, when I heard that it's being developed by the geniuses at Good-Feel and saw that it's going to look more than a bit like that group's Kirby's Epic Yarn.
* So, let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly: Atlus is working with Nintendo to produce a Wii U game that brings together the characters and settings of the Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem series? If so, uh, I'm not sure what to think, to tell you the truth. I mean, it certainly sounds interesting, and I'm sure the resulting game will be stellar, but I can't quite picture it yet, you know?
* What I can picture: making my way through Monolith Soft's next game--which looks a lot like their last one (that being Xenoblade Chronicles), actually, but about a million times better--with a humungous grin on my face. You know, because of the gorgeous visuals. And the huge environments. Oh, and the transforming mechas.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Samus Aran spotted in downtown Seattle
I saw the following piece of Metroid-inspired window art while traipsing around downtown Seattle with a pack of out-of-town friends two weekends ago and for some dumb reason I forgot until now to share it here.
Anyway, I'm guessing someone concocted it (out of Post-It notes, I think) in honor of PAX Prime, which was held in our fair city over the very same weekend?
By the way, a number of other windows in the very same building sported similar creations--one of which was inspired by Galaga, I believe, and another that was inspired by The Legend of Zelda--but I was too busy and too lazy to snap a photo of them as well. Sorry about that.
To see a few (OK, a lot) more of game-related photos, check out my Flickr photostream.
Anyway, I'm guessing someone concocted it (out of Post-It notes, I think) in honor of PAX Prime, which was held in our fair city over the very same weekend?
By the way, a number of other windows in the very same building sported similar creations--one of which was inspired by Galaga, I believe, and another that was inspired by The Legend of Zelda--but I was too busy and too lazy to snap a photo of them as well. Sorry about that.
To see a few (OK, a lot) more of game-related photos, check out my Flickr photostream.
Labels:
art,
downtown,
Flickr,
Galaga,
Metroid,
PAX Prime,
photos,
Post-It notes,
Seattle,
street art,
The Legend of Zelda,
window,
window art
Monday, August 20, 2012
Missing since 1986
You've got to love German artist Barto's latest creation--aka the cheeky "Have you seen this girl?" poster seen below (and here)--which can be found plastered in front of a subway map near you (should you happen to live in or around Düsseldorf).
Oh, what I'd give for Barto to turn this into a series featuring such luminous "lost girls" as Princess Peach/Toadstool and, er, all of the other pixelated damsels in distress that I currently can't remember.
Oh, what I'd give for Barto to turn this into a series featuring such luminous "lost girls" as Princess Peach/Toadstool and, er, all of the other pixelated damsels in distress that I currently can't remember.
Labels:
art,
Barto,
bartotainment,
Düsseldorf,
Flickr,
Germany,
NES,
nintendo,
pixels,
posters,
street art,
The Legend of Zelda,
zelda
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Additional proof that I have awesome readers
A few months ago, I mentioned (OK, whined) in this post that I was sad that the copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that I pulled from my childhood closet while home for Christmas was "sans boîte," as the French might say. (Sans boîte = without box, basically.)
Enter The Gay Gamer reader "sharc," who wrote in the comments section of that post: "Pretty sure I have a box for Ocarnia of Time sitting around somewhere. Gotta double check first, but you'd be welcome to take it. Encouraged, even."
After sharc and I exchanged e-mails on the subject, I promptly and rather surprisingly forgot about it. Until a few days ago, that is, when the box in the photo below arrived on my doorstep.
Please note the superb condition of said box. The reason it's in such great condition is that sharc packaged and shipped it with so much care that my usually cold and cynical heart (OK, that's somewhat, but not entirely, overstating things) nearly melted.
As you can see, the box and cartridge are getting along famously--despite the fact that they met just minutes before the photo above was snapped. Anyway, thank you, sharc, for making this, er, peculiar love affair possible!
Enter The Gay Gamer reader "sharc," who wrote in the comments section of that post: "Pretty sure I have a box for Ocarnia of Time sitting around somewhere. Gotta double check first, but you'd be welcome to take it. Encouraged, even."
After sharc and I exchanged e-mails on the subject, I promptly and rather surprisingly forgot about it. Until a few days ago, that is, when the box in the photo below arrived on my doorstep.
Please note the superb condition of said box. The reason it's in such great condition is that sharc packaged and shipped it with so much care that my usually cold and cynical heart (OK, that's somewhat, but not entirely, overstating things) nearly melted.
As you can see, the box and cartridge are getting along famously--despite the fact that they met just minutes before the photo above was snapped. Anyway, thank you, sharc, for making this, er, peculiar love affair possible!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Gay Gamer Giveaway™: Wizorb Edition
So, I received a rather surprising e-mail from Tribute Games' Justin Cyr last night. In said e-mail, Cyr let me know that PC and Mac versions of his company's maiden release, Wizorb, could now be bought, downloaded and played via Steam.
Cyr also sent me a promo code for this three-parts-Breakout-to-one-part-Zelda game, but since I already own both the PC and Mac versions of Wizorb (yes, I enjoyed it that much) I thought I'd give the code to someone who has yet to experience its excellence.
What do you have to do to be the someone who receives said promo code (which will allow you to download Wizorb from Steam for free)? Not much, really. Just leave a comment below between now and 9 pm PST on Sunday, March 18. On Monday morning, I'll toss all of the accumulated names into a hat and pull out the winner.
See also: Previous Wizorb posts
Cyr also sent me a promo code for this three-parts-Breakout-to-one-part-Zelda game, but since I already own both the PC and Mac versions of Wizorb (yes, I enjoyed it that much) I thought I'd give the code to someone who has yet to experience its excellence.
What do you have to do to be the someone who receives said promo code (which will allow you to download Wizorb from Steam for free)? Not much, really. Just leave a comment below between now and 9 pm PST on Sunday, March 18. On Monday morning, I'll toss all of the accumulated names into a hat and pull out the winner.
See also: Previous Wizorb posts
Labels:
bat-and-ball,
Breakout,
giveaways,
Justin Cyr,
mac,
PC,
retro-ish,
Steam,
The Gay Game Giveaway,
The Legend of Zelda,
Tribute Games,
Wizorb
Sunday, February 12, 2012
'Blue is Always Stronger'
I don't know about you, but I always appreciate a good piece of Zelda-themed art--especially when it's as awesome as the example below.
This particular piece was produced by Philadelphia-based illustrator and designer Jude Buffum, by the way. A nine-inch-by-nine-inch giclee print (on canvas) of this image can be bought here for $40. (A bunch of additional Buffum prints can be found there, too, so definitely check out the link if you have both the dough and the interest.)
This particular piece was produced by Philadelphia-based illustrator and designer Jude Buffum, by the way. A nine-inch-by-nine-inch giclee print (on canvas) of this image can be bought here for $40. (A bunch of additional Buffum prints can be found there, too, so definitely check out the link if you have both the dough and the interest.)
Labels:
art,
giclee print,
illustrations,
Jude Buffum,
nintendo,
prints,
The Legend of Zelda
Thursday, February 02, 2012
The awesome alternate covers of the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18
About a month ago, Nintendo of Japan added to its Club Nintendo reward stash something called the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18.
Admittedly, the item's name isn't the most creative--although it is descriptive. (As you've probably already guessed, the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18 is an accessory that holds up to 18 DS and/or 3DS cards.)
I don't know this for sure, but I have a feeling the case's name is lacking in creativity because its designers focused all of their attention on its awesome alternate covers.
You see, although the case's standard cover, seen in the photo above, is a bit bland, its alternate covers (each "order" comes with three of them) are anything but. For example, here's one that includes sprites from The Legend of Zelda:
Additional covers--featuring Bowser, Mario, Pikmin's Olimar and more--can be seen in this Flickr photo set.
These cases are now available via the North American Club Nintendo "shop," too, by the way. They're called "Nintendo 3DS Game Card Cases" (I guess the "18" part was too exciting for them) in this region, but the alternate covers appear to be the same.
Admittedly, the item's name isn't the most creative--although it is descriptive. (As you've probably already guessed, the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18 is an accessory that holds up to 18 DS and/or 3DS cards.)
I don't know this for sure, but I have a feeling the case's name is lacking in creativity because its designers focused all of their attention on its awesome alternate covers.
You see, although the case's standard cover, seen in the photo above, is a bit bland, its alternate covers (each "order" comes with three of them) are anything but. For example, here's one that includes sprites from The Legend of Zelda:
Additional covers--featuring Bowser, Mario, Pikmin's Olimar and more--can be seen in this Flickr photo set.
These cases are now available via the North American Club Nintendo "shop," too, by the way. They're called "Nintendo 3DS Game Card Cases" (I guess the "18" part was too exciting for them) in this region, but the alternate covers appear to be the same.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
'The old hero' by Pakoto
I've long drooled over the paintings created by Spanish artist Pakoto, so whenever he produces a game-inspired one I do my best to spread the word about it.
Which game did Pakoto turn to while working on his latest masterpiece? It's pretty obvious, don't you think?
Pakoto produced "The Old Hero" for one of my new favorite blogs, by the way--that being fillupyourhearts.blogspot.com.
To see more examples of this talented artist's abilities, check out his blog at pakotoo.blogspot.com.
Which game did Pakoto turn to while working on his latest masterpiece? It's pretty obvious, don't you think?
Pakoto produced "The Old Hero" for one of my new favorite blogs, by the way--that being fillupyourhearts.blogspot.com.
To see more examples of this talented artist's abilities, check out his blog at pakotoo.blogspot.com.
Monday, November 28, 2011
L is for Link, Z is for Zelda ...
Upon seeing the print below, it should be pretty clear to just about everybody that Houston-based artist (and blogger) Lizzy House is a big Nintendo fan.
After all, out of the 26 images that appear in the following alphabet print, three of them (L, N and Z) are related to the company that's best known for introducing Link, Mario and Pokemon to the world.
House is selling a limited number (125) of these prints via her etsy shop for $50 apiece (plus shipping). Each one is 18 inches by 24 inches and is printed on archival paper.
To see more examples of House's abilities, check out her blog, her etsy shop or her Flickr photostream.
After all, out of the 26 images that appear in the following alphabet print, three of them (L, N and Z) are related to the company that's best known for introducing Link, Mario and Pokemon to the world.
House is selling a limited number (125) of these prints via her etsy shop for $50 apiece (plus shipping). Each one is 18 inches by 24 inches and is printed on archival paper.
To see more examples of House's abilities, check out her blog, her etsy shop or her Flickr photostream.
Labels:
alphabet,
alphabet print,
art,
blogs,
drawings,
etsy.com,
Flickr,
illustrations,
Link,
Lizzy House,
mario,
nintendo,
prints,
The Legend of Zelda,
zelda
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