If you're going to own an EarthBound-inspired keychain (or two), it may as well be one of these

Although I need a bunch of keychains like I need a hole in the head, I'm seriously considering pre-ordering the "Mother 2 Kizetsu Plate" set shown below.

After all, these aren't your typical EarthBound/Mother 2 keychains; rather, they feature the game's four main characters--Ness, Paula, Poo and Jeff--in their "unconscious" states, halo-topped noggins and all.



For me, though, the standout of this set is the "teleport failure" keychain. That's the one I'd be sporting if I were to pick up these Takara Tomy Arts-made gashapon figures.

Thankfully, I've got a bit of time before I have to make up my mind one way or another, as it appears they won't be made available until February of next year.

Should any of you already know you want them, though, you can pre-order a complete set (for $22.90) via shopncsx.com.

To buy or not to buy, that is the question when it comes to the 3DS game called Dangerous Jī-san to 1000-nin no Otomodachi Ja

Don't worry if the title in the headline above doesn't ring any bells. It's hardly the kind of release that tends to receive a lot of attention from western gaming sites and blogs.

That said, I have mentioned it here once before--in the cheekily titled post, "Is this 3DS game's heath bar really made up of little butts?"

Of course, this Namco Bandai-published 3DS game, which will hit the streets of Japan on Nov. 22, didn't have a title at that time. Now it does. It also has a new and rather effervescent trailer that's packed full of so much weirdness it nearly makes my head spin.



For those of you wondering what this game may be called if it ever earns a European or even North American release (yeah, right), my podcasting pal Anne (aka apricotsushi) took the time to translate the Japanese title for me last night after I accosted her via Twitter. Her suggestion: Dangerous Grandpa and His 1,000 Wicked Friends.

Another possibility would be Grandpa Danger and His 1,000 Wicked Friends, considering that's the verbiage Viz Media has used for the North American version of the anime.

Regardless, the guy obviously has a lot of friends, and all of them seem to be wicked. Which may be why, according to the now-defunct andriasang. com, they're turned into post cards at the start of this game. (I know, I don't get it either. Although I guess that's why ol' gramps is constantly shown interacting with mailboxes in the trailer above?)

Is this 3DS game's heath bar really made up of little butts?

If so, I think I've just found my next "must have" title.

Granted, it's extremely doubtful the game in question--Dangerous Jii-san Jya, which is based on the popular Coro Coro Comics "gag manga" that's known as "Grandpa Danger" in the West--will be released in North America, so I guess I'll have buy a Japanese 3DS (or 3DS LL) if I want to play it.



Normally my reaction to such a suggestion (yes, even if I made the suggestion to myself) would be, "yeah, right," but in this case I'm not so sure. I mean, not only does Dangerous Jii-san Jya (teaser trailer here) appear to include a health bar made up of little rumps, but it also seems to feature some sort of "butt blast attack" (see screenshot above) and a character that's basically a pile of poo with muscular arms and legs.

I'm also pretty fond of the Egyptian samurai with a pair of underwear covering his eyes that can be seen here.



As for when this daringly disgusting 3DS game will hit store shelves in Japan: Sadly, I'm not sure, although andriasang.com suggests it'll happen sometime "this winter."

Woe is my wallet should Dangerous Jii-san Jya sport a compelling cover illustration.

(Via andriasang.com)

I know what my first 3DS game is going to be

Most of you are expecting me to say Super Mario 3D Land or Mario Kart 7, right? Although I'm definitely planning to acquire both of those games shortly after I buy (or, hopefully, receive as a gift) a 3DS, neither of them will be my first pick-up for the system. No, that honor, at least as of now, will be the downloadable curiosity known as Freakyforms, which hit the North American eShop on Thursday.

The fact that this game has leapt to the top of my 3DS to-buy list is as surprising to me as it likely is to some of you, by the way--especially since my first reaction to it was something along the lines of, "eh, a lame-looking kiddie game."

After scrolling through the game's official thread over at NeoGAF, though, I decided it had to be mine, $6.99 asking price be damned. I mean, just look at some of the "Formees" owners of the Japanese version of the game have concocted:

This may be the cutest Link I've seen since Wind Waker.

Yep, that's Poo from EarthBound/Mother 2!

That's not to suggest North American owners of Freakyforms are a bunch of talentless slouches. All you need to do is look at the following creations to see that's far from the case:

Inspector Chelmey, courtesy of NeoGAF user artwalknoon.

Prinny, courtesy of NeoGAF user BooJoh.

To see more Japanese-made Formees, check out this site. For more North American-made ones, check out the NeoGAF thread mentioned earlier.

For more information on this wonderfully odd-looking game, check out its official site: freakyforms.nintendo.com. Also, check out this "Iwata Asks" video, which sheds a light on Freakyforms' history (for instance, that it began life as a DS title) and how Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, pushed producer Kensuke Tanabe and director Hiroshi Moriyama (creator of Chibi-Robo!) to "make it so people won't get bored of it."

Have any of you picked up this game, or are any of you planning to pick it up? If so, let me know--and share some of your creations in the comment section (if you can).

Not sure if want: Okamiden's North American box art

According to the folks at gonintendo.com, the following art will grace the cover of Capcom's Okamiden when it's released stateside this coming spring:

For comparison's sake, here's the DS game's Japanese cover:

Although I don't hate the North American art, I don't exactly like it either. Of course, I'd buy the game even if its cover featured nothing but a steaming pile of Chibiterasu poo.

(Via gonintendo.com)