'Bros in Arms'

Looking for a semi-realistic, Scribblenauts-esque take on Mario and his best bro, Luigi? Here you go:

This wonderful drawing--I especially like the ground, for some reason--was produced by UK-based multimedia artist Alec Tree (aka captainalec).

See more of his stuff--such as the awesome "Nintenghost"--in his deviantart.com gallery.

One-death wonder

If you've been enjoying the reviews I've posted as part of "The Great Gaymathon" thus far, you may want to check out The Game Dungeon when you've got a free minute or two (or 20, if you're like me).

Like me, blogger Marcus Estrada is trying to play all of the games in his sizable collection (many of which he's yet to try). He doesn't play them to completion, though; rather, he plays them until he reaches a "game over" screen for the first time.

If Estrada likes what he experiences up to that point, he makes note of it--on his above-mentioned blog--so he can come back to the game in question at a later date.

Although The Game Dungeon has been on line for just a few days, it already features reviews of 17 games--some of which will be played again, and some of which will soon be relegated to the back of Estrada's closet.

The Great Gaymathon Review #5: Rhythm Tengoku (GameBoy Advance)

Game: Rhythm Tengoku

Genre: Rhythm

Developer: Nintendo SPD Group No.1

Publisher: Nintendo

System: GameBoy Advance

Release date: 2006

As good as Rhythm Tengoku Gold (aka Rhythm Paradise in Europe and Rhythm Heaven in the States) is, its predecessor is that much better. The series' first entry features the same wacky--and wonderful--WarioWare-esque graphics, Simon-ish gameplay and toe-tapping music as its DS-based successor, but it also does a few things better than that 2008 release. For starters, Rhythm Tengoku is simpler, as nearly every mini-game is controlled by pressing the GameBoy Advance's A button (a couple require you to use the directional pad, but they're few and far between). An added benefit of this minimalistic control scheme: Rhythm Tengoku is, by and large, more enjoyable--due to it being a lot less frustrating--than its stylus-focused sequel. Finally, although both of these Tsunku-backed titles offer players a bevy of extras to toy around with when they're not working their way through the main game, the GBA version is home to the best of the bunch--a "drum mode" that allows players to add percussion, using the system's A and B buttons as well as its directional pad, to each of the title's earworm-worthy backing tracks.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

Samus Aran as you've never seen her before

The hubs and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day, but if we did celebrate it I'd have wanted him to get me this:

Yeah, that's right: A cute-as-hell Samus Aran plushie. Have you ever seen anything so cute? If your answer is anything other than "no," you're lying.

This particular plushie was made by Canadian textile artist Michele Legendre (aka misscoffee), by the way. For more examples of her talent, check out her deviantart.com gallery.

(Via gonintendo.com)

Diamonds are a Dreamcast's best friend

I honestly don't know what prompted me to come up with this particular drawing. I guess I had both diamonds and Dreamcasts on my mind at the time.

See also: 'Happy Valentine's Day,' 'Love at first sight' and 'Professor PC Engine'