Apparently Nintendo is too good for E3 and decided to present some announcements this week that easily could have made up for some of the sub-par presentations the company did during the convention. No matter, we have bigger things to take care of, like the first DLC for Mass Effect 3, and a big detail about the upcoming Super Smash Bros. title.
And oh yeah, a new Professor Layton game is coming to North American 3DS owners. Finally…
Highly acclaimed Okami is getting an HD remake this fall
The viscerally pleasing and equally ambient gameplay of Okami is coming back this fall, and with sparkly new HD graphics to boot! The Capcom adventure game features the wolf Amaterasu as the main character, in a Zelda-like adventure. The big highlight then, and even now with enhanced visuals, was the game’s use of color and fantastic art style. The game first came out on the PS2, and was later ported to the Wii (with a sequel of sorts on the DS). Expect this one to come out for the Xbox Live and PlayStation Network this fall. (Source: Game Informer)
Remix album Random Encounter reminds us why Final Fantasy is awesome
The fine folks over at OC Remix have released their newest compilation album, this time focusing on legendary RPG series Final Fantasy. The website, which is known for users creating and uploading remixed video game tunes, has other projects on the site as well, including Mega Man X and Sonic the Hedgehog. Random Encounter is the first of a scheduled three albums, this one looking at the first game in the series, simply titled Final Fantasy. Each of the 21 tracks is remixed by a different artist, but all of them have a distinct metal feel to them. You can download the album (and hopefully many other songs, because they’re awesome!) directly from the OC Remix website here.
New THQ 
President is all about the games
Recently instated president of THQ Jason Rubin spoke with Games Industry International about the future of the company, and if what he’s saying is what happens, we can expect great things from THQ. Rubin said, “… THQ is going to be a lot more careful with what it does and a little less cavalier,” when speaking in reference to the company’s quality of games as of late. He mentioned titles like South Park: Stick of Truth and Saints Row as quality products they’ll be working on. Riskier projects like the uDraw tablet will be abandoned (which is probably for the better). What I’m hoping for? A new WWF/WWE game just like WWF: No Mercy! (Source: Kotaku)
Pokemon Black & White 2 are coming to the US this fall
The Pokemon series is still going strong more than a decade later, and the latest iteration in the series is set to release this fall in the US. Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2 continue the tradition of dual-released games that encourage gamers to link with friends to catch ’em all. These new games will follow a similar story seen in the previous two games in the series, Pokemon Black and Pokemon White. Seeing as those games were actually quite good, I’m looking forward to doing the same thing I’ve been doing for the past 14 one more time! (Source: Game Informer)
New Super Smash Bros. games being developed by Namco Bandai
Nintendo said this past week that a new Super Smash Bros. game will be coming out for the Wii U as well as the 3DS. Okay, they actually said that awhile ago, but they let it be known this week that Nintendo would not be developing the games, instead Namco Bandai would be taking the helm. Series creator Masahiro Sakurai is still going to be producing the game, but Namco Bandai will be the ones actually making the game. The 3DS version is not going to be a simple port of the Wii U version either, so both games are being treated with utmost care, and Namco Bandai assured fans they are going to put they’re best talent on the project. Seeing as the company has made some pretty decent fighters in their time (Tekken, Soul Calubur, and more… plus some of those developers are on this game), I’m not at all worried that they’re going to deliver a fine product that you’re going to buy regardless. (Source: Kotaku)
Microsoft and Major Nelson drop the details of this year’s Summer of Arcade
Each summer the folks over at Microsoft try to think of even more reasons for you to stay inside your house and in front of one of their products. Xbox 360 personality and Microsoft’s Director of Programming announced this years games. They are:
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD (July 18th)
Wreckateer (July 25th)
Deadlight (August 1st)
Hybrid (August 8th)
Dust: An Elysian Tail (August 15th)
Each title costs 1200 MS Points ($15), with the exception of Wreckateer, which costs just 800 ($10). There is a deal, too. If you purchase any three games in this year’s Summer of Arcade event, you get 400 MS Points added to your account. Hey, that like, 33% off one game when you buy three!. (Source: Major Nelson)
Mass Effect 3 DLC coming June 26th; proves whining pays!
Fans were not happy with BioWare’s ending to sci-fi trilogy Mass Effect 3 when the game released last March. But the good folks at BioWare definitely heard fans concerns, and actually stood by their ending and the choices they made, but also offered fans a compromise. They wouldn’t change the ending to the beloved series, but they promised the first DLC for the game would be free, and it will hopefully rectify some people’s disagreement with Shepard’s last outing. Well, that DLC, entitled Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut, is coming out Tuesday, June 26th, and will be free to all who own the game. Now stop your whining! (Source: Kotaku)
Nintendo announced the 3DS XL
Late Thursday night Nintendo revealed, among other things, the 3DS XL. Much like the DS and the DS XL before it, the 3DS XL is the same as the vanilla 3DS, but with 90% larger screens. The new 3DS also has a longer battery life, and will come in a matte red, blue, and silver. Unless the images shown to the press are still prototypes, it appears that the 3DS XL does NOT include the additional circle pad Nintendo implemented earlier. Information on the 3DS XL’s use of the circle pad pro is still forthcoming (or at least it should be). 3DS fans eager to get a bigger handheld can look forward to the system coming out in America on August 19th. (Source: IGN)
HOLY SHIT NEW PROFESSOR LAYTON GAME COMING TO US THIS YEAR!!
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, already released in Japan for the 3DS, will be coming to North American 3DS’s this November. The fifth game in the series takes place after the events of Professor Layton and the Last Specter and is also the first game in the series to be on the 3DS (also the first to not be on the DS). If you read this blog at all you know that I’m a huge Professor Layton fan, and absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on this one. (Source: Kotaku)
Laters,
Jsick
