E3 2011: Paper Mario 3DS

The dotted eyed 2-Dimensional version of the red plumber is back with a brand new adventure for the 3DS.

Looking at this trailer, I have no idea how the combat will play out. From what looks to be a battle screen, we see some pretty clever and gorgeous looking tricks on the "Paper" aspect of the world such as cutting up the goombas into squares and rolling them up or slicing up the whole screen with a pair of sciccors.

Showing off the 'battle mechanics" with that cute music doesn't really sit well with me though.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4OHZXdtavE&w=425&h=349]

E3 2011: Nintendo Press Conference Highlights!

Nintendo's Press Conference has just ended and left me totally confused. Yes, they revealed their new console called Wii U but as the Press Conference ended i was left scratching my head. They went into detail on what the Wii U controller can do and It's pretty impressive but ended there. We don't know anything else on about the console's specs and how strong it really is. What we do know is Nintendo is going hardcore with the announcement of third-party support for the Wii U. Check the highlights now! - Zelda 25th Anniversary announcing many info about Zelda games for this year.

- Mario Kart for the Nintendo 3DS was revealed with a gameplay trailer featuring water and air races.

- Star fox 64 3D shown and is out on Sept this year.

- Super Mario 3D announced. Gameplay trailer shown and is coming at the end of this year.

- Kid Icarus: Uprising shown with a gameplay trailer featuring 3on 3 multiplayer. Kid Icarus will be out later this year.

- Luigi's Mansion 2 announced for 3DS. Gameplay trailer shown. They mentioned that the 3DS version will provide extra mansions.

-  A video was shown revealing new third-party games coming to the 3DS.

- Nintendo eShop will have 3D classics. One game announced in 3D classics is excitebike.

- Nintendo eshop will also have Pokedex 3D.

- Nintendo's new console Project Cafe is named Wii U.

- Wii U controller revealed and a trailer was shown showcasing its features. Wii U coming 2012.

- During the video showing the Wii U controller, a Zelda game on the new system was teased.

- Smash bros. announced for Wii U and 3DS.

- Lego City Stories announced for Wii U and also for the 3DS.

- 3rd party games announced for Wii U - Arkham City, Darksiders 2, Dirts, Aliens, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Online, Metro: Last Light, Tekken, Ninja Gaiden 3.

- Wii U will have significant third-party support.

Nintendo's Press Conference was short but sweet. Wii took a back seat this time and it was all about the 3DS and the new console, the Wii U. Now the 3DS news are pretty cool but the big announcement is the name of the new console and it's controller. The name, Wii U was a shocker. I don't like the name since they retained the Wii's name into the new console. Whatever their reason, i was expecting a new console with a new identity. The console was never revealed and i have no idea why. The look is obviously not final and they never went into detail about the console but with third-party titles like Arkham City or Ninja Gaiden 3 heading to Wii U shows that it's definitely a strong system.

They want you to wrap your head on the possibilities of what the controller can provide for third-party game developers. What developers can do with those features is yet to be seen. The Wii U is still coming next year but i feel that Nintendo should have given at least an additional 30 minutes to further explain the power of the system and what to look forward to on the Wii U. I watched the stream excited for the new console reveal and left with more questions. What do you guys think about Nintendo's Press Conference?

Here’s a link to the Press Conference to watch it yourself -http://e3.gamespot.com/press-conference/nintendo-e3/

E3 2011: The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary [update: trailer]

It's Link and Zelda's 25th anniversary and Nintendo has a lot of plans for the franchise.

With the Nintendo eShop online for the Nintendo 3DS and the first virtual console game from the GameBoy line-up is The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

Next weekend The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D launches with an improved framerate, enhanced graphics, hint movies for those who get stuck and need a helping hand, Mirror Master Quest mode and a boss rush mode.

The DSi will be getting some love with The Legend of Zelda; Four Swords which will be available for free so keep an eye out and get it as soon as you can to play with your friends.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be launching this holiday season. 1 to 1 motion using Nintendo's Motion Plus for Link's sword and items will definitely be a different experience. A special gold wiimote will be released to help promote the game, possibly a pre-order bonus item?

The Nintendo Press Conference opened with an orchestral performance of tunes from The Legend of Zelda series along with a montage of scenes from various Zelda games. Legend of Zelda Symphony concerts will be happening around the world starting this fall.

An OST CD of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be available as a gift for Club Nintendo members who pre-order the game.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P155wBiLu4c&w=425&h=349]

Weekend, what have you been playing?

"Alien War. Don't get it? Say L.A. Noire 5x really fast"

Well the day of the Rapture is over and we're all still here giving news and opinions about video games. What have you been playing during the Rapture weekend?

Migoy: Revisiting some unfinished games I've had in my huge gaming backlog. One of those games is Mega Man 9. The game is both old school charming and old school hard. The level design can be sadistically difficult, most are shorter than in older Mega Man games but I find myself dying a whole lot more in 9. Aside from that I've been playing some random games to test out the broadcast like Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars.

Arlie: I'm currently playing L.A. Noire. I got my copy the first day it was available here in the Philippines which was 2 days after the game's release date. I'm currently on my 2nd Homicide case called "The Golden Butterfly". That's it, just L.A. Noire.

Quash: Just like Arlie(or maybe everybody else this week),  I'm playing L.A Noire. It's a great game but has its flaws. I'm only halfway through the game and enjoying the detective aspect of the game. I've already charged an innocent man for murder because of my fail detective work, but that's the beauty of the game, making big decisions based on how you saw the case and living with it.If you reset your L.A Noire game because you made a mistake shame on you!

I also started with Witcher 2. Done with prologue and did a few quests on Act 1, haven't played that long because of L.A Noire but The Witcher 2 looks amazing. An RPG that I couldn't ignore.

Cave Story 3D

"Huzzah!"

Ok, I just had a full on nergasm here. Daisuke Amaya aka Pixel, the original creator of Cave Story, is working on a full on 3DS remake of his own 2D masterpiece that is Cave Story.

Cave Story is a Metroidvania style game that Pixel made by himself, from the music, art, graphics, story, etc were all done by Amaya over the course of five years and was released in 2005. A Wii port of the game was released in 2010 with improved sprites and a remixed soundtrack.

The 3DS version is going to be a full on remake with a 2.5D style, meaning it will still have the 2D Metroidvania style gameplay but with 3D visuals.

Cave Story is one my favorite games and is something I can easily go back too. Since Pixel himself is working on this remake, who knows what other creavite genious will spawn from his brain and will be included in the game. Obviously I am very excited about this and you should be too cause Cave Story is awesome.

You can download Cave Story for Windows and Mac here for free along with its awesome soundtrack. Experience the magic that is Cave Story. I just got another reason to save up for a 3DS.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkqRR2wEwRY&w=560&h=349]