Monday, December 31, 2012

Epic Feature Length Mega Man Fan Film

To close out our Mega Man 25th Anniversary coverage, I felt it appropriate to showcase one of the more impressive fan projects in terms of scope. Produced by Eddie Lebron and originally released back in 2010 by ScrewAttack.com, the feature length fan film simply titled "Mega Man" shows an impressive level of quality given that these types of projects have little to no budget to work with. With production values on par and in many cases exceeding the Sci-Fi Channels own movies, Mega Man shows a lot of heart and impresses with a story that stays true to the original game series while bringing the characters to the real world in a respectful manner unlike the laughably bad 1993 Super Mario Bros. film. The film even adds some extra back story to Dr. Light to show his motives for creating Rock and Roll while fleshing out Dr. Wily as the spurned scientist we all love to hate. Enjoy!

Mega Man Fan Film Trailer - 1:45min

Mega Man Feature Length Fan Film - 1hr 34min

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Experience RTS Classic Dune II For FREE!

If you are running a current web browser, you can now play PC classic and RTS legend Dune II regardless of your OS. The game originally hit MS-DOS in 1992 with ports making their way to Amiga and Sega Genesis. This latest port is actually running through the new and powerful HTML 5 and will most likely pave the way for more classic PC titles to be delivered through your web browser. This is actually a great way for many retro gamer's to experience some of the classics that laid the foundation for some of the great franchises currently being released. Dune II, which is based on the 1984 Dune film, will feel a bit archaic but a lot of what you know in current Real Time Strategy games can be seen here in early form. The biggest bonus to the HTML 5 delivery of classic PC games is that Mac and Linux players now have quick and easy access to games originally made for Microsoft platforms. Enjoy and please comment on what PC classics you would like to see delivered through your browser!


Saturday, December 29, 2012

Mega Man Inspired Gunman Clive Hitting Nintendo 3DS

As any reader of Treon's Realm knows, I am a big fan of independent games and Nintendo. I feel that the future of the industry lies in these two forces and I can't help but get excited when these forces combine to bring us something special. With that in mind, I bring you a sneak peak of a 3DS eShop title which is scheduled to make its US debut next Thursday (1/03/2013), Gunman Clive. The game originally hit mobile platforms earlier this year but one look will tell you that this game begs to be on Nintendo's slick little handheld. Dripping in a western theme showcasing a blend of Super Mario and Mega Man's gameplay with hand drawn paper graphics, the game encompasses all that is great about retro and indie gaming. The game oozes personality and shows how Nintendo is smartly embracing to indie community by making entry to their digital shops easy and painless for the many talented teams out there really pushing innovation. The game even sports a great soundtrack which evokes memories of the original Wild Arms theme. Set to launch with a $2 price tag, there is absolutely no reason not to download what will surely become a 3DS eShop classic. Enjoy and be sure to download your copy next week.


Friday, December 28, 2012

Street Fighter X Mega Man Soundtrack Available Now!

With Street Fighter X Mega Man now officially released, composer A_Rival has seen fit to release the Street Fighter X Mega Man OST and as expected, it's quite good and does a great job of mixing classic Mega Man themes with Street Fighter tunes while sounding natural. That classic 8-bit sound is perfectly preserved and makes for a great listen to any fan of chip tune music. You can download the entire 22 track album for FREE or set your own price if you would like to support A_Rival with a couple bucks.


The entire album is great but the Main Theme, Ryu Stage and Goes With Everything (Guile Theme) tracks are great standouts with the Guile Theme humorously titled because of the YouTube sensation of showing that the theme literally "Goes with everything"! One of my personal favorite examples of this is a clip which humorously mixes the theme with footage from Predator and 2012. Enjoy!


Thursday, December 27, 2012

Time To Get Random With Amazing Mega Man Rap Album

As we begin to wind down our Mega Man 25th anniversary coverage with less than a week left, I have found one song helps define the Mega Man spirit and is well suited for this celebration. "Grow Up" from underground Nerdcore rapper Random (a.k.a. Mega Ran) takes the Wood Man theme from Mega Man 2 and mixes his own lyrics which basically encompasses his childhood experiences as a gamer. The talented Random raps to a lot of different game music with Mega Man and Final Fantasy tracks making up a bulk of his catalog. Grow Up was a featured track in the 2008 video game documentary film Second Skin which takes an interesting and entertaining look into the addictive world of online MMORPGs. The song is available to download for free and if you like Random's music, I recommend his 17 track CD album which is a steal at only $9 or the digital version for $5. Enjoy!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

The Cold Truth Of Capcom And Mega Man

    Capcom has recently started an official Twitter account for Mega Man. This move seems to be part of the apparent Mega Man anniversary celebration Capcom claims will stretch into next year. It has also been stated that fan reception of Street Fighter X Mega Man will be used to gauge how Capcom will handle the next year in regards to Mega Man meaning they really don't have anything pre-planned. Honestly, this is the most erratic handling of an anniversary for a game ever. It seems as if there are a few people in the company who have passion for the Blue Bomber and want to please the fans but Capcom is giving them zero resources or support to do so. My prediction is that Capcom will simply leech off of fan works much like SFxMM to buy themselves time and see where they can make money from said works. This is on display with the Mega Man Xmas video recently released by the company on YouTube. The video simply strings together snow level footage from throughout the series with an 8 bit Christmas tune which ironically was taken from a fan work without initially giving credit (This was later corrected). The video ends with a graphic showing Street Fighter X Mega Man as their gift to the fans which is pretty ballsy considering it was entirely a fan made effort that Capcom is taking credit for. 
    What a lot of people don't understand is that while Mega Man has always been a safe and dependable franchise, it has not been the cash cow Capcom would like. Allow me to layout the situation with Capcom's own numbers. For the sake of comparison, I am using the 3 current franchises Capcom has focused on almost exclusively for the last few years versus the entire Mega Man series.
  • Resident Evil: 77 Titles (55 Million Units Sold) Series has only 6 core numbered entries
  • Street Fighter: 76 Titles (33 Million Units Sold) Series has only 4 core numbered entries
  • Monster Hunter: 22 Titles (21 Million Units Sold) Series has only 4 core numbered entries
  • Mega Man: 129 Titles (29 Million Units Sold) Franchise has 35 core numbered entries across 7 independent series
    The numbers don't lie, when you consider that most Mega Man games are individual titles and not rehashes and ports like the other 3 franchises, it is now much clearer why the more money hungry Capcom of recent years shows little to no interest in the Blue Bomber. Mega Man was a safe dependable brand that helped build the company but Capcom is now more interested in easy, multi-million selling franchises that can be milked to death through paid DLC. Capcom is no longer the company it was even 3 years ago in relation to fans and its franchises. On one hand, it's hard to blame them with the industry changing so drastically and major studios either closing or being gobbled up by larger companies but there is something to be said about fan loyalty and support. Street Fighter 4 would not have happened if not for the intensely loyal fan community and the passion of the development team. Capcom, now a shell of its former self, feels like a company who operates primarily on sales statistics and profit motive with few projects showing any real passion simply existing to cash in and move on to the next sequel or DLC. This is further showcased by the failures of Resident Evil 6 and Operation Raccoon City prompting the company to consider quick porting the amazing 3DS game Resident Evil: Revelations to the big consoles and PC in digital form to recoup losses. 

    This analysis of the company could prove to be wrong in the long run but with many key people who helped make Capcom what it was now gone, I don't see a bright future for the company in terms of new brands and fan loyalty. Instead, I see the insanely creative, fiercely loyal and ever vigilant fan community taking the torch and furthering this fan driven franchise in the future with Capcom allowing it to happen until they have a need for the franchise again. Funny thing is, this is one franchise where the fans really should be given the reigns considering the care and passion which permeates the MANY works out there. What are your thoughts, should Capcom step up and officially hand this series to the fans and simply assist in releasing the works while splitting profits with fans where appropriate? It may be an unlikely scenario but could change the face of the industry for the better. Please comment below.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

X Marks The Spot With Insane Megaman X Fanimation!

Mega Man has gone through quite a few different incarnations over the years but 3 different versions tend to resonate deepest with fans. Those three iterations are the original series, the Legends series and the X series. The X series is the darkest and most grown up version of Mega Man which is what gives this series such a strong following, especially with older fans. When the Blue Bomber was transformed into X on the Super Nintendo, minds were blown and the new series spawned 8 additional games with varying degrees of success but the original Mega Man X still remains an undisputed classic to this day. While many fans tend to focus fan created projects on the original series, it's quite refreshing when someone channels the X series for something new and original.

Shane Newville has done exactly that with his Megaman X Fanimation which showcases "a day in the life of Megaman X". Clocking in at 7 minutes, the short features a bit of fan service while illustrating just how badass X really is. Shane was assisted by the amazing Mounty Oum with the fight choreography animation and it shows with battles on par with Monty's sublime Dead Fantasy series. With Capcom's rather anemic 25th Anniversary showcase so far, it's insanely great to see such dedicated fans celebrating in such style. Enjoy!


And for those of you who want more of Monty Oum's amazing work, I am providing direct links to the Dead Fantasy series which pits the ladies of Final Fantasy against the ladies of Dead Or Alive and it is a sight to behold. Dead Fantasy II is some of the greatest digital fan service ever produced and will make your inner geek squeal in delight.

"I Survived The End Of The World And All I Got Was This Stunning Zelda Sountrack!"

Now that we have all survived the end of the world, I feel a fitting way to celebrate is with an excellent fan made album for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask titled Time's End. As is the case with many passionate fan works, this album perfectly captures the spirit of its source material while bringing a level of quality and polish normally reserved for cinematic soundtracks. All of the tracks perfectly capture the somber haunting mood of one of the most criminally underrated Zelda titles in the entire series. My personal favorite so far is the Clocktown theme which clocks in at over 6 minutes and features themes from throughout the legendary series even managing to work in ambient sound effects that transport you to the doomed town. The album is available for download with the option of naming your own price starting at a mere 50 cents! Enjoy and please share!


Thursday, December 20, 2012

Don't Forget To Grab Your Mega Man Anniversary Games

For those of you who may have forgotten about the 2 Mega Man Anniversary titles released on December 17th, I am providing links below. As it stands now, both titles are great in their own right but my personal nod goes towards Mega Man 25th Anniversary. While Street Fighter X Mega Man features some great fan service in its mashing of the 2 classic franchises, the originality and fresh feel of 25th Anniversary showcases a game good enough for a commercial release even in its demo form. If you're a Mega Man fan, do yourself a favor and grab both since they are both FREE. Enjoy!

Download Street Fighter X Mega Man Now!

Download Mega Man 25th Anniversary Demo Now!


Introducing The Humble Indie Bundle 7, The Perfect Holiday Gift!

The Humble Indie Bundle continues its great offering of excellent indie games for PC, Mac and my personal favorite, Linux. All of the games are DRM free and you can pay what you want while paying more than the average nets you 2 extra games. You are also able to dictate how your purchase is split between the game developers and charity which is nice for those who like to spread the wealth. Honestly, you would be hard pressed to find a better gift for your PC Gamer of choice. Enjoy and purchase The Humble Indie Bundle 7 Now!


Score The Little Inferno Soundtrack For Free!

Wii U eShop launch title Little Inferno comes from the team responsible for the excellent World of Goo. Much like that game, Little Inferno's atmosphere is greatly enhanced by its amazing soundtrack.  The composer for both games is Kyle Gabler and his unique style helps set these games apart from other indie titles. If you enjoy great music, this is a must download for your collection. Best of all, the album is FREE just like World of Goo's wonderful soundtrack.

Tomorrow Corporation Blog - Download Little Inferno Soundtrack Now!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Final Castlevania Episode A Fitting Close To A Great Series

As fan series Castlevania: Hymn of Blood reaches its finale, it's proven that video game companies should skip Hollywood and start allowing fans to produce live action stories based on their franchises. The final episode does a good job of closing the story while leaving things open for a follow up. This series did a great job of showing what can be done with a live action video game story when the creators actually care and aren't driven by profit. Enjoy and please share so we can see more productions like this.


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Club Nintendo December Rewards Update #3

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards for December and for the remainder of the month they are offering 4 titles across 2 systemsThe expiration date for this offer is now January 6 and the price is 150 coins for each title. Be sure to check back January 7 for the next reward update.


1080 Snowboarding - Wii Virtual Console
150 Coins (Available Until January 6)

Mario Party 2 - Wii Virtual Console
150 Coins (Available Until January 6)

3D Classics: Twin Bee - 3DS eShop
150 Coins (Available Until January 6)

Metroid II: Return of Samus 3DS Virtual Console
150 Coins (Available Until January 6)

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Battle Kid 2: Mountain of Torment Has Launched!

At long last, Battle Kid 2: Mountain of Torment has finally been released. It is officially available at RetroZone and currently comes in a couple different options. For the initial release, your choices are:

  • Cart and Manual Only - $36 + S&H
  • Cart, Manual, Box and 36 page Art Booklet - $45 + S&H


NOTE: For the December release, quantities are limited so orders are restricted to 2 per customer. After New Year's, the game will be available just like Battle Kid 1.

Much like the original Battle Kid, the box and art book will be limited and I recommend getting a copy now if you are a retro collector. Treon's Realm will be receiving its copy shortly and I will be sure to bring you a hands on review once I've been able to sink my teeth into it. Enjoy!


Purchase Battle Kid 2: Mountain of Torment Now!
Battle Kid 2 Demo Rom

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Mega Man's Lost Sega Genesis Adventure!

Mega Man fans know that the Blue Bomber has primarily been on Sony and Nintendo platforms with the Big N receiving the lions share of games in the series. Generally speaking, only the hardcore Mega Man fans are familiar with one of the few titles not physically released in North America during the 16 bit era. That title is Mega Man: The Wily Wars for the Sega Genesis. The game was a compilation of the first 3 NES games upgraded with 16 bit graphics and featured an exclusive set of levels/bosses in the form of Wily Tower which is unlocked after completing the 3 core games. In North America, it was only available through the Sega Channel and while it did see cartridge release in Europe and Japan, it is pretty damn tough to find. Quality information on the title was pretty hard to come by due to the games obscurity.

This brings us to the YouTube channel for ClanOfTheGrayWolf and its star Roo. Roo is the creator and host of "16-Bit Gems", an excellent web series that unearths and explores many excellent games from the 16-Bit era among other topics. For our anniversary celebration, I am posting his two part video covering the Wily Wars in great detail. It's an interesting view and I would suggest it to any for of Mega Man or Retro Gamer. I also suggest checking out Roo's other 16-Bit Gems, I have found some excellent games on there I never knew about and his videos are extremely informative and entertaining. Enjoy and please subscribe to Roo if you like his videos!




Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Are You Ready To Kickstart Some Mario Warfare?

Not too long ago, a trailer hit YouTube for a fan made action web series based on Super Mario fittingly titled Mario Warfare and looked like a fun new take on the almost 30 year old franchise. After the classically awful live action Super Mario Bros. from 1993, it seemed that taking Mario into the real world was an eternally bad idea. Well, the first part of Mario Warfare has been released and much like the successful Castlevania: Hymn of Blood fan series, leave it to the fans to get it right. The production shows a great deal of passion and features some excellent action sequences. Two episodes have been completed but due to costs involved in making a series of this quality, the filmmakers have started a Kickstarter to raise the funds required to continue. I urge you to check out part one of this new series and if you enjoy it, spread the word through Twitter, Facebook, Etc. and head over to their Kickstarter Page and show your support. Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Castlevania: Hymn Of Blood Builds Towards Final Showdown

As Castlevania: Hymn Of Blood gears up for its finale, we are treated to some more fan service with subtle mentions of series characters Rinaldo Gandolfi and Leon Belmont. We also see the the unveiling of the Vampire Killer which will see action in the final episode of this great fan series.  Enjoy!


Monday, December 10, 2012

Club Nintendo December Rewards Update #2

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards replacing ThruSpace with 1080 Snowboarding for Virtual Console. The expiration date for this offer is now January 6 and the price is 150 coins. Be sure to check back December 17 for the next reward, which will likely be on eShop or 3DS Virtual Console.

1080 Snowboarding - Virtual Console
150 Coins (Available Until January 6)

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Did You Know Mega Man?

Website "Did You Know Gaming?" provides daily updates with obscure facts about some of the best video games ever released. One would expect regurgitated factoids that most hardcore gamer's already know but the trivia is actually very interesting and loaded with insider info. Once the site has enough factoids about a particular game series, they put together a fascinating YouTube video for their channel. They recently put together a video with a slew of little known trivia about the Blue Bomber. Enjoy!


Capcom Unveils Street Fighter X Mega Man

Capcom has FINALLY announced their 25th Anniversary Mega Man game and ironically, it is a fan developed crossover featuring Mega Man and Street Fighter because this year happens to also be the 25th Anniversary of the legendary fighting franchise. Titled Street Fighter X Mega Man, the game retains the trademark 8-bit look that is shared by the other fan created anniversary game but skips original bosses and instead inserts the titular Street Fighter's as the bosses including Chun-Li, Ryu and Blanka. The game is set to launch as a free PC download on December 17th which is a nice bonus and should be interesting to see which fan title turns out best.

While a free game is a nice gesture, Capcom literally could not have put less effort into this and full credit should go solely to fan and developer, Singapore native Seow Zong Hui (aka "Sonic") who likely would have released the game regardless of Capcom's "support". It is claimed that this will mark the start of Mega Man's anniversary which is planned to stretch into 2013 but no word or details have been given on what is to come. While there may be a bit of a sarcastic slant to this article towards Capcom, keep in mind how Capcom has handled itself over the last 2 years and you will see a steady decline in what the company once was but I truly hope they can turn things around. Here's hoping for a proper celebration of the Blue Bomber. Enjoy the trailer for the sweet looking Street Fighter X Mega Man and be sure to grab your copy December 17th from the Capcom-Unity Blog.


Source

Friday, December 7, 2012

Rageaholic Reviews The Classic Mega Man X3

YouTube user xRazorFistx, also known as The Rageaholic, has a unique style to his videos mixing heavy metal with Dennis Miller style rants. While you may not always agree with his reviews, he still makes some great points and is very entertaining. In one of his earlier videos, he reviewed Mega Man X3 for the Super Nintendo and rightly showcased why it is one of the best games in the series. I felt it would be fitting to include his review of this underrated Mega Man game for this month's anniversary. Enjoy!


Thursday, December 6, 2012

A Talking Cave Describes New Adventure From Double Fine

Double Fine Productions is home to some of the biggest names in adventure video games such as Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert. They are also one of the most progressive and original professional video game studios in operation today. On top of their pioneering Kickstarter project, they continue to develop unique, new IP's for the home consoles such as "The Cave". The Cave is a side scrolling adventure game which focuses on its characters and exploration in a similar fashion to a Metroidvania game with an emphasis on puzzles over combat. The games latest trailer introduces the titular Cave as an actual character who tells you, the player, about the many unique personalities you will be controlling through your adventure. Scheduled for release January 2013 for PC, XBOX 360, PS3 and the newly released Nintendo Wii U, The Cave looks like a fun and unique experience. Enjoy the new trailer narrated by a hole in the earth!


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Mega Man 3 Soundtrack Remade With Classic Care

Continuing our Mega Man coverage, I have stumbled upon a remake of the soundtrack of Mega Man 3 for the original NES in an album simply titled Mega Man 3 Remade. What makes this one special is that it keeps the original sound and just remixes it as if it were played on Konami's VRC6 sound chip for Nintendo's original home console. For those who don't know, the original Nintendo was a versatile machine that was upgraded by the chips and tech on the game cartridge as opposed to the system hardware. The VRC6 chip was used in Japan for enhanced audio & video but was never brought stateside because the US NES didn't support it. The added sound channels resulted in some impressive music and artist RushJet1 has used this to recreate the Mega Man 3 soundtrack with impressive results. He even added the amazing "Wily's Underwater Base" track from Mega Man 3 on the original Game Boy which is a personal favorite. If you're a fan of this classic game, you owe it to yourself to listen to this great album. Enjoy!


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Fan Made Mega Man 25th Anniversary Game Upstages Capcom

A group of talented Mega Man fans known as Team Reaverbot are working on a new game fittingly titled Mega Man 25th Anniversary. As the trailer shows, the game is all about fan service in the best way possible. The story kicks off with Dr. Wily missing and the Bonnes from Mega Man Legends taking over as the villains which is such a cool idea, I don't know why it wasn't implemented in the actual series. New bosses such as Bio Man and Tarot Man are previewed showcasing some slick new stage designs which include acid that progressively eats through platforms. Mega Man and Proto Man are both playable and switchable between levels even powering up at the same time to eliminate needless stage revisits to get the the same weapon twice. For longtime hardcore fans, Tango the Cat even makes a comeback which is pretty sweet for those who remember that characters one and only appearance (Mega Man V for the original Game Boy). Needless to say, this looks very promising and the trailer even pokes fun at one of Mega Man 8's game breaking design flaws showing that the developers know what is good and bad about the series. I have included the premiere trailer as well as a preview of the excellent soundtrack which is free for download. Look for a playable demo to drop on December 17th, the Blue Bomber's 25th birthday. Enjoy!


Monday, December 3, 2012

Club Nintendo December Rewards Update #1

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards today replacing Touch Solitaire with Brain Age Express: Sudoku for 3DS eShop. The expiration date for this offer is now December 16 and the price is 150 coins. Be sure to check back December 10 for the next reward, most likely for WiiWare or Wii Virtual Console.

Brain Age Express: Sudoku - Nintendo 3DS
150 Coins (Available Until December 16)

Treon's Realm Celebrates Mega Man's 25th Anniversary

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the Mega Man series and it seems that much like Nintendo with Metroid's 25th birthday, Capcom is largely ignoring the Blue Bomber. This all seems to stem from their over 1 year temper tantrum at the departure of remaining series head Keiji Inafune who blasted mainstream Japanese game development as a whole before leaving the company in 2011. His departure brought the cancellation of Mega Man Universe and the highly anticipated Mega Man Legends 3 for the Nintendo 3DS which drew the anger of many longtime fans. Even after Keiji Inafune offered to complete the 3DS title for Capcom with his new company Comcept, Capcom denied the offer and has gone quiet on almost everything having to do with Mega Man aside from some half-assed side projects.

 I have always had a soft spot for the Blue Bomber and I would like to celebrate his birthday here on Treon's Realm. With that being said, my plan is to celebrate with the people who really made this series what it is, the fans. All month long, I will be posting fan made works from around the internet that celebrate Mega Man and what he means to the gaming public. There will be videos, music and more all month long mixed with my normal posts. I will also be opening up the floor to my readers. If you have an original piece of artwork, song or video you would like to submit, I will be happy to post it here on the site and not to worry as you will receive full credit. Comment below on what you would like to submit. Rock on Mega Man fans!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Gametrailers Breaks Down The Epic Zelda Timeline

For years, The Legend of Zelda has drawn millions of player's into its fascinating game world which has always been engaging but also confusing when trying to make sense of how the many games relate to each other. The apparent disjointed narrative split fans between those who thought that the games were independent of each other and "Timeline Theorists" who have spent many years trying to decode how the games fit within a larger structured timeline. Ocarina of Time was the game changer that started it all, up until that landmark game everything was sequels and prequels. There were many debates about a single timeline or a split timeline until the creators confirmed a split timeline but it turns out that wasn't the entire story. Many videos and articles sprang up all over the net to debate the subject while Nintendo waited until the series 25th Anniversary to drop the news through the Hyrule Historia that the timeline was split 3 ways, not 2 like the fans thought. To make this rather large timeline a bit easier to digest, Gametrailers has just released their first video special in a series titled Timeline which explores and lays out the narratives of many epic game series with The Legend of Zelda kicking things off. It is extremely well produced and at almost 40 minutes it finally makes things much clearer. Enjoy!




Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Legend Of Digital Zelda Is A Must Watch For Any Zelda Fan

There is little doubt that video game fan films are some of the finest productions on all of YouTube and it's even more impressive when you consider that they generally have little to no funding at all. A YouTube user known as FinalCutKing has recently released an insanely slick short film which uses paper cutout style animation to show Link's quest to defeat Ganon and save Princess Zelda. The production impressively spans 6 desktops, 5 tablets and 4 laptops for Link's journey and is complimented by a great electronic rendition of the classic Zelda theme. Check out The Legend of Digital Zelda for yourself. Enjoy!


Nintendo 3DS Far More Successful Than Trash Talkers Would Lead You To Believe

The Nintendo 3DS has had its fair share of critics and naysayers since its release in early 2011. What has become increasingly standard for Nintendo console releases since the Nintendo DS in 2004, people seem to get off on trash talking the Big N. This is odd considering that despite their missteps such as the PS3 launch price and 360 Red Ring Of Death, Sony and Microsoft are largely shielded from the same sweeping negativity. Funny thing is, Nintendo's last three consoles have all destroyed their competition in sheer numbers and what's really impressive is that each time, it was done so with weaker technology. Despite the constant doom and gloom, the 3DS has managed some impressive numbers even when being assaulted by tablets, smartphones and the PS Vita. In less than 2 years, the Nintendo 3DS has:

  • Surpassed lifetime sales of Gamecube hardware (21+ million)
  • Sold 2/3 of the total Nintendo 64 hardware sales (32+ million)
  • Sold nearly half of the total Super Nintendo hardware sales (49+ million)

Personally, I'm loving the 3DS way more than I ever expected to and can't wait to see what new games will hit the platform. With the Wii U, the gaming public are once again shit talking Nintendo and spelling the demise of the company. Quite frankly, it has become tiring and seems to be more for attention and headlines than actual knowledge or realistic analysis of Nintendo's consoles. What are your feelings on Nintendo's consoles? Are you a Wii fan? Do you still play the Nintendo DS? Please share in the the comments.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Sega Genesis Hit Pier Solar Fully Funded For HD Debut

The Kickstarter campaign to bring Pier Solar HD to a variety of new and old game platforms has proven successful and with 6 days left, a list of stretch goals has been revealed. Some of the more interesting features include a Directors Cut with additional sidequests and a version for the OUYA. Having rasied over $140,000, WaterMelon Co. plans to add the following features and systems upon reaching each goal:

  • $145,000 - Japanese Translation
  • $150,000 - Dreamcast Extras (16x9 Widescreen, VMU & VGA Support)
  • $160,000 - Pier Solar HD, Directors Cut
  • $175,000 - Pier Solar HD, for Android & OUYA
  • $200,000 - Pier Solar HD, for Wii U

While I am sure that these version will eventually be released for these platforms in the future, the stretch goals mean that they will be developed simultaneously with the already announced systems allowing for a quicker & smoother release. Simply put, if you want the game on your new system of choice, better ramp up your support and spread the word before December 5th.

Source

Monday, November 26, 2012

Club Nintendo November Rewards Update #4

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards replacing Art Style: Rotozoa with ThruSpace for WiiWare. The expiration date for this offer is now December 9 and the price is 150 coins. Be sure to check back December 3 for the next reward, which will likely be on eShop or 3DS Virtual Console.

ThruSpace - WiiWare
150 Coins (Available Until December 9)

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Celebrate Metroid Prime's 10th Anniversary With Amazing Fan Album

The Metroid series feels like a third wheel in Nintendo's catalog falling well behind the likes of Mario and Zelda. While Metroid has never had the sales numbers of a series like Zelda, its fans are just as loyal while not as numerous. Sadly, Nintendo choose to completely ignore the series 25th anniversary and with the exception of a nod in the Wii U launch title Nintendo Land, 2010's Metroid Other M is the last we've heard from Samus Aran and the Big N could not have chosen a more divisive title for the bounty hunter's last bug hunt. While the debate rages over Other M between those who loved it and those who despise it, a group of dedicated fans have decided to honor the legendary series with an amazing follow up album to 2011's Harmony of a Hunter which was a fan tribute to the 25th Anniversary. Harmony of a Hunter: 101% Run is a brilliant 3 disc album which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the masterpiece that is Metroid Prime by exploring the various audio landscapes of the Metroid universe in a variety of styles from a very talented group of artists. Epic doesn't even begin to describe the quality of this production which rivals anything Nintendo could have done for the anniversary. Top this off with the fact that the entire album is FREE! and you have every reason to pop these tunes in and revisit Tallon IV or Zebes with the most famous bounty hunter in the video game universe. Check out the excellent preview trailer and then download the album. Enjoy!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Resident Evil: Revelations Coming To The Big Screen?

Resident Evil: Revelations for the Nintendo 3DS is a unique beast. On one hand, expectations for the game were much lower than normal due to the bland action fest that was Resident Evil 5. This helped the developers produce a game that recalled more of the feel and style of Resident Evil 1, 2 and 4 while mixing up the environments and pacing with non-linear chapters. The result was the best Resident Evil game since 2005 which was slightly marred by a so-so story which isn't surprising after Resident Evil 5 pissed all over the series mythology. One of the games standout features was the amazing Raid Mode which successfully took the stale Mercenaries mode and fleshed the idea into a great blend of action, RPG and multiplayer. The game was a hit and became a showpiece of the Nintendo 3DS giving fans hope for the series return to greatness with Resident Evil 6. Unfortunately, RE6 dropped everything that made Revelations great and promptly took a dump on the once great series. Hoping to recover from the mess that is Resident Evil 6, word is that Capcom wants to take the 3DS hit and port it to the PS3 (with a 360 version not far behind no doubt). While the Wii U would be the most logical choice, no word is given on a port to Nintendo's HD console. What are your feelings on a possible HD port of Resident Evil: Revelations? What home consoles, if any, would you like to see this game on? Let us know below in the comments.

Latest Castlevania Episode Features Some Nice Fan Service

The latest episode of Castlevania: Hymn of Blood showcases far more of its source material than any of the previous installments and to great effect. The fan created project has used a slow build in revealing the story which has allowed viewers to focus more on the performances and in turn allowed the narrative to progress more naturally which would never happen in a big screen adaptation which would be firing off mindless action scenes every couple minutes. The series has also been very subtle in referencing the Castlevania game series which has allowed it to feel like its own entity and not just a retelling of one of the games. In the fifth episode, some sweet fan service comes in the form of a classic villain, a memorable quote and a killer credits song. Keep an eye out for the Vampire Killer to make a quick preview. Enjoy!


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Gold Nunchuck Making A Holiday Return

Earlier this year, Nintendo released a limited edition Club Nintendo Gold Nunchuck for Wii and it promptly sold out. It has since been listed as unavailable for the many months since. It turns out that Nintendo will be doing a second run on the rare accessory and just in time for the holidays. Starting November 26th, the Gold Nunchuck will be added back onto the Club Nintendo rewards catalog for 900 Points. Once again, this will be released in "limited quantities" so I would be prepared to snatch one up quickly as it will disappear as fast if not faster than last time. With any luck, Nintendo will continue to improve their Club Nintendo rewards and start adding more games & accessories.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The Last Story Officially A HUGE Success!

Nintendo of America passed on publishing The Last Story in North America despite outcries from the fans and their loss proved to be a big gain for publisher XSEED. Despite releasing at the tail end of the Wii's life cycle, the game has become the most successful game ever released by XSEED. When you consider that the company is over 6 years old and has released over 40 games across 8 different game platforms, that news is really damn impressive. The news also proves that the "core" gaming audience on the Wii are far more numerous than the game media would lead you to believe. The game was so successful in fact that the entire first run has sold out! To celebrate the success, XSEED has ordered a second run on the game and will be releasing the new "Standalone Version" for a steal at $29.99. The new standalone version will be packaged like all regular Wii games with a standard case, instructions and game disc. They have also announced plans to drop the price of remaining "Limited Edition" copies in the wild to $39.99 which is great for any collector's looking for the Art Book & LE Box. A special note to collector's, sealed copies of the "Pre-order Edition" which packaged the LE Soundtrack with the Limited Edition game will become extremely collectible in the future so if you see any in the wild, grab them up. Congratulations to XSEED on their success, a tip of the hat to "core" Wii gamer's who actually supported the game and for all you new Wii U owners looking for a deep and excellent exclusive for your shiny new console, get your ass out there and grab a copy of the amazing RPG which is now half the price of a new Wii U game.

Source

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Historia Of Hyrule Recieves A Slick Trailer

Announced a couple months ago, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia is set to reveal its secrets this January 2013. The book shot to the top of Amazon's pre-order list and is highly anticipated among fans and collector's. To mark the upcoming release, a trailer has been released giving a sneak peak at the contents of this historic gaming release. Enjoy!


Club Nintendo November Rewards Update #3

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards today replacing Mario's Picross with Touch Solitaire for 3DS eShop. The expiration date for this offer is now December 2 and the price is 100 coins. Be sure to check back November 26 for the next reward, most likely for WiiWare or Wii Virtual Console.

Touch Solitaire - Nintendo 3DS
100 Coins (Available Until December 2)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Even More Star Trek Talent Featured In 4th Castlevania Episode

Castlevania: Hymn of Blood continues to impress with its original take on the Castlevania story. Most impressive is the acting and addition of more Star Trek: TNG alumni in the form of Marina Sirtis as the gypsy fortune teller Persena. She does a good job adding a sense of dread to Simon's quest. Her addition to the cast is not that surprising considering she's quite good friends with Michael Dorn who also continues to appear throughout the story. It will be interesting to see where the story goes from here. Personally, I would not object to a guest appearance by Patrick Stewart or Brent Spiner. Enjoy!


Donkey Kong Country Trilogy MIA On Virtual Console

In one of their strangest moves, Nintendo has completely removed the entire Donkey Kong Country trilogy without warning from their Wii Virtual Console service in North America. No explanation has been given and the move is even stranger considering that European Wii gamer's were recently given an official notice that the same titles would be removed on November 25th allowing fans a chance to download the classics before there removal. Many theories are floating around the net concerning Nintendo's motive ranging from a potential HD re-release on Wii U to licensing issues with RARE/Microsoft which makes no sense due to the entire Donkey Kong license belonging to Nintendo including any characters RARE created for it. While I like digital distribution for things such as indie games, I feel that the move away from physical gaming in the mainstream carries with it some heavy ramifications for the legacy of many excellent games. The lesson of this ordeal is to collect physical copies of the titles you hold close to your heart because the industry is pushing towards a day where ownership and access to your favorite games are dictated solely by the companies.

Friday, November 16, 2012

New Zombi U Launch Trailer

With the Wii U launching in less than 48 hours, excitement is at a fever pitch for Nintendo's first step into the HD generation and first "Next Generation" home console. For hardcore, FPS & horror gamer's, Zombi U is the standout exclusive launch title that is both truly original and showcases the potential of the Wii U Gamepad. To show off this innovation, IGN has posted a new launch trailer featuring how the game plays with the new Gamepad and it looks pretty intense. Enjoy!

YouTube Channel Hits The Nintendo Wii

Nintendo has released what will likely be the final system update for the 6 year old Wii. This update is noteworthy for bringing with it an official YouTube Channel. While this addition is a bit late, it is still welcome and works quite well. The channel allows you to sync up your subscriptions and provides good image quality and nice streaming speeds comparable or even better than the Netflix Channel.  The channel only uses 117 Blocks of memory which is pretty reasonable. Considering the wealth of great original video game channels on YouTube, this will be one of the better channels available for Nintendo's incredibly successful Wii and a fitting send-off as the Wii U prepares to invade living rooms in 2 days. Enjoy and don't be surprised if the 3DS eventually receives YouTube as well.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Third Castlevania Episode Explores The Belmont Legacy

For those who missed out on last weeks update to Castlevania: Hymn of Blood (myself included), here you go. The production continues to impress with its respect to the video game series while still forging its own path. While many show a lot of hate for the live action Resident Evil films, I always enjoyed the fact that they take the characters and story from the games and mix things up to keep the story from becoming predictable. This new Castlevania series seems to be taking the same approach but with a more conservative take on action and greater focus on story and character relationships. Enjoy!


Monday, November 12, 2012

Club Nintendo November Rewards Update #2

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards replacing Super Punch-Out!! with Art Style: Rotozoa for WiiWare. The expiration date for this offer is now November 25 and the price is 100 coins. Be sure to check back November 19 for the next reward, which will likely be on eShop or 3DS Virtual Console.

Art Style: Rotozoa - WiiWare
100 Coins (Available Until November 25)

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Battle Kid 2 Status Update

It's been a while but Sivak, developer of the indie NES hit Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril, has updated his website on the status of Battle Kid 2: Mountain of Torment. Originally scheduled for a July/August 2012 release, production has been a bit slower than expected due to problems getting the materials printed. Unfortunately, this has pushed the games release date back to the point of being unknown. Sivak recently received a status update from the publisher stating that the final parts have been printed and mailed and aside from possible shipping issues, the game is back on track. I imagine this will still allow the game to be a 2012 release but Treon's Realm will keep you posted on any new updates.

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Angry Video Game Nerd The Movie Trailer Hits The Web

One of my favorite YouTube stars is James Rolfe who also plays the character of The Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN). AVGN is what he is best known for but his other work is quite excellent and I recommend viewing everything you can get your eyes on, he is a true independent inspiration. The AVGN has been around since the early days of YouTube and his foul mouthed and angry classic game reviews are the inspiration for a million imitator's. James is finishing up work on his first feature length film based on his alter ego and has just released the trailer which looks like a pretty fun film and definitely rewards fans of the series. If you're a fan of retro video games, do yourself a favor and check out the "The Nerd"!


To assist those interested in the many works of Mr. Rolfe, I am including some direct links to different parts of his production company, Cinemassacre. Outside of AVGN, horror films are the true specialty of James and if you love horror, you NEED to check out his Monster Madness series and his original films like "The Deader The Better".

Cinemassacre.com - The main site for everything including all episodes of AVGN as well as movie reviews, the yearly Monster Madness series, original films and "You Know What's Bullshit!".

JamesNintendoNerd - Official YouTube channel for all things Cinemassacre and AVGN

Twitter/cinemassacre - Follow Cinemassacre on Twitter


Friday, November 9, 2012

2010 Indie RPG For Sega Genesis Is About To Be Kicked Into HD

Pier Solar and the Great Architects was released independently a couple years ago on the Sega Genesis and proved to be a love letter to fans of old turn-based RPG's of the 16-bit era. It featured beautiful graphics, an original story and loads of ambition. The game turned out to be a big hit even though it was released on a system over 20 years old. The game's developer, WaterMelon, received a lot of fan request for the game to be released on current platforms and not one to disappoint has started a Kickstarter campaign to create a high definition version for a ton of systems. The new version of the game will be known as Pier Solar HD and will be released on the following systems:

  • Xbox 360 (With achievements)
  • PC
  • Mac
  • Linux
  • Sega Dreamcast (Yes, you read that correctly :)

And with enough support, they plan to release a Wii U version next. With their goal set around $140,000, they already have over 1,000 people on board with about $80,000 and 25 days to go. I recommend checking this out if you're an RPG fan looking for your next fix and want to support fresh and original game design, something sorely missing in our world of endless sequels.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Shantae Cursed By Pirates In 3DS Sequel

Shantae, the fantastic "Metroidvania" series from Wayforward Technologies, is getting a brand new game on the 3DS. Set as a direct sequel to Shantae: Risky's Revenge, the new game titled Shantae and the Pirate's Curse will be roughly twice the size of its predecessor and feature the teaming up of Shantae and her pirate nemesis Risky Boots to battle a new enemy known as The Pirate Master. The series which started on the Game Boy Color back in 2002 quickly gained a loyal fanbase who were rewarded with an excellent sequel in 2010 on Nintendo's DSiWare service. Shantae has grown into a great franchise and this is largely due to its independent roots, great design and the advent of digital distribution which continues to bring us excellent new and original games. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is scheduled for a 2013 release as a 3DS eShop exclusive.

Capcom's Tatsunoko Rights Have Expired

Before Capcom's rapid decline over the last 2 years, they actually put out some truly fan favorite titles. One of those titles was Tatsunoko VS. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars for the Nintendo Wii, a title which almost didn't see a release in the US due to nearly half the roster not being known outside of Japan. The game is one of the best fighters on the Wii and a must for any Capcom, Anime or fighting game fan. Unfortunately, Capcom's rights to the license have expired which means the game can no longer be sold or distributed by Capcom in either physical or digital form. This officially puts the game in the truly collectible category meaning you should try to grab a copy before prices spike through the roof. Don't expect to see a downloadable release in the future either based on a quote from Capcom's Christian Svensson:
"Our rights with Tatsunoko have lapsed fairly recently (so we're no longer allowed to sell the title physically or digitally). Unless Japan were to strike a new deal, I'd say the chances of this happening are slim."


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Second Castlevania Episode Injected With Star Trek Star Power

Earlier this year Michael Dorn, known for his role as Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation, announced that he would be starring in a live action adaptation of the Castlevania series. Naturally, everyone assumed this meant that the oft delayed Castlevania film was back on track. Surprisingly, as shown in this continuation of Castlevania: Hymn of Blood, he was referring to this new fan made series. This turn of events is actually pretty welcome due to the quality of this new series and part 2 continues to intrigue with its fresh take on the characters and series mythology. It's a recommended view and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for yet another Star Trek: TNG actor who joins this great production. Enjoy!


Monday, November 5, 2012

Club Nintendo November Rewards Update #1

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards today replacing Pro-Putt Domo with Mario's Picross for 3DS Virtual Console. The expiration date for this offer is now November 18 and the price is 100 coins. Be sure to check back November 15 for the next reward, most likely for WiiWare or Wii Virtual Console.

Mario's Picross - Nintendo 3DS
100 Coins (Available Until November 18)

Nintendo DS Gem Solatorobo Getting A New Game

The Nintendo DS and its 8 year legacy is home to some of the most innovative and excellent gaming gems. One of those gems was Solatorobo: Red the Hunter which was released late last year and comes highly recommended to any fan of great action adventure games. The game which was created by CyberConnect2 introduced players to a very unique and compelling world painted with an art style reminiscent of a Miyazaki film. CyberConnect2 president Hiroshi Matsuyama has recently confirmed that a follow-up title is in the works. Unfortunately, details are scarce aside from the confirmation leaving many to wonder what system will receive the new game. Personally, my vote is for the 3DS as the hardware is well suited to the many ambitious directions the new title could utilize. Until more details surface, do yourself a favor and experience the excellent DS original.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sweet Indie Game Trailer Showcases 61 Games

It's no secret that I am a fan of independent games. The indie game is a personal expression of the designer that sticks with you in a way that traditional games can't. YouTube user PixelProspector has crafted a music video trailer of his personal favorite indie games which I find is a great way to get a glimpse of some of the great titles out there. If you're curious about the title of each featured game, every game is listed in the video description. Enjoy!


Video Source (Game Titles in Video Description)

Friday, November 2, 2012

Get Dragon Quest VI For A Steal At Best Buy!

I'm not a huge fan of Best Buy but every once in a while they have a good deal and this one is too good to pass up. I have built up my DS & 3DS library over the last year due to their clearance prices for a lot of great titles, all of them falling between $10 and $15. This brings us to their latest deal, Dragon Quest VI. Old school JRPG's have a certain charm to them and few are as renowned and loved as the Dragon Quest. Dragon Quest IX for the DS was an amazingly deep and accessible game that I recommend for just about any RPG fan. The earlier games in the series are more of an acquired taste for the modern RPG gamer. The previously unreleased Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation for Nintendo DS is a great game in its own right and you can get it for under $12 right now (with Free Shipping) at Best Buy's online store. If you're a fan, grab this classic while you can!