Shacknews - Ozzie Mejia
The march towards the much-anticipated Kingdom Hearts III continues. A little over a year after Square Enix released the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix compilation, the publisher has returned with another handful of KH titles. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix brings together Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and the cutscenes for Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. Just as with last year's release, this new collection gives these games a full visual upgrade, as well as an interesting new perspective with the benefit of hindsight.
As one might expect, this PS3 collection should be somewhat of an eye-opener for fans of the original games. It isn't just the new content that's included, like the new boss battles and cutscenes, but also the nostalgia contained within. Whereas the first Kingdom Hearts was a novel mix of action-RPG elements across Disney worlds, the second game showed that there was a far larger mythos at work& for better or wose.
Diamond edition
The visual update should be evident from the very beginning of either game. Cutscenes have been re-worked to run at 1080p, making the Disney worlds look far more vibrant than before. It's easy to forget some of the impressive feats that Square attempted with its narrative and its cutscenes, until playing through them one more time. For example, remember that Hollow Bastion was filled with Heartless at the time of KH2? I mean, filled with Heartless? The HD upgrade will show the thousands of heartless that are roaming around near the Hollow Bastion castle, an impressive detail that would hardly have been as noticeable on PlayStation 2. As such, the sequences that have Sora taking on hordes of enemies look all the more dazzling this time around.
Square has likewise given a spit shine to some other details of the game. Enemies like the Dusks have been given some extra visual flair for additional flourish, which is noticeable in both the cutscenes and throughout the game. The feat is particularly impressive in Birth by Sleep, remastered from a previous-generation handheld. Though KH2 and Birth by Sleep play somewhat differently, they look virtually identical when playing them off this compilation.
The hero's next step
The second batch of Kingdom Hearts games progressed the series in a number of ways, but nothing more noticeable than the gameplay mechanics. The 2.5 HD Remix compilation brings them all back fully intact.
KH2 feels closer to the original game, but adds in context actions that allow Sora to perform moves that aren't otherwise possible. These quick-time event prompts will differ from foe to foe and are often the key to surviving boss battles. It's easy to forget that the difficulty takes a bit of a jump from KH1 to KH2 and it's never more evident than when facing off against Organization XIII. Elements like context actions, as well as tandem magic spells and the Drive meter make harder sequences do-able without breaking the balance. It should also be noted that wielding dual Keyblades is one of the best feelings of KH2 and remains one of the game's best additions to date.
Meanwhile, Birth by Sleep adds a few keen new ideas of its own, like Shotlocks and Command Styles. While they're fine additions, the biggest adjustment is the individual character Deck Commands, which must be switched back-and-forth using the D-pad and used with the Triangle button. Managing these individual attacks and keeping track of their cooldown meters can be difficult and it doesn't feel nearly as intuitive as the magic commands from KH2. For those more accustomed to the combat of the original KH and KH2, Birth by Sleep has a noticeably steeper learning curve.
Hindsight is everything
Fans of the franchise, as well as anyone looking to give the eventual Kingdom Hearts III a try, are best-served to run through these past games one more time. Remember, these are long stories that are filled with exposition and much more story has unfolded since their release. I was surprised by how many more dots I was able to connect on a fresh playthrough, not just to the overall narratives of these individual games, but also to the greater story as a whole. I'll grant that a lot of the story will leave people scratching their heads and in certain places, that's not about to change. In fact, watching some of the story unfold a second time with the knowledge of what happens next may actually leave more questions. This happened to me, but there were also many other places where I had "A-ha!" moments, where I'd understand the greater context and how those moments would feed into the greater narrative.
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix doesn't tread upon much new ground, aside from the never-released Final Mix content. There are some new bosses and some new collectibles, like the addition of puzzle pieces to each world, which doesn't add too much to the overall experience, but is a nice thought. But KH HD 2.5 Remix is what it is: It's great fan service to help make the neverending wait for Kingdom Hearts 3 slightly more palatable.
These impressions are based on a PlayStation 3 retail copy provided by the publisher. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix will be available in retail stores on December 2 for $39.99. The game is rated E10+.
Shacknews - Steven Wong
If you missed out on the one day &last week, don't worry, they're making a comeback for Cyber Monday.&
Starting today, December&1, 2014 at 12:01am PST and ending tonight at&11:59pm PST, you have one last chance to pick up the following bundles:
A 32 GB Nvidia Shield with LTE connectivity coupled with a Shield Controller, the Green Box Bundle (Portal, Half-Life 2, and Half-Life 2 Episode One), and access to the Nvidia Grid gaming service. Normally around $488 in value, but bundled together&for $399.
An Nvidia Shield Portable with a free case, glossy black armor, and access to Nvidia Grid (valued at about $258) for $199.
If you're interested in these deals, now is the time to hit them, because they're only going to around for the rest of day.
Shacknews - Daniel Perez
Kratos will once again be donning his Blades of Chaos as David Jaffe, best known to be the director of God of War, has confirmed a new God of War title is currently in development.
Jaffe took to his &to make the announcement overnight, saying &we ARE making a new God of War.& He also shares &it&s less than a week away,& which I assume he means the title&s official reveal at next weekend&s PlayStation Experience that&s taking place on December 6 and December 7.
The last time we got a dose of Kratos was in March 2013&s God of War: Ascension, which didn&t exactly sell as well as Sony would have thought a God of War game would have. Even though it didn&t sell well, I had no doubt in my mind a new God of War title would have been in development. I just hope Sony finds another way to milk Kratos a little more since his story, and legendary rage, have been so compelling over the years.
As you&d expect, there&s no word on where the new God of War game will land, although I wouldn&t hesitate to guess it&d be available on the PlayStation 4. I just hope we get to experience it in time for next holiday season.
Shacknews - Daniel Perez
[Update: It looks like the follow-up tweet David Jaffe made confirms that this, indeed, was a joke. The first tweet "F*** it- it's less than a week away&I'm allowed to confirm it anyway at this point: we ARE making a new God of War" was followed by the following: "Inspired ice sculpture for my kid's birthday party!!! Kratos ice sculpt is so gonna rock!!!!!!"]
Original story:
Kratos will once again be donning his Blades of Chaos as David Jaffe, best known to be the director of God of War, has confirmed a new God of War title is currently in development.
Jaffe took to his &to make the announcement overnight, saying &we ARE making a new God of War.& He also shares &it&s less than a week away,& which I assume he means the title&s official reveal at next weekend&s PlayStation Experience that&s taking place on December 6 and December 7.
The last time we got a dose of Kratos was in March 2013&s God of War: Ascension, which didn&t exactly sell as well as Sony would have thought a God of War game would have. Even though it didn&t sell well, I had no doubt in my mind a new God of War title would have been in development. I just hope Sony finds another way to milk Kratos a little more since his story, and legendary rage, have been so compelling over the years.
As you&d expect, there&s no word on where the new God of War game will land, although I wouldn&t hesitate to guess it&d be available on the PlayStation 4. I just hope we get to experience it in time for next holiday season.
Shacknews - Ozzie Mejia
It looks like 2014 is coming to a close. The final month of the year starts up with a handful of exciting games across several platforms. The Crew drives onto PC and most consoles, Telltale begins its take on Game of Thrones, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix lands on PlayStation 3, and Captain Toad jumps into adventure on Wii U. Check out the full list of releases below.
The Crew (download - $60)
Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series (download - $30)
Neocolonialism (download)
Reverse Side (download)
Lumino City (download)
1Quest (download)
Potatoman Seeks the Troof (download)
Rugby Union Team Manager 2015 (download)
Myths of Orion (download)
Club Manager 2015 (download)
Bombing Bastards (download)
Ultraworld (download)
Bin Weevils Arty Arcade (download)
iO (download)
PlayStation 4
Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series (download - $30)
Secret Ponchos (download)
Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series (download - $30)
Limbo (download)
Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series (download - $30)
Tales From the Borderlands (download)
PlayStation 3
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
NES Remix Pack
Fantasy Hero: Unsigned Legacy
Final Horizon
Nintendo 3DS
Ultimate NES Remix
Shacknews - Ozzie Mejia
It's Black Friday, so it's time to start looking out for the best deals across all online retailers. Amazon and Steam seem to be leading the pack with great discounts, but there are also several other stores that are offering flash deals that will last for today only. Those shops include the Humble Store and the all-new Direct2Drive. Keep a close eye out on what's out there, but for a brief taste of what's available, check out the list of deals below.
But first, a word from .
Enter the ! Winners receive their pick of six high-end Android phones, including the Galaxy Note and the Nexus 6.
The NES30 Bluetooth Controller -
Limefuel LP200X 20,000mAh Dual USB Battery -
Here's our selection of this weekend's PC deals:
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth [Steam] -
(TODAY ONLY)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor [Steam] -
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel [Steam] -
WildStar -
The Sims 4 [Origin] -
(TODAY ONLY)
Alien: Isolation [Steam] -
(TODAY ONLY)
NBA 2K15 [Steam] -
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn -
Guild Wars 2 -
Total War: Rome II [Steam] -
Borderlands 2 GOTY Edition [Steam] -
Titanfall [Origin] -
The full list of Amazon's digital Black Friday deals can be found .
Bundle Stars
for Eador: Masters of the Broken World, Battle Group 2, Eador: Genesis, Supreme Commander: Gold Edition, Jagged Alliance: Gold Edition, Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal, and Planet Stronghold.
for Wickland, Waves, Enemy Mind, Guns and Robots: Terminator Pack, QbQbQb, Chuck's Challenge 3D (w/soundtrack + DLC), Panzer Tactics HD, Spoiler Alert: Collector's Edition, and Tiestru. These activate on Steam.
for Scania Truck Driving Simulator, Bus Driver, Euro Truck Simulator, Ski Region Simulator: Gold Edition, Rulers of Nations, Trucks & Trailers, Farming World, and Taxi. These activate on Steam.
Batman: Arkham Origins [Steam] -
Alan Wake Collector's Edition [Steam] -
Enemy Front [Steam] -
F.E.A.R. 3 [Steam] -
Direct2Drive (formerly GameFly Digital)
Direct2Drive is celebrating its relaunch with new flash sales every hour. Check out the latest deals on .
GamersGate
GamersGate is in the middle of their Thankgiving Sale, with flash sales every few hours. To see the latest flash deals, visit .
Battlefield 4 [Origin] -
Titanfall [Origin] -
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons [Steam] -
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition [Steam] -
Fallout 3 GOTY Edition [Steam] -
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare [Origin] -
WildStar -
Alien Isolation [Steam] -
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [Steam] -
Defiance Recruit Pack -
The Evil Within [Steam] -
FIFA 15 [Origin] -
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn -
The Elder Scrolls Online -
Total War: Rome II [Steam] -
South Park: The Stick of Truth [Steam] -
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance [Steam] -
Check out the full list of Black Friday deals at GameStop .
Wolfenstein: The New Order [Steam]] -
(TODAY ONLY)
The Evil Within [Steam] -
(TODAY ONLY)
The Elder Scrolls Online -
Other games in the Bethesda flash sale can be found . These deals last for today only.
Tomb Raider GOTY Edition [Steam] -
(Other Tomb Raider games also on sale .)
Trials Fusion [UPlay] -
Epic Anniversary Promo (Unreal Gold + Unreal Tournament GOTY + Unreal 2: The Awakening + Unreal Tournament 2004 Collector's Edition) -
Two Worlds 2: Epic Edition -
Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire -
Other games in GOG's Tip Top Topware promo can be found .
Green Man Gaming
The Evil Within [Steam] -
Wolftenstein: The New Order [Steam] -
Sid Meier's Civilization V Complete Edition [Steam] -
XCOM: Enemy Within [Steam] -
DMC: Devil May Cry [Steam] -
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition [Steam] -
Company of Heroes 2 [Steam] -
Wargame: Red Dragon [Steam] -
DuckTales Remastered [Steam] -
Devil May Cry 4 [Steam] -
Humble Bundle
for Dreamcast Collection, Nights Into Dreams, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the Total War: Rome II Caesar in Gaul DLC, and the Football Manager 2015 Miles' Tactic DLC. Pay more than the average $3.73 to also receive Empire: Total War and Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies: Oberkommando West. Pay $12 or more to also get Total War: Shogun 2 - Fall of the Samurai. Pay $50 or more to get an exclusive Dreamcast t-shirt. Select soundtracks included. All games work on Steam and are Steam keys are available with a $1 minimum.
for six Pinball FX2 tables: Star Wars Pinball Balance of the Force, Excalibur, Mars, Doctor Strange, Captain America, and Civil War. Pay $6 or more to also get three more Pinball FX2 tables: Deadpool, Marvel Pinball Vengeance and Virtue, and Star WarsPinball Heroes Within. Select soundtracks included. All games work on Steam and Steam keys are available with a $1 minimum.
Watch Dogs [UPlay] -
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter [Steam] -
Insurgency [Steam] -
South Park: The Stick of Truth [Steam] -
Trials Fusion [UPlay] -
Deus Ex Collection [Steam] -
Tomb Raider Collection [Steam] -
Valiant Hearts: The Great War [Steam] -
Democracy 3 [Steam] -
Check out the full Humble Store Black Friday sale .
As well as regular discounts, Steam has a couple of additional weekend deals.
Valve Complete Pack -
Counter-Strike Complete Pack -
BioShock Triple Pack -
Mass Effect Collection -
Sid Meier's Civilization V Complete Pack -
Payday 2 -
Endless Legend -
Banished -
The Evil Within -
Wolfenstein: The New Order -
The Banner Saga -
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 -
Battleblock Theater -
Shacknews - John Gaudiosi
Publisher Kemco and developer EXE Create have brought the role playing game Alphadia Genesis to mobile devices. The game makers have worked closely with Nvidia to bring a more console-style experience to mobile gamers on Shield. The game has also been optimized to work on Android TV. Shuhei Nobuki of Kemco Games explains how the developer worked with Nvidia to bring this old-school RPG to mobile gamers in this exclusive interview.
What were your goals heading into this game?
We wanted to offer the same playability and gaming experience that exist in a console game.
What&s the storyline in this mobile game world?
Alphadia Genesis is an adventure game with themes of discrimination, persecution and the struggle of magical-artificial beings called Clones. There&s also the theme of love and friendship overcoming such negative things.
Can you talk about the gaming experience and how it utilizes tablet and smartphone functionality?
It&s a completely stress-free touchscreen interface during movements with easy command and target inputs.
What does your game bring to the genre?
Tradition. It has good old-school elements for a new generation of RPG gamers, as well as brand new and responsive playability.
What excites you about what you can accomplish in mobile gaming today?
I like the ubiquitous nature of mobile, which allows players to enjoy high-quality RPGs everywhere, whenever they want, on any device.
How do you feel you're pushing things forward with this game?
We are confident because RPG is one of the strongest genres, which guarantees a sufficiently long gameplay experience for players who wish to enjoy full gaming experience.
How have you worked with Nvidia on your game?
We received guidance for Tegrazone submission and Shield devices for testing, as well as advice to help make our game compatible with Nvidia Shield. They also provided useful technical advice for the game optimization for Android TV.
How does your game make use of the latest Tegra 4 technology?
We think the technology has been useful for the Unity 3D rendering. It has impacted the gameplay experience across platforms with high 3D rendering performance without any differences on the device, regardless of mobile or console.
What does Shield open up for your game?
Its keypad controls enhance the controllability of our app.
What are your thoughts on Nvidia Tegra K1 technology?
We&re always looking for technical innovation like what the Shield provides.
What do you see Android TV gaming opening up for game developers moving forward?
Developers will be able to provide gaming experiences, such as fighting games, that cannot be fully realized with the limitations of touchscreens.
What does Tegra K1 add to the equation for big screen gaming experiences?
It will actualize high-quality visual expression in every type of device and will make porting possible without any downgrades.
How do you see mobile gaming evolving moving forward with mobile technology advancing and migrating to the big screen?
Development costs will definitely increase, so a new way of monetization will be necessary to increase developer profits. Since the mobile gaming industry tends to lower the price of digital content, we need to maintain a price standard and find an easier way to monetize content with users.
Shacknews - Ozzie Mejia
Killer Instinct continues its second season with another new fighter making his debut this week. This time around, Iron Galaxy has an original creation up their sleeve. It's the mummified warrior known as Kan-Ra. Shacknews was feeling curious about the bandaged behemoth, so we reached out to lead combat designer Adam 'Keits' Heart to learn some more about this new combatant.
Shacknews: Kan-Ra is one of your original creations for Killer Instinct. How did you come up with the concept for the character? And what can you tell us about his back story?
KI lead combat designer Adam Heart: Kan-Ra&s original concept was quite a bit different. It was a loose gameplay archetype idea with a loose character description that, over the course of many brainstorming meetings over many months, evolved into what you see before you now.
His backstory (from the official forums):
Babylon, 559 BC: Kan-Ra is named Vizier, head advisor to the throne.
Over his years of study in this position, he becomes fascinated with the King's enigmatic royal guard & a living bronze statue & and the magic that keeps it alive. From all of Kan-Ra's cautious attempts to observe and study the creature, he deduces that its power source could theoretically keep it alive forever. The thought of being able to study and learn until the end of time enthralls Kan-Ra and feeds his obsession for knowledge.
Scholarly research in the royal libraries into past wonders and lost arts of magi Kan-Ra feels that as the smartest person in Babylon only he is qualified to rule. He seduces the King&s wife using a charm spell and begins setting in motion a plan to take the throne by using the Queen as his assassin.
Lacking the power to control the spell effectively, it wears off prematurely. The Queen, thinking herself simply coming to her senses after being seduced by Kan-Ra, is overwhelmed by guilt, killing herself and leaving a note detailing her and Kan-Ra's betrayal.
Enraged, the King has Kan-Ra hunted down and captured by his royal guard, who brings a bloodied a broken Kan-Ra before the throne. The King summons his most powerful sorcerers and curses Kan-Ra with a withering rot- a painful dark magic curse that disintegrates flesh and organs slowly... painfully. Writhing in agony, rotting a bit more every day, Kan-Ra is exiled, he and his ambition doomed to wither away into nothingness.
In exile Kan-Ra uses what little knowledge he has gained of magic to slow the rot. While the King assumes him dead, Kan-Ra's intellect is focused on reversing the rot so that he can have his revenge. He tracks down sorcerers and occultists versed in dark magic, learning what he can. Unable to slow his rot further, he instead places upon himself other curses that work to offset the rot. He seeks out magical artifacts and talismans to ease the pains and ailments these layers of curses cause him, carrying them on him in ever- a magical balancing act of curses and boons at play throughout his being.
This guy was inflicted with a curse of rot, meant to slowly and painfully kill him. He sought out other dark magic and artificats in an effort to remove this curse, but was only able to slow it. Eventually, by purposely adding additional curses to himself, he was able to halt the rot, though he deals with the agony of his carefully chosen curses every day. He seeks ultimate knowledge and thinks of anyone who would dare oppose him as a joke.
Shacknews: I've seen some cool ranged attacks and some neat counters, but what type of KI player is Kan-Ra best suited for?
AH: Making new characters to add to KI in season 2, we are always looking to fill a gap and appeal to a player type or gameplay type that nothing currently in the game does. Kan-Ra may appeal to fans of trap-based characters, zoners, or grapplers. If you like two of those things, you are almost sure to like him. If you enjoy all three, we think you are in for a treat. We affectionately call him a "Trappler."
Shacknews: Which of Kan-Ra's moves and combos are you particularly proud of? What did you see from him that just made you go, "Ok, that's badass!"
AH: I really like the way he can ping-pong you off of his spikes into swarms and into tornadoes. It's a like a crazy Rube Goldberg of sandy death. Of course, his ranged command throw "Clutch" is totally amazing, and his sand construct Antlion is also pretty damn cool.
Shacknews: What have players had to say about Kan-Ra thus far? And what have players shown you about the character that you weren't necessarily expecting?
AH: We have a really scary Kan-Ra player in our QA department, so we haven't seen anything surprising just yet. He is a tricky character that will take some time to get the hang of for most players, so it may take a month or two to see his potential start to show in the wild. People seem to really be digging his personality, visual effects, gameplay, and animation. Keep playing him and see what you can discover!
Shacknews: What would you consider to be Kan-Ra's best matchup? And which character is just a nightmare for him to deal with?
AH: Anything we think could change if we learn something about a matchup we didn't know before, but in my opinion Fulgore gives him a hard time, and he gives Thunder a hard time.
Killer Instinct is available now for Xbox One. Season 2 is now available for $19.99, while Kan-Ra is available individually for $4.99.
Shacknews - Brittany Vincent
Most people wouldn&t know what NFC stands for if their life depended on it, but this season is changing that with hot toys that utilize it combine the appeal of physical figures and video games. We&re talking Near Field Communication, a form of wireless connectivity that makes information transfer over short distances easy. It&s the same technology some Android phones use to send pictures and other files to each other by pressing them against each other.
The series of Skylanders games and toys by Activision started the craze of utilizing small action figures with a NFC chip inside along with a scanner base to unlock characters in a video game, and things have only grown from there. The concept was a huge success and was quickly adapted by Disney for its Disney Infinity series. Last, but not least, Nintendo entered the fray with the Amiibo line of figures, which released just this month.
The plethora of figures lining the halls of the electronics aisle in your nearest department store can be overwhelming. Although each series utilizes the same concept, the NFC figures interact with their respective games differently, they have different prices, and every kid (along with quite a few adults) will be clamoring for them this holiday season. However, the best bang for the buck doesn&t mean that the cheapest solution when it comes to these figures.
Several categories are outlined here, comparing the three series so that you can make the best possible decision for your loved ones... or yourself.
Skylanders: The latest edition in the franchise is Skylanders: Trap Team. The starter pack comes with the game itself (which is a necessity), two figures, and two traps with an MSRP of $74.99. Some of the older starter packs can be had for less, but with the holiday push to sell Trap Team, they&re going to be hard to find in stores. The figures themselves typically come in packs of three for MSRP $24.99, or in packs of two, plus a new level for the game at MSRP $19.99. Trap packs are available for $14.99. Older figures can be found for a bit cheaper, and any previous Skylanders character can be used in Trap Team.
Disney Infinity: Disney Infinity&s newest starter packs come in two flavors. You can either purchase the Toy Box 2.0 starter kit which retails for MSRP $59.99 and comes with the Merida and Stitch figures, or the Marvel Super Heroes 2.0 Edition starter pack that comes with Thor, Iron Man, and Black Widow for MSRP $74.99. The individual characters come in at MSRP $13.99, and the playsets which feature two characters and a new set of story levels come in at MSRP $34.99
Amiibos: Featuring recognizable Nintendo characters like Mario, Samus, and Link, Amiibos work a bit differently from other figures in that they not tied to a specific game. Any copy of Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. Wii U, or Hyrule Warriors will work with or without Amiibos. The figures come in individual packs that retail for MSRP $12.99.
Functionality and Gameplay
Skylanders and Disney Infinity: Both series utilize a base plate that uses NFC to detect a figure. Once a figure is detected, the character the figure is based on becomes playable in-game. The base plate is also used to unlock new levels for both games. Skylanders adds the addition of the trap crystals in its newest game, which are used to capture defeated enemies that players add to their roster. Both games feature a story mode, but Disney Infinity takes its host of features a little further with the addition of the Toy Box sandbox mode, which players can use to make their own adventures with any characters they own adding a much loved injection of replayability and imagination.
Amiibos: Unlike Skylanders or Disney Infinity, Amiibos are not the focus of the games they are used with. Once pressed against the Wii U Gamepad, they can: be imported into Super Smash Bros. Wii U as a CPU fighter and trained by fighting against or
unlock new costumes for Miis in Mario Kart 8; or unlock random weapons and items in Hyrule Warriors. Those are currently the only three games that are compatible with Amiibos, but Nintendo plans to expand their functionality toward a number of upcoming titles.
Skylanders: While the series has become very popular, none of its all-original characters are going to be very recognizable to adults the way a Disney or Nintendo character would be. Some of the characters have interesting designs, but for the most part it seems to consist of a menagerie of tiny troll-like creatures. The series has more appeal towards kids who are riding the fad and those who have a &catch em& all& mentality and just love to collect. The amount of Skylanders figures currently available is by far the highest of the three, weighing in at 300+ figures. The game itself is a simple affair, marketed for children, but adults won&t find to much here to enjoy.
Disney Infinity: Disney has been a hallmark of children&s lives for decades and Infinity appeals to children and adults alike. With the faces of Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, and others from the Marvel universe alongside Donald Duck, Maleficent, Elsa, Stitch, and friends covering the Disney universe, this series has the broadest appeal. However, like Skylanders, the game itself does not lend itself to adult tastes and is very easy. However, parents might appreciate the Toy Box mode, because it&s a fun way to creatively bond with their kids. Adults will love the nostalgia, but probably won&t stay around for the main game.
Amiibos: Amiibos are great for adults and kids alike, as everyone can recognize the likes of Mario, Pikachu, Peach, and other classic Nintendo characters. Some of the games that utilize the figures may be too tough for smaller kids, but the beauty of this series is that the figures work on a variety of games instead of focusing on one. Mario Kart 8 is great for younger kids, as it has very simple and intuitive controls, while Super Smash Bros. Wii U and Hyrule are great for older kids, teens, and adults, meaning that no one has to miss out on the fun of Amiibos.
Which is Worth It?
Each series has its own strong points. Skylanders has a huge variety of characters, Disney Infinity has nostalgia and creativity, and Amiibos have a wide age appeal and diverse utilization. Out of the three though, Disney Infinity and Amiibos stand out as the best choices. Although Skylanders is the longest running series, it simply has too much of a dollar investment with the gigantic amount of characters (it would take more than $3000 to collect the whole series), and it lacks recognizably unique traits.
Disney Infinity would probably be the best choice for smaller kids (7 and under), as it is tooled around providing the best experience for children that age, and lets them play as their favorite Marvel and Disney characters through a unique and age-appropriate story. The smaller number of figures and recognizable characters means that instead of a constant drive to collect more and more of them, a child can simply pick their favorites and be content. However, adults won&t find much here other than nostalgia, as the gameplay is just too simple to keep mature interests.
Amiibos are great for the teen or adult in your life who plays games regularly or just enjoys Nintendo characters. The are a welcome addition to existing games, and even if a person doesn&t have the games or even a Wii U, the figures are well-made enough to collect without ever touching them to a gamepad. However, the selection of games they&re compatible with, as well as the features they unlock, are not really enough to justify the price if a person wants them solely for their NFC features. This will change down the line as Nintendo releases more and more games with Amiibo compatibility.
Which set will you be buying this season? Let us know in the comments!
Look at you, hacker. Brittany is fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games. Until her dying breath she'll be wielding a BFG made entirely of killer drive and ambition. Check out her work at . Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched!
Shacknews - Shack Staff
Steve Watts
I actually had one more review in the pipe that readers will see next week, but once I wrapped up that gem I was honestly a little paralyzed with choice. At this point in the year, there's just so much I've left untouched it's hard to even know where to begin. Assassin's Creed Unity? Far Cry 4? Smash Bros? Even with plenty of of reviews under my belt, there are still tons of GOTY contenders I've barely even dipped a toe into.
Ultimately it came down to which one I was most excited for: Dragon Age Inquisition. Steven's review really sold me on giving it a go sooner rather than later, and I've barely even left the first area yet. There's just so much to do and see everywhere, I keep wandering around on my way to finish one quest and finding five more. I've heard this runs the risk of making your character overpowered for most of the game, but I wouldn't mind that, because I tend to enjoy feeling just a little superheroic in RPGs.
When I'm not in the mood for shooting magic bolts at demons, Smash Bros for Wii U will probably be the next game I give a whirl. I never made much time for the 3DS version, but the Wii U just seems more full-fledged, and I'm curious to try out these Amiibo figures. I've already imported them into my Mario Kart 8 too, so I can race as a Link- or Samus-themed Mii while zipping around the new DLC tracks.
Steven Wong
I spent an absurd amount of time playing Far Cry 4, but I can already feel the game calling me back for the holidays. I think bouncing between that and Dragon Age: Inquisition may eat up all my time, but the Steam Autumn Sale is happening and I really want to put my new Alienware Alpha to the test, so who knows what I'll pick up?
To be thematic for the holiday, I'll jump into some Don't Starve.
Ozzie Mejia
I should have my Black Friday early access delivery from Best Buy by the time you're all reading this, so I'll be jumping into Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Infamous: Second Son this weekend. This will also be the first chance for me to jump into the Mario Kart 8 DLC. And of course, I will still be on the lookout for Super Smash Bros. lobbies on Wii U and I will be happy to take on all comers.
Daniel Perez
This holiday weekend will be spent bouncing back and forth between Grand Theft Auto V and Dragon Age Inquisition,
I really enjoyed what Rockstar Games has done for the current-gen version of GTA 5 as I can't get enough of its first-person mode as well as all of the extremely detailed visuals. I also now have a reason to sink as much time as I like to level up my GTA Online character beyond level 10 now that the service is actually playable.
As for Dragon Age Inquisition, I've been hearing nothing but positive things about the game, and since I missed the boat on Dragon Age II, I thought I'd dedicate some time to the game this weekend. I already started playing it a few nights ago and only got as far as actually forming my inquisition. Even though my female elf mage is much uglier than I intended for her to be, the rest of the world and its cast are absolutely stunning. The combat also offers a nice mix of fast-paced action and strategy as I can pick and choose exactly what I want each character to do in battle, or I could just go balls to the wall and attempt to kill everything I come across.
Oh, and I'll still be spending some time with the Alienware Alpha, especially with the upcoming Steam sale. I have a feeling I'm going to once again go broke because of Steam's sale, but at least I'll be broke from the comfort of my living room.
Joe Tirado
I will be playing Far Cry 4, while patiently waiting for the Master Chief Collection to work&properly. Hiding from killer eagles goes hand in hand with being thankful for family and stuff. Plus, I keep having daydreams that people in the street are going to just randomly start shouting EAGGGGGGLEEEEEEEEE and running away
Andrew Zucosky
Usually, my Thanksgiving consists of my family and I gorging on food&then watching one of those sportsball games without fail. And I am by&no means a sportsball fan. I just grasped the idea of the ball being&covered in pig skin, however I am still hazy on what they did with the&rest of the pig (celebratory organ chucking?). Thanks to technology I&no longer have to face this problem. I plan on playing Alpha Sapphire&a lot on my 3DS, until I at least get 6 badges and have my Mudkip&evolve into a Swampert. Then while everyone is enjoying the pop flies&in the endzone I'll be using the Wii U gamepad to play Super Smash.&And finally, once everyone has been taken hold by the "itis" I will&sit down and play Dragon Age: Inquisition until my eyes bleed.
Sam Leichtamer
This Thanksgiving I'll be traversing the new Summoner's Rift in League of Legends. The standard map&is completely redesigned and I'm excited to see just how my favorite champions will play on it. I'm looking forward to practicing the new champion, Kalista. My favorite role to play in the game is Marksman and that is just what she is. But she's way cooler than the others because she's a Spector.
Joe Stasio
I'll be playing Dragon Age: Inquisition... or at least doing my best to make time to play it.
Josh Hawkins
I'll be dosing myself up with hefty amounts of Grand Theft Auto V. Not really anything else from my library on my radar right now.