GamerTurbo.com

WORLDWIDE SOFTWARE TOP 20
1) Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS) – 234,983 (234,983)
2) Armored Core V (PS3) – 164,981 (164,981)
3) Just Dance 3 (Wii) – 134,876 (7,443,709)
4) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 117,307 (5,109,866)
5) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) – 104,469 (13,281,303)
6) Zumba Fitness (Wii) – 104,182 (4,707,505)
7) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) – 100,519 (10,595,814)
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 97,218 (5,956,691)
9) Kinect Adventures! (X360) – 91,582 (15,907,661)
10) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (X360) – 72,892 (5,293,194)
11) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3) – 60,836 (3,139,370)
12) FIFA Soccer 12 (PS3) – 60,547 (5,164,494)
13) Zumba Fitness 2 (Wii) – 58,921 (945,099)
14) Tales of Innocence R (Vita) – 54,820 (54,820)
15) Battlefield 3 (PS3) – 54,436 (4,387,151)
16) Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC) – 51,254 (2,112,657)
17) Mario Kart Wii (Wii) – 48,381 (31,553,123)
18) Battlefield 3 (X360) – 46,427 (5,262,308)
19) Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3) – 44,839 (3,541,185)
20) Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (PS3) – 43,499 (3,073,700)

USA SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Just Dance 3 (Wii) – 58,250 (3,502,281)
2) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) – 50,789 (7,434,502)
3) Zumba Fitness (Wii) – 47,702 (2,119,140)
4) Kinect Adventures! (X360) – 47,268 (9,630,502)
5) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 36,366 (1,662,734)
6) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (X360) – 32,744 (2,732,166)
7) NBA 2K12 (X360) – 30,754 (1,208,441)
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 30,387 (2,450,529)
9) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) – 30,001 (4,288,019)
10) Zumba Fitness 2 (Wii) – 27,964 (417,307)

EUROPE SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS) – 66,778 (66,778)
2) Just Dance 3 (Wii) – 57,058 (2,858,105)
3) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) – 43,826 (3,801,249)
4) Zumba Fitness (Wii) – 41,333 (1,904,389)
5) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 36,475 (1,340,775)
6) FIFA Soccer 12 (PS3) – 34,851 (3,311,664)
7) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) – 34,310 (3,721,547)
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 30,773 (1,409,071)
9) Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC) – 27,899 (707,328)
10) Kinect Adventures! (X360) – 27,707 (3,589,891)

JAPAN SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Armored Core V (PS3) – 164,981 (164,981)
2) Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS) – 151,603 (151,603)
3) Tales of Innocence R (Vita) – 54,820 (54,820)
4) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 29,249 (1,470,038)
5) Monster Hunter 3G (3DS) – 26,713 (1,190,376)
6) Armored Core V (X360) – 24,594 (24,594)
7) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 23,315 (1,300,532)
The Idolmaster: Gravure For You! Vol. 4 (PS3) – 18,160 (18,160)
9) Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure (3DS) – 15,029 (45,844)
10) Inazuma Eleven GO (3DS) – 10,336 (393,702)

USA TOP 10 PREORDERS
1) Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3) – 72,489 (426,905)
2) Mass Effect 3 (X360) – 42,734 (641,058)
3) Diablo III (PC) – 35,659 (595,114)
4) Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (X360) – 32,978 (150,234)
5) Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (PS3) – 13,487 (98,651)
6) Final Fantasy XIII-2 (X360) – 12,653 (127,972)
7) Twisted Metal (PS3) – 12,289 (142,036)
UFC Undisputed 3 (X360) – 10,875 (103,085)
9) SoulCalibur V (X360) – 9,936 (93,193)
10) UFC Undisputed 3 (PS3) – 7,800 (89,711)

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

Game of Thrones is the first installment of George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, it has become a TV series by the same name and a real-time strategy game. Now it is becoming a role-playing game, we have reported on it before but now the website has undergone a large media update, which includes this new trailer.

What’s that? Never heard of Riverside? Well, that’s because it is a new locale featuring a new family specifically for this game. I’m not really a fan of this concept, considering there is a huge world already present in the game that they could use. I suppose we’ll judge the game by the quality it releases with but I would recommend we all prepare for the worst.

The game is slated for release sometime in May, and you can check out the website here. Do you think this game will be worth checking out?

Written by: Kyran Morrison

Wii News

What’s that? You need a fix of Mortal Kombat footage for the PlayStation Vita? Well, luckily for you today is the day you get to treat your eyes to the first batch.

All of the content from the original title released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 will be crammed onto the cart, as well as some tailored content for the Vita including 100 new challenges, one-on-one online matches, 60 fps visuals and touch controls.

Fans who are eager to take the kombat with them on the go will have the chance sometime this Spring.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

Wii News

Game Informer magazine will be featuring the hotly-anticipated PS3-exclusive The Last of Us from Naughty Dog in their upcoming March issue, but they have let a few screens and details slip a bit early. The game’s combat will be a mix of gunplay and melee attacks, and weapons will degrade and break over time so players will constantly need to scavenge for new items. Players will not control Ellie in the game (the young girl featured in the trailer), but Naughty Dog insists that the game will not be one long escort mission, and GI makes note of the fact that during their playtime she never became a hindrance.

The environments in the game, as evidenced in these screenshots, are highly reminiscent of Will Smith movie I Am Legend or Namco Bandai’s 2010 game Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, with urban environments having become overgrown with greenery, giving the post-apocalyptic setting a more colourful visual style. One of the screenshots shows the city of Pittsburgh as one of the game’s locales. Keep an eye out for the next issue of the magazine for a lot more details on The Last of Us.

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

Ubisoft is giving us a sneak peek at the futuristic weapons and gadgets the Ghosts will be deploying in their upcoming shooter Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier with this single-player campaign reveal trailer. The game hits retail on May 22 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

There’s been a lot of grim news coming from publisher THQ recently with substantial lay-offs, plummeting stock values, and executives taking significant pay cuts, but there’s a bit of positive news from the struggling company today. Probably the biggest game from THQ in 2012, Darksiders II, now has a more precise release date as a recent fiscal report lists the anticipated sequel to be released this June for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The Wii U version of the game is expected later in the year.

Unfortunately the news is not as positive for one of the company’s other big titles, Metro: Last Light. The shooter was expected to be released this summer but has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2013. THQ also lists two unannounced titles for fiscal 2013 (before March 2013) in addition to Darksiders II, UFC Undisputed 3, South Park: The Game, the annual WWE title, and Tomonobu Itagaki’s Devil’s Third.

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

I am buying a Nintendo Wii for my birthday, There is a problem. I am not finding it in any store. Everywhere, it says out of stock. Nintendo has to make more because the wiis get sold out 10 minutes after the store opens. This is ridiculou

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Wii News

Hopefully you aren’t tired of western-developed, medieval-themed RPGs yet because Electronic Arts’ Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning looks like it could be able to give blockbusters like Skyrim, Dragon Age, and The Witcher 2 a run for their money. Judge for yourself with this launch trailer and look for the game when it hits retail on February 7 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

There is still much to be learned about Nintendo’s next console. Even Nintendo hasn’t nailed down the final hardware specs according to Ninja Gaiden III developer Team Ninja (also known for producing Wii-exclusive Metroid: Other M in 2010). Director Yosuke Hayashi said in an interview with NGamer that Nintendo has been consulting with the developer to learn their preferences for the hardware: “They asked us what we would want from the hardware, and when we give them feedback we can see that they have definitely listened and making changes,” Hayashi said. “The hardware is still changing constantly.“

Don’t mistake that as a boon for developing for the new console though, as Hayashi also points out that developing for the Wii U is “very easy” and “almost exactly like on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.” He also adds that the console’s tablet controller operates similarly to the Nintendo DS touch-screen, and that the developer is planning to “introduce some elements” that were utilized in DS title Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword into the Wii U version of Ninja Gaiden III.

The Wii U will launch sometime near the end of this year and we expect that Ninja Gaiden III: Razor’s Edge will be released for the system during the launch window, however Xbox 360 and PS3 owners can experience the game on March 20 in North America and three days later in Europe.

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

IGN – 7.5/10 – “Soulcalibur V is at its absolute best with friends, when it’s testing your skill, reaction times and trash talking ability. The combat is still great and the graphics are still beautiful. Outside of that, it’s a slight disappointment, as this is the weakest single player experience in the series yet. The game just never attempts to give us something we haven’t seen before. It’s more comfortable recycling the same old gameplay with a few additions pilfered from other trend-setting fighting games. Shame, because in many ways this is a quality title, with plenty of depth in its combat, and refinements that will keep diehard fans busy.”

Game Informer – 8.5/10 – “Soulcalibur V is the next-gen Soulcalibur that I’ve been wanting as a fan for years. At the same time, it’s nothing if not more Soulcalibur. Now if Namco Bandai would release a DLC pack with the full Soul Calibur II roster, I could finally retire that disc.”

Eurogamer – 8/10 – “SoulCalibur has always excelled at offering an accessible style of combat with a level of single-player content that other fighting games have only recently begun to match. These qualities haven’t changed – and now, after what seemed like an uncertain return, the historical fighter is staging its best performance since that fateful Christmas of 1999. High five!”

Joystiq – 3.5/5 – “SoulCalibur 5 is simultaneously one of the best Soul Calibur games ever made, as well as the worst Soul Calibur game ever made. All things considered, though, I’d rather have fantastic gameplay spoiled by lackluster presentation than incredible production values ruined by frustrating, disjointed fighting. Of course, that won’t be enough for everyone, and the lingering thought that this could have been the best there ever was (given more development time) is hard to shake off. I’ll never have the kind of relationship with SoulCalibur 5 that I did with SC2, but I still plan on the two of us spending as much time as possible together. I love this game, I’m just not in love with it.”

UGO – B- – “SoulCalibur V is moving in the right direction with its changes to the fighting engine and Story mode, but too many things fall flat to call this game SoulCalibur’s big return. The lackluster Training mode barely walks you through combos and moves, there are no other single-player modes other than the Story, Quick Battle and Legendary Souls modes and there just isn’t enough content to keep you playing. Unless you’re playing online or with a buddy, things are going to grow stale fast. While the game will keep fans of the series busy there are too many things expected of modern fighting games that are not included in SoulCalibur V or not up to par to its genre peers.”

Wii News

February is a month of love, or more accurately it contains a day dedicated to love if you are neither bitter nor jaded and Nintendo are recognising this period by releasing the Pearl Pink 3DS separately for eager consumers to snap up.

This is the same model of 3DS that was available in a bundle with Nintendogs over the holidays but will now be available as a standalone model for $169.99. Essentially it is the same price, customers just won’t receive a free game with the hardware anymore. The release is naturally being poised as a way to squeeze some sales out of Valentines Day, so if your significant other wants a 3DS this might be your best chance!

Eager gamers in the UK will be able to pick up the handheld on the 10th of February, as well as the Ice White model (which has not been confirmed for the US yet).

Written by: Kyran Morrison

Wii News

The marketing director of Microsoft France has cast some doubt on hopes for any sort of announcements regarding Microsoft’s next Xbox console this year. Rumours have been circulating for several months now, so I think it is easy to say that people were starting to get excited.

“I am not convinced things will happen this year. Xbox 360′s cycle is not at all finished. The proof is that we don’t see the logic in cutting the price this year,” Cedrick Delmax said in an interview with Le Point according to Develop.

“E3 is still premature. What’s certain is that there’ll be nothing new in 2012.”

Joystiq reached out to Microsoft for a comment on the interview, they received the following PR response from their spokesperson:

“We’re always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology, as we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers. We have made no announcements regarding a next generation console and do not comment on rumors or speculation.”

So, do you think we’ll get a new Xbox announcement this year or have Microsoft’s words extinguished your hope? This sort of response from Microsoft is expected, it is unlikely they’d openly announce any intention to create a new console before the time was right, so at this point anything could happen.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

Wii News

Video game ads on TV are becoming almost as commonplace as Hollywood movie commercials these days, as you no doubt experienced over the Holiday season when you were bombarded by ads from big-budget games and game companies competing for the right to your hard-earned dollars every time you watched your favourite shows. Much like movie commercials though, the vast majority of them are pretty uninspired and forgettable. Once in a while though, an ad campaign emerges through some real creativity and turns into something really memorable. Here are ten video game commercials that rose above the call of duty (pun not intended) to deliver something really special.

10. Super Smash Bros.
Nintendo had no idea the kind of success it was going to have on its hands with the Super Smash Bros. franchise. The company known for its guarded, kid-friendly stance on games sure surprised us when it decided to make a game that brought several its most famous characters together to beat the crap out of each other, and that sentiment couldn’t have been more perfectly demonstrated than in this commercial for the N64 original.

9. Sega Saturn – Segata Sanshiro
The Sega Saturn was a commercial failure, selling fewer than 10 million units its lifetime. In fact, you probably wouldn’t be wrong in suggesting that the Saturn’s failure played a key role in driving Sega out of the hardware business. Regardless, after watching this ad campaign starring some sort of Saturn-obsessed superhero Judo master though (Japanese Chuck Norris?), I think we can all agree that the console’s failure to move consoles could have had nothing to do with Sega’s marketing techniques in Japan.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time pretty much marketed itself, you know being one of greatest video games ever created and all. Its fitting then that the game had one of the coolest commercials ever to accompany its release, showing off many of the game’s coolest moments to an epic musical score and even taunting viewers in Ye Olde English. It’s no surprise that Nintendo used the commercial again 13 years later for the release of Ocarina of Time 3D in 2011.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Speaking of Zelda on the N64, Majora’s Mask is known for being the darkest and most serious entry in the series, and this commercial evokes the atmosphere of the game perfectly. The bead of sweat dripping off the player’s eyebrow probably exemplifies the kind of stress and intensity a lot of players felt as they struggled to fit all their actions into that looming 3-day window. Watching this ad again just intensifies our hope that the game makes it onto the 3DS soon too!

6. Halo: Reach – “Deliver Hope”
While Halo fans wait patiently (or not so patiently) for the Hollywood movie adaptation that will probably never happen, Bungie has been teasing them with some top-notch live-action ads that began with Halo 3: ODST and culminated in this awesome commercial for Halo: Reach. The short minute-long sequence manages to effectively tell a story that is a microcosm of the emotional ride that players would experience in Bungie’s excellent final Halo game, no small feat for a brief TV spot.

5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Maybe it’s because the Zelda series is so highly regarded that its marketing team feels it can step outside the box to deliver some really unique advertisements, demonstrating the fact that this is the third Zelda commercial on our list. Wind Waker was endlessly scrutinized and even criticized for its new cartoony visual style, but even critics of the cel-shaded graphics couldn’t help but be impressed by this darker narrated commercial that demonstrated that the series had not lost its sense of story during the transition and that the gameplay would be as epic as ever.

4. Gears of War – “Mad World”
If you’ve played Gears of War, you know by now that at no point during the game is the fear and emotion conveyed by this famous commercial ever demonstrated within the story. That doesn’t make the advertisement any less effective though, evidenced by the fact that the “Mad World” song played in the commercial instantly became a hit again in 2006 when it first aired, and the emotional tone and music became a staple for numerous trailers for Gears 2 and 3 as well thanks to the popularity of the original.

3. Metroid: Other M
We can sit here and argue all day about why we feel Other M was a success or a failure, and we probably would if you got us started (so don’t get us started). Be that as it may, few would argue the awesomeness of this commercial for the game, a beautiful combination of music, live-action, CG, and gameplay that conveys the game’s plot perhaps more effectively than the game itself.

2. PlayStation 3 – “Michael”
After the Kevin Butler series of PlayStation 3 ads ran its course, Sony’s marketing team had to come up with a worthy follow-up campaign. Enter the “Long Live Play” moniker and this unforgettable commercial that is an homage to hardcore gamers everywhere. Even the most avid observer would have to watch this ad repeatedly to pick out all the game references, culminating in your favourite game characters raising their glasses to toast you, Mr. PS3 owner. Casual gamers may not see the appeal of the commercial quite the same, but this is fan service at its absolute best.

1. Halo 3 – “Believe”
As if Halo 3 needed much of a marketing effort. The fact that the game was the first entry in one of the industry’s most popular franchises on the Xbox 360 would have been enough to make it one of the biggest game launches in history on its own. Leave it to Bungie though to still come up with this incredibly unique and artistic ad for the game that, Halo fan or not, had to give you goosebumps. There isn’t one second of gameplay or storytelling in this commercial, so the fact that it tops our list is testament to how well-made and memorable it is. The average non-gamer wouldn’t have a clue of what the game is like, but even they would have to be intrigued after watching this video.

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

WORLDWIDE SOFTWARE TOP 20
1) Just Dance 3 (Wii) – 136,036 (7,308,833)
2) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 131,334 (4,992,559)
3) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 112,673 (5,859,473)
4) Kinect Adventures! (X360) – 109,927 (15,816,079)
5) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) – 103,187 (13,176,834)
6) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) – 98,523 (10,495,295)
7) Zumba Fitness (Wii) – 97,116 (4,603,323)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (X360) – 75,152 (5,220,302)
9) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3) – 65,585 (3,078,534)
10) Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC) – 61,708 (2,061,403)
11) Battlefield 3 (PS3) – 57,883 (4,332,715)
12) FIFA Soccer 12 (PS3) – 56,854 (5,103,947)
13) Zumba Fitness 2 (Wii) – 56,709 (886,178)
14) Mario Kart Wii (Wii) – 48,732 (31,504,742)
15) Kinect Sports: Seasons 2 (X360) – 47,533 (1,781,642)
16) NBA 2K12 (X360) – 43,947 (1,485,469)
17) Battlefield 3 (X360) – 42,689 (5,215,881)
18) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii) – 40,163 (2,571,877)
19) Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 (X360) – 38,600 (401,926)
20) Wii Fit Plus (Wii) – 38,029 (21,136,588)

USA SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Just Dance 3 (Wii) – 61,942 (3,444,031)
2) Kinect Adventures! (X360) – 60,946 (9,583,234)
3) Zumba Fitness (Wii) – 48,747 (2,071,438)
4) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) – 48,504 (7,383,713)
5) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 40,473 (1,626,368)
6) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (X360) – 36,604 (2,699,422)
7) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 33,385 (2,420,142)
NBA 2K12 (X360) – 33,371 (1,177,687)
9) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) – 28,703 (4,258,018)
10) UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System (X360) – 26,029 (236,196)

EUROPE SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Just Dance 3 (Wii) – 54,320 (2,801,047)
2) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) – 42,720 (3,757,423)
3) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 37,658 (1,304,300)
4) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) – 35,533 (3,687,237)
5) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 35,122 (1,378,298)
6) Zumba Fitness (Wii) – 34,200 (1,863,056)
7) Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC) – 32,997 (679,429)
FIFA Soccer 12 (PS3) – 31,520 (3,276,813)
9) Kinect Adventures! (X360) – 29,331 (3,562,184)
10) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3) – 29,278 (1,196,919)

JAPAN SOFTWARE TOP 10
1) Mario Kart 7 (3DS) – 36,728 (1,440,789)
2) Monster Hunter 3G (3DS) – 32,578 (1,163,663)
3) Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure (3DS) – 30,815 (30,815)
4) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) – 29,809 (1,277,217)
5) Onechanbara Z Kagura (X360) – 22,158 (22,158)
6) Heroes Phantasia (PSP) – 15,309 (15,309)
7) Inazuma Eleven GO (3DS) – 15,139 (383,366)
Beyond the Labyrinth (3DS) – 13,864 (13,864)
9) Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Masou Kishin II – Revelation of Evil God (PSP) – 12,123 (92,652)
10) Musou Orochi 2 (PS3) – 11,515 (347,871)

USA TOP 10 PREORDERS
1) Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3) – 65,266 (354,416)
2) Mass Effect 3 (X360) – 62,062 (598,324)
3) Diablo III (PC) – 37,768 (559,455)
4) Final Fantasy XIII-2 (X360) – 23,505 (115,319)
5) Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (X360) – 20,657 (117,256)
6) Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (PS3) – 10,786 (85,164)
7) Twisted Metal (PS3) – 10,566 (129,747)
Mass Effect 3 (PS3) – 10,292 (129,995)
9) UFC Undisputed 3 (X360) – 8,741 (92,210)
10) SoulCalibur V (X360) – 8,616 (83,257)

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News

Eurogamer – 8/10 – “For all its mechanical cleverness and forward-thinking design, Final Fantasy 13-2 is also convoluted, complicated and unfriendly to newcomers. In Square-Enix’s desperation to discover what its flagship series looks like in the modern world, what should be an interesting curio has been inflated to blockbuster proportions. Hurling money at a development team that has been labouring without firm creative leadership for close to a decade now has led to a game that is, in many ways, as disjointed as its world, as rambling as its lead character. In those fragments excellence, confusion, beauty, strangeness, wonder and loss may all be found.”

IGN – 8/10 – “Final Fantasy XIII-2 proves itself the better game, but it lacks the same focused storytelling employed in the original. It benefits from an improved battle system, open environments, and an overall level of polish that deserves a nod of respect. Despite its severe lack of closure, Final Fantasy XIII-2 still deserves your time, especially for a few poignant moments set at the end of days.”

GameSpot – 7.5/10 – “Square Enix should be commended for addressing Final Fantasy XIII’s problems and for once again delivering a fun and highly playable RPG glowing with visual beauty and saturated with simple but universal sentiments. Nevertheless, the improvements feel less weighty than they might have–mechanical triumphs in a game that feels less than the sum of its parts. You won’t perform awe-inspiring summons as a matter of course, and the ending–well, the ending isn’t likely to leave you with the sense of closure you might want. Yet the monster collection and time-hopping freedom alone are enough to make it worth embarking on this enjoyable adventure. Just remember to keep your expectations in check: Final Fantasy XIII-2 isn’t a timeless adventure in the grand tradition of the beloved series. But if you’re curious to see the next stage in this ongoing tale, there’s no reason you shouldn’t chase after Lightning. After all, she can’t defeat Caius without you.”

Joystiq – 3/5 – “Ultimately, if Final Fantasy XIII took the series five steps back, Final Fantasy XIII-2 takes it one hesitant step forward. Features like non-linear dungeons, optional side quests and NPC-populated towns are wonderful and all, but they were RPG staples twenty years ago. While Final Fantasy XIII-2 does quite a bit to fix the mistakes of its predecessor, it does very little to stand out on its own merits. It’s enjoyable, but it’s also disappointing in many ways. Final Fantasy deserves better.”

Game Informer – 8/10 – “Listening closely to fan feedback can be dangerous for developers, since gamers have different – and often contradictory – opinions of what needs improvement. Final Fantasy XIII was a divisive entry in the series; from the story to the battles, every element of the game had its champions and detractors. In most respects, the team at Square Enix did a great job singling out and addressing the chief problems. Progression is player-driven, combat is even more entertaining, and an array of other adjustments makes it one of my favorite RPGs from a mechanical perspective. I just want all of that integrated with a story that isn’t laughable and borderline insulting, and that’s where Final Fantasy XIII-2 falters.”

Wii News

Recently, Nintendo held a briefing where they talked up future features for the Nintendo 3DS and also talked about what they will be adding to the Wii U. The most important piece of news to take away from the briefing, the Nintendo Network.

As you can see, the key features are pretty much what other platforms already have, but it is good to finally see Nintendo catching up with everyone else in time for a new console.

User IDs will also reportedly not tie a single account to one system, instead opting to allow multiple user accounts on one console. DLC and digital distribution of retail games are also two very important features. I mean, you can hate DLC all you want, but it is here to stay.

Nintendo also says that they might change the Wii U’s name to avoid any confusion, but I guess we’ll find out more about that (and everything related to the console) at E3 this June. Does this change how you think about the Wii U, or do you still need to see some actual games for it?

Better late than never.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

Wii News

You have probably heard already, but in case you haven’t: Mega Man and Pac-Man are going to be appearing as guest characters in both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions of Street Fighter x Tekken when it releases this year. Amusingly, the Mega Man iteration that will be playable is everyone’s favourite, known as ‘bad box art Mega Man.’

In fact, according to a tweet from Yoshinori Ono, this conclusion was reached with input from former Capcom executive Keiji Inafune.

“I consulted with Mr.Megaman (his name is Mr.I…) about it 1 year ago,” Ono tweeted. So there you have it, for future reference the ‘bad box art Mega Man’ was slated to feature on the cover for the now cancelled Mega Man Universe so maybe Inafune is just having a laugh, either way none of this explains why they are Sony exclusive characters at this point.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

Wii News

When word began circulating that Mass Effect 3 was probably going to include a multiplayer component, a lot of people began to panic thinking that this would be some sort of shoe-horned death match feature. Luckily, that is not the case. The co-op multiplayer component sees you taking your place in a new special force, taking on missions to keep the galaxy safe while Shepard does what he has to do. The trailer below showcases your character options and some action-packed footage.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

Wii News

Today CD Projekt held a conference to promote The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings Enhanced Edition for Xbox 360 and along side the release date, April 17th, they revealed that along side the normal release they’re bring a ‘Dark Edition’ out which features some more physical content in a special box packaging with the series’ wolf emblem on the cover as seen above. Along side the special packaging the Dark Edition will include:

• Original Soundtrack CD
• Map of the world
• A replica Witcher medellian, as worn by Geralt
• Making of DVD which features all the trailers, dev diaries and interviews alongside the Making-of feature
• An art book with approximately 200 pages
• A quest handbook game guide

Releasing for $79.99 it is being advertised as premium content for a standard price. That’s not all however as several retailer specific pre-order bonuses that include 2 avatar outfits, 2 wolf head t-shirts, an avatar pet, a comic book and a wolf’s head key chain.

The Witcher 2 is shaping up to be a stellar 360 title by being more than just a port, the extended content and the choice of the Dark Edition have given an even bigger reason to be excited for the title. Are you looking forward to playing The Witcher 2 on the Xbox 360 this April?

Written By: James Stevenson

Wii News

Most of us had already suspected as much, but now we have heard it from straight from the horse’s mouth: Nintendo’s Wii U console will ship to all territories (North America, Japa, Europe, and Australia) sometime during this holiday season. Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata made the announcement during an earnings conference in Japan today. The announcement came in the midst of some grim financial news for the gaming giant that has forced them to slash earnings expectations despite strong 3DS sales, but Nintendo is hoping that it will return to profitability in the near future with some strong software coming down the pipeline.

Rumours have also begun circulating that Nintendo is considering a re-branding of the Wii U to a different name due to concerns that consumers are confused as to whether or not the Wii U is a distinct new console from the Wii. Any suggestions?

Written by: Mike Glubish

Wii News