Strategy Session – Competitive Pokemon IV
The second of our reader requests appears today, the fighting mushroom known as Breloom. This critter has gotten a pretty big boost with the current generation of Pokemon, gaining a new ability, better hold items to play with, and most importantly, an improved movepool.
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Editorial – E3 is Energy, Exhibits, Equilibrium
Most gamers remember what E3 was like in the early to mid-’00s, even if they didn’t attend: showy exhibits, loud music, plenty of swag, booth babes, and a festive atmosphere. It was more than just a trade show; it was a festival of gaming for the industry’s best. It was the chance to try out games that weren’t out yet and talk with developers. It was an exhausting sensory overload and a collective experience that made many wonderful memories.
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Bioware Drops New Mass Effect 2 Teaser, Dragon Age: Origins Release Date
Apparently shunning old-fashioned press releases, Bioware recently released two new teaser videos via GameTrailers.
The first is a new E3 teaser trailer for Mass Effect 2. The first teaser trailer, released back in February, showed that Commander Shepard was killed in action. This new trailer shows Shepard alive and well and taking on a dangerous mission. There’s also a previously released video that features the developers talking about what players can expect in Mass Effect 2.
The second is a new trailer for Dragon Age: Origins. In addition to showing plenty of spattered blood, this trailer also reveals the game’s new release date of October 20.
Source: GameTrailers
XSEED Bringing Lunar, Half-Minute Hero to North American PSPs
XSEED recently announced that it will be localizing the upcoming Lunar remake, Lunar: Harmony of the Silver Star, for North America. It will also be rearranging the title’s words into Lunar: Silver Star Harmony. The company will also be bringing over Half-Minute Hero, known as Yuusha 30 in Japan. Both games should be released this fall.
Source: Siliconera
Trinity: Zill O’ll Zero Gets New Name Before Leaving Japan
PS3-exclusive action RPG Trinity: Zill O’ll Zero is already set to be released in Japan this winter, but it’s also coming to North America sometime in the future, courtesy of Koei. There is no definite release date yet, but we do know that it will be renamed Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll.
Source: Siliconera
Star Ocean: Blue Sphere Remake Goes Mobile
Like just about every other classic series under the Square Enix umbrella, the remake of Star Ocean: Blue Sphere is headed for mobile phones. It will be available for download in Japan on June 8.
Star Ocean: Blue Sphere was originally released on the Game Boy Color system, and the remake has shiny updated graphics. The original game never made it to North America, and there’s no word on whether this remake will either.
Source: Siliconera
XSEED to Release Fragile for Wii Stateside
Namco Bandai and tri-Crescendo’s Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon is getting a US release courtesy of publisher XSEED. Set in a ruined world without light, Fragile incorporates the Wiimote for use as both a flashlight and a metal detector.
No release date has been announced.
Source: Kotaku
Fallout 3: Broken Steel – Staff Review
The path to recovery begins with the simplest but hardest action a person can take: admitting they’ve done something wrong. So some applause is in order for Bethesda, who finally saw fit to take another crack at Fallout 3‘s ending after the near unanimous criticism it earned. The ending was one of the few truly uncontested blights on an otherwise excellent long-awaited sequel, and that Broken Steel addresses this weakness goes without saying; the game is unquestionably better for it. Whether Broken Steel hits the right notes on its own, however, is another matter.
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We’re Going to the Moon!
Effective today, we’re switching IRC servers again. This time, we’re moving to irc.lunarnet.org, home of the moon penguins. Our friends at Soulriders made the jump a while back and we decided to follow suit. Lunarnet is more stable and the administration is more on-the-ball in dealing with technical issues.
If you regularly join us on IRC, please remember to connect to lunarnet instead of procrast. If you’ve never joined our IRC channel, drop in and visit us at our new home.
Cross Edge Invades Retail
Cross Edge, the PS3 cross over game with franchises like Disgaea and Darkstalkers, is now available at North American retailers for $49.99. Look for our review sometime after E3.
Pirates of the Caribbean Setting Sail for 360, PS3, PC
Propaganda Games, in conjunction with Disney, have just announced an upcoming action RPG based on Pirates of the Caribbean. Few details have been released, save that the game is a prequel to the movies and will not focus on any of the events featured in them.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned is slated for launch on 360, PS3, and the PC. No release date has been announced.
Source: Kotaku
Ys Online Beta Re-opens, Lets Europeans In
After implementing some changes, Nihon Falcom has re-opened the beta of Ys Online: Call of Solum. The game now has PvP, crafting, weapon enchantment, and an increased level cap. It’s also available to Europeans for the first time.
Old beta players can still access their characters. New players can apply for a beta key at the official site, so if you missed out on this before, you have another chance.
Europe Gets Extra Shiny Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Square Enix announced today (now yesterday in Europe) that it will be releasing a limited edition of Star Ocean: The Last Hope in PAL territories. The special package includes a game soundtrack compilation CD, five character cards, and a mini-guide — all in a fancy box. Both versions will arrive in Europe on June 5.
Game Changers: Volume 9 – The Legend of Zelda
The year is 1987. The Nintendo Entertainment System is quickly becoming a household name. Most players have hopped and warped their way through Super Mario Bros., killed entire flocks of ducks in Duck Hunt, and probably taken more than a few potshots at that infernal dog that had a good laugh at you whenever you missed — man’s best friend indeed! Most NES-playing children were, by this point, pestering parents for new challenges. And for those who’d cut their teeth on the side-scrolling Super Mario, nothing could be more different than The Legend of Zelda.
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Blurring the Line: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Staff Review
To hear the Warhammer universe tell it, the far future is bleak and brutal. Across the galaxy, humanity lives in constant fear of assault by impossibly huge numbers of aliens. Be they the brutish Orks, the conniving Eldar, or the ravenous Tyranid, there are countless creatures that see humanity as food, pawns, or just someone else to fight. And so humans genuflect to their God-Emperor and the Space Marines, a legion of genetically enhanced super-soldiers who literally exist just for the purpose of fighting. Thus is the setting of Dawn of War II, and throughout its bleak atmosphere it manages to deliver a compelling, if repetitive, twist on the usual real-time strategy formula.
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Strategy Session – Competitive Pokemon III
This week, we’ll be fulfilling a reader request and peering under the hood of one of the most popular Eevee evolutions. Jolteon has some pretty serious issues, but it still manages to see a lot of play thanks to an exceptionally useful ability and speed that makes the Road Runner look positively sluggish. Take a look inside for ways to turn your Jolteon into a purring engine of destruction!
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Mass Media 05/21/09
Y’know, I love Fallout 3 and all, and Broken Steel finally retcons the stupid ending, but I get the feeling it’s not going to add what I really want: getting to wear Col. Autumn’s sweet coat, and more President Eden. Ah well. At least mods can fix one of those. Anyway, on to the media: Lunar: Harmony of the Silver Star, Demon’s Souls, Final Fantasy Legend II DS, and Blazing Souls Accelerate. Check ’em out:
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