In Gates to Infinity we see a mixture of generations including the franchise’s mascot Pikachu. They have narrowed down the list of Pokemon you can “recruit” from the series, but most of your favourites should be there. As with the other entries in the series, you are a human who has been mystically transformed into a Pokemon for a good cause – in this case, saving the Pokemon world. You get to choose one of five possible Pokemon to be transformed into, Pikachu, Tepig, Snivy, Oshawott or Axew along with a partner from the remaining four to join you on your adventure.

The game starts with a lot of dialogue and very little gameplay. I understand setting up the story takes some time, but I would have liked it to be a little more interactive. The game does pick up a lot when you get to your first dungeon though and you really get a true sense of the time the developers must have put into the visuals of this game. Bright and bold and the 3D effect isn’t off putting like in so many other games, I prefer playing with it on where I can.

After trawling through the start and finding out your partner needs help setting up a Pokémon paradise, you agree to join him in the hope of finding out more about why you were transformed into a Pokémon.

The gameplay feels a little restricted, especially at first when you can’t even select your partner’s tactics. Once you do unlock all of the tactical options the game feels more like the Mystery Dungeon we all know and love allowing you to select the requests you want to do, rather the wade through a tonne of dialogue and story. The tale here is clearly aimed at the younger audience, with little to nothing someone over the age of ten can enjoy. I know it’s hardly surprising, but I would have expected more depth from such a big franchise.

If you take the dialogue and story out of the equation and focus solely on the gameplay, you do find a pretty decent dungeon crawler. The turn based, yet real- time style really helps this series shine. You can grind levels, collect rare items, recruit rare Pokémon and generally explore, all without having to select a quest. This gives it the replayability it really needs and helps to lift this out of being just another spin-off.

If you do select a quest (also known as requests) you can earn some rewards that helps progress your teams overall standing.  Improve your standing, get some materials and enough money, and you can develop your paradise however you seem fit. You can build dojos for training, fields for seeds and many other attractions. These help you with your training or quests and open up plenty of ways to improve your chances with the harder dungeons.

However what’s the point of improving your paradise if you are there alone? The chance to recruit Pokémon is a huge part of this game even if you can only take a maximum of four into a dungeon at once. Once you defeat a Pokémon in a dungeon, there is a chance it’ll ask to join your team; if you accept you can give them a nickname and they’ll join.

One of the new features that have been included is the addition of Magnagates. These are portals to special dungeons found in special objects from the real world. Each dungeon is different depending on the size and colour of your chosen object; this is separate from your main story, so you can sometimes play as a Pokémon which is not your main leader. Mangagate dungeons are pretty cool as you can sometimes find Pokémon you normally wouldn’t be able to find in the main story and can offer slightly more of a challenge for anyone looking for one.

After playing a lot of this game, I realised it’s a step up in graphics from the previous games, but a step down in story and gameplay. The original Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games had a lot of customization, some really difficult dungeons and an in depth RPG feel. The game felt like it catered for not only children looking for a good story and something fun to play, but to the older generation who grew up with Pokemon and needed more of a challenge. Gates to Infinity feels like it is aimed solely at children, and although it can still fun, it feels like a shadow of its former self.

With Pokemon X and Y on the horizon and anticipation building for that, this game could have been a real boost towards the excitement and something to keep all of us fans ticking over, but I was a bit disappointed with the lack of depth and focus on the younger market. Overall it feels like it’s a grab for money and a downgrade from the older games and though a few new things have been introduced, there are far better games on 3DS to tide you over till X and Y.

FanCensus Score: 6/10

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Not everyone has access to gaming consoles like Xbox 360 or PS3 to enjoy certain games. There are some people who just settle for games they can download online using their personal computer. Finding awesome PC games is quite frustrating, but don’t worry because I am going to give you a list of games that would surely keep anyone glued in front of their computer for hours. Here’s my list of top PC games for 2013:

PartyPoker
This gaming site has been around for years, but its popularity keeps it on my list of top games for 2013. There are two ways to play at PartyPoker.com: you can either download the software or instantly play online. Aside from playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo or 7 Card Stud, you can also learn new stuff in this gaming hub. Those who want to master the game can learn new poker theories, bluffing strategies and more. PartyPoker has several articles and instructional videos that can help improve the game of the players. High-rollers would definitely enjoy the huge prizes they can win at this gaming site. The prize pool in major tournaments at PartyPoker can reach up to $1,000,000. Those who are new to the game have the option to use play money so they can play as much as they want without worrying about losing money.

SimCity
Ever since the launch of SimCity in 2012, it remained in the hearts of those who are into simulation games. This limited edition series features a more advanced game engine that makes the game more realistic and the portrayal of characters very accurate. A cool addition to SimCity is the multiplayer component that allows players to work on projects together and share resources. This game would be out on March 5, 2013.

Crysis 3
This first-person shooting game is the third installation to the series after Crysis 2, which was released on 2011. The main character in this game is the Prophet who is a mercenary that is seeking revenge after unraveling the truth behind Nanodome’s creation. During his quest for retribution, he faces human enemies and aliens lurking around. Crysis 3 will be released on April 2013.

Dead Space 3
The third sequel to Dead Space finally allows the users to play with a friend as it offers a drop in, drop out co-op functionality. The main character in this action game is Isaac Clarke, who is a soldier that ventures into space in search for the location of the outbreak. Together with co-soldier John Carver, the two embark on a dangerous journey. They need to overcome deadly evolved animals, brutal elements and harsh environments such as avalanches to get to Tau Volantis. This planet holds the key on how to stop the plague. The limited edition can be availed on February 5, 2013.

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Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, rather than being a brand new game is instead an updated port of the original Wii title Monster Hunter Tri. It’s amazing how this game has made the transistion to the handheld with little sacrifice in terms of visuals or content. The 3D looks great and some environments really pop with this new feature. With an added screen, new weapon classes and hundreds of extra missions there’s plenty to sink your teeth into whether you’re a newcomer to the series or someone who played the Tri on the Wii.

For anyone who’s yet to sample the unique taste that is Monster Hunter, the series focuses on battling monsters, gathering resources and upgrading your equipment. There’s no levelling up in the game, instead you’re only as strong as the armour and weapon you hold. Killing monsters and gathering their skin, claws and other unique features is essential in forging new gear and the only way to stand a chance against later enemies. It’s a refreshing style for an RPG-style game and is a welcome departure from the usual levelling up mechanics found in other titles of the same genre. That isn’t to say stats and customisables don’t play a key role though. What may seem daunting at first (and still kind of is for me even fifty hours in) is the sheer amount of things to do, manage and analyse when playing. Whether it’s your farm where you can grow herbs, mushrooms and other useful items or the ships you send out on voyages to gather rare and unique items. You can even customize your place of residence! Like I said, it can all feel extremely complicated at first, and technically it is, but once you’ve managed to push through and learn at least some of the systems in place in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate you’ll find yourself uncovering one hell of a rewarding game.

The fighting system at first may appear to amount to no more than simply pressing the attack button over and over, but with time you soon begin to uncover its deeper, more intricate systems. Yes attacking is handled with a simple button press, but it’s the timing, your awareness of your surroundings and your character’s animations that also need to be judged and mastered if you are to succeed too.

Mission structure is very simple and never amounts to more than hunting, capturing or gathering something. You’ll find yourself repeating the same routine over and over that it starts to become second nature. Starting in your village you can choose your weapon, armour and any extra items before selecting a mission and purchasing any temporary boosts on your way into the battlefield. Here you’ll venture one of six environments (the usual desert, snow filled mountain and standard types) split into smaller subsections where you’ll complete your mission. Once finished its back to the village where you’re rewarded with money and plenty of loot. Whether you’re playing alone or locally with friends, the structure remains the same.

With twelve weapon types to choose from and each with their own play styles; you’ll want to test them all to find one that suits yours. Up close and personal weapons such as the sword or lance are great for those who like to simply get stuck in while ranged weapons are perfect for players who prefer a more supportive role in hunts. While the roster of weapons is impressive in itself, what’s even more impressive is how much one type differs from another. It can change how you play the game entirely and is just one of the reasons I found myself trying out five or six.

Of course the true stars of the game are the monsters themselves, and with over fifty large monsters to hunt and capture it’ll take months to find and tackle them all. Everything from monsters that fly and swim to ones that call in backup and poison you – the variety is fantastic. It’s amazing I’ve put well over forty hours into the game and I’m still finding new monsters. How to take them on is vital in surviving in Monster Hunter. Simply going in and spamming the attack button is the kind of action that will get you killed. Instead you need to observe the monster, memorise its attack patterns and keep an eye out for its “tells” so you know when to attack and when to keep your distance. Something as small as drool pouring from the beast’s mouth may be your signal to deliver one last full frontal attack to take it down for example. The lack of a health bar or damage counters gives Monster Hunter a more organic feel to it that helps set it apart from many other RPGs out there right now.

Monster Hunter truly comes into its own when playing with friends. Offering four player local multiplayer, you’ll get the chance to team up to take on monsters of ever increasing size. Whereas playing alone you’re constantly relying on the AI controlled Cha-Cha to distract the monsters (who does a decent enough job) with other human controlled characters you’re able to communicate and establish a plan of attack. You can decide who will provide the distraction, who will attack from a distance, who will set up a trap to capture the monster in its final moments. With the lengthy nature of most hunts, gelling well with your team to eventually deliver that final blow is one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve felt in gaming in a while. Sadly multiplayer isn’t online but does still offer downloadable quests on a weekly basis.

The game isn’t without its faults though and perhaps the biggest one is its slow opening. Sure it may be necessary for someone new to Monster Hunter or not used to this type of game in general, but for those who do pick things up quickly, you’ll find the first four or so hours very uneventful. Another issue is the controls. While tolerable most of the time in battle, it’s swimming where things really fall apart. Using the touch screen to aim your view just doesn’t work as smoothly as is required especially when trying to avoid a hundred foot monster. Thankfully the Circle Pad Pro can be added giving you the added precision you need. If you are to play this game I’d recommend investing in one.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is the kind of game where you really need to invest your time to get to the real good stuff. With literally hundreds of weapons, missions and monsters, a solid single player campaign and an extremely addictive local multiplayer you’ll be hard pressed to find another game as expansive or deep. While probably the inferior version of the two, it’s still an excellent RPG perfect for those looking for a good, lengthy adventure on the 3DS.

FanCensus Score: 8/10

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Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, rather than being a brand new game is instead an updated port of the original Wii title Monster Hunter Tri. With upgraded HD visuals, off screen play, new weapon classes and hundreds of extra missions there’s plenty to sink your teeth into whether you’re a newcomer to the series or someone who played the Tri on the Wii.

Vibrant but still lacking in terms of detail

For anyone who’s yet to sample the unique taste that is Monster Hunter, the series focuses on battling monsters, gathering resources and upgrading your equipment. There’s no levelling up in the game, instead you’re only as strong as the armour and weapon you hold. Killing monsters and gathering their skin, claws and other unique features is essential in forging new gear and the only way to stand a chance against later enemies. It’s a refreshing style for an RPG-style game and is a welcome departure from the usual levelling up mechanics found in other titles of the same genre. That isn’t to say stats and customisables don’t play a key role though. What may seem daunting at first (and still kind of is for me even fifty hours in) is the sheer amount of things to do, manage and analyse when playing. Whether it’s your farm where you can grow herbs, mushrooms and other useful items or the ships you send out on voyages to gather rare and unique items. You can even customize your place of residence! Like I said, it can all feel extremely complicated at first, and technically it is, but once you’ve managed to push through and learn at least some of the systems in place in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate you’ll find yourself uncovering one hell of a rewarding game.

The fighting system at first may appear to amount to no more than simply pressing the attack button over and over, but with time you soon begin to uncover its deeper, more intricate systems. Yes attacking is handled with a simple button press, but it’s the timing, your awareness of your surroundings and your character’s animations that also need to be judged and mastered if you are to succeed too. The game handles well whether you’re using the Wii U Gamepad or a Pro Controller and the touch screen additions are subtle but useful.

Mission structure is very simple and never amounts to more than hunting, capturing or gathering something. You’ll find yourself repeating the same routine over and over that it starts to become second nature. Starting in your village you can choose your weapon, armour and any extra items before selecting a mission and purchasing any temporary boosts on your way into the battlefield. Here you’ll venture one of six environments (the usual desert, snow filled mountain and standard types) split into smaller subsections where you’ll complete your mission. Once finished its back to the village where you’re rewarded with money and plenty of loot. Whether you’re playing alone or online the structure remains the same.

With twelve weapon types to choose from and each with their own play styles; you’ll want to test them all to find one that suits yours. Up close and personal weapons such as the sword or lance are great for those who like to simply get stuck in while ranged weapons are perfect for players who prefer a more supportive role in hunts. While the roster of weapons is impressive in itself, what’s even more impressive is how much one type differs from another. It can change how you play the game entirely and is just one of the reasons I found myself trying out five or six.

This isn’t even the biggest monster you’ll face

Of course the true stars of the game are the monsters themselves, and with over fifty large monsters to hunt and capture it’ll take months to find and tackle them all. Everything from monsters that fly and swim to ones that call in backup and poison you – the variety is fantastic. It’s amazing I’ve put well over forty hours into the game and I’m still finding new monsters. How to take them on is vital in surviving in Monster Hunter. Simply going in and spamming the attack button is the kind of action that will get you killed. Instead you need to observe the monster, memorise its attack patterns and keep an eye out for its “tells” so you know when to attack and when to keep your distance. Something as small as drool pouring from the beast’s mouth may be your signal to deliver one last full frontal attack to take it down for example. The lack of a health bar or damage counters gives Monster Hunter a more organic feel to it that helps set it apart from many other RPGs out there right now.

Monster Hunter truly comes into its own when playing with friends. Offering four player online multiplayer, you’ll get the chance to team up to take on monsters of ever increasing size. Whereas playing alone you’re constantly relying on the AI controlled Cha-Cha to distract the monsters (who does a decent enough job) with other human controlled characters you’re able to communicate and establish a plan of attack. You can decide who will provide the distraction, who will attack from a distance, who will set up a trap to capture the monster in its final moments. With the lengthy nature of most hunts, gelling well with your team to eventually deliver that final blow is one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve felt in gaming in a while.

Sadly online multiplayer isn’t without its problems. Getting into a room is simple enough, but leaving to enter another requires exiting to the main title screen. What starts as agitating  slowly turns into infuriating and is something that CAPCOM should have handled far better. Another thing I noticed is that unless you arrange an online hunt with people you actually know, chances are you’ll either join a strangers room mid-battle (having to wait until they are done) or join a lobby where no one appears to be moving. Throw in the fact you’ll need to constantly return to the title screen to enter a new lobby and you can see how things may get a tad frustrating.

The game isn’t without its faults though and perhaps the biggest one is its slow opening. Sure it may be necessary for someone new to Monster Hunter or not used to this type of game in general, but for those who do pick things up quickly, you’ll find the first four or so hours very uneventful. It’s also pretty noticeable that this is merely a port of an old Wii game. The HD sheen is a welcome additon and the colours are bold and bright, but detail lacks especially in environments and characters. When you look at the trailer for Monolith’s next big RPG it’s hard not to be disappointed with what a true Monster Hunter sequel would look like had it taken advantage of the power of the Wii U.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is the kind of game where you really need to invest your time to get to the real good stuff. With literally hundreds of weapons, missions and monsters, a solid single player campaign and an extremely addictive online multiplayer you’ll be hard pressed to find another game as expansive or deep.

FanCensus Score: 8.5/10

The post Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Review appeared first on Fancensus.

Many Wii U owners out there are growing concerned when it comes to Activision’s Call of Duty: Ghosts. With no mention being made of the game heading to Wii U, it seems even more worrying, that a Wii U version is absent on Activision’s latest release schedule. Mentioned are the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions as a Q4 release date but Nintendo’s console appears to be (at least for now) missing.

Does this mean we won’t see Call of Duty coming to Wii U this year? Perhaps Activision are waiting for a Nintendo Direct to announce the game, who knows. For now though the concerns grow ever more higher. Hopefully we’ll hear something on the matter soon.

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Rayman Legends is out for PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U August 30th.

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Play a wild assortment of GamePad games alone or together with friends and family

2^nd May 2013 – Wario and his zany friends are back in Game & Wario, a brand new, colourful collection of crazy games exclusively for Wii U! Launching on 28^th June, the game utilises the unique setup of the Wii U GamePad controller and the TV screen in innovative and exciting ways for a Wario experience like no other that will keep you coming back for more!

Wario has dabbled in software development since the WarioWare series – and just loves to find new ways to play games with the latest consoles. In Game & Wario, he’s trying his hand at a certain new home console system with a Touch Screen in the centre of its controller… This results in a zany set of games that can all be played using just a Wii U GamePad and a TV screen, whether playing alone or with friends and family.

In Single Player, there are twelve games to enjoy that turn your GamePad into a variety of different objects for different gameplay challenges: use it as a camera, a bow that looses arrows into the TV image, or as a method to steer a skier to the disco, amongst others!

In CAMERA, you’re tasked with snapping photos of escaped criminals with your GamePad! The TV shows a busy street in Diamond City and holding up the GamePad allows you to take a closer look at the scene. Frame those crooks perfectly in your photos to catch them, and earn a high score!

In GAMER, take on the role of 9-Volt, a kid who’s been sent to bed with his favourite handheld gaming system, but is desperate to get a high score… However his mum is prowling around trying to catch him in the act of staying up past his bedtime! While playing microgames on the GamePad, you’ll need to keep an eye on the TV screen which shows 9-Volt’s bedroom, because you’ll have to pretend to be fast asleep whenever his mum pounces! Try to hide-and-play for as long as possible for a high score – just don’t get caught or it’s game over!

You can also try your luck with Chick-N-Win, the chicken-shaped contraption that lays surprise-filled capsules, and get one of over 200 weird and wonderful toys to play with; each one showcasing something fun or eccentric you can do with your GamePad.

Game & Wario also unveils a new twist on playing with others on Wii U: using only the GamePad you can share the fun with friends or family in four different games in the Multiplayer Mode!

In DISCO, you’ll be battling against a friend toe-to-toe in a dance-off, where the players are setting the pace and moves on the GamePad for points. Each player holds one end of the GamePad and tries to outwit his opponent with fancy fingerwork, rhythmically tapping the touch screen in three places to place moves his opponent needs to replicate… Each misstep earns the player’s opponent points – you’ll need the highest score to win – so make sure you can keep in rhythm!

In FRUIT, up to five players play together in different roles: one player becomes a dastardly fruit thief, using the GamePad to work in secret as the others play agents and watch the TV screen, using their powers of observation to find the thief in a crowd and spot when the fruits disappear. The agents have their work cut out for them with bustling streets, passing traffic and smoky chimneys obscuring the view. At the end of the game, each of the agents pass around the GamePad to point out who they think is the thief; but only the most eagle-eyed may win as the line-up of would-be fruit thieves look rather similar!

In ARTWORK, up to five players compete in a sketching showdown to see who can draw and guess drawings the fastest for a high score. Each player takes turns to sketch prompted words as fast as possible on the GamePad, with the other players guessing what the word might be. It’s a frantic test of communication with friends and family as points are earned both for correct guesses and for drawing fast, as one man’s squiggle is another man’s solution!

This game type is also integrated into Miiverse as Miiverse ARTWORK, where you can select one of four prompts to draw in 60 seconds, after which your mini masterpiece, or hilarious doodle, is posted to Miiverse to be appreciated by all! You can even submit your own words to be prompts for others to draw, which may even trend in the Gallery section of Miiverse Artwork as popular words other players are enjoying sketching!

Game & Wario launches exclusively on Wii U across Europe on 28^th June, a fun-filled package of sixteen games and hundreds of toys all showcasing the myriad uses of the Wii U GamePad. Unleash Wario’s unique wares on your family and friends for a summer jam-packed with mischief!

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Don’t you just hate it when you find yourself deep into some online gaming only to realise you’ve not had dinner yet. Well worry no more as Microsoft are allowing gamers to order Pizza Hut directly through their Xbox 360.

The way it works is you download the Pizza Hut app and browse the menu customizing toppings and base and so on. You can pick out anything you want delivered or for carry-out by using Kinect, voice commands or the standard controller.

The app is available today in the US and if place your first order before May 6th, you’ll get 15% off the first purchase.

Will we see more fast food places offering the same service?

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Blockade Entertainment and Rainmaker Entertainment have begun production, with the creator of the video game series, Insomniac, helping with the screenplay and character development. Insomniac writer T.J. Fixman, who worked on all of the recent Ratchet & Clank games, is writing the script for the film.

“One of the biggest questions we’ve gotten in the last few years is ‘When are you going to make a Ratchet & Clank movie?’” wrote Insomniac senior community manager James Stevenson on the PlayStation blog. “The truth is, we’ve wanted to do a movie for a long time! Ratchet & Clank’s action, humour and galaxy-spanning adventures have really been the basis for a fantastic game series, and we think it’d translate perfectly to the big screen.”

2015 may be a long way off but in the mean time enjoy the new teaser trailer above.

The post Ratchet & Clank Movie To Hit Cinemas In 2015 appeared first on Fancensus.

GRID 2 is out for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC next month.

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The game will be available on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and is being developed by SEGA Studios Australia.

Rumours that the game would be re-released with a HD lick of paint started last week when a teaser trailer made its way onto the internet. Oddly though a Wii U version was not mentioned despite appearing on the Brazilian ratings board.

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HarmoKnight tells the story of Tempo, a young boy training to be a rhythmic warrior who’s placed with the responsibility of delivering the mysterious musical weapon he discovers to the ruler in Symphony City. On his travels he’ll face enemies galore, boss battles as well as receive some help from a few friends. It’s a silly, quirky tale told wonderfully through comic-like cutscenes and often humorous dialogue.

As you may have guessed by the title, Harmoknight has a strong focus on music requiring the player to follow on-screen prompts in time with a beat. You could almost describe this as a musical platformer of sorts in a similar vein to that of the Bit.Trip Runner series. For a majority of the game your character, Tempo will automatically run across the screen while you jump over pits, hit and dodge enemies and collect special musical notes all in time with the music. A mistimed jump or attack will result in you missing precious notes or even taking damage reducing your final score. While passing a stage and gaining a silver blossom award won’t prove too tough, going after more notes to grab a gold will truly test your skill.

While Harmoknight may be very simple to get into, perfectionists will find enough depth here to keep them interested. Optional drum or tambourine flowers in the background can net extra points while charging your staff will earn double notes should you land it successfully. It’s a great risk/reward system that will constantly bring you back to try and best your previous scores. It’s just a shame there is no sort of online leaderboards as this game would have been a perfect fit.

Boss battles offer a nice change in the formula, throwing multiple button prompts at you at once. You’ll not only need to replicate the four/five button combo, but also time it to the beat too.  Two extra playable characters also offer twists and tweaks on the standard platforming gameplay bringing bow and arrows and a mini monkey into the mix. You’ll find yourself also riding mine carts and flying on the back of a helpful steed. Overall the fifty plus stages offer a nice amount of variety and with faster, tougher stages to unlock too there’s also a pretty decent challenge too.

While Harmoknight is definitely challenging and rewarding at the same time, the difficulty curve can sometimes flail about randomly at times one minute being a cake walk, the next tough as nails. You may also find yourself becoming frustrated at the accuracy in which the game requires you to time your actions. Most of the time it can seem fair, but others punishingly brutal as you manage to miss a crash cymbal for the third time in a row.

Visually the game sports a bright, colourful world complete with a number of environments blending deserts, grassy banks and snowy peaks with a quirky mix of musical instruments. It really creates something totally unique. Little touches like a “Mario World” styled map and unlockable music and artwork round off an excellently presented package. Speaking of music, the game offers a varied amount of genres from rock to jazzy to metal ranging in quality. More often than not a tune will have you humming along, however some fall dangerous close to bland, making it difficult to get a good feel for the beat leading to many a missed note. Also thrown in for good measure are a handful of Pokemon themed tunes that should please fans of Game Freak and the Pokemon series itself.

Harmoknight is a quirky little title that will immediately appeal thanks to its charm and bright design. Of course it doesn’t hurt that the gameplay itself is addictive and extremely fun too. Another hit for the Nintendo eShop.

FanCensus Score: 8.5/10

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You may recall the announcement a little while back that Rayman Legends would be pushed back from an expected release today (in the US at least) to September to allow for a multiplatform launch. Wii U owners were none to please by the news, but at least it seems that the Wii U development team isn’t sitting idle in the meantime.

“The Wii U team is working hard on the Wii U [version] to make sure it continues to improve, so it can become one of the best Wii U games,” Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot told Kotaku.

“We hope it can be one of the top games Ubisoft creates. What’s very important to consider is that when a team has more time, they are able to continue to improve the quality of the game. When we saw we had more time, we saw all of the possibilities. Some of the possibilities are the social features that we are seeing today, but also new bosses, new possibilities that will take the game to a level that people will love.”

Rayman Legends was expected as a Wii U launch title but was pushed back several times. To compensate Wii U owners for the wait, Ubisoft will release the game’s online challenge mode for free in April.

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UK retailers have begun naming prices for Wii Mini, the simplified version of Nintendo’s ageing console that will arrive in Europe on March 22nd.

Amazon.co.uk has the new console listed at a price of £79.99. ShopTo is slightly more expensive at £84.85 – apparently a reduction from £99.99.

There is no RRP for the Wii Mini because Nintendo doesn’t set hardware prices in Europe. Individual retailers decide for themselves what to charge.

Considering the Wii Mini offers less features than the original console and costs around the same amount, it seems you’re still better off opting for the older edition – or better yet moving up to the Wii U.

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PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale’s next batch of DLC has been revealed and you may find yourself surprised at the choices made when it comes to new characters. Added the game’s cast will be Dead Space’s Isaac Clarke and God of War’s Zeus.

IGN reports that the DLC is due in March, adding Isaac and Zeus, as well as stage based on both MediEvil and The Unfinished Swan.

So what do you think of the choices? Disappointed not to see more true PlayStation heroes?

The post Dead Space’s Isaac & Zeus Head To PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale appeared first on Fancensus.

PS4 will launch across “at least” one region in 2013, according to SCEE UK managing director Fergal Gara.

Following a two-hour PS4 event last week, Gara said to Digital Spy, “We will launch it this year. Exactly what regions, what timing, is being worked through. Which regions in 2013 – is it all of them, is it some of them? Is there some degree of phasing? We’ll reveal that in more detail later but we can’t yet. At least. It will launch this year, but the precise details as I say for exact dates, exact regions, is it all or some of them? We don’t know.”

This news is slightly concerning for us Europeans especially consider we were one of the ones to see the launch of the PS3 back in 2007. What do you make of this?

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For those in need of a quick lesson in Fist of the North Star, it’s a 1980s manga and animé starring the muscular Kenshiro fighting off numerous bandits in a Mad Max style post-apocalypse. As the true successor of the deadly martial art Hokuto Shinken, Kenshiro must contend with gangs, tyrants, and his fellow brothers who were denied succession of the art.

You wouldn’t be blamed for not knowing there was a video game sequel released as the launch appears to have been fairly confounding. The Xbox 360 and PS3 version are available as a retail disc while the Wii U version is digital-download only. Whatsmore the Wii U version costs a hefty £49,99 on the eShop! So is this frantic fighter worth investing in?

Ken’s Rage 2 is primarily about punching and kicking your way to the stage’s end while endless hordes of enemies attempt to take you down. Killing enemies rapidly builds your combo streak and an aura meter for special moves, but overall the game never really feels like it neither requires nor amounts to more than mere button bashing. Hammering on a particularly effective move over and over is often the best option to control the crowds and send them into sprays of red mist. Rarely did I ever find myself experimenting too much. Enemy count is surprisingly high though as you find yourself constantly outnumbered by swarms of tyrants; sadly though this comes with a price as each fighter looks very similar to the last with little to distinguish them.

Randomly places scrolls offer a means to upgrade your characer as you play through the game. Combining said scrolls in various orientations boosts a character’s primary stats and grant specific abilities, like receiving a heightened amount of defense when your health is low.

Boss battles attempt to add some variety and challenge to the proceedings requiring guard breaks and an awareness of your surroundings to succeed. They’re mostly forgettable but the cutscenes that follow, depicting a gross over the top finisher make up for the repetitive venture you had to endure.

While the gameplay may feel like a dumb button basher, the ensuing chaos that unfolds is pure entertainment. Watching as a group of thugs fly backward after a particularly powerful kick or a lone warrior explode in a bloody mess in front of you is always fun. Cutscenes too feature the same gory action often raising a smile or two. When you watch Kenshiro stick his thumbs into the temples of an enemy, telling him he has mere seconds to live before he then explodes in a shower of crimson, how can you not laugh? It’s just a shame these scenes are broken up by such excruciatingly long load times. For a game released with wait times of around twenty seconds is ridiculous and halts the momentum of battles to a standstill.

Fans of the series will be pleased that Ken’s Rage 2 goes through the manga’s full five-year run, with a Legend Mode that extends well over 20 hours. Cutscenes are a little on the lengthy side, but with every arc from the series covered, fans are sure to be pleased. Stages offer the same mish-mash of post apocalyptic style settings complete with plenty of browns and other dark, dull colours as well as some very unimpressive textures. You’ll head from A to B usually finishing in a boss battle and sadly there’s little to surprise or mix things up along the way.

Dream Mode meanwhile extends things further by focusing on other characters in the series and filling you in on their stories. Each one has their own fighting style, so there’s a nice amount of variety between each of them and doesn’t just amount to a palette swap.

An online co-op mode rounds off the package and overall offers a decent amount of good, stupid fun when you can find a partner that is. Unfortunately, the lack of players to be found on the Wii U is disappointing at the moment and I can’t see the Xbox 360 or PS3 fairing much better.

Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 is a dumb, repetitive brawler that features an equally dumb (but nonetheless entertaining) story fans of the manga series might get a kick out of. From a gameplay perspective though Ken’s Rage 2 is an often repetitive experience full of average boss battles and a general lack of freshness and surprise. When coupled with some ugly looking visuals and load times that border on mind-numbing, you’re probably better off sticking two thumbs directly into the temple of this adventure.

FanCensus Score: 4/10

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In an update to the Frictional Games blog, the indepedent developer confirmed it received a final build of the Dan Pinchbeck-designed Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, the followup to Frictional’s own Amnesia: the Dark Descent, which released in 2010.

“But don’t get too excited just yet. Some work is still left to be done. We are testing, tweaking, optimizing, porting, translating and all those things that are part of the process of creating and releasing a game,” Frictional said.

“Currently we are looking at a release around Q2 2013.”

A Machine for Pigs had been expected by Halloween 2012, but the project grew from “a short, experimental game set in the universe of Amnesia” to “a fully fledged Amnesia game”.

“A different kind of Amnesia, but definitely not a short experiment,” Frictional said.

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Battlefield 4 hasn’t been officially announced yet, but that hasn’t stopped EA touring it behind closed doors.

“Got to see Battlefield 4 today and all I can say is wow. Thanks EA for the sneak peek. Can’t wait for you all to see it,” GameStop CEO J Paul Raines commented via the retail chain’s official Twitter account.

The tweet has not been deleted and EA’s own Twitter account retweeted it, suggesting both companies were comfortable dropping the information.

A new Battlefield game has been a long time coming, as EA has been clear about its plans to release a new shooter every year, with Battlefield taking its turn biannually.

The really interesting question is what consoles the DICE effort will launch on; EA admitted it has next-generation FIFA and Battlefield titles in the works during its recent financial report.

There is some confusion as to when the new Battlefield game will surface as EA mentioned in its financial call that it expects the launch”next year”. If that means fiscal 2014, it could be any time from March 2013 onwards, as EA’s financial year runs out of sync with the calendar.

With Sony set to debut their new home console later tonight could Battlefield 4 be a third party title shown off? It certainly seems like a game that could demonstrate just what the PlayStation 4 is capable of.

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It all started in 2005 with the release of Guitar Hero. Harmonix then headed over to EA where the idea of a palstic guitar was then expanded to feature a whole band.

Roughly 4000 DLC songs have been released over 275 weeks but now Harmonix has announced the impending end of new Rock Band music. April 2nd will be the last weekly DLC release for Rock Band.

“We hope that you’ll all agree that this has been a tremendous run, and you should know it’s a ride that we at Harmonix have been thrilled to be a part of,” Harmonix wrote on its forum.

“We’re incredibly proud of the DLC milestones we’ve set, especially producing the largest music library of any game available, and we wouldn’t have been able to release as much outstanding content without the support of our amazing community.”

“Whether you waited in line for a midnight release of Rock Band over five years ago, or you just joined the party with Rock Band Blitz… whether you’ve downloaded every single song we’ve ever released, or you’ve just played on-disc songs until your neighbours moved away… whether you’re a metal shredder, or a bubblegum pop singer… thank you for being a part of our band,” Harmonix wrote.

Harmonix has been responsible for the more popular Dance Central Kinect games. The studio’s post revealed that there are “several” new games in development with rumours pointing toward a next gen release.

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Watch Dogs will release on “all home consoles” this holiday, an alleged promotional poster for the game has revealed.

The wording on the poster, which popped up over at Kotaku, suggests that the game will see a release on Wii U and any next-generation consoles released this side of Christmas, as well as the previously announced Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC versions.

Watch Dogs has long been rumoured to be in development for both current and next-generation systems with Ubisoft neither confirming nor denying such claims.

The firm later added weight to the rumours by confirming that it is developing some of its games on both current and next-generation hardware.

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Destiny is Bungie’s next big project. They’ve also stated that it’s coming to all platforms. That includes 360, PS3 and their follow-ups. What about the Wii U? Well the news for Nintendo fans is a little disappointing.

When talking with Eurogamer Bungie COO Pete Parsons discusses a PC and Wii U version: “We would absolutely love to be on the PC. If you talk to the people upstairs, we play it on all platforms. So, stay tuned.” No mention was made of a Wii U version.”

No mention makes me believe we aren’t likely to see a version on Wii U. How many more big releases are Nintendo fans going to miss out on?

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Avalanche Studios has teased one of its unannounced titles by posting a blurry snapshot of the game on Instagram.

The image, posted by the studio’s founder Christofer Sundberg, appears to show a shot of the protagonist hijacking a motorcycle, and reveals a dusty, canyon-like landscape.

“We’re making awesome games at #avalanchestudios!” said Sundberg’s caption for the image. “This year will be awesome! #yearoftheavalanche”

The developer is rumoured to be developing a Mad Max game and a new title in the Just Cause series and judging by the screen this could easily be either.

Avalanche is also known to be developing a game targeted at next-generation systems, after Sundberg revealed last year that the studio was “shipping back” current-gen devkits to make room for next-gen.

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Resident Evil Revelations is due out May 23rd.

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This week’s release of Kat ( Gravity Rush/Daze ) and Emmett Graves ( StarHawk ) is just the beginning of additional fighters coming to PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale according to a post on SuperBot’s Facebook page.

While SuperBot Entertainment’s role in the brawler has nearly come to an end, the studio teased more DLC characters which will be detailed in the coming weeks.

Who might we see making the debut in Sony’s brawler next? Crash? Spyro? Snake?

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After rumours started appearing online it has now been officially announced that Naughty Dog’s upcoming postapocalyptic PlayStation 3 exclusive The Last of Us has been delayed until June 14th. The game was previously scheduled to be released on May 7th but has now been delayed an additional five weeks.

In a statement issued by Naughty Dog, the developer said, “As a team we pride ourselves on setting a very high quality bar for every aspect of our games–gameplay, story, art, design, technology and more. We want to make sure The Last of Us raises that bar even further – for ourselves, and most importantly, our fans. As we entered the final phase of development for The Last of Us, we came to realise just how massive Joel and Ellie’s journey is. But instead of cutting corners or compromising our vision, we came to the tough decision that the game deserved a few extra weeks to ensure every detail of The Last of Us was up to Naughty Dog’s internal high standards.”

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Nintendo has announced a 3DS-specific Nintendo Direct will air later today. The broadcast kicks off at 2:00PM GMT February 14. To tune in, visit the Nintendo Direct website; we’re promised updates on imminent and future 3DS titles so expect Luigi’s Mansion and hopefully Fire Emblem to make an appearance.

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So Anniversary is basically Halo: Combat evolved with a skin over the top to make it look like a 360 game rather than an original Xbox one. 343 Industries kept the engine from Bungies classic, so the enemies, weapons, grenades and scenery all act the same. Throw a grenade at an Elite in Anniversary; it’ll act like it did over 10 years ago. Shoot an Elite three times in the head from any distance with the pistol and it results in death. It’s great that they wanted to keep the old feel to playing (and the infamous three shot pistol), but it does feel really outdated and could have done with some polish.

What 343 have done with the look of the game is amazing though. Everything looks astonishingly pretty, it still looks like Halo, but it’s a hundred times prettier. All the textures have been replaced and updated and the structures have been worked on to cater to the new style. Something else that was added was that the surface you’re moving on reacts to movement, shoot at the sand and it sprays up. It may only be a small difference, but you really notice it when all they all come together.

To see the difference in real time, 343 have been really clever and have given you the option to switch between the old and new graphics at the touch of a button. One press and you’ll magically be transported in time. You can really appreciate how much work has gone in to making this game look the part this way. Even the cut-scenes can be viewed in both old and new, so you can have it the way you like.

However, if you do play with the new graphics, you’ll sometimes have a clear shot at a Jackal, fire and nothing happens. Confused? Try switching to the old graphics; see that branch in the way which wasn’t there before the switch? Yep, that stopped your shot.  It’s a rare occurrence, but nevertheless annoying.

The campaign is as solid as always – a nostalgia trip through an epic adventure against evil. Though if you haven’t played the original, then it’ll probably get very repetitive, especially for example when on Assault on the Control Room where you will find yourself running down similar corridors, over and over again. However for those of us who loved it, it’ll feel just like it did back then, though somewhat prettier.

Other than the skin, 343 added in Skulls once again. Collect them once and they become unlocked for you to use whenever you want. They are hidden very well this time, making finding them without a guide quite difficult for the most part. The exception to this is if you pre-ordered you got a special skull which causes Grunts to explode when they are killed. Useful for taking on huge groups of enemies, not so useful for when you get a little too close. They are a nice addition and give you a chance to experiment with different strategies, or just to ramp up the difficulty.

Of course, with Anniversary being an Xbox 360 game, 343 had to add in achievements and these are pretty standard stuff, requiring you to do things in a certain time or a certain way. Sometimes the odd skull can give you a huge advantage and sometimes it’s just easier to go for it. It extends the amount of time you can spend on the game as with most achievements and it’s nice to finally get some Gamerscore on a game I adore.

At the time, Combat Evolved was revolutionary, whereas Anniversary feels a bit too old and is only exciting for the many of us who crave that feeling of nostalgia. Good work by 343 for improving upon the graphics and adding some extras and thanks for the memories.

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The Last of Us may have been delayed if retail listings are any indication. According to a tweet from a Best Buy customer who stated he received a notice his pre-order has been delayed. Add this information on top of Walmart listing the sate as June 18th and it seems Sony’s eagerly awaited survival title may be delayed a little. More as we hear it.

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Blue Isle studios announced today that Slender: The Arrival will soon be available to pre-order. Upon pre-ordering the game, you will also receive instant access to the upcoming beta of the game ahead of its March release. Pricing information will be coming in the next few days, so stay tuned for more information on that.

When the pre-orders open, you will be able to purchase your copy of Slender: The Arrival straight through the game’s official website. If this is even half as scary as the original Eight Pages then looks like I’m in for a number of sleepless nights.

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