Showing posts with label nintendo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nintendo. Show all posts

Friday

Affordable GameCube To Wii U Adapter Options From Play-Asia

Motivational word of the day: ADAPT!

With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U all the rage, there's more demand than ever for Wii U GameCube controller adapters. Unfortunately, many of the listings from various online retailers and third party sellers veer well into "overpriced" territory. Ever the penny-pincher, I recently stumbled across a variety of affordable and thus-far well reviewed options from Play-Asia. If you've also been on the look out, you might want to consider one of the following:

Mayflash 4-Port GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U and PC - $19.99

Saturday

I Love The Duck Hunt Dog More Than Ever Thanks to Smash Bros. 4

hhhehehe

The Duck Hunt dog is often considered one of the most annoying video game characters ever. After every failed shot, the little devil famously pops up on screen to laugh at your ineptitude. This two frame animation has haunted millions:

Your suffering is delicious.

Sunday

The Plumber-Filled Pegs Of Nintendo Amiibo

A mob of Marios.

While the limited availability of various amiibo figures helped draw me towards the craze, staring at pegs filled with nothing but Mario is really starting to wear me out. Online retailers like Entertainment Earth and Amazon have helped pick up the slack, but I can't shake the preference of tracking down collectibles in person. It's a shame that there's no variety in my local stores right now.

I know amiibo figures are only two waves in, but there are plenty of characters that feel completely mythical at this point. I'm not only talking about the elusive Marth, Wii Fit Trainer, and Villager either. I've seen Peach and Pikachu around...and that's pretty much it. Otherwise, I'm drowning in a sea of Marios.

Tuesday

Castle Geek-Skull's Video Game Highlights of 2014

I almost beat Mega Turtle at the end of Level 3!

I couldn't find the time to play everything I wanted, but I definitely had some good times with video games this year. As 2015 looms on the horizon, there's no better occasion to look back on some of the titles I enjoyed the most. Due to what I'm sure must be extremely popular demand, I've compiled 14 of my personal gaming highlights of 2014 below! Let's get to it.

Disclaimer: Forgive me if I leave off something you found amazing; I promise I'm going to get around to catching up!

Mega Man's Final Smash from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U is pure bliss. I'm a huge fan of the Blue Bomber, so you can imagine how bummed I've been that he hasn't gotten the best treatment in recent years. His inclusion in the latest SSB did a lot to heal those wounds.

Sunday

14 Unexpected Surprises from TV, Movies, Games, etc. In 2014

Surprise, Mr. Falcon!

In my attempt to keep up with pop culture goings-on this year, there were a lot of developments I never could have predicted. It seems awesome television announcements or crazy character appearances were turning up all over the place. Take my silken hand as I lead you down the path of 14 of my favorite unexpected surprises from 2014!

Community's "G.I. Jeff" lovingly parodied the 1980s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero cartoon, complete with corresponding action figure commercials.

Monday

Nintendo Amiibo: You Want What You Can't Have

Such cruel temptation.

When Nintendo amiibo were first revealed at E3 2014, I found myself thinking they'd make for a neat shelf display if nothing else. Their game compatibility was of little concern. Even so, I was well into a sabbatical from amassing plastic whozits and whatzits at that point. I still tend to want everything under the sun, but I was certain I'd be able to walk away without much of a fight.

Upon their initial release in late November, I still got a bit of the familiar "these are pretty freakin' cool" tinge that fueled many of my past plastic-crack purchases. The drop in quality from the prototype stage may have been off-putting for some, but I'm more than well-versed in the inevitability of such things. Regardless, my initial tune didn't change. I was happy to leave them behind, figuring that I'd have plenty of time to start up an amiibo collection.

Oh, how things change.

Wednesday

Weekly Want - Generations Thundercracker, LEGO Star Wars, & More!

Dolla dolla bill.

Ahoy there! Last time on the Weekly Want, we took a look at Sideshow Premium Format Deadpool, Masterpiece Star Saber, and several other fun upcoming toys. Now, let's move on to some of this week's newly revealed wallet fodder!

Sideshow Collectibles' Premium Format Batgirl figure is now available for Pre-Order. Shipping in July of 2015, this is a wonderfully sculpted piece that will make for a great display. As with all of Sideshow's items, the hefty $400 price tag can be taken care of via smaller monthly installments.

Saturday

All Final Smashes Are Not Created Equal (Super Smash Bros 4)

This is my boomstick!

While Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS' visuals are bolstered by a dazzling array of stages, the Final Smash moves of each character bring the wow-factor to the forefront. Even four-player games can leave friends waiting for a turn, and a little cinematic flair keeps watching from the sidelines a lot more interesting. The chaos that unfolds during the likes of the Giga Bowser transformation or Ness' PK Starstorm keeps up the hype for all involved.

Even so, I quickly noticed that said hype levels are a bit inconsistent among each character's Final Smash. They all have a bit of "cool factor," but some of them really go above and beyond. Perhaps there's some character bias involved, but not all of them leave me wanting to shout "best thing EVER" levels of hyperbole from the rooftops. No, that's pretty much exclusive to Mega Man's Mega Legends move.

Friday

Super Smash Bros. FanArt Frenzy!

Smashy smashy.

Hey now. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was finally released in North America and Europe today! I can't play it just yet, but I'm stoked that it's finally here. Between watching frantic early gameplay and admiring the wide variety of awesome stages, I felt inspired to check out the inevitable onslaught of new Smash fanart. Let's look through some examples!

From Karl Fan: Lucina from Fire Emblem.

Thursday

Weekly Want - Sideshow Deadpool, MP Star Saber, & More!

Hey you crazy kids! It's Weekly Want time once again, so let's take a look at some of the new toy and collectible promos or newly in-stock items that graced the interwebs from the end of September through early October! Where does the time go?

The guys over at Sideshow Collectibles really know how to tease. It's not coming out until a year from now, but the Pre-Orders for their Sixth Scale Deadpool figure are now live. The hefty $230 price tag looks to be worth it given the high quality costume and elaborate variety of accessories and interchangeable parts. There are tons more pictures over on Sideshow's site, so check 'em out!

Tuesday

The Nintendo 3DS XL NES Edition Has Me Torn

The Nostalgia Gods are merciless indeed.

With the impending release of Super Smash Bros. 4, I've been gearing up to finally purchase a Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. The handheld version releases first, so that's been my initial focus. I've been considering buying used or refurbished to save a bit of cash, perhaps straight from the online Nintendo Store if not eBay or Amazon. I'd just about made up my mind when I saw the shiny new 3DS XL NES Edition pictured above. Cue one of the greatest first world existential crises of our time.

Monday

Super Smash Bros. For 3DS Has A Great Assortment Of Stages

Little Mac and Marth duking it out at Prism Tower.

Despite not being able to get my hands on it just yet, I've been looking forward to Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS far too much to ignore the onslaught of gameplay footage that's been coming in. I've even been lurking about in various Twitch streams to take in as much of an early look as I can. I'm loving what I've seen thus far, and I feel like I already have a nice sense of the game from a presentational standpoint.

With fighters, I think it's easier to take in all of the little details as a third party observer. I've actually found myself focusing on the scenery almost as much as the crazy slugfests taking place in the foreground. If you're interested, here's a collection of gameplay shots that show off a nice chunk of the game's stages:

Battlefield

Tuesday

Awesome LEGO Mega Blastoise is Awesome

Bllllaaaaast

ZaziNombies LEGO Creations has created a rather beautiful LEGO build of Mega Blastoise from Pokemon X & Y. It's quite an accurate representation, even down to the shading! Check it out:

Monday

Captain Falcon Looks Great So Far in the New Super Smash Bros.

As handsome a devil as you'll ever see.

Everyone reading this likely already knows that Nintendo has just confirmed Lucina, Robin, and Captain Falcon for the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U. I'm unfortunately not as familiar with the Fire Emblem cast, so Captain Falcon does a bit more for me in the excitement department. If you haven't checked out the reveal trailer somehow, it's definitely worth watching:

Sunday

Evo 2014 Smash Bros Stream Chat Goes Wild for Reggie Fils-Aime

Oh, hello.

In a nice surprise, the Super Smash Bros. Melee finals at the Evo 2014 fighting game tournament were introduced by a video from Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime. I'm pretty sure it was a heartfelt message thanking the Smash community for supporting the series for so long, but I have to admit I was pretty distracted by the Twitch chat going absolutely insane at the mere sight of the guy:

Wednesday

Weekly Want June 25 - July 2, feat. Doctor Doom, Aliens, & More!

Doom will take as much of your money as he pleases!

Oh hey, it's Wednesday. That means it's time for another edition of the Weekly Want! Last week's installment focused entirely upon Transformer toys, so I'll be covering a bit more ground this time around. (Ooh, peep that sexy rhyme~) Batten down the hatches; here are the action figure and collectible promo shots that struck my fancy between June 25th and July 2nd, 2014:

aliens queen

Oh, my! This lovely lady is NECA's Aliens Xenomorph Queen "Ultra Deluxe" figure. True to its fancy pants designation, this is a 15 inch tall, 30 inch long monstrosity that will absolutely tower over the rest of your NECA Aliens collection. The hefty $90 price tag might seem like a lot to take in, but with an impressive scale, plentiful articulation, and killer sculpt work, it looks to be more than worth it! You can have the figure in-hand this November.

Tuesday

Luigi Nendoroid Might Not Have a Death Stare, but it's Cute!

luigi nendoroid bullet bill
There is only one thing we say to Bullet Bills: not today.

I've only just now learned about the Luigi Nendoroid figure. Of course, after the well deserved hype surrounding the Luigi Death Stare bestowed upon us by Mario Kart 8, the first thing that ran through my mind is that I really wish it was present here. Its absence is easily explained by the year or so of production time needed for toys like this, but it's a bit of a letdown all the same.

...but it's so flippin' adorable!

Thursday

I'm Looking Forward to Potential Yoshi's Woolly World Toys!

Do want.

While Yoshi's Woolly World doesn't look to be the most original concept, its basic aesthetic is crazy cute. In the onslaught of further E3 2014 news, the game may have been quickly pushed aside, but I've actually found myself thinking about it again as of late. More specifically, I've been greatly looking forward to the possibility of owning some yarn Yoshi toys!

I'm clueless as to how easy it would be to mass produce a stuffed yarn Yoshi like the one seen in the Nintendo E3 Digital Event, but I certainly hope it's possible somehow. Even if it takes creating faux versions that merely match the look without the worry of an expensive and time consuming handmade manufacturing process, I just know that I want one. Stuffed yarn Yoshis are where smiles are born.

Saturday

The Joy of the Game Grumps' Wind Waker Victory is Infectious

Wind Waker Pictograph
Perhaps the greatest selfie of all time.

Amidst the craziness of E3 2014, the popular Youtube gaming duo Game Grumps posted their The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD finale. The 73-part playthrough took around 7 months from start to finish, and the joy of host Danny Sexbang upon seeing the credits roll was absolutely infectious. I'll quote the man himself; "Oh my fucking god, dude, we beat Wind Waker!"

Tuesday

I Say Pac-Man Absolutely Belongs In Smash Bros. (E3 2014)

How can you hate this smile?

I don't think there's any denying that Pac-Man is one of gaming's biggest icons. In the pantheon of video game mascots, he's right up there. And yet, after E3 2014's Nintendo developer roundtable brought us the news that Pac-Man is joining the cast of the upcoming Wii U and 3DS Super Smash Bros., there was plenty of hate amongst the vast sea of responses. Examples include "This is so dumb. I'm officially upset" and "Ugh, Nintendo is taking the easy way out with these characters." Shrug.

Three incredibly iconic bros just kickin' it. No big deal.