Turning the franchise around It’s sad to look at Konami’s newCastlevaniaportal site and see that huge gap between 2014-2018 where nothing happened. It seems like that’s when everything went wrong for the publisher, and just one year later they’d be sent up for the poor treatment of Hideo Kojima, among other past infractions. Their reputation was never the same, but they’re clawing their way back up, slowly. Yep, there’s a newCastlevaniaportal now as the series isn’t completely dead yet....

Also Tearaway developer! Media Molecule (LittleBigPlanet,Tearaway) has shown how its interesting new game,Dreams, works with a live demo of the game in alpha state that included plenty of rat possession. Every player creates a custom Imp who follows you inDreams; this one Calcifer orange and French. You use the Imp, controlled with the DualShock 4 motion controls, to engage with the world almost like a computer mouse. The Imp can also possess characters, vehicles, and inanimate objects....

This gameplay video ofLords of the Fallengives a look at “Infiltrator” — a new boss from what seems to be midway through the game. That’s neat, but the real winner here is the glimpse at the magic gauntlets. The reason the magic gauntlets are important is because the developer describes them as a “medieval BFG.” That’s a pretty heavy description. They can be decked out in a variety of ways, and the video seems to show them acting as a flamethrower and a turret....

I’m actually excited to think that the Wii has a few games coming this year that I am looking forward to getting my paws on. Of course, the sublimely violentMadWorldhardly bears mentioning as it’s an obvious choice, butAnother Code R, from theTrace Memoryuniverse, also caught my eye with its memorable art and lovely music. Wiifanboyfound this video over at theofficial site, which has plenty of other goodies to look at if you don’t mind navigating blindly through some Japanese....

Mass Effecttaught us that there are good and honorable blue-bodied Asari within the game’s universe. Similarly, it taught us that there are bad Asari — the kind that breed nastyspider monster things, attack planets, and are unafraid to display their massive blue bosoms. Simple contrasts, but it looks like our perception is about to be challenged withMass Effect 2’s Samara, an Asari who sits in the middle. In the above character reveal trailer, we’re introduced to the intense Samara, one of the party members Commander Shepard recruits for his little suicide mission....

Aw, nuts Ever since the launch of the Wii U, we’ve heard the same song and dance about the dual GamePad situation — “it’s possible, it’s just not a priority.” IGN had a chance to chat with Nintendo at E3 about said possibility in the future, but it looks like the Amiibo toys have put the kibosh on that chance yet again. Miyamoto himself states, “Certainly as we’ve been working on Wii U, I think we’re at a point where we don’t feel it’s realistic to expect people to purchase two GamePads yet....

Six weekends of Gundam goodness As we slowly inch toward the release date forMobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost On, Bandai Namco has announced a lovely present. Every weekend before launch, there will be an open beta for everyone in all regions. That’s great news for those who are on the fence about the game, and also those who are desperate for more time with it like myself. You can check out the new trailer, which contains the open beta times, below....

A surprise drop for a surprising follow-up NEO: The World Ends With Youhits a new platform today. Square Enix surprise-droppedThe World Ends With You‘s follow-upon Steam today, October 19. Originally released in 2021,NEO: The World Ends With Youfirst hit PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. It later arrived on PC, though only through theEpic Games Store. This Steam release brings the pin-slamming action onto Steam’s platform, for anyone who wants it specifically on that storefront....

No Metal Slimes were harmed in the making of this keyboard. I have been trying to get into theDragon Questseries of games for a few years now, mostly from the positive response that RPG players have given the series. I also love finding regular everyday items that get an infusion of videogame flavor into them. Hori has worked with theDragon Questfranchise in the past, but this time they are looking to make things a bit more metal....

Now with fighting on horseback! If you weren’t already sold onJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, perhaps just under five minutes worth of spiffy new trailer will convince you, especially since this one reveals that the game will featureallof the series’ protagonists from all eight of its story arcs, all the way up toSteel Ball Run‘s Johnny Joestar and the lead of the currentJoJoLionarc, “Josuke Higashikata” (who has the same name as the hero of theDiamond Is Not Crasharc)....

“Sonic! What are you doing in a car?” We know thatSonic & All-Stars Racing Transformedis coming out on more-or-less every platform this Holiday, but it appears that Sumo Digital has paid special attention to the Wii U version as shown in the racer’s latest trailer released today. Along with exclusive multiplayer modes,Racing Transformedon the Wii U will also allow players to switch screens from their TV to their gamepad seamlessly (if the video is portraying the switch accurately) and even control vehicles via the gamepad’s motion control feature....

Absolution’s fine! Leave it alone! Warner Bros. has now released theHitman HD Enhanced Collectionas a digital download on PS4 and Xbox One platforms. This two-pack of titles gives a visual upgrade to 2013’sHitman: Absolutionand 2006’sHitman: Blood Money. Blood Moneyis considered by some fans to be the bestHitmanrelease to this day, with exceptional assassin 47 traversing the globe to take down a gaggle of troublemakers. Featuring unique locales, impressive crowd tech and nice touches such as the famous end of stage news reports,Blood Moneyis still revisited by the hardcore Hitman community today, over ten years since its original release....

I’m gonna buy all three again to celebrate In the first official amiibo price drop, Nintendo has lowered the MSRP of theSuper Smash Bros.line Peach, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong to $9.99. The change can be seen on the officialNintendo amiibo website. All other figures inboth announced linesremain at an MSRP of $12.99. This news is a little old, but with New Nintendo 3DS fever, it somehow slipped through the cracks and I just now noticed it....