The Eleven Stages I Want In The Next Super Smash Bros.

Well, my last two lists have been about the best and worst stages to ever be featured in the Super Smash Bros. series so I might as well talk about the stages I’d love to see in the next installment. With such a huge selection of characters and franchises, I find it hard to believe Nintendo would ever be pressed for ideas for stages. Personally, I’m of the belief that every character in the game should have their own stage for when you fight them in Classic or All-Star mode. I remember finding it very strange that Young Link’s home stage in Melee was Jungle Japes.

What happened to you, man? You used to be cool.

So, in an attempt to come up with ideas for stages to be added into the next Smash Bros.,I give you my list of the eleven stages I’d love to see. Why eleven? Because I came up with one last minute and didn’t want to get rid of anything. Now, it was hard coming up with this list. There’s tons of ideas for stages I’d love to see, many of which from the franchises that already get the most stages. I tried to be fair and give each franchise one stage but I couldn’t do it so there’s two Zelda and Mario stages on the list anyway, OH WELL! 

Villain Analysis: Zant vs. Ghirahim

Okay, so I guess I slacked off doing that Project Runway blog, and by "slacked off" I mean "Never put in the time or energy into doing it at all." So instead of that (or my looking at game shows which I'll get back to in time) I'm going to look at the villains of some Legend of Zelda games. Why? Well because I certainly can't look at the two different protagonists, for one, but also because in any work, it's the villain that makes or breaks it. Don't think that's an original observation or anything; Roger Ebert said something similar when he reviewed Wrath of Khan. Also, I just want to emphasize how much Nintendo learned how to properly write for an antagonist after forgetting halfway through Twilight Princess.

Let's Podcast - 2011 Year in Review

Just like last year, this year we decided to do a Podcast about all the games we played in 2011. Everything from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to the 3DS to Portal 2 to the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The five us plus our good pal Phil share our opinions and thoughts about 2011 in Video games all while I play The Legend of Zelda quite poorly in honor of Zelda's 25th anniversary.

The first part is below, follow the annotation at the end to get to the next part.

The Top Six Nintendo Games That Should Get 3DS Remakes

If there’s one company in the gaming world that has always been in favor of remakes, it’s Nintendo. It feels like Nintendo is always remaking or porting it’s classic games onto newer consoles and handhelds. The Super Mario Advance games, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, The Metroid Prime Trilogy and of course the most recent efforts, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D. For better or worse, Nintendo has a way with getting away with remakes. Maybe it’s because their games are just that timeless. Or maybe it’s the fact that they seem to go the extra mile when remaking their games, including better graphics, new features and just all around upgrading what is likely already a great game.

Also, they made the Water Temple suck less, so there's that.

Just like the DS before it, the 3DS is looking to be a great home for remakes of older Nintendo games, specifically from the Nintendo 64 era. Just look at Ocarina of Time. It’s one of the most beloved and important games in gaming history and Nintendo went back and updated it for a new market and guess what? It may actually be even better now. Only Nintendo could take what many consider to be the best game ever made and actually improve it.

So what am I counting down today? Well, I’m taking a look at six Nintendo games I want remade for the 3DS. I was originally going to make it ten but after going over the list, I felt many of them were either a bit of a stretch or I just didn’t really see a purpose for them to remade, so I changed it to six. Without any more delay, let’s get started.

Review - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

A warning: please be aware that while this review does not contain plot spoilers, it does contain minor character and boss spoilers.

Skyward Sword is a terrific game.

But of course it is, right? We've come to expect such accolades from a Zelda game. No, the question becomes, when discussing a new Zelda adventure, how terrific is it?

Is it exceptional? Is it a masterpiece? Is it the new best Zelda game? Questions like these in a review like this might typically end with "Yes and no." I'd like to answer them with "Yes... but almost no."

Happy Birthday Shigeru Miyamoto!

Yes, 59 years ago today, the man himself was born. It's hard to imagine the gaming world without him. He's been with Nintendo for more than half of the 59 years he's been alive! It's also pretty cool that his birthday this year just happened to fall inbetween the releases of Nintendo's two biggest games of the year, Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, his babies. What a way to celebrate!

So here's to you, Miyamoto! Thanks for everything you've done and everything you've changed about the way gaming is played.

The US IS Getting the Limited Edition Zelda 3DS.

Turns out, Nintendo of America does love us after all. Gamestop's Black Friday ad leaked this morning and on it was a few 3DS bundle deals. The first is a red 3DS complete with Super Mario 3D Land. The second one was...well, take a look for yourself.

Also they buy old iPods.

I AM SORRY, NOA. I AM SO VERY SORRY. PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I WILL NEVER SPEAK ILL OF YOU AGAIN!

Erm...Ahem...

You can check out the full ad here if you're so inclined. I'll keep you posted if anything else about this black beauty comes up.

Nintendo of Europe's a Pretty Cool Guy

Since you’re currently on the internet, looking at our little independent, nerdy game blog, it’s safe to assume you’ve already seen this super fine new 3DS bundle being released in Europe later this year. If not, take a look, it’s amazing.

I want to bear it's children.

Now, I’m not here to bring the news that this beautiful handheld is actually going to made available to people in a certain part of the planet, though that alone is totally worth posting about. No, I have an ulterior motive here. I want to complain about Nintendo of America for a second. I promise not to take up too much of your time but I want to get it out there.