In the latest Just a Chat conversation, Austin and I discuss the upcoming Mario Kart 8 update including the Mercedes-Benz DLC. There’s also some talk about what we’d like to see changed/added in the future, plus a tiny bit of Amiibo talk.

Check out the video below!

More: highlight, Mario Kart 8, title update, top

Ghirahim and Zant are playable in Hyrule Warriors because of fan feedback

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 6 Comments

It sounds like Koei Tecmo wasn’t always planning on having Ghirahim and Zant playable in Hyrule Warriors. Youske Hayashi, one of the game’s producers, told Game Informer this month that the team “originally thought of them strictly as enemy characters”. However, Koei Tecmo ended up including Ghirahim and Zant on the roster “in response to people who wanted to try playing as them”.

The addition of cuccos is another element that made its way into Hyrule Warriors thanks to fans. Hayashi teased, “They will appear during battle, and you’ll have to play the game for yourself to see what will happen.”

More: Hyrule Warriors, Koei Tecmo, Omega Force, Team Ninja, top, Yosuke Hayashi

Pre-order updates (8/17/14)

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 0 comments

Below are the latest titles that can be currently pre-ordered at retailers:

Wii U

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes – 2.0 Edition – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
GameCube Controller – Super Smash Bros. Edition – Amazon
GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U – Amazon
The Legend of Zelda – Amazon, GameStop
Xenoblade Chronicles X – Amazon, Best Buy
Hyrule Warriors – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Yoshi’s Woolly World – Amazon, Best Buy
Splatoon – Amazon, Best Buy
Kirby and The Rainbow Curse – Amazon
Mario Party 10 – Amazon, Best Buy
Devil’s Third – Amazon
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Amazon, Best Buy
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric – Amazon, GameStop
Super Smash Bros. bundle – Amazon (new), Best Buy, GameStop
Just Dance 2015 – Amazon, GameStop
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Skylanders Trap Team Dark Edition (Collector’s Edition) – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Skylanders Trap Team – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop,
Watch Dogs – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Bayonetta 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Super Smash Bros. – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop

3DS

FIFA 15 – Amazon, GameStop
Disney Big Hero 6 – GameStop
The Legend of Korra A New Era Begins – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley – GameStop
Power Rangers: Super Megaforce – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. – Amazon, Best Buy
Fossil Fighters: Frontier – Amazon, Best Buy
Fantasy Life – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth: The Wild Cards Premium Edition – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal – Amazon, GameStop
Pokemon Art Academy – Amazon, Best Buy (new), Best Buy
Story of Seasons – Amazon, GameStop
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Pokemon Omega Ruby – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Skylanders Trap Team – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit! – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Super Smash Bros. – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop

Thanks to Jake for the tip.

More: pre-order

Bayonetta 2 to receive five-disc soundtrack release in Japan

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 4 Comments

Wavemaster, SEGA’s in-house label, has revealed plans to release a five-disc Bayonetta 2 soundtrack in Japan. It will be available on October 29. At launch, the soundtrack will cost 5,142 yen.

Source, Via

More: Bayonetta 2, Japan, PlatinumGames, SEGA

19 more minutes of off-screen Skylanders Trap Team footage

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 0 comments

More: Activision, Skylanders: Trap Team, Toys for Bob

Media Create software sales (8/4 – 8/10) – Top 50

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments

This week’s expanded Japanese software sales are as follows:

01./01. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch 2: Ganso / Honke (Level 5) {2014.07.10} (¥4.937) – 120.682 / 2.093.992 (-16%)
02./00. [3DS] Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission 2 (Bandai Namco Games) {2014.08.07} (¥6.145) – 81.584 / NEW <42,89%>
03./00. [3DS] Senran Kagura 2: Crimson # (Marvelous AQL) {2014.08.07} (¥6.998) – 46.494 / NEW <49,13%>
04./00. [PS3] Ultra Street Fighter IV # (Capcom) {2014.08.07} (¥4.309) – 42.327 / NEW
05./02. [3DS] Yoshi’s New Island (Nintendo) {2014.07.24} (¥4.936) – 22.752 / 114.229 (-31%)
06./03. [WIU] Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo) {2014.05.29} (¥6.156) – 20.860 / 599.414 (+15%)
07./00. [PSV] Shin Hayari Gami (Nippon Ichi Software) {2014.08.07} (¥6.264) – 12.585 / NEW
08./04. [3DS] Taiko no Tatsujin: Don to Katsu no Jikuu Daibouken (Bandai Namco Games) {2014.06.26} (¥5.119) – 8.435 / 127.842 (-5%)
09./05. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch (Level 5) {2013.07.11} (¥4.800) – 7.355 / 1.234.622 (-14%)
10./00. [PS3] Shin Hayari Gami (Nippon Ichi Software) {2014.08.07} (¥7.344) – 5.745 / NEW
11./11. [PS3] Grand Theft Auto V (Bargain Edition) (Rockstar Games) {2014.06.26} (¥5.389) – 5.323 / 38.997 (+7%)
12./12. [3DS] Pokemon X / Y # (Pokemon Co.) {2013.10.12} (¥4.800) – 4.935 / 4.121.836 (+1%)
13./00. [3DS] Bravely Default: For the Sequel (Ultimate Hits) (Square Enix) {2014.08.07} (¥2.700) – 4.720 / NEW
14./06. [PSV] Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines # (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2014.07.17} (¥6.264) – 4.548 / 123.884 (-42%)
15./13. [3DS] Pokemon Art Academy (Nintendo) {2014.06.19} (¥3.908) – 4.326 / 84.588 (-11%)
16./17. [3DS] Gundam Tri Age SP (Bandai Namco Games) {2014.07.17} (¥6.145) – 4.112 / 37.043 (-4%)
17./00. [WIU] Dragon Quest X: All in One Package (Square Enix) {2014.08.07} (¥5.184) – 3.945 / NEW
18./18. [PSV] Freedom Wars (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2014.06.26} (¥6.264) – 3.869 / 275.667 (-4%)
19./00. [PSV] Lost Dimension (FuRyu) {2014.08.07} (¥6.782) – 3.868 / NEW
20./20. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo) {2011.12.01} (¥4.800) – 3.566 / 2.362.577 (+6%)

More: charts, Japan, Media Create, sales

The top 1,000 best-selling games in Japan for 2013

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 2 Comments

Media Create has shared a listing of the top 1,000 best-selling games in Japan for 2013. Monster Hunter 4 was the ultimate seller having moved over three million copies.

Head past the break for the first 200 games. The full listing of 1,000 titles can be found here.

More: charts, Japan, Media Create, sales

Hyrule Warriors Treasure Box Edition unboxing, alternate costumes footage

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 4 Comments

More: DLC, Hyrule Warriors, Koei Tecmo, Omega Force, Team Ninja

More photos and details from the Hyrule Warriors art book

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 0 comments

A whole bunch of additional images have emerged from the Japanese Hyrule Warriors art book. You can find the latest shots in the gallery above.

Along with photos, we’ve translated some of the more interesting bits from the art book.

First, here’s what was said about Link’s design:

We had many different ideas for the concept “Link running around the battlefield”. For example, we considered Japanese style armor and heavy armor, but in order to make dashing around the plains look pretty, we decided on the simple design with a blue scarf. This scarf can be worn only by a person who leads Hyrule’s royal army, so it is a special proof of one’s worth.

And Cia’s design:

Since Cia is Lana’s polar opposite with her evil heart, her main colors are also the opposite of that of Lana. By having noble metals on her sexy body, Cia’s greedy nature was expressed visually.

Lastly, Impa’s design:

In this game, in order to strengthen the Japanese style look of the Sheikah tribe, Japanese style armor was taken as one motif. Design’s details took some inspiration from Impa in Skyward Sword as well.

That’s not all from the art book. Head past the break for information about weapons and a few more story bits. I know some people tend to be very sensitive about spoiler-like information, so keep that in mind before continuing on below!