Some of you may recall a little game called “The Hand of Panda”. We first heard about the project in 2013 through a Kickstarter campaign. It ended up reaching its $3,000 goal, and work has continued since then.
A release date for The Hand of Panda has finally been announced. In a Kickstarter update, the game’s developers confirmed launch for March 3 – this Thursday.
Here’s the original Kickstarter pitch video:
And the game’s description from Kickstarter:
“The Hand of Panda is a culmination of several gameplay types combined to create an updated bonus round feel and experience. While mostly basing this game off our favorite bonus round, “Test your might” from the classic Mortal Kombat game, we decided it was time to update this and create something new and more enjoyable for today’s audience.
Wrapped in an Asian theme, this game challenges you acquire the skills and power necessary destroy over 50 real and exceptionally unreal known materials: Earn the right to challenge each floor of the various pagodas to break a variety of Wood, Metal, Stone, Rare, Backer Created, and Legendary Items. The journey will test your skills of speed, strategy and memorization, while facing the various obstacles in your way and become the Greatest Master the land has ever seen.”
The Hand of Panda was under consideration for Wii U at one point. Whether that’s still the case remains to be seen. If The Hand of Panda does well on 3DS, it might be possible.
Yet another notable change has been discovered within Bravely Second’s European version. With sidequests, whereas the Japanese release has players picking a side and seeing the consequences of their decision being played out, European copies result in a “good” ending regardless. There’s a little more on this in a forum thread here – just beware of some spoilers.
As far as other western changes go, it was reported earlier today that some character models have been modified. We’ve also known about a class change for quite some time as well.
Update 3: Bumped to the top again. Hyrule Warriors has now been price-matched on Amazon.
Update 2 (2/29): Bumped to the top. Majora’s Mask 3D has now been price-matched on Amazon as well.
Update: A Link Between Worlds has now been price-matched on Amazon.
Original (2/28): Best Buy has a few Zelda games on sale this week. The lineup includes Wind Waker HD, Majora’s Mask 3D, Tri Force Heroes, A Link Between Worlds, and Hyrule Warriors. All are $10 off aside from Hyrule Warriors, which is discounted by $20.
The official sale page is located here. Thus far, Amazon has price-matched Tri Force Heroes.
More footage is in of last week’s European Wii U Virtual Console release Pokemon Ranger. Take a look at the video below.
Update 4 (2/29): Bumped to the top again. For our UK friends, Pokemon Sun
and Pokemon Moon
are up on Amazon.
Update 3 (2/28): Bumped to the top. Pokemon Moon is now up properly for pre-order on Amazon. 20% Prime discount included. Updated our weekly pre-order post with this.
Update 2: Some issues with Amazon’s pre-order page for Moon. Will update when it’s working again.
Update: Bumped to the top. Added in Pokemon Moon at Amazon.
Original (2/26): Retailers are starting to take pre-orders for Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon following today’s announcement. We’ll keep track of the different reservations in this post.
Amazon (20% off with Prime)
Best Buy (20% off with GCU)
GameStop
SEGA is celebrating Sonic’s 25th anniversary with a panel at SXSW panel on March 19. Original Sonic creator Yuji Naka and Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka will be in attendance, as well as other guests such as Roger Smith (Sonic voice actor) and Mike Pollock (Dr. Eggman voice actor).
Here’s an overview of the event:
“Sonic the Hedgehog is turning 25! After racing to the scene in 1991 on the “SEGA Genesis,” the little blue blur has seen it all: the great evolution of gaming – including the rise of online and mobile – international expansion, multiple TV series, and an ascension that’s made him an icon and veritable mascot of gaming itself. This panel will take an in-depth look at his Sonic’s rich history across gaming, TV, merchandise and more, giving fans an inside glimpse directly from key figures in Sonic’s history. Join us as we celebrate the past and look to the future!”
The Sonic the Hedgehog: 25 Year Anniversary panel will take place from 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM.
It’s well documented at this point that Fire Emblem Fates’ western version does not have the main petting game included in the original Japanese release. At one point though, there may have been plans to leave it in.
Fans have come across some English dialogue that sounds like something which could have been used for the petting mini-game. You can have a listen here. The theory going around is that the mini-game was scrapped farther along during localization, while some are also hoping that the feature will make it into the European release. It might be an interesting discovery, but it’s one that doesn’t change the outcome of Fates’ North American localization.
Nintendo just uploaded the North American Pokken Tournament commercial. You can give it a watch below.
Erik Peterson spent many years at Nintendo and contributed to the localization of games for the western market. Today, Peterson announced that he’s leaving the company.
You may recognize Peterson as one of the leading folks behind the Nintendo Treehouse streams, including the ones hosted during E3. He spent 13 years with the Big N.
Peterson posted on Twitter earlier today:
Big life news! After 13 yrs, I'm moving on from Nintendo. I'll miss my Nintendo family–so grateful for such an unbelievable experience.
— Erik Peterson (@CountLePants) February 29, 2016
But I'm also really excited for this new phase of my life. Thank you for your support all these years!
— Erik Peterson (@CountLePants) February 29, 2016
A ton of Ubisoft games are now on sale on the North American Wii U and 3DS eShops. Games have been discounted by up to 75 percent.
Here’s the full lineup:
Wii U
Assassin’s Creed III – $10 (was $19.99)
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – $10 (was $19.99)
Child of Light – $3.75 (was $14.99)
Cloudberry Kingdom – $2.50 (was $9.99)
ESPN Sports Connection – $12.50 (was $49.99)
Just Dance 2015 – $15 (was $29.99)
Just Dance: Disney Party 2 – $27.99 (was $39.99)
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth – $7.50 (was $29.99)
Rabbids Land – $12.50 (was $49.99)
Rayman Legends – $10 (was $39.99)
Splinter Cell: Blacklist – $10 (was $19.99)
Watch Dogs – $15 (was $29.99)
Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013 – $12.50 (was $49.99)
ZombiU – $14.99 (was $29.99)
3DS
Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars – $7.50 (was $29.99)
Gravity Falls – Legend of the Gnome Gemulets – $20.99 (was $29.99)
Petz Beach – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Petz Countryside – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Petz Fantasy 3D – $7.50 (was $29.99)
Poptropica Forgotten Islands – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Rabbids Travel in Time 3D – $7.50 (was $29.99)
Rayman 3D – $7.50 (was $29.99)
Rayman Origins – $7.50 (was $29.99)
Splinter Cell 3D – $7.50 (was $29.99)
Tetris Ultimate – $9.99 (was $19.99)
The Smurfs – $20.99 (was $29.99)
All of these deals are valid through March 13.
