Update: Below is another new trailer. This one features Popo while the another one shows Risette.

New gameplay footage of Stella Glow is out, and in it we see a clip of how Songs work during gameplay. Songs are sung by Witches to enhance abilities and unlock full potential in battle. Check it out below:

I’ve been sick and Austin isn’t around to edit audio, but Just a Chat must go on! In this week’s episode, Daan and I talk about the announcements of Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon and Art Academy: Atelier, plus the Nintendo World Championships, Nintendo’s hiring of “Bowser”, and the Splatoon Iwata Asks.

Stuff:

Brian’s Twitter
Daan’s Twitter

Let’s Talk #9: What is your favorite Nintendo franchise?

Nintendo has created a ton of franchises over the years. We’ve seen IPs like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Kirby, Star Fox, Kid Icarus… just to name a few. There are so many series out there that it’s tough to choose a favorite. But that’s exactly what I’m asking of you this week!

This week’s Let’s Talk is very simple. I want to have a discussion about our favorite franchises. What’s your favorite? Why do you enjoy it so much? I’m curious about your absolute favorite series, but you can name a few runner-ups as well. Sound off in the comments! You’ll find a few thoughts from me and highlights from last week’s Let’s Talk down below.

Choosing a favorite Nintendo franchise is incredibly difficult since Nintendo has a bunch of well-known and great series to choose from. At the end of the day though, I’d probably have to go with Zelda. I’ve previously talked about how Ocarina of Time truly jump-started my interest in gaming, and my experience with it is a big reason why Nintendo Everything exists today!

There’s a lot to love in Zelda. The epic adventures. The variety of art styles. The different types of gameplay. For me, there’s very little that beats riding Epona across Hyrule.

I do want to mention that I have a ton of love for other Nintendo franchises. If I were to rank them, Zelda would be first, followed by Mario, and then Metroid. Mario… well, not much explanation is needed there! It’s an absolutely classic franchise that can resonate with just about anyone. I started with the Metroid series late – Metroid Fusion was my first experience with the franchise. But I never looked back, and have loved both the 2D and 3D entries.

Highlights from last week’s topic: Your thoughts on Splatoon

Exy

I had my worries in the past that they’re not doing as much as they should to promote it, but they should be credited for identifying their internet fanbase and getting to them where it counts. Tumblr in particular is big on the game’s aesthetic and characters, and they’re actually using their Vine account for the first time since 2013 solely to promote this game. Before last month, they had only two Vines, both half-heartedly promoting the Wii U, but now there’s a good amount of videos on it all dedicated to Splatoon. They’re really going all out on the internet front getting this game known. Pity about those American television commercials though…

timfletcher1983

I’ve read a lot of complaints about the game pad being necessary to play online. I have to admit, I was a little concerned too, given I use the Pro Controllers almost exclusively with the relevant games that support it. However, the gyro + analogue stick controls of the game pad were absolutely, surprisingly comfortable when playing for 1 hour during the Splatoon Global Testfire. I gave it a good go, then turned motion control off to see how I’d fare with the typical analogue stick controls, but I have to say I preferred the gyro + analogue combo; it seems far more accurate.

I wonder though how this might fare for longer periods of playing. No doubt, the game pad may get a little heavy over time, and I still had a lot of tweaking (and skill development) to feel like I had the hang of it 100%. Nonetheless, I was super pleasantly surprised – two hands on the game pad make for some seriously accurate and timely aiming – much more than those one handed Wii remote motion aiming days.

Ant M.

I for one am REALLY excited for this game after getting my hands on it. It’s a new spin on a genre that DESPERATELY needed one & a polished one at that. That game feels SO good! Everything about it feels fluid and works together to make you feel immersed in the gameplay from the controls down to the sound design.

Gaming Boulevard has provided another look at the recently-released Zelda: A Link to the Past comic. Actually, you’ll be able to see all of the pages in full.

Graphite Lab shared a release window update for Hive Jump in a new Kickstarter update. On Wii U, the game is targeted for launch in Q1 2016. A specific date beyond that is currently unavailable.

You can read up on the latest Hive Jump Kickstarter update in full here. Graphite Lab has provided a progress report on the planetary campaign, swarm AI, and more.

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It’s time for the latest Famitsu’s most wanted games chart! With the latest chart, Fire Emblem If has slipped to the sixth spot.

Head past the break for the full chart. All votes were cast between April 30 and May 13.

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There are plenty of Kickstarter projects that feature Wii U in one form or another. For the latest look at which games are seeking funding, check out our roundup below.

LOUD on Planet X – $50,000 CAD for funding, Wii U stretch goal at $75,000 CAD

LOUD on Planet X is an arcade-style indie music game featuring Tegan and Sara, METZ, Metric, Lights, July Talk, F*cked Up, Cadence Weapon, Austra and more.

Choose from a cross-section of top current indie music artists, then defend your stage from hordes of quirky aliens by tapping to the music and using a fun assortment of makeshift weapons like speakers, strobe lights, fog machines, amplifiers, bouncers and custom special attacks!

LOUD on Planet X is an exciting new indie alternative to Rock Band or Guitar Hero with a splash of Plants vs Zombies – a new hybrid of rhythm game and classic shooter with tower defence elements.

Yooka-Laylee – already funded at $270,041, coming to Wii U

Yooka-Laylee is an all-new 3D platformer from the creative talent behind the Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country games. We’ve come together to form Playtonic Games and create a spiritual successor to our most cherished work from the past!

Our new heroes, Yooka (the green bloke with no pants) and Laylee (the wisecracking lady-bat with the big nose) were conceptualised from the ground up for stellar platforming gameplay, created by the same character artist behind the rebooted Donkey Kong family and legendary N64 heroes Banjo and Kazooie.

Using an arsenal of special moves like Yooka’s tongue grapple and Laylee’s tactical sonar blast, players will explore – and expand – gorgeous 3D worlds drawn up by esteemed environment artist Steven Hurst (Banjo-Kazooie series, Viva Pinata) and through skill discover the plethora of delicious collectibles hidden within.

Sydney Hunter and the Caverns of Death – already funded, Wii U stretch goal at $35,000

Sydney Hunter and the Caverns of Death is a new retro-style adventure/puzzle platformer for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Armed only with his trusty boomerang, Sydney must navigate dark caverns while avoiding bats, ghosts, hot lava and other obstacles. If you can survive all 10 caverns, you will be able to win your freedom.Your support for this Kickstarter campaign will help bring a new game to one of the most beloved systems of all time…the SNES. You also have an opportunity to receive some cool rewards available exclusively through this Kickstarter campaign.

10 total levels.
Unique soundtrack.
Different region versions available.
Exclusive Kickstarter rewards.

In Famitsu’s most recent issue, the magazine caught up with Ambrella director Norio Matsumura and president Muneaki Ozawa. The two sides chatted all about the free-to-play 3DS game Pokemon Rumble World.

One of the most notable questions Famitsu asks is why the team decided to try out the F2P model. Matsumura noted that it actually happened thanks to a suggestion from Pokemon president Tsunekazu Ishihara.

Matsumura said:

Mr. Ishihara (the president of the Pokemon Company) suggested: “Let’s try out F2P.” Personally I think that refreshing controls and the nature of continuously returning to the game are concepts which suit free games very well, so I thought there was a chance of success. However, many members of the staff are against F2P games…

Matsumura continued on his comments by talking about how development didn’t progress without some resistance:

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

Wii U

Disney Infinity 3.0 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Mighty No. 9 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Guitar Hero Live – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Mario Maker – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
LEGO Dimensions – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Rodea: The Sky Soldier – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Legend of Kay Anniversary – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop (new)
LEGO Marvel’s Avengers – Amazon
LEGO Jurassic World – Amazon, GameStop
Terraria – Amazon
Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem – Best Buy
The Legend of Zelda – Amazon, Best Buy
Xenoblade Chronicles X – Amazon, Best Buy
Yoshi’s Woolly World – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Splatoon – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Devil’s Third – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop

3DS

Project X Zone 2 – Amazon
Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson – Amazon, GameStop
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Rodea: The Sky Soldier – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven – Amazon, GameStop
Fire Emblem – Best Buy
LEGO Marvel’s Avengers – Amazon
LEGO Jurassic World – Amazon, GameStop
Terraria – Amazon
Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop

Update: Target is now saying the opposite on the same Twitter account. I’m not sure where the confusion originated from, but at least the situation wasn’t as poor as we thought!

Target will be handling the launch of Friday’s new amiibo in a peculiar way. We’re not sure why this is, but customers will only be allowed to purchase two figures in total. That means you could go with a combination like Charizard and Wario, but that’s it. Just two.

The official “AskTarget” Twitter account posted the following earlier today, which has since been backed up by other employees:

I can absolutely understand limiting things to one of each character. Only allowing customers to purchase a total of two figures, though? That seems a tad crazy. If Target wasn’t offering the exclusive Jigglypuff amiibo, I doubt many people would be trying their luck there!

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