As you know, next week is E3, the wonderful time of the year where we get hyped up for games that we won’t see for at least another 4 months. We can only guess what surprises that Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, along with several major publishers and developers will have in store for gamers this year. However, today sees a couple of huge potential leaks: One, being a cel-shaded Transformers brawler and the other being new DLC for Smash Brothers. Unless and until they are confirmed at E3, these two rumors should only be taken as little more than speculation, even if we have screenshots.
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In 2012, Rusty Moyher, Shaun Inman, and Matt Grimm worked together during the Ludum Dare game jam. Dureing the event, they created the game Super Clew Land in 72 hours. Inspired by the efforts, the three began a kickstarter that would see the trio develop 6 games throughout 6 months, each being developed in three days. Backers would vote on a theme, and when the game was finished, they would be able to play the finished effort. The 6 games were collected in this compilation, and you can buy it on steam now. Each of these games could easily pass as an NES classic, and each of them have their own little quirks.
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According to the website Deadline, a new Mega Man animated series in in the works from Man of Action, producers of shows such as Ben 10 and Ultimate Spider-Man. A 26-episode series is planned for 2017, although there are currently no details about what network it will air on or its release schedule. Although fans aren’t too fond of MOA’s current effort Ultimate Spider-Man, I personally enjoyed the show. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the animation would work quite well with Mega Man. Besides, it’s not like it can be any worse than Captain N’s green dwarf with a speech impediment, the Ruby-Spears series from the 90s, or the bat-guano-insane Brazilian comic. This is probably the closest we’ll get to a new game for now. Then again, there’s also Mighty Number 9, which is available for pre-sale on Steam.

Puhleeze. Who wants a Hideo Kojima produced Silent Hill game written by Guillermo Del Toro and starring Norman Reedus anyway?

A few weeks ago, a potential classic, Silent Hills, was cancelled, and all trace of it was removed from the Playstation Network Store. What would have been a potential game changer for both the franchise and the survival horror genre in general is yet another case of what could have been. Although no definite reason was given for it, if you’ve kept up with the drama over the past few weeks, it’s evident that business politics, internal conflict, and the pending departure of Hideo Kojima all played into the cancellation. Sadly, Silent Hills isn’t the first high profile cancellation, nor will it be the last. Gaming’s history is rife with games that could have been classics being canceled due to a variety of reasons. I’ve done 5 previous installments on this subject alone.

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We’re a bit late, but better late than never.

As you heard, Metal Gear Solid producer Hideo Kojima is leaving his longtime employer after the release of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. One of the many causalities of this split was a planned Silent Hill game starring Norman Reedus and co-produced by Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II, Pacific Rim). There had been rumors of issues brewing between Konami and Kojima, and youtuber Super Bunny Hop made the above video based on contact he had with an anonymous source following an inquiry he made into the issue. While I personally believe that this person has no reason to lie, he is an anonymous employee as noted in the video, so you can take what it says with a grain of salt. The video contains interesting stuff, such as a possible feud between Kojima and Konami CEO Kagamasa Kozuki, tales of employee mistreatment, gambling, and politics. However, there is more. Check out after the jump:

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If you’re a fan of all those old school arcade games where the goal was to get as high of a score as possible, Luftrausers is for you. It’ll bring back memories of Space Invaders, Galaga, and Time Pilot while at the same time smartly integrating some innovations from today. Developed by Vlambeer (Ridiculous Fishing), Luftrausers puts players in control of a plane, and your goal is to shoot down as many of the enemy as you can before going down. Your aircraft allows for 360 degree movement, but you have to turn manually, and you can only shoot from the front. This adds some strategy, as the angle of your turn comes into play everytime you make a move to attack. As you score higher, you can unlock different parts to customize your craft with (each changing the music). Instead of a one-hit kill, your aircraft can regenerate its health long as you aren’t currently firing. The game also includes goals to meet and achievements to unlock. If you’re one of those old-school games that thing today’s titles are too overwhelming for you, Luftrausers brings back an old school experience right down to its limited color palette. There is no storyline, online multiplayer, voice acting, or dlc, but a shooting experience this fun doesn’t need any of that stuff.

Ever since 2010’s Lords of Shadow, the Castlevania franchise just hasn’t been the same. Seeing as how Konami is currently making some questionable moves, Koji Igarashi is hard at work creating a spiritual successor to the franchise. This game will adopt the ‘Metroidvania’, or as he calls it ‘Igavania’ style of gameplay that was made famous by titles such as Symphony of the Night, Portrait of Ruin, and Dawn of Sorrow. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a 2.5D action platformer in the vein of SOTN. Playing as a young girl named Miriam, you investigate the appearance of a mysterious castle in a world controlled by an organization known as the Alchemist Guild. The gameplay will feature a crafting system, upgradable weapons, and special abilities. The art style (right down to the logo as seen above) evokes memories of Konami’s classic franchise. Iga even recruited longtime Castlevania composer Michiru Yamane to do the soundtrack. Seeing as how Koji has gone indie, he’s turned to Kickstarter to secure funding for the title. While he was only asking for $500,000, He managed to raise over 3 times as much (as of the time of this article). With the funding, Iga has secured several stretch goals such as new characters, and voicework from David Hayter (that’s the former Solid Snake) to those who don’t know. The game will be developed by Inti Creates, who are currently working on Mighty No. 9, a spiritual successor to Mega Man. It’s clear that this title will be to Castlevania what Mighty No. 9 is to Mega Man. Perhaps next we should get someone to create a spiritual successor to Contra? Igarashi is hoping to release the game on Mac, PC, Linux, Xbox One, and PS4 in March of 2017.

Far Cry 3 is perhaps one of the most improved sequels of last generation. While Far Cry 2 wasn’t a bad game, there were several key issues that held the game back from being a true classic. Far Cry 3 manages to fix most of these issues, and while it introduces some new issues of its own, they are hardly anything deal breaking. Playing as Jason Brody, you and your friends make your way to a tropical paradise, only to find out that it’s a haven for a ring of pirates and mercenaries who engage in, among other things, human trafficking. Captured by a madman named Vaas, Jason must find his friends and escape the island. After barely making it out of Vaas’s camp alive, Jason meets the Rykat, a tribe of island natives who can help him destroy Vaas and his men.
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