GameStop giving $20 credit for your crummy presents
Sorry, that headline is a bit misleading -- GameStop's not going to give you $20 store credit in exchange for that Family Matters-branded Snuggie. Rather, the retailer has an extensive list of good and terrible games you might have received this holiday season, which your local 'Stop will give you a Jackson's worth of credit for. The offer's running until January 10, so you've still got time to decide whether you can muster up the courage to ask Maw Maw for the gift receipt, or whether you should just cut your losses.
Zelda Reorchestrated project completes Ocarina of Time score remake
On Christmas day six years ago, one boy had a legitimate dream: To recreate the soundtrack for The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, making it sound like it was recorded by live musicians. Three-fifths of a decade passed, and the boy became a man. More importantly, the Zelda Reorchestrated project produced its first succulent fruits: A 22-track compilation of Ocarina's tunes, as performed by a virtual philharmonic.
You can stream some of the tracks off the Zelda Reorchestrated site, or download the entire shebang for free. Or, you can just wait for the group to recreate the timeless music of Wand of Gamelon, which should be just around the corner.
You can stream some of the tracks off the Zelda Reorchestrated site, or download the entire shebang for free. Or, you can just wait for the group to recreate the timeless music of Wand of Gamelon, which should be just around the corner.
Nintendo's Aonuma pitched Link's Crossbow Training 2
Aside from efforts like The Conduit and the Resident Evil 4 Wiimake (no, we couldn't help it), Nintendo's Wii hasn't exactly enjoyed a glut of capable FPS titles. According to a recent interview with games™ (via NowGamer), Zelda director Eiji Aonuma recognizes this -- and sees great potential for fixing that problem in Link's Crossbow Training, the pack-in minigame included with the Wii Zapper. "To tell you the truth, I actually wanted to create Link's Crossbow Training 2 ... I thought that we should do something more and better in the field of the first-person shooter." Wait, haven't we heard this before?
Unfortunately for Aonuma, the execs above him at Nintendo didn't think much of the idea, nixing it in favor of a completely new entry in the Zelda series. "I was thinking that maybe we could intensify the multiplayer mode ... [but] a lot of people inside Nintendo insisted that I should work on a new Legend of Zelda title." We're sorry about that, Mr. Aonuma! And to the Nintendo executives who killed a sequel to Link's Crossbow Training, we'd like to personally thank you.
Unfortunately for Aonuma, the execs above him at Nintendo didn't think much of the idea, nixing it in favor of a completely new entry in the Zelda series. "I was thinking that maybe we could intensify the multiplayer mode ... [but] a lot of people inside Nintendo insisted that I should work on a new Legend of Zelda title." We're sorry about that, Mr. Aonuma! And to the Nintendo executives who killed a sequel to Link's Crossbow Training, we'd like to personally thank you.
Canadian Boxing Week Video Game Sales Hub

We've scoured the Boxing Day/Week circulars of Canada's retailers and singled out the video game deals in the guides below. Just click on a retailer to view:
Head past the break for additional tips!
More games released in 2009 than in 2008, barely
Some people have decried the current calendar year for being light on high-quality games -- but they can't frown upon the quantity of titles released in 2009. According to Gamespot, the latest EEDAR GamePulse report reveals that 1,099 games were released to retail outlets throughout the year -- a slight increase over the 1,092 games which hit the market in 2008.
That's not exactly good news -- according to the report, more games (such as Modern Warfare 2) are becoming permanent staples on store shelves, limiting the amount of free space for other new titles. Also, the amount of expendable cash folks have to spend on these games is dwindling. But ... but let's not think about that, okay? It's Christmas. Happy thoughts, you guys.
That's not exactly good news -- according to the report, more games (such as Modern Warfare 2) are becoming permanent staples on store shelves, limiting the amount of free space for other new titles. Also, the amount of expendable cash folks have to spend on these games is dwindling. But ... but let's not think about that, okay? It's Christmas. Happy thoughts, you guys.
Snap Judgment: Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes

Gallery: Might and Magic Clash of Heroes (DS)
Cave Story coming 'after the new year' with new difficulty modes

In more positive news, Nicalis also revealed what the deal was with the alternate-color Quote sprite that it's been teasing on its Twitter account: it's the outfit the player character wears in the new Easy mode, one of three difficulty modes. Hard Mode, which gives you only 3HP and no missiles, features Quote in blue with blonde hair. The developer also has "a LOT" of DLC planned, "AND we're taking possible requests." Finally, as a little stocking stuffer (or ear stuffer), Nicalis posted three remixed Cave Story tunes. Huzzah for the holidays!
Rock Band Weekly: A little bit country (plus A Beatle: Rock Band in January)

When Rock Band DLC does return, it''ll bring a seven-pack of songs from the Rock Band: Country disc, followed by a three-pack of live Paul McCartney songs from his performance at New York's Citi Field. Check the list after the break, and then you can forget about all that other garbage you've downloaded!
Resident Evil: The Discount Chronicles

Amazon knocked about $20 off the price of the Wii rail shooter, which features settings and characters from Resident Evil 2 and Code Veronica, as its Deal of the Day. The game just came out in November! We're tempted to call it a Christmas miracle -- though maybe we'll save that declaration for when something is discounted to $20.
Somewhat playable N64 emulator released for jailbroken iPhones
Mobile emulation expert ZodTTD's newest project, a Nintendo 64 emulator for jailbroken iPhones, has been released -- and just in time for the holidays, too, allowing you to recreate that one video with those screaming, flailing children. With a miniscule $2.50 price tag and bluetooth support, which allows you to control the emulator with a Wii remote, it would be a pretty great deal. If, you know, it didn't run at a handful of frames per second.
Check out the video after the jump to see the emulator in action, and to decide whether the double-thick molasses-slow gameplay is still worth the price of admission.
[Via Gizmodo]
Check out the video after the jump to see the emulator in action, and to decide whether the double-thick molasses-slow gameplay is still worth the price of admission.
[Via Gizmodo]
Zangeki no Reginleiv just assumes you don't need all those limbs
Zangeki no Reginleiv, everybody! No, we didn't just wish you happy holidays in Russian -- that's the name of Nintendo's upcoming Japanese release (it basically means "Dynamic Slash," or "Dynamic Zan") that's not only its first Cero D-rated ("M") title ever, but also developed by Sandlot, the folks behind 2007's action gem-in-the-rough Earth Defense Force 2017. As you can see in the new trailer (posted for your viewing enjoyment after the break), the game features Norse heroes doing some MotionPlus-enabled hacking and slashing that results in screen-filling sprays of blood and dismemberment. Good, good times.
It's highly unlikely we'll ever see this one show up here in North America -- Nintendo of America and mature games don't usually mix well. But you can still grab your Wiimote, watch this trailer while waving your arms around, and dream.
It's highly unlikely we'll ever see this one show up here in North America -- Nintendo of America and mature games don't usually mix well. But you can still grab your Wiimote, watch this trailer while waving your arms around, and dream.
New trailers, screens for Hotel Dusk's sequel, Last Window

You can peep the two trailers over at Nintendo of Japan's site, while you'll have to hit up Game Watch for the new screens. Just remember to pace yourself. We wouldn't want you overdoing it like the dude above this chunk of text.
Source - Last Window trailers [Via GoNintendo]
Source - Screens at Game Watch
Buyer's Guide: DSiWare

Wait outside the Monster Hunter Tri site

The site features screenshots, the North American announcement trailer, weapon descriptions, and, perhaps most useful for us, a short listing of monsters -- maybe now we won't catch so much flak for referring to one of the game's trademark creatures as "like a dragon or something." It's like a Monster Hunter University for everyone!
In the announcement, Capcom still referred to the game's release date as "Spring 2010," so we expect it to be one of the less delayed titles in Capcom's lineup.
Toys R Us Sale: buy 1, get 1 'half off' after Xmas
Toys R Us will feature a "buy one, get one half off" game sale on all console and some Nintendo DS software starting the day after Christmas (that's December 26) through January 2, 2010. The sale covers all Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, and PS2 titles, along with Nintendo DS games that are $20 or less.
Remember that TRU now accepts game trade-ins, although dealing with the customer service desk the day after Christmas will likely be a nightmare -- just imagine all those parents trying to return the white Zhu Zhu Pet because their kids wanted the brown one. Stores open at 8:00AM on December 26 for those who want first dibs on the discounted games.
Remember that TRU now accepts game trade-ins, although dealing with the customer service desk the day after Christmas will likely be a nightmare -- just imagine all those parents trying to return the white Zhu Zhu Pet because their kids wanted the brown one. Stores open at 8:00AM on December 26 for those who want first dibs on the discounted games.



















