The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition Free on 3DS January 31, 2014

I could not be happier with Nintendo right now.  Just as soon as I completed all the actions in the Bravely Default demo, I checked the Nintendo eShop and found Nintendo had once again taken my advice.  The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition is back on the 3DS’s eShop and you can download it for free right now up until February 2nd, 2014.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition is a special promotional port of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, originally released bundled with the game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Game Boy Advance.  It is redesigned to take full advantage of the features of the 3DS, including wireless multiplayer.  The game was originally created as a special promotion for The Legend of Zelda’s Anniversary, and was released for free only for a short time.  As this period of release took place before the release of the 3DS XL, I was not lucky enough to be able to download this game, and seeing the game’s listing in the official Hyrule Historia only served to put salt on that wound.  Now that it’s back out, I couldn’t hit the download button faster.

As far as I know, Nintendo has not widely reported on this.  Their website makes a small mention of the event, but I cannot recall a single message on their Twitter Feed or YouTube Channel.  Regardless, if you have a 3DS or plan to pick one up before the 2nd of February, you have no reason not to give this game a download.  Nintendo said it may be a very long time before they bring it back.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition is free right now exclusively to the Nintendo 3DS.

Bravely Default Gameplay Trailer January 30, 2014

Yesterday, Nintendo released the  latest gameplay trailer for Square Enix’s newest RPG franchise, Bravely Default.  Inspired heavily by the gameplay of earlier Final Fantasy games, Bravely Default takes full advantage of the 3DS’s features (including StreetPass), while still offering a ton of options you will recognize from earlier Final Fantasy games, like a great jobs system.  I’ve put several hours into the Bravely Default demo, and I hope to be lucky enough to complete it and unlock all of the demo’s extra bonuses before the full version of the game gets released, because the demo’s unlocked bonuses carry over into the main game.  So check out this latest gameplay trailer.  If anything, it should be something fun to watch while you wait for Norende to finish rebuilding.

Bravely Default is coming February 7th, 2014 exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS.  You can download the demo right now off the Nintendo eShop.

Final Fantasy XIII RETRO-spective January 30, 2014

The third entry in the Final Fantasy XIII series, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, is coming in just a few weeks.  To help prepare anyone interested in picking it up who may not have played any of the previous Final Fantasy XIII games, Square Enix has produced a FANTASTIC retrospective on the series story, with a little twist.  Instead of cutting together gameplay footage from the game’s CGI cutscenes, this new video is done very much in the style of the classic 16-bit RPGs like Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III is the US SNES version’s name) and Chrono Trigger.  This could have been done because that era is considered by many to be the finest era in the history of Console RPGs.  Well, check out the video below to see for yourself.  It really puts the RETRO in retrospective.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is coming February 11th, 2014 to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  A Collector’s Edition for the game is for sale exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store.  Anyone who preorders any version of the game from a participating retailer will get an exclusive Lightning costume based on Cloud’s outfit and Buster Sword from Final Fantasy VII.

Microsoft Buys Gears of War IP January 27, 2014

Hot off the presses, Microsoft has announced the purchase of the Gears of War franchise from Epic Games.  Next to Halo, Gears of War is one of the biggest exclusive franchises that the Xbox 360 held over Sony platforms since the Playstation 3 launch.  However, up to today, the Gears of War property was owned by developer Epic Games, and if they chose, they could have released it on other platforms like the PS3.  With Microsoft buying the property, there is no chance of a Gears of War game coming to a non-Microsoft platform any more.

This is highly unusual for Microsoft, as they typically acquire IPs by purchasing the companies that developed them outright.  My guess is that Epic either wished to stay independent, or Microsoft had no interest in acquiring extra companies right now.  The details of the deal are still pretty secret, so we don’t know how much Microsoft paid for the franchise yet, but Microsoft did acquire Epic team member Rod Fergusson (seen here) as part of the deal.

Microsoft says they plan to announce their future plans with the IP later this year.  My bet is they may announce something at this year’s E3.

inFAMOUS: Second Son Behind the Scenes – Make it Rain January 27, 2014

The latest release in the inFAMOUS series, inFAMOUS: Second Son, is going to take place in the city of Seattle.  If you’re going to reproduce Seattle for a gaming environment, you’re going to want to go all out, and that means also recreating Seattle’s signature weather patterns.  Thanks to the power of the Playstation 4, the game’s developers plan to do exactly that, and here’s how they are doing it.

inFAMOUS: Second Son is coming March 2014 exclusive to the Playstation 4.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Collector’s Edition Trailer January 27, 2014

Square Enix is in the process of remastering Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 to the PS3 in glorious HD with entirely new scenarios never released in North America.  However, that is not all Square Enix is planning to do with this HD remaster, they are planning to release two Special Collector’s Edition versions of the game for fans.  The first is very similar to the Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMIX release in that it will include a detailed artbook.  This version will be available at no extra charge for anyone who preorders the game from participating retailers.  The other is a very special Collector’s Edition which will include a full sized artbook, and the soundtrack for both games on Blu-Ray Disc.  This CE is going to be so rare it will only be available on Square Enix’s Online Store.  Take a look for yourselves to see which version you want to pick up.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is coming March 2014 to the Playstation 3.  A Playstation Vita version is also in development.

Inside the Square – Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Behind the Scenes Series January 24, 2014

To help set the proper mood for when we release the Let’s Play of the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Demo later this weekend, take a look at this three part behind the scenes documentary, dubbed “Inside the Square”, which details the history of the company behind the series and the game’s development.  It is very well produced and I highly recommend giving it a watch for anyone waiting for the demo to finish downloading.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is coming February 11th, 2014 to the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Demo Released January 24, 2014

The Demo for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, the third and final part of the Final Fantasy XIII saga is up for release nearly a month before the game’s official launch.  Xbox Live Gold and Playstation Network users should be able to download the demo right now free of charge to their respective console.  Free Xbox Live members will have to wait until January 28th, 2014 to download the demo.

Ready for the best part?  Anyone who plays through the demo, activates the Outworld game feature and submits a player score will be eligible for some exclusive DLC.  On top of that, anyone who downloads the PS3 version of the demo prior to the game’s launch will immediately unlock an exclusive costume.  That costume will download to your PS3 automatically.

For those of you unable to download the demo, we are planning to record a Let’s Play of it for release some time this weekend.  In the meantime, enjoy this opening cinematic.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is coming February 11th, 2014 to the PS3 and Xbox 360.  PS3 users should download the demo prior to the game’s launch to ensure access to the exclusive costume.

The Last of Us: Left Behind Complete Opening and Interview January 23, 2014

The floodgates of coverage on The Last of Us‘s first single player DLC continues.  I know I showed a part of the Left Behind opening cinematic last week, but Sony has released the entire opening cinematic for the highly anticipated expansion.  Check it out.

Sony has also released a new video interview with the game’s developers and the DLC’s main actors.  With Ellie now the main character of the expansion, the role of the expansion’s supporting character has been shifted to a new character, Riley, the protagonist of the game’s official graphic novel series, The Last of Us: American Dreams.  Enjoy.

The Last of Us: Left Behind is coming February 14th, 2014.  A full version of The Last of Us is required to play.  The DLC will be free to anyone who has already purchased the game’s Season Pass.

Dead Rising 3: Operation Broken Eagle Launch Trailer January 20, 2014

The first single-player DLC expansion for the Xbox One exclusive title Dead Rising 3 is launching tomorrow.  In the new DLC, dubbed Operation Broken Eagle, you take control of a new character, use new weapons, and get your hands on an entirely new vehicle all for a new story.

In order to play, you will need to download the game’s latest patch which launched earlier today.  Ironically, clocking in at over 13GB, many believe Dead Rising 3’s newest patch could very well be the largest patch in the history of video games.  The new patch adds stability and gameplay fixes, as well as brings compatibility across all Dead Rising 3 players, regardless of the DLC they have purchased.

The full version of Dead Rising 3, out now exclusive to the Xbox One, is required to play.  Capcom has confirmed that more DLC missions are coming.