Game of the Year 2014

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

honorable mentions:

Mario Kart 8

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Shovel Knight

Game of the Year 2014

For those of you who thought I had forgotten: I didn't. This year, I am looking to simplify things quite a bit. Last year you may remember I gave out tons of awards (best graphics, best sounds, console exclusive games of the year) but that's pointless. Game of the Year should be how it sounds. Not a multi-day piece by piece release but a simplified Game of the Year Award. Here's the schedule:

December 31st - Game of the Year 2014
January 1st       - Most Anticipated 2015

That's it. See you there.

Super Smash Bros. Wii U Review

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Review

Super Smash Bros. is back and it is loaded with new arenas, characters, and moves for you to try out, but it has been a long 6 years since the last Smash outing, so how does this one stack up?

REALLY FREAKING WELL, that's how it stacks up. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the greatest entry in the franchise so far, even besting the classic Super Smash Bros. Melee. What differentiates it and ultimately makes it the better game is really a combination of a few things.

First and foremost, the characters. There are a LOT of characters in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and a LOT of them are new to the series. Greninja makes an appearance as well as Duck Hunt Dog, Pac-Man, Mega Man, and even Little Mac. All of the new additions are welcome (except the Fire Emblem ones, but more on that later) and provide a new, wonderful experience for the user. My two favorite characters are Little Mac and Pac-Man, both newcomers.

Secondly, the stages are nice. Representing a pleasant mix of past games and the current iteration, each stage is unique and offers a new experience then wherever you just came from. Additionally, there is an option to toggle whether the stages are flat or their normal stage. This is useful as it allows any stage to be flat and super useful for classic Smash fights.

But thirdly, the features. All of the features of this game all are fantastic. To name one, EIGHT PLAYER SMASH, in which eight players all fight each other. At the same time. Not four. Eight. Yeah, it's pretty frickin sweet.

Overall, the experience is absolutely amazing. Whether you're playing by yourself or duking it out with seven of your friends, Smash Wii U is an absolute pleasure to play, and a must-have for any Wii U owner.

SUPER SMASH BROS. WII U - 98

Pros:

 - The new, bigger roster
 - Eight player Smash
 - Literally everything besides the board game and the title

Cons:

 - Boring board game mode 

 - The title (c'mon, at least try)

Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby Review

For years and years, Nintendo fans have been calling for a remake of the third generation of Pokemon: Ruby and Sapphire. To everyone's delight, this game was confirmed earlier this year and has now hit shelves, but how does it measure up to the Pokemon community's expectations?

Generation III is my second favorite generation of Pokemon. I like the starters, I like the legendary Pokemon, but I LOVE the locale. Hoenn boasts plenty of impressive locations and the new ability to soar over Hoenn increases the amount of respect I have for everything there. And speaking of new features, Alpha and Omega have a few.
The DexNav allows trainers to see what species of Pokemon is in the grass before entering and this eventually expands to show moves, ability, and even held items and IVs.
Also new are the plethora of new mega evolutions; introducing Mega Pidgeot, Mega Salamence, and Mega Steelix to name a few.
Another new feature is the new cosplay Pikachu which I could not care less about. I instantly wonder traded mine away.
Speaking of wonder trade (kind of), the PSS is back and so is Pokemon Amie and so is Super Training. It's Pokemon X but all contained in one tab of the brand-spanking-new lower screen.
As far as the story goes, it's pretty much untouched from Ruby and Sapphire with a few twists thrown in to allocate room for mega evolutions, primal reversion, and other new happenings, and after the Elite Four is beaten for the first time, the game gives you the Delta Episode to complete, which is a cool little story about Deoxys's creation.

All in all, the remastered editions of Ruby and Sapphire are every bit as amazing as the originals and then some. Are they better than Pokemon X and Y? Yes. Are they the same as Pokemon X and Y? No. Should you get them immediately? Yes.

Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Pokemon Omega Ruby - 94

Pros:

 - the new soar ability
 - the additional story elements which clarify Deoxys' creation and the sheer power of Kyogre and Groudon
 - a daycare on the same island as the IV guy
 - the perfect amount of water

Cons:

 - no battle restaurants (that shoddy cafe doesn't count)

God forbid a Pokemon game have 7 damn HMs...

Nintendo Direct!

*happy dance*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkXmABkDlNE

MAJORA'S MASK 3D
CAPTAIN TOAD
MARIO KART 8 AMIIBOS
 MARIO KART 8 DLC
OTHER STUFF

Pokemon and Smash approach...

November is a hell of a month for video games in general with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Assassin's Creed Unity and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare all seeing releases, and Nintendo is having a huge month as well with the release of the long awaited Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and the glorious remakes of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. Both hit stores on November the 21st, so here's a countdown.

Countdown Widget

MARIO KART 8 DLC AND SMASH U

YOSHI CIRCUIT IS BACK
AND SMASH IS A THING TOO

http://www.smashbros.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9GHIRIEJQ

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

So many games!

Does Pokemon Omega Ruby/ Alpha Sapphire look better every day?
Yes.
Does Halo: The Master Chief Collection look reallllllly good?
Yes.
Does Super Smash Bros. Wii U look friggin good?
YAS

BUT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY OR AN XBOX ONE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POKEMON X

Today, Pokemon X and Y turn 1 year old.

Cake.

POKEMON IS 40 DAYS AWAY

What's up my dear readers? Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby grow ever closer (as does Smash U, but I'll save that for another day) and with the mark of 40 days until release, the kind folks over at Pokemon Company have given some new deets in the Japanese magazine CoroCoro. The link will show you those new deets, including new FIRST GENERATION MEGAS and ACTUAL FLYING

http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mega_Beedrill,_Mega_Pidgeot_revealed

Pokemon Omega Ruby/ Alpha Sapphire get new Mega Evolutions, Demo?

In addition to Smash Brothers, the 3DS is also receiving Pokemon relatively soon. Pokemon Company is building hype by releasing new mega evolutions for fan favorite Pokemon like Sharpedo, Camerupt, and Gallade. Abilities for Prima Kyogre and Primal Groudon were also recently revealed. For all the details, check out http://www.pokemonrubysapphire.com/en-us/

Smash 3DS Approaches

With the release of Smash 3DS in Japan, the entire roster is now available to look at, and Nintendo is really kicking the hype into overdrive with the US release of a Smash 3DS demo. This demo will be available on the 17th of September or right now if you were a Club Nintendo Platinum Member this last year,

The New Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo is on news fire lately, dropping news like THAT, KABOOM. But this new 3DS system looks freakin awesome. More shoulder buttons, an added "c-stick", and an Amiibo reader are all new features, but there's plenty more. You can check it out here: http://kotaku.com/nintendo-just-announced-a-new-3ds-1628389333

Mario Kart 8 DLC

Mario Kart 8 has been released and now the hype is all focused on Super Smash Bros. In fact, a leak came out just a couple days ago, but Mario Kart 8 has reclaimed the spotlight with their announcement of non-Mario universe characters joining the racing scene. These characters include Link, Isabelle, and Villager. These new characters will come in two sets of DLC, which both contain 3 new characters, 4 new kart parts, and 8 new courses.

School Year Games

The school year is finally here for me. Some of you may have one more week. Some may have several more weeks, but I return to classes this Wednesday. So what games will I be playing this year when I'm supposed to be doing my homework? Sit down, make some popcorn and enjoy my list of...

TOP 5 GAMES TO PLAY THIS SEMESTER

5. Destiny

From the creators of Halo comes a new shooter that promises customization like no other and a massive open world to explore with friends.

4. Pokemon Omega Ruby & Pokemon Alpha Sapphire

Generation III has finally received its remake, complete with new mega evolutions and plenty of welcomed back features including secret bases and Pokemon contests.

3. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Relive the Master Chief's greatest adventures in the Master Chief Collection. Complete with CE Anniversary and now Halo 2 anniversary, the game packages four Halo games for the price of one.

2. Assassin's Creed Unity

Assassins are cool. Assassin's Creed is cool. But a bunch of assassins all together doing assassin things together? FREAKIN COOL.

1. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. It's a mouthful to say but a butt-load of fun to play. Whether you're smashing solo or you have three friends with you, no other game will offer the same level of excitement as beating your friends in a good ol' smash fest.

Bad News...

Bad news ladies and gentleman. kcduckling is going to have to take a leave. I've got a camp coming up followed by what will be me doing all of my schoolwork last minute, so I'm gonna be gone for about a month or so. Hopefully I'll come back full of vigor and MORE POSTS. But until then, kcduckling out.

Civilization Beyond Earth and StarFox Connected?

What? Probably nothing. I was just bored and then I noticed that the main image for Civ Beyond Earth:

appears to be the same shape of the item on the side of Fox McCloud:

Call me crazy, but that astronaut is actually looking out of Fox's pocket into space. It kind of makes sense since both characters are in space for most of their adventures...

Well whatever you think of it, there it is.

To Break the New Post Drought...

My second episode of Quack Attack should be up here sometime soonish. You can look forward to me talking. And that's pretty much it. Be there.

3DS Must Haves

The 3DS needs no introduction. It has been out since 2011 and has kicked ass since 2012. It was hard to list just 5 game on this list, but these titles are all deserving. So now, the 5 must have games for Nintendo 3DS.

5. Mario and Luigi: Dream Team

The Mario and Luigi RPGs have a history of being cleverly written, lengthy games. And Dream Team is no different. The bros. are back and the new feature this time is that at certain parts in the game, Mario will need to go inside Luigi's head to solve certain problems. While inside, he utilizes Luigi's dream to help him defeat enemies and save the day.

4. Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Link's greatest outing in years, A Link Between Worlds proves that handheld Legend of Zelda can be just as great as the console versions. In A Link Between Worlds, Link can merge into walls to surpass certain enemies and holes in the ground in order to solve puzzles.

3. Animal Crossing New Leaf

Animal Crossing New Leaf is outstanding fun and has astounding replayability. The game never ends. There is no finish. You play endlessly, talking to citizens, building public works projects and collecting bugs, fish and other creatures to donate to the museum. It is endless enjoyment.

2. Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land paved the way for Super Mario 3D World, and is nearly as good. Although it doesn't tote the same HD visuals, Super Mario 3D Land is full of fun power-ups, levels, and enemies to stomp.

1. Pokemon X/Y

Pokemon.

Wii U Must-Haves

The Wii U has long been considered a "weak console" in terms of power and games, but Wii U certainly has both, and below are five games that everyone who owns a Wii U needs. If you don't own a Wii U, now is the time to get one.

5. Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD

Although it is a remake, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD is a remake of one of the greatest Legend of Zelda titles in history. The charming art style of Toon Link is now beautifully remastered in HD, and the adventure is that much more enjoyable thanks to the upgrade.

4. LEGO City Undercover

Play as cop Chase McCain as he uses various disguises to take down baddies in this open-world LEGO game. The game is highlighted by witty dialogue and tons of references to all kinds of movies like Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather.

3. Pikmin 3

Pikmin 3 takes the best parts of both its predecessors and combines them into one beautiful journey through a mysterious planet, collecting its fruits to save their home planet from starvation. Although the story is short-lived, there are some missions for you to accomplish once you're done.

2. Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D World was the greatest game on the Wii U, until MK8 rolled along, but I'll get to that in a minute. Super Mario 3D World has a lengthy adventure, several collectibles within each level, and tons of replay value making it an outstanding game. In addition, the game has a wonderful soundtrack and gorgeous visuals.

1. Mario Kart 8

And the most recent Wii U hit, as well as the greatest Wii U game released to date. Mario Kart 8 is as hectic as always, and deserves praise for its outstanding online capabilities as well as lots of unlockables and replay value. The one drawback? The roster is awful. Other than that, the game excels on everything else, controls, sound, visuals, and it's a blast to play locally with your friends and family.

3DS and Wii U Must-Haves

Well it's that post-E3 time of year again where it seems the gaming news is at zero. So, to break up the silence, kcduckling is going to let you know what games for 3DS and Wii U are must-haves. Still considering buying either one of them? Now is the time to  get one, because both Nintendo Wii U and 3DS's current, short-term, and long-term game releases look promising.

Quack Attack Epsiode 1

Quack Attack Episode 1 is now up on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bDP5OImYy4

E3 Greatest Games

I don't want to do a "Who Won E3" article, because those are stupid. No one "wins" E3. So, I've decided to just share with you five games I was most impressed with at E3 2014.

5. Splatoon (Wii U)

Splatoon is an interesting little game. Just announced this year, Splatoon features not a single existing Nintendo character. This new franchise is a third-person shooter with online capabilities. Teams of four wage war against each other, and shoot paint at every single thing on the map, living and not. The ultimate goal is to have the most paint on the battlefield and to destroy your enemies while they attempt to do so. What increases the appeal of this game even further is that Nintendo Network online play is still free! Splatoon will be being released during the first half of 2015.

4. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)

The Uncharted franchise has long been hailed as one of the greatest in gaming, and the trailer for Uncharted 4 looks simply stunning. Although no gameplay is shown, it does show Nathan Drake recovering from an apparent fall he just took and walking into a mysterious jungle where dozens of skeletons lay in rotting cages. It certainly sets the mood for what is sure to be a grand adventure. The release date is sometime in 2015.

3. Halo: The Master Chief Collection (XB1)

Although Halo 5 was at E3, the remakes end up taking its spot on the list. Halo: The Master Chief Collection contains Halo 1,2,3, and 4, all in 1080 p on the XBOX One. The game is slated for a  November release this year, and players that decide to pick up a copy are rewarded with not only the game and a live-action series, but also a key to the Halo 5 Beta! All for just $60, Microsoft really nailed it with this bundle.

2. Legend of Zelda Wii U (Wii U)

Legend of Zelda Wii U was officially announced for the first time at E3, and it revealed a few things. Such as the art style, which appears to be a toned down version of Skyward Sword Link, and Aonuma described what it would be like playing in that open world, stating that "you can approach any area from any side" leading to even more brain-wracking puzzles. The game is set to come out n 2015.

1. Tom Clancy's The Division (PS4, XB1)

Tom Clancy's The Division looks better and better each time I see it. The open world game dazzled fans at last year's E3, and they had even more gameplay to share this year. Although nothing new was shown, it just cemented the quality of the game while showing off its very impressive graphics. Tom Clancy's The Division releases in 2015.

So Close, But Yet So Far...

While deciding which games would make the list, I had to cut out a few games that were really close to making it. Here they are:

• LittleBig Planet 3
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
• Assassin's Creed: Unity
• Halo 5: Guardians

"E3 Most Looking Forward To" Retrospect

A couple of days ago, I had an article about what I was most looking forward to at E3, and now in retrospect, I would like to see how those dreams of what was going to happen held up.

3. Star Wars Battlefront

I was REALLY hoping to see gameplay, and what I got was only kind of gameplay. The trailer was basically a bunch of people at DICE saying how they all love Star Wars and this new Battlefront is a game made by Star Wars fans for Star Wars fans, and blahblahblah, a bit of "early in-game footage" and a lot of shots of people in the original locations where the original Star Wars trilogy was shot.

DID IT LIVE UP TO ITS EXPECTATION?

NO

2. Halo 5: Guardians

Just like Star Wars Battlefront, I was hoping to see some gameplay, I mean that would only make sense, right? They had a teaser trailer last year, so why would they have another one this year? Well I don't know why, but they totally did. The trailer showed Master Chief doing a bunch of stuff we've already seen him do throughout his previous campaigns, and then at the very end of the trailer, it shows that mysterious Spartan watching Chief on a whole bunch of TV screens. Making him Master Chief's... GUARDIAN

DID IT LIVE UP TO ITS EXPECTATION?

NO

1. Legend of Zelda Wii U

Now, for Legend of Zelda, it had a bit more slack than the other two. This was it's first E3, so I was anticipating a teaser trailer, and then it had an actual trailer, albeit not with gameplay footage, but I at least got to see what the game looked like. The art style chosen is an interesting one, as it appears to be that of Skyward Sword, but toned down, and I have to say. I like it. It works, he doesn't look human-like, but he's not Skyward Sword derpy. Also in the trailer, Aonuma talked about how huge the game was, and it most certainly is. It's massive and I can't wait to see more, whenever that may be.

DID IT LIVE UP TO ITS EXPECTATION?

YES

Nintendo Digital Event Happenings

The Nintendo Digital Event this morning packed a lot of stuff into a small amount of time, but the majority of the news was great. A lot of stuff happened. Actually, too much happened and I don't really care about some of it, so here is what I cared about: (to see the complete list of games announced at Nintendo's Digital Event, hit up e3.nintendo.com)

• A new third-person shooter for the Wii U was announced called Splatoon. It looks like a hell of a lot of fun, and I will be for sure getting it very near release, which is the "first half of 2015"
• Nintendo's NFC figurines thingy was named Amiibo. There will be 10 figures for you and me at launch, which is Holiday 2014. It will be compatible with Smash Brothers and will be eventually incorporated into Mario Kart 8, Mario Party 10, and more.
• A new game called Mario Maker is coming out in the first half of 2015, which will allow users to create and edit their own Super Mario Bros. levels, spawning koopas, goombas, pipes, and pretty much every Mario-related thing that you could think of. Courses can be then played in either the original Mario Brothers graphics, or you can switch to the HD graphics of New Super Mario Bros. U.
• Hyrule Warriors was given a pretty new trailer and they announced Midna from Twilight Princess as a playable character. This game will be hitting shelves on September 26th of this fine year of 2014. And, I am still split on how I feel about this game. It's cool because its Legend of Zelda, but... I'll probably just get Legend of Zelda Wii U.
• CAPTAIN TOAD GOT HIS OWN GAME AND IT'S CALLED CAPTAIN TOAD: TREASURE TRACKER AND I WILL DEFINITELY BUY THIS THE SECOND IT IS AVAILABLE WHICH IS HOLIDAY 2014
• There is another Mario party coming out, for Wii U. This installment is the 10th, thus it is called Mario Party 10. Up to five people can play, where four players play as Mario and his gang, and the fifth player plays as Bowser. It's pretty wild because some of the mini-games pit the gang against Bowser in a 4v1, and it certainly looks plenty interesting. It will be available in 2015, so I've got plenty of time to decide whether I want it or not.
• Yarn Yoshi now has an official name: Yoshi's Wooly World. Yoshi is now composed of yarn, but the core mechanics appear unchanged. Yoshi can trail eggs behind him to throw at enemies, but some eggs now have special abilities, like when you throw one, it leaves a walkable trail behind it. And there is many more abilities, and it looks like plenty of fun, although I'll need more time to decide if its a game for me. The game will be ready to buy in the first half of 2015.
• Sonic Boom didn't receive a trailer, and I'm not really sure what all is new with it, but it's still a thing. Also, it comes out this November. I will not be picking it up.
• Kirby and the Rainbow Curse was announced and has a 2015 release date and to be frank... it looks kinda awful. The game revolves around the gimmick that Kirby is a little clay ball, and to move him the player must draw lines on the GamePad to roll him around. If you happen to lick the gimmick, just get Ivy the Kiwi?, it's three bucks at GameStop.
• Legend of Zelda Wii U was officialy revealed with no release date or anything. Some pictures were shown and for some reason, the trailer isn't on Nintendo's E3 site, but if you want to view it, it is here. The game features a massive open world and plenty of puzzles, I'm sure, but we might even have to wait for next year's E3 to get some real news about this game.
• Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire was given a release date of November 21, 2014, and I am definitely picking this up on release day. The remake of gen 3 features the same graphics engine X and Y used and new "primal devolution"

The following two links will go to two Wii U games that are very popular, apparently, but I have no opinion on or feel like talking about.

• Bayonetta 2 comes out October 2014
• The "X" game revealed last year is now named "Xenoblade Chronicles X" and comes out 2015

I'll post more later today about other E3 stuffs, so stay tuned.

Quack Attack Trailer has Arrived

I've been talking about it for quite some time, and now it is finally here. Quack Attack. My five minute show that discusses all of the latest Nintendo happenings. The video I have published is just a trailer, but I will have an official Quack Attack up by the end of the month, so look forward to that! Below, I'll put the link to YouTube, so watch it up and anticipate that first episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrtbpbHRYBQ

Pokemon Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire News

So while I was caught up in Mario Kart, those Japanese magazines were hyping Pokemon without me. Basically there are mega evolutions for Swampert and Sceptile (and Diancie) now too, and there are Pokemon called prehistoric Pokemon, where you devolve them to become their prehistoric selves. This is the case with Groudon and Kyogre. Also, these games will be at E3, so make sure you watch E3!

Prehistoric Groudon and Kyoge on the Box Art

New Mega Evolutions

Franchises I want to see at E3

I've already told you the games I am most looking forward to at E3, but there are some other games I want to see but have not yet been announced. To see my list of games I want to see, scroll down a bit. And now, three franchises I want to see at E3 (that hev not yet been announced to be at E3)

1. Metroid

Poor Samus Aran. She hasn't had an outing since 2010 with Metroid: Other M, and even that was a little underwhelming. But I really think that it needs to come back, hardcore. I mean Retro Studios is free again, now that they've finished Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, so... don't make another Donkey Kong, make another Metroid. Because they do that REALLY well. Honestly, I wouldn't even mind an HD treatment for Metroid Prime. Just give me Metroid on the Wii U and I'll be a happy camper.

2. Paper Mario

Paper Mario had a new game for the 3DS in 2012, but he hasn't had a proper outing since 2004. Paper Mario has been around since the Nintendo 64, and then he has had games on every console since (and the 3DS), so it only seems natural we'll see him sometime. But I don't want to see another overused gimmick, like in Sticker Star. I want an honest-to-goodness Paper Mario game. If you want to know what that means, play Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door. It is a masterpiece. Actually, it is the greatest game I have ever played. And, just like Metroid, I would even be willing to take a Thousand Year Door HD remake. Or, y'know, just put GameCube games in the Wii U Virtual Console...

3. Kid Icarus

Kid Icarus also had a 3DS game in 2012, and it was awesome. To this day, it holds up as one of the greatest titles in the 3DS game library. So, this one isn;t about making another good one, it's about making another one in general. The Wii U could solve Kid Icarus Uprising's worst problems; unnatural controls to name the primary contender. And Pit getting the HD treatment would be glorious.

I'm sure Nintendo will thrill and excite at this year's E3, and I really like the line-up they have so far, but if any of these titles make it, I will be ecstatic. E3 is June 10-12, and you should check out Nintendo's website too: www.e3.nintendo.com

Also, I am THIS CLOSE to getting videos to this blog. So stay tuned. See you later, duckling enthusiasts.

E3 Most Looking Forward To

With E3 fast approaching, there is sure to be some fantastic games being showcased, both previously unannounced and games we have known about for a year. Below are my top three games that I am most looking forward to.

3. Star Wars Battlefront III

     Although EA has a hand in making this new Battlefront, I'm sure it will be very impressive nonetheless. Although, there are some very big shoes to fill in continuing this franchise, but at E3, we the fans are going to see some gameplay, and that will be huge for determining the success of this game.

2. Halo 5: Guardians

     Fans were nervous about how 343 would treat the Halo franchise, and now everybody has seen them deliver with Halo 4. And even now, 343 is promising new weapons and enemies yet again. So Halo 5 is shaping up to take all the success of Halo 4 and improve that even further. It will truly be  pleasure to see some gameplay this E3.

1. Legend of Zelda Wii U

     And the easy number one spot, the newest installment of the Legend of Zelda franchise. Not even a teaser trailer has been released yet, but even if there isn't gameplay at E3, this game still takes the number one spot. A massive open world has been promised for this game, and seeing the land of Hyrule in HD will truly be an amazing experience.

E3 is June 10-12, so check it out!

Mario Kart 8 Review

I got it, played it, and was very impressed with it. That is the most condensed form of my review possible. Now if you want me to elaborate, read on.

I picked it up at 10:00 a.m. the day of launch and proceeded to play it until 5:00 p.m. the next day, only stopping for bathroom and applesauce breaks. So yes, I have played the game enough to judge it. Just throwing that one out there.

The game's graphics and sound are absolutely amazing, and even with the recent test that confirmed that Mario kart 8 did not run 1080 p, the game still has the same resolution of Battlefield 4 on XBOX One. The sound is live orchestra for the most part, and from the stages to the selection screen, all of the music is absolutely perfect and wonderful to hear over and over and over again.

Grand Prix is your typical Grand Prix, you race four tracks, and win. Pretty simple, huh? Well in Mario Kart 8, the COM racers seem to have gotten a bit harder making getting all 3-star rankings on all of the cups more of a hassle than before, but its all worth it to get that little 3-star icon next to your name when you race online.

Now for the online functions. As Wii U is the only console left to offer free online play, people have said that that leads to poor quality online, and that is certainly not the case here. Every time I've played online, I have not once had a communication error or had any trouble racing smoothly with my friends or strangers. Now for the friends aspect online, you can create a lobby for just your friends, and you do have voice chat, but as soon as the race starts, the voice chat goes out and comes back after the race. Although I do see how listening to your friends shout some colorful words after getting hit by a spiny shell in the 3rd lap wouldn't be very representative of Nintendo's peaceful online scene, I do wish I could talk to my friends during races. But that is my only complaint for online, however I do have just one more complaint. Let's head over to the roster...

As Buzz Lightyear would put it in his internet-famous meme:

And I have to agree with Buzz here. Although Baby Mario and Baby Luigi are actually in Mario games, Baby Peach and Baby Daisy have no right being in any video game. And I was even fine with them until... Baby Rosalina. NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE LIKE ROSALINA, WHY WOULD YOU MAKE A BABY HER? Because Nintendo fucking hates you, that's why. Also, who the hell came up with Pink Gold Peach? Really? Some guy at Nintendo: "Hey, maybe we should bring back Dry Bones! Maybe Diddy Kong?" Some other guy who is hopefully fired now: "Nah. Lets add one more baby character and a Metal Peach... no, wait... PINK GOLD PEACH!" And everyone just agreed with him? Seriously, where is Dry Bones and Diddy Kong? BECAUSE THEY ARE IN GAMES AS WELL. And I love the Koopalings, but I bet Bowser Jr. is pretty upset he was ousted for them...

Overall, the game rocks (minus the stupid roster and the chatless online with friends) and Mario Kart TV is a blast to watch and use. The game's gyro controls are more precise than MK Wii, so it's much more fun to play. The course design is clever and fun to race on, the retro courses all have been perfected and updated to now include flying, underwater, and anti-grav sections of their own. It's really a great game and I really think that all of you should get it. And yes, it is even worth getting a Wii U for. Just promise me something, will you? If you see Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, or Baby Rosalina on the track, please DESTROY THEM for me. Thanks.

Edit: How could I have forgotten those damn coins? P.S. the item balance is awful. If you're first, the majority of your items will be coins, which cannot be used to defend or attack, merely add 2 coins to your coin count. Already at 10 coins? Well then you just got fucked over you fucking bitch. Also, I've been in dead last (12th place) and gotten a green shell and at the same time, 2nd place gets a Crazy Eight, Dear Item god, 2nd place probably needs that star less than I do. But seriously, its really bad. But still a good game. Good day.

Edit again: Item balance is awful fine. There are plenty of instances where people way ahead of you will be gifted with better items than you but such is life. Not game-breaking.

95 out of 100... stupid babies.

Mario Kart 8 Impressions

So, like I said, I got to play Mario Kart 8 at GameStop as I hope all of you got to as well, and it was fantastic! The graphics were way better than any YouTube video has ever captured, the game handles great, and I'm not sure what cc the demo was on, but things seemed a little slow... Other than that, I didn't see any Spiny Shells, so that was a huge plus. I played as the Koopalings, all of them, because they rock! Specifically Morton and Roy. Anyways, it's great fun and I highly recommend to all! It comes out in just less than two weeks, so pre-order your copy today!

Hands On with Mario Kart 8

This weekend, I am going to play Mario Kart 8 for the first time at GameStop. I'll let you all know how it goes and how it feels, but if you would rather I experience it rather than listen to me talk about it, check out this website here and see how far a drive it is to get to the nearest test-drive area:

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/events/Mario_Kart_8_TestDrive/default.aspx

Why Nintendo?

I am a huge fan of Nintendo, as anyone could tell by reading a few posts on this here blog, but why am I so into Nintendo? Why am I not a Sony or Microsoft Fanatic? Well, I'm going to let you all know exactly why I am a fan of Nintendo above everything else, and why I still maintain that opinion today in a kind-of-book, almost-like-a-story thing. I'll put it up here in a day or two, until then... wait in great suspense.

Also, 

Countdown Clocks

Mario Kart 8 Track Impressions

Mario Kart games usually have a handful of courses that really impress me, but Mario Kart 8 is chock full of them. But which are my favorite? Look below for the greatest tracks of Mario Kart 8 and why.

5. Bowser's Castle

Bowser's Castle courses always impress, but none quite like this. The flames spewing out of his massive castle right at the beginning of the race really sets the mood for the epic, intense drive throughout his castle full of fire wheels, lava hazards, and a gigantic stone Bowser that punches with his fists of lava. Fists of lava.

4. Thwomp Ruins

Thwomp Ruins is set in the Mushroom Cup, so racers will be able to see this course early on, and it isn't mind-blowingly epic like Bowser's Castle, but what it does have that makes it even better is the route selection. After you leave the first tunnel, you come into a clearing. Where do you go? To the sides to avoid the Thwomp in the middle? Or do you risk the tricky flight? Would you rather just dive into the water and drive from there? The choices makes this course a really cool one. Not to mention all of the things that have been done to the design to make it look old and ruin-y.

3. Shy Guy Falls

Another early-on course is that of Shy Guy Falls. Shy Guy Falls, for the most part only has one route to take, so alternate routes aren't its strong point, but the overall design is a thing of beauty. Driving up a waterfall is cool, but driving down one is even more so. Another characteristic of this course that makes it so awesome is all of the working Shy Guy, making a living by mining the precious diamond of Shy Guy Falls.

2. Rainbow Road

There is surprisingly a lot of criticism for Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8, but I believe it is a masterpiece. Critics are saying it isn't a "rainbow" or a "road", it's just a space station. It's a Mario Kart TV space station. THAT'S FLIPPIN COOL. (Just don't ask how they're gliding in space) 

1. Mount Wario

Mount Wario is not only the coolest course in Mario Kart 8, but in the entire series. And that is saying quite a bit. But here's why:

Mount Wario sets the mood right away, when you start inside of  helicopter. From there, you drop onto the snow and begin to race. Once on the ice, you slide around to the bottom of the ice paths. Now you are in a cave, which starts the beginning of both the second lap and the anti-gravity segment. What makes the cave a cool place is the multiple routes available, you can either stay on the anti-grav walls or drop down to the water. There are also flying segments and at the end of the cave chaos comes a brief moment of normality, before entering your second anti-gravity segment, in which you drive horizontally across the face of what appears to be a dam. Once across the dam face, you jump down onto the snow and enter a forest. Once again, the path forks in nearly every direction, and you choose how to get through the maze of trees. And once you find your way out, here is the big finale. Lap 3 begins and you begin to drive down a ski slope. Flags and fences and all. Look to your left and see cheering fans. Look to your right and see Shy Guys snowboarding down the other side of the slope. Then you cross some moguls, and enter one last anti-gravity section which sends you hurtling towards a huge ramp, which allows you to then take to the air and fly down to one last turn before finishing.

What makes this course special is not only the fact that you start in a Mario Kart TV helicopter, but you get to see all of the detail poured out into this level. Shy Guys snowboard alongside you in Lap 3. Fallen trees and logs on the ground act as ramps in lap 2. Overall, the experience of Mount Wario is a spectacular one, and we all can enjoy it come May 30th.

Nintendo NFC Figurines Inbound

I may or may not have already expressed how much I despise the Skylanders franchise because of their overpriced figures and ridiculously expensive starter packs...

Well, with these Nintendo NFCs, I thought I would express my opinion on them. They could be good and cool. But that depends on whether or not Nintendo prices them appropriately. If they can make them at good value to consumers, then there would be one thing right.

And once we actually know more about them, I would love to further express my feelings toward them. But until then, KCDuckling out.

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

It has finally happened. Generation III of Pokemon is being remade for the 3DS, but the interesting thing is that no game play has been showed. However, a lot of "new" was in the trailer, so one can assume that this won't be your traditional remake.
Also, the mascots on the box art are probably the mega evolutions of Groudon and Kyogre. This hints that more X and Y mechanics could come back for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, like... awesome stuff.

KCDuckling out.

KCDuckling Community

With Mario Kart 8 getting closer and closer, I find myself getting more and more excited for all of its features. Particularly, the online features. When I get the game, (and you too hopefully) I think I'll create a KCDuckling Online Community. Feedback is greatly appreciated to gauge interest, so if you are planning on getting a copy of Mario Kart 8, which I strongly advise you do, let me know if you would be interested in joining a KCDuckling racing community.

KCDuckling Out.

CoD Advanced Warfare?

Nah. And here's why: To begin with, I am going to let you all know that I am not the largest CoD fan in the world. Okay, now I can begin.
Call of Duty Advanced Warfare is a Call of Duty game set in the future with fancy and advanced (hence the name) machines and equipment. And here is why I don't like it. Let me repeat what I said earlier: it is set in the future with fancy and advanced equipment. Sound familiar? Halo fans? Call of Duty is famous for using ideas from other first person shooters, and it is really prevalent now. Let's look at some of the things in the trailer that stuck out to me:

• Infrared Grenade - A take from Halo. The futuristic grenade is the spitting image of the Promethean Vision ability from Halo 4. Being able to see through walls and highlighting enemies has clearly been done before.
• Hoverbikes - Another take from Halo.... and every other Sci-Fi game or movie ever created...
• Exoskeletons - The whole idea of wearing a piece of equipment on our body that enables you to perform tasks not usually perform-able (jumping higher, increased power) has been used in all kinds of games, but most recently would be the case of Titanfall and this ties in to Master Chief's Mark VI armor too.

So overall, it looks pretty (but what game doesn't these days) and the drones look pretty darn cool, but a lot of the futuristic objects that CoD is bringing in is clearly ripped off of other games. I mean, for once Call of Duty, get an idea of your own!

Mario Kart 8 News

Really, I can't explain it all because there is just so much, so here is a url for the website:
http://mariokart8.nintendo.com/
And here is a url where you can watch the Mario Kart 8 Nintendo Direct:
http://wiiudaily.com/2014/04/nintendo-direct-mario-kart-8/

But what does all of this mean? It means that Nintendo is awesome. Go Nintendo. First of all, the bundle is amazing. Mario Kart 8 is the best reason to get a Wii U so far, and the price is nice, and you can save a lot of money by getting that.

Also, the Club Nintendo promotion is fantastic, because, I personally wanted to get Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, but then couldn't, so this opportunity is an absolutely amazing one.

The new characters Baby Rosalina and Pink Golden Peach are both... stupid. I hate them both, they are both completely new to the Mario franchise and they are both unnecessary and just unwanted. I mean, who actually wanted a Metal Mario version of Peach? Nobody? No one? Exactly.

The new items are pretty wicked on the other hand. The Super Horn is friggin wicked, considering that it can destroy a Spiny Shell, the Crazy 8 is kind of forced, but I'll take it, the Piranha Plant is awesome, and the Boomerang is all kinds of yes.

The course design and graphics are both amazing and beautiful. The new Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road both look insanely clever and cool. Seriously though, a giant Bowser statue punching fists of lava into the course? NOYCE. And I like the fact that Rainbow Road is not just a rainbow, but is on a space station. That is likewise noyce.

The online play is wonderful and amazing and lots of time and effort went into this I'm sure and it will all pay off. Nintendo has not gone the pay for online play route, and for that I am truly thankful. This is Wii U's big chance to prove that all of the people saying Wii U's online is "inferior" wrong. Mario Kart 8 can smoothly run 12 people racing across the world without the need for any of them to pay.

Lastly, I would like to praise the designers who put all of the little details in the game. From all of the advertisements for companies like Shy Guy Diamonds to the Koopaling's various small businesses to the Mario Kart TV banners. Everything is everywhere like a little interconnected world. And while I'm on topic, Mario Kart TV is awesome, and look forward to my postings of videos to both Miiverse and YouTube.

On Miiverse, I am explosiveduck98
KCDuckling out.


SHOUT OUT TO TIMMY KEENS. TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY.

Why the Hate for Wii U?

Summer is fast approaching, and with it several exciting games are going to see their release, which brought me to the interwebs watching all of Gamexplain's analysis videos and reading and watching all of the previews on various sites such as IGN and GameSpot. But, when I was reading these I also saw lots of articles and videos about the Wii U's failure and how everybody hates it. But, why? Why the hate for Wii U? This is something I hope to answer in this article as I address some of the biggest complaints about the Wii U.

1. The Wii U is "too childish"

     This one is just ridiculous, yet it is used time and time again against Nintendo. Yes, some of Nintendo's franchises could be deemed a little "childish", but this doesn't mean they are any less of a great game just because they look or feel childish. Also, Wii U has plenty of game offerings for the self-spoken "mature" crowd, with titles like Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, and Watch Dogs. Which brings me to my next point...

2. The Wii U has "terrible graphics"

     Another dumb complaint that can easily be addressed. Wii U can run 1080p and 60 frames per second. A game can look great on Wii U, and that's a fact. Recently, I was at a friend's house watching him play InFamous: Second Son on the mighty PlayStation 4. And guess what? It was just as visually impressive as Wii U titles like Super Mario 3D World and Pikmin 3. They looked the same. Because they are the same.

3. The Wii U "doesn't have good games"

     First of all, yes it does. With critically-acclaimed titles like Super Mario 3D World to other popular games like Pikmin 3, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, and the entire Virtual Console, there are plenty of games to choose from for your Wii U. Secondly, look who's talking! What do PS4 and XBOX One have for good exclusives? InFamous? Dead Rising? So far, Wii U has the highest ratings on their exclusives than XBOX One or PS4.

And, on a concluding note, I would like to leave you with some reasons to get the Wii U over its competitors. 

• Wii U is the cheapest console by far, with some being sold at just $99
• Wii U is the only console with a console-exclusive social network
• Wii U has the greatest future line-up with titles such as Mario Kart 8 and Smash Bros. coming in the near future
• Wii U has backwards compatibility 
• Wii U supports the use of its predecessor's controllers

What else do you need to convince you? Get a Wii U soon and find me on Miiverse! (explosiveduck98)

Smash Bros. Reclaims the Spotlight

Well, in my last post I said I was looking forward to Mario Kart 8 more then Smash Brothers, and now Nintendo has striked back. New characters, stages, and gameplay modes, I am now officially more jazzed for Smash Bros. If you haven't seen the new stuff, just go here:

www.smashbros.com

Also, shout out to my best friend Sam, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDDO

KCDuckling OUT

Mario Kart 8 Hype is over 9000

I was already drooling over the old trailers of MK8, but after Nintendo released yet another trailer showing new courses, characters, and items, I couldn't contain my excitement. Mario Kart 8 is gorgeous and the new car parts and items look like the race is about to get a lot more fun. And it is such a shame that the release is at that point where its too close to forget about, but its too far to really start hyping. At this point, I may even be anticipating Mario Kart 8 more than Smash Bros. for Wii U. THERE. I SAID IT. Below, I'll put some of the Mario Kart 8 trailers to get you just as hyped as I am, and if that isn't enough to quench your thirst for Mario Kart 8 footage, I also strongly recommend going to GameXplain's channel on YouTube. It is currently Mario Kart 8 galore.

Games of my Childhood

So, I feel like I haven't posted often of late (because I haven't), so to fill the void I am going to post about the most impactful games of my childhood. Impactful is not a word... Well too bad.

MARIO KART: DOUBLE DASH

This game. This was the very first video game that I ever played. Christmas of 2003 was the location. My older brother and sister were playing this game, and to me it looked amazing. But at the time, I did not know what Nintendo was or even who Mario was. But I gave it a shot, and now look at me. I blog about Nintendo. So this game was huge for me for obvious reasons. It was the first game I ever played. And today, it still is awesome. But Mario Kart 8 looks soooooo good...

PAPER MARIO THE THOUSAND YEAR DOOR

Pretty soon after Mario Kart, I began to move on to other Mario games. Like this one, which is... get ready for it... the BEST Mario game out there. [people shouting at their monitors] Yes, I do believe this game is the epitome of Mario beauty, but I also believe that... THIS IS THE FLAT-OUT BEST GAME I HAVE EVER PLAYED. The adventure is lengthy, the characters are memorable, and the whole dang thing is FUN. Its sequels? Nah. This is the real Paper Mario game.

HALO COMBAT EVOLVED

As a kid, I wasn't allowed to play M rated games at my house. At my house. So of course, every time I went to my neighbors house, what did I play? M rated games! So yes, Halo was my first M game, and my first XBOX game, and my first game that did not have Mario in it. Woah. And it was definitely a different type of game, but I loved it nonetheless. It was interesting since I liked Sci-Fi, and Master Chief is just a bad-ass. Later, I played Halo 2 at that same neighbor's house, and then I moved on to Halo 3, Halo Reach, Halo 4, each one dazzling me more than the last. (Except for Reach. 3 is better than Reach) And now, today as I am typing this, I drool over the thought of what Halo 5 will be in the very near future.

YouTube Series Soon

Sorry I was gone for so long. A lot has happened, like my 3DS breaking and I'm still bugging my friend about starting a YouTube series with him, and I think we are within one week of filming maybe. Also, it'll probably be filmed on my laptop, so the video is alright, not mind blowing or HD, but my awesomeness will make up for that :) See you all soon!

Possible Future Podcasts

Today at school, I had a lovely conversation with some good friends of mine and we all thought it to be a good idea to maybe try some podcasts about video games and stuff. From reviews to playthroughs, I will let you guys know about anything I'm in.
And just so you know, the friends I'm doing it with are two XBOX One guys and one PS4 guy. I would obviously be Wii U and 3DS, and... no one is PS Vita. Because PS Vita doesn't even exist.

2014 Most Anticipated Games

2013 has passed and 2014 is here now bringing us that much closer to several anticipated games, but which games are the most anticipated? In no particular order, here are the KC Duckling's top five:

Tom Clancy's The Division (XBOX One, PS4)

Watch Dogs (XBOX One, PS4, Wii U)

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U (3DS, Wii U)

Halo 5 (undecided)