Brian Ashcraft

Adventures in Tragic Amiibo Packaging

Nintendo fans are used to a level of quality. A seal of approval, if you will. In the past, “Nintendo” has meant durable hardware and well-made video games. Nintendo means “polished” and “good presentation.” Nobody, it seems, has told this to Amiibos. Forget the differences between what we were promised and what we got. Just…

An Open-World Game with Questionable Photography

This is Summer-Colored High School: Adolescent Record. As previously mentioned, it’s an open-world game for the PS3 and PS4. In it, players explore the island, go fishing, fall in-love, and escape from the cops after taking lewd photos. Summer-Colored High School is from D3 Publisher, who are best known for the OneChanbara and Earth Defense…

The Biggest Pokémon Center in Japan Opens

Best part? It’s called Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo. Fitting, because today saw mega lines. The opening in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro saw a slew of limited edition goods, like a plush toy Pikachu dressed as Charizard. There were also little figurine versions. These were only slated to go on sale from today until Sunday, making them rare…

Spider-Man, Hanging Out in Cairo

You ever wonder what Spider-Man gets up to in Cairo? He takes the train, does his laundry, and enjoys a good smoke. Welcome to the world of Hossam Atef, a young photographer with a nice portfolio of portraits as well as viral pics like his recent Spider-Man series. Atef told Cairo Scene that the idea…

It’s official! Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is heading to the PS4. Next spring the HD remaster will be released in Japan. Update: Square Enix confirmed that the PS4 version will also be coming to the West, also next spring, priced at $50.

The China-Only PS4 Has a Dragon Paintjob

The PlayStation 4 is finally launching in China. The console will go on sale next January 11. And when the PS4 does, it’s getting a special version, just for China. This is the Special Dragon Edition, which will be available at launch along with the Jet Black and Glacier White 500GB PlayStation 4. The hardware…

Becoming a Champion with the Worst* Pokémon in ORAS

Magikarp is sad. Pathetic. He sucks. Yet, one brave gamer apparently became a Poké champ with what is largely considered to be the worst Pocket Monster around. Wielding a shiny Magikarp, Twitter user Nakano Official defeated the Elite Four in Pokémon ORAS before taking down the champion to be crowned champ himself. Nakano Official live-tweeted…

Burger King, You’re Doing Cheeseburgers Wrong

Last I checked, the cheese for cheeseburgers goes inside the burger, not slathered on top. These, however, aren’t typical cheeseburgers. They’re fondue burgers. Oh. Get News reports that the Beef Fondue and Chicken Fondue burgers will be available at Burger King restaurants in Japan for a limited time early next year. The dipping fondue sauce…

More Very Cool Smash Bros. Stage Creations

We’ve already posted some of the coolest Super Smash Bros. stage creations so far. Many of the stages were created by Western games, so now, let’s have a look at what Japanese Super Smash Bros. players are sharing online. As previously mentioned, the game’s new level editor allows folks to create custom stages and then…

Chinese TV Show Ridiculed for Ripping Off Assassin’s Creed

In China, anti-Japanese propaganda shows can get, well, silly. Many people in China don’t take them seriously. This latest show, with its seemingly Assassin’s Creed-style outfits, is not an exception. As pointed out on QQ, Games Sina and ChinaSmack, the show is set against the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), which is certainly a period of…

Damn, This Afghan Guy Looks Like Bruce Lee 

This is 20 year-old Abbas Alizada. He totally looks like Bruce Lee, from his physical features to his ability to pull off martial arts moves. It’s no surprise that the Kabul native’s nickname is “Afghan Bruce Lee.” According to Reuters, Alizada is from a family of ten kids. His parents didn’t have enough money for…

The Last Guardian Sure Sounds Like a PS4 Game

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, really. But game creator Fumito Ueda mentioned The Last Guardian in this week’s issue of Dengeki PlayStation. And from the sound of it, the game could be headed to the PS4. Dengeki PlayStation polled numerous developers about, well, PlayStation. Questions included asking them what their most memorable title on…

Yakuza: Zero sure looks fantastic. Check out this gameplay video (footage starts about four minutes in), which shows off the game world and some very realistic puddle reflections.

Wear Melon Bread on Your Head

Melon bread is loved in Japan. Besides being a favorite snack, it also pops up in manga and anime. And now, people can wear it on their heads. Or at least a beret that looks like the bread. Yay! Above, these are hand-made melon bread berets from Marisan Bakery. You, of course, cannot eat these…

Dragon Quest is getting a music rhythm game with Theatrhythm Dragon Quest. Slated for the 3DS, it’ll be out in Japan next March. No word yet about an international release.

20th Anniversary PS4s Are Getting Crazy Bids on eBay

The 20th Anniversary PlayStation 4 looks spectacular. I’d certainly like to have one, but some people want one bad. So much so they’re apparently willing to part with large amounts of cash for the limited edition hardware. GameSpot reports that the console, which is limited to only 12,300 units worldwide, sold out within minutes of…

Nothing Says JRPG Like a Toyota Hybrid

Japanese role-playing game? Urban eco-car? I don’t see the similarity, either, but hey, somebody at Toyota did. The Nagoya-based automaker has rolled out a new series of ads for the Prius C (aka the Aqua in Japan). The spots have video game music, such as this one: That’s “Voyage of Adventure” from Dragon Quest III.…

Rumor: Final Fantasy X and X-2 Are Getting HD Remasters for PS4

If true, it looks like Final Fantasy X/X-2 are headed to the PlayStation 4 in hi-def. Good thing Square Enix didn’t recently release HD versions of these games. Oh wait. As spotted by website Nova Crystallis and webforum NeoGAF, Square Enix France’s online shop allegedly leaked a listing for Final Final X/X-2 HD Remaster for…

The Cat with the “Ugliest Sleeping Face in Japan”

This is Setsu-chan. The little guy sure is cute when he’s awake. But when he dozes off, he sure is fugly. As pointed out on 2ch and IT Media, earlier this summer an illustrator named Mino started uploading photos of her slumbering cat Setsu-chan to her Twitter feed. Here, you can see him wide awake:…

Inside One of Japan’s Oldest Restaurants

You like noodles, right? I sure do. Especially soba noodles. And Kyoto’s Honke Owariya is famous for its soba noodles. That, and being very, very old. Honke Owariya was established in 1465. The restaurant started out making confectionery, but its noodles proved more popular. According to Deep Kyoto, Honke Owariya has been making soba for…