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Total Recall Starts Here
Welcome to the Friday Night Total Recall, a night that hasn’t traditionally had Total Recall. We’re gonna have a slight twist, though—I’m gonna be rocking the posts tonight, and rather than try to keep up with history master Plunkett, I’m going to do something that’s a bit more “Recent Recall,” writing about games from the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 17, 2012 -
It’s a Snap!
Hello, Kotaku, and welcome to the week-ending Open Thread. It’s been a fun week here, and we hope you’ve liked all the new kinds of stuff we’ve been running. I’ve got some fun posts coming up in the new Friday night version of “Total Recall,” which will focus on more recent games that are still…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 17, 2012 -
The 3DS Circle Pad Pro is Mostly Great, Actually
It sure has been a week for twin-thumbstick portable gaming. In addition to the PlayStation Vita (which has two thumbsticks built in), I’ve been playing around with the “Circle Pad Pro” attachment for the Nintendo 3DS. The Circle Pad Pro is a chunky plastic contraption that fits around the 3DS, retrofitting it with a right…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 17, 2012 -
You Better Think!
Hello, Kotaku! It’s been a wild day—we launched our first installment of Kotaku Melodic, and I think it went really well. I hope you were out there reading. But now it’s time for the open thread. Here are a few things from around the internet for your perusal: Walk on grass, endlessly. – I don’t…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
Fallout 3‘s Tunnel Snakes Rule, and So Does This Amazing Classic Remix
Who could forget the Tunnel Snakes, the dorkiest, least menacing group of post-apocalyptic greaser wanna-be gangsters to ever grace a role-playing game? I sure couldn’t. And who could forget this classic video, which though it’s a few years old, still holds up remarkably well? Not Jenn Frank, anyway, who was kind enough to remind me…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
The Mind-Numbing Music of the PlayStation Vita
Every time I boot up my Vita, I get into an elevator. This elevator takes me to all kinds of cool places—fun games, great graphics, really cool online features, and a highly functional and enjoyable PSN experience. But there’s a catch: on this elevator, they’re playing incredibly tedious background music. It loops over and over…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
Check Out the Wicked-Grooving New iOS Game Beat Sneak Bandit
Today, Simogo’s rhythm-puzzle game Beat Sneak Bandit arrived on the Apple App Store. Our own Evan Narcisse already wrote it up for us, but I’ve been playing it too and it is terrific. I highly recommend checking it out.
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
A Lovely Video Game Ballad To Invigorate Our Jaded, Shrunken Hearts
Last year’s To The Moon was an emotional game, a throwback storybook that really wore its heart on its sleeve. I liked it a lot. A big part of the game’s emotional oomph came from the music, which was composed by its creator, Kan Gao. But the song that many people will associate with it…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
Gameplay and Story Are Exactly Like Music and Lyrics
Look, okay. Let’s press pause on the debate. You know the debate I’m talking about, right? That endless disagreement in the video game world about gameplay versus story. “The two things are incompatible,” say some people. “Video games are not a narrative medium! Video games are games! Why do you think most video game stories…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
Avishai Cohen, One of the Great Composers of our Time
Who says that all the music we listen to during Kotaku Melodic has to be video game music? No one, that’s who. For this “listen here,” I want to highlight one of my all-time favorite musicians, the Israeli bassist, pianist, and composer Avishai Cohen. Avishai got his start playing in the pianist Chick Corea’s band…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
This Noble Theme Will Get You in the Mood for Psychic Heroism
Look, no one really knows what’s going on with this whole Notch-Tim-Schafer-Psychonauts 2 thing. But that doesn’t mean we can’t sit back and listen to what might be my single favorite piece of music from the original Psychonauts! The Psychonauts soundtrack was composed by Double Fine mainstay-maestro Peter McConnell. While no soundtrack may ever replace…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
From Far Cry 3 to It’s a Wonderful Life, Dubstep Makes Everything Better
Far Cry fans the world over have gotten a fresh taste of Ubisoft’s coming open-world shooter via a trailer that was released yesterday. It looks… well, as a known Far Cry 2 obsessive, I’m not quite ready to say how it looks. But I can talk about how it sounds, and it sure sounds dubsteppy…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
Kotaku Melodic Starts Here
And welcome to Kotaku Melodic, your Thursday night spot for all things musical and video gamey. We’re going to get to listen to a lot of good stuff, so plug in your stereo or headphones. Two-drink minimum, please no flash-photography during the show.
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 16, 2012 -
I Think He Can Hear You, Ray
Greetings, Kotaku-eers, and welcome to the mid-week open-thread. I hope you survived your hump-day and are ready to begin to ease into the weekend. Here are some fun things to check out before you get to the gabbing. How to dance at an outdoor Drum & Bass Rave – In case you were wondering. Awesome…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 15, 2012 -
Mass Effect 3 Demo and Tons of Vita Games New This Week on the PlayStation Store
This week, we’ve got an extra-juicy PlayStation Store update for those who survived the lean times of the last couple of weeks. There is, of course, the Mass Effect 3 demo, as well as Grand Theft Auto IV available for a full game. But of course, the biggest addition is what looks like almost the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 15, 2012 -
ReviewsRhythm Heaven Fever: The Kotaku Review
The door closes behind you with an ominous click. It’s bright in here—too bright. Before you can get your wits about you, your host begins to speak. “We hope you’ll enjoy finding your own rhythm,” she says, all smiles. “So have fun and enjoy all the game has to offer.” With that, she leaves the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 15, 2012 -
Show ‘Em How It’s Done, Lin
Lin-finite Potential | Jeremy Lin’s so good they’ll need two roster updates this week for NBA 2K12. He takes his act back to New York tonight, where the Knicks greet the woeful Kings at 7:30 p.m. Sony Hopes Vita Will Stymie Pirates, Please Fans and Last Eight Years The PlayStation Vita is built to last…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 15, 2012 -
Purity Bear Says “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Happy Valentine’s Day, Kotaku readers! I hope you are spending today with the one you love. [Insert dumb joke about how gamers don’t have girlfriends here.] Or whatever, Valentine’s is a sham, man! It’s designed to help sell greeting cards! Or maybe it’s not, maybe it’s a celebration of love and beauty! Eh, who knows.…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 14, 2012 -
Forget Ryan Gosling in Drive. Check out Mario in Kart
Man, that is one badassed jacket. That jacket is so badassed that even though this image is goofy and funny and ridiculous, I’m still impressed with Mario’s total sexiness. Wait until Princess Peach gets in an elevator with him. Oh man, it’s gonna be awesome. Anything happens in that five minutes and I’m yours. [Dan…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 14, 2012 -
They Made a Video Game About Slavery, And It’s Actually Good
“I’m running tonight.” Video games take us places; this is known. They allow us to try on identities other than our own, and to see what it’s like to live life as another person. They can also teach us things. Math and science teachers have spent a good amount of time figuring out how to…
By Kirk Hamilton Published February 14, 2012
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