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Well, Kotaku readers, it’s been fun. We would like to thank the regular editorial staff and everyone who stopped by for letting us entertain you this fine weekend in June. We hope to see you all again soon. Until then you should check out Kotaku’s reader-run TAY blog (where we can always be found) and…
Narelle Ho Sang and Ben Bertoli Published June 4, 2017 - Culture
The Week In Games: The Morrowind Waker
June holds the bizarre distinction of being one of both the most and least exciting months in gaming. Players may be thrilled to discover all the news and details for upcoming games via E3, but chances are they won’t actually see many AAA titles launching. Not that there aren’t some notable games dropping in the…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 4, 2017 - Culture
What’s Your E3 Dream Announcement?
With E3 less than a week away it’s hard to stop one’s mind from fantasizing about what lies in store. Every major developer and publisher probably has a surprise up their sleeve, but what’s the one E3 announcement you’ve always dreamed of? Will we finally see the reveal of a true Metroid title? Federation Force…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 4, 2017 -
UncategorizedHotline Miami Cover Artist On His Distinct Visual Style, Music, And Beard
Beneath the Hotline Miami series’ savagely violent mind-trip lies an acutely intelligent narrative—one that questions players’ moralities. But what I really wanted to know was whether the games’ cover artist would also give free pizza and snacks as his in-game character Beard does. So, I asked him. Niklas Åkerblad isn’t just the character Beard in…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 4, 2017 -
CultureTotal RecallThat Time Nintendo and Sega Introduced 3D Gaming, In 1987
Years before Sega did what Nintendon’t the two gaming giants briefly went head to head in the newly discovered market of 3D gaming. It didn’t go very well for either of them. In the late ‘80s both Nintendo and Sega had put their main focus on expanding their brand to North America. Nintendo’s Famicom had…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 4, 2017 -
UncategorizedThe Little Things That Make Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga So Delightful
For a few hours one morning, I repeatedly failed to defeat Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga’s final boss, Cackletta. I remember that unseasonably warm February day clearly. Of course I do. It’s only been four months since I got thoroughly thrashed. Before the final battle of Nintendo’s 2003 Game Boy Advance classic frustrated me, I…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 4, 2017 -
UncategorizedA Tale Of Two Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro, known in Japan as Tonari no Totoro, is often regarded as one of the best animated family films of all time. Little do many Western fans realize that two versions of the English dubbed movie exist. One made by Fox Studios and the other through Disney. Since the movie’s initial Japanese release in…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 4, 2017 - Esports
Rocket League Pro Dekes His Way Into World Championship Finals
Even in an arena with rocket-powered cars, players find ways to pull off incredible football-like maneuvers. Of the teams attending the Rocket League Season 3 World Championship Series this weekend, NRG has been one to watch. The top seed from North America, NRG executes full-on plays and works really well together, like in yesterday’s game…
By Eric Van Allen Published June 4, 2017 -
UncategorizedDragon Quest VII Puts A Unique Twist On The JRPG Formula
For many of Dragon Quest VII’s overwhelmingly depressing storylines, I spent time saving and hanging out with people I didn’t give a crap about. It’s not that they were lacking personality or angsty teens that so many JRPG characters embody—no. It’s that they were all really damned mean. Dragon Quest VII’s core concept is intriguing.…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 4, 2017 - Culture
Sunday Comics: Completely Avoidable
Welcome to Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics that usually occurs on Sunday except when it doesn’t. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira. Published May 29. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published May 29. Read more…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 4, 2017 - Culture
What Are Your Summer Gaming Plans?
Staring into the abyss known as the videogame backlog and having it stare right back—that seems like the perfect way to spend a summer, don’t you think? That time will soon be upon us once more. The days will be longer, we may have more time to get together with friends, and we may actually…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 3, 2017 -
UncategorizedThe Influence And Legacy Of Lego Island
Far out in a digital ocean of blue bricks sits the often-forgotten Lego Island. It represents the true beginning of a silly and customizable universe that has brought enjoyment to millions of players around the globe. Lego sets have been entertaining children and adults since 1949, when the Danish company began to mass produce their…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 3, 2017 - Esports
French Commentator Gets Hyped Up Over Trackmania Run
Take one part time-trial racing, two parts technical mastery and a pinch of puzzle solving, and you’re close to encapsulating Trackmania. This weekend, qualifiers for the 2017 Trackmania Cup are taking place, and it’s like watching Formula 1 racers attempt to solve a physics-based Rubik’s cube with their cars. Right now, some of the best…
By Eric Van Allen Published June 3, 2017 - Uncategorized
There’s No Persona 5 Waifu For Me
Help me, everyone. I’m just not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with anyone in Persona 5. Spoilers for Persona 5 to Follow Before you bring out your extra rusty pitchforks and torches, know that I adore Persona 5 and most of its cast. Not all confidants—the game’s social link mechanic in which the main…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 3, 2017 - Esports
The FIFA Goal That Just Wouldn’t Go In
Some days, it can seem like every force in the universe is against you. This FIFA player must have done something in a past life, as for thirty straight seconds, as he lands the most improbable non-goal possible in FIFA 17 MrMaskTV, a FIFA Twitch streamer, posted this clip earlier today, where a simple kick…
By Eric Van Allen Published June 3, 2017 - Uncategorized
Ana Is A Sleep-Inducing Monster In Overwatch’s Total Mayhem Mode
Total Mayhem is nothing new to veterans of Blizzard’s stylized team-based shooter. The mode has been featured in Overwatch’s Arcade selection on a few occasions in the past, but with the Overwatch anniversary event in full swing it has become an aggravatingly enjoyable focus for many new players. To understand the pure madness that is…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 3, 2017 - Esports
Spammers Beat Hammers In Overwatch At TaKeOver 2
Pocket strategies can come in handy when you’re in a situation like Misfits, who in yesterday’s TaKeOver 2 matches needed a win against Hammers Esports. When the Misfits came out of the Hollywood spawn on offense with a wall of shields and explosives, it certainly caught Hammers by surprise. Sometimes referred to as a “spam”…
By Eric Van Allen Published June 3, 2017 - Uncategorized
Breath of the Wild‘s Weird Moments Are Some Of The Game’s Finest
Traversing Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule unveils somber narratives inferred through its ruins and decimated villages. But it’s not all sorrowful. Some of the game’s most bizarre tales are told through its strange NPCs and locales, and they’re amazing. It’s true there are eerie happenings and sidequests in other Zelda titles over the course of…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 3, 2017 - Uncategorized
The Super Nintendo’s Most Valuable Games
The Super Nintendo is certainly a contender for the world’s most beloved console. The 16-bit juggernaut has a library brimming with first and third party classics that are known for their tight gameplay and pretty pixels. Unsurprisingly, some of those games are worth some serious cash. With over 700 titles in the SNES catalog, players…
By Ben Bertoli Published June 3, 2017