Halo 4: The Kotaku Review

I’ve never seen Halo like this before. Halo 4 is emotional, something I’ve never felt from the franchise quite like this. Sure, invested fans will protest and say that the lore is fascinating and the war struggles moving, but I can safely say I’ve never sat through a Halo campaign quite at the edge of…

Valkyria Chronicles 3 Fan-Made Translation Patch in the Works

Last week we at Kotaku East showed you how to play Valkyria Chronicles 3, even if you don’t understand Japanese, using a collection of translations and guides from across the internet. Of course, for the more patient of you—or just those who want everything translated and in one simple package—there is another option, if you’re…

This Guy Is Such a Jerk

Meet Allen. He’s a hair stylist in the latest Harvest Moon game, Harvest Moon 3DS: A New Beginning. And man, he’s such a jerk! Don’t believe me? Have a look. Like so many characters of similar ilk, he’s a jerk a first, because that makes him seem so much nicer when’s not being so damn…

Evangelion 1.11 is Way Better Than I Remember

With just under two weeks until the release of the newest Evangelion movie, Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo, we at Kotaku East are taking a look back at the previous films in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. When I talked about my history with Evangelion a week or so back, I mentioned my dislike…

In Japan, a Healthy New Pepsi Beverage Makes It Hard To Absorb Fat

Japan is getting a new kind of Pepsi. It’s a special kind. It’s so special that the name of it is, well, Pepsi Special. The drink is actually designated as a “food for specified health uses”. This means the product is regulated by the Japanese government and has its seal of approval. Pepsi Special actually…

The latest Gran Turismo 5 update makes tweaks and improved the engine sound of the Honda Weider HSV-010. More here

A Gallery of Truly Odd Erotic Game Images

Japanese erotic games (aka “eroge”) often feature cute, curvy characters in evocative settings. So when you think of these computer games, you probably don’t think of, oh, giant mecha, deadly katana, or evil villains. Japanese site Kanasoku (NSFW) assembled screenshots of various eroge that, well, don’t all look like eroge. (On Kanasoku, there are some…

Nintendo released the specs for its Wii U internet browser. Have a look (via Video Gamer).

Want To Know What the Hell “Bravely Default” Means?

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is Square Enix’s newest RPG on the 3DS; and while it may technically be a new IP, it shares a lot in common with the famous JRPGs of yore. The gameplay is your typical turn-based system, but with one new twist: the “brave” and “default” system. By selecting “default” on your…

Taking a Knife to Chocolate Hello Kitty for Sweet, Delicious Horrors

Kotaku has already brought you the wonders—and innards—of the Hello Kitty meat bun. Now there’s a Hello Kitty chocolate bun. Japanese website Gigazine swung by its local convenience store, snapped up a few chocolate buns, and then got out the stabby-stabby. YOU BASTARDS, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! The filling was described as “very sweet”. Looks yummy,…

This Is More Than a Television Brand in Resident Evil 6, It’s a Gag

If you’ve played Resident Evil 6, you might have noticed that “Yashichi” appears as a TV brand. Yashichi isn’t a real brand. It’s an in-joke. Ha ha. For years, the shuriken-like Yashichi emblem has appeared in Capcom games, starting with the first Capcom game, 1984’s Vulgus. It went on to appear in one form or…

Japan Invading China, and Other Frightening Memories Recreated at a Chinese Amusement Park

The Eighth Route Army Culture Park in Wuxiang county, China, allows visitors to dress up at Chinese or Japanese troops. And then shoot each other with phony guns. As tensions between Japan and China reach a fever pitch, this US$80 million theme park, which is backed by the local Chinese government, looks to do more…

Hope You’re Not Sick of Pretty First-Person Stealth Games Yet

First Deus Ex, then Dishonored…dare we dream that first-person stealth isn’t just coming back, but it’s coming back better than ever? Let’s. Especially when modders toiling away on the final year of a school project are coming up with stuff that looks this good. Abduction is a CryEngine 3 project that’s loking awfully promising, even…

Here’s How To Find Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter in Halo 4

Earlier this spring, Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter goofed around in a Halo 4 voice recording booth, talking about loading crates. The duo are appearing in the game as a special Easter Egg. YouTube user GameFrontDotCom has a quick walkthrough on how to find them and hear their dialogue. You can hear more of their…

The Best Gaming Mouse (Clickwheel) I’ve Ever Seen

When taking Gigabyte’s Krypton gaming mouse out of its box for the first time, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Here was a company I normally associate with motherboards and graphics cards with their name on a fancy peripheral, one that promised an awful lot. Silly me. It mostly delivers. WHAT’S IN THE BOX 1x…

Who Wants to Play Video Games?

Well? Do you? Visitors to our Facebook page may have noticed something different: a change of banner. That banner is the image above, by British artist Dean Lord, whose other execllent works you can check out here

My Khaleesi, You Have Chosen Your Companion Well

It’s one of the coolest parts so far in HBO’s Game of Thrones series, and it’s now also one of 2012’s coolest pieces of costume work, this couple making the smart decision to attend a party dressed not as Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, but Khaleesi and… the poor horse. Fashionably Geek Reader Halloween Cosplay…

Defend Your Home and Loved Ones With a Real Skyrim Axe

Prop builder Harrison Krix is continuing his one-man mission to bring Skyrim to life, one weapon and piece of armour at a time, with this incredible recreation of a Steel Axe from Bethesda’s sprawling RPG. Commissioned by a fan to make one, Krix actually went out and made three, one for the client, one for…

Who Do Video Game Heroes Love Best? Game Villains, Naturally.

Mario may be the world’s hero, but without Bowser, does he have a purpose? Would Sonic need to race so far, so fast, without the threats laid by Doctor Robotnik? Artist Dan Matutina illustrates the symbiotic relationship between hero and villain in a series of hearts, pairing rivals together to indicate the one true fact…

I’m Playing the Best/Worst Sports Game of the Year, and it’s Killing me

I love sports. I love video games. That doesn’t mean I automatically love sports video games, because as a non-American, most professional and polished titles don’t really appeal. I love my football games, though, from FIFA to Pro Evo, and that means I’ve also got a soft spot for the Football Manager series, games that…