-
Bowed, Not Broken
Bowser Mario’s real boss, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, takes a bow on January 27 before presenting the company’s not-so-wonderful financial news. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) SoulCalibur V : The Kotaku Review Soul Calibur V, like almost all fighting games nowadays, finds itself having to serve multiple purposes for a broad and fragmented user base. Fighting games…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 31, 2012 -
Twisted Metal, Syndicate Demos New This Week on the PlayStation Store
Some weeks, the PlayStation Store has a whole bunch of cool new digital content. Other weeks, not so much. This week falls a bit into the latter category, though there are two exciting demos out—the Syndicate co-op demo (which looks pretty cool), and the multiplayer demo for the new Twisted Metal Madden fans can download…
By Kirk Hamilton Published January 31, 2012 -
Soulcalibur V’s Character Creator Is Capable of Terrible, Beautiful Things
When the editor-in-chief here asked me to do a video showcasing two of my beloved characters created on Soulcalibur V‘s character creator, I was elated. I consider myself a connoisseur of character creation and customization, often spending way too much time than any person should on creating the most bizarre and ridiculous characters I possibly…
By Nick Vannucci Published January 31, 2012 -
Get a Closer Look at Syndicate‘s Co-Op Demo, Out Today
After watching the last Syndicate trailer, I had to grudgingly admit that it did indeed channel some of the vibe of the original game. In this new video, Syndicate executive producer Ben O’Donnell walks us through the just-released 4-player co-op demo, detailing some of the features of the upcoming game’s co-op modes. “Breach apps” allow…
By Kirk Hamilton Published January 31, 2012 -
How Video Games Helped Treat a Burned War Veteran
Have you ever gotten so immersed in a video game so fully that you lost track of time? You’re climbing the mountains of Skyrim or cruising the universe in Mass Effect, and the next thing you know it’s evening and you haven’t eaten anything in eight hours. For Sam Brown, a soldier who was badly…
By Kirk Hamilton Published January 31, 2012 -
Breaking Bad Reimagined as a Meth-Addled 16-bit Video Game
The (awesome) TV Show Breaking Bad has a long history with video games, including the funniest, most accurate meth-fueled video game debates I’ve ever seen on a TV show, as well as some odd product-placement for the shooter Rage The guys at College Humor have taken it to another level, putting together this hilarious (incredibly…
By Kirk Hamilton Published January 31, 2012 -
Game Critics Tear NeverDead Limb-From-Limb
Great games often spring from a single brilliant idea, like a protagonist that can pull himself back together after being blown apart. Unfortunately this is also the case for many really crappy games. Where does NeverDead‘s mangled pile of people parts fall? If you’re any good at reading charts, you probably have already sussed the…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012 -
It’s a Battle of the Headbands in This New Grand Slam Tennis 2 Trailer
Things get sweaty in tennis, especially if you’re playing on the clay courts of the Tennis Club de Paris. Hence, the proliferation of headbands on male players. This latest clip for EA Sports’ upcoming serve-and-volley title showcases play on clay courts in the form of some of tennis’ greatest rivalries. You’ll get your chance to…
By Evan Narcisse Published January 31, 2012 -
The Story and Creature Collecting Goodness Continue in Final Fantasy XIII-2 DLC
Along with the announcement that Final Fantasy XIII-2 is now available for purchase and play, Square Enix laid out plans to supplement the game with downloadable episodes and coliseum battles that could bring classic Final Fantasy foes into your party. You should all be pretty much done with Final Fantasy XIII-2 by February 7, right?…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012 -
Video Games Blamed for Synagogue Firebombings
The defense attorney for a 19-year-old New Jersey man under arrest for the firebombing of several New Jersey synagogues is blaming video games for his behavior. According to lawyer Robert Kalisch, Anthony Graziano’s unstable mental health was undermined by violent video games played on his Xbox: “This is someone who may be, with their own…
By Evan Narcisse Published January 31, 2012 -
Before You Start… Tips for Playing Final Fantasy XIII-2 The Best Way
Used to being led about by the nose in Final Fantasy XIII? Final Fantasy XIII-2 is here, and it’s nowhere near as clear-cut as the game it’s making up for. Perhaps a little spoiler-free getting-started guidance is in order? Just let me slip into my Moogle suit. Ahhh, much better. Being not quite as straightforward…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012 -
Zynga’s Formerly-Secret Defense Against Copycat Accusations
Last week, while game developers were howling that Zynga—creators of FarmVille—were the makers of a game called Dream Heights that maybe ripped off another hit game, Zynga didn’t want to talk about it. Not publicly. Not even after another group popped up to say that, hey, if Zynga ripped off Tiny Tower, Tiny Tower ripped…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 31, 2012 -
Scribblenauts Creators’ Gravity-Defying Xbox Live Shooter Hybrid is Back and Better Than Ever
After making a big splash during its first showing at the 2011 Game Developers Conference, 5th Cell’s dizzying cover-centric 3D shooter Hybrid was dragged back behind closed doors in May in order to make sure it was the “highest quality title possible”. Let’s see what changed the past eight months have wrought. What’s so special…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012 -
This Awesome Lady is 100 Years Old and a Nintendo DS Fanatic
Kit Connell may be 100, but she doesn’t feel a day over 80. And her brain age is around 64, according to one of her favorite Nintendo DS games. I’m not sure where this video came from or if it’s a Nintendo ad. I just know that Kit Connell is the kind of gamer I…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 31, 2012 -
The Mass Effect 3 Voice Cast is a Fine Collection of Actors, Actresses, and PSP Tasters
Get to know your Mass Effect 3 voice cast, which is a great deal like the Mass Effect 2 voice cast, only slightly older and just a tad bit more Chobot-y. Yes Jessica Chobot, the IGN reporter that made her big internet debut right here on Kotaku seven years ago (so far back the images…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012 -
Do You Feel Comfortable Lending Out Your Games?
Are you the type of gamer that can let one of your favorites go long enough for a friend to give it a go, or do you guard your collection jealously? Commenter Pinacollata has transformed himself into a virtual video game librarian, and for good reason. Read all about it in today’s Speak Up on…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012 -
Want to Play Resident Evil 6 Early? Buy Dragon’s Dogma
While Capcom’s open-world action game Dragon’s Dogma has attracted a fair amount of interest, it hasn’t generated even a fraction of the buzz of say, a new Resident Evil game. Capcom helps it along by slipping a token for access to the Resident Evil 6 demo inside every copy of Dragon’s Dogma To further demonstrate…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012 -
Talk Amongst Yourselves
This is the last day in January 2012 you’ll be able to discuss video games in Kotaku‘s official forum. Let’s make the most of it! Big thanks to Kaploy9 for his last-minute TAYpic, bring a month filled with turbans and cheetahs to a satisfying end. That’s right, it’s time for a new TAYpic base image,…
By Mike Fahey Published January 31, 2012