What a great start to 2012 am I right?

Regardless, this latest episode takes us back to 2011. Yep we are already going back in time, because for the sisters, time traveling to the past is a regular occurrence). They had talked about this before- but hadn't really thought about it.

So they went about their business and devised a plan.
Both made a list, then they hit the web

That's right, We've put together our own award show for the Video games of 2011.

Here it is for your listening pleasure! ESH Podcast Episode 275: You Get An Award and You Get An Award.

Also bonus points for the person who catches on to my lil easter egg!

The Dragon Quest series has been like a nomad since pat 8. Dragon Quest IX never even came to consoles, and now we get news of Dragon Quest X. Since part 9 was exclusive to a Nintendo system, it was fair to assume that 10 would be a Nintendo exclusive as well.

Now we know that Dragon Quest x will be coming to the Wii and the new Wii U. What's truly newsworthy about X being announced is that it will be an online RPG. Dragon Quest X is an old school turn-based RPG, and while it will have online elements, it does not look like it will totally transform into an MMO. You will be able to play the game alone, then join up with your friends cooperatively.

Dragon Quest isn't a big deal in the Americas, but Dragon Quest is HUGE in Japan. Maybe the new game will keep the Wii alive just a bit longer.

Tip #1: Backlog

I have a backlog, you have a backlog, we all have a backlog and now I want ice cream.  Take a look at where you keep your games and I’m sure it won’t take long to unearth the games you bought and meant to play, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.  Whether they be downloadable games or disc-based, this is a great time to try and make a little dent in those awesome titles from 2009.  I really need to get on this myself, I think I have some Nintendo 64 games I haven’t finished yet.

Tip #2: Achievement/Trophy Hunting

On my first play of a game, I try to ignore these as best I can to get the best enjoyment out of it and suppress my natural completionist tendencies.  Once that first time through is over though, all bets are off and I’m ready to snag some points.  During a slump like this is a great time to go back into some of those older games and try to get them 100% complete.  My one word of advice here though, is to be very careful which game you choose to complete.  I’ve had one or two that I really liked before and felt very different after getting that full complete, except for Dead Space.  I still, and will always, love Dead Space.

Tip #3: Bargain Shopping

You’d be surprised how often you can find a fantastic deal on games during the summer.  A lot of brick and mortar stores have summer and/or back to school sales and online retailers are always a good place to check for deals.  This is the ideal tactic for someone who has inextricably been able to blow through their backlog.  When I really think about it, I do this despite my massive backlog.  Oh well, the more the merrier can apply to a shelf full of games as well.

Tip #4: Fund Raising

Let’s face it, those games have to come from somewhere.  While a job is certainly a great way to get money, sometimes that money is earmarked for silly stuff like food and shelter.  Sometimes, people will pay decent money for those old games you won’t play ever again.  With the money earned, you can afford to weather a bit of the storm when the heavy downfall of new titles hits.  Just make sure that you really won’t play a game again before you sell it.  Nothing is more sad than when you realize you desperately want to replay a game and you’ve sold it.

There are plenty more options out there for you, but I hope I’ve given you a few ideas.  If you have any ideas for ways to to keep your gaming thirst quenched, head over to the Land of ESH Facebook page and let us know.  I’d love to hear your ideas!  Just don’t tell me I should get a platinum medal on Demon’s Souls.

It'd be fair to say that Rayman has been standing in the shadows of those furry bastards known as the Rabbids since he invited them into his life. Since then little had been seen of the armless and legless protagonist who first won our hearts in the 1990s. Fortunately our hero from the Sea of Lums has prepared himself for a major comeback, in the form of the four-player co-op adventure Rayman Origins.

At E3 I had the chance to play a couple of the levels from this upcoming release, along with three other members of the press. In Rayman Origins players have the choice of playing as Rayman, Globox and two random teensies. Gamers will also be able to jump into the action whenever they want during gameplay, similar in vein to that of Super Mario Bros. Wii. (Also similar is how characters will float above the action until their teammates tag them in to play.) In the demo Rayman and his friends are zapped to the levels, having to work together in order to solve puzzles, collect items, avoid hazards and defeat any villains that try to get in your way.

The biggest draw to Rayman Origins is its overall appearance, coming off as bright and joyful as a Saturday morning cartoon. These characters move just as fluidly as a finely-drawn movie, as if someone pain-stakingly put to easel any sort of reaction this game can fathom. Also on key is its soundtrack, giving nods to the likes of Disney movies and video games of the past. (The Tetris nod in one of the levels is sure to give old-school gamers a giant smile.) Controls were easy to figure out, as were the abilities to perform team maneuvers with the other players.

One thing I am curious to find out about the Rayman Origins is how it works in single-player mode. While the game is guaranteeing a bag of fun when playing with friends I worry that this element won't translate as well when a gamer plays the title by themselves. I shouldn't count out the folks at Ubisoft, however, so I bet that they will find a way to keep the magic going in a one-player run-through in a similar way the multiplayer seems to.

When released Rayman Origins will sport over 60 levels throughout its 2D cel-shaded worlds, unlockable abilities and tons of slapstick humor that is sure to entertain gamers of all ages. The game is set for release on November 15 on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and sometime in 2012 on the PlayStation Vita.

While not nearly as long as it was last year, or even comparable to the Wii U line, there was still a decent wait to get your hands on Skyward Sword.  There were three demo modes to play once you got your hands on the Wii Motion Plus enhanced controller.  There was a section where you fly on a bird, a dungeon portion and they capped it all off with a boss fight.

Bird flying has definitely been done before in the Zelda series, though it has mainly been a hands-off experience where you just get transported from place to place.  In Twilight Princess you got the opportunity to more closely control a bird as it flew through a cave.  This experience felt fairly similar to that one, but the controls were a bit more refined thanks to enhancements by the Wii Motion Plus.  It actually feels a lot more like the Manta Ray Surfing found in the Mario Galaxy series.  You hold the remote towards the screen and turn it like a key to steer and tilt it up or down to ascend or descend.  It felt a bit sensitive to me, but because of the Plus, it felt a lot smoother.

The best thing about the bird flying demo was the part before you played, because it had some story in it to give the world a bit more context.  There are four bird riders, Link included, and they are to leap off of the Skyloft and call their birds to catch them.  They were then tasked with taking a stone statue being carried around by another bird.  A gift from “the lovely Zelda” was the prize of the contest.  I really appreciated this demo mainly to see that there is clearly a deep and interesting tale in the works in addition to a fun game.

The dungeon portion of the demo was very similar to the one they had playable last year.  It had Link walking through a large grassy temple with plenty of puzzles set up specifically for the gadgets that are new to this game.  The one I used most often was the flying bug item which is used to hit switches and get items from long distances and in high places.  Rolling bombs like bowling balls and making statues dizzy with your sword also made some more appearances.

Last year, I will admit that I had a decently tough time with the enemies in the demo.  By this, I mean that I got my ass kicked by a plant and felt like a pretty crappy Zelda fan.  I could tell from this updated demo, that they’ve done a lot of rebalancing and I had a much easier time taking the enemies down.  It was still a little tough to get used to not just waggling the Wiimote, but this new control scheme will make this new game a whole lot of fun.  Just don’t expect to be able to play it in a recliner while half asleep.

The last part of the demo was a boss fight with a character that I could only describe as creepy.  For one of the first times in the history of the series, this boss is actually humanoid and attacks you with a sword of his own.  His name is Ghirahim and he is a demon with a tendency to stick out his tongue like a crazed lizard.  The fight is pretty fun and as for the first part of it, he is clearly toying with you.  If you don’t swing your sword just right, he’ll catch your blade and you have to shake yourself free.  After getting in a couple of lucky shots, he’ll freak you out with his tongue one more time and then draw his blade.  The rest of the fight is mainly timing-based where he will charge you and you have to swing at just the right time.  As well, he’ll shoot these little diamonds at you and you can deflect them back at him for damage.

Another thing that makes this boss fight incredibly unique, is after you’ve taken him down a peg, he gets to walk away.  He’ll surely be back later in the game, but this is one boss fight that doesn’t end in the demise of the enemy.

All in all, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword looks to be in great shape.  Not only have they tightened up the controls from the last time the game was seen, but it has been fleshed out in many more ways.  I am personally very excited to see this game come to the Wii later this year.  Hopefully by then, I won’t get killed by the plant that can open it’s mouth vertically or horizontally.  Either that or I’ll figure out how to swing in those directions.

The first time I plugged in my Wii to an HD TV, I couldn’t help but notice how awesome it looked even though it was clearly plugged in with a standard s-video cable.  The main reason for this is Nintendo knows how to stylize their games.  The Mario Galaxy games are a prime example of how fantastic they can make an SD game look when given the right art style.  This brings me to the first group of rumors surrounding the new console.  It has been confirmed to be running HD, but the rumor is that it could go as high as operating natively in 1080p.  Not only that, but there are whispers that the system is more powerful than the PS3 or Xbox 360.  Pair that with the fact that I’ve seen some games made by Nintendo on the Wii that easily look better than some PS3 or 360 games out there right now and we’ve got the rumor I’m rooting for the most.  Imagining a new Mario, Zelda or even a Star Fox game in 1080p is almost more than I can sit here handling.

This next rumor, in contrast, is one I am not rooting for.  There have been a lot of names floating around as the proposed name for the successor to the Wii.  I apologize if I’m incorrect, but the only one that Nintendo has outright denied is Wii 2.  Remembering back to the announcement of the name of the current console, I can still feel my stomach sinking.  At this point, most everyone has gotten used to the name, but at the time it was quite a shock to hear that Nintendo named its new console the Wii.  Still a bit shellshocked I suppose, when I heard the name Striim, I instantly remember feeling the way I did at the last announcement, if not a little worse.  Not only do the jokes continue for this name, but you can even use it in conjunction with the last systems name.  What makes it worse, is that if the other rumors are to be believed, the name actually makes sense.  I will certainly live if this title comes to be and I trust that Nintendo makes their decisions for a reason, but I would really not like hearing my Striim is backwards compatible with my Wii jokes.  You know what, I take that back, I kind of enjoyed that.

Something that Nintendo has been trying to do, somewhat unsuccessfully, for quite a while is the prospect of integrating their handhelds with the home consoles.  Sometimes, the result was quite enjoyable.  If you’ve ever played The Legend of Zelda: Four Sword Adventures you know precisely what I mean.  There are some fun and interesting things you can do with one more screen.  That’s where the last rumor comes in.  Around the interwebs, people are saying Nintendo’s newest console will have a built-in screen right smack-dab on the controller.  The function of said screen is mostly being attributed to being able to stream the picture from the TV right onto the controller, so if you need to take a potty break, and scare your friends away from using that controller, you can take it with you and continue play.  I think there could be some excellent use of a controller-based screen to add extra features to games as well.  I suppose you could think of it as a console-based DS.  One is the controller and the other your TV.  This is definitely an exciting prospect and one that I hope is true.

While there are plenty of things being said about Project Café, I am honestly content with being surprised as to the details.  It is clearly going to be amazing, since Nintendo will be streaming their press event to their website.  Keep your eyes and ears open for more and you can find all the official details here during E3 on June 7th.  Don’t miss it!

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Hello Monday, it's time for a new episode of the ESH Podcast, are you ready?

In this week's episode the ladies from the Land of ESH discuss a bunch of things, but mostly talk about Epic Games upcoming release of the game Bulletstorm

After delving through all of the expletive-laden and gore-filled details they can remember from their hands-on time with the Bulletstorm demo on Xbox 360, the ladies then move on to explore Pandalicious' new-found Netflix addition: the FX show Damages and her first reaction to the new XtendPlay Controller Enhancement from Xwerx*. Then NinJaSistah rounds out the show with her thoughts on Sony's PSP2 NGP device announcement and the state of mobile gaming from the console makers.

It's a fun show that just can't help but start off on a tanget, so grab a cup of go juice and enjoy ESH Podcast Episode 233: Bulletstorm: It's Perfect for Black History Month

Games in general provide me with a great way unwind after a tough day.  Getting to sit down and dive into a completely different world is fun and takes my mind off other worries.  This being said, Kirby’s Epic Yarn is the first time I can decidedly say that a game is downright relaxing.  I’m talking sitting in a hot tub drinking a margarita relaxing.  This experience is due to a number of factors, not least of which is the absolutely beautiful musical score.  Nintendo is finally understanding the importance of an orchestrated score and has done a great job of capturing the feeling of each level.  While there are some tracks that are repeated, mainly in accordance with an event, almost all stages have their own distinct sound.  Most of the songs are incredibly laid back and include a lot of piano solos.

The gameplay also builds upon the relaxing feeling you get while playing.  In the game, it is impossible for you to die.  That’s not to say that there aren’t enemies, obstacles and a method for punishment if you get hurt.  If you fall in a pit or get crushed, you are carried to safety dropping beads you’ve collected from the level along the way and if you get hit by an enemy you’ll also lose beads.  You get scored at the end of each level for how many beads you collected, so the incentive is still there to do your best, but it’s also not the end of the world if you fail a couple of times.  It really created an atmosphere that was both low-pressure and performance-based that worked extremely well toward making sure that you’re having fun no matter what, but can have something to shoot for.

At certain points in some of the levels, Kirby will come across a glowing circle of yarn that will allow him to transform into different things: UFO, tank, snowboarding penguin and dolphin are just some of the awesome transformations he has in the game.  Did I mention there is local co-op multiplayer in this game?  You, playing as Kirby, and a friend, playing as Prince Fluff, can take on levels together, collect beads and take down bosses.

How have I made it this far without talking about the art style?  One of the most strong things about the game is how beautiful it looks.  Everything is made up of either patchwork material, fluff or yarn.  It looks great and is brilliantly worked into the gameplay.  You can pull zippers across a pattern to make a new one fall into place, opening up new directions and secret areas.  You can grab enemies by whipping out Kirby’s hand and curling them into a ball.  They took a great effort into making sure every last detail fit into this theme and it really helps to suck you into the world they’ve built.

The game is set up quite a bit like the older Kirby games where as you beat each level, you unlock a single new one until you get to the boss level.  The bosses are both a ton of fun and a sight to behold.  Each are intricately designed yarn monsters that have unique patterns.  In each boss level, you can earn enough beads during the fight to unlock another couple of stages in your current land.  Probably the most fun part of a boss fight is where, if you get them stunned, you can literally fling them across the screen and into a wall.  It’s definitely one of those moments where you feel like you just stuck it to that particular boss.

In the main area of the world, there is an apartment building.  One of these apartments belongs to our hero.  As you go through each level there are various pieces of furniture and wallpaper that you can apply inside to customize your space.  The other rooms in the building lay host to a series of other characters that you can play various mini-games based in levels you’ve previously gone through.  While the settings in these games remain the same, the variances in gameplay make each one feel fresh and can keep the game going for much longer than just the story.  The one thing I have against Kirby’s Epic Yarn is that it’s not super long.  I will say that the length it did have felt appropriate.

So, the real question comes down to whether or not you should buy this game.  You should definitely play it, no matter who you are, but I’ll leave the major decision up to you.  My recommendation is going to be buy this game.  I have already gone back several times to play a particular level, just because it was relaxing.  It’s like curling up in front of a fireplace with a hoagie!

The Trauma Center series for DS and Wii has always brought a unique experience in the video gaming world, what with its surgery gameplay and storytelling. Some have complained, however, that the series has become too predictable in regards to its style. Fortunately the folks at Atlus have created a new way of taking on this world thanks to the new Wii game Trauma Team.

Players take on the role of six characters in the game: the mysterious prisoner CR-SO1 (surgeon), the Hugh Laurie-inspired Gabriel Cunningham (the diagnostician), the superhero-in-disguise Hank Freebird (orthopedic surgeon), the "Corpse Whisperer" Naomi Kimishima (forensics examiner), the fiery-spirited Maria Torres (EMT) and the honorable Tomoe Tachibana (endoscopy surgeon). These six characters' plotlines interline with one another's, helping to arc one big story over six people in similar fields. While telling the story players have to take on tasks such as ridding bodies of tumors and hemorrhages, mending broken bones, guessing patients' illnesses and discovering whodunit in a murder case.

Gameplay consists of various types of stages, ranging from stitching up wounds and adding plates to broken bones to sucking up blood clots and discovering hidden clues from crime scenes. Depending on which character you play you'll be taking on many surgical and CSI tasks. The ones I was having most fun with, however, were the Cunningham levels; and not just because he had a House-like quality to his attitude, but it felt like I was actually learning something about these symptoms, diseases and cancers. The surgery-based levels were great, too, and it gave you something of a real look at how surgery is done.

Graphics in this game are the same as in the past Wii Trauma Center games, and while there seems to be no visual improvement that doesn't mean the game is bad in anyway. The cut-scenes, however, could've been fully animated and not storybook-pictured. Its animesque look could hopefully build itself up to a full-fledged TV series depending on the popularity of this video game in Japan, thanks in part to a lovable cast of characters (especially Hank Freebird, whose superhero alter-ego Captain Eagle brings in some good laughs to a game that knows when to bring an appropriate chuckle out).

While the graphics aren't up to par with the more recent Wii games the way you control Trauma Team adds a whole realm of realism to the game's world. The controls are quite precise, so much are they that the slight of hand could cost you a few points if you're not carefully maneuvering your Wiimote. I would say that having a Wii Motion Plus option would've been nice, but had it been implemented in the actual game I think I would've wound up killing more patients than saving them. That said there are still some areas where an accidental flinch would cause more damage to the patient than good, so timing and careful precision is everything in this game. (I've found it most difficult to maneuver around the endoscopy-based levels, as I've hit the inner walls of the body a couple times to give my patients critical conditions. I must remember to show patience with my patients.)

As of this review I am about six hours into Trauma Team, and from what I have left it seems like I have another good sixteen hours to complete the game. Each level may take from as little as three minutes to as long as two hours to complete (the Corpse Whisperer stories might even take you a day to figure out wholly). And with a wide variety of different ways to sew, cut, bolt, pin and discover within the game you'll leave Trauma Team feeling like you've experienced six different good video games instead of just the one.

PROS:

• A wide range of different ways to perform surgery, diagnostics and forensics
• Solid storylines for all six characters
• Excellent controls, but...

CONS:

• ...one slip of the Wiimote and you'll cause more damage than good
• Graphics aren't too great
• Can we have some animated cut-scenes next time? Seriously?!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Trauma Team is perhaps one of the best video games to come out on the Wii this year. While it doesn't look as pretty as most of the other recent games out there the gameplay and excellent stories make up for it in a huge way. On top of that there's a sort of realism to it that makes Trauma Team the sort of video game that medical schools should take into consideration when teaching their doctors-to-be. Just don't expect to be a top surgeon if you S-Class the entire game. You really should bone up on the medical field before you put someone's life in your hands.

FINAL GRADE: 9 (out of 10)

Back when everyone was looking to create the next popular mascot, there were quite a few strange characters out there.  Aero the Acro-Bat was by far my favorite of the third-party attempts.  Published by Sunsoft and developed by Iguana Games, the adventures of said furry winged mammal are platforming with a circus theme.  The art design for all of the levels is very good.  They’ve taken cues from Barnum and Bailey to craft a delightful and immersive world.  In the story, the circus that Aero is part of is being attacked by Edgar Ektor, an evil ex-clown who used to work for the same circus and now wants it shut down.  Ektor is definitely creepy enough to get those clown phobias going, but definitely not the worst one out there.  He also comes with a nemesis, Ektor’s sidekick Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, and a girlfriend named Aeriel.

One of the things that really drew me in initially was the music.  It has one of those soundtracks where it will be stuck in you head, as it is in mine now, and will not leave you alone.  It is incredibly infectious, but it will drive you crazy if you’re exposed to it for terribly long.  The other part of it that is really enjoyable are the animations for Aero.  Every kind of movement and event is incredibly detailed and expressive.  All in all, it is both a fun game to listen to and look at.

The one thing that even I shall admit is a little flawed in the game are the controls.  Aero handles rather loose and floaty, which makes a lot of sense because he is a bat after all, but with the way the platforming is set up, it makes things more difficult.  Often times you’ll find yourself trying to get past a large pit filled with spikes that will kill you instantly only by jumping across on tiny balloons.  The controls are just out of the range of tightness that allow you to do it comfortably.  Also, he has this corkscrew move that he uses partially as a traversal technique and as his attack move.  Since the move is triggered by hitting jump twice, I’ve accidentally hit it when I didn’t mean to and plummeted to my doom.  All of that aside, there is a ton of variety in terms of the different circus-related things you get to do in the game.  Everything from jumping through rings of fire, to being shot out of a canon and even diving into a pool of water makes an appearance and keeps the atmosphere fresh.

Aero the Acro-Bat is not a perfect game.  It’s not even an awesome game, but if you enjoyed it back in the day or you are having a retro kick lately, then it’s definitely worth checking out.  For 800 Wii Points, it’s a pretty decent buy, but if you’re not a fan of occasionally being frustrated, then this might be one you might want to skip.  Now please excuse me while I attempt to get this music out of my head.

As a huge fan of it on the SNES, my first stop was to check out Donkey Kong Country Returns.  To put it simply, this game is basically New Super Donkey Kong Country Wii.  A lot like New Super Mario Bros, it takes the foundation set by the original game and adds little bits of new things.  You’ll find all the original vine swinging and mine cart racing still there, but you also get co-op play, ground pounding and some plane-switching action.  All of the new stuff feels great and the two-player element really adds another dimension.  There is definitely the potential for some frustration, as both players share a pool of lives, but not nearly as much as the chaos created by the multiplayer in New Super Mario Bros Wii.

The level I got to play was jungle-themed much like those from the original, though there seemed to be a tiki twist to it as well.  The gameplay was extremely easy to jump right into and felt both familiar and fresh.  A lot of the action was your standard DKC platforming, collecting bananas and visiting bonus areas.  One odd thing that caught my eye was the inclusion of jigsaw puzzle pieces that strongly resembles the “Jiggys” of the Banjo Kazooie franchise as collectible items.  One new thing that also stood out was that, every once in a while, a barrel will shoot you into the background.  Once there, you’ll either hop into a bonus barrel or do some action back there in order to progress the level.  I know, it’s not a new concept by any stretch, but it is a welcome addition to the DKC formula.  To sum up, if you are a fan of the original games, then you will be love the feel of playing a Donkey Kong Country game again, if you are new to the series then this will be a great chance to get you into it and if you are not a fan then perhaps you should borrow it from someone who is and see if it doesn’t change your mind.

In the interest of heading straight for old favorites, I ran towards Goldeneye 007 next.  Sadly, they did not have a demo of the single player campaign available to play, but they did have some multiplayer set up.  I jumped in as Alec Trevelyan, but was immediately sad that I didn’t pick Odd Job.  While everyone else that was playable threw grenades, our favorite bowler-wearing henchman threw his hat.  We played using classic controller pros and it felt very natural right away.  To be honest, I loved the game, but I was terrible at it.  My butt-kicking aside, the shooting was very smooth and while adapting to how the FPS genre has evolved over the years, it still felt very much like Goldeneye 007.

After that, I saw an opening and dove in at Golden Sun: Dark Dawn.  I will proudly admit that my dog ran from the room and I hurt my voice cheering and clapping when they announced this game at last year’s E3.  Getting my hands on the game, it looks as though I won’t be disappointed.  In the demo at the booth, they had a battling section and a puzzle section to experience.  Mainly, the battle system simply got a facelift and a firmware update.  The 360-view camera pans and grandiose djinn attacks are still there, but better-looking than ever.  The character models, while still remaining in the Golden Sun art style, have a Final Fantasy IV DS feel to them.  Thankfully, the issues such as wasting an attack when an enemy in one spot dies and someone attacks thin air have been addressed.

In the puzzle section of the demo, again it was a mixture of the same formula with some small updates.  You are once again moving statues and pillars with your powers but some new things have been thrown in as well.  In the demo training area there were posters put up that you had to burn down with fire synergy.  Overall, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn looked very pretty, but was also quite familiar.  Is this a bad thing you might ask?  Absolutely not, says I, because that formula, familiar as it may be, was and still is a ton of fun.  I will very likely be clawing at the gate of my nearest DS game retailer when that game ships in Q4 of 2010.

These are just three of the games that I played while basking in the glow of Nintendo’s booth.  I will be back to talk about all the other Nintendo goodness that I experienced, later this week.  Hint: it may or may not involve a legend.

As we finish recovering from Pandalicious' birthday and the anniversary of the US gaining it's independence from England we have gathered together some bits from the cutting room floor that you haven't heard before. From the "simply silly" collection a bit on Lady Gaga, Modern Warefare and chocolate to the "editorial opinion" section where we talk about customization at CES and what to be aware of when you upgrade your HD on an OG Sony PS3.

Grab your favorite cup of whatever and enjoy ESH podcast episode 204: You Didn't Hear That

Microsoft went first this year and, no surprise, gave more info on Project Natal. With a crappy new name and full-fledged stage demos, Xbox seemed off to a great start. But to be honest, the new Kinect looks more gimmicky than the Wii did to most people in its early days. Okay, so the camera is pretty advanced and follows my skeleton (btw that sounds like it could have adverse radiation effects, but I’m sure we’ll be fine, I mean Xbox products have always been so reliable, right?). The voice function seems pretty cool, but it seemed pretty cool on my phone too, and those programs have never, ever called the right person. Plus I thought these motion control options are supposed to be advocating a more active experience, but now when I’m watching a movie and need to pause my thumb doesn’t even have to move.

Granted, you aren’t very active when watching a movie anyway, so I’ll let that slide. Getting past Kinect, Xbox did have some impressive titles lined up, Gears 3 easily being the one that stood out the most. And let’s not forget that sexy new Xbox Slim. Finally joining the age of the wireless, and with a huge hard drive, it’s a step in the right direction for Microsoft. However I can’t help but feel that their press conference spent way too much time on Kinect, and I wasn’t that impressed by it. In my opinion, I think Microsoft underestimated what their opponents were bringing to the table, and they lost points because of it.

Nintendo was next, starting off with the one thing everyone wanted to see from them, the new Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. With lighter graphics than Twilight Princess, but the same adult Link design, and boasting swordplay via Wii Motion Plus, Skyward Sword looks to be a great addition to the franchise. What followed this demo was a non-stop barrage of new titles that would make any Nintendo fan salivate. Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Kid Icarus: Uprising, new Metroid: Other M footage, new Golden Sun: Dark Dawn footage, Epic Mickey exclusivity, it seemed like Nintendo had just gone around to every forum on the internet, jotted down what everyone wanted, held a board meeting and said, “Okay, let’s do it.”

In addition to the huge lineup of games, the 3DS was finally given some details. I denied wanting a 3DS for a long time. I figured it was some gimmick to get us to keep upgrading from one DS to the next. But when I saw that little handheld and what it was capable of I was sold, wholesale onto the bandwagon. Unfortunately I was not at E3 so I do not know exactly how the 3D works, but I’ve heard literally nothing but praise for it. The new widescreen for the top screen has almost three times the amount of pixels that the DS Lite had. And Nintendo promises that the 3DS will have much more power under the hood. If that Kid Icarus trailer was rendered with the 3DS, then I’m inclined to believe them. All in all, Nintendo delivered big this year.

Sony went last, but they certainly weren’t the least impressive. Playstation Move was another piece of hardware that I simply was not impressed with. I just didn’t see it going very far, until I saw the demo of Sorcery. Sorcery is a game that would offer me zero appeal normally. However, after seeing just what the Move could do in that game, I have to say my outlook has changed. Playing as a sorcerer’s apprentice just seems cool when you get to move the controller just like a wand and blast baddies with various spells that can even be combined. At first though, I thought Sony was going to take the same path Microsoft did and focus almost entirely on the move. I was wrong.

So many titles were announced for Playstation that it almost rivals the Nintendo presser. Killzone 3 with 3D and Move compatibility, a new Twisted Metal that should prove to be an insanely (literally) entertaining experience, Little Big Planet 2, which is looking to revolutionize the platform yet again, and those are just the big ones. Sony had a few surprises for the audience as well in the form of a Portal 2 announcement, as well as a small appearance by Kevin Butler, though now I realize he is much, much funnier in commercials. I found it saddening that there was little to no news on the PSP, other than a few games that I already knew about. *looks in the corner at his PSP gathering dust* Someday old friend, some day.

I noticed some similarities between the Sony and Microsoft conferences, namely the fact that they always refer to themselves as “The only console that does *blank*” or “The only place to find *blank*”. I understand that you have to stand out from the competition, but when the Playstation Move does the exact same thing as the Wii Motion Plus, it’s a hard pill to swallow. I especially liked when the Sony rep was asked how the Move compares to Wii Motion Plus in a G4 interview after the press conference, and he appeared to trip over himself in trying to distinguish the two.

So we had Microsoft pulling an Oprah, Sony still denying that they take ideas from other companies and (sometimes) expand upon them, and Nintendo making a sequel to every franchise they’ve established so far. For me, it was a tossup between Sony and Nintendo (and not just because I don’t own an Xbox, that slim is so very tempting). In the end, Nintendo announced too many power house titles, and the 3DS was too impressive looking for me not to give it to them. We’re all entitled to our opinions, and I can’t wait to see what comes out of all of these companies, but for the coming year, my eye is fixed on Nintendo.

Well, it’s official.  If your head explodes, then a new one will instantly grow in its place so that it may also explode.  I discovered this great scientific fact this morning at the Nintendo Media Briefing.  They have shown this year that not only are they dedicated to bringing gaming to everyone, but also keeping it awesome for those of us that have been enjoying it for a while now.

The briefing started off with a huge bang by them going straight into the new Zelda game.  The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, as it is titled, will feature Wii Motion Plus controls and looks to be quite the fun time.  Not only are you going to be able to use a whip in the game, but there’s a beetle launcher than lets you control the beetle flying around the environment.

After such a strong opening, I thought to myself, how in the world can they top footage of the new Zelda?  It turns out they did it quite easily with a slew of awesome looking games, most of which are due later this year.  Wii Party, Just Dance 2, Mario Sports Mix, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Goldeneye 007, Epic Mickey, Metroid Other M and Donkey Kong Country Returns all made appearances and that was just for the Wii.

After all of that, they brought in the Nintendo 3DS.  After they talked some serious trash about 3D with glasses, they revealed Kid Icarus: Uprising as a title for the 3DS.  Seeing video of the 3DS, it looks like a handheld Wii, or perhaps a bit better.  Nintendo then assured us that there was going to be lots of 3rd party support for the system and proceeded to confirm every game you could ever want for the system.  Kingdom Hearts and Metal Gear Solid being notables among the many, there were really a bunch of titles there to see.

As I sit there considering the 3DS, the thought did cross my mind of, well I haven’t seen the 3D yet.  So, Nintendo has a bunch of models walk out holding the device and tells us to see it for ourselves.  I got to touch it and I am blown away.  The 3D seems neat and well implemented, the new analog stick feels great and the graphic were just as good as the videos boasted.

All in all, consider me blown away.  We’re not done yet though, so make sure to tune in now for our Sony briefing!

The game sets you up as an up and coming hunter called to a village that is being plagued by a giant sea monster.  It’s up to you to stop this monster, but first you have to do some hunting so it doesn’t use you as a toothpick.  The hunting quests are a lot of fun.  Every time you meet a new mark for the first time, you get a nice cut scene of the monster strutting its stuff.  Upon completion of the kill, it gives you a minute to make sure you have the chance to collect your loot.  You can then use this loot to forge new weapons and armor, often stylized to look like what was used to make it.

With the main quest largely being a lather-rinse-repeat situation, one would think that it would get a bit stale after a while, right?  Wrong.  The addictive nature of loot collecting aside, there is so much else to do, the disc may never be ejected from the Wii.  There is a fairly deep item combination system involved in the creation of all kinds of items used in the game.  There are arena battles which pit you and your friends against a monster for the thrill of the fight.  You can also meet up using the city option in the startup menu and just sit around and chat with your friends.

The Wii Speak works pretty well within the game, allowing for much quicker strategy when fighting monsters.  My only gripe about it is that you can only chat with someone else if both parties have the Wii Speak.  I suppose I can see the logic in this, from a safety standpoint, but it would be nice to have the option of only one person speaking if someone didn’t want to shell out the $20.

For whomever pre-ordered the bundle version of the game, you got with it the brand new Classic Controller Pro.  While I will whole-heartedly admit that it is nothing more than a black classic controller with handles on the sides, that is exactly what the controller needed to be great.  It feels much more natural this way and will be the non-mote controller I use from now on.

Before I finish up, there is one more thing I need to discuss about this game.  The barbecue spit mini-game.  While I know that it is going to drive my girlfriend clinically insane, I can not get enough of cooking meat to that hilarious tune.  It both completely doesn’t and does match the tone of the game all at once.  So, with all of this in mind, I wholly recommend this game to anyone who loves some loot collecting.  Sooooo tasty!

Whenever people ask me if I like Netflix Instant Streaming, I always respond that it is both the best and worst thing that I have ever gotten.  With it, I can watch a slew of TV shows and movies, all for a very low monthly cost that, to be honest, I was paying anyway.  Using a Playstation 3 or an Xbox 360 will even allow you to view it in HD.  Now, before you go calling me a walking ad for the service, it does have its downside as well.  With all of this content at my disposal, I end up watching it.  Now with the addition of the Wii, if I so chose, I could easily have the streaming service on every television, which is both exciting and terrifying.

For the people who don’t have an Xbox 360 or PS3, but do have a Wii, this is exciting news, but playing with Netflix is going to be a little different on the Wii than it is on most of the alternatives.  First, since the Wii does not output in HD, it will be displaying content in standard definition.  There is no need to be concerned though, because the fact of the matter is SD doesn’t actually look all that bad.  Take a look at the Nintendo Channel on the Wii if you want a point of reference.  Personally, I think those videos look pretty good.

Second, there’s going to be motion controls involved in this version.  This may well make it much easier to browse through the selection of media, so that is worth being excited about.  Also, there is no additional charge for the streaming service, which makes it a great value, though you do require the disc in order to run the service.

With so many devices already hopped onto the instant streaming bandwagon, what’s in store from the future?  The Nintendo DS is rumored to be next.  I’m not sure of whether or not that sounds at all appealing to me.  I’ll surely download it when it comes out though, because you can never have too many devices that can play the entire series of Firefly.  Until next streaming disc, happy tuesday everyone.

Thinking back, one of the first things I remember getting was the NES Zapper controller.  While it certainly got plenty of use in my house, it did so single-handedly with just Duck Hunt.  This was not the only game that used it, Hogan’s Alley and Wild Gunman to name a few, but it definitely helped shape many future games to come.  Fast forwarding a bit, Star Fox 64 is released and packaged with it is a little thing called the Rumble Pack.  Feeling the feedback of what was happening on-screen was amazing and I still get goosebumps playing that game.  Not only was the support for this little guy wide, but it has since become a staple of any modern gaming controller.

These add-ons haven’t always been all sunshine and Rumble Packs.  There have been a few that saw the light of day and vanished as though they’d never appeared.  When Pokemon Stadium came out for the Nintendo 64, packaged with it was the Transfer Pack.  This peripheral allowed you to import your Pokemon into the game to battle in 3D.  The result was very exciting, but didn’t offer much outside of this context.  In America, only a handful of games were ever supported and so the Transfer Pack went quietly into the closet.

Recently, we’ve been getting quite a few new toys to play with on the Wii side of things.  With the Classic Controller, Balance Board, Wii Zapper, Steering Wheel, Wii Speak, Wii Motion Plus and soon the Wii Vitality Sensor, I have run out of room in the little cabinet where I put my controllers.  So far, with Wii Motion Plus, I’ve been having Transfer Pack flashbacks where I should be thinking Rumble Pack.  There have only been a handful of titles thus far that have supported the extra-long peripheral and it has been out since June of last year.  While I still have faith that it will catch on, it may have some catching up to do with Playstation Move and Project Natal not too far off.

Personally, I am hotly anticipating the new Wii Vitality Sensor.  While I’m not quite sure how it is intended to be used, I think there is a great deal of possibility there.  I love horror games and the idea of playing one that knows when it is successfully scaring me is both terrifying and thrilling all in one.  The possibilities are endless and it seems like Nintendo has quite a few tricks up their sleeve yet to further innovate.  If only I could innovate myself a bigger cabinet, then maybe I could have room for all the goodies I know are soon to come.

Pandalicious and Ninjasistah talk about some of the lesser known or presented games like Warner Bros. Scribblenauts for the DS and a few titles from Playlogic including Section 8 Who had the best looking man candy by far. From Alpha Protocol to The Lord of the Rings: Arrogorns' Tale we talk through the last bits of our E3 notes... until we finish unpacking that is.

So kick back, relax, and enjoy ESH podcast episode 150: The Brownies Were Mad Crazy Delicious

p.s. more photo galleries to come, so be sure to check out the website this week often.

We aren't dead, but our feet [and brains] are dead tired from traipsing around the LA Convention Center last week to cover E3 for you guys. [And if I'm honest, for ourselves as well.] I couldn't tell you how much both Pandalicious and I enjoyed our time in LA. First there was the catching up with the rest of the AllGames fam, followed closely by the meeting and greeting of new gamer-type press groups and the exchange of thoughts and ideas over free drinks. [Crix Lee from GirlGamer, Destructoids' Nick Chester, and Mr. Crecente himself from Kotaku to name drop a few.] The side-story fun stuff aside, we descended on LA for a reason and that reason was to get the low down on the soon to be released and up-and-coming video games.

I won't bore you with a list of what we looked at, and whom we spoke to now as it wouldn't leave us anything to write for the rest of the week. What I will do is tell you that this podcast was one of our more enjoyable ones to record. We recorded it live from the show floor and Crix Lee popped by during our The Beatles: RockBand time and shared some great insights with us. A few people were wow'd by my laptop skin [courtesy of DecalGirl] and interrupted us a bit so you may notice that in here as well, but we had a lot to talk about... Bayonetta, Scribblenaughts, Prototype, and Batman: Arkham Asylum come to mind as I write this.

From the stronger female presence both physically and pixel-y at this years' show to media briefing impressions and being excluded from demos we talk about it all. Grab your beverage of choice and put on your headphones, it's time to enjoy Electric Sista Hood podcast 149: While My Pocketbook Gently Weeps

In this episode of the podcast hosts NinJaSistah and Pandalicious talk about what they hope to see, learn, and play at E3 this year as well as deal a bit gossip out for your enjoyment. From the confirmed PSP GO to discussing some of the many ways Harmonix/MTV Games will be storing all the money they are stand to make with The Beatles: RockBand we leave no gaming cranny uncovered.

Then we cap it all off with our first reactions to the upcoming hand-drawn Disney feature length animated film, "The Frog Princes," which features a nearly all black cast of characters. There's a lot of energy and a lot to enjoy in ESH podcast episode 148: A Disney Movie With Black People? Well, Zippity-Do-Dah

Xenocore from Ultimate Quest joins us on the mic to talk a bit about anime series that drop some knowledge or substantial amount of reality on the viewer as well as those that don't. [yeah Overman King Gainer, I'm looking at you!]Pandalicious chimes in with her opinions on the Nintendo DSi title Rhythm Heaven and how it can be productive while addictive at the same time, and then there is NinJaSistah.

Riding a crazy wave of dual Mt. Dew regular and Mt. Dew Throwback Ninja is all over the place in the episode [causing a lot to be cut out, by the way] and yet somehow manages to get on topic chatting about Sony's recent fiscal earnings announcement and how it may affect creativity and individuality throughout the industry.

When you take a gander at some of the titles we didn't use for this episode, you understand why you have to listen to it. We passed on things like:

• The Many Degrees of Layitude
• I Manga Like a MoFo
• Longer, Better, Faster, Harder - Normally, Panda Wouldn't Mind That
• and finally
• Don't Shake the Bejesus - He Bedoesn't Like That

Kick back and grab your morning dose of wake up juice and enjoy ElectricSistaHood podcast episode #146: I Went Through All 26 Episodes So You Don't Have Too

Pandalicious and NinJaSistah go on and on and on for a bit about the state and future of handheld gaming thanks to Furian09's submitted question as well as the upcoming PS3 title Katamari Forever, Magna Carta 2 on the XBox 360, this weeks new Rock Band DLC, and the anime series Hetalia.

From Pandalicious' tales of the weird and wacky world of Hetalia to NinJaSistah's Mt. Dew fueled awkwardness throughout the hour, this episode of the podcast is a great way to kick off year 3 of the ElectricSistaHood show. So grab your warm and or frosty beverage of choice and enjoy ESH podcast episode 144: It Might Not Be the Best, But It's the Bessssssst

Oh yeah, make sure you stop by the site and check out the new digs!

You can yell at me for the song being stuck in your head later.

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about all kinds of crazy stuff from the rampant ravishing of our treasured entertainment pasts to create feature length film like the upcoming Tekken movie and G.I. Joe movie to the classic game title Bubble Bobble which is currently available as Wiiware. Both NinJaSistah and Pandalicious answer some audience questions, including one from Bootleg Pete as well as promote the Gamer Daily News Spring Cleaning event, and then cap off the hour with the manga turned anime series Rideback

We are up to the usual monkey business in this episode, and if you don't believe me here are some of the titles we came up with but chose not to use for this episode:

• Reality In Video Games - Isn't That An Oxymoron?
• There Will Always Be Wire Hangers
• He's More Buffy Than Buff
• The Tekken Movie? That's The April Fool's Joke
• It's At The Bottom End of The Wayans Scale
• G.I. Joe Doesn't Make You Gay
• Pandalicious Talks About Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged - And This Isn't A Rerun
• It's Not A Motorcycle - It's a Motor-Psycho!
• Panda's Swan Lake Would Include Alligators
• You Know There's a Crotch Underneath That Dress
• and finally
• Next Week At This Time: Pandalicious of Love

See? Fun to be had here folks, so sit back and enjoy ESH podcast episode 140: Drinking Games Add So Much to Anime!

So, MilkChan of Ultimate Quest fame was supposed to be on the show, but yet again the sistah's got stood up. We didn't take it personally though, instead we used the extra time to be random and rant and rave about games, gadgets and whatnot. We start with a couple of audience questions about the Wii and titles to look forward to on the XB360 and then we get into the nitty-gritty down and dirty.

NinJaSistah talks about her first impressions ofResident Evil 5 and does a compare/contrast type thing with the Tomb Raider: Underworld title on the XB360 versus the PS3 version. Pandalicious learns the meaning of the acronym FML as well as the existence of the FML Blog, let's people know that she shouldn't be trusted with other people's children, and then goes crazy random for a bit.

It's another one of those podcasts that starts off with an agenda, but it down the weird and random path to goofy glory. Need a mental picture? Well, here are the titles that we came up with to name the episode:

• What the "L" Is FML?
• People Don't Trust Me With Their Children
• Bad Worm!
• Guns In Her Shoes? That's Accessorizing
• I Want World Peace, But It Would Make For A Lousy Video Game
• When Bigger Isn't Better
• Capcom, We Have A Problem
• There's Nowhere Like Home - That's Not Necessarily a Good Thing
• No Console Left Behind
• and finally
• Don't Eat Bacon Wrapped Cancer

Told you it was random. Grab that morning cup of joe, put on your headphones and enjoy ESH Podcast Episode 138: I Have One, and I'm Proud!

While Ninja proclaims the goodness of the Pure and Braid videogames, Panda admits her love for retro games, particularly those that can be found through XBox Live. It all leads up to a future topic for the podcast: How to Turn Your Wii Into a Micro-brewery.

I think we all have to admit that would be quite effective in selling the Wii to hardcore gamers.

So please enjoy Episode 109 of the ElectricSistaHood podcast, How Do You Play Where's Your Pickle?