Air Twister: The Second Coming Of... Space Harrier? Possibly!

In the mood for a new Space Harrier-style game? Well, you may find an interest in Air Twister, the 3D shooting adventure game created by the legendary Yu Suzuki (YSNET). Shout out to the Inin team for supplying us with a copy.

If you aren't familiar with... Yu Suzuki, he's renowned for his iconic titles like Space Harrier, After Burner, Out Run, and the Shenmue series. So it was a pleasant surprise to see Inin and YSNET bring forth this fresh 3D arcade shooting adventure game with a symphony-rich soundtrack. I think the music is a perfect fit for this game.

Owners of Nintendo Switch + PlayStation 4 & 5 can get their hands on both physical and digital copies of Air Twister, while Xbox and PC users will have access to the digital version only. One thing I wish the team would have done was sweeten the pot for pre-orders. Nothing wrong with custom posters or perhaps a figurine or something. A little goes a long way in that regard, even if it's an exclusive digital skin, but... for physical copies, a physical item rocks to dial up the excitement as you prepare to embark on a mesmerizing journey through Yu Suzuki's imaginative realms.

In terms of the game, you represent... Princess Arch as she embarks on a whimsical quest to save her planet from impending doom. Equipped with arrows that leave behind graceful arcs of light, she confronts peculiar invaders with the same goal of taking her out. With over 20 unique enemies to conquer, Air Twister aims to deliver an unforgettable gaming experience.

In order to evoke a sense of nostalgia for traditional arcade games, Yu Suzuki has incorporated varying levels of difficulty into Air Twister, offering players an authentic old-school arcade feel. That old-school feel is undeniable in terms of the way some animations feel. While there is fluid movement in some aspects, with some enemies and even movement from swans and other winged creatures from Team Arch... feels a little stiff. If you're familiar with animation, you know what I mean, but... the goal was to capture that old-school feel.

Highlights of Air Twister:

Immerse yourself in 12 meticulously designed levels, each offering a unique and fresh experience every time you delve into the game. Embark on an enchanting journey reminiscent of Alice's adventures through the whimsical rabbit hole.

Test your skills against more than 20 dynamic Vanguard creatures and face off against 10 distinctive bosses, all while enjoying simple and intuitive controls that ensure a delightful and effortless gameplay experience.

Indulge in an extraordinary soundtrack created by Valensia, a renowned Dutch music composer who has spent over three decades preserving the timeless rock and opera legacy of Queen's greatest hits.

Unleash the full potential of replayability by unlocking Challenge Games in the Adventure Map, featuring exciting modes like Arcade, Turbo, Boss Rush, and more! Prepare for endless hours of thrilling gameplay.

Discover a multitude of fantastic Minigames that promise unexpected surprises and delightful elements.

Mark your calendars to take flight into the world of... Air Twister on November 10, 2023!

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Prepare for the summer with a dream vacay!

Shenmue III is out now!

DESCRIPTION

Play as Ryo Hazuki, an 18-year-old Japanese martial artist hellbent on avenging his father’s death.

In this third installment of the epic Shenmue series, Ryo seeks to solve the mystery behind the Phoenix Mirror, an artifact sought after by his father’s killer. His journey takes him to an immersive representation of rural China, brimming with activity and surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

Ryo’s adventure leads him to towns and mountain villages where he can further his training, try his hand at gambling, play arcade games, and work part-time jobs while investigating those who know truth behind the Phoenix Mirror.

The fact that Shenmue 3 has officially been released... is surreal. I remember buying Shenmue 1... day 1 with my friend, nearly two decades ago. TWO... DECADES... AGO. (Holy crap!) 

It was a ground breaking sleeper hit that I still love to this day, and even though I wish 1 + 2 were included with 3... I can't wait to play the 3rd installment and catch some serious flashbacks via this new entry. By the way, it was really cool to meet so many people from the IAAPA Expo. IAAPA is short for International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. 

Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

Top Audiences Last Week!!!

Shenmue I & II are available for pre-order here!

I wish the progress of 1 and 2 were able to be used in Shenmue 3! - Blu

United States

Ukraine

Russia
France
Ireland
Germany
Unknown Region (Oooohhh mysterious!)
United Kingdom
Taiwan

United Arab Emirates

China, Brazil and South Korea came close... game on!

          

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Shenmue 3... will it succeed? IDK, but...

There are questions surrounding Shenmue 3 and will it be interesting or relevant enough to succeed, but... I think it will work out. There is enough variety out right now gaining enough appreciation in gaming to the point that... I feel Shenmue 3 will be just fine. Also, you can argue about the QTEs (aka Quick Time Events) if you'd like, but... think about it... it's not something that went away with Shenmue, there are more recent games like "Rise of the Tomb Raider" that have them.

Even if i'm a big fan of Shenmue, I can still take a realistic look at the franchise. I don't see the third installment being a game that will feel out dated, but it's not being served up to be outdated... it will merely bring what's known and appreciated in the franchise. Going back to the variety though, I do give credit to indie developers for maintaining the variety in gaming. Shenmue isn't just a left field gaming trying to grab the interest of gamer's with an abstract title either, it's a new installment to a sleeper hit that met unfair circumstances. So for what it's worth, I hope that the lack of restrictions allow it to fly... so much so that it makes Shenmue 1 & 2 worthy of remakes.

Some of you may think... WTF?!, but if we can have some sort of cool incorporation of Shenmue 1 & 2 that gets the audience up to speed... then i'd be cool with the game being released a bit later than the release date. I feel left out in the cold after finishing the 1st installment, so to play part 3... there would be a void if the gap isn't bridged. It would still be more satisfying (for me) to start over with 1 and working my way to part 3 with my stats intact, because I can't transfer my data from my Sega Dreamcast to PC... which is a major sigh. 

Anyway check out the developer reports below and... game on!

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Nintendo... don't fix a good thing + From the source: Nintendo X Sega... I've got RANTS in my pants!

It's Friday... the week flew by like someone trying to cross the finish line before the blue shell comes crashing down, but another episode of Nintendo-Demand is here just before the love birds out there... put the gameplay on hold (or rev it up together). Before I got... Flipnote Studio 3D is now available at Club Nintendo, Enjoy!


Nintendo... sometime's you fix what isn't broken! (New Nintendo 3DS)

First off... some people interested in the New Nintendo 3DS won't have existing 3DS hardware to use a plug for the new one. Even if the price of the NN3DS were $10 more... a plug is needed to avoid it being an annoying situation (similar to the annoyance with the PS Vita and required purchase of the memory cards). If something is essential... don't leave a customer hanging (ever!).

Also... to switch memory card sizes, blows (seriously Nintendo). You aren't thinking of the gamers out there that are lucky enough to simply get the New Nintendo 3DS... and you switch up the memory cards? You decrease the ease to migrate from one system to the next with the same memory cards, and... lets not forget about where the freaking memory card slot is located.

Couldn't make it easy huh?

You made the ease of swapping out cards on the fly... a process that requires a screwdriver, and that's screwed up for the people that can't afford to get the ones that hold more data (imagine swapping those things out and wishing that the bottom casing of the New 3DS was more of a snap plate). The customer has to be kept in mind... in all aspects.


From the source: Nintendo

Feb. 12, 2015 13:00 UTC

Save the World from a Terrible Fate in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D

Play on the New Nintendo 3DS XL System to Experience Enhanced Features

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- “Dawn of the First Day. 72 Hours Remain.” With these iconic words, Link begins his suspenseful three-day journey to save the world from a crashing moon in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D game, launching the same day as the New Nintendo 3DS XL system on Feb. 13. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D is a remastered and enhanced version of the classic that’s unlike any other adventure in The Legend of Zelda series, and New Nintendo 3DS XL offers the smoothest and most engrossing portable gaming experience possible.

"Dawn of the First Day. 72 Hours Remain." With these iconic words, Link begins his suspenseful three-day journey to save the world from a crashing moon in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D game, launching on Feb. 13. (Photo: Business Wire)

While the game is playable on any Nintendo 3DS family system, players that pick up New Nintendo 3DS XL can experience The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D with added features, like the ability to control the camera with the C Stick and experiencing the game’s remastered and detailed graphics using the new face-tracking 3D technology built into the new system. Playing The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D on New Nintendo 3DS XL is the best way to experience this memorable adventure.

“There’s a reason The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is consistently mentioned as a favorite entry in TheLegend of Zelda series by many,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “With the launch of this new enhanced version and New Nintendo 3DS XL on the same day, a whole new generation of fans can experience the fantastic adventure for the first time on an equally fantastic portable system.”

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, Link has three days to save the world of Termina from the apocalypse. He must race against the clock and manipulate time itself to solve puzzles, collect treasure and battle bosses … all within 72 suspenseful in-game hours. Players have the ability to slow down, speed up and restart the clock as needed through songs performed on Link’s ocarina.

As the clock counts down and the moon ominously hovering above gets closer and closer, Link will become intimately familiar with the world around him and the lives of the doomed denizens of Termina. Characters in the game have their own lives – lives that will end in three days once the moon comes crashing down. As Link meets these fascinating characters, he can help them in various ways. He might reunite loves torn apart by evil, or teach troubled twin dancers a new routine for the Carnival of Time. He may even assist a little ranch girl by preventing alien invaders from stealing cows! Many quests in the game can only be completed at a specific in-game time, so players must be diligent in tracking what needs to be done, who needs to be helped and what time it all needs to be accomplished.

Luckily, all of this pre-apocalyptic activity can be tracked in one of the game’s most important items: The Bombers’ Notebook. In The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, this vital item has been improved to work with the touch screen. In addition to an overhauled design focusing on ease of use, players can now set alarms that will remind them of an event, as well as organize tasks to see what Link has already completed and what he still has to do.

To help him complete his quests, Link will discover and equip more than 20 unique masks throughout the game. Some of these masks can be worn to improve Link’s abilities, like the Bunny Hood that allows him to run faster or the Great Fairy’s Mask that attracts stray Fairies hidden around Termina. Some masks get characters to divulge new information, while others, like the Deku, Goron and Zora masks, transform Link into an entirely new creature! The masks add strategy and variety to the game play, and are great for players that love collecting items and discovering hidden secrets.

Nintendo... Zelda... Netflix (ummmm)

We aren't going to get into the talk about whether Zelda will actually be available for our viewing pleasure on Netflix or not... but if it is... I hope it is something Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka and Eiji Aonuma can be proud of. I don't see Nintendo allowing such a project to be fumbled... but I hope that these guys have their hands in it and it feels extremely authentic.

From the source: Nintendo Downloads

Feb. 12, 2015 14:00 UTC

Nintendo News: Nintendo Download Highlights New Digital Content for Nintendo Systems

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, a masked Skull Kid drags Link into the world of Termina, where the moon is falling from the sky. (Photo: Business Wire)

• Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D – Available Feb. 13 – In this re-mastered and enhanced 3D version of the Nintendo classic, a masked Skull Kid drags Link into the world of Termina, where the moon is falling from the sky. Lucky for Termina, Link can reverse time and relive his last 72 hours in limitless ways. Each time, he’ll don any of his 20+ masks collected throughout the game, help different citizens, battle different bosses and ultimately change the fate of a world. This is the definitive version of a dark classic. Click here to view the trailer. In addition, to help celebrate the game’s release, Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is hosting a Miiverse drawing event! For more details, check out Mr. Aonuma’s message in the Art Academy SketchPad community in Miiverse.
  • Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – Available Feb. 13 – Experience big game hunting with Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, available exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS system. Join up with a traveling caravan of hunters to explore new lands in pursuit of larger-than-life beasts. Play alone in a robust single-player experience or join with up to three other players via a local connection or online via Wi-Fi to tackle hundreds of quests and take down ferocious monsters. Click here to view the trailer.
  • ACE COMBAT Assault Horizon Legacy + – The critically acclaimed aerial combat series flies onto Nintendo 3DS.ACE COMBAT Assault Horizon Legacy + delivers supersonic flying, exciting dogfights and high-altitude acrobatics all in enhanced 3D. In addition, players can take control of customized, real-life aircraft with Nintendo characters like Mario, Bowser and more.
  • 3D Fantasy Zone – This classic arcade shooter was first released in 1986, and is now available exclusively on Nintendo 3DS. Take command of the spaceship Opa-Opa to fight bizarre enemy invaders in this cosmic challenge.
• Nintendo eShop on Wii U
  • Blek – Blek is a unique, award-winning game about imagination and personality. Everything you draw keeps moving, and watching your creations move is like magic. Blekcan’t be explained in words. Click here to view the trailer.
• Virtual Console on Wii U
  • BREATH OF FIRE – The Dark Dragons are in search of six keys to release the devious goddess Tyr. In the Dark Dragons’ destructive wake, Ryu will need to rediscover the lost powers of the Light Dragons, rely on his companions and save his sister – and the entire world. Will he succeed in his quest?

Nintendo eShop Sales:

• Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
  • There are just a few days left to save up to 75 percent off Rayman Legends, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and other select Ubisoft titles in the Ubisoft Game Sale.
• Nintendo eShop on Wii U
  • Knytt Underground is 50 percent off (reduced from $12.99 to $6.49) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Feb. 26.
  • Spin the Bottle: Bumpie’s Party is 50 percent off (reduced from $11.99 to $5.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Feb. 26.
  • Paper Monsters Recut is 37 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Feb. 19.
  • ZaciSa’s Last Stand is 65 percent off (reduced from $1.99 to $0.69) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Feb. 25.
• Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
  • Disney Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay is 33 percent off (reduced from $29.99 to $19.99) from Jan. 13 until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 9.
  • Disney Frozen: Olaf’s Quest is 33 percent off (reduced from $29.99 to $19.99) from Jan. 13 until 8:59 a.m. PT on March 9.
  • 3D Game Collection is 16 percent off (reduced from $5.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Feb. 27.
  • Funfair Party Games is 12 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $6.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Feb. 27.
  • Murder on the Titanic is 25 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $5.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Feb. 27.

Theme Shop on Nintendo 3DS:

• New themes this week include:
  • NES: Sword-Swinging Link
  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: Dire Moon
  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: Gold Edition
  • Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate: Gore Magala & Seregios – Available Feb. 13 (Free with purchase of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.)

Valentine’s Day Activities:

• National StreetPass Weekend – Valentine’s Edition
  • Show your love for gaming during this weekend’s StreetPass event. From Feb. 13 to Feb. 15, you can get up to six StreetPass tags from other Nintendo 3DS users from more than 29,000 Nintendo Zone hotspots across the U.S. and Canada. It’s a great opportunity to collect Mii characters from new locations to help fill up puzzle panels in Puzzle Swap and help out in StreetPass Mii Plaza games. You can also enhance game play in StreetPass-enabled games you already own such as Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. To find a Nintendo Zone location near you, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/nintendozone. For more information about StreetPass, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/features/streetpass/.
• PlayNintendo.com Valentines
  • Send a legendary message to your friends with printable Valentines featuring characters from The Legend of Zelda. Explore more Nintendo Valentine’s Day fun at http://play.nintendo.com/valentine!

Price Reductions:

• Battleminer for Nintendo 3DS is $7.99 (reduced from $9.99) beginning at 9 a.m. PT on Feb. 12.
• Jett Tailfin for Wii U is $12.99 (reduced from $24.95) beginning at 9 a.m. PT on Feb. 15.

Also New this Week:

• Pong Pong Candy (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
• Paparazzi (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) – Available Feb. 17

From the source: Sega

3D FANTASY ZONE: OPA-OPA BROS. TOUCHES DOWN TODAY FOR NINTENDO 3DS

SEGA announced today that 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros.™, part of the second series of classic titles re-mastered exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system, is now available in the Americas and Europe to download in the Nintendo eShop.

3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros. is the popular side-scrolling shooter, first released for the SEGA System-16 board in 1986, in which players control a sentient spaceship named Opa-Opa to fight bizarre invader enemies. The re-mastered version combines stereoscopic 3D visuals with a host of additional features to deliver cutting edge gameplay with a classic feel. 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros. also introduces a new feature called the “coin stock” system that allows players to accumulate coins for use across play sessions and to unlock in-game abilities. Furthermore, the game features an unlockable mode in which players are able to play as Upa-Upa, the little brother of Opa-Opa, upon completion of the game.

3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros. is available now for download in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS.

Sega, honestly... you have enough resources to release a new 2D game or a remake of a classic. Is it too much to ask from a larger 3rd party game developer that's still showing Nintendo love? It doesn't have to be huge games, but it would be good to see more from Sega on the eShop side that goes beyond just classics.

- How's about a NEW Toe Jam & Earl game w/ online multiplayer?

- How's about a NEW Shining Force game for the 3DS?

- How's about... doing a freaking kickstarter for a Shenmue remake and make it digital-only (with a collectors editions on disc with a Ryo Hazuki figure and artbook)? Excuses aren't good enough if details can be poured into other games (the budget doesn't have to be outrageous, and there are fans remaking games that deserve to have jobs based on their talent and dedication to remake game out o. I'm not coming down on the Opa-Opa Bros. game (just so we're clear)... but it would be good to see more.