David Hinkle first got his start in the gaming industry as a reviewer for a small time website in early 2004. After getting tired of little pay and a lack of recognition for his hard work, David sought employment elsewhere, eventually landing a job with Weblogs Inc. in March of 2006.
In October of 2006, David left his day job to blog full-time. He is still trying to convince friends and family that he actually has a job and doesn't just sit around the house all day in his underwear.
David can be reached through his email at david [@] joystiq [.] com or stalked at twitter.com/davehinkle
Final Fantasy II (actually Final Fantasy IV) is one of the most important role-playing games of all time. Not only was it the first to introduce the ATB system (Active Time Battle), but it also had an incredibly ambitious plot and, frankly, a downright great opening sequence. It would help bring the world to the JRPG (and vice versa), so however you choose to play through this bit of classic gaming, do it. You owe it to yourself to do that at least once in your life.
Final Fantasy II (SNES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) (actually FFIV)
Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
Oh, you don't believe us? Well, that hurts our feelings, but, by all means, check out the full list of this week's content past the break for yourselves. We'll just wait for you in the corner with our broken heart.
Look, we don't like giving out ultimatums here; people are free to do what they want and we wouldn't dare dream of interfering. But we feel like we just can't go on if you don't own a copy of Platinum Games' MadWorld -- or have at least played it -- at this point in time.
So, we'd like to point out this sale over at Newegg. The game will only set you back a double sawbuck ($10) and even has free shipping -- there's really no excuse for you to refuse our request. Fine, you don't even have to play it. Just give it to a friend and hang out while they enjoy the over-the-top carnage and hilarious commentating duo of Greg Proops and John Di Maggio. Relationships are give and take, so work with us here, guys!
The Virtual Console is back off its one week long hiatus. Even though things are kinda overshadowed by a certain other release today, we've still got a new game to play. The latest episode of VC in Brief above checks out Fatal Fury Special, an improved version of Fatal Fury 2 with more playable characters and gameplay tweaks. Check it out above!
Fatal Fury Special (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points)
Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
Capcom's Monster Hunter Tri was a big focal point at yesterday's Nintendo Media Summit, but there seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding the demo disc shipping March 8. It turns out, that isn't the GameStop pre-order incentive it was made out to be. Instead, the demo disc will be free for all -- a GameStop pre-order will net you a card with 500 Wii Points on it.
As for getting the demo disc, you'll be able to walk into any GameStop location and grab one starting March 8.
As you may have gathered from the lack of a Virtual Console release in the the latest NintendoWare Weekly update, there won't be a VC in Brief video today. The disturbance in your heart lack of a new VC game is probably confirmation enough, but in the interest of "playing it safe," we present this post ...
Yeah, so, it's by no means a suitable substitute, however, if you're itching for some video to watch, check out the VC in Brief archive. It'll bring up, like, a bunch of videos!
This week, the Nintendo Channel is a bit light on content. There's a new Deca Sports DS demo to check out, but, aside from that, we found ourselves looking to Nintendo Week -- the weekly Nintendo-produced video marketing exercise -- for entertainment. It's a nautically themed episode this week, complete with brief and completely inappropriate bouts of screaming. Who knew ship captains were so deranged? ... Oh, right.
Head past the break for the full list of this week's content.
This latest Red Steel 2 trailer proves one thing: life is tough in the west. Sure, we've played enough Oregon Trail to know all about the dysentery that plagued the settlers of our old west, but did you know, even in alternate universes, the west is just as wild? Let's not discount the hardships a katana-wielding cowboy must face, folks. It really makes you reflect on what's important in life -- looking all badass.
By way of Eurogamer, we know exactly when in Q1 Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon will release: March 19. The game will be published across the old world via Rising Star Games. Our own time spent with the title was pretty favorable, as we enjoyed its unique approach to the genre and ability to make us feel isolated, much like protagonist Seto.
For the unaware, Fragile Dreams takes place in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where survivors are few. Seto, now alone after his mentor's passing, must go out into the world and brave the ghosts and remnants of humanity's past that litter the landscape.
In an effort to pencil in a US release date, we pinged XSEED -- who could only say that it would arrive sometime in March. We'll let you know the date as soon as it's announced!
Because your EA Sports games need that extra oomph, EA has signed a deal with Sakar International to produce a lineup of attachments for your Wiimote and -- wait, DSi? Sure enough, the press release mentions "realistic-looking EA Sports golf clubs, tennis rackets and baseball bats for the Wii and Nintendo DSi as well as fitness gear for use with EA Sports Active" as part of a deal EA announced last month.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and 11 on Wii will get a series of golf club attachments for kids on up to adults -- extendable up to 24 or 36 inches depending on the set you acquire -- and Sekar will also offer baseball and racquet accessories for other Wii games like Grand Slam Tennis. As for the DSi, the press release mentions five-in-one carrying kits themed around football, baseball, basketball and soccer -- each kit will include a game case, skin, stylus, and clip-on earphones or headphones.
Then there's the EA Sports Active stuff, which comes in two flavors: Starter Kit and Gym Kit. The first will retail for $19.99 and comes with a Wii Balance Board bag, yoga mat, fitness cord, armband and legbands, while the Gym Kit will set you back a bit more at $39.99 and includes a gym bag, yoga mat with a fitness cord and wrist and ankle weights.
While we can't really comment on these proposed attachments without at least seeing them first, we just hope EA reads the internet every now and then. Some attachments are great, while others are just a painful memory you wish you could forget.
This week's release is quite the treat. Sonic & Knuckles was a great game when it released back in the day, made even greater if you had yourself Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 -- which you probably did. Now that experience is on the Virtual Console and if, like me, you have both of those games downloaded on your Wii, you can relive the experience all over again.
Or you can just watch the above episode of VC in Brief for free.
Sonic & Knuckles (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)
Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
The crew behind Nintendo Week, the promotional video series produced by Nintendo, must have finally discovered the wonder of The Caruso. This week's episode on the Nintendo Channel parodies the drama in a way only a family friendly Nintendo program can. Basically, somebody broke a lamp and it's up to Gary and Allison to find out who. Gripping crime drama, we know.
Head past the break for the full list of this week's content.
Up until today, our biggest problem with Super Smash Bros. Brawl has been that it doesn't have enough introspective, spiky-haired RPG protagonists. That's all changed, thanks to a group of modders known as DasDonkey Team and Kitty Corp: Meow Mix. Final Fantasy VII protagonist Cloud Strife -- along with his trusty Buster sword -- has been faithfully recreated in surprising detail here in Nintendo's franchise fight-em-up with custom animations and attacks. We won't pretend to understand the motivation behind the implementation (with these mods, we so seldom do), but hey, we're not complaining. The more, the merrier!
Head past the break to check out some video of Cloud in action.
Princess Tomato in Salad Kingdom is your usual text-based adventure game, with a decidedly vegetarian twist. It's tough for us to provide you with a comprehensive look at a genre with so much content -- plus all of the trial-and-error. It wouldn't make for a very comprehensive and enlightening video, however we soldier on. Check out the latest episode of VC in Brief above!
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
