Making The Case: An M-Rated "Zelda"

When The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released, it got massively positive reviews, with critics praising the tried-and-true formula that had worked for so many years. But critics and fans agreed that the new graphics style, which was much more realistic and less-fantasy based than previous games, was absolutely astounding.

In fact, the new graphics brought upon something that, in my eyes, could be seen as a milestone in Nintendo's game development. It was the first Zelda game to receive the "T for Teen" rating, with the ESRB citing "fantasy violence and animated blood" as the reason for the new rating. But why stop there? We already know a new Zelda game is coming (it's been confirmed to include Wii MotionPlus), so why not push it a little farther: a Zelda game rated "M for Mature"?

Nintendo has been repeatedly criticized for not catering to their hardcore audience, and while they have revealed an impressive line-up of games that fit this requirement at this year's E3 (which included the aforementioned Zelda game), this could be a perfect opprotunity for Nintendo to step up to the plate with a truly gory Zelda game.

Link's weapons are famously his Master Sword and bow (the former oddly missing in a recently released image of him), which would easily translate into a game heavy on blood. Sure, there are problems with the idea; potential backlash at Nintendo for straying from being "family-friendly", less of an audience able to buy the game, but could the benefits outweight these risks? Possibly.

Link, seen without his iconic Master Sword

A quick glance at sales figures for the three warring consoles - Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 - will show that the Wii is dominating, hands-down. But a closer look suggests that the Wii isn't winning anything - in fact, it's not even competing. Games like Wii Play and Wii Fit destroy all competition, even first-party Nintendo franchises such as Super Mario Galaxy.

Which is exactly why an M Rated Zelda would work perfectly with the Wii's upcoming strategy to catch the hardcore gamer. Some could call such violence in the classic series "gratuitious", but would it not be more realistic? As graphics increase exponentially each generation, it may be time to re-tool this classic franchise for the upcoming years.

In other Wii news, many fans are pushing for a price cut for the Wii, despite it still being the cheapest console available. With the recent announcement of the PS3 and Xbox 360 dropping their prices to $299, it's the perfect time for Nintendo to do the same, only at a lower price: $199. Coupled with the release of games such as Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M, it could strongly increase sales of the Wii and it's games.

Image credit: computerbild.de (here), GCN (here).

Review: Wii Sports Resort

I'm going to be perfectly honest here - chances are, if you're an avid gamer, you will not be buying Wii Sports Resort for the twelve sports, but rather the Wii MotionPlus peripheral. And even though you may consider the game itself more of a demo for the new peripheral, you may be pleasantly surprised by the fun it provides.

The game plays much like a fleshed-out version of the original Wii Sports. Instead of having a meager five sports to play, Resort includes more than twice that, coming in with twelve sports for the family to enjoy. Theser sports include: Swordplay, Wakeboarding, Frisbee,

Archery, Basketball, Table Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Power Cruising, Canoeing, Cycling Air Sports.

While you may have seen some of these before, such as Golf, Table Tennis, and Bowling, the experiences are differed in the fact that Wii MotionPlus makes the experiences feel more physical. But the new sports are arguably even more fun - Swordplay in particular. The motions are now 1:1, and the whole time I played this particular sport, I could only think about how it would integrate into the next Zelda game.

Archery is another favorite game of mine, and with good reason. Long be

fore the Wii MotionPlus, I came up with my own theory for how a bow and arrow could work on the Wii - by pressing a button on the Nunchuck, pulling it back, and letting go of the button. While this did not happen in Twilight Princess, it was implented into this Archery game. I also enjoyed how gravity and wind factored into the game.

Wakeboarding makes great use of the Wii MotionPlus peripheral

Still, the games aren't as expansive as they could be. The game comes in at $50, and the Wii MotionPlus peripheral is sold seperately for only $20. So, is the game worth $30? While I personally think so, you might not want to buy such a casual game for that price. More "hardcore" gamers would probably be more willing to buy the game if it had Wi-Fi connection, a feature I sadly realized it did not have.

If you're a casual gamer, without a doubt, pick this game up. But if you're looking for a more meaty experience, there are better games for you - though don't forget to buy the Wii MotionPlus peripheral seperately, because it has been confirmed it will be used in the next Zelda game. 7.5/10

Image credit: Gamer Tell (here), Chewing Pixels (here).

Digital Versus Physical: The Future of Distribution

Xbox Live. WiiWare. PlayStation Network. Undoubtedly, all of these are changing the way we purchase video games. For over twenty years, gamers had to travel all the way to the video game store to pick up the latest release - but nowadays, we can simply download games onto our systems by using 'Points'. This is obviously more convienent, but does it spell the future for the way all games are distributed?

With a quick look at some forums on the Internet, you'll realize that players have some pretty strong feelings about the topic. Those on the side of Digital Distribution list some of the more obvious benefits of their choice of distribution: more convienence, less trash produced without packaging, and lower cost due to the lack of packaging. Being able to play demoes of the games you are downloading is also a bonus.

Of course, despite the growing prevelance of WiiWare and DSiWare, Nintendo is still sticking to it's old ways. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario and Zelda series, as well as many others, stated, "Personally, I'm one of those guys who, even if I have all the songs from iTunes, I want the CD as well. It's something that makes me - I feel more reassured with the physical media." Miyamoto is a pretty big name in the video game business, so his support of "traditional" distribution is definitely a big deal.

That "reassured" feeling is not the only benefit of Physical Distribution, however. Without a physical copy of the game, used copies can't be bought, and the game cannot be shared with friends unless you carry around your entire console. And if games went completely digital, game stores would go completely out of business, which would seriously hurt the economy.

The Verdict: We'll never reach such an extreme that all games are released digitally, but that doesn't mean that format will go away. Digital Distribution will likely grow to a comforatable size within the next few years, and find a perfect balance with the Physical Distribution that we have all come to know and love.

Image credit: MSXbox World (here), Second Hand Karl (here).

Wii Goes To The Movies

The Wii might not be the "media center" of your home yet, but that doesn't mean it isn't on it's way. In addition to the expansive Channels of the Wii, ranging from Weather to the Internet, a new service called "Everyone's Theater Wii" will allow Wii owners to rent movies for a small fee.

Currently, the application is only available in Japan, where Wii owners can download it for 500 Wii Points ($5.00) and rent Warner Bros. movies for 300 Wii Points ($3.00), which they can view for 48 hours. However, it seems that Nintendo will certainly release this same Channel in the U.S.

The service began today in Japan and launched with a total of 54 movies, such as: Batman Begins, Goonies, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Free Willy, and plenty more. That's quite expansive, considering the fact that only Warner Bros. movies are available.

This could be a major stepping stone in the development and the future of the Wii. Right now, only movies previously released are available, but The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will be released on this service on the same day it is released on DVD in Japan. In the future, a similar music service could also become available, and the Wii might become the "media center" of everyone's homes.

In other movie news, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has broken the midnight records set by The Dark Knight. Harry Potter's $22.2 million opening night easily beat out the $18.5 million made by The Dark Knight in it's opening night. According to the trends, it seems that the sequel to this movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (which is to be split into two movies) will likely break this record as well.

Image credit: "Gambit's Blog" (here).

News Overview

Next Wii Zelda: According to Shiegru Miyamoto, the creator of the Zelda series (along with many others), the next Wii Zelda game won't be "that radically different". However, he has already stated that the game will certainly use the Wii MotionPlus, and has pointed out that this "older Link" is not wielding his famous Master Sword. While it seems that the art style of Twilight Princess will remain, it still seems that something will change - and not just the controls.

Transformers: The new Transformers movie, Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, has been raking in over $450 million, only beaten by Angels & Demons, which garnered $469 million. This has all been against poor reviews, with critics claiming that the movie was worse than the original - but fans are still, clearly, excited.

The A-Team: The status of The A-Team movie is about to change, as the cast begins to settle in. With Liam Neeson set to play Hannibal Smith, and Bradely Cooper set to play Templeton Peck, the movie is truly coming along. And now, strong rumors are swirling that rapper "The Game" will play B. A. Baracus - stay tuned as more updates appear for The A-Team, set for realease June 11, 2010.

Bioshock 2: A strange, promotional record has appeared regarding the upcoming Bioshock 2. It seems to hint at a plot, though it is certainly left open to interpretation. Read more about it here. Bioshock 2 is set for release on November 3, 2009, for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Image credit: IGN (here)

Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into The Inferno (Wii)

Being a big fan of the Avatar series, I was very excited about getting a chance to play Into The Inferno, which follows the third season of the TV show. And, while my excitement continued during the beginning of the game, by the end, I was severely disappointed.


The controls, although slightly "gimmicky", work for the most part. Each character has very similar attacks, however; no matter what element they bend, each character has the same moveset. This is very infuriating, as there is very little variety. The only difference between the characters is when they use their bending out of a battle; but, because Aang can bend all the elements, he is always the best choice.

Another problem I have with the game is the story arc. The basic timeline remains somewhat the same as the show, but there are some major differences made: Sokka does not go along with Aang and Toph when they try to find the Firelord, we never see the end of the invasion, Aang and Zuko never go to the Sun Warrior civilazation (instead going to the "Chamber of the Elements", made specifically for the game), Azula is not seen losing her sanity until the last few seconds, and the fight with Ozai (and with Azula) is changed drastically.

I did enjoy some parts of the game, mostly the combat, but by the end, I was not pleased with the whole package. The game is quite short, and will probably not please those who aren't big fans of the series. As much as I love the series, I have to give the game the less-than-amazing score of 4/10.

Image credit: PALGN (here)

Japan Gets Red DSi, Black Wii

Despite already receiving colors of the DSi that have not yet reached America, Japan is getting a new red DSi, due August 1. Unfortunately, there is no planned release date in America. Take a look at the DSi below.

In addition to the red DSi, Japan will also be receiving a black Wii

console - the first colored version of the Wii to be released in the world. The black Wii (coupled with black Wii accessories, such as a Wii Remote and Nunchuk) will also be released August 1. Although this has also not yet been set for an American release, it seems that Nintendo would want to release this to the world, as many fans have beenc clamoring for colored Wiis.

Image credit: examiner.com (here).

'Super Mario Galaxy 2' To Be "Bright And Fun"

According to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy 2 won't be heavy on story-telling, and will simply be a fun and vibrant game.

Miyamoto claimed he would like "as little story as possible" in the recently announced sequel to Super Mario Galaxy.

Personally, I think this is a wise decision - since the origianl Super Mario Bros., the Mario series has never had a big focus on story-telling, unlike the Zelda series. Miyamoto's decision may help the game have a better focus on gameplay and graphics.

In other Wii news, Miyamoto has stated that the next Wii Zelda game will have Wii MotionPlus as a requirement - while this may not seem like a large shock, fans are unhappy at having to spend even more money to enjoy the next installment in the Zelda series.

Quotes credit to IGN. Image credit to MyWii.com.au.

Sony Getting More Confident?

According to IGN, Andrew House, President of SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) is claiming that many Wii owners will eventually upgrade to the PS3.

He claims that Sony has "lots of data" from the days where many bought the N64 and later upgraded to the PlayStation2. However, he failed to note that the Gamecube, Nintendo's console after the N64, was already receiving negative attention.

House also fails to note one of the most important rules of statistics - "correlation does not imply causation". Sony's console is still selling quite poorly in Japan, and unlike Nintendo, they don't have many "secret weapons" to boost the sales.

Post E3: Metroid: Other M

Probably Nintendo's biggest shocker at the event, a new 3D Metroid game can get anyone excited - but will this game be even better than the previous ones?



As seen in the trailer, "Other M" could mean a few different things, though the rumors flying around the internet claim it means "Mother", and that the mysterious female character Samus speaks to in the trailer is her mother.

It appears in the trailer that the player will switch between a third-person and first-person point of view - and that's true. Nintendo has claimed that this transitions will be quick and seamless, and I'm not arguing - if anyone can do it, it's the combined team of Nintendo and Team Ninja.

The game takes place before Metroid Fusion, and promises to be heavy on story-telling and action - a big claim, but one that the Metroid series could definitely accomplish. And with both nintendo and Team Ninja (the developers of the Ninja Gaiden series) backing this game, it seems like it can't possibly fail. Now we'll just have to wait for the Metroid Prime Trilogy to whet our appetites.

Post E3: Lack Of Zelda

Despite some major announcements at Nintendo's E3 Conference, there was a surprising lack of Zelda information. The already announced Spirit Tracks was only briefly mentioned, and we only have a small bit of information regarding a sequel to Twilight Princess - a picture of a grown-up Link (apparently, without his sword) that has not yet been released to the public.

However, some potential good news for the series came out of the Conference. When showing Wii Sports Resort, the first game that will use the new Wii MotionPlus, it was mentioned that we should pay attention to the sword-fighting and archery, as they could be put to use in later games. Although Wii MotionPlus does not allow the use of the Nunchuck controller yet, this shows that they are at least willing to attempt to implement it in future games.

Post E3: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Nintendo has never released two major Mario platformers one a single system before, so this sequel to smash-hit Super Mario Galaxy came as a big shock to fans. Although it is still set in space, it will be much different from the original, with supposedly, "90% new content".



Undoubtedly the biggest Mario announcement (New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, and Mario VS. Donkey Kong: The Minis March Again were all announced at the same conference), this game has the potential to rock Wii owners' worlds. Every 3D Mario platformer to date has been a smash-hit, and a second for the Wii, in retrospect, seems like an obvious decision.

I'm so glad that they have retained some of the features introduced in Super Mario Galaxy, like the Bee Suit, while still adding new content, such as the ability to ride Yoshi. Although the game has a 2010 release, so we won't get more information for the time being, we can expect that it will be even better than the original.

E3 Recap - Day 1

Nintendo: Wow! Nintendo's Conference was a big one, with many big titles announced that will carry us into 2010. Strangely enough, the one "big" title that many had expected information on, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, was hardly mentioned - fortunately, they made up this is small error with many game announcements.

New Super Mario Bros. (Wii): Rumors were already flying about this, possibly because of a leak on Nintendo's part, but that won't be stopping the hype for this game. Focusing on a multi-player aspect, the game allows players to play as Mario, Luigi, and two different Toads (one blue, one yellow). The game also includes a new "Propellor Hat" - a hat that allows temporary flight for the user. Simply shake the Wii Remote to begin flight.


Metroid: Other M: This is, for all intents and purposes, the "big one". Being developed by Ninja Team (the makers of the Ninja Gaiden series), this promises to be a darker, more mature Metroid game. The images promise that this game will have intense action, just like the previous games in the series. No word on what that title means, though...


Super Mario Galaxy 2: The first time there has been two major Mario platformers on one console, this sequel to Super Mario Galaxy includes some epic boss battles, as well as the ability to ride Yoshi. Little information has been released so far.


Golden Sun DS: Finally! For so long, fans have waited for the sequel to the last Golden Sun game, and it's finally here! We've seen a trailer and multiple images, and we can now expect some serious 3D action! Prepare for what will definitely be one of the greatest role-playing games of this generation.


Reports on other conferences will be posted later today, or possibly tomorrow.

E3 Watchlist (Wii)

Every year at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), dozens of new games are announced, but that doesn't mean we won't be getting a good deal of information on some of the games that have already been announced. Each day until the start of E3 (June 2), I will be take a look at the games to watch out for on each console.

Wii: This innovative new console is still all the rage among casual gamers, but Nintendo's old school fans have been clamoring for a good hardcore game; unfortunately, Nintendo has cooperated. But although Nintendo might not be giving us the games we want, some other developers have taken it into their hands to solve this problem, and these are likely to be the highlights of this year's Expo.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: I've already stated my problem with the entire concept of this new cel-shaded Zelda game, but this game is

sure to please fans, just like every other Zelda game in the past. Most players have gotten over their dislike of the (now not-so-new) graphics, so this will likely be just as successful as previous games in the series.

Seeing as this game as only been announced recently, we have very little information on it - so that's why so many people are expecting a good deal of information on this installment at this year's E3. But, if you look at Nintendo's track record, we may not receive much information, and this game might not even be released until 2010 (remember the delays with Super Smash Bros. Brawl?).

Dead Space Extraction: While I've covered this in a previous post, I feel it necessary to stress how important this game is to the Wii. The Grinder (covered in the same post) is similarly gory and mature, but Dead Space: Extraction is a prequel to the original game, which won many awards, and also delivers a great deal of horror with a hardcore shooting experience.

This is sure to be a great game, and we can only hope that Visceral Games will be giving us as much information as possible on this exciting new game.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - The Crystal Bearers: A good RPG is nearly just as rare on the Wii as a good shooting game is. Fortunately, Square Enix (the master of RPGs) will be taking care of this problem as they release Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The

Crystal Bearers. This game will take a major shift from the previous games in the series - the creators have said it is set in a time period when "swords have changed to guns", and that magic will be "forgotten".

The story takes place many years after it's predecessor, and the Lilty race is experiencing a time of prosperity, along with the age of science and reason. Amongst this prosperity exists powerful beings known as "crystal bearers", or are feared and scorned by the public. Keep watch as we get more information on this game, which is likely to be one of the greatest RPGs to hit in the year (though the release date is still TBA).

Wii Preview Pack

E3 hasn't started yet, but that hasn't stopped the flow of new games being announced. The Wii, which has had some trouble in the past regarding third party games, has some particularly exciting games that have been announced.

Dead Space Extraction: The original Dead Space game, released last year for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, received overwhelming positive reviews for it's dark theme and intense shooting action. But fans were a bit skeptical when a prequel was announced for the Wii - and were particularly harsh towards the fact that it is an on-rails shooter (meaning that you don't control your characters movement, and you move "on-rails"). However, these fans were proved wrong when more information was released, and many gaming news outlets got a hold of the game, and described it as the greatest light-gun game on the Wii!


The game's controls are quite simple - point the Wii remote at enemies to aim, twist the remote to activate your weapons secondary firing mode, and swing the Wii remote to perform a melee attack. The developers have promised that the game will include the darkness and horror of the original, so it will be interesting to see if this game is as successful as well.

Gladiator A.D.: A game that is clearly influenced on the movie 300 has got to be great, but there's more behind this game that makes it exciting. While it may seem like an epic RTS (real-time strategy) game at first glance, it is actually an intricate and violent fighting game. Not much has been revealed on this recently announced fighter, but we do know that the each of the gladiators in the game will have unique fighting styles, and the game will support Wii Motion Plus (a Wii remote extension that enables very accurate motion).


The game includes a large amount of gore, violence, and brutality - with the added bonus of promised finishers that are gorier than the rest of the game, which will hopefully be reminiscent of Mortal Kombat.

The Grinder: While a lot of Wii gamers enjoy the casual games that have flooded the console, many gamers are craving for an intense, dark shooter. That's where The Grinder comes in. Inspired by horror movies, the studio's own Hunter: The Reckoning, and the recent Left4Dead, this game has promised intense shooting battles against some of the most horrific creatures in history: zombies, werewolves, vampires, and more.


The game uses the new Quantum 3 engine, which allows for an incredible amount of characters on-screen at one time. This will hopefully lead to some exciting battles, in which you can co-operate online with friends to win. The game is made even better with the support of Wii Speak and Wii Motion Plus.

And those are just three of the many games that will be released in the upcoming season for Wii. Stay tuned for E3, where we will learn about dozens of new games set for release, and receive more information on these three titles!

Credit goes to IGN for the images.

Metroid Prime Trilogy To Release This August

Nintendo is finally making a great business move - releasing all three of the Metroid Prime games on one disc... for only $49.99!


For those who haven't had the chance to pick up Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, one of the most popular shooting games for the Wii (even after 2 years), they can pick up this game for the price of a regular Wii game, with the addition of the first two games for Gamecube packed in.

Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes will both be included on the disc - releasing August 24 - and will include full Wii controller functionality. The first two games will also include the full widescreen and 480p support that made the most recent release so popular.

Even if you've never been a fan of the Metroid games, this is still a great deal - three games for the price of one. The trilogy comes out August 24.

Nintendo Back On Top

After a bit of a "slump" in Japan, in which Sony sold quite well, Nintendo is back on top. With 7 Wii/DS games in the top 10 sold, as well as having the DSi sell higher than any other console (oddly, with the PSP coming in second, beating the Wii), Nintendo is doing well again. Another intersting note in the sale of consoles is the continuation of Japan's "hatred" toward the Xbox 360 - with the DS Lite and the PS2 beating out the seventh generation console.

"Wii Fit" continued to dominate sales (strangely, because Japan has little problems with weight) with a rank of 7, selling approximately 20,000 units, an impressive feat for a game that is getting old. "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of The Sky" sold an impressive 45,000 units, topping the sales charts in the software department.

An old image, this does not prove that the Wii will come in multiple colors anytime soon

The Wii may never return to the amazing sales it had in it's first year, in which it sold literally every console produced, but that doesn't mean it will start to falter. If Nintendo sees a true problem in the sales of the Wii, they have the ability to release a hardware update to enable DVD functionality, or they could simply begin releasing multi-colored Wiis.

It's Time To Go Hardcore

Nintendo has been seriously slacking off in the games department recently. Of course, some of their first party titles have been great, like Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy. But many Wii and DS gamers are upset at the constant influx of "casual" games.

That's why Nintendo really needs to get back on their feet. To help them with this feat, I'll take a look at some of Nintendo's major franchises, and what they need to do to fix them.

Mario: I can't say that Nintendo has seriously "hurt" Mario, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few things they could do to get the hardcore players back. First off, we need another DS Mario game. New Super Mario Bros. was a great success for Nintendo, so why not bring it back? The mix of 3D moves and the classic feel was one of Nintendo's greatest feats for Mario. It seems a waste to stop Mario from going handheld. Perhaps a Paper Mario for DS? Super Paper Mario's RPG elements made it a blast to play - I can imagine how fun it would be if we could use the touch screen to make the transition from 2D to 3D.


The Legend of Zelda: I'm a little disappointed at the announcement of another toon Zelda game. It's not like I didn't enjoy them, but I miss the realism created in Twilight Princess. I understand that it would quite difficult to create a Twilight Princess-esque game for the DS, but there is not reason not to have a sequel for Wii. With 1:1 sword control, another Zelda game for Wii would be an automatic hit. The biggest thing I would ask for is another assisstant like Midna, one that actually interacts with Link and is a major part of the story.


Super Smash Bros.: WE NEED A PORTABLE SMASH. It's been far too long not to have a DS version of one of the greatest fighting games ever made. But in my opinion, Sakurai should be out. He's done a great job with the last three games, but Brawl could have been much better - less clones, a better version of the level creator (maybe with water), and a more in-depth story mode. Another Wii version would also work, but perhaps just introducing downloadable content could solve all the problems of Smash.

Kid Icarus: Ever since Brawl launched, everyone's been clamoring for another Kid Icarus game. So why not give them one? An action-adventure game with the ability to fly (limited, of course), sword and arrow control, and maybe even some RTS elements (remember Pit's Final Smash)? This would definitely make the hardcore gaming crowd happy - a sequel to an old classic that's once again fresh in our minds.


This will be the first "special article" to be featured on the Live Wire website.

Wii Falters?

March seemed to be a good month for Sony - in Japan, anway. The PS3 sold nearly 150,000 units in the country last March, compared to the 100,000 units of the Wii sold by Nintendo.

Does this mean that Sony will usurp Nintendo's role as the top console seller? Probably not - the release of Resident Evil 5 was most likely the only reason that the PS3 sold so well, despite the fact that Resident Evil 5 also launched for the Xbox 360 (whose sales will never be impressive in Japan).

And although Sony might be confident now, the DSi sales in the U.S. will most likely continue to beat Sony's sales of the PSP.

Preview: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

After two wildly popular X-Men Legends games, Activision created the Marvel Ultimate Alliance series, which has it's second installment aimed for release this fall.

This new installment of the series follows the Civil War story arc, straight from the comics. A few characters are forced onto one of the sides (Registration and Anti-Registration), but other then that, you can choose which side each character goes on.


The gameplay is largely the same as it's predecessors, with the addition of the new Fusion attacks, which allow you to combine the special attacks of two characters to create a brand new, much more powerful attack. Trailers show Iron Man blasting a laser at Wolverine, who uses his claws to spread the beam across the area.

There will be a change in playable characters, with a few being cut and some others added. Song Bird and Iron Fist, two little known heroes, will make appearances as playable characters. Villains will even get a shot at being playable - Green Goblin and Venom are both included.

This game seems even more polished then the previous one, with excellent graphics and sharp gameplay. Stay tuned for a review coming this Fall.