Rosalina Enters The Ring!

Rosalina enters the ring with her super cute buddy Luma in the new Super Smash Bros! I can’t get enough of the female fighters in this series! Not only is she badass, but she’s a welcomed addition to the roster. I’m very excited for this game to come out.

Should You Buy Dual Destinies' DLC?

In October we saw the release of Ace Attorney Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies (that's a mouthful) for the 3DS and a couple weeks ago they released their first DLC case featuring Sasha Buckler and Orla Shipley the Orca. The headline behind this case is that you're defending a killer whale in court, thus, hilarity ensues. I recently purchased and played through the DLC so here's my thoughts on the feature.

The Story

Phoenix Wright games are best known for their complex stories and cases that are full of plot twists and intrigue that keep you interested until the chapter's completion. This case is no different. It is centered around Shipshape Aquarium and the cast of funny characters that inhabit it, animals and all. Orla the killer whale is accused of murdering of one of the stage performers and is going to get euthanized for her dangerous behaviour. Sasha Buckler (Orla's trainer) reaches out to Phoenix to help save Orla by defending her in court. It's Phoenix's first case back from his break and it's a strange one too. The case holds no bearing on the larger story at hand so you won't be losing out on getting the full Dual Destinies experience by skipping it, it's just a fun side story if you're looking for a little more lawyering.

My Opinion

As I just mentioned, it's a side story that doesn't add any context to the main plot of Dual Destinies, so if you're thinking of saving the $6.00 it's not one of those have-to-play experiences. It's about 4 hours long (typical case length) and is worth the extra dollars if you can't get enough Phoenix (and is priced right, as the full game is $29.99 with 5 cases which works out to $6.00 a chapter).

Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, An Amazing New 3D Experience

Have you been missing your fill of Phoenix Wright? Well I certainly have! Available today for download or purchase off the Nintendo E-Shop is Phoenix's latest romp that's shaking the courtrooms! Not only is he back, but he's got new friends with him as well! Anthena Cykes joins you as your new assistant and uses her special ability to sense emotional fluctuations within a witness' voice to find out important testimony. There's also a slew of new faces that need your help, as well as a convict prosecutor?! There's tons of exciting updates including the gorgeous new art all in 3D (including cutscenes!). Any fan who enjoyed previous iterations has to check this out.

For those who are happy to see Phoenix return to the courtroom, you'll also notice Apollo Justice is back. Once again these two are intertwined but not as mysterious mentor to justice apprentice, but rather as equals who fight for justice together. And for those who are wondering where the Fey's are at, Pearl Fey returns as a young woman! And of course Edgey (Miles Edgeworth) has to return as well, I think the fans would be livid otherwise! 

Josei Games on the Nintendo DS/3DS Part Two

So this is Part Two of my recommendations for josei fans who are looking for games to play on the Nintendo DS/3DS. It can be tricky because as young women there’s not really many developers who directly target our demographic. Luckily for us though, our numbers are growing, and we’re getting more and more recognized as time goes on. So I’ve compiled a list that attempts to bring together games that would appeal to any josei fan, as well as being fun games to play. I’d never recommend something I personally dislike! So let’s continue this list, I’ve got 10 more games/series up my sleeve! Check out Part One here if you missed it!
Fire Emblem Series

Fire emblem has quickly become one of my favourite handhelds as it has great titles for both the DS and 3DS. They’re Tactical Role-Playing Games set in a fantasy medieval setting. On the DS you’ll find a remake of the very first Fire Emblem game (originally on the famicom). You can finally learn about the infamous Prince Marth and his exploits in this game titled Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon. The touch controls allow for smooth gameplay that’s easy to maneuver through. There’s also Fire Emblem Awakening on the 3DS which I’ve previously reviewed. It’s a great title for anyone new to the series. I recommend these games because they do a great job at bridging both female and male players by having a large female cast who all wield swords and kick butt (which isn’t always common in North American games). The stories are also large in scale, and the tactics element leaves you satisfied with just enough of a challenge to keep you going. If you like rpg’s and are looking for something new to try or you love large-scale stories with heroines and dragons, then check this series out! You won’t be disappointed.
Harvest Moon

This series has a lot to offer for both newcomers and old veterans of the series. They’re simulation role-playing games where your aim is to rebuild the farm, find love and eventually have children. Intermixed is addictive gameplay as you farm crops and take care of the livestock. It’s a laid back game but it’s adorable and addictive. The simulation aspect is welcome for any quasi otome fan, and you have lots of potential bachelors at your disposal. The customization and options involved make for new experiences with every game, and as each title adds in new elements, every game is a new experience. If you’re picking up Harvest Moon DS, make sure to get DS Cute as it features a female protagonist instead of a boy in the regular DS version. You can even travel to an island in two of the DS titles, Island of Happiness and Sunshine Islands (which is a nice change of scenery compared to the other titles). And speaking of changing scenery….

Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright Officially Anounced for North America

Two of my favourite series on the Nintendo DS/3DS are clashing together for this awesome mashup on the Nintendo 3DS. For a while it seemed like the title would be exclusive to Japan, but Nintendo Direct released news on August 7th that the title will be coming to NA/EU in 2014. Both titles have awesome stories with problem solving elements, so it seems natural for them to appear together in the same game. I included both series in my josei DS games list here. I’ll do my best to update news on this title as it comes out! Until then I’m very excited.
Christina

Josei Games on the Nintendo DS/3DS Part One

If you’re anything like me you’re always looking for a fun new game to play. There’s tons of pickings out there, and there’s an especially great library for the Nintendo DS. It’s one of my prized possessions and I still pick up some of these titles to replay from time to time. So I’m making a list of DS games that I think any josei would enjoy, whether it be story based, great gameplay, or awesome fanservice. If you own a DS but don’t know where to start purchasing then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get on with the list!
Phoenix Wright Series

What a series! I love this series for its ability to mix great storytelling with compelling gameplay. You play as a lawyer who investigates different murder cases, meeting funny new faces along the way. It’s point and click style gameplay mixed in with detective problem solving, as you must point out the contradictions within different testimonies etc. The art style is done in anime style, so it’s got that eye candy appeal. They’ve also done a manga along side the games which involves different cases separate from the games. There’s also an upcoming title on the 3DS which will be out this fall.
Hotel Dusk/Last Window

Another detective mystery series following a more American protagonist Kyle Hyde, an ex-detective who stumbles into profound mysteries that he must solve. Intermixed is its problem solving gameplay, where you go around looking for objects as well as interacting with different characters where you must coerce them to give you the information you need to move forward. The stories in both games are very compelling, they push you forward to play through the entire game. Although the gameplay is at times troubling, it is always satisfying when you solve the puzzle to move forward. The artwork is beautiful and unique, it’s all done in a sketched style. Any mystery fan would definitely enjoy these games.

Fire Emblem: Awakening Review

With the launch of the 3DS we expected Nintendo to deliver with a plethora of great games. What we got was a mixed bag, and a peripheral (the circle pad pro) that felt awkward and unusable. With disappointments like Paper Mario Sticker Star, and New Super Mario Bros. I figured Nintendo couldn’t release a good game that wasn’t on previous consoles before. Thank God Fire Emblem arrived exactly when 3DS owners needed it, without this game I would’ve most likely ditched my system. Developed by Intelligent Systems, it is a welcome entry into the Fire Emblem franchise. It introduces new gameplay mechanics that I hope are here to stay, as well as a welcomed difficulty range that offers something for every player. It gives homage to old characters such as Marth, as well as including those old characters as bonus maps you can defeat and then add as units in your roster, an addition that veterans can’t pass up! With randomly generated maps of risen, along with street pass challenges there is a lot to do, and you can clock in close to 30 hours just on the campaign alone, but with so much extra to do you can be looking at 60+.

 
For those unfamiliar to the franchise, and wondering why this would be appealing to the josei audience, I’ll break it down for you. A very welcomed addition and an appealing relationship system is developed through pair-up support on maps that can create relationships over time. Once a relationship has maxed out with two of the opposite sex they can become husband and wife. Around the half-point of the game you can unlock and add their child character to your roster as well. For those who want to maximize the child stats you can pair up based on stats to  determine what traits pass over to the child character. For others, (like me!) you can pair up simply based on how their story will carry out. Each character has a distinct personality and make for interesting side stories as you learn about their past and who they are. It gets you attached to the characters in a way the old games couldn’t fully accomplish. So for those josei who love a story driven experience with a customizable romance element, this is definitely a game worth looking into.