It is a standalone game that does not require any previous knowledge of the Dragon Quest series, making it perfect for newcomers. However, fans of the series will appreciate the references to past games throughout the adventure.

And if you’re excited to try out this game then read on for our review of Dragon Quest Treasures.

Gameplay

The Dragon Quest series has been at the forefront of JRPGs for over 35 years and its latest addition, Treasures, is a spin-off from the mainline games. Featuring plenty of nostalgic elements that many will recognize, this entry still manages to be one of the most simplistic JRPG experiences available.

It is obviously geared more towards younger players and those new to the franchise and genre than veterans who may find its lack of challenge disappointing. At the heart of the story are Erik and Mia, who appeared in Dragon Quest XI; here they have taken on a more child-friendly appearance to fit in with the lighter tone of their treasure-hunting adventure.

Erik and Mia’s aim is to obtain rare treasures, and rewards come with them. In addition, taming new creatures is a vital part of the game. It involves scouting them after any random battle and paying their fee; each one asks for different items or gold. After these steps have been fulfilled, they accompany the siblings on their quest for riches.

Through the Fortune Finder skill, the siblings can take advantage of their monster allies’ view and find loot scattered around Draconia. Each species has a distinct vision – for example, a restless armor may be hindered by its visor.

As to the combat, it takes an action-based approach, wherein Erik or Mia can attack with their equipped weapon, while the monsters that are part of the team will automatically fight against any enemies and rival treasure hunters that may appear on the field.

The gameplay is straightforward and easy to pick up, but there are some interesting mechanics that make it more unique than your average RPG. This makes Dragon Quest Treasures a great option with some fun additions, perfect for players who enjoy progressive jackpots or strategy games with an extra edge. So, whether you’re a lover of the genre, or if you’re just looking for a fun game to play, check it out.

Graphics and Sound

Dragon Quest Treasures features a beautiful design that looks great both when played on the handheld console and when ported to the big screen. It is clear that the Nintendo Switch’s capabilities are put to good use, making the world of Dragon Quest come to life, with impressive visuals along with colorful characters and environments.

The game’s audio is also top-notch, with a catchy soundtrack and sound effects that add to the immersion. Overall, Dragon Quest Treasures is shaping up to be one of the best-looking and sounding RPGs available on the Switch and is definitely worth picking up.

The Good and The Bad

There’s a lot to like about Dragon Quest Treasures. Especially, if you’re a young player looking for an introduction to the world of role-playing games or just something laid-back to pass the time with, then this entry will not disappoint.

The game is stripped down to its basics, however, it contains all the charming characters and monsters that have made the series famous. Not only that, it has some fun nods to other titles in the franchise too, providing a distinct treasure-hunting focus.

Despite these positives, this title won’t pose much of a challenge for experienced players. And some may find its kid-friendly focus offputting.

Overall, the Dragon Quest Treasures release on Nintendo Switch was a mixed bag. There were some good things and some bad things about it. It’s still a solid entry in the series, but it doesn’t live up to the high standards set by its predecessors.

Conclusion

Dragon Quest Treasures is an exciting and entertaining title that offers a compelling story, fun characters, great visuals, and plenty of content to enjoy. It is the perfect option for those who are looking for a lighter-paced game that provides something more than just mindless button-mashing.

Whether you’re new to this specific series or have been a fan of classic JRPGs for years, this title should be at the top of your cozy wish list. You’ll find yourself quickly becoming immersed in its wonderful world as you make progress through its rewarding content!

The post Review: Dragon Quest Treasures | Nintendo Switch appeared first on Gaming Debugged | Gaming Site Covering Xbox, Indies, News, Features and Gaming Tech.

Get yourself a practice plan should you want to play Smash better. Don’t be too hard on yourself and avoid such plans as “train this combo for 4 hours each day next 5 weeks” (even esports practice should keep the joyful spirit). Set goals and include training of different game aspects. Notice how you reach milestones and pay attention to things you still need to improve.

And talking about the game aspect to cover during your practice. Quite often, Smash players with a surprisingly notorious approach might ignore a simple step to expand their mastery-— it’s learning how to play characters of different archetypes. Most of us feel especially good playing specific types of fighters. And we become stuck in this comfort zone, reluctant to try out something different. This is a barrier to your growth! Get the power to destroy it!

Smash Characters Archetypes

However extensive the roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate characters is, it still consists of some archetypes, basic for the fighting genre.

Ok, here we could start a lengthy explanation of the fighting game character archetypes, but such a deep dive is unnecessary (we need to keep the game practice fun and not turn it into boredom). In Smash, you could feel those archetypes after having just initial experience in the game.

It would be interesting to highlight a few basic ones.

Heavyweight

They are big and very strong. Opponents have to land many blows for actually hoping to launch a heavyweight character. But even one-two hits from such fighters deal super significant damage and can cause an early KO.

Landing those hits might be a problem, though. Heavyweight fighters are rather slow and often have problems with fast opponents.

Some of the Smash heavyweights are Bowser, Incineroar, King Dedede, and King K. Rool.

Rushdown

These characters have decent strength and impressive speed. Their style is to run onto their opponent and attack as soon as possible, not letting the victim strike back. They are especially good at close-range fights.

The biggest weakness of rushdown fighters is their low defense. They should be proactive, keep constant pressure, and don’t allow any chance to recover from their combos.

Some rushdown fighters in Smash Ultimate are Yoshi, Fox, Inkling, Little Mac, and Sheik.

Hit-and-Run

For this fighting style, you could use some of the rushdown patterns — attack fast and avoid the opponent’s hits. Still, hit-and-run fighters are much lighter and have significantly better speed. Their playstyle is obvious from the very name. Keep a distance, look for the right moment to land your attack (whether it’s a close- or long-range one), and then run away.

Being a lightweight one means a great danger to get launched and KOed. These are examples of hit-and-run characters in SSBU: Mewtwo, Duck Hunt, Pikachu, Bowser Jr., and Wii Fit Trainer.

Swordsmen

It’s a proper archetype in Smash. Those guys and girls with swords have their specific style, which differs them from the whole other roster. 

The collection of Smash swordsmen is rather big, and they have their specific features, but in general, they are good at mid-range fights and have very similar patterns in controlling.

Some of the swordsmen in Smash are Marth, Byleth, Roy, Mii Swordfighter, Cloud, and Pyra/Mythra.

Zoners

Projectiles help such characters to keep opponents at a distance. It’s an effective strategy to avoid damage, and many Smash fighters use it.

Other characteristics might be significantly weaker for zoners. They often are not-that-fast and can’t impress with their strength.

Link, Samus/Dark Samus, Richter/Simon, and Min Min are examples of zoners in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

All-Rounder

It’s a very special archetype that includes the positive features of many other types of fighters. All-rounders are perfect for beginners who want to explore Smash matches or find their personal style in these fights. 

Such characters have something from everything, so you use them as a kind of universal tool. At the same time, they have no super advantages and often don’t allow the players to shine bright in some situations.

However, all-rounders in SSBU are worth trying out because they might highlight strong or weak points in your skills-— to let you understand them and train in this direction. Some examples of this archetype are Mario, Pit/Dark Pit, and Ryu.

Why bother?

Many professional Smash players invest their time and energy in mastering one character. Some of them have a secondary fighter for unfavorable matchups of their main. So why should you learn how to play different archetypes?

Here are some reasons:

• Learn new skills. You control each archetype in a specific way. Long practice often creates patterns of your in-match behavior. In general, it’s not a bad thing, but eventually, such patterns become sort of limitations in your playing style. It would be a good idea to shake things up, train new tricks and upgrade your fighting patterns with fresh energy.
• Know your opponents. Playing a character is one of the best ways to learn them as potential opponents. That’s true for character archetypes as well. You will understand heavyweight fighters much better should you have a decent experience of playing them. And you will know how to deal with any other Smash archetype having enough hours of practicing with them.
• Find your main. Many beginners in SSBU choose one character they love from the original games and then stick to them. But during the actual fight, the fighter’s characteristics matter more than their background. You should find an archetype you are good with and then choose a character of that type, perfect just for you. Bravely trying something new is the best way to do so.
• Experience fresh shades of joy. That might be the most important reason for most Smash players. Just take another character to feel the game differently. Take someone of a new archetype to make this difference tangible.

At the end of this practice with new archetypes, you might still return to the character you played before. But the experience you earned during such experiments is invaluable! It will open new dimensions of Smash for you and make you significantly stronger on those fighting grounds.

******************

By Eugene Bozhenko

Playing fighting games is kind of an art, and I want to reach my best in this area. Not only am I practicing to improve my skills but also I’m looking deep into techniques that allow players to progress. I create guides and articles for DashFight — and hope someday to master all the character archetypes in Smash Ultimate.

The post Way to Mastery in Smash: Expand your Archetype Skills appeared first on Gaming Debugged | Gaming Site Covering Xbox, Indies, News, Features and Gaming Tech.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

It’s a shame that Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride never made it out of Japan until its DS remake so many years after its run on SNES. That’s because Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride was one of the most ambitious JRPGs on the SNES, chronicling the life of the central hero from childhood to adulthood. An addictive monster taming system matched with the game’s intriguing approach to JRPG storytelling to build a wonderful, wonderful game that took far too long to release worldwide.

Terranigma

A fantastic action RPG, Terranigma is widely beloved thanks to its expansive, engrossing main quest, perfect difficulty progression, smooth, smooth combat, and much more. Despite never taking off to the same degree as other titles on this list, it is very telling that love for Terranigma spread so far and wide when the game was never even officially released in the United States.

Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen

A challenging top-down strategy RPG that is a bit more hands-off than standard turn-based fare, Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen has earned its reputation as a masterful fantasy experience. Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is a strategy RPG that involves arranging your army, giving your soldiers some basic instructions, and then watching them duke it out in a grand battle for land. A rare experience with a cult following, Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is an adventure that more RPG fans need to embark on. 

Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana is one of the most immersive SNES JRPGs, sending text-filled menus and turn-based combat to the backseat in exchange for real-time battles and intuitive equipment management. Many players have exceptionally fond memories of this unique title, especially those of us who got the chance to try out the three-person multiplayer mode.

Final Fantasy IV

A hugely influential adventure, Final Fantasy IV is nowadays remembered as one of the first major steps forward for JRPGs in the SNES era. That’s a well-earned legacy. With one of the earliest successful attempts at an Active Time Battle system (later perfected in Chrono Trigger – remember that later), Final Fantasy IV caught players’ eyes with its enjoyable strategic clashes, and then kept them glued to their seats with an expansive, colorful world and some impressive early attempts at many Final Fantasy conventions that we know and love today. As one of the earliest displays of what a SNES JRPG was truly capable of accomplishing, many of us hold fond memories of Final Fantasy IV as one of the first truly great games within the genre.

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals

While Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals does not carry the same superstar followings as some of its brilliant peers on this list, it’s still a beautiful title that every JRPG fan should take for a spin. On top of the usual components that make a winning JRPG, like a strong plot, likable characters, and beautiful music, Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals has some of the most interesting gameplay in the genre. Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Legend of Zelda, the game hosts several tool-oriented puzzles and challenging enemy encounters that keep players engaged and focused. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals bites off a whole lot, but it mixes a host of genres together beautifully to create a joyous experience.

Super Mario RPG

The precursor to some truly excellent RPGs starring everyone’s favorite Italian plumber, Super Mario RPG is a wonderful time. While often overlooked, the game is good for a whole lot more than a most-wanted Super Smash Bros. character even today. You can’t go wrong with Super Mario RPG’s winning recipe of hilarious writing, a great crop of minigames, and a colorful romp through a JRPG oozing with Super Mario flair.

Earthbound

Earthbound is the most widely accessible of one of Nintendo’s most underutilized franchises. Its colorful, quirky attitude pairs with a fun turn-based battle system to craft an experience that is incredibly hard to put down. It’s too bad that this is still the last major Mother title to release outside of Japan, because Earthbound captured all of our hearts and refuses to let go. It might be a bit controversial as the runner-up of this list, but the game was just too full of wit, charm, and fun to be placed any lower. Plus, it’s one of the only JRPGs I’ve ever played that lets you automatically dispatch low-level enemies while grinding, and that’s worth a few points on its own.

Final Fantasy VI

Originally released in the United States as Final Fantasy III in 1994, Final Fantasy VI is a classic story of rebellion, an evil empire, and an iconic clown antagonist. With expansive party customization that allows players to fully craft their approach to combat, an excellent narrative, and beautiful pixel art and sounds to boot, Final Fantasy VI hits on all notes in delivering a heartfelt, awe-inspiring, and truly epic adventure. The best of the Final Fantasy SNES outings, Final Fantasy VI is rightfully remembered as one of the best in its series right alongside Final Fantasy VII.

Chrono Trigger

Of course, Chrono Trigger is number one. What else could possibly take its place? There are tons of fantastic, worthwhile games on this list, but Chrono Trigger is the definitive SNES RPG. The game thrives behind its lovable cast, its addictive Active Time Battle system, and some truly elegant music. Additionally, it’d be a crime not to emphasize how time travel elements go so far to emphasize the game’s plot and setting. Trekking through all corners of time from prehistoric villages to post-apocalyptic wastelands conveys a unique sense of scope that is unmatched across the SNES.

Author Bio: Ana Sz.

It all started in my friend Sophie´s house playing Super Mario Bros. NES was basically my first love. I’m a fan of retro games, especially RPGs and Platforms. This passion got me to create Myemulator.online where I write reviews for all the games I use to play with.  

Site: https://myemulator.online/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/myemulatoronline/

YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE8yoX4GGM6NvH_gu9wb7qg/

The post The Top 10 SNES JRPGs of All Time appeared first on Gaming Debugged | Gaming Site Covering Xbox, Indies, News, Features and Gaming Tech.

The SNES was a success across the world. It discontinued in Japan on 25 September 2003. It is a 16-bit home video console game. It faced serious conflict from Sega’s Genesis Console in Europe and North America. The predecessor of SNES was Nintendo Entertainment System, and the successor was Nintendo 64. The system of SNES Games is known as Super Famicom (SFC).

What are the SNES Games?

Super Nintendo is also known as Super Famicom. It was released on 21 November 1990 in Japan. The console quickly gains popularity just after its release and began to dominate the Japanese market. Within a few hours of its release, over 300,000 devices were sold out instantly. The system was released only in the United States on 1 September 1991, it was known as Super Nintendo Entertainment Console (SNES). The SNES showed a better picture than the Genesis. These days, with so much advance technology you do not need cartridges, just snes roms page to download proper Super Nintendo ROMs for your systems.

What is the SNES Mini?

As the name suggests, it is smaller than the original SNES. It is a mini SNES as it doesn’t use cartridges. SNES was released in 1992. SNES Mini is a console that is just like the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It comes with a collection of some best games from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

There are total 21 games on the SNES mini:

• Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper
• Mega Man X
• Donkey Kong Country
• Super Mario Kart
• Super Castlevania IV
• Super Metroid
• Super Mario World
• F-Zero
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the past
• Super Punch-Out
• Final Fantasy III
• Kirby Super Star
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s
• Star Fox
• Secret of Mana
• Contra III The Alien Wars
• Kirby’s Dream Course
• Star Fox 2
• Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
• Super Mari RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
• Earthbound

Some Best SNES Games

Nintendo released an incredible selection of classic Super Nintendo Games. We’ve picked some best SNES games of all the time that are still loved by people even today. 

Final Fantasy VI 

Final Fantasy III is the original version of Final Fantasy VI. It had a heartfelt story, awesome combat, and a huge roster with 14 playable characters. It is still one of the most favourite games of SNES till today. If you haven’t played it yet, you are missing a great game as a game lover.

Super Mario All-Stars

This game came before the age of digitally downloading games. Mario All-Stars was an amazing and interesting four-game pack and was one of the first of many HD remasters. This game needs no explanation.

Star Fox

It was the first game in the Star Fox series, soon to be an iconic franchise. It is one of the best games in the Star Fox series so far. It has boasting advanced 3D graphics.

F-Zero

Fans of this series are still dying for another F-Zero game even today. It was indeed wickedly fast gameplay, which gave us Captain Falcon. 

Batman Returns

It was a movie tie-in game that epitomized the beat-em-up genre. There are a lot of good batman games. It perfectly captured that great Tim Burton vibe. It is still one of the all-time greatest picks in SNES games.

Super Mario RPG

This game gathered huge fanbase as it was revered and fantastic. RPG is a tragic title in the history of Nintendo. Nintendo partnered with Square Enix for this game.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

This game was adorable and had a blast for platforming heads. It had a crafty storybook look, which makes it one of the prettiest games of all time. 

Donkey Kong Country

When this game was released, everyone was shocked by seeing the weird photogenic graphics. There are a lot of amazing games on the list, with meaningful engagements, heartfelt stories but none had a comparison with Donkey Kong Country.

Super Mario World

This game is still on top in best trending SNES Games list of all time. There is something about this game that is irresistible. It was silly, light-hearted.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Zelda series had a ton of classic games that were loved by gamers. The game’s lore, music, and complex dark/light world redefined storytelling in the medium. Ocarina of Time was an all-time.

Some other trending SNES games of all-time are;

• Super Soccer
• Stunt Race FX
• Kirby’s Dream Course
• Pilotwings
• Super Tennis
• Breath of Fire
• Demon’s crest
• Kirby’s Dream Land 3
• Chrono Trigger
• Breath of Fire
• Super Metroid
• Earthbound
• Street Fighter II: Turbo

Conclusion

SNES Games were discontinued in 2003, but the game lovers still enjoy these games after almost 30 years. It’s been almost three decades since Nintendo discontinued SNES production of games, but we, as game lovers still remember the golden age of gaming. The console was one of the greatest catalogues of games ever released in the history of the gaming world. The SNES was the birthplace of the Metroidvania.

 It was the first console to let us kart race with Mario and friends. Super Nintendo ROMs will provide you with all your favourite Super Nintendo Games. SNES was often overshadowed by the Nintendo 64, but it was still one of the biggest achievements for the company. SNES had one of the most iconic gaming consoles ever made.

The post Is There A Future for SNES Games? appeared first on Gaming Debugged | Gaming Site Covering Xbox, Indies, News, Features and Gaming Tech.

Nintendo Switch Overview

Release Date:

• Out March 3rd 2017
• 2x Boxed System Including grey and coloured variations

Nintendo Switch Price:

• £279.99 / $299.99

Nintendo Switch Online Services:

• Multiplayer gaming
• Free Trial for 6 months
• Paid Service starts in fall 2017
• Removed region locking

Hardware Elements for the Nintendo Switch Include:

• Nintendo Switch Dock
• Nintendo Switch Console
• Joy Con Grips (either in grey or blue and red)
• Both have left and right shoulder buttons which double as connectors
• Motion control enabled
• AR Camera for games
• NFC reader for Amibo
• Capture buttons for screenshots and videos
• Come in Blue and red colour variations
• Wrist straps available (in various colours)
• HD Rumble for improved sensory feelings
• USB and mains charger
• BUT: Pro controller sold separately

Play Styles:

• TV Mode – Just plug and play
• Tabletop mode – Using the rear kickstand
• Handheld Mode – With Joy-Con controllers that attach on the left and right
• Battery Life – 2.5 – 6.5 hours
• Wifi Enabled for multiplayer – 8 can be connected

Nintendo Switch Games on Show:

1.2. Switch

Face-to-face interaction party game looking to make the most of the motion controller. Players battle it out in cowboy style shoot outs, sword fighting, dancing, and table tennis set to be a “A staple for parties”.

ARMS

Boxing game with a colourful cartoon art style in which players has spring loaded stretchable arms. Thrusting the controller own throws a punch whilst twisting the controller bends it the the left of right. This actually looks like a lot of fun.

Splatoon 2

The paint filled turf war is back, but the with additional weapons, special weapons and all new battle arenas. Thankfully, the Pro Controller can now be used and the sequel offers both local multiplayer and online play (due out this summer).

Super Mario Odyssey 

Mario is Back in Super Mario Odyssey. The worlds favourite plumber travels outside of the Mushroom Kingdom with is all-new talking hat. The mechanics on show included a new hat throwing move in which it becomes a stepping stone across large areas, riding on large cartoon animals, huge boss battles and a selection of crazy cartoon lands mixed with real world style locations. This is set to be released just before Christmas 2017.

Xenoblade 2

This JRPG Looked big, emotional and full of dialogue. If you like that kind of thing.

Fire Emblem Warriors

This was basically a sneak preview of a sword being grabbed by an unknown hand… Not very exciting

3rd Party Developers

Apparently Nintendo have over 80 Games currently in Development by 3rd Party Developers which included

• Square Enix – Dragon Quest 10 & 11
• Square Enix – Dragon Quest Heroes
• New Atlus Game
• Square Enix – Project Octopath Traveller (2D RPG)
• Sega – Say they will make games for the hardware
• Bethesda – Skyrim
• Grasshopper – Travis Touchdown is Back in a yet un-named game sequel in the No More Heroes franchise
• EA – FIFA 2017

The Games Montage

A games montage included various titles that included both new and old titles.

• Sonic
• MarioKart
• Rayman
• Dragonball Z
• Just Dance
• Classic Street Fighter 2
• Minecraft
• 1080 Snowboarding 2
• Skylanders
• Lego City
• Mii games
• Bomberman
• NEO racing

Final Thoughts:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gameplay trailer was played to close the show culminating in the launch date: March 3rd 2017 – This looks to be the best reason to get the system at launch.

Problems/Challenges of the Nintendo Switch:

• Cost is high compared to the recently reduced Xbox & Playstation 4
• A 32GB hard drive is ridiculous (Zelda will take up half of this storage)
• The suggestion that the online service only give users one old SNES game per month (on loan)
• Likely to suffer the same lack of games as previous consoles
• The Pro controller is currently at $60
• The ‘charging’ grip is sold separately
• No indication that your previous digital purchases will carry across
• No sign of a new Bayonetta game

The post Nintendo Switch: The Good, The Bad and The Unknown appeared first on Gaming Debugged | Gaming Site Covering Xbox, Indies, News, Features and Gaming Tech.

New Releases, Just For You

Just in case you haven’t bought enough during November, December has some of its own big hitters, eager to make a dent on your wallet.

The Last Guardian | PS4

The long-awaited game The Last Guardian will finally be released on December 6th, with a retail price of $59.99. The story involves a young boy and his friend Trico, who inevitably reminds us of a feathered version of the dragon Falkor in the film “Never-Ending Story.” The game has been under development since 2007 – it even went from PlayStation 3 to PS4 – so almost 10 years later we can finally enjoy Fumito Ueda’s (head of the Japanese video game development team ICO) grand adventure.

The Last Guardian certainly exceeds many other games at least in the storyline and the magnificent settings where it takes place. It’s a great gift idea for the gamer in your life, as well to play yourself, this Christmas, because to put players in a merry spirit, The Last Guardian emphasizes themes like friendship and courage.

Final Fantasy 15 | Xbox One

After nearly a decade of waiting, Final Fantasy XV is finally, finally upon us, and what a road it’s has been. The story follows the road trip on Prince Noctis and his friends as he travels across the country to wed his fiancée Luna. Suddenly, the news reports that his homeland has been invaded and taken over and that he, his loved one and his father King Regis, have been slain at the hands of the enemy.

This epic journey is said to take almost 50 hours to complete to should you want ride out the winter chill, this will keep you busy for some time.

The Walking Dead Season 3 | Multi-platform

For fans of The Walking Dead (comic book, TV series or games ), 2016 may just be in for the merriest of all this Christmas. The third edition of the award-winning series from Telltale, which will available on all platforms (iOS, Android, macOS, PS3, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One), already has an official release date: December 20th. Take control of your favourite characters and try to protect friends and family from the zombie hordes, and maybe even play as the zombies for a change of pace. In between meals and the festive atmosphere, The Walking Dead: Season Three is an entertaining alternative, as you battle walkers and travel through the wreckage of an apocalyptic world.

Party Games for the Party Season

Christmas is a time for friends and family, so why not share your love of gaming and get social this Christmas. Mario Kart is a staple in our house but there is a range of games that can be played on the sofa or over the internet.

The LEGO Series of Games

The LEGO games are always surprising fun and really easy to get into. Whether you are an experienced gamer or new to consoles, the LEGO games can be played by the who family. Whether you like Marvel super heroes, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars or the dinosaurs of Jurassic World, there is a LEGO game for everyone. The play style is easy to pick up and the constant reward system means that if you play for five minutes or five hours you are sure to unlock a treasure trove of extra characters, levels and extras.

Pure Hold’em

For a more adult gaming experience, you could always try a spot of Poker on VooFoo Studios Pure Hold’em on Xbox One. Their previous games of Pure Chess and Pure Pool are exceptionally polished, boasting stunning visuals, smooth animations and a little bit of jazz. You only need to look around the mahogany tables with their expensive baize and injection-moulded chips, to see that Pure Hold’em continues this tradition of lovingly rendered, pin-sharp visuals. Sadly, you can’t win any real money.

Should you want to have a real flutter this Christmas then you either need a full poker set up on your kitchen table or grab your phone or tablet and head to Pokerstars Casino. The app includes classic casino games like blackjack, roulette, and of course, James Bond’s favourite game of baccarat. Available via free mobile app, which works on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices, PokerStars Casino offers seamless graphics and no bugs, plus you can take it with you anywhere you go this holiday season. After all, nothing beats beating the dealer for a big pot while you wait for your significant other to finish their shopping.

Games on the go

November saw a slew of games hit the app store, meaning you can be gaming if you are travelling, hiding in the toilet or simply relaxing in front of ‘The Great Escape’ on TV. Here are just three titles for you to enjoy this Christmas:

SteamWorld Heist | iOS

SteamWorld Heist an outstanding strategy game from Swedish game studio Image & Form. The game has been out on a number of platforms already and has finally made the jump to iOS. SteamWorld Heist follows the adventure of Captain Piper Faraday, the leader of a ragtag band of space pirates. This side scrolling strategy game was designed for 3DS so it no wonder it works so well on mobile phones.

BATMAN – The Telltale Series | iOS

BATMAN – The Telltale Series is an episodic point-and-click graphic adventure game based on Bob Kane and Bill Finger’s Batman comic book series. The game is set a number years after Wayne has become Batman, meaning the narrative has some flexibility in terms of enemies and stories without disturbing any of the previous versions of Batman already established. The Telltale games are great to play on mobile, as they tell fantastic stories and involve little engagement, so they can be enjoyed as you let your christmas dinner settle or when you are travelling across the country.

Super Mario Run

The last choice on the list, falling somewhere between a classic option and a new release. Super Mario Run is perfect for all audiences and age groups, because it will transport you back to the days of Christmas past. Priced at less than $10 already, a slimmed down free version of the game, will also be released on December 15th.

In this update of the legendary Nintendo title, Mario does what he does best: running through a course, jumping over obstacles and avoiding enemies. It also includes an additional multiplayer option, so you can compete against siblings, cousins, and parents – reviving the good old days when Super Mario and his pals were Christmas morning musts.

No matter which games you choose this Christmas, whether going for the newly released options, challenging yourself with more classic games, or somewhere in between, just remember to enjoy this holiday as much as you can, cause it only comes once a year!

The post Games of Past, Present and Mobile to Play This Christmas appeared first on Gaming Debugged | Gaming Site Covering Xbox, Indies, News, Features and Gaming Tech.

Queelag | Dark Souls

Quelaag once lived with her mother, the Witch of Izalith. After the Flame of Chaos incident, Queelag escape being turned into a demon, instead having her lower torso bound to a giant spider. Whilst the spider part freaks me right out, the top half is actually pretty easy on the eye.

Bayonetta | Bayonetta

Bayonetta voiced by Hellena Taylor is a witch who shape shifts and uses various weapons, along with magical attacks she performs with her own hair. She looks like a leather clad biker babe from hell but even her clothes are made out of her enchanted hair. Bayonetta is a true badness and one of the best games on the Nintendo platforms.

The Witch | Left for dead

The witches in Left For Dead are one of the ‘special infected’ characters with elongated fingers, super human strength and particular dislike for bright light. Unlike most infected they tend to play possum and look like survivors until players are up close. Apparently they also like the smell of sugar…

Witches of Crookback Bog | The Witcher

There are plenty of witches to choose from in The Witcher series but one particular coven that stood out where the Witches of Crookback Bog who start off a beautiful naked ladies boiling a cauldron the severed body parts before turning into shrouded hags of varying size and shape.

Gruntilda | Banjo Kazooie

Gruntilda Winkybunion (sometimes called Grunty) is the main antagonist of the Banjo-Kazooie series. She is a classically style wicked witch with green skin, a black pointy hat and magical spells that are capable of doing pretty much anything. She also enjoys rhyming…

Mizrabel | Castle of Illusion

In the Castle of Illusion, Mizrabel appears to be a combination of the Queen Grimhilde from Snow White and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Mizrabel kidnaps Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse has to venture through her castle to rescue her. She also makes an appearance as the main antagonist of Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.

Baba Yaga | Rise of the Tomb Raider

The Temple of The Witch DLC for Tomb Raider revolves around the Russian Baba Yaga myth — a witch that lives in a house raised up on giant bird legs. The DLC is a min game in itself, there is a mystery to be solved, a supernatural question, a few puzzles, some stealth and some traversal, all capped off with a fantastic multi-level boss fight.

Witch of Hemwick | Bloodborne

This slow moving hunchback hag looks amazing, all covered in skulls brandishing her magic staff, but don’t let her snail like movement put you into a false sense of security; not only can she disappear and reappear around the map but she is also heavy guarded by dreadlocked demons eager to slice and dice you.

Baba Yaga | Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

It’s Baba again, and this time she is a batty old gran looking to enlist your services to get a rose to become young again. Baba Yaga mixes the classic witch look with that of a witch doctor. Baba’s clothes are old and tattered adorned with shrunken heads and bones but she is definitely one of my favourites.

Alicia | Bullet Witch

In the distant future of 2013, mankind is on the brink of destruction, having suffered major natural disasters and an invasion of demons. The witch Alicia Claus (no relation to Santa) utilizes a g’unrod’ which resembles a broomstick that transforms into a shotgun, machine gun, and Gatling gun. (It’s more of a ‘broomstick’ then). This weapon can also be used to cast magical spells to kill demons. Fun fact: Alicia appeared topless in the 2007 video game Preview in Playboy Magazine.

Flemeth | Dragon Age

Flemeth was a beautiful young witch who cheated on her husband. The lover was killed and she was imprisoned. Whilst incarcerated, she summoned a spirit to wreak vengeance upon her husband. Vengeance, she received, but not as she planned. The spirit took possession of her, turning Flemeth into an abomination. A twisted, maddened creature, she slaughtered Conobar and all his men, and fled back into the Wilds.

So there you have it, 11 wonderful witches from the weird world of gaming. Who did I miss, which is your favourite?

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Maybe it harks back to Christmas 1994 when my brother and I got a Super Nintendo (Street Fighter 2 edition) for Christmas. We spent the whole holiday playing it and everyone joined in.
Wii U is THE console for the Christmas period as the whole family can get involved. Whether is racing in Mario Kart, playing virtual sports in Wii Sports Club or simply chasing each other around in Nintendo Land. The Wii U is fun, inclusive and can be played by almost anyone including my 84 year old gran.

Even when playing alone, there is so much fun to have. Games such as Zelda and Bayonetta are not only impressive to look at but are more fun than some of the top titles on the other machines.

The backwards compatibility is also great for both existing Nintendo Wii users and newcomers to the console. My sister, who had recently ‘shelved’ their family Wii has now furnished me with additional games and controllers and by spending a third of what it cost to buy a new Xbox game I got a slew of second hand Wii games for the family to enjoy. Titles such as ‘Just Dance Kids/Disney’ will keep the younger one busy whilst I prepare, eat, drink and be merry.
It’s awkward trying to be sociable with your gran as you headshot your way to a strike mission on Mars. Similarly, Christmas is not the time to show Uncle Dave how you can beat up drug dealers on GTA 5. Christmas is about family and fun which is why the Wii U will be the dominant console this Christmas.

Having recently rejoined the Nintendo family and getting a new Wii U from Argos I can see why it’s growing in popularity. OK, it did have a rough start… but minds are being changed across the gaming landscape. As next-gen gamers are plagued by connection issues, less than average titles and having to pay for backwards compatibility, there is a slow realization that fun, self contained games are actually pretty awesome.

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The launch of Mario Kart 8 is said to be one of the main factors why sales are up 60% in the UK this year. With titles such as Bayonetta 2 set to increase sales as well, the future for the Nintendo is is bright.

Pearce went on to say, “people are starting to consider buying now, which was cemented by our E3 activity. All the software that we showed then gave people confidence that there were lots of games coming that they wanted.”

Simon Kemp (UK general manager ) mirrored Pearce’s positive outlook saying “we’ve felt a real increase in interest and momentum. Compared to 12 months ago, it does feel noticeably different,”

Peace also stated: “One of the key things for us is that people are staring to realise what software there is, what games they can get this Christmas, but importantly a lot of key stuff that is coming next year, too. It is a really strong line-up.”

Pearce sounded extremely positive and expects to see real growth from Wii U this Christmas and with games such as Splatoon, Captain Toad and the new Zelda title coming soon it looks like people have finally accepted Nintendo’s flaws and realised that its the games that make the console and Nintendo now have a lot to choose from.

To read more about the interview please visit: http://www.mcvuk.com/

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1. Lack of Great Games

There just isn’t much there, at the moment, for the Wii U. Their library started off rather slow, without too many major franchise releases from the get go, which kept a lot of people from becoming earlier adopters. Other than ZombiU, there are no great exclusives on the console. Sure, it has quite a few AAA titles on it, but they can also be bought on the 360 and PS3, where more often than not, those versions of the game are a better experience.

2. Major Releases Too Long of a Wait

For those who did buy for major franchise releases, many were sorely disappointed in finding out a lot of their big characters wouldn’t be seen for a while.  Super Mario 3D World, as cool as it looks, is not coming out until the holidays. Smash Bros and a new Zelda aren’t going to hit until 2014. It might be because Nintendo is trying to compete with the major console launches of the Xbox One and Playstation 4, but it’s a bit of too little, too late.

3. Terrible Online Capabilities

Compared to even other current gen consoles, the WiiUI is dated in its online capabilities. The Miiverse, Nintendo’s attempt at a social network on their console, is confusing and limited. What’s even worse is before the Wii U’s release, even developers were confused about how their network worked. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 head Katsuhiro Harada said in an interview, comparing internet capabilities with the other consoles, “Not quite sure at this point. I don’t fully understand it. We’re still working with Nintendo to find out about their network.”

4. Styling Years Out of Date

Another major problem with the Wii U is that it’s pretty much a fatter Wii, with a tablet as its controller. That isn’t necessarily the worst thing, except that when it comes to what is inside, that doesn’t hold up to well to even current generation graphics and hardware, let alone what will be coming out in just a few short months. And though the dual screen idea of the controller seemed great in theory, it doesn’t seem to pan out quite as expected in practice.

5. Too Strict on Content

Streaming content and using the web browser is difficult enough, but when Nintendo starts holding their franchises close to the chest, it makes it hard to want to back them up. take, for example, the recent news that they wanted to pull Smash Bros Melee from EVO’s tournament. Apparently, it took a lot of finagling to keep it, but EVO went public with the information that Nintendo told them to pull it. This is not the first time Nintendo has gone after people for using their games where they have decided they don’t want them, and it likely won’t be the last, either.

6. Wii Is Still Sellng Well

even after the release of a new console and all this time that has passed, the original Wii is actually still selling well, better than the Wii U has been. It sells over 160,000 units a month, even after all these years. But if people are looking to the older console for their homes and panning over the more recent release, that’s a problem. The Wii allows for backward compatibility with GameCube games and people are still sticking by it as a hardier console than the Wii U.

7. The iPad Is Taking Their Market Share

Consumer spending patterns are changing rapidly, as people are moving to iOS and Android-based games with enthusiasm. More people are buying tablets (it’s estimated about 60% of American consumers will have them by 2015) and they want to play games there. Not only is this hurting the Wii U, but could potentially hurt their portable 3DS as well.

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Speaking of sequels, there’s plenty of trilogies (well, and franchises that go even further than that) with interesting third episode entries. Let’s start from the beginning…

The Eighties

Back in the late eighties it was rare to reach a third game due to the fact the games industry was so young. Those that did were born out of franchises that were pretty much made for success, and therefore sequels were distributed quickly.

Mario bros 3

Still hailed as possible one of the top 3 Mario games to come out, Mario Brothers 3 really took the idea of a side scrolling platformer and made it bigger, better and far more fun. With the introduction of the Koopa Kids, awesome power ups that gave Mario cool suits to don (that has been used in games since) and gambling (let’s just be honest), it’s still a great game to play today.

Wonderboy 3

Wonderboy 3, which has the aesthetic style of Zelda II or Ghosts N Goblins, was sort of s surprise in success at the time. The franchise has died out since then, but at the time, it was rated the best game of the year by Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Castlevania 3

Also known as Dracula’s Curse, it is actually a prequel to the first Castlevania starring Simon Belmont’s ancestor, Trevor Belmont. It was the franchise’s return to platforming and away from the RPG style of Simon’s Quest. Companions also showed up in this game, which was pretty awesome.

The Nineties:

The nineties were a great time for consoles and arcades alike. You often had multi-platform games, really great cabinets and overall, some seriously cool third installations of franchises. A lot of franchises had been old enough at this point to reach their number 3, so here are some of the best.

Mortal Kombat 3

The premise of three went away from the plain old tournament idea and into  a story about stopping Shao Khan and his evil wife, Sindel. This was sort of an odd release, as it omitted a lot of major characters. To rectify this, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was released with the omitted characters and the home console version has even more characters and features.

Wing Commander 3

For space combat simulators, there was nothing cooler than the Wing Commander series. It had interactive conversations that branched out and would change character attitudes and even morale. Think of it as the Bioware conversation tree of the past. And with live actors and movie content, it was a whopping four cd-roms.


Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

A change of pace for the Resident Evil series, Nemesis made things a lot harder when having to constantly worry about a giant mutation the size of the Hulk constantly showing up in game and tracking you down. Some areas he’d show up were scripted, but others were random, and it definitely made for one scary, pressure inducing game.

The Noughties:

Spanning 2000-2010, we saw a huge increase in multi-game franchises. Some older ones were already hitting 5 plus games, but there were some great third editions to otherwise comparably young groups of games.

Tony Hawk 3

Tony Hawk 3 was amazing for one real reason: the introduction of the revert trick, which let people combine vert combos with a manual and therefore creating combos longer than the last two games.  It was also the first to have online capabilities and like all the other games, an amazing soundtrack. For fans of the skateboarding game series, this was probably the best of them all.

Gran Turismo 3

Gran Turismo 3 was a Playstation 2 exclusive and went on to become one of the best selling video games of all time, let alone on the Playstation 2.  The graphics were really improved and there was improvement to physics that made this new installment so great. Gran Turismo has grown since then but at the time, this one was incredibly impressive.

Grand Theft Auto 3

The first 3D title in the Grand Theft Auto series, 3 made one of the biggest impacts on gaming as a whole, never mind the franchise. It is one of the highest-rated Playstation 2 games of all time (tied with previously mentioned Tony Hawk 3, actually) and is lauded by many as a near perfect game. Any and all re-releases of the game have made tons of money and it’s still as talked about as other now classics, like Ocarina of Time.

Halo 3

Halo 3 had a ridiculous amount of hype surrounding it before it was released and all critics agreed that it lived up to it. It’s the game in the series that really put the entire series on the map as one of the best (and highest sold) franchises in the gaming world. It also had some celebrity voices like  Keith David, Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk. It’s probably one of Bungie’s most successful games and is still often talked about as such.

Now

We are truly in a forward thinking, expansive age of gaming. Games are becoming huge epics with great graphics and stories that span multiple games. Here are some great number 3’s that have recently been released.

Assassin’s Creed 3

Although technically the 5th in the series, it’s the true official number “3” of the main story and the third of the ancestors that Desmond experiences through the Animus. It took players into a very different time period of the mid to late 1700s during the Revolutionary War. Conner is thrust in the middle of the events and it makes for some interesting interactions with historical figures.

Mass Effect 3

Although a big war over the ending ensued, it is hard to say that anything else about Mass Effect 3 was a disappointment. It was a vast improvement on the mechanics of 2, an emotional end to an overall epic sci-fi adventure, and ended an excellent run for Commander Shepard.

Gears of War 3

Undoubtedly a fun third person shooter franchise, Gears of War 3 had over a million pre-orders in 2011, making it one of the years most anticipated. The end of the story (as far as we know, considering Cliffy B no longer works for Epic Games) was highly lauded and just over all super exciting to play.

And Finally…

Half Life 3

Half Life 3 will actually be the fifth installment of this massively popular franchise. From the first moment you cruise into Black Mesa on a monorail listening to the safety briefing the the sad demise of Dog, your robotic pal players have been gripped by the alien invaded world created by Valve. Rumors have flown around about this sequel for years and many a writer has been sent on a wild goose chase trying to get the facts. This year at E3 we finally had confirmation on the release of Half Life 3… ‘large exhale‘

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