As reported in the latest issue of Game Informer, one of their staff members got to play an advance chunk of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the latest chapter in the epic series which has made video game history for the past 25 years. Reader beware – here be spoilers!

If you haven’t heard about Skyward Sword, it’s scheduled to be released in November 2011 and will be, chronologically speaking, the very first game in the Zelda mythos. Legacy characters Link and Zelda are still there, and this game will tell the story of how Link’s all-powerful weapon, the Master Sword, came into being. Zelda isn’t even a princess in this story; she and Link are residents of Skyloft, a city above the clouds, who are brought to earth – er, Hyrule – by a series of strange events.

Gameplay-wise, Skyward Sword blends some of the elements from Twilight Princess and Phantom Hourglass. This is appropriate, since the visual style of the game is a meshing of the more realistic animation of Twilight Princess and the cel-shaded cartoonishness of the Wind Waker games. New and wholly unique to Skyward Sword, however, is the practice of dowsing. The Skyward Sword itself is capable of hunting for keys and other useful items, including the kidnapped Zelda; when Link holds the sword out in front of himself in order to dowse, the game switches into a first-person mode. Interestingly, the dowsing action will replace the compass that all other Zelda games place in each dungeon.

Eiji Aonuma, the producer for this game, observes that many of the people working on this game grew up on the franchise. “From their perspective, they’re looking at it as ‘What are some of the things that failed to be helpful in getting through the game?’ They’re stripping that out and streamlining,” he says.

Story-wise, the game also offers some unique elements. As noted, Zelda is not a princess. She and Link are friends and schoolmates, dwelling in their city in the sky. (Fans of Twilight Princess may wonder if Skyloft is the same as the City in the Sky which Link visited in that game; this question is yet unanswered.) They are apparently on a date when the plot of the game interrupts, a fact which, if accurate, would make this the first time in the series that there is an overt romance between the hero and the leading lady. Zelda is captured by a tornado which is later revealed to be the work of the game’s villain, Ghirahim, who may or may not be a forerunner to Ganondorf. When Link meets Ghirahim, the strange creature calls Zelda a ‘precious oracle’ and a ‘servant of the Goddess,’ which is in keeping with later incarnations of Zelda having a tie to Nayru, the Hyrulean goddess of Wisdom.

Fans of the Zelda series music will appreciate the fact that the main theme for Skyward Sword is a very familiar tune – “Zelda’s Lullaby,” played backwards. This music piece is called “The Goddess’s Song,” and Aonuma explains that they wanted the music of the Goddess to be related to that of Zelda because of the connection between the two of them. What is that connection? We still don’t know. Other music appearing in the game is intended to be a sort of shout-out to longtime fans, including an original composition by Koji Kondo which incorporates the legendary Overworld theme from the game that started it all. Much of the music was recorded using a full orchestra.

Of course, being a Zelda game, it seems improbable that Link could endure the rigors of his adventure without some companion. In this game, it’s Phi, a fairylike spirit who inhabits the Skyward Sword itself. If you saw early art for this game, featuring Link holding a shield but no sword and standing behind a slim white-robed figure, that was Phi. Some of Link’s old familiar arsenal returns – Bombs (in a bomb bag), Slingshot, Double Clawshot – but other items are new, such as the Digging Mitts (which replace a shovel) and the Whip. All items are slated to have multiple upgrades available, although the exact system by which they will be upgraded is still being finalized.

Possibly the most astonishing hint about the new game, however, comes to us not from Game Informer but from the newest trailer, which was released for the 25th anniversary of the Zelda franchise. Who is the tall, golden-skinned woman we see near the end…and why does she appear to be wearing the Sheikah eye on her garments? It must be noted that she bears a resemblance to Impa from Ocarina of Time, so could this game possibly explain the origin of the Sheikah race? We can only speculate, but in two months we’ll find out for sure!

At E3 2011, Nintendo unveiled the long rumored successor to the Wii, dubbed the “Wii U”. The only software that was available to play on the show floor was comprised of tech demos that, according to Nintendo, did not show off the power of the new system. The star of the show was, in fact, the new controller that resembles an iPad more than a video game controller. I got some hands-on time recently with the new controller and here are my observations.

• It is very, very, light! Seeing the controller online or through a display case does not do it justice. Once I had it in my hands I noticed that it was lighter than my Xbox 360 controller. It could still be in the prototype stages, but it did not feel as durable as the other console controllers.
• The button layout felt very familiar. Since there is a decent sized LCD screen in the middle of the controller I was worried my hands/fingers would be too far apart. I was honestly shocked by how good the controller felt in my hands.
• The LCD screen in the middle of the controller is quite impressive. The Wii U can actually stream the video from the game to the controller in a flash if you do not feel like playing on your TV for any reason. I wouldn’t say it outputs HD visuals just yet, but it does get the job done if you have to leave the room for any reason and want to continue your game.

The Wii U is shaping up to be a strong contender with the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Nintendo has committed to revamp their online strategy and focus more on the hardcore gamers and third party developers. With a release date sometime around fall 2012 we probably will not see anything new till next years E3 in Los Angeles.

Burbank, Calif. – March 24, 2011 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced their debut title for the Nintendo 3DS™ handheld system: Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters.  The action-adventure game will also be released in 3D, as well as 2D, for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is set to invade the third dimension in North America beginning June 7 in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures’ epic superhero feature film Green Lantern scheduled for release June 17. The upcoming game title will also be available in standard 2D only for the Wii™ system and Nintendo DS™ handheld system, delivering an immersive experience across all platforms for Green Lantern fans that the entire family will enjoy.

The Nintendo 3DS version of the game is designed specifically to take advantage of the system’s stereoscopic 3D capabilities and deliver multi-plane graphics that delve players further into the Green Lantern universe.

Players on Xbox 360 and PS3™ will be given the option to play in anaglyphic 3D with technology that is compatible with all standard and high definition TV sets and visible to players wearing the 3D glasses that will be available for the video game.  Fans can also enjoy the game in stereoscopic 3D when playing on any 3D HDTV while wearing active shutter glasses that are compatible with the television.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is inspired by Warner Bros Pictures’ upcoming “Green Lantern” film, which brings the enduringly popular DC Comics Super Hero to the big screen for the first time and stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role as Hal Jordan, the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps.  In the videogame, gamers can utilize an arsenal of amazing constructs and take flight across the deepest parts of the universe to restore intergalactic order by wielding the ultimate weapon: the Green Lantern Power Ring.  Gamers playing the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 versions will also have the option to join forces with a friend to play as Hal Jordan or Sinestro to battle the Manhunters.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is in development for Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS by Griptonite Games and for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 by Double Helix Games. For more information and updates, become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/GreenLanternVideogame.

“Ghostbusters: The Video Games” hits the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC on June 16th, 2009.

Assassin’s Creed 2 is expected to hit shelves around Christmas 2009 on the PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii.

“Ghostbusters: The Video Game” hits the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC on June 16, 2009. Damn, that’s one week before “Batman: Arkham Asylum” is released – better save up, guys, because these might actually be games worth buying

Within the first minute of the game, Batman enthusiasts will be hit with a sense of nostalgia. Revealing familiar environments recreated in LEGO pieces set to Danny Elfman’s score from Tim Burton’s 1989 version of Batman, fans will feel right at home.

For those who have had the chance to get their hands on “LEGO Star Wars” or “LEGO Indiana Jones”, you will find a very similar style of gameplay. There is not much of a learning curve to the controls and anyone can pretty much join in on the fun without fretting the technicalities of a complex game.

The changes “LEGO Batman” made from prior LEGO titles are what make this game stand out above the rest. Since “LEGO Star Wars” and “LEGO Indiana Jones” were direct translations of the movies that bare their name, it left for predictability. “LEGO Batman” has no direct ties to any existing storyline so it feels like a new adventure all together.

Another major change that can be found in “LEGO Batman” is the utilization of vehicles. Like its predecessors, the game consists of 3 major acts. Each act in “LEGO Batman” has a level devoted to vehicle gameplay that will allow you to take your fight to land, air and sea. It creates a diversity that prevents the gameplay from become redundant and keeps the game interesting from beginning to end.

The only real problem with this game is that it’s not for everybody…wait, yes it is! Anyone from children to adults, hardcore gamers to casual gamers, and Batman fans will enjoy this title. There is a vast cast of characters that Batman fans will be familiar with including almost every popular villain that Batman has ever faced. The game sports an adaptive difficulty that will adjust to the skill level of the gamer so it won’t be too challenging for anyone.

The graphics are good for what the game is trying to accomplish meaning that it is comprised of mostly geometric shapes and nothing too risky. The game looks especially good on the high definition consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 but again, you won’t see anything as intricate as rendered facial expressions.

The bottom line is this game is extremely fun. Whether you want to hop on and play tandem with your AI partner or Co-Op with a friend, you are bound to enjoy your time on “LEGO Batman”. It has a ton of unlockables that add replay value to the game and it is priced right at $49.99 USD on the PS3 and Xbox 360, which is $10.00 cheaper than most new releases. I recommend “LEGO Batman” to anyone who is looking to purchase a game for the sole purpose of having fun with one of the most timeless super heroes of our era.