Portable News Trailers and More

Portable games are here to stay. Whether you have a dedicated console for playing games or if you're like everybody else with a smart phone, portable is where its at if you have to get up and go somewhere. I love portable games because I have crazy kids that run circles around me, and playing on a console isn't the best option if you have to keep up with them.

The 3DS world has been abuzz with some release dates for some very important games hitting the shelves in February and March. First up is Fire Emblem: Awakening. I've never played a Fire Emblem game, but after looking at all the work that went into this game, I have a feeling that this will be the first.  The game employs some strategy elements, and some hardcore permadeath mechanics. Check out the trailer below:

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is coming to the 3DS and Wii U on March 19th. I've been really hyped for this game for a long time, since 3G was released in Japan over what? A year ago? Monster Hunter games have been few and far between here in the US, which is too bad considering how popular the series could be. I think Capcom and Nintendo are banking on this to become a super seller here, and with Wii U and 3DS co-op that could be possible.

I'll admit that the game takes some time to figure out, and it is a little difficult. I've come to accept that some monsters are going to destroy my face every time. The depth of the game play comes from the crafting mechanics: trying to complete sets of armor and weapons, which might be odd for the average gamer here in the US. This game has always been about crafting and quest objectives, and with more content, added difficulty and 500+ hours of stuff, this is definitely going to be awesome awesome awesome.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Magnagate and the Infinite Labyrinth

Roguelike with Pokemon? Sign me up. For reals. Out March 24th. 

Some Level 5 games that won't come to the US any time soon:

This game has been floating under the radar, but Level 5 recently pushed out a small video that demonstrates the game play a little bit. You run around collecting ghosts with your Ghost Watch and use the lower screen to rotate and switch out the different guys during battle sequences. The character design looks super cute and cartoonish which is what Level 5 is known for these days.

This game began development as a console game, which makes me wonder if they'll produce this game first on the 3DS and then make an extended port to PS3 or Wii U for the console version (Much like they did for Ni No Kuni). The game looks very kid friendly and I can't see why that is a bad thing given how many 3DS's are sold in US and Japan these days.

Fantasy Life was released not too long ago in Japan, and practically sold out all over the country. This is a collaboration with Level 5 and the Nintendo owned Brownie Brown. At first I thought this game was an Animal Crossing clone like everyone else, with rpg elements tacked on- but those that have played the game have described it as a complicated web of role playing, crafting, and rhythm mini-games, which takes it much farther than a simple chore simulator. I love the cartoon character designs!

This trailer explains some of the jobs and game features for each life in the game:

You basically choose between 12 classes or "Lives" and work to increase your levels. As a blacksmith, for example, you can make weapons and armor. When you switch lives you take those skills with you to the next, which weaves a web that unlocks more content. Basically you must master all 12 classes in order to see every possible thing in the game, and unlock all the interesting stuff that can help your character in the main scenario. It would make sense for Nintendo to bring this over, but I've heard that localizing this game would take a long time given the amount of dialog in the game.

Let's not forget the PlayStation Vita

Here's something I forgot about: PSO2 is coming to the PSVita on February 28th in Japan. Wow. I forgot about this game, which will soon launch in English in the US. And... I kinda forgot about the Vita. Isn't that sad? The Vita hardware is soooo GOOD, but Sony hasn't backed it up with any software to make it worth the crazy price they're still charging for it. When I heard that this game was coming to Vita, that got me excited for the console, but after that... there was little news from SEGA about when it would come to the US.

Phantasy Star Online 2 has been available in Japan for the past six months, and I've played some of it, despite my non-Japanese understanding skills. SEGA's approach to the multi-platform game is awesome, and since all that data syncs to the same account, it makes for a perfect FREE MMO for a handheld console .

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I'll finish this up with an Internet rumor:

Monster Hunter 4 is being delayed by Capcom to this summer, and no one really knew why. This week the Japanese magazine Game Lab printed something to the effect that the game was delayed because Capcom wanted a simultaneous launch on the 3DS and the PSVita this summer.

While the release of any Monster Hunter game is big news for Japan, the fact that it might come the Vita is astounding. Everyone thought that Capcom had abandoned Sony for Nintendo. With Vita sales that are less than enthusiastic, the prospect of a Monster Hunter game could SAVE the console. Seriously. At least in Japan. This is all speculation at best right now because who knows where this information originated from. It could be a misquote, or something else. Capcom hasn't released a statement.

Given the choice I think I would rather play the game on the Vita than the 3DS. BOOM. There. I said it.

Buy the stuff here: Nintendo 3DS Vita Fire Emblem Awakening Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate