Lego Marvel Super Heroes Articles RSS Feed | GameSkinny.com Lego Marvel Super Heroes RSS Feed on GameSkinny.com https://www.gameskinny.com/ en Launch Media Network Lego Marvel Collection Is Now Available For PS4 And Xbox One https://www.gameskinny.com/9ppsu/lego-marvel-collection-is-now-available-for-ps4-and-xbox-one https://www.gameskinny.com/9ppsu/lego-marvel-collection-is-now-available-for-ps4-and-xbox-one Tue, 12 Mar 2019 12:30:23 -0400 Josh Broadwell

Between a number of recent blockbuster films and some Marvel-related game announcements, the world has been seeing a lot of Marvel as of late. Now, there's yet another addition to the company's gaming portfolio in the Lego Marvel Collection

This compilation features games from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, the Lego Company, and Marvel Entertainment, and it is available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Players that purchase the Lego Marvel Collection will get access to three titles: Lego Marvel Super Heroes, Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, and Lego Marvel's Avengers.

In the original Lego Marvel Super Heroes, players take control of some of Marvel's most recognizable names, including the Hulk, Spiderman, and Wolverine. As these players encounter a brand new Marvel story, set in a new Marvel universe, they'll also come up against some notable villains — enemies such as the Green Goblin and Venom.

The next tile in the collection, Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, picks up where the original left off, and it also improves upon its predecessor in a number of ways. For example, this sequel allows players to freely explore 18 different Marvel-themed worlds. There is also a massive, open world hub, called Chronopolis, for players to roam in. 

Additionally, this game features even more Marvel characters than the first, including She-Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Cosmo the Spacedog. So too, the story has been elaborated, and players can enjoy a branching narrative penned by award-winning comic book author Kurt Busiek.

The final game in the Lego Marvel CollectionLego Marvel's Avengers, takes a different approach to the formula. While it does combine elements of both Super Heroes' plots, it offers a completely open-world approach to the Lego Marvel series.

That is, the game's areas, ranging from Marvel's Manhattan to Asgard, are all designed to let players wander freely, uncovering secrets as they move the plot forward at their own pace. Additionally, Avenger' features over 200 unlockable characters and 8 Marvel-themed regions.

Lego Marvel Collection is available, both physically and digitally, on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for $49.99. For fans that have not had a chance to play these games, this compilation is certain to be a welcome opportunity to dive into the world of Lego Marvel.

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Ant-Man and Wasp Team Up in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 DLC https://www.gameskinny.com/dio3j/ant-man-and-wasp-team-up-in-lego-marvel-super-heroes-2-dlc https://www.gameskinny.com/dio3j/ant-man-and-wasp-team-up-in-lego-marvel-super-heroes-2-dlc Tue, 03 Jul 2018 10:43:38 -0400 Jonathan Moore

Ant-Man and the Wasp have been on some strange and sometimes kooky escapades over the years. However, their newest adventure -- where they'll have to overcome a giant chicken mech to defeat a nefarious villain -- might just be one of wildest yet. 

Released today, "Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp" DLC pack for LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 brings a brand-new level and new unlockable characters to the game. Inspired by the comic-book adventures of the dynamic duo, the DLC comes ahead of the anticipated Ant-Man and the Wasp theatrical release on July 6. 

Players will find themselves in Hank Pym's forgotten research laboratory -- and up against one of Ant-Man's most dastardly adversaries in Egghead. Setting out to foil the villain's newest conspiracy, Ant-Man and the Wasp must fight through waves of henchmen and a giant chicken mech to thwart his plans. 

According to a press release regarding the DLC, players will be able to unlock the following characters alongside Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Egghead: 

  • Crossfire
  • Stinger
  • The Human Fly
  • Giant-Man
  • Ghost

You can purchase the DLC now for $2.99 as a standalone item or as part of the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 Season Pass for $14.99. The Ant-Man and the Wasp DLC is available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. 

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more news and information on LEGO Marvel Super Heroes as it develops. 

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Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Season Pass Details https://www.gameskinny.com/a82d1/lego-marvel-super-heroes-2-season-pass-details https://www.gameskinny.com/a82d1/lego-marvel-super-heroes-2-season-pass-details Mon, 23 Oct 2017 17:01:03 -0400 Joey Marrazzo

At New York Comic Con, Marvel Games was present to let fans get hands-on with their upcoming game, Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2. I was lucky enough to talk to some members of the team and get more information about the game.

When Marvel Games sat down to talk about Lego Marvel 2, the first thing they decided on was to make the game better than the first. They put a lot of time into this game and it shows.

The story is based on Kang the Conquerer and the Avengers Forever comics. The game sees Kang taking superheroes from different dimensions and bringing them into his city. The superheroes team up to stop Kang from not just taking over the city, but taking over the entire universe.

The game includes all your favorite Marvel characters you would expect from Captain America, Iron Man, to the Guardians of the Galaxy and so many more. It also includes special versions of superheroes like Cowboy Captain America and 2099 Spider-Man.

If you see any of these wacky heroes and wonder where they are from, don't you worry. You can go to the character select screen and see every hero's 'trading card.' On the back of the trading card, you will find out where the heroes are from, what their origin is and even what issue comic book they made their first appearance in.

If you want to create your own superhero, the new character customization tool is more in-depth than ever. You will be able to customize every aspect of the character includes its abilities, powers, colors of certain items. If you want beams coming out of their eyes, you can have that.

While there are more than 200 characters in the main game. The game's Season Pass adds even more with four Character Packs and six Level Packs.

The four Character Packs are:

  • Out of Time
  • Champions
  • Retro Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Agents of Atlas

The six Level Packs are: 

  • Black Panther
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp
  • Infinity War
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2
  • Cloak and Dagger
  • Runaways

Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 will release November 17 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Stay tune to GameSkinny for more new and information on Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 as it develops. 

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Top 10 Longest Platformers in Video Game History https://www.gameskinny.com/ccxs6/top-10-longest-platformers-in-video-game-history https://www.gameskinny.com/ccxs6/top-10-longest-platformers-in-video-game-history Tue, 27 Jun 2017 16:59:33 -0400 Adreon Patterson

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1. Super Mario Bros.

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200.9 hours
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Of course, this list would not be complete without side-scrolling pioneer and best-seller, Super Mario Bros. In this OG iteration of the Super Mario series, ordinary plumber Mario goes on a quest to save Princess Toadstool (or Peach) and the Mushroom Kingdom from the clutches of Bowser (or King Koopa). The game's eight worlds allow for endless hours (200 to be exact) of gameplay, and lots frustration for many gamers.

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--

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While platformers may seem simple, this list proves that they are not playing around (pun intended). With the endless summer days, any player would be encouraged to test their skills with any one of these thrilling platformers. And when you're finally finished, you can brag about beating one of the longest platformers in video game history.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-maro-galaxy-3c7e2.png","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-maro-galaxy-3c7e2.png","type":"slide","id":"162739","description":"

2. Super Mario Galaxy 2

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102 hours
\n

As the follow-up to 2007's Super Mario Galaxy,  Super Mario Galaxy 2 witnesses Mario again trying to rescue Princess Peach and save the universe from Bowser by recovering Power and Grand Stars. Once more, our hero must explore various galaxies on his out-of-this-world mission. Expanding upon the space hopping original, this sequel can lead to days of endless fun for any gamer -- new and old.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/supermariogalaxy-3dcac.jpg","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/supermariogalaxy-3dcac.jpg","type":"slide","id":"162740","description":"

3. Super Mario Galaxy

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98.9 hours
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This 2007 entry into the Super Mario universe shows Mario trying to rescue Princess Peach while saving the universe from persistent enemy Bowser. In Super Mario Galaxy, our hero must explore levels consisting of galaxies filled with minor planets and worlds while dealing with variations in gravity. All this space hopping leads to hours (if not days) of gameplay for any Super Mario head.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-mario-world-75cb3.png","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-mario-world-75cb3.png","type":"slide","id":"162752","description":"

4. Super Mario World

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86.7 hours
\n

Built on side-scrolling of earlier Super Mario games, Super Mario World follows Mario and Luigi as they try to save Dinosaur Land from their ever-present nemesis, Bowser. With the introduction of Yoshi, the brothers travel through seven worlds on their mission leading to hours of play for many Super Mario fans.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/l/e/g/lego-jurassic-world-9449f.jpg","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/l/e/g/lego-jurassic-world-9449f.jpg","type":"slide","id":"162742","description":"

5. Lego Jurassic World

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51 hours
\n

This entry into the Lego video game series lets players explore all five Jurassic Park films as they solve puzzles with hints and dinosaur trivia by Mr. DNA. Each film's section in Lego Jurassic World boasts five levels apiece as players progress through the game. This all leads to hours of fun for kids and their families.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/h/o/shoot-many-robots-aac61.jpg","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/h/o/shoot-many-robots-aac61.jpg","type":"slide","id":"162744","description":"

6. Shoot Many Robots

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44 hours
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This 2012 action shooter follows a linear storyline in which the player's character must prepare for robot fights. Killing robots help in collecting nuts and power-ups and boosting experience levels as players advance in the game. All this can lead to nearly two straight days' worth of play for any gamer.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/l/e/g/lego-marvel-super-heroes-e41b2.jpg","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/l/e/g/lego-marvel-super-heroes-e41b2.jpg","type":"slide","id":"162745","description":"

7. Lego Marvel Super Heroes

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36.9 hours
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As an entry in the Lego video game series, Lego Marvel Super Heroes allows players to access over 180 Marvel superheroes and villains in order to defeat the almighty Galactus. With a shift between action-packed sequences and puzzle-solving games, any player can get lost for hours playing this entertaining game. 

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/t/o/m/tomb-raider-last-revelation-8593f.jpg","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/t/o/m/tomb-raider-last-revelation-8593f.jpg","type":"slide","id":"162747","description":"

8. Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation

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36 hours
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The fourth installment in the Tomb Raider series follows heroine Lara Croft as she searches for artifacts associated with the Egyptian god Horus before facing former mentor Werner Von Croy. With its vast linear storyline and side puzzles and games, players can spend endless hours tackling this old-school favorite.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/n/e/w/new-super-mario-bros-wii-28983.png","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/n/e/w/new-super-mario-bros-wii-28983.png","type":"slide","id":"162748","description":"

9. Super Mario Bros. Wii

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31.8 hours
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Returning to the side-scrolling of earlier Super Mario games, Super Mario Bros. Wii follows Mario as he once again must rescue Princess Peach from Bowser and his motley family. This is the first game in the series to allow multiplayer gameplay as Mario, Luigi, and Yellow and Blue Toad go through nine worlds with a total of 80 levels to complete their mission.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-mario-world-2548c.png","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-mario-world-2548c.png","type":"slide","id":"162750","description":"

10. Super Mario 3D World

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27.5 hours
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This is the third best-selling game for the Wii U, and acts a sequel to the ever-popular Super Mario 3D Land. Super Mario 3D World follows Mario and friends as they attempt to rescue the Sprixie Kingdom from the wrath of Bowser and his brood.

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With so many levels and multiplayer gameplay, this game can take awhile for any player to finish.

"},{"image":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-mario-maker-70279.jpg","thumb":"https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_85,w_97/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinnyc/s/u/p/super-mario-maker-70279.jpg","type":"slide","id":"162735","description":"

Any gamer will tell you that their ultimate goal is to beat their current video game obsession. 

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Whether it's defeating the monster or villain, conquering a rival faction or claiming the huge treasure or reward, every player wants that sense of euphoria and satisfaction you get from making all the way to the end. It's what being a gamer is all about.

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Some games are easier to finish than others. Completion can range from hours to weeks as players soldier on and try to beat the game at its own...well, game. Sometimes it can be exhausting, but it's equally rewarding as well. But it's the truly long-fought, battle-wry experiences that every gamer remembers.

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There are lots of games that run 200 hours or more in terms of play time -- especially open-world games where you can easily spend hours upon hours exploring the loads of side quests and wandering from place to place. But today we're shining a spotlight on one corner of the video game world that's hyper-focused on getting to the end of the game, no matter how long it takes to do it. I'm talking about platformers.

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Most platformers tend to take a considerable number of hours to complete. But some go above and beyond to create a truly lengthy (and truly memorable) gameplay experience. But these 10 take it to a whole new level. Why? Because they're the longest platformers in video game history.

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Is Your Valentine a Non-Gamer? These 5 Games Will Change That https://www.gameskinny.com/b45ln/is-your-valentine-a-non-gamer-these-5-games-will-change-that https://www.gameskinny.com/b45ln/is-your-valentine-a-non-gamer-these-5-games-will-change-that Sat, 11 Feb 2017 16:53:24 -0500 Rob Kershaw

We’re approaching Valentine’s Day, and what better way is there to celebrate the execution of religious martyrs than spending time with your loved ones in front of a TV? It’s what they (probably) would have wanted. However, if your significant other is a non-gamer, fear not. It is the day of love, after all, so why not help them fall in love… with games?

The great thing about the gaming industry is that there are hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from over the last four decades. Failing to find at least a few games that you can enjoy together will be nigh-on impossible, for even the pickiest of players.

But let’s assume you’ve moved on from the days of the Sinclair Spectrum and fancy something a bit more modern. The trick is to pick a game that a.) engages and b.) isn’t so difficult that it will turn off your beloved before they’ve started to enjoy it.

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions that you might want to introduce to your beau or belle as you snuggle on the couch.

Peggle

One of the most joyfully addictive games ever created, Peggle never fails to bring a smile to the face of anyone who plays it. And how could it not? It has a ridiculously simple premise: fire a ball at pegs until they all go away. Even the most ardent non-gamer can understand that.

The qualities that set Peggle apart, though, are in its meticulous presentation. Zingy colors, brilliant sound effects, wacky characters, and a tremendous, uplifting rendition of Ode to Joy, which is pelted out when you complete a level. Yet beneath the glossy veneer lies a surprisingly challenging game -- especially if you’re trying to collect all of the trophies for each level. Despite that, Peggle is never a chore to play.

It even comes with a Duel mode, so if you get bored of trying to complete a level together, you can instead get a bit more competitive and play against each other. A sequel was released which offered more of the same and an even shinier coat of paint -- but at the cost of some of the original title’s game modes. Warning: if the person you are playing Peggle with displays zero emotion throughout the session, it’s probably a sign that you need to find a new partner.

Gone Home

If you fancy something a bit more atmospheric and story-driven, Gone Home will tick all your boxes. A spooky tale of a girl returning home to an empty house and trying to work out what happened to her family, The Fullbright Company’s debut is a masterful exercise in subverting expectation. With a strong female protagonist and progressive narrative beats that finally offer a mature discussion of feminist topics, Gone Home will surprise and delight -- as well as unsettle at times.

While it’s a single-player game, it’s also not a fast-paced one. You won’t need to gun anything down or beat anything up, as the entire experience is one of exploration and discovery. It’s a perfect shared experience for couples who want to spend a few hours uncovering a mystery together. Also, it won a BAFTA, so you can play the “arty” card with utmost sincerity, and impress your true love.

You Don’t Know Jack

If your Valentine likes comedy, game shows, or both, then YDKJ will be right up their street. Packaged as part of the Jackbox Party Pack Vol. 1 on PS4 and Xbox One, this somewhat anarchic trivia quiz takes place over ten rounds and a final head-to-head. It’s hosted by the snarky Cookie Masterson, and the questions are obscure enough to make you think, but not so insanely difficult that they put you off.

They’re also presented in interesting ways, and a variety of different special rounds means that the time will simply fly by. Favorites include “The Put The Choices Into Order Then Buzz In To See If You Are Right…Question” -- which is, umm, exactly as it sounds -- and “Cookie's Fortune Cookie Fortunes (with Cookie "Fortune Cookie" Masterson)” where a nugget of generic fortune cookie wisdom is twisted into a vaguely relevant question. There’s plenty of innovation here, and the laughs come hard and fast.

Also, as it’s a quiz, competitive couples may enjoy demonstrating their knowledge of random garbage as they trying to screw over their other half. Literally -- you can use a once-per-game “screw” if you think they don’t know the answer, and if they get it wrong you’ll be given bonus points. Of course, if they do know it, you’re the one who ends up screwed.

Valentine’s Day: perfect for screwing.

Life Is Strange

Episodic adventure games have become very popular with couples over the last few years. At around two hours per episode, they offer an interactive experience, while at the same running time as an average film. The best part is that two people can shape the way the story turns out, while simultaneously learning something about the other person from the choices they made.

We could easily have mentioned The Walking Dead or The Wolf Among Us here too, and both are very valid alternatives if you’re both interested in the horror or comic-book genres. However, Dontnod Entertainment’s five-part tale of a girl called Max who is able to rewind time gets our vote for two reasons.

Firstly, the main game mechanic means that the conversational choices and the decisions you make are not necessarily set in stone, should you wish to backpedal and change them. For a gaming newbie, this may appeal immensely as it offers the option of experimentation with gameplay.

Secondly, the characters are strong, well-written (as the BAFTA would attest), and exist in a more realistic setting -- if you discount the supernatural powers that Max has. Taking control for a scene and then handing the controller over to your other half is a popular way of playing similar games, and the bond of experiencing a shared story is far more powerful than just watching a film together, since you are able to direct it yourselves.

Do yourselves a favor and step into the world of Life is StrangeBecause, given current world events, it probably won't seem that weird in comparison.

LEGO Games

If you’re looking for harmless, enjoyable, and fairly simple fun on a night in (steady, now!), you could do far worse than booting up a LEGO game for some co-op action. Aside from being colorful, intuitive, and rather addictive, they’re perfect for people who haven’t been exposed to many games -- because everyone understands LEGO.

The best thing about the LEGO series is that the film franchises they are based on are so varied that you’ll be hard-pressed to find at least one that you don’t enjoy. Whether it’s Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars or Indiana Jones, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Our pick of the series is LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, which tapped into the MCU zeitgeist at just the right time, and did so with a polished and interesting experience, oodles of fan service and a cracking score. And as it’s a co-op game, it’s even better to play with your other half since you can work together to overcome obstacles, smash up enemies and solve puzzles. What could be more romantic?

What games do you like playing with your significant other? Are they gaming fans, or did you convert them? Let us know in the comments!

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10 of the Best PS4 Games for Kids in 2016 https://www.gameskinny.com/dq33z/10-of-the-best-ps4-games-for-kids-in-2016 https://www.gameskinny.com/dq33z/10-of-the-best-ps4-games-for-kids-in-2016 Tue, 17 May 2016 04:37:59 -0400 AwesumPawsum

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If nothing on this list suited your fancy, maybe action games aren't the way to go. These are the games I tend to play with my nieces and nephews, but there are a few family friendly genres that may work better for you.

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For example, there are some good PS4 games for kids in the sports genre. They've got football, baseball, soccer and basketball games. 

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Do your kids have the need for speed? Maybe you should get them... Need for Speed. See what I did there? 

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Puzzle games may be another way to go. Brothers -- A Tale of Two SonsThe Road Not Taken or Perfect Universe are other kid-friendly PS4 games to look into. 

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Good luck, and don't forget to play these games with your kids! I know I always appreciated it when my Dad took time to play with me, and it's some of the only bonding time I really get with my nieces and nephews. 

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LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

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    \n
  • Release Date: October 22, 2013
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  • Price: $18.99
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What little boy doesn't love Marvel superheroes? Actually, scratch that -- what person alive doesn't like these guys?

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This game's been out for a while and is a blast for everyone. You get to play as a bunch of different characters, each with different powers. Not only the Avengers, but also characters like Spiderman, Wolverine and Mr. Fantastic.

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Even though there's cartoon violence, it's not gory at all. It's just LEGOs! 

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Just Dance 2016

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    \n
  • Release Date: February 18, 2014
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  • Price: $19.56
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The great thing about Just Dance 2016 versus many of the previous dance games is that it doesn't require PlayStation's camera system (PlayStation Move.) Instead, you download a free app to your smart phone that pairs with the game.

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That said, if you don't have a smartphone, you will need the PlayStation Move system to play.

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This is a great family or party game- as long as you aren't too afraid to embarrass yourself. (Or, in my case, embarrass everyone else for not having my kinda skillz.)

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/e3788b00f150aaa44b4fa45ceacc43f7.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/e3788b00f150aaa44b4fa45ceacc43f7.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8333","description":"

Rayman Legends

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    \n
  • Release Date: February 18, 2014
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  • Price: $19.56
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Rayman Legends is a fast-paced side scroller. It's a great pick for both kids and adults, as the non-stop action will entertain just about anyone. It's a very kid friendly PlayStation 4 game, although there is some cartoony, non-gory violence. 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/970a8be0ce7962371fff391ddfb0a500.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/970a8be0ce7962371fff391ddfb0a500.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8286","description":"

Knack 

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    \n
  • Release Date: November 15, 2013
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  • Price: $18.49
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Knack was one of the games that launched with the PS4 a few years ago. You play as a experimental robot that can transform itself to deal with different situations. 

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It's very kid-friendly, although (going with the trend) there is some violence in this game. 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/95f320a92ce84e30ecac3a8a5a43f286.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/95f320a92ce84e30ecac3a8a5a43f286.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8285","description":"

Hasbro Family Fun Pack 

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    \n
  • Release Date: October 20, 2015
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  • Price: $23.75
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 Somehow this game seemed to skate under the radar. Maybe because the concept isn't exactly revolutionary. This is basically a 4 pack of classic games -- Monopoly, Risk, Trivia Pursuit and Scrabble

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...but don't let the simplicity fool you. This game is actually a lot more fun than just playing the board games, because the PS4 graphics help bring it to life. It's a great PS4 kids game that lets them with friends and family or against people on the PlayStation Network. 

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And paying less than $24 for all 4 games is a no-brainer. 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/2c9b04a2a2cbfba19453dd7fd21a38ad.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/2c9b04a2a2cbfba19453dd7fd21a38ad.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8284","description":"

The LEGO Movie Videogame 

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    \n
  • Release Date: February 7,  2014
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  • Price: $15.99
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The LEGO Movie was a lot funnier than I think most people expected -- myself included.

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And even though playing the game isn't quite the same as seeing the movie for the first time, it's still a lot of fun! You play as Emmett, and meet all of his crazy new friends along the way.

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This is another co-op game-up to two players can play at once. 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/2c5dd610200c57b2dd44f6582fb55142.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/2c5dd610200c57b2dd44f6582fb55142.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8282","description":"

Minecraft 

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    \n
  • Release Date: September 4, 2014
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  • Price: $18.00
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Minecraft was designed almost as a joke, but has taken the world by storm. People of all ages have built all kinds of crazy things, from enormous cities and castles in the sky to deep, dark dungeons. 

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There are two ways to play -- Survival and Creative. Survival mode has some violence, there's no blood. A few blocks fall apart -- that's about it. If your kids choose to play Creative Mode, there's zero violence because the goal of that mode is to just build whatever you want! 

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Another good thing about this game is that your kids can play together, which makes building go much faster! 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/35ae1194c0dc54d0d300c80115021820.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/35ae1194c0dc54d0d300c80115021820.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8281","description":"

Little Big Planet 3

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    \n
  • Release Date: November 18, 2014
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  • Price: $17.92
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If I had to pick just one PS4 game for kids to recommend, it's Little Big Planet 3. It was clearly designed to be kid-friendly, although adults have loved the game, too. 

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It's basically an adventure-puzzle game, where you use these stringy little heroes through various levels and obstacles. 

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The best part is that it can be played co-op. Either you can play with your children, or they can play with each other. Can't beat that for less than $18 bucks!

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/9e1553b4e21ea0b7e2686aac4513efc5.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/9e1553b4e21ea0b7e2686aac4513efc5.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8280","description":"

Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition

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    \n
  • Release Date: August 28, 2015
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  • Price: $41.78
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This one is a mixed bag to be honest. Kids LOVE the Disney Infinite game, which now has 3 different editions. Each edition added new characters and content.

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The bad news is that Disney recently announced they won't continue adding content to the game. But you can still buy everything they've already released, and your children will get hours and hours of enjoyment from it. 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/4b9877b9cd57db1f0a6cf764cb2822f3.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_80/v1/gameskinny/4b9877b9cd57db1f0a6cf764cb2822f3.jpg","type":"youtube","id":"8276","description":"

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Mutants in Manhattan 

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    \n
  • Release Date: May 24, 2016
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  • Price: $49.99
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Growing up, I couldn't get enough of the Ninja Turtles. I watched the movies, played all the video games, had the action figures... you know the drill. 

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Just like you'd expect, this game will have some PG violence to it. But if your kid is old enough to appreciate the TMNT without being influenced to beat up everyone around them, this is a great option. 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_360,q_80,w_640/v1/gameskinnyc/p/s/4/ps4-kids-a6789.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_85,q_80,w_97/v1/gameskinnyc/p/s/4/ps4-kids-a6789.jpg","type":"slide","id":"117004","description":"

Finding the right PS4 games for kids isn't easy. Most games tend to be fairly violent and are tailored towards older kids, if not teenagers. 

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Fortunately, there are a lot of great family-friendly games out there. If none of the following games sound appealing to you, there are a few genres that are typically very family-friends. Racing and sports games come to mind, as well as puzzle games. 

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Don't see the game you're looking for here? Check out our other best games lists here: 

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5 Marvel Games to Play in Preparation for "Civil War" https://www.gameskinny.com/1qdc8/5-marvel-games-to-play-in-preparation-for-civil-war https://www.gameskinny.com/1qdc8/5-marvel-games-to-play-in-preparation-for-civil-war Mon, 02 May 2016 10:30:02 -0400 Donald Strohman

[{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_360,q_80,w_640/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil6-921eb.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_85,q_80,w_97/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil6-921eb.jpg","type":"slide","id":"113984","description":"
1. Marvel Ultimate Alliance
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PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox, 360, Wii, PC

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Considered by fans to be one of the best superhero titles Marvel has offered thus far, Marvel Ultimate Alliance was like having your Avengers fantasy before the film ever released. Developed by Raven Software and released by Activision, this 2006 title starred many of the heroes you've come to know and love, such as Ghost Rider, Captain America, and Spiderman. Allowing you to pick and choose the team you wanted in battle, Ultimate Alliance was met with very positive reception and fans found themselves enjoying the adventure. If you happen to pick this one up and love it, they even developed a sequel Ultimate Alliance 2 you can play immediately afterwards! 

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Captain America: Civil War is set to release on May 6, 2016. Whether you find yourself on Team Cap or Team Iron Man, we hope you can all agree that these titles should satisfy any Marvel fan looking to have fun during their wait. If there's any awesome Marvel games we missed, be sure to comment and let us know your favorite superhero game! 

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_360,q_80,w_640/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil5-502aa.png","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_85,q_80,w_97/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil5-502aa.png","type":"slide","id":"113983","description":"
2. Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3
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PS3, 360, Vita

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Sure, Capcom may not be in the best spot right now with it's fan base, and some could even argue that this specific game's development had some shady DLC practices, but the core mechanics and gleeful fun of this fighting game still remains as strong as ever.

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Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 pits some of Capcom's signature heroes and villains against those of the Marvel Universe. You don't even have to be a giant fan of either franchise to find a lot of enjoyment and fun to be had here. Whether it's Deadpool's fourth wall jokes or Ryu's Street Fighter brawl techniques, just about everyone can jump right in and have a blast.

"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_360,q_80,w_640/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil4-eac52.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_85,q_80,w_97/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil4-eac52.jpg","type":"slide","id":"113982","description":"
3. Lego Marvel's Avengers
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PS4, PS3, Xbox One, 360, Vita, Wii U, 3DS

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Marvel alone is a giant money making machine, so who would have guessed that releasing Lego theme Marvel games would be an even bigger cash grab? After the success of the Lego Star Wars video games, Lego and developer Traveler's Tales eventually branched off into other major franchises, such as Indiana JonesPirates of the Caribbean, and eventually Marvel.

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Lego Marvel's Avengers serves as a more family oriented tie in to the Avengers film franchise, containing all the fun and joy of watching these Marvel heroes fight together, while also retaining that signature Lego charm and wit. If you're also interested, a Lego Marvel Superheroes game was also developed centering around some of Marvel's most signature heroes. 

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"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_360,q_80,w_640/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil3-b1929.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_85,q_80,w_97/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil3-b1929.jpg","type":"slide","id":"113981","description":"
4. The Amazing Spiderman
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PS3, 360, Wii, Wii U, Vita, 3DS, Windows, Mobile

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While not officially an Avenger yet, with Spiderman's appearance in the Civil War trailers and Sony Pictures deciding to coincide with Marvel Studios to release future Spider Man flicks, Peter Parker's future as a potential Avenger is only just beginning. So, you might as well enjoy some Spiderman video games while you're at it! 

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If you don't happen to have a copy of Spiderman 2 on your PS2 or original Xbox, regarded as the pinnacle of Spiderman game titles, a great alternative is The Amazing Spiderman released alongside the Andrew Garfield 2012 film feature. Most players complimented the fun and spectacle the game had to offer, especially towards the PlayStation 3 version which has the highest ratings on Metacritic. 

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"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_360,q_80,w_640/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil2-346e3.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_85,q_80,w_97/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil2-346e3.jpg","type":"slide","id":"113980","description":"
5. Captain America: Super Soldier
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 PS3, 360, Wii, 3DS

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Released to coincide with Captain America: the First Avenger, this third person action adventure title centers around Steve Rodgers fighting his way through World War II Europe against the evil forces of HYDRA. If you find yourself alligning with "Team Cap," Super Soldier serves as a perfect gateway to show your support for the man of red, white and blue, thanks to the numerous amount of Nazis you get to punch directly in the face!

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"},{"image":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_360,q_80,w_640/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil-12500.jpg","thumb":"http://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,e_sharpen:150,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_85,q_80,w_97/v1/gameskinnyc/a/c/i/acivil-12500.jpg","type":"slide","id":"113978","description":"

With Captain America: Civil War just around the corner with its May 6th release, comic book nerds around the globe are anticipating what Marvel Studios will be throwing their way next. Whether it's waiting to see Tony Stark and Steve Rodgers punch the snot out of each other, or seeing whose side will triumph in the battle of "Freedom vs safety," Civil War is expected to be one of the summer's biggest releases with box office predictions ranging around a $190 million intake in the opening weekend alone.

However, with the film's release still a little bit of a ways away, fans are brushing up on their comic book fandom in preparation. Some theater providers, such as Regal, are even providing a Captain America Movie marathon (in certain locations) on May 5th leading up to the premiere of Civil War. Yet, for those looking to stay at home and enjoy their love of Marvel heroes through gaming, we've picked out five games you should make sure to play to satiate your craving for immediate Captain America action.

"}]]]>
5 Franchises We Want to See in Lego Dimensions https://www.gameskinny.com/ijtsb/5-franchises-we-want-to-see-in-lego-dimensions https://www.gameskinny.com/ijtsb/5-franchises-we-want-to-see-in-lego-dimensions Tue, 09 Feb 2016 01:09:03 -0500 Venisia Gonzalez

We are all huge fans of the Lego games that come into our lives to offer a little humor and a lot of fun. From franchise-specific games to Lego Dimensions, Lego characters have a place in our hearts. It's also obvious the developers love them as well.

Lego Dimensions currently features wonderful characters from fourteen franchises. You'll find DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, The Lego Movie, The Wizard of Oz, Portal 2, Lego Ninjago, Lego Legends of Chima, Jurassic World, Doctor Who, The Simpsons, Ghostbusters, Scooby-Doo, Back to the Future, and Midway Arcade.

But there are always more characters just waiting to be added. Here are our picks for franchises that would make great additions to Lego Dimensions.

Harry Potter

Warner Bros. has brought the wonderful world of Harry Potter to life in Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7. Who can say it wouldn't fit perfectly in Lego Dimensions? Many fans are hoping their favorite beloved characters make their way into the game.

Characters like:

  • Harry Potter
  • Hermione Granger
  • Ron Weasley
  • Sirius Black
  • Professor Dumbledore
  • Professor Snape
  • Lord Voldemort

Marvel Universe

With games like Lego Superheroes and Lego Marvel Avengers, fitting these characters into Dimension seems like a no-brainer. There are already characters from the DC Universe, so why not add Marvel?

Imagine having Batman and Ironman, or Frodo and Hulk being required to work together against the forces of Lord Vortech. Imagine the back-and-forth dialogue between The Doctor and Tony Stark. That alone would have me in stitches thinking about the ultimate Sumo wrestling of brain power.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

These Kung Fu, pizza-eating, mutated turtles are the ultimate in fun. Since the 1980s, they have captured the heart of fans young and older. The Lego Multiverse just seems incomplete without the TMNT teaming up to protect the Twelve Foundational Elements.

We'd love to see some of the great characters from the series, such as:

  • Donatello
  • Michaelangelo
  • Leonardo
  • Raphael
  • Splinter
  • Shredder
  • April O'Neil
  • Casey Jones
  • Karai

Lord Vortech would have a run for his money with Shredder and the Foot Clan in a bid for control.

Plants vs. Zombies

Plants vs. Zombies is such a beloved series. This adorable Walking Dead of gardening has found its way from mobile to consoles, to even comics by Paul Tobin. Any of the hilarious characters would be fun to see as an addition.

Characters such as:

  • Sunflower
  • Disco Zombie
  • Chomper
  • Zombie Yeti
  • Gatling Peashooter
  • Dr. Zomboss

Firefly

Firefly is a cult favorite by Joss Whedon. This science-fiction/western didn't last long on air, but stayed forever in the hearts of fans. Fitting in the beloved characters, prior to Serenity, would definitely make Lego Dimensions a must-buy on principal!

Character favorites include:

  • Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds
  • Zoe Washburne
  • River Tam
  • Kaywinnet Lee "Kaylee" Frye
  • Jayne Cobb
  • Hoban "Wash" Washburne

How you'd like a Firefly-class spaceship—anyone?

What do you think of our suggestions? Do you have any recommendations for franchises that you'd like to see in Lego Dimensions? Let us know in the comments.

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E3 2015 Announces LEGO: Marvel's Avengers - Coming Winter 2015 https://www.gameskinny.com/e8mjk/e3-2015-announces-lego-marvels-avengers-coming-winter-2015 https://www.gameskinny.com/e8mjk/e3-2015-announces-lego-marvels-avengers-coming-winter-2015 Wed, 24 Jun 2015 20:40:32 -0400 Courtney Gamache

If you're familiarized with LEGO games, you might want to look foward to this new addition in the franchise, where our favorite super hero team is back again to kick some Chitauri around the city of LEGO New York.

Similar to LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes

You might be wondering what makes this game different from LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes. Well first thing to know is that this is the first LEGO game based on a super hero movie, and that this game includes real voice-tracks, taken from the original Avengers movie. It's comparibly very similar in the fact that there are over 150 characters upon the roster, which happens to not include the costume options. You'll have the ability to form a core team with the super heros of your choice.

There's no "I" in Team

One of the great features about LEGO: Marvel's Avengers is the emphasis on teamwork, and utilizing it within this new game. There will be combat combos between characters, while also adding multiple characteristics that pertain to the specific characters. An example would include the electric suit Black Widow possesses in the movie, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and also the firearms she uses in the original Avengers. Like with other LEGO games, this will offer local co-op where you can team up with a friend and perform said combos together.

It's a LEGO Game, Right?

As with most previous LEGO games, certain characters will have abilities in-game that are special to them. This was previously seen in LEGO: Harry Potter Years 1-4, LEGO: Harry Potter Years 5-7, LEGO: Lord of the Rings, and LEGO: The Hobbit. In LEGO: Lord of the Rings, Legolas had a special ability to shoot arrows into holds and swing upon them. This is also seen in LEGO: Marvel's Avengers, where Hawkeye can shoot arrows into holds for himself and his teammates to swing on. 

There will also be an open-world game option as previously seen in LEGO: Marvel Super Heros, where side missions are plenty and characters have stand-by animations. You'll be able to adventure through the streets of New York, aiding to wipe up the Chitauri scum.

Tell me the Consoles!

According to Brickipedia, that LEGO: Marvel's Avengers will be available for the: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, PC, and Steam. They really spoiled us with these options, giving everyone a fair shot at playing this game on the console of their choice.

Hurry and Take My LEGO Bits!

Although there is a long wait for this new Marvel LEGO addition, the most recent game, LEGO: Jurassic World, became available on Steam June 11th. The game covers Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Jurassic Park III, and Jurassic World. The characters span over all the movies, letting us re-live the iconic soundtrack, with voice-tracks taken from the movies. In the meantime you'll be able to find this game on your Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, PC, and of course Steam

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Guinness Video Game World Records Players Don't Know About https://www.gameskinny.com/zi0nz/guinness-video-game-world-records-players-dont-know-about https://www.gameskinny.com/zi0nz/guinness-video-game-world-records-players-dont-know-about Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:12:10 -0400 Game Oracle

Interactive entertainment is one of the most robust industries on planet Earth, constantly setting the Guinness record bar higher, with numbers that continue to stagger both video game experts and gamers from year to year.  

Gartner, the world's leading information technology research and advisory company, expects console and PC video games combined sales to reach 77 billion this year. 

Popular video games in the interactive entertainment industry now hold many Guinness world records. World records you don't know about that will astound and entertain you. 

Below you'll discover things about Final Fantasy, Mario Kart, Gran Turismo, Minecraft, and the Lego video game franchise you don't know.

We hope it teaches you a little more about some of the video games you love to play and offers information and facts that will impress friends and fellow gamers.

Final Fantasy World Records 

With a popularity that has spawned a television series, a radio station, and Tokyo's Eorzea Café, the Final Fantasy video game series now holds two Guinness world records. 

The most soundtracks by a video game series?

With over 173 popular and entertaining soundtracks in circulation, Final Fantasy is the world record holder in this category.  

This roster of soundtracks includes video games in the series up until 2010, but not the Chocobo spin-offs. 

What's the first radio station dedicated to a video game series?

Launched on Nov 17, 2008 by Square Enix and AOL Radio, Final Fantasy Radio was the first station dedicated to playing soundtracks created for a video game.

Featuring 200 popular tracks from one of the most popular video game series in history, Final Fantasy Radio went off-air in 2004, but was reborn in 2006 due to popular demand, under an independent banner. 

Gran Turismo World Records

Just seconds ahead of Xbox's Forza Motorsports series in the driving simulation category, PlayStation's Gran Turismo currently holds four Guinness world records.  

Which is the most expensive virtual car? 

With a roster of virtual vehicles designed to turn heads and keep gamers on the edge of their seats, Gran Turismo 6 is a popular title in the series.  

The best part is gamers can get the keys to a Jaguar XJ13 Chrome Line playing Gran Turismo 6, now the most expensive virtual car in the world, at just $196 in online microtransactions.  

The longest run for a racing video game on top-selling charts? 

Gran Turismo 5 spent 155 weeks on VGChartz's 75 top-selling video game rundown, ending on November 9, 2013.  

Just a month later, Gran Turismo 6 would take top spot on VGChartz's list of top-selling video games.

The most successful virtual-to-reality competition is?

Over 4 million Gran Turismo 6 gamers have take part in the GT Academy competition since its inception in 2008, hoping to land a seat driving a real racing car.  

Which is the fastest virtual race car?

The Red Bull X2011 seen in Gran Turismo 5 & 6 features a 1,635 hp engine and can reach a maximum speed of 386 mph (622 kph). Watch this YouTube video of the car at speed.  

Lego World Records 

First seen in 1932, Lego didn't debut in video games until 1997, in different genres.

The Lego video game series holds four Guinness world records. 

What's the most prolific video game series based on a toy?  

Since first appearing in video games in Lego Island in 1997, there have been 49 Lego video games released, as of June 10, 2014. 

The most prolific developer of toy-based video games ever is? 

Developer TT Games has released 20 titles under the Lego brand, making it the most prolific developer of video games based on a toy. 

What's the best-selling superhero video game ever made?  

Lego Batman: The Videogame sold 12.63 million copies as of June 10, 2014.

What's the most critically acclaimed video game based on a toy? 

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy for the PC, based on the television series, is the highest rated video game based on a toy line. 

Which title has the most playable characters in an action/adventure genre video game? 

Lego Marvel Super Heroes includes a total of 180 playable characters and over a billion unique characters using the hero customization system included with the title.  

Mario Kart World Records 
What's the best-selling racing video game of all time?  

Mario Kart Wii sold 34.53 million copies as of July 8, 2014. Making it the biggest selling karting and racing video game of all time. 

Minecraft World Records 
What's the largest Indie video gaming convention ever held?  

Minecon 2013 was attended by over 7500 fanatical Minecraft gamers in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on 2-13 Nov 2013.  

Only 50 gamers showed up for the first Minecon held in 2010, but this number would increase to 4500 fanatical players in 2011, and the rest is history.  

What's the first video game to model a country of the world in full-scale?  

During April 2014, the Danish Geodata Agency launched a 1:1 recreation of Denmark in Minecraft, which includes every building and feature of the 43,000 sq km country for players to explore, rendered using around 4 billion blocks.  

What's the most played Xbox Live video game ever? 

As of May 2014, Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition players had logged around 1.75 billion hours, or 199,772 years playing Minecraft. 

What's the best-selling Xbox Live title ever?  

As of April 2014, Minecraft has sold 12.4 million copies of the Xbox 360 Edition. 

I hope you have enjoyed the read and the information offered has entertained and taught you things you didn't know about many of the video games you love to play.

These facts will impress and astound fellow gamers, friends, and family with the trivia you know concerning the video games we love to play. 

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April 2014 NPD Numbers are Live https://www.gameskinny.com/01us3/april-2014-npd-numbers-are-live https://www.gameskinny.com/01us3/april-2014-npd-numbers-are-live Fri, 16 May 2014 05:54:00 -0400 Rocky Linderman

The NPD has released sales numbers for the month of April. 

Every month the NPD, a group that independently tracks sales across a number of different industries including video game software and hardware sales, posts a list of the industry's best sellers. Here's a look at the games and hardware that dominated April.  

Hardware Sales

Microsoft confirmed 115,000 Xbox Ones and 71,000 Xbox 360s were sold during the month of April - the PS4 retains its lead. However, Sony has not confirmed the number of consoles sold at the time of this writing. 

When combining sales for hardware, software, and accessories, $580.3 million were spent by gamers during the month of April. That's up 17 percent from last year during the same period. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One boosted hardware sales by seventy-six percent when compared to the previous year. That's a staggering increase from $109.5 million to $192.8 million for this month alone. Clearly the video game industry is thriving thanks in large part to the release of Sony and Microsoft's new consoles.

With the announcement of the new Kinectless Xbox One, it'll be interesting to see how Microsoft's console fairs during the next month. Will consumers not buy Xbox Ones at all in anticipation of the price cut on June 9? Or will sales continue to chug right along?  

Software Sales

The NPD only tracks sales numbers for physical copies of games sold, so this list does not cover games sold digitally. It is also worth noting that the NPD list places the console that the game sold the highest number on first. For example, Titanfall sold best on Xbox 360 so it's listed first in parenthesis. That being said, here's the list of the top 10 selling titles for the month of April:

1. Titanfall (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC)

2. Call of Duty: Ghosts (Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) 

3. NBA 2k14 (Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, PC) 

4. Minecraft (Xbox 360) 

5. Lego: The Hobbit (Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, 3DS, Wii U, Vita) 

6. The Lego Movie Videogame (Xbox 360, 3DS, PS3, Wii U, Xbox One, PS4, Vita)

7. Lego Marvel Super Heroes (Xbox 360, PS3, DS, 3DS, PS4, Wii U, Xbox One, Vita, PC)

8. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, 3DS)

9. Grand Theft Auto V (360, PS3)

10. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, PC)

Wow, Minecraft? Still? Seriously? 
]]>
The Top 10 Games on the Wii U So Far... and What is Coming https://www.gameskinny.com/r4vhq/the-top-10-games-on-the-wii-u-so-far-and-what-is-coming https://www.gameskinny.com/r4vhq/the-top-10-games-on-the-wii-u-so-far-and-what-is-coming Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:44:11 -0400 NorthwestGamer

To this date, the Wii U has not exactly had a successful run, and there is no obvious reason for it. The console has some great games, the gamepad, and it is not too expensive.

This might have something to do with it being targeted at casual gamers and not offering huge improvements over the Wii; most casual gamers are okay with settling for the Wii for cheaper. It also might be that fact that most gamers buy just one console, the largest audience right now is in first-person shooters, so most people lean towards Xbox or PlayStation.

Many of you might not know it, but there has never been a better time to buy a Wii U. The big question right now is "Will Mario Kart 8 save the Wii U?" and, if not Mario Kart 8, then "Will the new Super Smash Bros. save the Wii U?"

While this might seem far-fetched, many people, including myself, will be buying a Wii U just for those games. In fact, I have already preordered Mario Kart 8, and I have not bought my Wii U yet... I should probably get on that.

Top 10 Games on the Wii U

Anyways, for all of those people who are about to enter the Miiverse with a brand new Wii U, you may want to know what other games you have been missing out on. So, without further ado, I bring you the top 10 games that are out for the Wii U.

10) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

LEGO Marvel Superheroes

This will not be a new game for those coming from other consoles, but LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is one of the best installments in the LEGO series to date. Released on a total of 9 platforms, the Wii U version of this game was in no way a cheap port and, being a family-friendly game, I am not surprised.

That is what the Wii U is all about, being able to take a game and have a large group of people, of all ages, have a great time. The LEGO series has always fit that theme perfectly, providing great cooperative and single-player gameplay. With around 150 player-controllable super heroes from such a fantastic lineup, it is hard to resist the pull of Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

Even though it is such a cross-platform series, I would say the Lego games are most significant on the Wii U because it matches the audience perfectly. The Wii U is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, just like the Lego games.

9) Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

While Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate has been a fairly popular game in North America and other areas of the world, nothing comes close to measuring up to the astounding popularity the franchise has received for the Japanese version.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is an action-roleplaying game available on both the Wii U and the 3DS, with the option to transfer your save data back and forth between the two versions. The versions are generally similar, with the main differences being the improved graphics and online capabilities of the Wii U version.

This game has had a huge impact on RPG gamers for the Wii U. Nintendo already has games like Zelda to bring in RPG lovers, but a game like Monster Hunter brings in that crowd that favors the action-RPGs.

8) Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition

Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition

"Its a bird! It's a plane! It's su- ... oh wait." 

Batman's Arkham series has been a hit since the beginning. While Arkham Origins may not have had the success of its predecessors, Arkham Asylum and Arkham City were undeniably great, and Arkham Knight looks like it will return to being that way. 

Generally, Arkham City is considered the best game in the series and Wii U fans rejoiced when the Dark Knight came riding on over to the platform. This version of the game also comes packaged with a Battle Armored Tech mode, all the content of the original, and more bonuses.

This installment in the Arkham games made a big impact to Wii U gamers because it was the first of the series to make it to a Nintendo console after it predecessor, Arkham Asylum, excluded Nintendo.

7) CastleStorm

CastleStorm

CastleStorm has released for a multitude of platforms; however, for whatever reason, it has had the best reception on the Wii U. The game is a side-scrolling tower defense game that released for the Xbox 360 first and was then ported to different platforms throughout 2013.

This game does have quite a few kinks, but the overall gameplay makes it so that you can still have a great time with this game. This game is similar to a lot of flash games online, but just taken into more depth and developed as a full, paid game.

Just like Lego Marvel Super Heroes, CastleStorm is more significant on the Wii U that any other console because it is a casual game on a console that caters to casual gamers.

6) Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is another game that got a rerelease for the Wii U and, like Arkham City, they didn't screw it up (unlike Deus Ex: The Fall). The Director's Cut version that was made for the Wii U is the same version that was released for PC.

Human Revolution was, in almost every way, a complete success and is one of the few games of its kind available for the Wii U. For this reason, it is one of the top games to check out for the Wii U. It may be more designed for the other consoles, but Deus Ex is just as good on the Wii U and does not have much competition on the console.

5) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Tropical Freeze just released less than 2 months ago and has been a huge success. It is the newest installment in the Donkey Kong Country games and, as always, Nintendo has done a wonderful job. 

Beautifully presented for the first time in HD, thanks to the Wii U, Tropical Freeze will be a blast for Donkey Kong veterans and newcomers alike. If there is any place that Nintendo never disappoints, its in their platformers, and this game is no exception.

Along with other Nintendo classics, such as the Mario games or Zelda games, Donkey Kong has always come stomping in with his own successful game every generation. From the original, Donkey Kong, to this famous series, Donkey Kong Country, there was definitely a very positive impact made by Tropical Freeze's release.

4) Pikmin 3

Pikmin 3

For some reason, I have always felt like Pikmin has been the forgotten series and I have no idea why. They are spectacular games, but they always seem to be one of the series that people haven't heard from. Too often do I hear, "oh hey, that's the guy from Super Smash Bros.!"

Don't get me wrong, Super Smash Bros. is a great series, but how have people not seen Olamar, or at least the Pikmin, before? For those of you who are big Super Smash Bros. fans and enjoyed throwing Pikmin, try the actual Pikmin games, you will enjoy throwing Pikmin even more.

In the past, Pikmin has not has as much of an impact as I would hope for, so hopefully this Wii U installment will turn the tables. It is certainly deserving of some attention.

3) Rayman Legends

Rayman Legends

I don't know if I'm the only one, but, when I saw a Rayman game for the first time, I could not believe it was successful. I don't know why, but for some reason the whole style and idea seemed like something that wouldn't work to me.

Wow, did those developers prove me wrong. This game was designed so well, they managed to take an idea that most companies would butcher and turn it into a work of art. The gameplay, the style, the environment, everything about this game is beautiful and should be on everybody's list.

2) The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Wind Waker HD

There is not much to say about this game other than "they didn't screw it up." The original Wind Waker  was a beautiful game. It may not have been on the same level as its predecessor, Ocarina of Time, but that doesn't change the pure quality of Wind Waker.

Too often do these HD or anniversary remakes get rushed, but Nintendo is not a company known for mistakes like this. Whether you have played the original or not, Wind Waker is a work of art for anybody who has any interest in action RPGs.

Just like Ocarina of Time 3D was for the 3DS, this game is a huge milestone for the Wii U. One thing gamers love is the games that they grew up on, and beautiful HD remakes, such as this, can really put those memories into a whole new light.

1) Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D World

Nintendo never ceases to amaze me with how they keep on delivering with the Mario games. A fat, Italian plumber with no in-depth universe and a very basic plot that never gets old. Somehow, they keep doing it.

Not only do they keep making great games of their classic style, this time New Super Mario Bros. U, but they keep introducing new series' that are great. For the Wii it was Super Mario Galaxy, one of the best games of the console. This time, it's Super Mario 3D World.

Not only has Nintendo delivered a great new Wii U game, but they also have brought a 3DS counterpart that is just as good, Super Mario 3D Land. If there is any game, currently available, that you buy the Wii U for, then it should be this game.

I don't know what they have planned next, but I do know that, for now, this could be regarded as the defining game of the Wii U. With no prequels, this truly shows that, this many years later, Nintendo still has many aces up its sleeve.

Big Upcoming Titles

Along with the stellar lineup that the Wii U already has, several big new titles will be arriving soon. The future of the Wii U sure looks bright, let's hope that these games can bring a little more popularity to Nintendo's home console.

Mario Kart 8 - May 30, 2014

I may be getting a little ahead of myself, but I believe that this game will take Super Mario 3D World's #1 spot after it releases. This may be an exaggeration, it would not be easy to dethrone Super Mario 3D World, but let's keep in mind that Mario Kart is always one of the, if not the biggest game of each Nintendo console.

Mario Kart 7 was, in my opinion, a better installment than both of the last-generation Mario Kart games, Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart DS. Some new, game-changing features, such as kart customization, bring the series to a new era and Mario Kart 8 will follow that trend.

This game is likely to be the most significant Wii U release to date. The Mario Kart series has been a staple series for Nintendo with, in my opinion, not a single bad game. Get your karts ready and expect a lot from this new racer.

Super Smash Bros. (Wii U) - Q4 2014

It's Super Smash Bros., need I say more?

Okay, maybe some of you would like to hear more. This generation, for the first time ever, Super Smash Bros. will be coming to both the console and the handheld. Currently the title for both of them is just Super Smash Bros., with no announced subtitle. I assume at some point a subtitle will be added, but it could be like the new Tomb Raider or Thief.

The 3DS version of the game will be releasing this summer and the Wii U version will be releasing this winter. Both versions host the same character line-up, and it is an impressive lineup. New details are coming out all the time, so keep up to date!

Similarly to Mario KartSuper Smash Bros. has had a flawless record. The series has not run as long as the Mario Kart series, but with the series finally crossing to DS we might be able to expect some extra work put into this fighter.

Watch Dogs - Q4 2014

As some of you may know, Watch Dogs is releasing next month; however, it will be having a delayed release date for the Wii U (well, more delayed, seeing how the original release was delayed, too). 

Most people's first reaction to a game like Watch Dogs is, "it's like Grand Theft Auto." People did the same thing with Sleeping Dogs and I understand it. While there are other successful games of the genre, Grand Theft Auto does have quite the oligopoly.

Regardless, Watch Dogs is in many ways not like Grand Theft Auto. The main subject of this game is the hacking, which enables Aiden Pearce, our protagonist, to tap into different devices. This includes pedestrians' cellular devices.

So what make Watch Dogs stand out from some of the GTA competitors? A lot of these games fail to have the same attention to detail that Rockstar provides. From what we have seen so far, Ubisoft's Chicago is going to be one of the most detailed, content-heavy open-world games in the genre. Also, do not forget that Grand Theft Auto, and most of its competitors, are not on the Wii U. Ubisoft has gone the extra mile and taken the monopoly of the genre for Wii U.

Hyrule Warriors - 2014

This game could go one of two ways. It is a spinoff of the Legend of Zelda series that features a hack 'n' slash, dungeon-crawler style gameplay. I have only seen a limited amount of gameplay, but think Kingdoms of Amalur with a lot more funding. 

The reason I say this game could go two ways is basically just that it's a spinoff. There have been a lot of really good spinoffs, but there have been about 5 bad ones for every good one; however, having said that, Nintendo has a good track record with spinoffs and not butchering a series. You could pretty much say every Mario series is a spinoff of the original game. Look at Mario KartMario PartyMario GolfMario Tennis, and many others.

The last big spin-off in the Zelda series would probably be Four Swords, which just recently was offered free on 3DS. Bringing the Zelda universe to a new genre could bring in a whole new audience to the Wii U.

Bayonetta 2 - TBA

If the Mario Kart and Zelda games aren't the kind that pull you to Nintendo's consoles, then you might be interested in Bayonetta 2. The original Bayonetta released to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but not the Wii. Now, the tables have turned and Bayonetta 2 will be available exclusively on the Wii U.

For many Bayonetta fans, this might be the final push you need to go out and buy a new Wii U. The game will still be developed by Platinum Games, but this time Nintendo will take over publishing duties. Sega is still part of the process, but they have been labeled as the "advisor."

This game has the potential to make a huge impact on the Wii U. By making that transition from an Xbox and PS3 game to a Wii U exclusive could bring its audience with it. Who knows how many die hard fans will be buying Wii Us when this game releases.

Conclusion

Okay, so the Wii U has not had the best sales record, and there is no guarantee that it will improve; however, I feel, and really hope, that it will. With the library of great titles constantly expanding how can people continue to resist? I will be heading out any day to grab my Wii U in time for Mario Kart 8, are you with me?

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The Top 10 Games of the New Generation So Far https://www.gameskinny.com/hzk0r/the-top-10-games-of-the-new-generation-so-far https://www.gameskinny.com/hzk0r/the-top-10-games-of-the-new-generation-so-far Thu, 27 Mar 2014 20:03:46 -0400 NorthwestGamer

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LEGO Marvel Superheroes - PS4, Xbox One

\n

It can definitely be hard to be a huge fan of the LEGO series. If you play all the games in the series then you start doing the same things over and over again; however, the design of these video games has always been great, and they keep on selling. LEGO Marvel Superheroes is one of the best installments in the series and is one that I highly recommend. Don't play all of the LEGO games, just play the best ones - like this one.

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Rayman Legends - PS4, Xbox One

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It was trivial considering this a top game of the new generation. This game came out way back in August and was only ported to the new consoles in the last month; however, the quality of this game just cannot be ignored. It is like a Nintendo classic, its targeted for family, and is a great game regardless of who or what age you are.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/c19cc4ae652641dfd22d16e450514b49.png","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_c19cc4ae652641dfd22d16e450514b49.png","type":"slide","id":"41464","description":"

Towerfall: Ascension - PS4

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Originally published on the Ouya - yeah, that console actually sold a few units - Towerfall: Ascension has returned to the PC and the PS4, and it is a fantastic game. One of the top-rated games of the generation so far, this game hits its peak when you get 3/4 players going. The multiplayer is local-only, so you will need a set of controllers and friends at your place, but it is worth it. The multiplayer is one of the greatest experiences in modern-gaming and is one of the few games out there that provides for a fun game with that many people on one console.

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Forza Motorsport 5 - Xbox One

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Since the beginning, Microsoft has lured racing fans to its console with one of the most successful and well-designed racing games on the market. The newest installment is definitely not the best that they have released; in fact it might be worst, but the worst Forza Motorsport is still a great game - and better than most of the Need for Speed games coming out these days. If nothing else makes this game stand out from its predecessors, the visual upgrade from the console generation makes this game a must-try for racing fans.

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NBA 2K14 - PS4, Xbox One

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A decade ago, gamers had their choice between EA or 2K for a variety of sports games, but in series such as NHL, EA was just laughing at 2K. These days, EA has a monopoly on most of the sports series, but 2K has kept control of NBA and done a great job of it. With just one great installment after the next, the series has continued its streak nicely into the newest generation.

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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition - PS4, Xbox One

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Many people have said that they do not think you should buy the definitive edition of Tomb Raider because it does not add enough to the original... but there is a whole crop of people who have not played this game yet and have a next-gen console. So, if you have not tried this game, then I recommend buying this edition, but if you played the original, then I would not recommend it just to play it again in "next-gen graphics."

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Resogun - PS4

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It has been years since a successful game has released in this genre. I am thinking back to early last generation when Aegis Wing was packaged on the old Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged disc included with your new 360. The attention to detail present in Resogun, from the big bosses down to the most insignificant of grunt enemies, revived the genre and was included free for all PS Plus members from launch day. If you have PS Plus and have not tried it then I highly recommend it.

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Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - PS4, Xbox One

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Ever since the breakthrough hit, Assassin's Creed II, the series has been one of Ubisoft's top titles. The series has been quite controversial, and Assassin's Creed III was not very well accepted compared to some of the past games; however, Ubisoft did not give up, and they struck back hard with Black Flag. Many will argue that this is the best game in the series so far, and they are justified to say so. The DLC might not have been as successful, but the new gameplay elements introduced by this game have left fans crying for more.

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Titanfall - Xbox One

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After departing from Infinity Ward following Modern Warfare 2, the old developers finally returned with their instant hit, Titanfall. This mech-combat game has done a great job at creating believable ways to balance the battle between human and mech, and features inspired gameplay additions including the homing pistol. Xbox and PC players were awaiting this game expecting another Halo. They did not get a game that superb, but Respawn undeniably delivered a great game with lots of room for expansion in sequels.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/b7d972e70003545d62f38f7a36812b63.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_b7d972e70003545d62f38f7a36812b63.jpg","type":"slide","id":"41457","description":"

FIFA 14 - PS4, Xbox One

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The FIFA series is undoubtedly the most successful sports series on any console, and has been for many years. The newest installment was definitely a successful one, and EA has said that the success of the new consoles came too late for them to optimize this game for them. So just imagine what FIFA 15 is going to be!

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/743877517d36568c1198983fc44055c5.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_743877517d36568c1198983fc44055c5.jpg","type":"slide","id":"41455","description":"

Introduction

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The newest video game generation has gone off to a spectacular start. There have not been any chart-topping games yet, but there are plenty of games that are still really well done, and the future looks bright. These 10 games are in no particular order, as that would become too opinion-based. So check out these top 10 and feel free too comment on how you think they should be ordered or what you think should be added.

"}]]]>
Let's Play Together! 15 Games To Play With Kids https://www.gameskinny.com/09v9w/lets-play-together-15-games-to-play-with-kids https://www.gameskinny.com/09v9w/lets-play-together-15-games-to-play-with-kids Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:45:40 -0500 Venisia Gonzalez

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Mario Party 9 is a party video game for the Wii. It is the second Mario Party game for the Wii, the ninth in the home consoles, and the twelfth overall. Like previous Mario Party titles, two to four players move around a virtual board and play minigames. A new gameplay element in all of the boards is that all four players move around together in one vehicle. The number of spaces the player moves is determined by a roll of the dice block found within the game. Instead of trying to collect coins to buy stars, players receive Mini Stars if they pass by them. Minigames have a larger focus on the gameplay than they did in the previous game. However, the minigames don't appear after everyone moves, but only when a player ends up on any of the spaces or events that triggers a minigame. A person can play on solo mode to unlock the final stage, as well as two playable characters. Another new feature is that each board culminates in a boss battle that is played with all players in the vehicle. There is also a boss battle at the halfway point of a board. There are 82 minigames in Mario Party 9, divided into five categories: Free-for-all, 1-vs.-Rivals, Bowser Jr., Boss Battle, and Extra. At the end of each stage, the number of Mini Stars the player collects is converted into Party Points, which can be used to buy new stages, constellations, vehicles, difficulties, and sounds in the museum.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/8cd65deaa96f4f075b08ca0749862584.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_8cd65deaa96f4f075b08ca0749862584.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34576","description":"

Disney Universe is a co-operative action-adventure video game, published by Disney Interactive Studios available to play on Xbox 360, Wii and PS3. It features the ability to suit up as characters from multiple Disney franchises, including the full-length animated feature films like The Lion KingPixar feature films like Monsters Inc., live-action films like Pirates of the Caribbean and television series like The Muppet ShowThe game resembles Lego games or Little Big Planet, with a few notable additions. Up to four friends can connect through local multiplayer and play through 6 different worlds to defeat enemies, and collect power-ups and coins. One unique feature is that the enemies actively try to hinder a player's progress by setting up traps or hiding key items. The two main attractions of the game are that players can travel to 6 worlds from classic and contemporary Disney and Pixar properties, consisting of Alice in WonderlandPirates of the CaribbeanThe Lion KingWall-EMonsters Inc. and Aladdin and acquire 45 costumes based on numerous other Disney franchises, such as The Little MermaidTronMickey MouseLilo & Stitch and Tangled.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/35e125a5948dfbf6a87d04f18cf3ecee.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_35e125a5948dfbf6a87d04f18cf3ecee.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34575","description":"

Just Dance 3 is a music video game released on the WiiXbox 360, and PS3 with Kinect and Move support respectively for the latter two. It is part of the Just Dance video game series published by Ubisoft originally on the Wii. Like its predecessors, up to four players can play to mirror on-screen dance choreography from over 40 songs, as they are judged on their ability to follow a dance routine to a chosen song. Along with solo and duet modes, Just Dance 3 features a Dance Crew mode which allows 4 players to dance together, each with their own unique choreography, as well as playlists that group songs into different categories. Players can unlock gifts such as new songs, game modes, as well as Dance Mashups which combines different dance routines in this game and the second Just Dance game into one song. Returning features in the game include Non-Stop Shuffle, Speed Shuffle, and Just Sweat Mode.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/4bff962e2c1889cd53ecf5852f3c9fe5.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_4bff962e2c1889cd53ecf5852f3c9fe5.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34573","description":"

Rayman Legends is a 2013 platform game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the Rayman series and the direct sequel to the 2011 game Rayman Origins. The game was released for PCXbox 360, PS3Wii U, and PS Vita. The game carries on the style of gameplay from Rayman Origins in which up to four players (depending on the format) simultaneously make their way through various levels. Lums can be collected by touching them, defeating enemies, or freeing captured Teensies. Collecting Teensies unlocks new worlds, which can be played in any order once they are available. Along with Rayman, Globox, and the Teensies returning as playable characters, players can now control new female character Barbara and her sisters, once they are rescued from certain stages.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/2a45adee71c79c4cb08a5c7f6eebb4e7.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_2a45adee71c79c4cb08a5c7f6eebb4e7.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34572","description":"

Nintendo Land takes place in an amusement park setting, which serves as a hub for the twelve minigames, which are depicted as the park's attractions. A robotic creature named Monita guides the player through Nintendo Land's features and attractions. The twelve minigames of Nintendo Land are based on popular Nintendo franchises. This game is exclusive to the Wii U.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/5bd49d6360f4325122da86bbe3243632.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_5bd49d6360f4325122da86bbe3243632.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34571","description":"

Rayman Origins is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft for PS3, PS Vita, WiiXbox 360, Nintendo 3DS and PC. It's playable with up to four local players who may drop in or out at any time. Players can choose to control either Rayman, Globox or two Teensies, with additional costumes available as the game progresses. Players travel through each level, fighting enemies and rescuing imprisoned Electoons. As the game progresses, players gain new abilities such as running up walls, gliding in midair, swimming and shrinking in size to reach new areas.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/df8d2e7ffd30015d57605155e1360153.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_df8d2e7ffd30015d57605155e1360153.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34570","description":"

Worms 2: Armageddon is an artillery strategy game developed by Team17 and part of the Worms series. The sequel has several new features and modes, as well as popular returning weapons from past games in the Worms series. It also has an all new single player campaign mode with 35 missions and the multiplayer with Beginner, Standard, Pro, Fort, Rope Racing and Crazy Crates modes. It's available to play on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/ce2be66d323af55b7cbf622d8ace482f.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_ce2be66d323af55b7cbf622d8ace482f.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34569","description":"

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is a platform video game, the sequel to Epic Mickey. It takes place in a world based on classic and retired Disney characters and attractions. The story begins sometime after the conclusion of the original Epic Mickey, with Oswald and the other Wasteland characters starting to rebuild their world. A series of earthquakes threaten to undo the work, but the Mad Doctor appears and convinces Oswald to join forces and combat the new menace. So Gus, the leader of the Gremlins, and Ortensia, Oswald's girlfriend/wife, contact Mickey Mouse and bring him into the world. Mickey and Oswald team up to save the forgotten world (since only their combined powers can restore it). This game is available to play on Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS Vita.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/00e65a492a433ccbe1e287cc84fbaeaa.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_00e65a492a433ccbe1e287cc84fbaeaa.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34568","description":"

Lego Rock Band is a music video game and part of the Rock Band series developed by Harmonix, but also incorporates elements from other Lego video games as developed by Traveller's Tales. The game is published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and MTV Games. The game is available on Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii. Lego Rock Band is based primarily on the same gameplay as the main Rock Band series, though it includes aspects of collecting and building with Lego bricks as in Traveller's Tales' other Lego-themed games. Up to four local players can play lead and bass guitar, drums, or vocals across the songs in the game using specially designed Rock Band or Guitar Hero controllers. During each song, players attempt to match notes (shown as Lego bricks) as they scroll on-screen in time with the current song. On lead and bass guitar, notes are hit by holding down the frets indicated on-screen and using the controller's strum bar when the note passes through the target area of the track. Drummers simply hit one of the four colored drum pads indicated as the notes cross the target area, with wide orange notes indicating kick drum notes. Singers have to sing in relative pitch to the song's original pitch.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/3a851ba00d85f55f0b64b0bbcd82ae42.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_3a851ba00d85f55f0b64b0bbcd82ae42.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34567","description":"

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One is a four-player cooperative video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Unlike previous games in the series which were mostly single-player-only games, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One focuses on a four-player cooperative multiplayer mode which allows for drop-in and drop-out online as well as offline multiplayer. Players can each take the role of one of the four main characters of the game, namely RatchetClankQwark and Doctor Nefarious

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/f88a22d609bf0873feee0caf0e20505c.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_f88a22d609bf0873feee0caf0e20505c.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34566","description":"

Little Big Planet 2 is a puzzle-platformer video game, centered around user-generated content. The game is developed by Media Molecule, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PlayStation 3. While retaining the three-layer, 2.5D nature of the original title, with the player controlling their Sackboy characters, players are not restricted solely to platforming levels, and can now choose to create many types of levels including racing, puzzle and role-playing games. The player may also choose to create and customize their own heads-up display to accommodate their game type. New animation recording options are available and players are able to create full-motion cut-scenes to go with their level design, manipulate the camera for both cut-scenes and gameplay, and record their own sound effects for use in the level. As well as including a wide selection of original and licensed music, the game also includes a robust music sequencer. Multiple levels can be linked together, so that finishing one level immediately takes the player to the next in the series.

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Players continue Sackboy's journey after the events of the first game and the portable version are brought to an end. An inter-dimensional vacuum cleaner called the Negativitron appears over the skies of Little Big Planet and begins to suck up its inhabitants, including Sackboy.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/13d95c5b1f5bd1fd43d90ecd691ff78a.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_13d95c5b1f5bd1fd43d90ecd691ff78a.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34564","description":"

Skylanders: Swap Force is a platformer video game developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision. It is the third main game in the Skylanders video game and toy franchise, following 2012's Skylanders: Giants, which was a direct sequel to 2011's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. The game is available to play on Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, Wii U, PS3 and PS4.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/cc964eb693aaf7a49e829837ef792105.png","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_cc964eb693aaf7a49e829837ef792105.png","type":"slide","id":"34563","description":"

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is a hilariously fun cooperative third-person shooter and tower defense video game. It's part of the Plants vs. Zombies series, developed by PopCap Games and published by Electronic Arts. The game is now available on Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The game features co-op along with competitive multiplayer modes where players can control the zombies as well as plants.

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"Put down the shotgun. Pick-up a dolphin," the new phrase now being used in a funny live-action trailer. Does anything else need to be said?

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/05df98a9400a4427566d6d6f9e8eb68d.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_05df98a9400a4427566d6d6f9e8eb68d.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34562","description":"

Lego Marvel Super Heroes is a 2013 action-adventure video game that is developed by TT Games and is published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, for the PS3Xbox 360Wii UPS4Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. Gameplay alternates between various action-adventure sequences and puzzle-solving scenarios by allowing players to control approximately 150 characters from the Marvel Universe, each with their own unique abilities.

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The game begins as the Silver Surfer is being pursued by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Iron Man, and is knocked out of the sky by Doctor Doom with his surfboard shattering into several 'Cosmic Bricks' that fall onto the Earth. With these blocks containing immense power, Doom forges an alliance with Loki and gets together a band of villains to make the powerful "Doom Ray of Doom". However, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury calls upon the superheroes of the Marvel Universe to retrieve the bricks before they can be captured by Doom and his army.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/de542e1923b01cf8bfca65993114d434.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_de542e1923b01cf8bfca65993114d434.jpg","type":"slide","id":"34561","description":"

Minecraft is a wonderful game to play. The creative and building aspects of Minecraft allow players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D generated world. Other activities in the game include exploration, gathering resources, crafting, and combat. Gameplay has two principal modes: survival, which requires players to acquire resources and maintain their health and hunger; and creative, where players have an unlimited supply of resources, the ability to fly, and no health or hunger. A third gameplay mode named hardcore is the same as survival, differing only in difficulty; it is set to the most difficult setting and respawning is disabled, forcing players to delete their worlds upon death. Minecraft is available to play on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/7bbaf01f6642ed32c306e0b6e54ef976.png","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_7bbaf01f6642ed32c306e0b6e54ef976.png","type":"slide","id":"34582","description":"

Some of us may be parents, aunts, uncles, cousins or siblings to younger kids. Perhaps more than once, these little kids have asked to join in on playing a video game with you.

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Here's a few games that are great to play with kids that are all rated 'E' by the ESRB.

"}]]]>
Our BAFTA Games Awards Predictions: GTAV https://www.gameskinny.com/4wbp6/our-bafta-games-awards-predictions-gtav https://www.gameskinny.com/4wbp6/our-bafta-games-awards-predictions-gtav Fri, 21 Feb 2014 00:46:07 -0500 Destrolyn.Bechgeddig

It’s almost time for one of the biggest games awards in the industry, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Games Awards. This prestigious organisation, who also host one of the world’s most prestigious film awards outside of the Oscars, started recognising achievement in video games in its own separate ceremony in 2003. 

This year’s list of nominations don’t really contain many surprises, as 2013 was a stupendous year for video games. But this also means that almost all categories are tightly contested, and trying to predict a winner in each will be tricky. However, we’re going to predicted which awards Grand Theft Auto V (GTAV) might and might not win.

This game has swept up awards across the globe, and there’s no real reason it shouldn’t also do so here, especially as it has raked in no less than NINE nominations.

What It Should Win 

Best Game in 2014

http://www.rockstargames.com/V/It will be very surprising if GTAV doesn’t win this. Yes, there’s some very stiff competition from the likes of The Last of Us and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, but the financial figures and metacritic scores unequivocally makes this the most successful game of all time. 

Action & Adventure

Again, for this is almost a shoe-in for Rockstar’s masterpiece for the same reasons it’s likely to win Best Game in 2014. 

Best British Game in 2014

Despite the series revelling in hallmark American gangster culture, it often surprises everyone that the game is actually 100% British. It’s a shame to see other great British games like Tearaway and LEGO Marvel Superheroes lose out in this category, but what chance do they have? 

What It Might Not Win 

Game Innovation

http://tearaway.mediamolecule.com/This isn’t to say that GTAV isn’t at all innovative. The ability to switch between protagonists at any point between missions, to join them in whatever they might be doing, was something definitely different to how mainstream titles have dealt with character development and narrative progression. 

However, games such as Tearaway made more marked achievements in experimenting with controls and interface. Furthermore, Papers, Please, in its bold remit of being a harsh and unwieldy document simulator, has become one of the most absorbing and surprising games of last year, and therefore most likely to win this category. 

Multiplayer

Multiplayer has been a great addition to GTAV, but it’s not its star quality. When you pit it against the hotly anticipated Dota 2 and the runaway success of World of Tanks, it just doesn’t stack up. 

Story in 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/Again, whilst GTAV’s story is great, there are just some games that have done much better. The Last of Us is undoubtedly one of the strongest contenders in this category, with its gripping character development and brutally down to earth take of the old hatchet that is zombie survival horror games. 

However, we think that it’s the indie underdogs that might just clinch the prize. Davey Wreden’s unforgiving and sardonic The Stanley Parable was groundbreaking in sending up game design as well as the entire industry. Whilst Gone Home was also groundbreaking for it’s complete lack of linear narrative, with the game experience relying solely on exploration of back story.

Performer in 2014

Kevan BrightingThis is most difficult category to predict. But what we will say is that GTAV's Steven Ogg, who voiced Trevor Phillips, is probably the least likely to pick up this award. When you're up against The Narrator from The Stanley Parable (Kevan Brighting, pictured), Jodie from Beyond: Two Souls (Ellen Page), Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite (Courtnee Draper), and both Joel and and Ellie from The Last of Us (Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson), you've not got much of a chance.

For a full list of nominations for the BAFTA Games Awards 2014, visit http://awards.bafta.org/award/2014/games.

For more information about GTAV, visit www.rockstargames.com/V.

]]>
14 Games To Play With Your Valentine https://www.gameskinny.com/1jz17/14-games-to-play-with-your-valentine https://www.gameskinny.com/1jz17/14-games-to-play-with-your-valentine Wed, 12 Feb 2014 13:22:08 -0500 Venisia Gonzalez

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Don't forget a second controller, chocolate, flowers and a super cool Valentine's Day card!

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/228d34c46d5651fa3a0b606b9a014349.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_228d34c46d5651fa3a0b606b9a014349.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33650","description":"

What more says "I love you" than battling the seven evil exes of the woman you love? In Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, this super cute beat 'em up game takes you on an adventure as you battle through seven levels to defeat Ramona's evil exes. Having a partner in this game really pays off.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/5699515e20f12db7df5d77eef1ec3f42.png","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_5699515e20f12db7df5d77eef1ec3f42.png","type":"slide","id":"33644","description":"

If Japanese role-playing is more your style, then how about Tales of Xillia from Namco Bandai Games? The game takes place in the world of Rieze Maxia and follows Jude Mathis and Milla Maxwell. The two discover a military research that involves spirits and will endanger the world.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/48c1d7c1123982efe04a23d016ad5f6f.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_48c1d7c1123982efe04a23d016ad5f6f.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33643","description":"

Ever thought about starting your own band? Well now you can in Rock Band 3. Team up with your partner on vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, and/or drums to the latest hits in the music business.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/3aa8a739bc5fe9fe177be63669400b61.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_3aa8a739bc5fe9fe177be63669400b61.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33640","description":"

With 256 combinations for characters, Activision is at it again with Skylanders Swap Force. Join the people of Skyland against the evil maniac Kaos in this wonderful fun game where now your Skylanders can jump!

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/0929e44073f065e3a84e1fe6b7e96847.jpeg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_0929e44073f065e3a84e1fe6b7e96847.jpeg","type":"slide","id":"33639","description":"

Want to challenge one another in a fun puzzle platform? Then join Atlas and P-body in the Aperture Science Test Chambers in the amazing Portal 2.

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Disclaimer on Portal 2: This game can cause people (i.e. my fiancé) to argue on who solves the most puzzles and GLaDOS doesn't help the situation with her commentary. Players beware!

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/5152eb646e1a0953e07372f093fadd5f.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_5152eb646e1a0953e07372f093fadd5f.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33638","description":"

In another fun game, The Behemoth gives us Alien Hominid. Fight off waves of secret agents in this cartoon-style side-scrolling shooter.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/0192ae5d920af603a4d63373991f46fa.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_0192ae5d920af603a4d63373991f46fa.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33634","description":"

Create your own world or survive from monsters in Minecraft. Enjoy this open world where you decide how you play the game and your only limit is your imagination.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/74005e84fbcfd29e7c70f9ea4b717948.jpeg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_74005e84fbcfd29e7c70f9ea4b717948.jpeg","type":"slide","id":"33633","description":"

In Borderlands 2, play as Axton, Maya, Salvador, Zer0, Gaige or Krieg on the planet of Pandora to stop Handsome Jack's plan of opening the Vault and unleashing The Warrior. Former characters from the original Borderlands game join in with some new faces on this high adrenalin ride.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/f2f6fcea428e220814018c18f036db7a.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_f2f6fcea428e220814018c18f036db7a.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33631","description":"

Venture on with Sackboy and friends creating custom levels for racing, puzzle and role-playing games in Little Big Planet 2. Challenge one another's creative abilities while having fun.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/b833c6b1fc3c9e361fd9fd6c29148bbf.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_b833c6b1fc3c9e361fd9fd6c29148bbf.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33630","description":"

Diablo III is an action role-playing game where you can be any of 5 characters -- a Witch Doctor, Barbarian, Wizard, Monk or Demon Hunter. Team up with your partner to defeat evil and hoard tons of loot.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/8b17714410d3a0df18dface53f06adc7.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_8b17714410d3a0df18dface53f06adc7.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33629","description":"

Do women really drive that badly? Find out how you both measure up in Mario Kart for fun laughs.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/4ef0f1d57277bef0f371eb52b1a0a139.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_4ef0f1d57277bef0f371eb52b1a0a139.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33627","description":"

What could be more fun than being a super hero? Being a Lego Super Hero that's what! Lego Marvel Super Heroes is fun and with so many characters to choose from, you'll be in comic book heaven.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/133bba49a447929e4bdeebde64bae42f.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_133bba49a447929e4bdeebde64bae42f.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33626","description":"

Feel like shaking your booty? Well then Dance Central 3 is certainly the game to get your body moving with some dance moves to set the mood right.

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/537c035eb45d6da0e4e6276753648e9d.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_537c035eb45d6da0e4e6276753648e9d.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33625","description":"

Castle Crashers by The Behemoth is a super cute and fun game to play. It's a cartoon style beat 'em up role-playing game where you play as a knight fighting the bad guys to save and kiss the princess. Oh how romantic!

"},{"image":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/a5be600e41de370e468097abeba7c73d.jpg","thumb":"http://images.gameskinny.com/gameskinny/tiny_a5be600e41de370e468097abeba7c73d.jpg","type":"slide","id":"33623","description":"

Valentine's Day is just about here and what do most gamers do? Play games with their Valentine. Here are some suggested video games to play together all in the name of fun.

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How Video Games Almost Bankrupt and Saved Lego https://www.gameskinny.com/67z2h/how-video-games-almost-bankrupt-and-saved-lego https://www.gameskinny.com/67z2h/how-video-games-almost-bankrupt-and-saved-lego Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:08:35 -0500 Chris Hendricks

Almost everyone has heard of Lego. There are more Lego minifigures in the world than there are people. In fact, there are roughly 65 Lego pieces for every person in the world. Alongside Hasbro and Mattel, Lego is the fastest growing toy company in the world. Heck, Lego is still the world's largest producer of rubber tires (more than 300 million made every year)! Although it is still too early in the year for raw sales numbers for 2013, 2012 saw Lego bring in north of $750 million. Things however have not always been so cheerful for the loveable brick makers from Denmark. As recently as 2004, the entire company almost filed for bankruptcy. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1234465/When-Lego-lost-head--toy-story-got-happy-ending.html

How did it go so wrong?

In the late '90s, Lego saw an influx in sales when it reissued their license with Star Wars to accompany the prequel trilogy that would be coming out in the following years. They also signed an agreement to produce Harry Potter sets as well. Initial sales for the sets were booming the summers the movies came out, but declined heavily in the years that no movies were released. Also, Lego had a policy of owning, rather than leasing all of their buildings around the world, and was pushing for a global market of their products. This included clothing and furniture; essentially a way of life. 

They also had a sizeable amount of money tied into their in-house video game production. A lot of money. When they first reported losses in 2002, there were rumblings of a shakeup of Lego's core strategies. Private corporations began smelling the chum in the water and the pressure was on for Lego to prove that it could right the ship. Rumors of Hasbro and Mattel trying to buy out Lego began surfacing and there were questions if Lego would survive. Those concerns grew exponentially when at the end of 2003 Lego reported losses of close to $1 Billion. That's with a "B."

How Lego Survived

Massive restructuring and a hard look inwards saw Lego return to what made them so popular in the first place. Simply putting new product on the shelf every year was no longer going to work. Lego got rid of every non-essential part of their company and focused solely on the innovation and production of quality new products. Millions are now put into marketing and research before a new set is even produced. A big part of the change was Lego selling their video game division, opting to have outside developers create games with the proper licenses. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1234465/When-Lego-lost-head--toy-story-got-happy-ending.html

All of these things cut their costs enough to see them slowly begin to rise out from their debt. Oddly enough, however, consistent sales by their now third-party developed video games had a huge impact on the turn-around. The game that had the most immediate impact? 2005's Lego Star Wars: The Video Game. Although the Harry Potter games had been released years earlier, the release of Revenge of the Sith saw fans wanting anything they could get their hands on. Lego saw continued success the following years with more Star WarsIndiana Jones, Batman, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel Super Heroes games. All of these games sold collectively more than 50 million copies and were/are considered quality games within the industry. Also, those games tapped into a previously unused market for Lego, gamers.

With a flock of new people now coming into the stores to buy sets based off of video games they had played, Lego found new life and is still being supported by them today. By looking inward, they were able to see what they needed to change and how they could better utilize their resources. Smartly, they didn't rid themselves from the gaming industry, but rather let people who knew more about it make the important decisions. And we have all benefitted because of that.

And never one to rest on their laurels, Lego has already announced plans for a Lego: The Hobbit game slated to come out later this year. Expect it to do as well as its' LotR counterparts and to have a game for all the films that are released.

What does this mean for the future?

The success Tt Games has had with all of their licensed Lego games is not shocking, but it is still funny that a part of their company that Lego first saw as a liability became a big reason for their reemergence in the toy market as well as being a staple of it moving forward. Gamers are an eclectic and well versed group of people and they are obviously nerds as well as many being collectors. Many of them (us) love to own anything we can that is associated with a game we love. The fact that in this case the extra goodies happen to be little plastic bricks that we can then take to make whatever we want is just an awesome bonus. 

It is not too surprising that the games ended up doing as well as they did, but I think it speaks to the influence we as a community can have on wholly different industries. Not to say that we are the only reason Lego still exists today in its' current form, but you can be assured that gamers played a significant role. As the gaming industry grows and more franchises are realizing the powerful machine that can be video games, it is finally refreshing to see other industries, and to an extent the "common" consumer show us the respect that I think we rightfully deserve. 

So, the next time you walk past a Lego store or see a set in pieces in your closet, have pride in the fact that if you have purchased or played a Lego video game in the past 10 years, you are directly responsible for saving a multi-billion dollar company. And you haven't played any of them yet, what are you waiting for?

http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/lego-wins-fans-young-and-old/

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How Video Games Almost Bankrupt and Ultimately Saved Lego https://www.gameskinny.com/7aot7/how-video-games-almost-bankrupt-and-ultimately-saved-lego https://www.gameskinny.com/7aot7/how-video-games-almost-bankrupt-and-ultimately-saved-lego Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:08:34 -0500 Chris Hendricks

Almost everyone has heard of Lego. There are more minifigures in the world than there are people. In fact, there are roughly 65 Lego pieces for every person in the world. Alongside Hasbro and Mattel, Lego is the fastest growing toy company in the world. Heck, Lego is still the world's largest producer of rubber tires (more than 300 million made every year)!

Although it is still too early in the year for raw sales numbers for 2013, 2012 saw Lego bring in north of $750 million. Things however have not always been so cheerful for the loveable brick makers from Denmark. As recently as 2004, the entire company almost filed for bankruptcy. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1234465/When-Lego-lost-head--toy-story-got-happy-ending.html

How did it go so wrong?

In the late '90s, Lego saw an influx in sales when it reissued their license with Star Wars to accompany the prequel trilogy that would be coming out in the following years. They also signed an agreement to produce Harry Potter sets as well.  Initial sales for the sets were booming the summers the movies came out, but declined heavily in the years that no movies were released. Also, Lego had a policy of owning, rather than leasing, all of their buildings around the world, and was pushing for a global market of their products. This included clothing and furniture; essentially, a way of life. 

They also had a sizeable amount of money tied into their in-house video game production. A lot of money. When they first reported losses in 2002, there were rumblings of a shakeup of Lego's core strategies. Private corporations began smelling the chum in the water and the pressure was on for Lego to prove that it could right the ship.

Rumors of Hasbro and Mattel trying to buy out Lego began surfacing and there were questions if Lego would survive. Those concerns grew exponentially when, at the end of 2003, Lego reported losses of close to $1 billion, with a "B."

How Lego Survived

Massive restructuring and a hard look inwards saw Lego return to what made them so popular in the first place. Simply putting new product on the shelf every year was no longer going to work.

Lego got rid of every non-essential part of their company and focused solely on the innovation and production of quality new products. Millions are now put into marketing and research before a new set is even produced. A big part of the change was Lego selling their video game division, opting to have outside developers create games with the proper licenses. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1234465/When-Lego-lost-head--toy-story-got-happy-ending.html

All of these things cut their costs enough for them slowly begin to rise out from their debt. Oddly enough, however, consistent sales by their now third-party developed video games had a huge impact on the turn-around. The game that had the most immediate impact? 2005's Lego Star Wars: The Video Game.

Although the Harry Potter games had been released years earlier, the release of Revenge of the Sith gave fans a craving for anything they could get their hands on. Lego saw continued success the following years with more Star WarsIndiana Jones, Batman, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel Super Heroes games. All of these games sold collectively more than 50 million copies and were/are considered quality games within the industry. Also, those games tapped into a previously unused market for Lego, gamers.

With a flock of new people now coming into the stores to buy sets based off of video games they had played, Lego found new life and is still being supported by them today. By looking inward, they were able to see what they needed to change and how they could better utilize their resources. Smartly, they didn't completely bail on the gaming industry, but rather let people who knew more about it make the important decisions. And we have all benefitted because of that.

And never one to rest on their laurels, Lego has already announced plans for a Lego: The Hobbit game slated to come out later this year. Expect it to do as well as its' LotR counterparts and to have a game for all the films that are released.

What does this mean for the future?

The success Tt Games has had with all of their licensed Lego games is not shocking, but it is still funny their company, which Lego first saw as a liability, became a big reason for their reemergence in the toy market as well as a staple of it moving forward. Gamers are an eclectic and well versed group of people, and they are obviously nerds as well as collectors. Many of them (us) love to own anything we can that is associated with a game we love. The fact that in this case, the extra goodies happen to be little plastic bricks that we can then take to make whatever we want, is just an awesome bonus. 

It is not too surprising that the games ended up doing as well as they did, but I think it speaks to the influence we as a community can have on wholly different industries. Not to say that we are the only reason Lego still exists today in its current form, but you can be assured that we played a significant role. As the gaming industry grows and more franchises are realizing the powerful machine that is video games, it is refreshing to see other industries, and to an extent the "common" consumer, show us the respect that I think we rightfully deserve. 

So, the next time you walk past a Lego store or see a set in pieces in your closet, have pride in the fact that if you have purchased or played a Lego video game in the past 10 years; you are directly responsible for saving a multi-billion dollar company. And you haven't played any of them yet, what are you waiting for?

http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/lego-wins-fans-young-and-old/

]]>
I Just Borrowed Lego Marvel Super Heroes From My Son https://www.gameskinny.com/3vui3/i-just-borrowed-lego-marvel-super-heroes-from-my-son https://www.gameskinny.com/3vui3/i-just-borrowed-lego-marvel-super-heroes-from-my-son Mon, 06 Jan 2014 09:46:28 -0500 Proto Foe

When I was six years old, I would have been extremely lucky to have a parent play video games with me. My parents had very little interest in making their eyes square... though on rare occasions my mother would sometimes play Sonic the Hedgehog with me.

I have always had a competitive nature, and felt driven to play with others. However, this was difficult to achieve when I was younger, mostly because I was an only child. My parents both worked, and the world wasn't huge on the internet in 1991.

So I had to settle with whatever multiplayer action I could get my hands on! This started with Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis for my North American friends), and continued until the releases of Phantasy Star Online for the Sega Dreamcast and Ultima Online on PC. That is when it all changed... but I feel that will be an article for another time.

Christmas day came, then Boxing day, and then... I get word down the grapevine that JJ finished the main story of Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

A Demo a Week

My son, Jacob-John, doesn't have quite the same childhood problems to deal with. Case in point, our story of Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

When Santa dropped off the game for Christmas, JJ was super excited! We had both played the demo when it released back in October '13, and thoroughly enjoyed it - to the point that we started imitating Bruce Banner changing into the Hulk.

The Big Day

Christmas day came, then Boxing day and then... I get word down the grapevine that JJ finished the main story of Lego Marvel Super Heroes. My first thought was, “That’s my boy! He can plow through a game as good as his Dad." My second? “I wonder if he’ll let me borrow it?”

I bided my time. A few weeks went by. JJ collected nearly 125 Gold Bricks and had only a dozen or so characters left to unlock. I felt the time to strike was good!

I asked him to borrow the game. His reply?

“Of course you can Daddy, then we can save all the Stan Lee Lego men together!”

At that moment, that very second, I was not ashamed to borrow a game off of my boy. He had just become a gaming man.

I have only played through the first level so far, but I will do a write-up on Lego Marvel Super Heroes once I have given it a fair shake down. For now, you can check out the demo here.

But what do you guys think? Is it uncool to borrow games, or other forms of media, from your children - no matter what age they are?

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Lego Marvel Super Heroes Cheats: Unlock Character Codes & Vehicle Codes https://www.gameskinny.com/865hs/lego-marvel-super-heroes-cheats-unlock-character-codes-vehicle-codes https://www.gameskinny.com/865hs/lego-marvel-super-heroes-cheats-unlock-character-codes-vehicle-codes Wed, 18 Dec 2013 21:43:07 -0500 Joseph Rowe

There are a ton of characters to unlock in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. Putting in that much work can be a big bummer when you just want to play as a specific character right away. Thank Odin the developers put in cheat codes!

You will need to go into Deadpool's Room on the Helicarrier. You can enter these codes on the first computer in Deadpool's Room.

Characters
  • Beetle - KXFQ87
  • Black Cat - P9OWL0
  • Classic Captain America - 7HWU4L
  • Carnage - AA0Z50
  • Classic Thor - H8CSE6
  • Future Foundation Spider-Man - WFOZXQ
  • Hood Cowl Wolverine - OAW2LB
  • Howard the Duck - J58RSS
  • Hydra Soldier - B7AA3K
  • Iron Patriot - Q5X1J5
  • Mark 17 "Heart Breaker" Iron Man - 2NGSRZ
  • Mark 38 "Hulkbuster" Iron Man - CK7SDS
  • MODOK - SZ8Q06
  • War Machine - TQ4C57
Vehicles
  • Avenging Cycle - 5T3CQU
  • Pumpkin Chopper - 35E41W
  • S.H.I.E.L.D. Staff Car - D5B7O3
  • Spider-Bike - SH9MZQ

Know any other cheats? Found an error above? Want any other Lego Marvel Super Heroes information? Let us know in the comments section.

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