It's been a while since the last good Castlevania game that was actually a Castlevania game. Koji Igarashi's 2019 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night scratched the vania itch well enough, but you'd have to go back to 2010's Lords of Shadow to argue for a good and proper entry in the iconic series.

And as for 2013's Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, well, there hasn't been much news at all about the MGS spinoff since its console port was released for PC in 2014. 

While Konami may not have new games or remasters or remakes in the works for either Castlevania or Metal Gear Rising, the developer did register trademarks for the series and game on April 6 in Japan, according to Gematsu.

The report points out that the trademark for Castlevania is actually for Akumajo Dracula, which is not only "the Japanese for the Castlevania series" but also the title of a port of the original Castlevania, which is known as Castlevania Chronicles in the West. 

Of course, trademark filings don't necessarily mean anything at all when it comes to the resurrection or redeployment of any franchise or title. Konami could simply be securing future rights to both of these in case they decide to revisit them.

And even so, there's currently no idea what those would look like at all (though I'll take any chance to evangelize the desperate need of a decent re-release of Super Castlevania IV that's not part of an Anniversary Collection). It's likely some Metal Gear fans wouldn't mind seeing a Revengeance resurgence, considering the game currently sits around 8 user score on Metacritic and a "very positive" on Steam. 

Regardless of what Konami decides to do with Castlevania as a whole and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, if anything, fans will just have to wait and see. 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Collector's Edition

This edition of A Link Between Worlds was only ever released for the GAME chain of stores, a retailer in the UK, whose branding also appears on the box. There wasn't much to it -- a download code for Link's Awakening DX and a humongous A0 poster (shipped separately) featuring the Master Sword. However, it also included a small treasure chest which played the signature treasure sound upon being opened and, as an additional bonus, stored up to five 3DS game cartridges.

Honorable Mentions

Featured here are editions which, for various reasons, did not make it onto the main list:

Okami HD The Mankaiouka-Dama Limited Edition was released exclusively in Japan through the e-capcom store in limited quantities. It included a fluorescent phone strap and a snow globe displaying Amaterasu, the game's protagonist, under a beautiful cherry blossom tree.

Undertale Collector's Edition, released exclusively on fangamer.com, included the game's soundtrack across two CDs, the game's sheet music, a colorful storybook, and a gorgeous, gold-plated music locket.

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Do you own any of these editions? Know of any rare and unique collector's editions which deserve some publicity? Leave a comment below, and as always, for everything cool, stay tuned to GameSkinny!

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Wizard's Edition

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, the charming RPG by Studio Ghibli and Level-5, received two versions of the Wizard's Edition. With downloadable golden skins for familiars, a cute Drippy plush toy, and a replica of The Wizard's Companion found in the game, the EU version was slightly surpassed by the U.S. version, which also included five artwork cards, a soundtrack CD, and a collectible coin featuring the game's main protagonist, Oliver.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Collector's Edition

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, made by Platinum Games, was not only a spectacular spin-off to the Metal Gear series, it also received an equally spectacular Collector's Edition in the United States. In addition to a steelbook case and a soundtrack CD, it contained a plasma lamp featuring part of Raiden's katana on display, which lit up in glorious color.

Little Big Planet 2

Collector's Edition

Little Big Planet 2, much like its predecessor, is oozing with charm, and its U.S. Collector's Edition reflects that. While somewhat sparse on contents, it's the quality which counts. Along with some downloadable costumes of familiar characters from other franchises and a cute Sackboy plush toy, this edition also included cardboard bookends, themed after the game, to display your collection of games in style.

Gal Gun: Double Peace

Mr. Happiness Edition

At first glance, there is nothing significant about Gal Gun's Mr. Happiness Edition -- some DLC costumes, a soundtrack CD, and a wall scroll featuring two girls. It also included a pair of panties. Some developers seem to have a thing for underwear, though fret not, it's actually just a microfiber cloth for cleaning the screen of your device. Which is still weird considering the main objective of the game is to rub girls. Oh, Japan....

Catherine

Deluxe Edition

Catherine is a bizarre game, and its Deluxe Edition, released in North America, is even more so. While some of its contents were pretty mundane -- an artbook, a soundtrack CD, a t-shirt -- it also included a pillowcase featuring Catherine, one of the game's main heroines. To top it off there, was also a pair of oversized polka-dot boxer shorts, with everything neatly packaged in a Stray Sheep Pizza box, a bar/pizzeria which is featured in the game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Juggernog Edition

Regardless of what you may think about the series, Call of Duty: Black Ops III had probably one of the coolest editions ever made. The Juggernog Edition featured things like coasters, a season pass, a steelbook case, some art cards, and a digital soundtrack along with some downloadable content. It also included a fully functional mini-fridge which stored up to 12 cans of Mountain Dew (or beer, for those of age).

Bully

Special Edition

One of the more popular titles by Rockstar Games, and perhaps the most elusive edition on this list, Bully, released in 2006, received a Special Edition that is almost unattainable today. The outer box was themed after a school locker which, because the game takes place in a school environment, is very fitting. This edition included a Rockstar Games-branded sticker, a comic book based on the game, and an inflatable dodgeball.

Bloodborne

Nightmare Edition

Bloodborne, a spiritual successor to Dark Souls, which, in turn, is a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls, received a Europe-only Nightmare Edition. The set included a steelbook case, a digital soundtrack, a notebook, an artbook, and a bell trinket along with some downloadable content. Its main highlight, however, was a set of quill and ink, with an ink vessel resembling a skull. All of it was packaged in a tin case disguised as a row of books, which made for an impressive piece of decor.

Collector's editions, limited editions, special editions -- however developers decide to name them, these editions, along with the game itself, are usually bundled with one or several collectible items, ranging from posters and stickers to hardcover artbooks and elaborate figurines. Such bundles have existed for a long time, but they became especially prominent during the seventh console generation, when, for most major releases, it was almost an unwritten rule to provide a limited edition alongside the standalone game.

This list features 9 such editions and was compiled using one simple criterion:

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• Each edition must contain at least one somewhat unique or significant item in the context of the game itself
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A regular figurine, no matter how well made, will not cut it for this list. Editions such as Saints Row IV's "The Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition" or Grid 2's Mono Edition were not considered due to their ridiculous nature and price, and Steel Batallion, while impressive in its own right, was not classified as a collector's edition. With that aside, click over to the next page to view 9 awesome collector's editions in alphabetical order (by game title).

(The image at the top here is of the Gold Edition of Superbeat Xonic: Limited Edition for the PlayStation Vita; there's only one in existence!)

Some honorable mentions go to Saints Row 2 and 3, for embracing the silliness that GTA left behind in GTA 3, The Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy, as they were the first and only major FF titles on last gen systems, and Far Cry 2, so it can let both old and new fans (myself included) experience the most overlooked Far Cry game that many have either never played or have completely forgotten about.

Were there any games that I missed? Leave any game you want to see be made Back Compat in the comments below. With so many great games, I'm sure to have forgotten a few.

The Tomb Raider Trilogy

Before Lara Croft became the brooding protagonist we know today -- and was stranded on an island and forced to fight the harsh winter of Siberia and nefarious goons that seemed to fall right out of a Nathan Drake story -- she was just a charming archaeologist searching for treasure for the thrill of it all. She wasn't some covert commando or herbalist who knew how to heal herself with plants. She was all brain and unremitting brawn. She could run up to a guy, jump off him, and put some lead in his face with her iconic twin pistols without a single misstep.

With Tomb Raider's popularity at an all-time high, it would make perfect sense to let younger generations re-experience some of the classic games in the franchise. For example, Tomb Raider: Legend successfully rebooted the series after the disastrous Angel of Darkness; Anniversary is a high-def remake of the original game from 1996; and Underworld ties up all the lose ends from Legends, refining the elements that made past games so great.

These games were a great mix of smart puzzle solving and great action sequences. Sure, the combat isn't nearly as refined as recent games, but Tomb Raider wasn't all about combat. It was all about using your brain to solve solid puzzles. Some might not like that, but there's a reason that formula stuck around for years before it was rebooted. So let's dial the angst back and let us relive the version of Lara Croft who had a sense of humor.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

In an age where hack-and-slash style action games like Devil May Cry, God of War and Ninja Gaiden have all but been forgotten, the industry needs more games that require quick, twitch-like reflexes and fast-paced action. Metal Gear Rising was easily one of the best of this now near-dead genre.

Its entertaining story, fast-paced action, great boss battles and driving heavy metal music made for a fantastic treat for fans of the genre. What's more, Raiden's second time as a lead protagonist (redeeming himself after his iconic bait and switch with Solid Snake in MGS 2) made for a surprisingly deep story that delves into themes of power, strength, and weakness. Ultimately, it's a story just as rich and interesting as any other game in the series... and you get to fight a robot dog that becomes your BFF, so that's rad.

On top of all that, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a game that manages to balance its interesting themes with copious, over-the-top 90s anime violence. In an age where the only "hack-and-slash games" simply seem to ape the Dynasty Warriors style -- or make themselves in the mold of more difficult games about tedious tactics and slowly waiting to attack your cheap opponent (cough... Dark Souls... cough), we need more games like Revengence to make a come back.

Batman: Arkham Origins

Before Rocksteady sent their Batman off with a bang in Batman: Arkham Knight, WB Montreal was tasked to make a game to keep the Arkham franchise on its bi-yearly release schedule. The result was an underrated prequel to the franchise, titled Batman: Arkham Origins.

Focused on the Caped Crusader's early years, this title is all about a young and slightly inexperienced Batman coming to grips with his responsibilities as Gotham's savior, learning to trust others, and meeting his arch-enemy, The Joker, for the first time.

Arkham Origins has some of the best Batman and Joker moments in the series (aided by the excellent voice over work of Roger Craig Smith and Troy Baker). On top of that, it also has the same excellent combat and stealth sequences from earlier games in the series, and it also has some of the best boss battles of any game in the franchise.

It's not perfect, of course. There are plenty of technical issues that were never fixed by the developer (because clearly DLC is more important than the actual game it's for), and it doesn't push the series forward in any monumental ways, but it's still an exceptional game that fans of Batman should give a shot.

Sonic Generations

With Sonic Forces coming out this year, it would be a smart move by Microsoft to bring the lightning-fast hedgehog to the Xbox One. Considered to be on the very first 'good' Sonic game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 -- and one of the best 3D iterations of the franchise, having Sonic Generations on the Xbox One would be fantastic. 

SEGA was finally able to pull off a winner with Sonic Generations, a game that effortlessly switched between the classic 2D gameplay of old and the more race-like, 3D levels of Sonic Colors and Sonic Unleashed.

The game's classic Sonic levels reminded us what made us love the little hedgehog in the first place, especially with its excellent speed and platforming. But on the flip side, Generations' modern Sonic managed to redeem himself by re-creating tons of the classic levels in 3D -- and astonishingly, managed not to control like garbage.

The game's exhilarating speed, coupled with its simple control scheme and great level design help Sonic Generations channel the very best of classic Sonic.

Even if Sonic Forces turns out to be bad, the Xbox One should at least have one game where fans enjoy a Sonic game one last time... because it will be light years better than Sonic Boom.

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Trilogy

This more mostly has to do with the later issues, since you can get a remastered version of Modern Warfare, with Infinite Warfare. While the original MW changed the multiplayer landscape, Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 refined the elements that made Call of Duty a household name. Modern Warfare 2's online play is often considered the pinnacle of the series. Everything from its perks to its kill streak abilities has been refined to a tee. Its story may have been hard to follow, but its campaign was filled with dozens of over-the-top sequences and tight gunplay.

MW3, Meanwhile, still has its charm. With its equally enjoyable campaign that does a decent job of wrapping up the trilogy and its expert multiplayer that's just as enjoyable as past games, MW3 shouldn't be missed out and worth a second look.

Last year, I made a list of games that should be backwards compatible for the Xbox One. To my surprise, most of the games that were listed eventually became backwards compatible, like GTA IV, Mass Effect 2 and 3, and most of the Call of Duty games. And while games like Dead Rising 1 and 2 have been remastered for both PS4 and Xbox One, Backwards Compatibility is still the best way to revisit games on modern consoles -- and a much better alternative than what Sony is currently offering.

With so many games in the Xbox 360 library, I yet again decided to limit myself to only five games, with the occasional bundling here and there. With that said, let's take a look at what other games should be backwards compatible on the Xbox One.

Life inside a video game is hard. From farm simulators like Stardew Valley to platformers like Mario, every protagonist has it rough eking out a living in their virtual world.

But then there are protagonists who go above and beyond. They'll use any means necessary to turn their situation around, often pushing the boundaries of morality, sanity, and even what it means to be a hero. But none of those things matter to them, as they've got a job to do.

So today we're going to talk about some of the most stone-cold, ruthless, and hardcore protagonists video games have to offer. Let's get serious.

5. Mega Man (Mega Man - NES)

You may not really think about it while you're playing, but Mega Man is a pretty ruthless guy. Sure, he's a cute, blue do-gooder, but how exactly is he doing good? By murdering his own kind in cold blood. Or oil, or whatever. Throughout the Mega Man series, you charge forth and slay Robot Master after Robot Master, always pressing on, never hesitating.

In the games, it's made pretty clear that the Robot Masters have something resembling free will and emotions, but Mega Man just takes them out without a second thought. Sure, they're evil, but in Mega Man and Mega Man 9, the Robot Masters are actually a part of his family. And he doesn't seem bothered even a little bit. I guess justice runs deeper than blood. Hardcore, man.

4. Kisuke (Muramasa: The Demon Blade - Wii, Vita)

Kisuke, one of the two main characters of Muramasa, is a ninja so he's hardcore by default. But, in addition to being a ninja, he does a lot of other stuff that makes him worthy of the title.

When he's fatally wounded defending the woman he loves, he fuses his soul with that of the spirit of a swordsman to learn the terrifyingly powerful "Oboros Style." When he's forced to kill his former ninja allies to make an escape, he wears their skulls around his waist as a memorial to them.

When his aforementioned girlfriend needs a distraction so that she can enact her plan, he proceeds to take down an entire castle. And, when she (possibly) dies, and the god-like Buddha refuses to resurrect her, Kisuke just straight up tells Buddha off like he's a child. That's pretty hardcore.

3. The Lone Wanderer (Fallout Series - Xbox 360/One, PS3/4, PC)

The Lone Wanderer is actually just from Fallout 3, but for this list they're going to sub in for every Fallout player character.

Anyway, the wastelands of the Fallout series are not for the weak-willed. Almost everything is out to kill you, and even when you're at your strongest, there's a good chance that they actually will.

To survive, you're gonna have to scrape together weapons out of junk, master combat, fight giant mutants, and take lots and lots of drugs -- don't do drugs guys, you might turn into a Ghoul. Many of these drugs are injected with a needle -- the Wanderer's willingness to inject themselves using Stimpacks is reason enough to include the them, I think.

But, regardless, survival in a nuclear deathtrap isn't child's play. It's hardcore.

2. Raiden (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - PS3, Xbox 360, PC) 

Raiden's reappearance in Metal Gear Solid 4 was amazing. He'd gotten so cool since Sons of Liberty -- he's a cyborg now! But, in Rising, he's even cyborg-ier? The only part of him that's still flesh is his head. Raiden goes into bullet-time to chop other cyborgs' limbs off, and once he's fully dismembered them, he rips out their spines and crushes them to absorb their nanomachines. 

It's kind of crazy, actually. Even crazier is the fact that his wife was apparently okay with all those upgrades. Actually, maybe she's the hardcore one here.

1.Sasha (Severed - Wii U, 3DS)

Sasha, the hero of Severed, might actually be too hardcore for this list. When her family is kidnapped and taken to a nightmare dimension full of demons, Sasha -- bloodied, barefoot, and missing an entire arm -- immediately goes after them.

Wielding a living sword and wearing armor made from parts of vanquished boss monsters, Sasha traverses this terrifying world using only the skills she learned from her mother.

Not only that but, like Raiden, Sasha can enter bullet-time to cut her enemies to pieces and later use their parts for upgrades. I mean, just imagine that. A warrior from another dimension, clad in horrifying armor, carrying a knapsack full of monster limbs on her back. And, she eats their hearts and brains to boost her stats.

If that's not hardcore, then I don't even know what that word even means anymore.

Which characters do you think are super hardcore? Let us know in the comments!

If you're like me, you love music, and you love video games -- so naturally, there are times where you find yourself listening to video game soundtracks.

Summer is the best time to do so: the next big games are months away from release, and the weather is as good as it gets. So why not line up some great video game music for all of your summer activities?

Here are 5 video game soundtracks that will make the hero or heroine in every gamer feel just a little more awesome.

1.  Okami

Quick confession: Okami is my favorite game of all time, and in my opinion, the soundtrack is one of its strongest features. It covers every emotion imaginable, from the infectious joy of "Issun's Theme" to epic boss themes, and everything in between. 

Anyone looking for fantastic music will find plenty of songs to love, particularly if you like more traditional Japanese music. For instance, with July 4th looming on the horizon, the jubilant "Kamiki Festival" above is a perfect song to fit the festivities.

Unfortunately, the Okami soundtrack is the only one on this list that you won't find anywhere on iTunes. However, it can be found easily on YouTube, or you can buy it on CD from Japan. The full soundtrack stretches across 5 CDs, which should give some idea just how much music is featured in the game.

2.  Super Meat Boy

The soundtrack for the original PC release of the platformer Super Meat Boy (the PS4 release included a new one, sadly) is an excellent blend of old and new video game music styles. The result is extremely catchy, perfect for inspiration during workouts in the gym or trips to the great outdoors. "Forest Funk," above, is a particularly good choice. I also recommend "Can O' Salt" and "Fast Track to Browntown," two themes from World 3, in particular.

3.  Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

This is probably one of the more well-known and popular video game soundtracks of the last five years or so. Those of you who like alternative or metal music will find plenty to love here, even if you aren't a fan of Raiden, Revengeance or the Metal Gear series. This loud, energetic soundtrack perfectly matches the game's frenetic action. In addition, the lyrics often describe the major theme of the moment--which is a nice touch.

"Rules of Nature," above, is probably the game's most famous song. It frames the battle between Raiden and Metal Gear RAY as an example of "survival of the fittest" in action. Another good example is "Dark Skies," which describes "a brave new world rising" and warns that "times have changed." If you're looking for music to inspire and drive you forward, look no further.

4.  Halo: Reach

Like the other Halo games, Halo: Reach has an incredible orchestral soundtrack. However, the music here is more somber and grim than in previous games, reflecting the inevitable fall of the planet. Even so, like the soundtrack for Revengeance above, this is perfect motivational music. "Tip of the Spear," above, is probably my personal favorite. Foreboding yet determined, this epic track makes any daily chore considerably more heroic than it would be otherwise.

5.  Mass Effect

Last, but not least, there's the Mass Effect soundtrack. Of the three games in the series, the first has the most "futuristic" sound. The next two games in the series, particularly Mass Effect 3, relied more on a traditional orchestral soundtrack. Here, however, the music is more electronic, leading to that "futuristic" vibe. One of this soundtrack's greatest strengths, like with the soundtrack of Okami, is probably its range of emotion.

There are tracks better suited for easy listening, like the iconic "Vigil," and also more intense ones like "Battle At Eden Prime." But in my opinion, the best song in the game plays during the end credits. "M4, Pt. 2" by Faunts is a perfect choice at this point in the series, as the lyrics wonder about the future in store for both Shepard and the player: "I have wondered about you / Where will you be / When this is through?" The music here makes for great background noise while out on the town, or just for daydreaming while looking at the summer night sky.

Was your favorite video game soundtrack left of the list? Do you disagree entirely with any of these choices? Leave your favorites in the comments!

[Image source]

While Hideo Kojima's recent departure from Konami almost certainly signals the end of the legendary Metal Gear Solid series, Steam is making it easier for new players to jump into the franchise. From now until May 30th, Steam is holding a Metal Gear Solid Franchise Sale, offering several fantastic games at reduced prices.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, an open-world stealth epic that doubles as one of last year's best games, is 30% off at $27.99. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, the short prequel to The Phantom Pain, is only $4.99, 75% off the normal price. Meanwhile, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, the high-octane, hack-and-slash action game featuring cyborg-ninja Raiden, is $7.49, also 75% off the original price.

Those looking for a new multiplayer experience will be glad to hear that the Metal Gear Online expansion pack, "Cloaked In Silence" (which gives players the chance to control Quiet, the mysterious and incredibly skilled sniper from The Phantom Pain's single-player story) is $3.99. Steam is also offering the cosmetic DLC packs "ALL APPEAL PACK" (which includes four smaller emote packs for Metal Gear Online) for $6.99, and the "Costume and Tack Pack" for the main campaign in The Phantom Pain for $4.99.

If you haven't already experienced The Phantom Pain, Ground Zeroes, or Revengeance for yourself, this is a fantastic opportunity to pick up and play some great games. Whether it's the tense, stealth-focused drama of Big Boss and company, or the over-the-top swordplay of Raiden, Kojima's games always have something memorable to offer.

[Image source]

Have you seen any statues or collectibles that you thought were particularly awesome? Share them with us in the comments below!

Kratos On Throne (Exclusive Edition)

Wow. Just wow. Look at that thing. It's incredible.

We finish with the God of War himself, Kratos. This has got to be the coolest statue I've ever seen, and it's a whopping 29 inches tall. Yet another from Gaming Heads, this statue comes in two versions. The regular edition is Kratos without the God of War armor, and the exclusive (read: more expensive) version is the above picture. I think it's obvious which one is better. Unfortunately, the exclusive edition is no longer available, but the standard statue - sans armor - is still up for pre-order and will cost $480.

Goliath

This product is definitely a goliath. Standing at 29 inches tall, this piece is still in pre-order and will cost you $750. For that much money, I feel like it should walk around or something -- just saying.

Either way, the figure looks amazing, and I'd love to get my hands on one. 

War and Ruin

Darksiders was an awesome game, so it makes sense that a statue based on the game would be just as awesome. Created by State of the Art Toys, this statue lights up, similar to the Diablo statue. The detail in this piece is breathtaking, particularly War's sword, which sports quite the complicated design pattern. Unfortunately, this is one of the only ones I cannot find anywhere, and so is unavailable. Oh well.

Diablo

Do I need to say anything? It's Diablo and he glows. HE GLOWS! I'm just gonna leave it at that.

Price wise, this one sits at $350 on Sideshow but is sold out and can instead be found on Amazon for $720 or $999.

Raiden

I love this statue. This piece was perfectly crafted by Gecco, a Japanese company. This one is special in that it also comes with some interchangeable parts, something most of the others on this list don't do. It comes with a red visor to go over Raiden's face, as well as a red sword and the sword sheath to place in his other hand.

Another plus is that it seems to be the most reasonably priced on this list, listed at $219. In fact, I might buy it right now...I'll be right back.

Tali'Zorah vas Normandy

Another one from Gaming Heads, Tali was an easy choice since she is one of the best characters in the Mass Effect series. This statue boasts amazing detail, especially in the hood of Tali's suit.

If Tali isn't quite your cup of tea, you can always check out Garrus and Liara as well. They are equally well-crafted. But who cares about them, right? I think we can all agree that Tali is the best.

Right now, Tali is still up for pre-order and you can nab her for $330, or the exclusive version for $340.

The Clicker

These guys give me nightmares, so of course I'd love to have one in my house. Made by Gaming Heads, the clicker stands at 19 inches tall and is one of the grossest looking collectibles out there. But the details are so well done that you can't help but want it.

They're still up for pre-order at $350, if you'd like to get one.

Edward Kenway Resin Statue

McFarlane Toys is responsible for this 14-inch, $400 beauty, which shows the notorious pirate Edward Kenway enjoying a lovely jaunt down a beach. This is one of my personal favorites, purely because of the attention to detail. Kenway's costume is one of the more complicated designs of the Assassin's Creed universe, so to see it rendered with such accuracy and care makes this one of the best I've ever seen. 

Link on Epona

Created by First 4 Figures, this statue stands 17 inches tall. This one is cool because who doesn't like Zelda? I mean Link...of course I meant Link. This particular statue is based on The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and also comes in an exclusive faux bronze finish that honestly looks kinda ugly. In case you were wondering (and if you weren't I'll tell you anyway) that exclusive version is selling for over $2,500 on Amazon. Sheesh.

Nathan Drake Premium Format Figure

We start with Uncharted's Nathan Drake. Created by Sideshow Collectibles, this statue is just pure awesome. Sitting at 16.5 inches tall, the attention to detail on this piece is incredible. 

What really stands out to me, though, is the way they created such realistic looking clothing. Not to mention they got Nathan's face one hundred percent right, something that is more difficult than you'd think. As for price, this one is $350 from Sideshow, but since it's sold out there you can go to Amazon and find it for...wait for it...$550.

I personally wonder where Drake is running off to, though I suspect it's to break up with Elena again.

If you're like me, you've always wanted to start your own collection of comic/game/movie memorabilia. And if you're like me, you can't afford it because those statues cost hundreds of dollars and your firstborn child.

That doesn't mean we can't dream though! We can still look at these beautiful pieces of art and hope that someday we'll be able to buy one of them...but just one since they're so damn expensive. Either way, here are 10 of the coolest gaming-related statues that are out there.

Video game music can be one of the most gorgeous and hype-inducing elements of the whole package, and it definitely has a hand in whether a game is a hit or a miss. Every so often, there are games that have unique and catchy music behind a quality story. So now is the time to possibly expand your music library with some top tier video game soundtracks.

Don't worry - I'm not going to list the obvious ones like Skyrim and Halo and Final Fantasy. You already know they're great. These soundtracks are a little more obscure, but they deserve just as much love.

Ori and the Blind Forest

Composer: Gareth Coker

Ori and the Blind Forest is a platform adventure game with a griping story full of heartbreak, sacrifice, and touching moments. Its soundtrack is mostly instrumental, with some chilling acoustics thrown in there occasionally. Often the music reflects the beautiful and happy vibe of the game and helps bring life to the Forest of Nibel. My favorite track, however, is more of a battle theme that is both beautiful and psyches you up. If you like music that is a real experience to listen to, then this is a must buy!

Shadow of the Colossus

Composer: Ko Otani

Speaking of sacrifice, heartbreak, and stirring visuals and music, naturally Shadow of the Colossus has to come up in conversation. The music in this critically acclaimed game matches its gorgeous visual style perfectly. The score matches the intense moments when Wander is clashing with Colossi and also captures the melancholy sadness of the mysterious “Forbidden Land”. It is rather difficult to find MP3 files from this game, but the search is very much worth the effort.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Composer: Jamie Christopherson

Let's move from gorgeous overtures to hardcore rock. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is very much the black sheep among its fellow Metal Gear siblings. Instead of stealthily taking down foes, Raiden is slicing and dicing multiple giant, and often very ludicrous, robots and cyborgs. Despite being a strong departure from the MG series, its soundtrack matches its over-the-top playstyle with intense rock ballads. These songs quickly pump you up and get you psyched to take down giant robots - or anything else that gets in your way. They also make really good songs to work out to.

The World Ends with You

Composer: Takeharu Ishimoto

Another brilliant game that hasn’t gotten too much acclaim is Square Enix’s The World Ends with You. This RPG combines the urban environment of Shibuya with the typical fantasy themes of an RPG. The soundtrack features all kinds of different style: rap, hip-hop, and even a bit of J-Pop. The story itself is very complex and surprisingly dark, and yet it's meaningful with a small cast of very colorful characters. Also, this soundtrack has a good number of different tracks to listen to, giving you both quality and quantity.

Hopefully I have turned you on to a couple of amazing video game soundtracks that you might have missed.  Any recommendations? Did I miss a personal favorite? Leave a comment! And remember: for all your gaming articles, stay tuned to GameSkinny.com.

At GDC 2015, Nvidia announced an addition to their line of Shield products, The Nvidia Shield Console.

Not to be confused with the Shield Tablet or the Shield Portable, the Shield Console will act as Nvidia's addition to the living room. The device will act as both a gaming device as well as an Android TV device.

The Shield Console is an Android based device capable of 4k playback and capture. It can run both local games and games streamed from the Nvidia Grid service. The games streamed from the service can go up to 1080p at 60fps.

If you're worried about whether the console will have games, don't be. The Shield Console will have access to the Google Play store and Nvidia's own store/service. Several notable ports for the console were mentioned during the reveal including, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, The Witcher 3, Batman: Arkham Origins, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Ultra Street Fighter 4, to name a few.

The console itself has a Tegra X1 processor, which has 256-bit Maxwell GPU with 3GB of RAM. The Shield console will have a MicroSD slot, a Micro USB 2.0 port, two USB Type-A 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet port, and a HDMI port. The device is wireless and Bluetooth capable and it has an IR receiver.

The Shield Console will be sold along with an Xbox-styled controller as a bundle for $199.

For those of us that were waiting to chop up more watermelons, it turns out that wait might be shorter than we believed.

A Neogaf user spotted something at the 2015 Taipei Game Show's stream. During a Sony sizzle reel, there was a brief flash of a number 2 stylized like Metal Gear Rising's logo.

The teaser is seen on the Taipei Game Show's Twitch stream at 2:46:40, during The Order: 1866's part of the sizzle reel.

Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear's creator, was at the show, but he didn't talk about Rising. However, Hideo Kojima has been in contact with the guys at Platinum Games, the studio who created the first Metal Gear Rising. Most recently, Kojima was tweeting about meeting with Platinum Game's president, Minami.

Also in 2013, Konami posted a survey asking fans about their opinion on Metal Gear Rising, even having suggestions about a sequel.

So this all may point to the sequel to the 2013 hit, or it may all mean nothing. After all, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance's sequel has yet to officially be confirmed by Sony, Platinum Games, or even by Hideo Kojima himself, but the 2 stylized in a very reminiscent way is something that gives fans hope.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

This announcement may have only been a teaser, but it got gamers everywhere very excited for the next stage in the Elder Scrolls franchise. The voice over, the metallic dragon, the orchestral music; everything about this trailer made us want to beg Bethesda for more.

The publisher didn't disappoint. When Skyrim came out in 2012 it won Game of the Year, Studio of the Year, and Best RPG. It even won an award the following year as well, for its Dawnguard DLC.

What do you think of my list? Are there any announcements you think I've missed out? Leave your thoughts in the comment sections section below. For all the news and reactions from The Game Awards 2014, stick with GameSkinny.com

No Man's Sky

By far the highlight of last year's terrible VGX, No Man's Sky is an exploration title from Hello Games, a British developer whose only previous creation was the Joe Danger franchise. 

No Man's Sky isn't out yet, but is one of the most anticipated games of 2015. The procedurally generated space sim could be the title which truly shows the potential of the current generation of consoles.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Originally entitled, Metal Gear Solid: Rising, this game was first shown at E3 2010 but was then quietly cancelled. In 2011, Kojima teamed up with Platinum Games to reboot the project as Revengeance, re-unveiling it at VGA 2011.

Although it had been rumoured prior to the event, the fact that Platinum was working on a Metal Gear title was a massive shock to all those watching the show.  What makes this trailer great is that it isn't just cutscenes, it shows plenty of actual gameplay footage too.

Batman: Arkham City

Although it did not yet have a name, the sequel to Arkham Asylum was announced right at the beginning of the VGA 2009,  just a few months after the release of the original. The trailer re-introduced us to Mark Hamill as the Joker and teased a game that would be much larger in scale. At the same show, developers Rocksteady won Studio of the Year.

When Arkham City eventually came out, it was nominated for an incredible 11 awards. It walked away with four of them, including Best Character for The Joker.

Dark Souls II 

One of the most epic trailers to ever be shown at the VGAs was the reveal of Dark Souls 2. The original game was very well-received by gamers, so the news of a sequel was met with intense excitement.

Both Dark Souls and Demon Souls were nominated for Best RPG, but neither of them won. At this year's The Game Awards, Dark Souls II is nominated for Game of the Year, Best RPG, and Best Online Experience.

Telltale's Game of Thrones 

One of the most surprising announcements of last year's show was Game of Thrones from Telltale. The studio had already announced Tales from the Borderlands at the same event, so a second announcement from the developer was not expected at all.

Telltale has had a lot of success at the VGAs. In 2012, they picked up a whopping 5 awards, including Game of the Year and Studio of the Year, for The Walking Dead. You don't get much more successful than that. 

Mass Effect 3

The final chapter of BioWare's Mass Effect trilogy was announced with a trailer showing a lone soldier fighting off the invasion of Earth. As the camera panned out, we learned that the soldier was taking shelter inside Big Ben in London. It revealed that Shepherd has been sent on a mission to travel across the galaxy to bring back help and save his planet.

Mass Effect 3 was nominated for 5 awards at VGA 2012, but only walked away with Best RPG.

The Last of Us

This PS3 exclusive from Naughty Dog would go on to become one of the highest-rated video games of all time. You'd think this would be the type of game Sony would want to show off at E3, but instead they unveiled it at VGA 2011.

This was our first glimpse of Ashley Johnson as Ellie and Troy Barker as Joel. Both actors later picked up Video Game Awards for Voice Acting at the 2013 Award show. The Last of Us also picked up Best PlayStation 3 Game, and Naughty Dog won Studio of the Year.

This week we learned that there will be over a dozen reveals  at The Game Awards. This is the show created by Geoff Keighley to replace the VGAs (or VGX as it was known in its final year), an annual celebration of video games on Spike that had musical acts, celebrity guests and, of course, the awards themselves. After the terrible reception to last year's VGX, Spike cancelled the show.

For gamers, the awards were never the most important part of the event, it was the announcements. As we eagerly anticipate what we might see at Keighley's The Game Awards, l thought it would be a good idea to take a look back at the decade of Spike Video Game Awards.

Here are the top 8 reveals from the Spike VGAs.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was released on Steam on the 9th January 2014, originally launched on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in February 2013. The game is an action slice-em-up game developed by Platinum Games, and produced by Kojima Productions. Players control Raiden, who confronts the private military company Desperado Enforcement. This game involves a lot of killing with a sword, and also other weapons to take into combat!

MGR Revengeance won't launch without internet connection

To the dismay of many Steam users who decided to purchase MGR as soon as it released, the game does not actually launch without an internet connection. This obviously led to a lot of complaints flying around the internet, especially on the game's forums. I have never experienced a single player game on Steam which doesn't work whilst Steam is in Offline mode. I can relate to the users who find this extremely irritating after spending their hard-earned money on MGR: Revengeance, as I know from certain other game downloads sites that when you want to play a game, and it doesn't start, it can make you go crazy! 

Konami have been contacted about this issue by Gamespot, but have yet to reply to them. 

This could be a minor bug with Steam itself, or it could be a major problem on Konami's hands. Either way, I really hope that the issue is resolved soon by either Steam or Konami, as lots of disappointed users of Steam are desperate to play this awesome new title in the Metal Gear Solid series! 

The year has just started, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a slow beginning. As far as we know, the gaming industry never takes vacations, and so there’s always something to look after.

With this in mind, there are some games that will be released during this month, and games that you might want to check out in case you haven’t already. This article will show you the games releasing in January.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PC)

Release date: January 9

Developed by Platinum Games; originally released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in February, 2013--features Maverick operative Raiden seeking vengeance after a rogue PMC terrorist group, “Desperado” attacks him and his team during a mission that involves providing security to the prime minister of an unnamed African country.

Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD (PSN)

Release date: January 14

Originally released for the PS Vita back in October, 2013, Assassin’s Creed Liberation takes you to Louisiana and puts you in the shoes of the Assassin Aveline de Grandpré. She uncovers the deal that the French governor, Jean-Jacques Blaise d’Abbadie,  made with Templar Rafael Joaquín de Ferrer in order to remain as the governor of the city of New Orleans after the Spanish defeated France in the French and Indian War.

Might & Magic X: Legacy (PC)

Release date: January 23

The latest installment of the popular role playing game, Might & Magic; developed by Limbic Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. This title will follow the events from Might & Magic Heroes IV, and will take players to the world of Ashan. There isn’t much information in regards to the game besides its announcement trailer, which released on March 21, 2013. You can check it out below.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (PS4/XO)

Release date: January 28

The latest installment on the Tomb Raider franchise, which has gone by the name of Tomb Raider 2013, is being remastered, redesigned. It's an amazingly crafted edition for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

This time, you can relive the latest adventure of Lara Croft, where you will need to survive on a supposedly deserted island in the middle of nowhere.

Broken Age (PC/iOS/Android/Ouya)

Release date: sometime during January

Announced during 2013′s VGX Show, Double Fine attracted everyone's attention with Broken Age. Through a Kickstarter campaign a couple of years ago, the game received over $3 million in funds.

Broken Age tells the story two children, each about 14 years old; one being a boy, and the other a girl. Both live completely different lives; she escaped from the honor of being sacrificed to the gods, while he (voiced by Elijah Wood) is trying to escape his “guardian”.

Those are some games to keep in mind, if you believe there’s any other game to keep an eye on, let me know in the comments!

Some time ago, there was a leak about the dates of Steam Autumn and Holiday Sales, where it was stated that the Holiday Sale would take place between December 19 and January 2. Which means, the leak was right…well…99% right, as the sale will end on January 3.

Now, the Steam Holiday Sale has begun, and is bringing quite a lot of deals, as usual!

During its first day, there are some deals you might want to check out.

• Dead Island GOTY Edition – $4.99 (75% off)
• Bioshock Infinite – $11.24 (75% off)
• Dishonored – $7.49 (75% off)
• Dishonored GOTY Edition – $13.59 (66% off)
• Monaco – $2.99 (80% off)*
• Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – $19.99 (33% off) **

In the case of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, this is the debut of the game, and it is a pre-order only, as the game won't be available until January 9, 2014.

As it is usual since the release of Steam’s Trading Cards, this sale features a set of 10 Holiday Trading Cards, with cool designs that are based on different games that are, or will be, on sale, which can be used to craft the special holiday badge.

Have you been waiting on this sale? We might as well keep you updated on the most prominent deals of every single day!

With news recently released that Platinum Games and Konami's first port to PC, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, was coming soon in the next few weeks, Amazon is offering a good preorder deal, with a marked down price of $19.99.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is set to be released on January 9, 2014. Amazon also lists the specific time that the game will be available for download as 10:00 AM Pacific. The current preorder deal that Amazon offers is time limited. The offer will expire on Friday, December 21, 2013, at the end of the day.

The download itself is not being hosted on Amazon, but you will get an online game code to use to download Metal Gear Rising through Steam. This preorder is also part of the Holiday Deals that Amazon offers with promotional credit after purchase. If you purchase by Friday, the game will technically be $14.99, with the $5 dollar credit refunded by Amazon around January 3rd, 2014.

Dedicated PC gamers looking for a taste of Platinum and Konami's Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance won't have to wait much longer, according to the most recent Kojima Productions Alert.

During the 36 minute podcast, a Kojima Productions member took on fan questions, one of which inquiring about the PC version of Metal Gear Rising. You can listen to the full podcast below:

Host Sean Eyestone claims the PC version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is in its 'final stages' of development, and that we may be seeing it find its way to Steam sometime over the coming days.

This is certainly surprise news to those who thought the PC version wasn't coming at all. Large Japanese developers/publishers rarely port their console titles to PC, and neither Platinum Games nor Konami have an extensive history of doing so. This will be the first Platinum Games title to find its way to the PC audience.

Sean Eyestone does not mention the exact date of release during the Kojima Productons Alert podcast, so keep your eyes peeled on Steam over the next couple of weeks to see if Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has finally launched on PC.

Enjoying Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on your Xbox 360 or Playstation3? Are you a Metal Gear fan without access to a console? Well, get ready to gear up because it's soon to be coming out on computer, according to Konami.co.uk. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance will be available in digital edition very soon!

Let's Cut It Up

With the ZanDatsu Cut Mechanic, things are set to be awesome. As Konami Group put it, "Cut what you want, when you want, how you want." Want to cut the legs off that ladder? Go ahead, it is now able to be chopped and hacked away.

Smooth Play

FPS (or frames per second) is extremely important as all gamers know. Konami claims that the game gets a fast rate of 60fps on most computers. I wonder if that is newer computer models or includes some late year models since 2009. They claim that the game pushes the boundaries of advanced technology.

This new edition is being released for Windows. No definite release date has been noted nor the vendors (such as Steam for example) have been released. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available!

I personally had this game pre-ordered as the collectors edition. Needless to say I wasn't disappointed with what I received.

Collector's Edition goodies

• A nice lamp that has 2 different modes of lighting.
• A metal case for which I can put both my Game and Soundtrack inside, which has a wonderful art on it.
• The collectors box is a great display for us who are Metal Gear Fans.
• The game itself.

Now, the game starts with viewing a cinematic of Raiden and a high figure of another country are riding together and in conversation. Then Sam comes and starts the action. Afterward, you being playing, and the gameplay was more than what I imagined, mostly because...

The weapons you get throughout the game are interesting

They promised you could cut things continuously and It is true. I was entertained by the Blade mode, the simple slicing of vehicles and other objects to tiny little bits. Raidens moves that you can purchase later in game are just astonishing.

You get a polearm that literally puts a new emphasis on the term Polearm: it's made out of all these little cyber arms that Mistral uses during her fight and the last arm holds a knife. the thing isn't stiff like a normal polearm either, it is flexible like a noodle from a swimming pool.

There are also Monsoon's Sai's I personally didn't care much for these because they don't do as much as other weapons but still can be useful with a shocking ability.

The dual swords from Sundowner are very slow but with the full combination of attacks from them they are quite deadly.

Being a pre-order customer I recieved the wonderful Gray Fox suit and sword. The sword when you pay for the special effect ignores a great deal of armor when piercing and exacts a great deal of damage. Only thing I have to say that kind of pissed me off was since we pre-order the game you think we get the sword and the costume already. No - we had to purchase them with the in-game currency. Not a big deal, but frustrating none the less. We pre-ordered for this, so why not let us have it already? It seemed like they were teasing us.

Music was spot on

The music throughout the game just made it even more intense. Especially the boss fights which is no surprise. The first one mistral just got me pumped during the whole fight. Each song matches the bosses so well.

Also the very useful tool where you can equip your extra health packs to where if your life hits the end, they will refill instantly without you doing it so it seems like you have more lives.

I'm sold on sneaking

The sneaking of the game is thrilling, you can perform stealth kills such as from above you jump and impale the enemy with your sword straight down on top of their head and into their body, you then jump and pull it out to do blade mode. Here you can slice them to bits for fun or slice the right spot to get more health from them.

I am already a Metal Gear fan and when I heard of a Metal Gear action game instead of Stealth. I was a little skeptical, but more excited because a new step and a new idea that might continue and make the Metal Gear saga grow.