SNK's Neo Geo games have had quite a presence on the Nintendo Switch since the system launched in 2017, and that presence is about to get even bigger with the inclusion of Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

In a not-so-surprising surprise announcement, Nintendo confirmed SNK's Terry will be added to the Smash Ultimate roster as the fourth Battle Pass DLC character.

Apart from a flashy intro video, we didn't get a whole lot of information about the newest roster member, though Terry will be available sometime in November.

That's not all, though. Banjo and Kazooie's Smash debut release date was revealed as well — and it's today, presumably right after the Direct finishes (read: now).

Smash fans hoping for even more characters are in luck, too. Not only is Banjo-Kazooie landing in the roster later today, but Nintendo confirmed more characters outside those originally promised.

As of now, there are no hints who these characters may be, how many might be coming, and when they can be expected after the fifth DLC character launches — but they're coming, nonetheless.

For more on the latest Nintendo Direct, be sure to head here. 

It turns out the rumors were true: Simon Belmont and King K. Rool are joining the already-bustling roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

In a 26-minute-long direct, Nintendo revealed the two aforementioned characters as newcomers, along with a host of other content and features coming with the game, which is set to release on December 7.

Simon Belmont hails from the Castlevania series and brings his signature whip and a handful of secondary weapons from the series as special attacks.

With him come an iteration of Alucard from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night as an Assist Trophy and Richter Belmont as an Echo fighter, Ultimate's new alternate skin feature. If you're excited for this character, you absolutely must watch the first minute and a half of the Nintendo Direct (in the header) for some additional hype.

Also rolling into battle is King K. Rool from the Donkey Kong Country games. A much-demanded addition to the roster, you can see King K. Rool's cinematic reveal around the 24:45 mark in the Direct.

These two newcomers aren't the only things to get excited for in this Smash-centric Direct. New modes such as Smashdown, Tourney, and Squad Strike are being added to this iteration. New options are also coming, such as Stage Morph, which will allow players to transition between two separate stages with no interruptions; and the ability to choose your music from a stage's franchise on stage select.

The above additions are certainly not all that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is bringing to the table. Be sure to watch the Nintendo Direct in its entirety for all the new juicy details on Ultimate, and get your wallet ready for its release this December on the Nintendo Switch.

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more news and information on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as it develops. 

Now that the dust has finally settled from Nintendo's E3 presentation and the curtain has been raised on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, we're finally getting a sense of what we can expect from Nintendo's flagship fighting game series when it launches this December.

And oddly enough, the new features, changes, and additions seem different this time around. For a company (and a creator in Masahiro Sakurai) that are infamous for refusing to listen to input from fans, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sure seems like it has been inspired by the competitive community.

Nintendo's History (or Lack Thereof) with the Competitive Smash Community

Ask any competitive Super Smash Bros. player about Nintendo's support of the community, no matter what their game of choice is, and you'll likely get the same answer: They don't care.

And that has held true ever since the original game came out. Nintendo has positioned the Super Smash Bros. series as a casual fighter meant for parties, and has historically been very resistant to the concept that it can be played in any kind of codified professional way. 

Nintendo never hosts official Smash tournaments outside the occasional invitational event. They rarely sponsor major fighting game tournaments either. Nintendo's relationship with people who play Smash competitively has been tumultuous at best, and at worst, outright hostile.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl probably represents the worst of this. After years of refusing to provide financial support to tournaments that featured Melee, Brawl released and was incredibly well-received, but the addition of random tripping and lack of patching meant that Brawl would never be as accepted by the competitive community as Melee was. This was by design. To Nintendo, playing these games competitively was playing the game the wrong way. 

This even continued through the last generation of games. Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U and 3DS featured online play, sure, but the For Glory mode of play seemed like an afterthought, seeing as team battles were restricted to time mode, and the only legal stages were Final Destination clones.

Adding to this is the fact that Nintendo seemed hell-bent on denying that the Melee competitive scene even existed until the Smash Invitational last week, save for a few grudging (and awkward) appearances from select pro players. It was jarring to see so many Melee players featured in Nintendo's intro video to the Smash Invitational last week because they've avoided the scene until that point.

Fan Complaints

The competitive scene for Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U and 3DS remains strong to this day, but as a competitive game, pro players have a lot of gripes with it. The game rewards defensive play, staying in shield, and waiting for your opponent to move first. If this sounds boring, that's because it can be.

There are plenty of other complaints too. There are very few stages that are suitable for competitive play, and as more characters got added to the game, that list got whittled down even further by tournament organizers. DLC characters caused controversy as well, even before Bayonetta witch-twisted her way into the top 8 of every tournament. Nobody liked playing against Cloud because of Finishing Touch (which was nerfed, but still). There were tons of arguments about "toxic" characters, and certain regions banned Bayonetta from play altogether, much like Meta Knight was banned in Brawl.

At first, Omega Stages seemed like a concession to the competitive community, but turning a stage into Final Destination didn't really prove to be all that much of a boon unless the normal Final Destination stage gave you eye strain.

In a lot of ways, the Wii U entry in the series seemed like a half-hearted concession to the competitive community. They look like they're going to go the whole nine yards for the Switch entry.

Times Are A-Changin'

All this is to say that Nintendo finds itself in a precarious situation leading up to the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. They don't want the skill barrier to be as high as it was in Melee, but they want to reward the competitive community that has spent years learning these games. 

What they've come up with so far seems to be toeing that line beautifully. The return of directional air dodges is a great concession to the Melee community, who will be waiting with bated breath over whether or not wavedashing will be a viable mechanic in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. They've made short hop aerials, a popular approach advanced technique, a whole lot easier to perform. They've not only added Omega Stages back, but they've also added Battlefield variants for each stage, and included the ability to turn off stage hazards. (This is already a sticking point for many tournament organizers -- what happens if there are too many legal stages?)

The change that has Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U and 3DS fans salivating is that they have added a significant penalty for rolling and dodging. They want to foster a more aggressive style of play which will, ideally, lead to more stunning and exciting moments (which will now be highlighted with a short slowdown cutscene). 

Now, of course, time will tell whether or not this represents a change in strategy for the company. There's no guarantee that Nintendo will suddenly start sponsoring local tournaments or hosting their own. Hell, there's no guarantee they'll fix Bayonetta. 

But for now, competitive Smash fans are feeling like Nintendo has given them everything that they've asked for. 

Well, everything except for Geno.

I Am Street Fighter

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• Watch the full series at: YouTube
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If you grew up on the SNES or love the classic arcade fighting series Street Fighter, this is simply a must-watch video documentary series. While opinion is quite divided on the latest entries in the series, early entries like Street Fighter II remain a global phenomenon that are instantly recognizable.

Featuring interviews with developers who have worked on the games, this web series looks at uber fans who have followed the franchise for decades, showing what a huge impact Ken, Ryu, and the rest of the crew have had over the last 30 years.

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From the titanic battle between Steve Weibe and Billy Mitchell to games as therapy following a traumatic event, these are the nine best gaming documentaries we've seen so far!

What other interesting or wildly entertaining video game documentaries deserve a spot on this list? Let us know your favorite picks in the comments below.

Second Skin 

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• Watch it at: YouTube (or buy the DVD at Amazon)
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Although quite dated at this point, Second Skin was one of the first truly interesting films to look at how real-world relationships develop, and in some cases take major hits, from playing fictional online games.

Focused around World of Warcraft, which was one of the only games next to Grand Theft Auto that the average non-gamer could name due to its media attention, Second Skin is by turns engrossing and sad while seeing people find love and even commit suicide after spending way too much time playing MMORPGs.

GTFO: The Movie

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• Rent it at: Amazon
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Acknowledged or not, gaming of all stripes -- from tabletop D&D to the casual mobile crowd to competitive PC gaming -- continues to have a misogyny problem. 

GTFO documents harassment female gamers and streamers have received, and while it may be a tough watch, it's a necessary one for our community to become more inclusive.

The fact that comments had to be disabled on the trailer for this particular film should should tell you how much further we still need to go in eradicating this ongoing issue.

Indie Game: The Movie 

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• Rent it at: Amazon (free to watch with Prime, and sometimes found on Netflix as well)
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A surprise hit at Sundance, this look at indie game developers focuses on the lives and development processes of people involved in games like Super Meat Boy, Fez, and Braid.

The film is endlessly entertaining both for gamers and non-gamers alike, showcasing the level of work and dedication required to get a game to launch.

Indie Game: The Movie also accidentally showcases the mentality of many gamers and programmers, holding a mirror up to the community with telling lines like:

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"I desperately want to communicate with people, but I don't want the messy interaction of making friends and talking to people, because I probably won't like them."

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Word bro, I know exactly what you mean!

Darkon

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• Rent it at: Amazon (free to watch with Prime)
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While this isn't always true, and there is definite overlap, in the overall hierarchy of the gaming community, the console and PC crowd tend to think of the tabletop gamers as nerds, while the tabletop gamers respond with, "Well, at least we aren't LARPers!"

Live-action roleplaying takes the D&D concept to an entirely different place as players literally take on the role of their characters, stitching together outfits, crafting weapons, and coming up with intricate rules for adventuring out in the woods.

Darkon takes a close look at the groups who take part in LARPing, and specifically at the relationships and social statuses that develop in an insular community that banded together because they don't tend to fit in elsewhere.

As with any group, though, factions break out, leaders rise, and schisms occur. Darkon bizarrely becomes a study in national politics on a micro scale with a bunch of fantasy gamers.

Free to Play

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• Watch the full movie at: YouTube
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If you dig big-budget, high production value-documentaries, then Free to Play is easily the take on eSports you want to watch first. The notion of getting paid to game started as a joke, but now it's an industry that rivals football or basketball in terms of both money and rabid fanbases.

None other than Valve put together this full-length movie following several Dota 2 players (and their families, who aren't always super excited about the situation) as they deal with the obsession of making it to the top and winning those huge tournaments to not just prove themselves, but to make a living.

Thank You for Playing

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• Rent it at: Amazon
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If you didn't make it to the end of Dear Zachary without bawling, then you should absolutely get your box of tissues out before hitting play here.

Thank You for Playing chronicles the creation of non-traditional game That Dragon, Cancer, a title based around the programmer dealing with his son's terminal cancer diagnosis -- that was coincidentally released the same week that cancer also took David Bowie and Alan Rickman.

It's a beautiful documentary, but don't expect to have dry eyes at the end!

The Smash Brothers

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• Watch the full series at: YouTube
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While Starcraft II, the various MOBA titles out there, and CS:GO might dominate in the world of eSports, there's something to be said for how much Super Smash Bros. Melee brought competitive gaming to the forefront of the industry.

Weirdly enough, it was meant to be a fun party game, but somehow it got people to take competition to a whole new level, both in small-time local events as well as huge national tournaments with money on the line.

For a really interesting look at the history of the game -- and the levels people will go to in order to be the best -- check out this multi-part series that's available for free on YouTube.

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

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• Rent it at: Amazon
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You wouldn't think a film about people playing Donkey Kong would be all that entertaining, but The King of Kong is the sort of flick you just can't take your eyes off of for even a second. 

The characters and story line feel like they were made for a summer blockbuster dramedy and couldn't possibly be real, as rivalry unfolds on an unbelievable level for nerds playing retro arcade games.

Billy Mitchell is the ultimate oddball documentary character who just attracts news stories, from his hot sauce empire to standoffish interviews in recent years where he insists he hasn't seen the film ... but can quote things that were said in it.

The King of Kong is in desperate need of a sequel due to developments since its release. Twin Galaxies, the arcade that plays such a prominent role in the film, originally released a statement condemning some of how Billy Mitchell was portrayed, citing selective editing and a bias towards the underdog for the sake of movie drama.

Recently, however, Twin Galaxies actually stripped Mitchell of his title and banned him from competition after an investigation revealed he hadn't played an original arcade cabinet but allegedly used emulation software, issuing this statement:

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"With this ruling, Twin Galaxies can no longer recognize Billy Mitchell as the first million point ‘Donkey Kong’ record holder. According to our findings, Steve Wiebe would be the official 1st million point record holder.”

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I'm one of those people who spends their Friday nights scouring Netflix and Hulu with my wife for the most bizarre and interesting documentaries available. You know the ones I'm talking about -- where you sit there with your jaw hanging open, wondering, "How on Earth is this reality?"

From the vampire who ran for governor of Minnesota in Impaler to the time a Christian dating site led to murder and exposed utterly insane abuse and fraud in Mommy Dead and Dearest to the European man who convinced a family he was a missing 13-year-old boy in The Imposter to the jaw-dropping insanity of the Steven Fishman depositions, there's a whole lot of stranger-than-fiction docs out there ready and waiting to be viewed.

For gamers, the pickings tend to be more slim, however. The documentaries available are usually either low-budget or cover subjects that will only appeal to a small subset of players.

A few films solidly break out of that trend and are well worth watching, absolutely guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, or scratch your head and question just what in the heck is wrong with our species. In particular, these video game documentaries are all worth your time:

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• The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
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• The Smash Brothers
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• Thank You for Playing
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• Free to Play
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• Darkon
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• Indie Game: The Movie
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• GTFO: The Movie
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• Second Skin
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• I Am Street Fighter
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Because movies rotate in and out of services like Netflix so often, in the upcoming slides we list where you can rent these movies, or in some cases, watch them for free on YouTube.

 One of the most unique characteristics of a video game, setting the medium apart from other media like movies or books, is the control that the player is given (the interactivity). Action games like Super Meat Boy have been praised for giving the player precise and complete control over their character. Other games, like Five Nights at Freddy’s, are praised for giving the player extremely limited control. When is it beneficial to give the player total control, and when is it appropriate to limit their control of the game world? Let's take a look at a few standout games and how they handle player influence.

First, let’s establish what I mean by “control” or “player influence.” The Merriam-Webster dictionary says that it’s “to direct influence over” or “to have power over something.” To relate this to video games, I’ll say that having control means having a meaningful influence or impact on the game’s systems/mechanics. The more control the player is given, the more influence they have over the game's systems/mechanics. Games that give the player a high level of control will be considered to have a high influence rating, and vice versa for games that limit control.

More buttons doesn't mean more control/influence. It's all about the game's design.

Because video games are an interactive medium, it makes sense to give the player more control/influence over what happens. It makes sense to give the player more opportunities to interact with the game world. Many action games, such as those in the Call of Duty, The Elder Scrolls, or Devil May Cry series, give the player plenty of options as to how to approach the game's mechanics. In Call of Duty the player has complete control over their character. Aiming, shooting, running, crouching, and jumping are all controlled by the player. Anything that a soldier could do in reality can usually be done with the press of a button in Call of Duty. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim lets the player choose the mechanics they want to level up, thus allowing for unique approaches to the game's scenarios. Influence is given in the form of a complex and dynamic system to level up the Dragonborn’s abilities. Devil May Cry asks the player to dispose of countless angels and demons by providing a large list of attacks and combos. This approach allows for control over every attack, with the only limiting factor usually being the attack animations. I have given each one of these games a high influence rating because the player is offered a wealth of options on how to influence the game's systems. Not a single button on the controller goes to waste in these games. New scenarios are constantly being thrown at the player, and these games demand a high level of control over their character to reach its maximum potential (or else face the consequences of a game over).

Action games where the player assumes the role of a single character usually limit the player through attack animations (as mentioned earlier on the topic of Devil May Cry). The Dark Souls games offer a wide variety of weapon and combat styles, but every attack must be planned out in advance. Once a button is pressed to perform a heavy attack, no other action can be done until that attack has finished. This is very similar to the Smash Brothers series. Every attack made can be seen as an opening for a counterattack to the opponent. These games indirectly limit the player’s control over the character. You, the player, choose to do a heavy hitting “up-smash,” but upon missing your opponent with this attack, you’re left defenseless for a brief moment. I would still consider these games to have a high influence rating because the control the player has over the character is only limited by their own inputs. The game hasn’t removed any of the player’s control but allowed the player to strategically limit it themselves.

A perfectly timed dodge leaves the opponent open for a counterattack.

A developer doesn’t need to make a fast-paced, high-action game in order to give the player full control over the mechanics. Strategy games, turn-based or real-time, are games that I would also consider to have high influence ratings. Games like Civilization, Starcraft, or XCOM allow the player to take control of multiple people, ranging from a small squadron to an entire empire. In turn-based tactics games, the player is given every opportunity to plan ahead before the enemy makes a move. They’re given the option to look over their own information and stats, and sometimes their opponents' info and stats, and make a well-informed decision before passing the baton over to the enemy. Real-time games offer the same form of control, but both teams work at the same time rather than one at a time. The only way that these games remove control from the player is by not allowing them to see what the enemy is up to. The army that the player controls can only influence how the opponent acts.

It’s also important to note that many high influence games will limit the influence given to the player once or twice throughout the main story. This usually comes in the form of removing the items that the player has been relying on (like on Eventide Island in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild). These are low influence levels in high influence games. These levels normally serve as a reminder to the player as to how far they’ve come. The game still retains its high influence rating, but it uses a low influence level to change up the gameplay style.

Even after losing all of his armor and being stripped to his undergarments, Link still remains determined through the Eventide Island side quest.

Now, let’s talk about low-influence games and the genre with which this design works well.

At first, limiting control given to the player sounds like a passive, movie-like experience, but being able to carefully limit control can create an experience just as engaging as any high influence game. A low influence experience usually creates a tense atmosphere, where the player is at the mercy of the game itself. Ideal reactions to the game’s scenarios are key to succeeding in these games.

A perfect example is the Five Nights at Freddy’s series. The goal of FNAF is to survive the six-hour night shift at a pizzeria (similar to that of Chuck E. Cheese’s), but the animatronic animals are all out to kill you. The player can’t move from their starting position in the office, and they must carefully monitor the movements of the animatronics through the security camera station. The only protection they have if the animatronics get too close are two doors that can be opened and closed at will (provided that there’s still power to do so). Should one of the animatronics enter the office, it’s curtains for the newly hired night watchman.

The player has no way of moving (being stuck in the office), minimal options for defense (only closing the doors), and using those defenses only lowers the chances of survival in the long run (depleting power resources), yet FNAF is one of the most widely recognized and most followed horror video game franchises ever. The little influence that the player is given creates a suspenseful atmosphere where every move made could very well be the last (and there could be a jumpscare ... nobody likes jumpscares). FNAF would not be the same if the night guard (the player) could roam around the pizzeria and beat down the animatronics; the player would no longer feel threatened by the presence of Freddy. To give FNAF a high influence rating would also be to remove the horrifying mechanics that make the player feel vulnerable.

The player cannot move from this spot while playing Five Nights at Freddy's. They can only sit still while the animatronics hunt them down.

Other horror games limit player control in a similar way. The Outlast games only allow vision in dark places through a camcorder that runs out of battery incredibly fast. Resident Evil hands out very limited ammunition to fight off the zombie uprising. Slender only allows the player to run … and that’s it (I never understood Slender). Low influence ratings work best in horror video games, and I have yet to see this design work well in another genre of video game.

Player influence is key in video game design. The control given to the player makes video games more unique than any other medium of entertainment. It’s most appropriate in action and strategy games to allow the player to have a high influence, while in most horror games, limiting influence creates a more intense and scary experience. Consider how much control has been given to you in some of your favorite video games. It might reveal more about the game than you realize.

It's been a wild ride. We've gone from couples that are borderline terrifying because of their fandoms to couples that are borderline terrifying because they are literally monsters who kill people. 

But love is love, and the internet is the internet, and you can't stop people from wanting and believing in love -- and then writing about it and drawing pictures for it. 

Maybe, instead of searching through the internet to satisfy your cravings for crossover ships, just stick to Tomodachi Life. At least you can guarantee PG -- and only PG -- things happening on that game. 

Jigglypuff x Kirby

Another cute and wholesome ship, Jigglypuff and Kirby are a pair that I never thought about together until I saw a piece of fanart and cursed myself for not thinking of it sooner. 

Although their relationship seems to stem from the fact that they're both pink and round and adorable, they work as a pair because they're both pink, round, and adorable together. 

And there's nothing wrong with pairing together two cute things. 

Pinky x Boo

The research I did for this article took me to some dark places, showed me some things I've never wanted to see ever in my life, burned frightening images into my brain. 

One of the few bright aspects I found while searching was a brief line that mentioned Boo and Pinky as a couple, and I thought that was the cutest thing I've ever heard. 

Two ghosties with differing agendas in different universes, living their undead lives and haunting their heroes. I'm glad someone out there thought to pair them together, because I think two 8-bit ghosts together is the most adorable thing that can happen in an article like this. 

Nurse Joy x Dr. Mario

You know which Mario doesn't get enough love? Dr. Mario. Talk about a fun game with a cute aesthetic and an intense hard mode. Some of the love for this game was renewed when Super Smash Bros brought Dr. Mario into the ring, but what sort of love does Dr. Mario really deserve? 

Though he could be paired with any nurse and people would probably be like, "Oh, cute," Dr. Mario and Nurse Joy make a cute couple. 

They both deserve more than their fandom gives them -- and their stereotypical medical outfits pair well together. 

So please, internet. Give the people what they want. 

Slenderman x Enderman

Yes, you read that right. Slenderman x Enderman. 

I bet you didn't know this was a thing. And why would you even think about it, except for the fact that they both lurk around at night and try to kill you? And their names both end in -man, which I guess just solidifies their love. 

Slenderman and Enderman are a thing, guys. Find the fanfic, look for the fan art, and you will find it because this is a thing. 

And you know what? It's not the worst thing I've ever seen. I can see where people are coming from. So enjoy all you can of these two before the Slenderman movie comes out and some really uncomfortable new ships arise. 

Photo credit: Rosenblade

Wii Fit Trainer x Villager

Super Smash Bros is an amazing game. It satisfies our hunger for crossovers by combining our favorite characters into one game and letting them tear each other apart -- or work together.

It also pairs people together that you would never expect to be together until you hear someone say, "Wouldn't they be cute?" and suddenly that couple is all you can think about. 

That's gotta be the only explanation for the Wii's Wii Fit Trainer being paired with Animal Crossing's Villager. Their popularity is baffling, but spend enough time looking at the fanart, and you start to see what everyone else is seeing: they are kinda cute together...

Photo credit: RZSTUDIO

Nurse x Witch

Who's says monsters can't have love? Any piece of fiction retelling the story of Beauty and the Beast sets out to prove this theory -- and people love it. 

But will people love it as much if a monster is paired with another monster? I like to think so -- and no monsters go better together than a Witch and a Nurse. 

Though most people ship the Nurse from Silent Hill with Pyramid Head (which is also cute -- if you can call couples like that cute), and Left 4 Dead's Witch with the Hunter, putting the two creepy women together just seems like the only natural course of action. 

They're both dreary, creepy, and ready to kill. I am ready for the fan art.

(Seriously, though. Where is it?)

Lara Croft x Nathan Drake

I talk a lot about couples made for each other, but in all honesty, I don't think there's any crossover couple as made for each other as Lara Croft and Nathan Drake are. 

I don't even have to tell you why they would work together because I'm sure that as soon as you saw them staring soulfully into each other's eyes, you were like, "Ah. Yep. I get it." 

Just imagine the temples they could explore. Imagine the shenanigans. Imagine the perils they'll face -- together. I'm dying over here. 

Good thing there's enough fan art and some fanfiction to hold me over until someone makes me a game.

Photo credit: AsunaChou

Jinx x Harley Quinn

With all the hubbub going around about people finally realizing that Joker and Harley's relationship isn't as cute as everyone once thought it to be, it's nice to know that people can escape that Mad Love by shipping Harley with someone else -- like with League of Legends' Jinx. 

Though, with both of their tendencies to blow stuff up and laugh about it, their relationship could be just as dysfunctional as Joker and Harley. 

But they just look so cute together ....

As a side note, some fanfic writers and fan art artists portray Jinx as Joker and Harley's daughter; personally, I prefer the romantic ship. 

Photo credit: Kim Eul bong

Samus x Mega Man

I think we deserve a well-earned palate cleanser after that first ship. Let's reward ourselves with the cuteness that is Samus and Megaman. 

What's not to love? They both shoot guns, they both fight aliens, and they're both heroes worth looking up to. They even have the cute complementary color palette of blue and orange that alludes to them being an "opposites attract" couple, even though I just spent three sentences saying how similar they are. 

If nothing else, Samus x Mega Man fulfill the cutest couple trope of all: height difference.

Photo credit: TeeTurtle

Mario x Sonic

Admittedly, this first pairing is more of a crack pairing than any serious inkling I have to ship these two. But their fanbases are so large -- and terrifying -- that even if I were loath to seriously include them on this list, somewhere out there is someone currently writing the fanfiction and drawing the art (you could not pay me to link to this), and I have no choice but to add them to a crossover coupling list because of their popularity. 

Is it their competitive natures that appeal to people? Their similar "Jack of All Trades" stats in their sports games? Perhaps it's the contrast of the red and the blue. 

I don't know. I don't care. Perhaps in a PG universe, I could see the appeal -- alas, as long as rule 34 exists in the universe, I will never do an image search for Mario and Sonic ever again. 

You remember when you first bought Tomodachi Life and, after you made everyone in the room and your secret crush, you started thinking, "Wouldn't it be great if my avatar hooked up with my fictional love, lol?"

So you make a few of your fictional crushes, and you wait for them to notice you -- but instead, they notice someone else, and you're like, "No! That's not who you're supposed to be with!" -- and now Mario is married to Zelda, and Link is watching Samus, and Peach is starting a family with your cousin Joe, and you're starting to think that this isn't too bad ....

Okay, so maybe this is more of a personal problem. But there is something unbelievably fun about romantically pairing off characters that could never meet in their respective universes. 

It's up to you to decide if these 10 crossover couples are more of a crack pairing, a match made in heaven, or a match made in the ninth circle of hell. 

Photo credit: Avalon- 23

E3, the biggest video game event of the year, is right around the corner. Microsoft, PlayStation, and Bethesda have already announced the dates, times, and some featured content for their conferences, but what about Nintendo?

Now that their new handheld hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch, is released and is selling extremely well along with some of its  games-- such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 DX-- not to mention plenty of already available and upcoming indie titles, what else does Nintendo have to show us? There are 3 important franchises from Nintendo's past which they should touch upon this E3, and they are the following:

1. Metroid

There hasn't been a proper Metroid game since 2007's Metroid Prime 3: Corruption,  even last year during the 30th anniversary of the franchise, so the series is due for another title which even the biggest Metroid  fan will be able to enjoy.

The last game to be released in the franchise was the Nintendo 3DS game, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, a cooperative first person shooter which bared little resemblance to the Metroid series and seemingly had the name tacked on. The game received mixed to negative reviews after release, and most fans haven't been very fond of it ever since it's initial announcement. Producer Kensuke Tanabe hoped the plot of Metroid Prime: Federation Force would lead to a future Metroid Prime game focusing on the relationship beween Samus and Sylux, a character introduced in Metroid Prime Hunters who followed Samus and the end of Metroid Prime 3, with some added involvement from the Galactic Federation.

The developers of the Metroid Prime series, Retro Studios, has been working on a new game--not yet announced--for awhile, so lets hope it's a brand new and true Metroid game for the Nintendo Switch, and a true successor to the Metroid Prime series.

For a Metroid game on the Switch, they could even add a multiplayer mode similar to Metroid Prime Hunters as an extra feature, which may help interest those who aren't as enthusiastic about the series.

2. Super Smash Bros.

After the release and success of Mario Kart 8 DX, the fastest selling game in the Mario Kart franchise, this should be a no-brainer. Nintendo could even call it Super Smash Bros. DX if they wanted to.

Like its kart racing counterpart,  Super Smash Bros DX would feature all previous DLC characters and stages, as well as a few balancing tweaks.

The definitive version of the Nintendo crossover game would also feature a few new stages and characters. The new characters could be Bomberman, an older video game character--although a bit younger than Pac-Man-- who has recently made his return after a few years of absence, on the Nintendo Switch with Super Bomberman R. Inkling Girl and Boy --as a skin swap for the same character-- from Splatoon, and either Spring Man or Ribbon Girl from upcoming Nintendo fighting game, ARMS, would be the other 2 new characters. Each new character would also help add a new stage based on their respective games.

Obviously there are plenty of other characters and stages Nintendo could add to their definitive version of Super Smash Bros., but these three seem to be likely contenders.

3. Pokémon

The seventh generation of mainline Pokémon games, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, only came out last year, but players need to know which rumors, if any, are true. The third, updated version for the seventh generation of Pocket Monsters, possibly called Pokémon Stars, has been heavily rumored for awhile now. In addition to this, dataminers have found files with certain unused assets, such as walking Pokemon sprites akin to those in Pokémon Heartgold and Pokémon Soulsilver versions, the fourth generation DS remakes of the second generation games, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions for the Game Boy Color. Just recently, there has also been speculation that Nintendo may be starting to tease the existence of Pokémon Stars with their new "Look Upon the Stars" line of merchandise exclusive to Japan. Junichi Masuda, composer, director, producer, designer, and producer of Pokémon previously tweeted a moon right before the reveal of Pokémon Sun and Moon, so fans should keep an eye out for more hints leading up to E3.

Pokémon Stars may not be the only future Pokémon game, however, as there is also a possibility of remakes for the fourth generation of games, Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, and Pokémon Platinum versions. This is due to the numerous references in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon which reference different things from the fourth generation including: Sinnoh Elite Four Champion, Cynthia, being an opponent at the Battle Tree, notes in the dimensional research lab on the Ultra Beast which mention the Pokémon Giratina, Palkia, and Bronzong, and a lab in the Aether Paradise area which contains files about the development of Type: Null, a seventh generation Pokémon based off of Arceus from the fourth generation, which claim that materials for development were collected from the Canalave library, as well as a few less notable references.

One other possibility for the next Pokémon game, which would be a bold move and probably not as likely, would be full HD remakes of the original games but featuring some Pokémon from every region in addition to the original 151. In Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, the main character and their mother are originally from Kanto, Red and Blue make an appearance at the battle tree, and at the end of the games story the characters Lillie and Hau go on separate adventures to the Kanto region.

In addition to these in game references, the Pokémon anime is getting an alternate movie reboot this summer with Pokémon I Choose You!--titled after the first episode of the anime series, which features new characters as well as Pokémon from later generations not originally present in the first series. So, why not have a game based off of that same concept? It may not be as likely of a game to exist as the other choices, and it's possible they could just add the Kanto region to Pokémon Stars, but a full HD remake is definitely still a possibility as well. With a few different options on the table, Nintendo's bound to mention at least one of them.

Those are 3 important franchises Nintendo should touch on during this years E3. The date and time of Nintendo's presumed digital event is yet to be announced, but news should be coming soon with E3 right around the corner. Be  sure to tune in and keep an eye out for these 3 franchises.

Do you agree with these 3 choices? What franchise do you think Nintendo should touch on this E3? Let us know in the comments!

DLC has gotten a bad rap over the years. Publishers have exploited the goodwill of gamers by releasing divisive and exploitative DLC under the guise of support. Expansion packs are still held in high regard due to the large amount of content they add to the base game.

However, DLC does have its advantages. Developers have released worthwhile content to create truly amazing games with DLC. Here are 4 reasons DLC is better than expansion packs.

DLC can be Free

Nothing in this world is free, except for the occasional free DLC. Sometimes considered large scale updates, free DLC provides additional content at no cost to the player. This may be to encourage purchases or introduce a DLC model to a new game gracefully. The 3DS Fire Emblem series introduced their DLC model with a few free maps and items. Fire Emblem Awakening in particular had a large variety of maps and characters up for purchase. It created replayability and encouraged further purchases.

Expansion packs will always cost money. They contain too much content to be released for free without breaking the bank. This alone gives DLC an edge in investing the player in future content.

DLC is Cheaper

Most expansion packs are about a third to half the price of the base game. StarCraft: Legacy of the Void for example, costs thirty dollars, while a Super Smash Bros. character costs five. The content difference is massive, but the price difference is as well. Each piece of content is priced to encourage a quick spend when wanting more to play.

This difference in price allows DLC to give players instant gratification. With content being only a few bucks, players are encouraged to buy when they feel like it.

DLC is Faster

Speaking of instant gratification, DLC is released very shortly after the main game. While expansion packs take months to be released, DLC is available almost right after launch. Players don't have to wait; they can buy the new content immediately.

Day one DLC is the extreme example of this, and while it is commonly abused, it is still a valid method of selling content. Most DLC practices that are considered anti-consumer, are actually fine in theory. They just get abused by publishers who try to wring every penny out of their product. The time itself just allows players to experience more content.

DLC has More Options 

While the idea of publishers giving options reminds players of exploitative practices such as micro transactions, DLC actually gives players the ability to choose what they want. You can choose what you buy and customize your game to suit your needs. If you only want characters in a fighting game, you can just buy the characters.

Expansion packs give you a large amount of content, but are highly priced and can contain unwanted items. Even if you want only a few quests, you still have to buy an expansion pack. DLC gives you the freedom to make a variety of purchases.

The line between DLC and expansion packs has blurred with the creation of fully digital marketplaces. Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC can be considered an expansion pack, but is marketed as DLC. Both have a place in this market and it's up to the developer to decide what is best for their product.

What do you think of DLC and expansion packs? Let us know in the comments below!

So that's our list of 10 fighters we'd like the Nintendo Switch to have. Of course, some have a better chance of others at making the jump to the new console when it launches in 2017, but who knows, maybe we'll see em' all.

Agreed with our list? Disagree with the list? Do you have a better list? Let us know in the comments section below.

Last on the list is the not so obscure Skullgirls 2nd Encore. Developed by a team of fighting game fans, Skullgirls is a very forward-thinking title.

At its core, the game plays like a cross-over title, much like the games in the Marvel vs Capcom series. But unlike that series, Skullgirls players have a number of options for matches. Players can elect to use one fighter, a team of two fighters or a team of three fighters for each match, adding a wide variety of match types not typically found in other fighting games. 

The game is also special because it features a cast of nearly all female fighters. Wacky and unique, each character looks as if they were pulled from various eras of animation. And because of all its quirks, it would make too much sense for this game to find its way to the Nintendo Switch. 

Dissidia Final Fantasy is up next on our wishlist for the Switch.

Without a doubt, everyone knows about the Final Fantasy series. AND everyone also has personal favorites. With those favorites, you'll find conversations about which hero/foe is strongest and so forth. And this is the title settle all those debates once and for all. 

A new arcade game that pits heroes and villains of the series against each other, Dissidia could make a huge splash on the Nintendo Switch, especially if Nintendo's new console is the first to feature the game's home release.

Players would finally be able to live out Final Fantasy fighting fan fiction feverishly. 

If the Switch should find a cross-over game then, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 should be it. The Marvel games target a certain niche within the fighter genre --unlike any others. At its highest level of play, it's hard to keep track of what's going on on-screen, and that's why it's a must play.

The title is incredibly technical at its highest level and requires players to be on their toes at all times. Anything can swing the match in favor of you or your foe. You have to have the presence of mind to recognize opportunity and potential misfortune. Really, it's a game that pros and casual players can both pick up and enjoy.

It may not be the most popular title on the list, but of all the fighters released in 2016, Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator is arguably the best. Nearly every ounce of the game has been influenced by the rock and roll genre, not to mention the series has been a staple of the fighting game genre for years.

Xrd was developed by Arc System Work, which has been making fighters for nearly 20 years. As such, Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator features everything you could ask for in a fighting game. The fighters are all flashy in their own ways, the game features a robust tutorial that will teach noobs and pros alike nearly every single nuance in the game, and well, the game's just darn pretty. Let me tell you there's a lot.

Let me tell you, there's a lot going on here.

The gameplay is fast, furious, highly technical and so so beautiful. We really hope the Switch is graced with this entry in the series.

Mortal Kombat XL should be made available on the Switch because it would bring older, more mature players to the console. 

The latest game in the series is a culmination of Mortal Kombat's best mechanics and style. The character roster features more than 30 combatants, and even horror and sci-fi film favorites Jason Voorhees, the Alien and the Predator. What's more, the game features a robust campaign/story mode.

Oh, and did we mention the fatalities are pretty brutal?

The next brawler we think should be available is Injustice 2, which serves as the beefier sequel to the surprising Injustice. The fighter features heroes and villains from the pages of DC comics, and the newest entry leans on the popularity of the DC TV shows, featuring those heroes front and center. Supergirl vs The Flash anyone?

From the development studio that created Mortal Kombat, Injustice 2 will continue offering gameplay unique to itself. The title features some destructible environments and hazards, while characters can gain armor and added abilities as battles progress.

The Switch would be a good place to answer the question: Can Batman really beat Superman?

Of course, no list for a Nintendo console would be complete without a Smash Bros mention. This is most likely a sure thing for Nintendo. Super Smash Bros. 4 is premiere eSport that has gameplay fit for casuals, professionals and everyone in-between. That's not to mention the Smash Bros franchise has been a staple for Nintendo since it first released for the N64 in 1999. 

Super Smash Bros' popularity is well deserved on so many levels. The in-game content is massive. Its history encompasses years of Nintendo titles, and more recently others. The highest levels of competition require players' minds to move at breakneck speeds.

The latest title also features a unique roster with more quests from non-Nintendo franchises. I mean Ryu vs Greninja? Who doesn't want that on a new console?

Tekken 7 is the next fighter on our list. For years Tekken has been considered one of the best 3D fighting games on the market. Across any console it's been available on, the series has set industry and genre standards again and again. It's also one of the few fighters where you can fight in full 360-degreee plane.

Tekken 7 not only adds more characters to the series, but it also expands on the series' core gameplay mechanics. Fighters now have super combos that deliver massive damage. 

Of course, it goes without saying the game is beautiful, too. Fighters hail from new parts of the world and possess numerous fighting styles, fleshing out the series' lore and global feel. Who doesn't want to play a game that has superhumans, zombies, robot girls and generational samurai?

King of Fighters XIV in our opinion is the second best fighter to be released in 2016. So we're hoping it finds its way to the Nintendo Switch at launch. Its availability would make sense considering SNK has been on a campaign of change if you will.

So why King of Fighter XIV? Well, one good reason is its roster of 50 fighters. No game released recently can boast those numbers. The mechanics are pretty advanced and that's putting it mildly. You'll feel more like a tactician against the competition.

You can spend hours learning the game. Then there's the in-game content; an engrossing story, character trails, art and more. This game offers a lot.

Ahh, Street Fighter V, one of the most popular eSports titles around.

Sure the game has had its share of controversies, but you can't deny it's one of the best fighters out there. 

The game has deep mechanics, fierce gameplay and nuance after nuance. When you look at any match between pros, you can see its intricacies at work. With 22 characters to chose from and a number of varied stages, there's enough fighting-game content to hold anyone's attention.

Now, it's pretty unlikely SFV may grace another console considering it was co-funded by Sony.

Regardless, SFV also supports a very robust online competitive scene.

We don't know what the nature of the Switch's online structure will be, but we're fairly certain many will spend hours fighting worldwide, especially if Street Fighter V makes its way to the console. 

With the reveal of the Nintendo Switch, there's been a lot of speculation. Mainly, the biggest question is what games will find new homes with the console. Of all the genres out there, we'd like see a variety of fighting games at the system's launch -- or shortly thereafter. 

We've complied a list of games we'd love to see on the new gaming console. Some games are current favorites, some are titles that deserve a revival, while others maybe somewhat obscure. Regardless, each game on this list would bring much welcomed competition to Nintendo's newest console. 

In honor of US National Video Games Day, we rounded up the best video game discounts and deals of the day. Grab some (or all) of these 5 discounted items before they disappear. Happy gaming!

Discount  Game #5: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Geralt is a bad ass, and The Witcher is a wonderful adventure RPG series. At 32% off, you get the enhanced edition for Xbox 360. 

Discount Game #4: Madden NFL '17

Football season is back and it's only right to update your rosters and build your team on your console, too. Snag Madden NFL '17 for 33% off it's list price and take your team to the Superbowl. 

Discount Game #3: Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book

Even though this is the 17th installment in the series, there's no time like the present to jump right in. This is a well-known and super fun RPG, and it can be yours at a 33% discount. 

Discount Game #4: Super Smash Bros Lucas Amiibo 

Okay, okay, we know this isn't a game. But for you amiibo collectors and Super Smash Bros. fans out there, you can grab Lucas for 56% off. 

Discount Game #5: DOOM: Collector's Edition 

The number one discount deal of the day goes to the DOOM: Collector's Edition. In addition to the game, you receive a 12" statute of the Revenant on a LED-lit base and an exclusive metal case with the game. Normally priced at $119.99, save 66% when you order today! 

* * *

I’m always looking for new awesome products, so please send me your favorites at commerce@LaunchMediaNetwork.com. Also, sign up for our Launch Commence newsletter to receive the best deals of the week right in your inbox. 

Today, the eGames tournament announced the titles for their showcase at the 2016 Olympics. The event will feature the games SMITE and Super Smash Bros during two tournaments held at the British House in the historic Parque Lage in Rio De Janeiro.

The eGames tournament was originally created in May 2015, and was the end result of a conversation among eSports and sports industry leaders. They came to the conclusion that they could create a competition not based on winning money, but inspiring national pride. The UK Government then became involved to provide support and promote eSports at home and internationally. Thus, the not-for-profit International eGames Committee (IEGC) was formed with the aim of positively shaping the future of competitive gaming.

The tournament hopes to create the "Olympics of eSports", and as such they've invited national teams and players of various background to compete. On August 15, the ESL-hosted SMITE portion will pit the top international teams -- including Brazil -- against each other. 

Tuesday August 16, will focus on Super Smash Bros for the Wii U. Top Smash players from around the world have been invited -- including EVO Champion; Juan "Hungrybox" Debiedma, Ally (Canada); the winner of Smash Factor 5, Leo (Mexico); Larry Lurr (USA) and J. Miller (Great Britain). 

Much like the Olympics, this showcase is meant to encourage sportsmanship and high-level competition. That is part of the reason there is no prize pool -- only medals like actual Olympic events. As eSports continues to become more popular eGames hopes to further legitimize them alongside any sport. 

If successful, eGames hope to eventually have a full event after the 2020 Olympics.

WWWELCOME! 

by Unknown

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Some people buy amiibos for the sole purpose of selling them on the Internet for a substantial profit. So what better way to encompass the scumbag amiibo re-seller by mixing him with the mysterious seller from Resident Evil 4? Could you just imagine Leon picking up three Ryu amiibos while fighting his way through a horde of zombies? Maybe the chainsaw guy has a soft spot for Jigglypuff?

Do you have a particular cosplay you are proud of? Feel free to share photos of your past cosplay with GameSkinny at leads@gameskinny.com . We just might feature them in a future article!

The Squid Sisters

by Cospatio

A grand success in fandom out of Japan, the Squid Sisters from Splatoon have been getting numerous fans adapting their own version of the characters into costume. But these two women from Japan do an especially great job of making the characters come to life!

Lady Ike

by CPP Creations

Gender swapping characters can sometimes lead to the most unique of costumes, and this female rendition of Ike from Fire Emblem is no different! With its vast attention to detail, it's only a matter of time before a real amiibo is made out of her.

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Vintage Peach

by MandyNeko

Every wondered how the world of Super Mario would fair in the olden days? This clever recreation of the Princess Peach outfit could be the closest thing we ever get to a Victorian era Mario game. (Unless you're reading this Nintendo, in which case wink-wink, hint-hint, make this happen.) 

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Villager and Little Mac - BRAND NEW!

by Maxime Chow

Every amiibo collector's dream is finding all of their favorite figures brand new in the box. But dressing up as your favorite video game character and sealing yourself within a box? That doesn't sound crazy at all...

Fuzzy Yoshi

by kyramil

Nintendo may be fond of pouring out yarn Yoshi Amiibos, but perhaps they should be investing in Fuzzy ones too? And considering the fact that knitting together a Yoshi costume would probably take forever, it makes this fuzzy interpretation of Mario's loyal companion all the more impressive. 

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Big, Bigger, Biggest!

by d-slim

A side by side comparison with the amiibo figure and an action figure helps illustrate the detail that's been put into this Samus suit cosplay. I just hope there's some sort of waste disposal system, as I'd imagine trying to use the bathroom with this costume on would not be fun. 

Tennis, Anyone? 

by CPP Creations

We haven't seen any Mario's Tennis amiibo just yet, but if Nintendo were to get a hold of this picture, I'm sure they'd be inspired to make a whole line of figures. Just you wait, it's bound to happen. 

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Super Smash Bros Cosplay

by AMENOKITAROU

There's a reason Super Smash Bros has remained a Nintendo staple since its birth on the N64. Satisfying the inner masochist in all of us, we just love seeing our favorite Nintendo characters battling it out with one another, and these cosplay costumes perfectly summarize the nostalgia running through its fans' veins. 

Cuddly Charizard 

by HaruDesu88

Have you ever wondered what Charizard would be like if, instead of rough skin, we was made of felt and you could hug one without running the risk of catching fire? No? Well, apparently someone did, as this young woman managed to create what could be the softest Charizard in the history of nerd-dom. 

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You're a Squid Now!

by RainaTraina

The popularity of Splatoon has spawned numerous amiibo figures for die hards to collect, including a recent Squid Sisters pack. This woman's rendition of the game's iconic Marie is freaky accurate -- let's just hope her hair doesn't consist of genuine squid. 

Rosalina

by CPP Creations

Being a powerful figure in the Mario universe, Rosalina happens to be one of the most interesting female characters the Mario games have ever offered. So, it comes as no shock to see plenty of female cosplayers dressing in her image. (Is it also weird to think that costume would make great pajamas? Seriously, how comfy do those look!?)   

(Click on image to enhance size)

Wii Fit Fighter!

by LeapingLizardCosplay

Being a master of yoga and the definitive icon of Nintendo fitness games, might sound easy, but bring the Wii Fit trainer into a brawl and she's bound to knock your lights out. Or help you lose weight, whichever comes first. 

Personal Toy Shelf

by Unknown

Talk about dedication to your collection. Why dress up as your favorite Nintendo, Disney, or Skylanders character when you can just bring all of them with you...attached to your body?

It's not an obsession, I swear. 

(Click image to enhance size)

Family of Samus

By d-slim

Samus may be one of Nintendo's most badass heroines, but she probably has family issues like the rest of us. After all, if you had this many sisters to deal with, who wouldn't prefer fighting aliens over dealing with unnecessary drama (Cough Metroid: Other M, cough cough.) 

Nintendo has been striking pure gold within its own nostalgia. Despite sitting on this gravy train for decades, it wasn't until recently that the video game company decided to officially license amiibo figures based off their popular gaming franchises.

And with the craze surrounding these little toys far from over, it comes as no surprise that fans would draw inspiration from the figures to create their own costumes based on them. From a fuzzy Charizard to a late era Princess Peach, these fifteen amiibo-inspired cosplay costumes are just plain awesome.

When Masahiro Sakurai first created Kirby back in 1992, he probably had no idea of how much of a loved character he would become. The round, pink (although he was first introduced to North American as white) little creature is now one of Nintendo's titular icons and continues to be a huge fan favorite. The simple concept of a small creature who can fly and suck in enemies is so endearing and flexible that it has seen Kirby in lots of different adventures and scenarios and is always changing to suit today's trends.

In this article, I just want to show you how far Kirby has changed and to highlight why he one of the most beloved Nintendo characters of all time.

Kirby's roots in the 1990s

Well, it all began in 1992 when Sakurai, working for the developer HAL Laboratory, created a little placeholder image called Popopo. Developers liked this guy so much that they decided to keep him, and a game was developed around him, a game called Twinkle Popo. For reasons unknown, his name eventually became Kirby, and the game became Kirby's Dream Land.

Kirby's Dream Land was released on Game Boy in April 1992 in Japan and August the same year for North America and the rest of the World. Even though the original Game Boy had a grayscale screen, Kirby was always pink in the eyes of Nintendo, but the decision was made to have Kirby appear white in the box art for the Dream Land release in the states to match how he appears in the game. To date, this side-scrolling platform has sold more than 5 million copies. As well as Kirby, Dream Land also saw the introduction King Dedede. He was Kirby's adversary in this first game of the series and continues to be a reoccurring villain character.

Kirby continued to grow in popularity in the 1990s, and there was a total of 9 further games released based on his adventures. Kirby's Adventure released in 1993 and the world first saw Kirby in all his pink goodness (albeit a very pale shade of pink). This was the first and only Kirby game to release on the NES and, at six megabits, was one of the largest games to ever come out on the console. The last title to release in the 90s was a direct sequel to the first

The last title to release in the 90s was a direct sequel to the first Kirby game which was Kirby's Dream Land 3 and was released in 1999. This, in itself, was the last game to be released by Nintendo for the Super NES however many didn't get to play it until it became available via the Wii Virtual Console in 2009. Fans in Europe and Australia were unable to play the game as there were some pretty significant PAL conversion issues which resulted in the game being unreleasable in those regions.

Into the 2000s and still going strong

At the start of the new millennium, Kirby made his way onto the Nintendo 64 in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. It was to be the only Kirby game to be available on the console even though he featured in another new game for the N64 called Super Smash Bros. which released in 1999. Kirby has a lot of "firsts" associated with the game such as being one of the first Nintendo games to utilize motion sensor technology in 2000 in Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble for the Game Boy Color. During the 2000s, there were 7 Kirby games released, and the character never lost favor with fans.

As Nintendo was building momentum through the decade, releasing console after console, Kirby has had his rightful place on all of them. In 2003, he made his only appearance on the GameCube in a racing game called Kirby Air Ride.

Kirby & the Amazing Mirror and its prequel Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land were released on the Game Boy Advance in 2002 and 2004 respectively. The Amazing Mirror introduced a new format to the Kirby games, a maze layout which allows players to go to any area they can get to at any time rather than sticking to Kirby's known and loved linear side-scrolling platform format. This game is also the only game in the entire Kirby series that does not include King Dedede.

Always a fan of remakes, Nintendo released Kirby Super Star Ultra in 2008 which was a remake of the 1996 title Kirby Super Star. The original game featured many different sub-games and modes and the remake introduced even more sub-games as well as updating the graphics and gameplay to make it suitable for the DS.

Soaring into the 2010's

As we fly into the next decade, Kirby is still hitting the mark with fans as new and exciting adventures make their way to our consoles. The critically acclaimed Kirby's Epic Yarn for the Wii was the first to hit the shelves in 2010. This stunningly different game won multiple awards at E3 2010 as well as Game of the Show from Gamespot.

As the name implies, there is a lot of yarn in this game, but the whole feel of the game is a haberdasher's shop. Kirby ends up being transported to Patch Land and turning him into yarn. For once, Kirby was unable to swallow his enemies or fly, so you have to make do with using yarn, buttons, scissors, etc. to get through each level.

Skipping forward a few years to 2016, Nintendo released their fourteenth title in the Kirby series. Kirby: Planet Robobot was released in June this year and is for the Nintendo 3DS. Like its predecessor Kirby Triple Deluxe, it makes use of the 3DS' 3D capabilities. The main features of the game style remain the same but in addition to Kirby's exhaling abilities he now gets to pilot mech suits or robobot armor.

If I were to mention all of Kirby's adventures this brief history wouldn't be very short at all but you can see just how far he has come. Kirby celebrated his 20th anniversary in 2012, and there are no signs as yet of him ever retiring. Together HAL Laboratory and Nintendo have created such a versatile character who can easily be adapted to fit into any scenario he is put in. This leaves fan thinking about what will Kirby do next? Where do we go from this new sci-fi game?

Let us know what you believe the future holds for Kirby below and share with us your memories of playing his games in the comments below.

According to GameInformer, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS has surpassed a combined sale total of over 5 million. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS sold over 3 million copies, while Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sold over 2 million. 

This makes Smash the fifth best selling game on the Wii U and the seventh best selling game on the 3DS. 

Smash selling so many copies is no surprise. as it is a popular fighting franchise with many tournaments organized around it.

Nintendo also saw an increase in sales for 3DS systems during the month in June -- over 39 percent to be exact. Kirby: Planet Robobot and Rhythm Heaven Megamix are both performing well, but probably not selling more copies than Smash Bros. We will not know the full numbers until the release of the NPD's retail charts on July 21st. 

Smash Bros.' latest DLC came out back in February with new characters and costumes.  

Okay, so I can't speak for everyone, but most gamers I've encountered love to get a good game of Super Smash Bros. going. It's the perfect party game: everyone picks their favorite character and battles it out, hopefully with more laughs than ruined friendships.

Many Smash players, though, prefer to play with the items off. They think items ruin the game and remove any semblance of skill involved. My perspective on it is a little different. I appreciate the "For Glory" style and how it tests true Smash prowess. When it comes to a casual night with friends, though, Smash is at its best when characters and objects are flying around as much as possible.

Items, of course, aid in the chaotic process. While I certainly encourage playing with all items on, there are a few types of items in particular that you might want to look for. Using these as your battle boosters will ensure that your smashing is up to par -- even if you had to use a little help along the way.

Helping Items

These are items that you can use to summon characters, who will help you by attacking your rivals. There are few things that shake up the game, like putting a temporary ally on your side. And some can do damage to many opponents at once.

Perhaps the most famous example is the Poké Ball, which contains a Pokémon with a unique ability. You might find an Abomasnow to freeze people or a Staryu to trap them in a line of rapid-fire attacks. Snorlax is my personal favorite: there's nothing like watching the big lug squash whoever happens to be in his way. My only other advice is to hope you don't get Goldeen.

Of course, the Master Ball serves a similar function, except that it summons legendaries, often the very best Pokémon available. If you really want things to get crazy quickly, put these on high and let Mew, Kyogre, and company take over the battle.

Those acquainted with recent editions of Smash will know that they can call upon more than just Pokémon. That is where the highly coveted Assist Trophy comes into play. These were introduced in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and are perhaps even more unpredictable than Poké Balls. They can do everything from flip the stage over to block your field of vision. Might make the game harder to play, but results in plenty of "What the?!" moments.

Exploding Items

Yeah. Explosions are cool. And they're certainly cool in Smash, where they can net you a nice few kills. The series features several types of bombs, and even a box, all of which have been designed to blow the unlucky victim to smithereens (or at least off the stage).

Some bombs, such as Bob-ombs, explode on contact. Other bombs latch onto either the ground or even a competitor, and additional contact or time results in their activation. When you want to nail a few foes at once, you can't go wrong with the Smart Bomb, which triggers a huge, expanding explosion, or the X Bomb, which shoots fire in, well, an X.

Then you have the Blast Box, not a bomb by name, but not an item to kick around too much if you plan on surviving.

Rest assured -- if it explodes, it will explode on you (and your friends) at some point. I'd say be careful with them, but that would defeat the purpose of this article. So I'll instead advise that you use bombs as carelessly as possible and hope you come out on the other side.

Bonus: Cucco

This particular fella is only available in the Wii U and 3DS editions of Smash, but man, he is so worth it. Cucco is a chicken-like animal who minds his own business, walking across the stage without doing much to disrupt things. How is that chaotic, you ask? Try disrupting him and see what happens.

If you decide you want to pick up Cucco and throw him at an enemy, it will summon a whole herd of Cuccos to ruthlessly batter that enemy. They come fast and furious, so this is one of the best items to use if you want to really ruin someone's day.

Of course, there's a fine line between hitting A to pick up a Cucco and to kick one, depending on your positioning. If you do the latter, they come after you. So yeah, don't do that. Unless you like being attacked by a herd of angry chickens. I'm not here to judge.

There are many other items that can cause real damage to your opponents. But if you stick to the ones I've laid out, you are guaranteed to have the Smash game of your life. Not in terms of masterful skill, but in terms of having crazy things happen left and right.

None of these are quite ideal for tournament play, but for a fun night with your crew? Bring out the chickens.

Images: Super Smash Bros. Official Website

Nintendo has released many amiibo since its debut alongside Super Smash Bros. Wii U back in 2014. They revealed at E3 that new Super Mario amiibos will be available on November 4^th, 2016. However, we’re not done with these amiibo yet.

In case you missed it, new Super Mario #amiibo are available now for pre-order: https://t.co/MeIqi1E4v7 pic.twitter.com/K8nLkGtdwL

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 16, 2016

Nintendo announced today that the new Super Mario amiibo are now available at select retailers. The amiibo revealed at E3 are Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, Rosalina, Boo, Donkey Kong, and Diddy Kong. It is unknown what the functionality of these amiibo are, but it is likely that they will work with Super Mario Maker, Super Smash Bros. Wii U, and possibly the new Mario Party game, Mario Party Star Rush. It has also been announced that the Boo amiibo will glow in the dark.

The retailers currently taking pre-orders are Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Toys R Us. The prices tend to vary between each retailer with the cheapest at Walmart for around $10 and the other retailers varying around $13 to $14.

If you want to learn more about these amiibo and other amiibo announced at E3 2016, check out this article.     

Source Image [Header Image]

The Evolution Championship Series is the biggest fighting game tournament in the world. Since Evo's inception back in 2002, the tournament has been growing steadily larger every year -- and in 2016, Evo will set the record for most entrants into any Super Smash Bros tournament ever.

Evo's Twitter account announced that entrants for Super Smash Bros Wii U just surpassed last year's number of 1,926 registered players. With only a month left until Evo, this number is undoubtedly going to increase, and the entrants for Super Smash Bros. Melee will bolster the numbers even further.

The Smash scene has been growing rapidly over the past few years, and it's really awesome to see the community get a share of the limelight that was once reserved for games like Street Fighter and Marvel vs Capcom. And it's not just at Evo that Smash is breaking records -- it's at CEO as well.

Evolution 2016 will take place from July 15 through July 17 at the Las Vegas Convention center and the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. For a tournament that was hosted in the ballroom's of hotels for years and years, these venues are a huge upgrade in terms of quality.

If you're interested in participating in any of the games being played this year at Evo, or just want to learn more, you can register here. 

Smash 4 is shattering registration records at both CEO and Evo this year.

While it isn't included in some tournaments, Smash is being featured as a main game at CEO, where the sheer number of registrants made the event the fifth largest Smash tournament ever -- surpassing Super Smash Con's 2015 numbers. CEO’s last registration count on Twitter shows that Smash 4 is at 745 registrants, up from 512 last year and with almost 100 more than Street Fighter V.

Registrants at Evo for Smash continue to grow as well. Evo tweeted Tuesday that Super Smash Bros. 4 for Wii U will be the “biggest Smash tournament ever,” referencing the number of registrants for the game.

Because Evo does not release the number of registrants before registration closes, the exact number is not known. However, we can infer that the number is above that of last year’s 1,926 registrants.

Panda Global’s Smash 4 manager and tournament organizer Bassem “Bear” Dahdouh told Yahoo eSports that breaking these records is a big step forward for the Smash 4 community, as the game is not included in events like DreamHack and SXSW.

But with such exponential growth, that could change. 

CEO is held in Orlando from June 24-26, and Evo takes place in Las Vegas from June 15-17.

Have you ever wanted to be the voice behind some of your favorite video game characters? Famous voice actor David Vincent (Robin in Fire Emblem Awakening and Super Smash Bros, Marshall Law in Tekken, etc.), hosted a panel at Momocon about how to break into the industry.

David himself didn’t exactly have a narrow path to his career. In college, he studied journalism. However, when he graduated he decided to go to New York and pursue acting. When he wasn’t going on auditions, he was doing improv and stand up. One night he was doing a sketch where he had to imitate voices from commercials, and after the show an agent asked if he did any voice acting. David had never even thought about it before. The agent gave him her card and told him he should try it. And the rest is history.

Unfortunately, not all of us can be that lucky to find an agent on accident. Luckily, David gave a few tips at the panel to help us out.

Take Classes

David stressed this point repeatedly. Take classes from a credible teacher. By taking voice-acting classes, you will be able to hone your craft. The teacher will also probably have contacts from the industry. If they believe in your talent, they will help you rub elbows with the right people.

Have a Good Demo Reel

A demo reel can make or break an artist. It’s important to have a wide variety on your reel. No one wants to listen to the same character for over a minute.

Quality is also extremely important. If it doesn’t sound professionally recorded and edited, no one will listen to it. It may be pricey, but it is necessary to have good recording equipment or access to it.

Do Research on Websites

David specifically recommended this voice-acting website in particular.

It’s a great resource if you are thinking about getting into the field. The website was created by Dee Bradley, who has an impressive resume. He voiced Daffy and the Tasmanian Devil in Space Jam, Fish in Boxtrolls, and has had other roles in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, Uncle Grandpa, American Dad, etc. His website, among others, are also good places to network and share your demo reel.

Hopefully these tips helped you, and good luck on your voice over career!

After a long uphill battle with the US Visa system, TSM's very own Willian "Leffen" Hjelte has recently obtained a short term visa just in time for the EVO Championship Series. It has been a long time coming for this pro Smash Bros player to make his way back to the US competitive scene.

TSM Leffen first had trouble getting in to the States way back in September of 2015, when he was denied entry in to the US for the Big House 5 competition. While TSM's League of Legends players can apply for athlete visas due to progress made by Riot Games, players for smaller games like Super Smash Bros. often encounter difficulties when competing in other countries. Most players just say they are here for pleasure when visiting, but because of growing prize pools it makes more complicated for players of "smaller games" to gain entry.

Leffens Process was halted due to the following reasons:

• Super Smash Bros Melee is a grassroots game and is not institutionalized.
• Super Smash Bros Melee is not considered a legitimate sport.
• There is no real ranking system other than a few non-legitimate websites.

In an official announcement, TSM had this to say:

"Due to this initial rejection, we had to re-file Leffen’s application which without the complications is already an arduous process. Currently, we have obtained a short-term P-1 Visa, allowing him to compete within the US until and throughout July, meaning that he will be able to attend EVO. We are working on extending this Visa for the long term and will announce an update as soon as one is available. Thank you to all our fans for your patience and thank you to Red Bull for helping us throughout the process."

For more information on TSM Leffen, be sure to follow his Twitter. We wish him the best of luck and will keep you updated as more on the situation develops.