Ben Bertoli

Well, that’s all from me! Peter and I would like to thank the Kotaku staff and readers for letting us share our personal thoughts on recent and classic games this weekend. Here’s hoping we’ll see you again soon. You can follow Ben and Peter on Twitter at @SuperBentendo and @TieryasXu respectively.

The Week In Games: Turn The Beat Around

You probably weren’t aware that there are already nine Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA titles in existence. That’s ok, we forgive you. It’s been almost two years since digital popstar Hatsune Miku graced a home console here in the states, so rhythm gaming fans are sure to be dancing in the streets this coming week. Or…

What Game Has The Best Original Soundtrack?

Most of gaming greatest titles have one thing in common – a fantastic musical score. But with so many classic melodies and signature tracks it can be hard for fans to pin down just which game has the best overall soundtrack. As anyone who knows me can attest, I am a huge fan of the…

Vita ‘Exclusives’ Are My Favorite Part Of The PlayStation 4

I was two years late to the PlayStation 4 party. It’s always hard for me to justify buying a new console, especially one that’s marketed to more “hard-core” gamers. Luckily I’ve found plenty of gems to play with my lovely matte parallelogram. While I’m finally down with the PS4 crowd, I’ve never touched a PlayStation…

It’s Time We Got A Super Wario Bros. Game

Nintendo is notorious for surprising players with games that fall on both sides of the fan service spectrum. Whether we’ll ever get a title starring the beloved anti-hero duo that is Wario and Waluigi is unknown, but it would sure make for a wonderfully bizarre outing. For years now Nintendo has featured Wario and Waluigi,…

Ko Takeuchi Is The Master Of Nerd Culture Doodles

You may not know his name, but chances are you’ve seen some of Ko Takeuchi’s art. Best known for his simple designs and bold lines, Takeuchi has helped shape the look of both the WarioWare and Rhythm Heaven series. He also draws a lot of nerdy icons, memes, and adorable characters in his spare time.…

The Best (And Worst) Console Redesigns

It’s not uncommon for home and handheld consoles to get a drastic makeover in the years after their launch. Sometimes even after they’ve begun playing second fiddle to a new more powerful sibling. With the Xbox One S fresh in our memories and a thinner version of the PlayStation 4 all but confirmed, it’s the…

Good News, Kotaku! I’m Your Sunday Guest Editor

Oh, I’m afraid it’s true. My name is Ben Bertoli and you’ll be stuck with me all day. May as well make the most of it, right? I promise we’ll have some fun. For those of you who don’t know me (at least in this form), I am a long time Kotaku commenter and the…

Well, fine folks of Kotaku, that’s all from us. Thanks so much for letting us entertain you over the long weekend. If YOU ever feel the need to write about gaming, cartoons, snacks or more you can always come hang with us over at the reader-run Talk Amongst Yourselves blog. Sayonara! – Ben and Narelle

Kotaku ‘Shop Contest: Vantendo Special Edition: Winners!

Nintendo and Vans may have teamed up to produce some special gaming-themed shoes, but none of them can hold a candle to the monstrosities fresh new designs our readers came up with. While Vans may only be producing Nintendo related kicks, our ‘shop contest was open to anything and everything to do with gaming. Not…

Gaming’s Best Seaside Shanties

It’s summer! Well, not technically. But seeing as most pools have been officially opened and plenty of folks have set out on their summer vacations, it’s time to sit back and relax with some of the best beach and ocean music gaming has to offer. Just stay away from sharks. The world of gaming is…

Pokémon Communication Seems To Be Slowly Changing

If you ask any fan of the Pokémon anime to explain how the titular creatures communicate they would undoubtedly point to the well-known self-referential speaking patterns seen in every episode. It’s common knowledge that Pokémon only say their own names. Pikachu says,“Pikachu,” Bulbasaur says,“Bulbasaur,” and a handful of Pokémon can actually speak to humans. This…

Baby’s First Assassin’s Creed

I’m a terrible assassin. Over the years I’ve been more than a little late to many of gaming most popular franchises, most of them were due to lack of interest or funds. But back in November I had the chance to sit down with Stephen Totilo (of Kotaku) and close friend Steve Bowling to discuss…

The Week In Games: A Bloody Good Time

As we move further into the hot and empty summer we see less and less big name titles, but still plenty of DLC and indie games. This week we have another expansion to both The Witcher 3 and Hitman. Will you be partaking? Those in need of a first-person parkour simulation experience don’t have long…

How To Counter Overwatch‘s Most Overused Heroes

If you’ve spent some serious time with Overwatch you’ve likely noticed some heroes getting much more play time than others. Whether it’s a whole team of Bastions or a single aggravating Widowmaker, not knowing how to counter a character can be frustrating for any player new to Blizzard’s team-based shooter. One of Overwatch’s greatest features…

That Time Disney Used The Tony Hawk Engine To Get “Extreme”

Remember the part of The Lion King where Scar challenges Simba to grind all the elephant skulls in the elephant graveyard while collecting zebra haunches? Truly unforgettable. “But wait!” you shout, tenderly caressing your VHS copy, “That wasn’t in The Lion King!” Fair enough. But it should have been, as Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure proves…

The Return of Samurai Jack Will Be A Bittersweet Reunion

Nothing is known about the return of Samurai Jack. All fans have to go on is a six second trailer and a brief announcement that the show will be premiering on Adult Swim’s Toonami block sometime this year. The original Samurai Jack premiered on August 10, 2001. Just days after I started sixth grade. It…

Sunday Comics: Holy Gift Of Life

Welcome to Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira. Published May 27. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published May 23. Read more of Awkward Zombie Penny Arcade by Jerry Holkins and…

Halo and Chrono Trigger Collide In the Newest Episode of Super Gaming Quiz

Current games! Retro games! Terrible games! Gaming podcasts are nothing new, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one like Super Gaming Quiz Alpha Turbo. Just to be upfront, the podcast I’m about to promote was created and is hosted by yours truly. It’s a labor of love, and I thought the fine readers of…

The Original PlayStation’s Most Valuable Games

With nearly 2,000 games in its arsenal, the PlayStation has one of the largest libraries in gaming history. This is even more impressive when you consider its main rival, the Nintendo 64, didn’t even produce 300. And while not every PlayStation title is a classic, or even worth owning, there are a select few that…