• Kotaku East

  Amazingly, Akame Ga Kill Managed to Win Me Over

  When it reached its midpoint, I wasn’t exactly thrilled with Akame Ga Kill. However, by consistently bucking trends and subverting expectations, it won me over in the end. [Note: This review contains massive spoilers for Akame Ga Kill. For a non-spoiler look at the series, check out our review of the first half.] Good –…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published January 30, 2015
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  The Origins of BioShock’s Vintage Art

  We all know the Circus of Values clown. We’ve all bought ammo, EVE hypos and health kits “from him” dozens of times. But did you know that he originally sold melons? While the fact that some of the BioShock series’ period artwork appears to have been inspired by real-world vintage advertisements was already known (shown…

  By András Neltz Published January 30, 2015
• Kotaku East

  The Sailor Scouts Don’t Look Half Bad as Retro Game Sprites

  As I wait out the two-week period between episodes of Sailor Moon Crystal, I often find myself jonesing for my next fix, which leads me to strange places on the internet filled with wonderful things—like collections of mid-90s Sailor Moon game sprites. So if you ever wondered what Sailor Moon and the scouts looked like…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published January 30, 2015
• Kotaku East

  Dating Show Contestant Dresses Up as a Cat To Find Mr. Right

  People are so superficial. That’s why one dating show contestant in China decided to hide her real appearance and dress up like a cat woman. As one does. The mysterious contestant appeared on dating program If You Are the One. It’s like watching a Khajiit character from Skyrim trying to make a love connection. According…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2015
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  Kotaku East

  Final Fantasy Explorers Is Crystal Chronicles Meets Monster Hunter

  It’s time to team up and go hunt some of Final Fantasy‘s most iconic creatures. Good – Iconic Monsters There’s not a lot of plot to Final Fantasy Explorers. You make a character, come to the one town on a remote island, and receive quests from its inhabitants. The island itself is a macrocosm of…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published January 30, 2015
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  Lordran, The Setting of Dark Souls, Almost Entirely Redrawn

  From Firelink Shrine, where you first set foot in Lordran upon your arrival from the Asylum, to Blighttown and the Demon Ruins, it’s all there. Well, almost all there. The image was created by redditor tettix over the course of about three months, who shared it recently in the r/darksouls subreddit. It’s incomplete and may…

  By András Neltz Published January 30, 2015
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  XCOM: The Board Game Works – You, Your Friends and a Table vs the UFOs

  In real life Toby’s a database guy for Goldman Sachs. Tonight, he’s XCOM’s Chief Scientist and he’s spending worryingly large amounts of our money. This post originally appeared on Kotaku UK As Commander, I should be restraining his spending – after all, we’ll need that money to pay for Skyranger and Interceptor flights, to hire…

  Daniel Griliopoulos Published January 30, 2015
• Kotaku East

  Xenoblade Chronicles X Sounds Utterly Massive

  Xenoblade Chronicles X is an upcoming big Wii U game. Literally. In a recent Famitsu interview (via Hachima), Monolith Software’s Tetsuya Takahashi talked about the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X. From the sound of it, the game is massive. According to Takahashi, during their most recent gameplay check, there was over 300 hours of playtime. “But…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2015
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  Game About Building Ikea Furniture Is Tough To Finish

  It’s one of life’s toughest challenges. Now it’s one of video games’ toughest challenges. Höme Improvisåtion is a game about building Ikea furniture. You twist, pivot and hope to God that the thing with the peg is going in the right hole before you go sticking any more shelves on it. Coffee tables look easy…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 29, 2015
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  I Like That The Witcher 3 Treats Me Like an Adult

  Like Nathan, I played a good four or five hours of The Witcher 3 the other week, and like him, I’ve been oddly preoccupied by it ever since. This post originally appeared on Kotaku UK Its rhythm of exploration was very absorbing, alternating between calm periods of admiring the countryside on horseback and sudden bursts…

  Keza MacDonald Published January 29, 2015
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  How Thor Flies, According to Science

  Of all the major superheroes who can defy the laws of gravity, Thor’s mode of flight seems like one of the most unlikely: spinning his magic hammer Mjolnir around and holding on after flinging it. Is there any way that would actually work? Science actually says yes. Sure, he commands the wind and the storm…

  By Evan Narcisse Published January 29, 2015
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  You Should Play This Episodic Supernatural High School Game

  Max isn’t a stereotypical outcast teenager; she’s a rather quiet, intelligent girl, just trying to get by. Also, she can rewind time at will. This post originally appeared on Kotaku UK. Developer Dontnod’s new downloadable episodic game Life is Strange, which is out on the 30th on PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360 and Xbox One,…

  Keza MacDonald Published January 29, 2015
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  The Hidden Meaning Behind the Name of One Pokémon Region

  Pokémon’s current series director Junichi Masuda has been working at Game Freak on the Pokémon series since the original Ruby and Sapphire, the source material for the two newest games, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire This post originally appeared on Kotaku UK Back then, he was what’s known as a “planner” in Japanese game companies:…

  Keza MacDonald Published January 29, 2015
• Culture

  Skyrim Mod Lets You Marry Creepy Wooden People

  I do not like the implications of Skyrim‘s craftable followers/NPCs mod. Not one bit. You can create life—give birth to fully formed adult wooden children—and then marry them if you so please. I can’t believe I even need to say this, but don’t marry your wooden children, people. OK, aside from the unholy matrimony, this…

  By Nathan Grayson Published January 29, 2015
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  The Future Of Video Games

  Who knows what the future will be like? Um, video games do. In 2027, we’ll never ask for cyborg limbs. In 2072, our Systems will be Shocked. In 2183 we’ll punch space reporters, and in 2174 we’ll wonder why Destiny still doesn’t have a story. Reader Norbert Demeter sent in this infographic he made, putting…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 29, 2015
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  I Totally Did Not Realise That Amiibos Were This Popular

  Wandering around New York earlier this week, I found myself in the vicinity of the Nintendo World Store. I thought I’d pop in and have a look. I did not expect to encounter over 300 people queuing around the block. This post originally appeared on Kotaku UK They were waiting for a chance at getting…

  Keza MacDonald Published January 29, 2015
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  OK, So What The Hell Is This

  This is First Person Lover. It’s a game made to sell European clothes. Its trailer is one of the most fabulous things I have ever seen. The music, the Vladimir Putin, the PlayStation Home-gone-bad vibe, the music, it’s just…how did this get made? Who is this for? I mean, the literal answer is retired tennis…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 29, 2015
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  Rad Skateboarding Game, Rad Trailer

  OlliOlli, a 2D skateboarding game with a killer soundtrack, was one of 2014’s nicer little surprises. As is this trailer for its sequel. It’s coming later this year to PS4 and Vita.

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 29, 2015
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  Maniac Resident Evil Players Use Only Knives, No Guns

  You have access to all sorts of weapons in Resident Evil. Pistols, shotguns, rocket launchers—you name it, and it’s somehow sitting around an abandoned mansion. Players can also wield a knife, except it’s super weak and has to be used extremely close range. It’s a backup plan. Unless, of course, you’re one of the many…

  By Patrick Klepek Published January 29, 2015
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  Mortal Kombat X Preorder Deal, Fresh Humble Bundle, and More Deals

  If you’re planning on getting Mortal Kombat X for PS4 or Xbox One anyway, you might as well get a $10 Best Buy gift card to go with it. preorder Mortal Kombat X plus $10 Gift Card ($60) | PS4 preorder Mortal Kombat X plus $10 Gift Card ($60) | Xbox One Note: You must…

  By Shep McAllister Published January 29, 2015