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  How We Will Review Games

  We’ve changed the way we review video games here at Kotaku. That makes this a perfect time to explain our approach to reviews and how the new system will work. Two things will stand out to those who have read last week’s Resident Evil Revelations review and this week’s review of Final Fantasy XIII-2: They…

  By Stephen Totilo Published January 30, 2012
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  Dear Game Developers, We’re Not All Idealized Androids (Some of Us Are Wizards)

  You know how in many video games with character creation your attempts to make an older, wizened sort of character always result in the buffest old man you’ve ever seen due to their only being one body model for all male characters? In today’s Speak Up on Kotaku, commenter jacobgermain points out how ridiculous that…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 30, 2012
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  Spoiler Alert: Giants Win Super Bowl, Says Madden

  The New York Giants will claim their fourth Super Bowl title on Sunday, according to EA Sports’ official Madden NFL 12 simulation, which has New York defeating New England 27-24 on a 40-yard field goal as time expires. For the third consecutive year, Madden‘s simulation has picked the Las Vegas underdog (the Patriots are three-point…

  By Owen Good Published January 30, 2012
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  This 48-Hour Game Lets You Fly Through The Galaxy and Into One Man’s Mind

  How can a game made over the course of a weekend remind me of Rez and Crayon Physics Deluxe? By sending me soaring through the universe with simple controls and quirky hand-drawn artwork. Made by a team of 5, The Universe Within puts you in control of a pixelated dot that you need to steer…

  By Evan Narcisse Published January 30, 2012
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  There’s no time like the present to gather around Kotaku‘s official forum and talk video games with your fellow interactive entertainment enthusiasts. Drat, we lost another one to Pan1da7, this time linking up our TAYpic with a little Zelda action. Thanks! Join in the fun and submit your own TAYpic. Please do your best—or your…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 30, 2012
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  Reviews

  Final Fantasy XIII-2: The Kotaku Review

  In an epic tale of time-traveling heroism, Square Enix travels two years into the future to rectify the mistakes it made with Final Fantasy XIII. Have they found redemption with Final Fantasy XIII-2, or is history doomed to repeat itself? What ever happened to Lightning? Something horrible has happened to the main character of 2010’s…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 30, 2012
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  12 Bucks Is A Lot for an Old Game

  Rayforce was first released in Japanese arcades in 1993—when I was fifteen. The game is now out on the iOS. For $11.99. I honestly think this is the most expensive iPhone game I’ve played. (I’m not counting all the money I stupidly sucked into Tiny Tower. Those were dark times, so let’s not speak of…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  This Dragon’s Dogma Trailer Teases… Another Trailer

  Yes, it’s the most tiresome practice in all of hype-dom: the clip that promotes another clip. Still, Capcom’s been very quiet regarding its Japanese-developed, Western-styled action/RPG so any new look at it is worth paying attention. We really haven’t known how to feel about Dragon’s Dogma around these parts. It’s got some cool things and…

  By Evan Narcisse Published January 30, 2012
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  Because Nothing Says “I Love You” Like a Pearl Pink Nintendo Handheld

  Put down those chocolates, son! Delicious candy should be an everyday gift. And you, in the lingerie store! Has he really seen you naked so many times that getting dressed seems sexy? Look, all you need for Valentine’s Day is a pearl pink Nintendo 3DS, available February 10. How can a pearl pink Nintendo 3DS…

  By Mike Fahey Published January 30, 2012
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  The Phoenix Wright Meets Professor Layton Mash-Up Has Bones

  Bones | TOKYO, JAPAN: Anime studio Bones is doing the animated scenes in the upcoming Wright-Layton collaboration. (Photo: 4Gamer) Everything About This Game Is So Buddhist! Professional game artist Richmond Lee Chaisiri grew up in a Buddhist household in Thailand, a devout Buddhist nation. So what’s Buddhist about Asura’s Wrath? Everything! The Characters, the environments,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  Phoenix Wright Movie Props Answer a Mysterious Question

  This isn’t a first look, because if you’ve seen the film’s trailer (watch it here if you haven’t), then you’ve already seen the movie’s props by default. At the Capcom Phoenix Wright event this weekend, there was a glass case full of items used in the upcoming flick, such as a case file and mock-up…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  4Chan Used to Promote a Japanese Manga (Well, Sorta)

  In Japan, it’s not uncommon for books and manga to be promoted with Japanese internet forums, such as 2chan. Retailers and publishers might put stickers or banners that say something is popular online. But, as website World Three pointed out, they’ve expanded. At the bottom of Japanese manga It’s Not My Fault I’m Not Popular,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  Little Kids Make the Best Street Fighters

  Ah, what a little PhotoShop and some Street Fighter outfits can do. Kids Changed into Street Fighter Characters [Branded Baron]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  Nintendo’s New Voice Recognition Software Being Tested in Japan

  Nintendo is working with mobile phone carrier NTT on new voice recognition tech that can convert spoken words into text. The tech is aimed at students with disabilities. Words are converted to text, and the data is stored and accessed through the cloud, allowing students to also review and study later as well as see…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  How a Mickey Mouse Parody Killed a Fan Game

  In Japan, “doujin” titles are the video game equivalent of fan fiction. A very, very small percentage of doujin game developers go pro. The vast majority is confided to making fandom for fun. Because of that, many Japanese game companies look the other way. Disney is not a Japanese game company, and Disney is so…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  Rumor: THQ Closing Japan Office

  Besides letting 14 go in Australia, THQ is rumored to be closing its Japan office. Kotaku is following up with THQ and with Valhalla Studios, who is making Devil’s Third for THQ. [Kotaku Australia]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  Is This the Smallest Game Boy Ever Made?

  The original Game Boy was big enough to fit in an enormous pocket. This Game Boy is big enough—make that, small enough—to clean your teeth. Measuring 0.02mm by 0.1mm, this Game Boy cannot play video games of course, but it does have drawn on buttons and a screen. It’s smaller than a one yen coin…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  A Shirtless Man Holding Large, Pointy Objects

  Elffi is the pride of Finnish cosplay. The 23 year-old, who is currently studying business management, represented his country at the World Cosplay Summit in Japan—which is like the Olympics of cosplay. Whether it’s Final Fantasy: Dissidia or Bleach, Elffi finds a way to bring these Japanese creations to life by either taking off his…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published January 30, 2012
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  Everything About This Game Is So Buddhist!

  Professional game artist Richmond Lee Chaisiri grew up in a Buddhist household in Thailand, a devout Buddhist nation. So what’s Buddhist about Asura’s Wrath? Everything! The Characters, the environments, the ultra violence, the cosmic scope, the super powers, the anime hair…All of it! Let’s begin the tour! Exhibit 1 – The Story Asura’s Wrath tells…

  Richmond Lee | Art-Eater Published January 30, 2012
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  This Wind Waker Sequel Doesn’t Exist. But Its Trailer is Awesome.

  Canadian animator Joel Furtado wants to see Nintendo make a sequel to Wind Waker. In HD. Since they’re likely to do no such thing, he went and made his own trailer for the dream project. Called The Legend of Zelda: The Lost Oracle, it looks…well, for a guy working on this for fun in his…

  By Luke Plunkett Published January 30, 2012