SkullApple Podcast Update

Ok people the SkullApple podcast is now up and running. so go get a taste at SkullApple.wordpress.com

SkullApple Podcast

As administrator of this blog and producer of the SkullApple podcast, I am officialy banning TheBlackYeti from sharing anymore information about said Podcast.  It will be released when it is ready and that is all that will be said on the subject until futher notice. (God I hate smiley faces, but it seems apropriate.)

Beyond Good and Evil 2

Woohoo. the trailer for the sequile of the exilante Beyond Good and Evil was been released. Unfortunatly it is not very informative, but it is clear that the new game will far more relaistic in terms of graphics this time around.

Skull Apple Podcast Update

Due to techincal difficulties and lack of functional microphones the premiere of the Skull Apple Podcast has been delayed until further notice. Hopefully this gives you guys time to see this and get ready for one of the biggest podcasts ever! Get ready here it comes.

Sonic Unleashed (First Impressions)

Being a devoted Sonic the Hedgehog fan since I was a kid hearing that Sonic Unleashed is going back to the original days of the Sega Genesis excited me. I watched the trailer eariler today and it is evocative of the Sega Genesis days. Original looking environments, lush graphics and the most important aspect that the trailer showed was the high speed gameplay. The only thing giving me a slight idea to turn away is Sonic is suppossed to transform into a Werewolf which slows him down. Hopefully Tails and Knuckles are included in the high speed gameplay. If I See any treasure hunt levels and tank shooting levels, I will get the game get through it and never play the Tails and Knuckles levels again.

The Skull Apple Podcast

That’s right Mango Burrito and The Black Yeti are teaming up to create the Skull Apple Podcast. No it’s not a Goth Podcast it’s the Podcast that you need to listen to for Gaming News and technological fix. We also have one other member of the Podcast who has yet to make a wordpress account, but he will also be joining us. We all have 1 of the three next-gen systems I own the Wii (which apparently is the worse next-gen console according to my Podcast colleagues) and the DS, Mango Burrito owns the PS3, the PSP, and the DS, and our other member owns XBOX 360 and the DS. The three of us are hard-core gamers and absolutely love playing video games and we will inform you of anything and everything that goes on in the gaming world and answer your questions so send them in. We want to get this Podcast up by May 17^th so get ready and tune in for the Skull Apple Podcast.

Super Smash Bros Brawl (not just a great fighting game)

Through numerous delays, character rumors and days spent watching Brawl youtube videos the most anticipated Wii game so far is finally here. Super Smash Bros Brawl is more than just a fighting game. With so many features, online play, an actual adventure mode and tons of unlockables Brawl is a game that will keep Wii owners hooked for years to come.

Brawl’s roster is one that received much speculation when the roster was revealed after the Japan release in late January. With rumors that Ridley, Megaman and Bomberman were finally crushed many fans were disappointed, but fans eventually warmed up to final roster. The new characters in Brawl are many however some characters were eliminated from the Melee roster. Roy (who in some believe was replaced by Ike), Dr. Mario, Pichu, Mewtwo and Young Link (who is replaced by in my opinion the much cooler Toon Link). Some of the other new characters include Lucario, Pit, Metaknight, King Dedede (my main), Wario and others. Brawl is the first installment in the series to include third-party characters. Snake from Metal Gear Solid is in the game and has very strong melee attacks and a stunning final smash. After rumors during Melee’s release that Sonic was unlockable by beating Cruel Melee the lightning fast hedgehog has been included in the roster. This time around the characters in Brawl are much more balanced then they were in Melee. No longer will see the Marths and Foxes winning every match in pro tournaments. With professional tournaments now you should see players use a more wide assortment of characters. Competitors will have more than one main. Although the final roster is great it does have a couple of scratches. For one the number of clones in the game are annoying. Fox, Falco and Wolf are clones of each other with slight subtle differences between the three of them and they all have the same final smash (disappointing). Link and Toon Link are also clones the only differences is the animations between the two and one is cartoony the other is more serious looking. Just because the clones are for the most part the same, I still have a preference for which clone I would like to use so the clones aren’t all bad.

The amount of features in Brawl allow for maximum playability. The multiplayer mode is perfect for when friends come over and even allow people to manage who plays when. For example one could make it so that the players who come in the last two players switch out with people who are waiting to play. Since I’m on multiplayer mode it’s only right to mention the stages that Brawl contains. The stages Brawl contains are perfect examples of art at it’s best. These are the most beautiful stages I’ve seen in a fighting game and I have played many fighting games. My personal favorites are the Halberd, Delfino Plaza and some of the regular tournament stages Battlefield and Final Destination. The stages allow for any possible situation to play out and even the hazards that are in these stages make for fun gameplay.

Brawl contains more than just multiplayer versus matches for owners friends. Co-op mode is contained on the Subspace Emissary (a.k.a the new adventure mode) the event matches and some of the Stadium modes. There was nothing better than grabbing my best friend sticking in two gamecube controllers and doing work on the final boss in the Subspace Emissary (even though it took us about 20 tries). The co-op event matches while extremely easy was still fun to go through.

The last feature that is left to talk about is the online mode. The online mode is great…if you can get online and find an opponent. In my many experiences online I found very hard to find opponents to play against even with my three bar connection. When I found an opponent to play against the online mode went smoothly. The only lag found in all my matches was during the character introductions before the match actually started. I have yet to play against friends online, but from what I hear it works the same except for the many more options contained when playing with friends. The downside to playing with friends is that those dang friend codes (for your Wii and your game) must be exchanged in order to play online with a friend.

Brawl without a doubt is going to go down as one of Nintendo’s best games ever created (unless another Smash Bros is released). While Brawl is a great game some aspects of the game are holding it back from getting a perfect score. For one the online mode is not even close to what the XBOX 360 and the PS3 is offering for their games. The online mode has so much potential and Nintendo refuses to tap into that potential. Also the fact that Sakurai (the creator of the game) confirmed that there will no downloadable content for Brawl killed any potential for Brawl to enter in new characters and stages which would’ve been nice. Brawl is came that won’t come out of your Wii for years to come with a few shortcomings Brawl is the best Wii game to released so far.

Prepare to be Bourne

The demo for the new game Bourne conspiracy will be released on the Xbox 360 today and on the PS3 on Thursday.

New Stuff for MGO

There is new content up on the Metal Gear Online beta. This includes a new map and the Sneaking Mission mode. The Sneaking Mission Mode is a cool game type brought over from MGS3: Subsistence. in this mode Opposing forces compete to take down not only each other but also Solid Snake, but Snake has his own agenda as well. The person Playing as Snake must incapacitate the Mercenaries and take their dog tags. The new map added is apparently a level from the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4, because is has not been seen in any previous game.

XBLA Taking a Break

IGN reported that the XBLA staff is going to take a break for the week as not to compete with Rockstar’s juggernaut Grand Theft Auto 4.