Revisiting a bear and a bird's first tale... The Banjo-Kazooie XBLA Review

Ten years ago, the original Banjo-Kazooie bust into the gaming scene by Rare for the Nintendo 64. It was the developer's return to the genre that put themselves to the map, which is the platformer. While it is their first 3D platformer, it was a great fan favorite on Nintendo's system using what Super Mario 64 did as a template to take the genre to different heights. It introduced us to the bear, Banjo, and his bird buddy, Kazooie, as they attempt to save his sister Tooty from the clutches of Gruntilda the witch. Now that Banjo is back in a big and better way in Nuts & Bolts for the Xbox 360, Mircosoft and Rare, with 4J Studios doing the development, decided to re-release their first adventure on Xbox Live Arcade to bring fans and new players to the franchise. This XBLA port is a great nostalgic trip for those like me who played it ten years ago and also a great way to introduce players to the Banjo-Kazooie universe.

Microsoft and Rare decided to let this port be free if you pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts. Otherwise, the game is 1200 Microsoft Points (fifteen dollars) for those who didn't do that. 4J Studios did a great job of making the original 360-friendly eliminating any Nintendo material (well except the Game Boy when selecting a file) and making the controls familiar and even simpler for those who experienced it the first time around. The game's core content remains the same of Banjo and Kazooie transversing through Gruntilda's Lair and the nine diverse worlds collecting jiggys (puzzle pieces) and music notes to progress through the game. The game's story and personality also remains unchanged with different characters that need help, Mumbo Jumbo changing Banjo to different animals pending on the world, and also the humor. Quite simply, the gameplay still holds up to today's gaming standards especially for the platformer genre since there isn't as much platformers in this current generation.

Even though the core gameplay still holds up today, the same frustrations from ten years ago are still here and it is the non-platforming elements. Flying and swimming are still a pain to control at times when trying to precise. This is usually the case for the swimming levels like Clanker's Cavern and Rusty Bucket Bay when trying to get those last notes or Jinjos to complete the level as one bad move in the water could often lead to a lost life. As for the flying, it is also frustrating at times with its turning and mistiming a Beak Bomb because the angle wasn't right. Aiming with the eggs is also another frustrating aspect that is still in this port when trying to get the angle right for the shot. Rare actually started going crazy in the collect-a-thon department in Banjo-Kazooie with collecting eggs, feathers, and Mumbo tokens, but it wasn't as overboard as let's say Donkey Kong 64. Despite these frustrations, the jumping and combat are the game's greatest strengths regarding its gameplay.

The original Banjo-Kazooie had a secret feature that is supposed to link up with its sequel Banjo-Tooie, but unfortunately, this feature, called Stop n' Swop, never really took shape on the Nintendo 64. For this XBLA port, Stop n' Swop makes its return and actually has a purpose that getting these secret eggs and the ice key will give you special parts for Banjo and Kazooie's new adventure, Nuts & Bolts. In addition, normal progression through the game also unlocks new gamer pictures for the player which also involves getting the achievements. Speaking of achievements, they are pretty much easy if you 100% the game getting all jiggys, music notes, extra honeycomb pieces to increase Banjo's health, and doing the bonus puzzles Bottles give you back in Spiral Mountain. Normally, it will take players eight hours to beat the game, but at least ten to twelve hours getting everything.

I was really impressed of the overhauled graphics for this Live Arcade port. The game has been cleaned up for the 360 with no jaggies and full widescreen support. While it still looks a Nintendo 64 game, it is definitely an improvement on the 360. With the cleaned up visuals, the game runs at a crisp 60 frames per second, but slowdown does occur at frequent times when swimming and even on the select file screen. This slowdown usually happens when running the game at 1080i, but supposedly gone when running at 720p or lower. The camera, typical of the platformer genre, can be bad at times when trying to get the perfect angle, but it mostly works well even though the camera controls like in the Nintendo 64 with the right stick acting like the C buttons. I hoped this port had full right stick camera control like today's games, but I guess 4J Studios had to keep it similar for purists.

The sound of this port remains unchanged maintaining the same charming soundtrack it had ten years ago. Back when this game came out in 1998, Rare did a great job of mixing a different version of a certain song in the same exact stage like running around in Gruntilda's Lair and then going in water allowing the music to change. This is also the case when visiting the nine themed worlds with varied versions of the background music. In the Nintendo 64 era, voice acting was a rarity and it clearly shows in Banjo-Kazooie when everyone talks like they're grunting to the point it gets a little annoying, but I'm glad they kept that in this game and Nuts & Bolts maintaining its charm and personality. The other sound effects can also be a little annoying when Banjo jumps around either single-handily or with Kazooie. Other than that, the sound still feels fine as it was ten years ago.

Banjo-Kazooie is still a great game to play in today's era of gaming as a nostaglic trip for those who experienced it ten years ago revisiting those great memories it provided. The port is handled very well by 4J studios with overhauled graphics and taking advantage of the connectivity with the other Banjo games in the franchise with the Stop n' Swop feature. The game still has the same frustrations with the non-platforming elements and moments of slowdown in certain parts of the game. If you pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts, you're getting a great deal getting this game for free and since the new entry is 40 bucks, it is perhaps the best gaming deal of the year. For those who didn't reserve it, you're still getting a great 12 hour experience for fifteen dollars to newcomers of the franchise and people dying to play a traditional platformer in this current generation. Who of thought that a bear and a bird could still be awesome when we are at a time when violence fills the gaming landscape. It is just nice and refreshing to play something that doesn't have guns or profanity.

Score = 8/10

Pros:

• A great 360-friendly port of the N64 game
• The Stop n' Swop feature finally matters especially if you're playing Nuts & Bolts
• Cleaned up graphics and widescreen support
• Core gameplay still holds up
• A great deal if you pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts

Cons:

• Non-platforming elements still feel frustrating as they were ten years ago
• Slowdown frequently happens at certain moments of the game (usually during swimming).
• For some people, 1200 Microsoft Points (15 bucks) might be too much considering it is a 12 hour game pending on their interests

Time to plug the SSFIIT HD Remix OST...

I still playing the hell out of SSFIIT HD Remix (just got the 100 ranked online wins achievement) and downloaded the official soundtrack that OC Remix has made specifically for this game the other day. It is perhaps one of the greatest soundtracks for a fighting game (Actually Street Fighter games have the best music of the genre with Tekken being runner-up personally) with so many memorable tunes being remixed to greatness. The only BGMs I don't really like are Zangief's and Blanka's. Other than that, I love everyone else's background stage music. I highly recommended downloading this soundtrack for fans of this game and the franchise, which you can download here.

Expect my SSFIIT HD Remix review tomorrow or Monday.

Off-topic stuff:

Okay, I got an e-mail on Wednesday from Microsoft saying my 360 repair is done will be shipped sometime next week. Then, I got a different e-mail from them today saying they haven't got it yet. WTF???? My Halo 360 better be back next week or I will be a little pissed off.

Also, Street Fighter Sackboys for LittleBigPlanet soon...  They're so cute and awesome!!!

SSFIIT HD Remix = My Thanksgiving Weekend...

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is finally here (Well, tomorrow on PS3 and Wednesday on XBLA) and I can't wait!!!!! Yeah, my Thanksgiving holiday is going to full of online ownage and ST greatness other than the usual holiday stuff like hosting the family party with likely a lot of Rock Band 2 because of little cousins, nephews, and neices, and dealing with Black Friday madness (maybe not on Black Friday). I'm currently borrowing a 360 temporarily till my Halo one comes back hopefully on Wednesday (It arrived at repairs today, so I don't know). If I really feel like it, a review may happen at the end of the weekend or sometime next week. Since my excitement is at a crazy high, it will get a very high score and potentially my downloadable game of the year (Rez HD is currently that one now) or even overall game of the year. I'm willing to try everyone out because of the rebalanced changes and use my arcade stick (My Hori EX2).

For a detailed feature list if u don't know everything HD Remix offers, Capcom Unity has a great post about that.

Off-topic stuff:

• I watched 24: Redemption today (TiVoed it last night) and it is a great preview for Season 7 on January.
  
• WWE Survivor Series PPV last night was crazy with Edge returning and winning the WWE Title (Yay!!!) and Cena winning the WHC (Booooo!!!)

I think I found my main for Street Fighter IV...

It turns out that M. Bison (Vega in JP) is my new main character to use for my current favorite game, Street Fighter IV. I have been watching videos of him in action like this match above and got around to play a similar style like whoever is playing him in that clip. I actually cleaned house with that style yesterday at Super Arcade winning most of my matches during that session. I just love his rushdown that leads to his faster and meaner Scissor Kicks (I'm still learning to time those Scissor Kicks during those rushdown combos, but I'm getting there). His Psycho Crusher is not that bad in this one and not has overpowered it used to be in SFII Championship Edition. I think he is one of the higher tier characters in SF IV due to what toys u can mess with from timed teleports, Head Stomps and Devil Reverses. It also feels satisfying to do his Focus Attack and then finishing it with his Ultra, as I got that timing down for that one.

I usually use the charge characters in this game (Blanka, Honda, Guile mostly till Bison) and I have decent success with them, but I think I will have better success with Bison if I play that rushdown style like in the clip above. I can still use other characters like the shotos (Ryu, Ken, and Akuma) and Sagat, but I don't do well as those guys (Sagat is the best character in SF IV now). I'm willing to learn the new characters like Abel and Rufus, but I haven't done so yet and trying to learn them as opponents is a little frustrating trying to figure what style they will play as. I'm also willing to use the console exclusive characters like Cammy, Fei Long, Rose, and Gen (sorry Sakura and Dan) when that comes out on February 17.

I just need to master the cancelling system (EX special cancels, focus dash cancels, and throw escapes) and I will be way better than I am now. I just love this game too much and I feel like playing it now again.

BlazBlue is out for Arcades...

Aksys Games, the folks that made the Guilty Gear games, has finally released BlazBlue to various arcades at Japan and the U.S. BlazBlue is basically a HD Guilty Gear with new characters and new storylines, but still plays it at its core with crazy air combos, supers, distortion finishes, and other technical stuff. The nearest arcade at SoCal that should have the game by now or in the coming days is Family Fun Arcade over at the San Fernando Valley for now (who knows if Arcade Infinity over at Diamond Plaza or Super Arcade at Walnut will get it either). Actually, I'm not that good at the Guilty Gear games (I use Ky as my main), but I'm willing to learn BlazBlue if I feel like it since the protagonist, Ragna (I think that's his name), is pretty awesome especially his Gambit Royal-Flush like super.

On the Fence: Lips

Lips, Microsoft's new karaoke game and potential SingStar killer, is already out for 70 bucks with two glittery microphones. It has been getting mixed reactions from just being other singing game to arguably one of the better ones around. At least it is the 360's best karaoke game with lame competition with such games like Disney Sing It! and the Karaoke Revolution American Idol series. The video quality of the music videos is pretty good and the soundtrack is not bad as I'm posting some favorites from the bunch that would be in heavy rotation if I bought this thing. Featured in this post are "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis and "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco, but there are other songs that makes Lips worth it like "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai, "Umbrella" by Rihanna, "With You" by Chris Brown, and more. Downloadable content is already out for Lips as well with "The Remedy" by Jason Mraz and "Violet Hill" by Coldplay ("All Star" by Smash Mouth and "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton is also announced). The other big feature Lips has is the ability to sing any song via portable devices like the Zune and iPod, but supposedly this feature wasn't executed as well as it could have with no music video support and lyrics (either know the song or try to BSit).



Microsoft's casual approach this fall had a rocky start with Scene It! Box Office Smash and You're in the Movies, but Lips is the best one of the bunch which gives them potential to do better if Lips becomes a "platform" like Rock Band (those mics need to be compatible with RB2 and GH World Tour anyway sooner or later). I guess if you're tired of singing rock songs in those mentioned games, Lips is worth the purchase for the diverse selection of songs across all genres.

Wanted on GameTrailers TV

The Wanted game is the cover feature in this week's GameTrailers TV revealing more of it since its initial announcement. The subtitle is called Weapons of Fate and it hopes to execute the experience of curved bullets well during Winter 09.

The other major game shown is F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, which is coming out on February 10 (another big month for FPSs with that and Killzone 2) and looking great so far. February is already turning to a stacked month with my favorite Street Fighter IV, the two FPSs, and the GTA IV DLC.

Other trailers that debuted in this episode are for Batman: Arkham Asylum (below) and The Punisher: No Mercy.

The 10th Anniversary of the Ocarina of Time...

10 years ago, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released on the Nintendo 64 and became to many people like me the greatest game of all-time. It was the beginning of a new era for the Zelda franchise being in 3D for the first time and also defining perfection for its time. It was considered the first "perfect" game in the Internet age of our society with 10s in nearly every game site in existence and still the #1 game in Gamerankings. You can read a detailed history of the game before its release in this NeoGAF thread made by TSA, perhaps the most known Zelda fan today. Otherwise, read on for my memories and thoughts of Zelda OOT.

Honestly, Ocarina of Time was my first Zelda game due to all the hype before its release on the N64 courtesy of Nintendo Power mostly. I remember that day 10 years ago in 6th grade getting the game at Toys R Us expecting something special and different as I wasn't really into the action adventure genre at that time. Unfortunately, I didn't get the infamous gold cartridge, but I was happy just having the game period back then. 

The intro just grabs you right away explaining the epic storyline involving the Triforce and being some nobody, which is Link, and then becoming somebody at the end of the game. It was a great beginning in the Kokiri Forest being introduced to your fairy friend and guide, Navi, and then realizing you're playing a 3D Zelda. Even the first dungeon, The Deku Tree, is only the beginning of the true adventure after getting the first Spiritual Stone and then seeing the tree die. Once you leave the forest, the first of many touching and emotional moments with Saria giving Link the Ocarina was amazing. Hyrule Field allows the game to have that openness the 2D games provided with the hub world filled with hidden secrets (all those holes for more rupees and heart pieces), important spots (Hyrule Castle, Lake Hylia, and Death Mountain). The day/night cycle is also one of many breakthroughs OOT had changing the perspective on things happening. Okay, I feel like I'm going to describe every aspect of the game now...

Another defining moment was the first meeting with Zelda in the castle revealing more of the storyline and how Ganondorf is one bad dude with a plan of world domination. More emotions and memories were there as I was watching that cutscene on Thanksgiving Day in 1998 and you couldn't skip it if you're in a hurry, which was the case that time before heading to a family party. The game simply opens way more than expected after getting Zelda's Lullaby for the Ocarina as well as Saria's Song. The ocarina was also a revolutionary game mechanic for its time being key to gameplay progression and even its customability when just randomly playing. Being Young Link in the first three dungeons (Dodongo's Cavern and Jabu-Jabu) felt like a great warmup of what's yet to come when you get the Master Sword in the Temple of Time.

Becoming Adult Link was another crazy moment in the Ocarina of Time. It opened up the game to a whole different level and a different aspect of the storyline with the time travel and Ganondorf taking over Hyrule. It almost became a whole new game with playing as Adult Link transversing through challenging dungeons like the infamous Water Temple. The different gimmicks these dungeons that challenged the player felt great and natural when dealing with the elements and having the neccessary equipment to navigate through these places. Even the boss battles turned up to 11 when being as Adult Link with Phantom Ganon, Volvagia, Morpha, Bongo Bongo, and Twinrova with the challenge and scale. When getting all the medallions, the final stretch truly begins in Ganon's Castle and the infamous Sheik reveal as Zelda was also another memorable moment and a WTF at that time when many people didn't expect it at all. The culminatic finale against Ganondorf (The castle escape) and eventually pig Ganon defined epic in every way as you feel like you want to kick his ass. After defeating Ganon in the end, I felt like I achieved something totally amazing and the ending felt perfect with the final blow along with what happened to Link and Zelda at the end.

The core gameplay of Zelda OOT was unique and original for its time with the combat system and the revolutionary Z-Targeting. Melee combat felt natural and precise as if you're in a real battle despite its limitations. Even projectile combat with the Hero's Bow, Hookshot, and the magic had that sense of precision when trying to aim at certain spots or switches. Yeah, the auto-jumping was awkward for something like this, but most people didn't mind it. The exploration and the completionist mentality also pushed players to new heights getting every weapon, heart piece, and everything else from the Gold Skulltulas, upgraded wallets, and bottles filled with blue potions. I unfortunately didn't 100% the game as I remembered missing two full hearts for the 20, the Ice Arrow (it wasn't a neccessity compared to its purpose in Majora's Mask), and the Poes.

I actually beaten the game in February 1999 because I was stuck in the Spirit Temple for a while and took a month break from it (I was playing F-Zero X at that time as well). I remembered doing the final stretch with Ganon's Castle on a Saturday and then the final boss battles on the next day after many attempts. It was kind of frustrating at that time for me deflecting Ganondorf's projectiles without Z-Targeting counting seconds to time the sword swipe. After beating the castle escape and pig Ganon in one attempt, I felt glad not doing it again without dying even though I was down to less than three hearts (with double life) and out of healing items. Stastically, I died only once at the Redead area getting the Hylian Shield getting the game over screen. After dealing with that, I was driven to never see a game over screen again as if I feel like I will die, I just reset the system and try again, which is the case in some areas.

Back in 1998, Zelda OOT was the best looking N64 game with many diverse locales that felt iconic. In addition to that, it had an amazing soundtrack and perhaps my favorite gaming soundtrack till Super Mario Galaxy. As for Nintendo games then and now, the lack of voice acting was noticeable, but no one cared being the silent hero. Many iconic tracks were in this game from some of the ocarina songs, the Hyrule Field BGM, and the Ganon battles. Other than that, OOT had amazing music and graphics (The music is still relevant, but the polygonal graphics had its run in the late 1990s).

I feel like I'm missing a lot of other stuff why Ocarina of Time is amazing as I could write about this all day. It established a core formula that was used for Wind Waker and Twlight Princess as those games couldn't match OOT's quality (Majora's Mask was a great departure, but I never finished it). Many memorable moments throughout the lengthy campaign has even touched people's lives. Its legacy continued to live on with speed runs of the game being beaten in three hours thanks to many exploits like the infamous power crouch stab and sequence breaking. I can't believe this game is already ten years old being out in arguably the greatest year of video games (Half-Life, Tekken 3, Metal Gear Solid, Starcraft, and many more) in 1998. To me, it was an one time and one time only thing as I beaten it once and never wanted to play it again (like Portal, Braid, and Super Mario Galaxy). You will never get the same feeling playing it multiple times compared to the first time which is the case for Ocarina of Time. I tried to play it again on GameCube with Master Quest (the harder version), but it didn't as special as it was the first time around.

So Happy 10th Anniversary I guess...

Remembering my 2007 GOTY: Super Mario Galaxy

This fall is just filled with many amazing games such as Gears 2, LittleBigPlanet, Left 4 Dead, and many more, but last fall was also considered one of the best seasons of gaming till this year. Even though last fall had many blockbusters like Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, and The Orange Box, it was a Wii game that was my favorite game of the year and so far my favorite game of the decade, which is Super Mario Galaxy (check my review at the section to the right).

A year later, SMG is still one of my favorite games of all-time. With my disappointment for Twlight Princess and the enjoyable Metroid Prime 3: Corruption so far on the Wii, Galaxy is Nintendo's best game since Ocarina of Time (the first Metroid Prime doesn't count since Retro developed it). The core 3D Mario formula is still the same of collecting stars to unlock more galaxies, but the new approach with the platforming using gravity is simply amazing. The game just wants to put a smile on your face at every moment (This is the same feeling I have with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts currently). Sure, the game is the easiest of the 3D Marios (Mario 64 still remains the hardest of them while Sunshine has some tough moments, but still fairly easy), but the game does challenge completionists to get every star and even play the game differently as Luigi with his different characteristics. Like most of my favorite games of all-time, I felt happy beating it once and once only because I feel I won't the same feeling as I did the first time, and beating it as Luigi wasn't worth my time last year. Then again, I had to beat the last stage multiple times to show off little cousins, nephews, and nieces how amazing Galaxy is.

There are so many favorite moments in Galaxy that made me happy. Certain levels stand out as personal favorites such Battlerock and Dreadnaught to even Gusty Garden's wind concept. The other galaxies were really clever based by their concepts with Freezeflame and Toy Time. Even the Bowser levels from the Airships to the final stretch were memorable levels. Some decisions by Nintendo were a little iffy like beating the game once to unlock the purple coin challenges and then beating the finale again for all 120 stars. The controls felt perfect not being totally driven by motion control with the Nunchuk and Wiimote. In addition, I still think it is the best looking Wii game out now.

Galaxy's incredible soundtrack still remains one of my favorite gaming soundtracks of all-time. It is the perfect blend of nostaglic and orchestral tunes from Gusty Garden's BGM to the retro goodness of Toy Time's BGM. You truly feel like you're part of something epic when playing some of the stages with orchestral themes (mainly Battlerock and Dreadnaught Galaxies for me personally). The game's retro tunes brings back through all the Mario games from the past from the original SMB to Mario 64. I didn't mind the lack of voice acting which is expected for Nintendo games either.

Depsite all the games filled with violence driving the industry mainstream, a handful of games keep the violence out and still deliver satisfying and entertaining experiences. Last year, Mario Galaxy filled that void and still is one of my favorite games of all-time (probably in my top 5). It was a near perfect and polished product for a genre that used to rule the gaming landscape in the 90s and now it is a rarity. I hope this year Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Nolts and LittleBigPlanet fill a similar void to SMG being the best non-violent games (while having awesome humor), but like most people predicted, Banjo won't get enough sales despite its cheap price point while at the same time LBP won't get the attention it truly deserves and the majority of us would rather play Gears 2, Left 4 Dead, and COD: World at War.

Exccuuuussse Me Princess.....

The 10th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is tomorrow (special post on that sometime in the afternoon or during the weekend) as YouTube/NeoGAF/SRK user The-Switcher decides to honor this day by making a video tribute of the infamous Zelda cartoon. Actually, I didn't really watch this back in the day, but I guess it had its moments courtesy of this montage.

Link needs to stop excusing the princess eventually...

Music Video Catchup for 11/19/08

Another set of music videos to catch up on...

UPDATE - I'm adding another one to this post, which is the Mirror's Edge theme song "Still Alive" and there's actually an official music video of it (No game footage in the clip, but play the actual game anyway - I will hopefully next month).

Now to the original post...

50 Cent - New Music - More Music Videos

"Get Up" by 50 Cent...

Coldplay - New Music - More Music Videos

"Lovers in Japan" by Coldplay...

Okay, I'm listening to the Killers' new album now - impressions soon.

Welcome to Heartbreak Indeed... Impressions of Kanye's new album

I have been listening to Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak lately (not really the final retail version, but close enough to it) and it is some amazing stuff if you appreciate the change Kanye is going for. I put up my current favorite track "Welcome to Heartbreak" here and there are some great songs like the singles that are out so far ("Heartless" and "Love Lockdown"), but I can see myself changing my favorite track to some of the others like "Paranoid" and "Robocop." First of all, this is a different change of pace for Kanye as he sings more than he raps and I do appreciate his effort for trying to mix it up. Plus, this whole album has auto-tune in some form in all of the songs. Basically, he went crazy with it and it worked out well with the theme of the album. Of course, his beats are awesome in most of the songs as he continues to find ways to innovate.

Overall, this is another great album for Kanye whether or not people will dig the auto-tune approach along with his singing.  It is definitely one of the better albums out this year by a long shot.

Yeah... I missing out on Banjo

Since I'm 360-less till next week (hopefully), I'm missing out on finishing Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Looks like the photo mode's showroom is finally up and there's a NeoGAF thread to post great pictures of this special game. Basically, screw the haters because this game is pretty good from what I played so far before it started acting weird leading to my Halo 360's death.

Banjo approves of this message...

End of an Era: Total Request Live

TRL - MTV Shows

I'll be honest, but ten years ago, I watched TRL at its prime on MTV when the pop explosion was everywhere. I think I stopped caring about the show when Carson left his hosting duties, but still watched it every now and then. Last night was the big finale for the show as the curtain is closed that sparked up many careers and a pinnacle of pop culture for its time. At least they ended with a bang with lots of celebrities there like Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez from N'Sync, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Ludacris, Kid Rock, Diddy, and more (it felt like the past and present of music in terms of guests that included Miley Cyrus (She's not dead) and Taylor Swift). The performances were also great with Beyonce, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy, Nelly, Ludacris, Snoop, and Backstreet Boys. Other guests called in like Travis Barker, Christina Aguilera, and Eminem to celebrate ten years of the show. There was a countdown of the top ten videos that had a heavy influence on the show and it was obvious that Britney's "Baby, One More Time" is number one with other great hits. It does suck to see TRL end especially it was the only thing remaining on MTV regarding music, but I guess it is time to move on.

At least MTV still cares about music videos with thousands of them available online and still premiering new ones like Rihanna's "Rehab" featuring Justin Timberlake (video below).

Rihanna - New Music - More Music Videos

Off-topic: I'm currently listening to Kanye's album, 808's and Heartbreak, now.

Since I'm posted the Rihanna/Justin video, I might as well post this too from SNL last weekend.

So Left 4 Dead is out this week...

Left 4 Dead is out tomorrow and it is going to be something special for FPS fans. Reviews are starting to roll out everywhere and the second commercial is out now (video above). I'm still buying this next month on 360. Hopefully the game will be still active at that time and I think it will (I can see it top 5 on the XBL charts for a couple of months).

A weekend full of emotions...

Other than living near the current firestorm (aka the Triangle Complex Fire) here at Southern California, yesterday and so far today is full of emotions.

First of all, I'm still good where I live regarding the current fire at Corona, Diamond Bar, Brea, Yorba Linda, and Carbon Canyon. Good thing it hasn't reached the main vicinity of Chino Hills yet (it has reached Southern sections however), but we are ready just in case to leave and hope for the best.

At least, I tried to distract myself from all this fire coverage by watching Quantum of Solace yesterday with the family. The new Bond movie was enjoyable at best, but obviously wasn't the best Bond movie (Casino Royale is better than this one). Daniel Craig is still a pretty good Bond that has gone to a pissed off direction for QoS (the sequel to CR). Of course, this flick is more personal for him being a revenge tale than just another typical Bond movie. I am surprised of this movie making about 70 million, but I guess it is the strength for the franchise as a whole that helped it.

Last night was the big UFC fight between Randy Corture and Brock Lesnar. I watched this at Buffalo Wild Wings and it was a crazy crowd with the majority hoping Randy would defend his title. Most of the MMA world kind of felt shocked when Brock knocked him down which led to the hammerfists for the victory. It is just crazy that in four fights, Brock is the new UFC Heavyweight Champion. He did come a long way from his WWE days to actually working hard in a real sport to win a title that he earned by defeating the UFC legend. Props to Brock for winning and I'm looking forward to next month's PPV with perhaps the best card for an UFC event.

Yes, my 360 is still dead as I will send it to repairs on Tuesday. I hope it returns in good shape before Thanksgiving for more Banjo and hopefully SSFIIT HD Remix.

SSFIIT HD Remix = Thanksgiving??

Another speculative date for HD Remix courtesy of many web sites is Thanksgiving Day (the 27th). It makes sense at least on PSN, and XBLA could get it the day before. As mentioned previously, it won't make sense to put this game out on the NXE launch day (the 19th) since Microsoft would rather release a game that takes advantage of NXE's features like avatars and Live Party (Kingdom of Keflings is likely out on Wednesday and hopefully Uno Rush). Since my 360 is currently dead and waiting to be sent for repairs hoping to be done by that holiday weekend, HD Remix would make a nice return for me. Plus, those who wanted Banjo-Kazooie XBLA, which is out on the 25th, already got it for free by pre-ordering Nuts & Bolts.

Anyway, here's the 1up Show segment regarding HD Remix.

UPDATE - Now coming out next Wednesday (the 26th) and my 360 better come back repaired by then (sending it in this Wednesday (the 19th).

Skate 2 takes over GameTrailers TV

This weekend's GameTrailers TV is a Skate 2 special (Yes!!!) on Spike. The full episode should be up soon online, but here's the new trailer that focuses on the storyline here.

2008: Then and Now (My GOTY Preview) Part I

Sometimes, some of the reviews I have up here were perhaps underrated or even overrated after posting them. Maybe its time to revisit this year's games so far in a "Then and Now" feature in preparation for my Game of the Year feature posts.

Omega Five (XBLA)

Then: 8/10

Now: 7.5/10 - This was a great 2D shooter to start out the year on Xbox Live Arcade. It was short and sweet being a hour game (even two hours), but having four characters that play differently (okay two of them were basically the same, but still different in other ways) did spice up the gameplay a bit. At first, being a 2D shooter means it will be hard and it is when playing for the first time, but once you learn patterns and strategies for weapons to use, it is actually one of the easier 2D shooters in a while. After getting all 200 achievement points, there's nothing else to worry about unless you feel like tackling the harder difficulties and that game can be hard along with competing for high scores.

Burnout Paradise (360)

Then: 9/10

Now: 9.5/10 - Thanks to lots of replayability with downloadable content Criterion has been pumping out throughout the year with more freeburn challenges, bikes, the upcoming island, and the Party Pack re-release in January, Burnout Paradise is arguably my favorite racing game of the year. I do want to play Midnight Club: Los Angeles,maybe Need for Speed Undercover, WipeOut HD, and Motorstorm: PR, but Burnout continues to be amazing even in November of this year. Its seamless drop-in and drop-out online world began a new trend for this generation of games. Of course, no race restart still remains Paradise's biggest flaw until Party Pack re-release, but Paradise City is still a great place to drive and cause havoc.

Rez HD (XBLA)

Then: 9.5/10

Now: 10/10 - Yeah, Rez is surprisingly my favorite Live Arcade game of all-time likely till SSFIIT HD Remix comes out. That game is just something special and especially never playing the original on PS2 and Dreamcast to witness it in its true glory. Even today, I still feel playing Area 5 (not counting the boss rush in the end) because of the Adam Freeland song, Fear, and I still get better at it on score attack every time I play it, which is crazy. Rez is just pure perfection on Xbox Live Arcade and I wished more people played this to appreciate its awesomeness.

Devil May Cry 4 (360)

Then: 8.5/10

Now: 8/10 - Devil May Cry 3 is one of my favorite PS2 games (both original and special editions) and the fourth game didn't really live up to the hype as I hoped. Sure, it still has the core DMC action with Nero and Dante, but I guess I didn't feel compelled to beat it on harder difficulties (Beaten on Easy and Devil Hunter). Plus, the repetition of boss battles and going backwards when being Dante is DMC4's biggest drawback in being as good as the third one and even the first game.

Tekken 6 (ARC)

Then: 9/10

Now: 9/10 - I still enjoy Tekken 6 and its gameplay additions like bound and rage, so I hope Bloodline Rebellion makes the right changes with these new systems and the new characters Lars and Alisa being fun characters to play as. Yeah, it is not a huge leap over Tekken 5 DR with the core gameplay of being combo-driven, but I still believe T6 is indeed Namco's better fighting game not taking huge risks and making silly decisions like they deal with the Soul Calibur franchise. I guess I prefer Tekken's simplicity over Soul Calibur's depth.

Part II of this feature will be soon (maybe tomorrow).

More Killers for Guitar Hero WT and Rock Band...

Even though a Dead Kennedys DLC pack headlines next week's Rock Band songs, looks The Killers will have DLC for both RB and Guitar Hero World Tour.

Here's GH World Tour's pack:

• "Mr. Brightside"
• "Human"
• "Losing Touch"

Here's Rock Band (2)'s pack:

• "Mr. Brightside"
• "Smile Like You Mean It"
• "Spaceman"

"Human," "Losing Touch," and "Spaceman" are off their new album, Day and Age, which these DLC packs which come out day and date with the album's release on November 25. These are both great packs of songs for both games, so Killers fans will enjoy them whichever game they're playing.

My fourth 360 is dead...

Yay.......

My Halo 3 360 got the E74 System Error, which is one red ring of death on the lower right corner saying it is an error in many languages.

My previous times with the console's death were the infamous 3 red rings, but this one is a little different.

Banjo N&B messed it up I guess with weird stuff occuring in-game. I went back to Banjo XBLA for a bit to play the swamp level and then came back to Nuts & Bolts with the same issue happening. I decided to turn off the console and turn on again which led to the system error.

So I'm sending it to repairs and missing the NXE launch, but I'm hopefully returning by the end of month if things go smoothly.

Get Ready for February 17, 2009...

Capcom finally announced the release date for Street Fighter IV, which is February 17, 2009. As u already know, I'm still playing the arcade version since its release (so many spots in SoCal have the game which is crazy). My review has been modified a bit recently and will be significantly updated for the console versions (I won't type a new review for it). Of course, I'm hyped which is three months away and shows why Capcom is king of the first quarter of the year (Bionic Commando in January, this in February, and Resident Evil 5 in March) avoiding the fall holiday rush. At least the 1up guys have a preview build hopefully with some console exclusive characters to play with. Also check out this week's 1up Show (up now) for a SSFIIT HD Remix preview as they have the final game now (likely on Partner.NET). I doubt HD Remix will come out next week because of the NXE launch, but a Thanksgiving week release (even though Banjo XBLA is out that week for those who didn't pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts) seems likely now.

Niiiicccceeee!!!! The Gears of War 2 Review

Note: This review will likely contain spoilers, so read at your own risk unless you beaten the campaign.

It was 2006 and the Xbox 360 has been out for a year. A lot was riding on the first Gears of War to be fill in the void the Halo franchise has been for the console. It became an instant classic and the 360's first killer app with its amazing stop and pop style gameplay along with a multiplayer component that kept the game among the most played Xbox Live titles. It established a new set of iconic characters which are the Delta Squad. Players enjoyed their personalities from Marcus's leadership, Dom's passion for his wife, Cole's cocky attitude, and Baird's sarcasm. It also made people love chainsaws thanks to the iconic Lancer. Now in 2008, the sequel is out with Gears of War 2 and it is simply a masterpiece, but not a perfect one.

Epic Games wanted to expand the story for Gears 2 as the first game established the setting, the COG, and the Locust as they continue to battle in this war for Sera. The lightmass bomb in the end of Gears 1 wasn't enough to completely destroy the Locust, and they return angrier than ever sinking cities left and right driving to the COG to the home base of Jacinto as their last hope. It is up to the Delta Squad once again to destroy the Locust and end the war once and for all. Other than the main storyline, the supporting storyline revolves around Dom and his search for his wife, Maria. At first, I felt this story arc is a little forced to bring more emotion and have some sense of a love story, but the arc ended well and let's just say it didn't end happily. The Locust's goals in Gears 2 were mysterious other than sinking cities and we get to learn more about them in this more along with their new leader, Skorge with a chainsaw staff, and the Locust queen finally revealing herself. Their side of the story eventually reminded me of Halo 2's twist with the Covenant turning on each other and that happened with the introduction of the Lambent Locust. The COG remain as memorable as ever as you play as Marcus (Dom if playing co-op), along with the rest of Delta Squad (Baird and Cole, who has the best moments of the game) and some new characters such as Dizzy, Tai, and another Carmine. Even after you beat Gears of War 2, you can tell that a third game is going to happen, but more questions arise than answers being solved.

The signature stop and pop gameplay has returned and now refined in Gears of War 2 with some improvements. It is still a cover-based shooter when you have to rely on cover to be successful on eliminating the opposition along with active reloads. The shooting still feels satisfying with all the weapons from Gears 1 returning even though some weapons are not as heavily used in the campaign like the Hammer of Dawn. The new weapons introduced for Gears 2 have gotten a little more attention for the campaign such as the Scorcher, the game's flamethrower, the significantly improved Hammerburst, the Gorgon Pistol, and heavy weapons such as the Mulcher and the Mortar. The Mulcher is a minigun that mows down enemies quickly and the Mortar is able to defeat enemies from the sky with raining blasts. Some weapons from Gears 1 were changed whether it is for the better or the worst. The Lancer now has the stopping power to slow down enemies charging at you. In addition, the chainsaw duels are a new element in which players have to mash the B button the quickest to win the duel. The shotgun did indeed get nerfed, but I think it is for the good which I'll explain later when I mention the multiplayer. One of the neater gameplay additions is the meatshield option, which players now to use dead enemies as shields against the opposition while holding a pistol-like weapon. The weapons truly feel great in Gears 2 whether or not the additions or changes satisfied players.

The campaign itself in Gears of War 2 is filled with so many holy **** moments and truly lives up to be being some crazy roller coaster ride. The game starts out with a bang and also ends like it as well. It is beautifully paced with great levels with lots of shooting, non-shooting elements like dodging piston teeth inside the Ringworm and picks up the action with vehicle sequences. These vehicle sequences are likely hit and miss from the first sequence of defending the Derrick in Act 1 to the flawed Centaur tank scene in Act 3 and then finishing up with a Reaver scene that reminds many people of the Panzer Dragoon games and even a Brumak in Act 5. These sequences at times do have that trial and error mentality at times trying to avoid enemy fire, but even if they're flawed, they are still amazing OMG moments, more specifically the Reaver and Brumak segments in Act 5. The campaign is also a little longer than it was for Gears 1, but it can be beaten in eight hours on Casual and Normal difficulties. Of course, it may take a little longer to beat it on Hardcore and Insane difficulties, but slightly quicker if playing on co-op.

Other than the campaign and the co-op for it, the multiplayer has returned better than ever, but still a flawed experience. The biggest addition is a new five-player co-op mode called Horde, which is basically a survival mode against increasingly difficult Locust for 50 waves. This mode can get hectic especially on harder difficulties where teamwork, luck, and skill matter on having success. Even though the waves reset every ten waves in terms of enemies, they return with stipulations such as more damage and more HP. This mode can be addictive especially going for high scores and trying different strategies whether going at with a full team or even alone.

The versus multiplayer still remains the attraction for Gears 2 to be replayable for months to come. The biggest changes are the matchmaking options with the addition of a party system, so it is easier to have friends on the same team to compete in public or private matches. Multiplayer can also be played locally alone or splitscreen against bots, and knowing Epic and their success with the Unreal Tournament series, they know how to make bots and make them worthy competition. As for the online, it is now five-on-five on a new set of maps (ten of them new and five returning from Gears 1 if u download the Flashback Map Pack). After a month or two of Gears 1 multiplayer back in 2006 and even last year, it eventually became a shotgun fest rather than a stop and pop shooter. That is why the shotgun is nerfed to become the shooter Epic wanted it to be utilizing every weapon and gameplay mechanic they changed or added. Now in multiplayer sessions, the Lancer gets more use and chainsaw kills are increasing rapidly in which players complained about lately eliminating the skill, but it is in the game and they have to deal with it until a patch comes out. Grenades are a top priority in Gears multiplayer since you can tag them to walls treating them as mines with smoke, frag, or the new ink effects. Even smoke grenades are getting used frequently since they can stun enemies if caught by them which could lead to a quick kill by the shotgun or the chainsaw. There are a lot of mutliplayer modes for Gears 2, which makes it more varied than it originally tended to be.

Gears 2's multiplayer also uses a playlist feature along with the party system that has been used in the top XBL shooters like Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4. At least players can vote on the mode they will play in terms of playlist by choices of two and then the map the same way. If the votes are tied, a different map or mode will be picked. The last choice before a match starts is either using the Lancer or the Hammerburst as their starting rifle. The matchmaking as a whole does indeed work, but at times it can be really slow (longer than three minutes at times) finding players to match up with similar skill. Other than signature modes Warzone and Execution, Annex and King of the Hill return for Gears 2. The new modes indeed spice the multiplayer a bit allowing more variety. Wingman is five teams of two duking it out deathmatch style which teamwork matters with your partner. Guardian is an improved version of Assassination with players respawning until a team leader is killed which eliminates the respawns. Submission is a neat take on Capture the Flag utilizing the meatshield mechanic where you use a Stranded guy that is armed with a shotgun as your flag to score, but that Stranded guy can fight back in which you have to down him first to use him as a flag. With fifteen maps out now and seven modes, the multiplayer of Gears 2 is very fun and enjoyable with a full party, but the matchmaking, even flawed in terms of finding matches, does work.

Graphically, Gears of War 2 looks absolutely stunning at all angles. The levels themselves look beautiful under Unreal Engine 3 from diverse looking caves in Act 2, the inside of the Ringworm that puts the Cortana level of Halo 3 to shame, great vistas and cities in Act 1 and 5, and so much more. This is arguably the best looking 360 game now with all those amazing looking levels, graphical effects with still the best blood in gaming today, weather effects of rain and snow, and huge creatures along with the increasingly number of Locust appearing on screen. However, some minor flaws like texture pop-in when levels load for both campaign and multiplayer in addition of other bugs when in cover during online matches prevent it from perfection.

As for the sound, make sure you have a surround sound system ready because Gears 2 arguably delivers the best sound in gaming this year. The weapons actually sound like weapons like now specifically the Lancer being more a gun than it was in Gears 1. The music does have that epic feel of orchestral and theatrical tunes when in battle and cutscenes. Even the voice acting, despite the dialogue being cheesy at times, feels special with Marcus saying "Nicceeeee" while Cole remains amazing especially during his rant in Act 4 (video above). It truly feels like a war when in battle between the COG and Locust with their battle cries.

Gears of War 2 does define the terms Epic promised since the game's announcement: bigger, better, and more badass. The campaign, even flawed, is still amazing with many memorable moments from beginning to end. The story is better, but still not as great even though it is straightforward despite the twists and turns regarding the COG and Locust. Achievements like Seriously 2.0, which counts for all modes, and getting all the collectibles in the campaign will keep players busy for a while. The multiplayer, even with slow matchmaking, and Horde modes will be making players play Gears 2 for months to come with its addictiveness and enjoyability despite various complaints concerning certain weapons. Gears 2 has the complete package and if there is one action-packed game to get for the 360, make sure you buy Gears 2 right away.

Score = 9.5/10

Pros:

• Amazing campaign (8 hours on Casual or Normal, but longer than that on Hardcore or Insane).
• Absolutely stunning graphics in every way.
• The best sound in this year of gaming.
• Stop and pop gameplay still as great and fun it was back in Gears 1.
• Multiplayer and Horde modes will keep players busy for months to come.

Cons:

• Even though the story is better, it is still not that great.
• Texture pop-in when loading levels in campaign and multiplayer.
• Online matchmaking can be slow at times.
• Multiplayer experience can change because of the Live audience and some fans' complaints about certain weapons.

How Xbox Live could be awesome...

I found this clip at Giant Bomb yesterday and maybe this is the solution for Xbox Live to be cool if everyone has talkboxes like this dude has. Giant Bomb has more on that and how the guy managed to make it happen.

They also have their store if u want a Luchadeer hoodie, which I want all of a sudden.

This new 50 Cent game could be good after all...

Another new trailer for 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand surfaced on IGN and this game as a Gears clone could be good using elements from that game sand some others like maybe Army of Two. Of course it won't be as awesome as Gears 2 with its horrible story and characters (Yeah 50 go after some crystal skull is pretty dumb). It might be a decent shooter to start out 2009 when it comes out in January.

The Left 4 Dead Commercial

Definitely next up for me after I beat the Banjo games. Won't get it next week however in which I'll wait for next month. Since the major game sites now have the game so far enjoying it, looks like it might be another contender for GOTY.

Here's the perfect game for kids...

Okay, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Lightsaber Duels is out for Wii for now and here's the long version of the commercial that fits the demographic of kids and Star Wars fans. If there was a Wii game I would buy this holiday season (not Wii Music or Animal Crossing: City Folk, out on Sunday), it might be this one just for the laughs and see little cousins, nephews, and nieces have fun with it. Of course, I don't think it is a good game at all, but it will sell for a Wii game this holiday. Plus, people that buy this game might as well also buy the third-party lightsaber attachment, which I saw at GameStop when I was getting Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts today (which I'm currently enjoying - Rare's humor and references to their previous days and other games is top notch). Sure, that thing might be silly, but might as well make the lightsaber experience a little more accurate.

Off-topic stuff...

• The XBLA version of Banjo-Kazooie is pretty good so far despite some slowdown. I can't believe I still remember this game 10 years ago especially the first two worlds.
• The intro for Nuts & Bolts is pretty awesome - my favorite moment so far.
• Gears 2 review maybe tomorrow.
• I'm currently watching Ninja Warrior 21 on G4 now (Yes, this show is awesome and it is a set of new episodes).

Quick Impressions of the Mirror's Edge Remixes

I still want to get Mirror's Edge (likely next month with Left 4 Dead) as I'm still on the fence. I loved the demo and the fact the core gameplay concept worked, but I might as well rent it since it is a short game.

Anyway, I downloaded the soundtrack of remixes for the theme song "Still Alive" and I enjoyed listening to them. Of course, you have to like the original song and that is good enough, but some of the remixes are pretty good too. My personal favorite is the Junkie XL Remix and I'm also a fan of that artist too, but the Armand Van Helden Remix (featured in the launch trailer above, Teddybears Mix featured in the IGN montage below) is a close second right now.

One More Console Exclusive Character in SF IV

I guess Capcom has one more console exclusive character to reveal (as if Dan, Cammy, Fei Long, and Gen are enough) according to the Shoryuken forums. Another Alpha character will join the roster of 25 which is Rose. So now we're at five ladies, which is good enough, but of course fans still want 3rd Strike characters and I can't blame them. With so many console exclusive characters, I think they need to be added in the arcade versions eventually via a code update (like Akuma and Gouken). Of course, this is not really official yet by Capcom themselves, but it seems likely now.

Oooooo... I Can't Believe It - A Remix

So the biggest hit song of the season has a remix that features Justin Timberlake and it is not that bad. Of course, it depends whether or not you dig the original song even though you probably heard it a lot too.

SSFIIT HD Remix Hype Thickens...

A new combo video surfaced yesterday for SSFIIT HD Remix and it looks done hopefully out on Wednesday or next Wednesday. I will definitely play more characters in this one considered how improved they are in the tier list. For those wishing this will be 10 bucks or cheaper, keep wishing because it will be 15 bucks or maybe even 20 bucks with all that content in (even the original ST is still in).

So How Can You Be So Heartless??

Heartless from kwest on Vimeo.

By not watching Kanye West's new video for "Heartless" off his 808's & Heartbreak album. He has done it again delivering another awesome video with its unique style.

Gears of War 2 Review Sometime Next Week...

So I just beat the campaign in Gears of War 2 and it is pretty amazing stuff in 8 hours. I'll try to type up a review sometime next week after playing co-op and multiplayer.

UPDATE - My favorite cutscene from the campaign... Cole is a beast again. (Spoilers for Act 4)

There Goes My Hero Next Week...

The Foo Fighters' The Colour and the Shape will finally be out as a download on Tuesday for 20 bucks (PSN on Thursday). Yes, I'm buying this because it is a good album and plus "My Hero" will probably be a party favorite like "Everlong" (if people can play Drums expert). Also, I got my 20 free songs that Harmonix promised since the game came out as with everyone else that registered on the Rock Band site. I don't know when I will play those songs thanks to Gears 2 weekend and even the Foo songs because of the Banjo games out next week.

Some characters' theme songs in Street Fighter IV

If you referred to my Street Fighter IV (ARC) review - it was recently updated with slight modifications, I mentioned about the characters' theme songs being in the game during rival battles. Here's some of them during fights.



This is Abel vs. Guile at the airport stage with Guile's SF4 theme.



El Fuerte vs. Zangief at the club stage with Zangief's SF4 theme as a jazzy remix. El Fuerte's ending is also shown in this clip for those who care (Spoilers...)



This is Ryu vs. Sagat at the Beautiful Bay stage with Sagat's SF4 theme song being played. For spoiler purposes, Ryu's ending in this clip too after defeating Seth as who knows if it is the true ending.

Actually these SF4 endings for the arcade version are short, so who knows if these endings are fleshed out more for the console versions with anime cutscenes.

Some new Tatsunoko vs. Capcom footage featuring the MvC2 Snapback...

It is pretty crazy that this one game makes me want a Japanese Wii to import, but if this game is out at SoCal arcades sometime after its release along with NA Wii release, then I'll be happy. Meanwhile, this video features Ryu and Alex against Jun and Ken with air combos, the MvC2 snapback making a return, supers, and more.

UPDATE - The Japanese commercial is now out - a month before its release there.

Congrats to Obama!!!!

I guess we all can call him President Obama now...

First pics of Gen and Cammy in Street Fighter IV

I think the final roster is set for the console versions of Street Fighter IV at 24 characters now that Gen and Cammy are confirmed courtesy of pics at Gamed.nl. Gen is a surprising choice considering how his role will play out story-wise in this game, so who knows what he is doing here anyway (probably get involved in the Akuma and Gouken rivalry).



As for Cammy, she has been rumored for a while, but she is finally confirmed maintaining for Super SF2 Turbo attire (which is better than her Alpha attire). Other than those characters finally getting confirmed, more pics of Fei Long, Dan, and Sakura were also revealed showcasing possible moves for them (We seen Sakura, but Dan and Fei Long's Ultras seem obvious). Dan approves of being in this game.