Destiny, Super Smash Bros., Halo: The Master Chief Collection highlight remaining 2014 releases

While lots of hyped-up games are being delayed into 2015, there's still plenty of big titles coming out the rest of this year to ease the pain. Here's a look at some of the bigger releases for the rest of 2014.

Destiny: Sept. 9 on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
This online multiplayer first-person shooter developed by Bungie had a very successful beta campaign that got gamers even more hyped for it. Players will be able to choose a race and class and travel around a post-apocalyptic universe set hundreds of years into the future. Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage lends his voice as a robot companion.

Hyrule Warriors: Sept. 26 on Wii U
This different take on the Zelda franchise is based on the popular Dynasty Warriors series overseas where you smash through hundreds of enemies. It will boast a big cast of playable characters, from Link and Zelda to Darunia and Ganondorf.

Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS
Not one but two new games in this very popular fighting franchise are scheduled this year, the first coming to the Nintendo 3DS on Oct. 3 with the Wii U version slated for a holiday release. Over the past months, Nintendo as been slowly revealing more and more characters to choose for battle. This will no doubt be the biggest games in the franchise.

Driveclub: Oct. 7 on PS4
After multiple delays this exclusive racing title will (hopefully) be in our hands later this year. We've seen lots of screenshots of stunningly beautiful cars driving in all kinds of weather elements. Players will be able to connect with their friends, receive and send challenges and be part of a team.

Alien: Isolation: Oct. 7 on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC
This upcoming first-person survival horror with a heavy emphasis on stealth is part of the Alien franchise that takes place 15 years after the events of "Alien," where you play as Ellen Ripley's daughter. One Alien stalks the player throughout this terrifying and punishing game. 

Assassin's Creed Unity: Oct. 28 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One
This installment takes place in Paris during the French Revolution and introduces cooperative multiplayer for up to four players who can take part in missions and explore together. Parkouring up and down buildings is supposedly easier now, which have always been a pain for me in the past.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare: Nov. 4 on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Here's your annual Call of Duty game, this time taking place in 2054 and starring actor Kevin Spacey. Futuristic technology includes cloaking aircraft, hover bikes, and the ability to climb up walls. It'll sell millions for sure.

The Crew: Nov. 11 on PC, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Ubisoft's open-world racing game features missions that can be played alone or with others. Players can form crews and race together. The campaign is expected to be around 20 hours.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection: Nov. 11 on Xbox One
This will be one of the biggest remasterings of the year. The franchise that helped cement Microsoft's place in the console industry will come to their newest console. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4 will receive graphical updates and feature all their multiplayer modes and add-on content. This should be the perfect start for the Halo newbie.

Dragon Age: Inquisition: Nov. 18 on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
BioWare's action RPG published by EA will feature multiple races to choose from and an overhaul in the combat mechanics, requiring a bit more thinking. Just like the first two games in the series, it takes place on the continent of Thedas.

Far Cry 4: Nov. 18 on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Ubisoft will release another of this first-person shooter, this time taking place in the lush land of Kyrat, which is ruled by a ruthless king who shows no mercy to anyone. Players will be able to play cooperatively, even if one doesn't own the game. I suspect we'll see this feature more in the future.

LittleBigPlanet3: Nov. 18 on PS3 and PS4
This cute franchise will introduce new characters like Oddsock, a four-legged creature who can wall jump; Swoop, a bird who can pick up others; and Big Toggle, who uses its heavy weight on pressure plates and platforms. Levels from the first two games can be transferred to this one.

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Thoughts on The Art of Video Games exhibit in Toledo

I recently stopped by The Art of Video Games exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, which is currently on display until Sept. 28. The Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibition heavily explores how far video games have come as an artistic medium, from 1980's Space Invaders to 2009's Flower.

It's a small exhibit, taking patrons on a brief history through the different eras of video games. Each era is separated into four different genres for each console - Target, Adventure, Action, and Tactics - with one game representing each genre. Prior to its creation, the public was invited to vote on their favorite games to be featured, and I think they mostly got it right. There's a wonderful variety of game's showcased, like Pac-Man (Era 1), The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. 3 (Era 2), Earthworm Jim and SimCity (Era 3), Shenmue and Fallout (Era 4), and Okami and Pikmin 2 (Era 5). At each console stop, patrons can select a genre to watch a short video about the game.

Of course, a video game exhibit needs to have playable games, and five are available to play: Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, and Flower. Both kids and adults were having fun here.

However, I wasn't inside it for very long. As a lifelong gamer, I didn't really learn or see anything new, and you'll likely find most of what's on display on YouTube or elsewhere on the Internet. Still, it's a fun and colorful exhibit that's set up wonderfully for those who don't follow the video game scene. It was crowded, and the kids were enjoying themselves. I constantly heard the older crowd comment how how "cool" Pitfall graphics were back in the day. For that, the exhibit did its job.

Now that we're in a new generation with Wii U, Xbox One and PS4, the exhibit could be updated in the future to show the likes of these newer games. If this is done, Transistor definitely has to be in it.

For those not wanting to travel to Toledo to see The Art of Video Games, the Flint Institute of Arts will showcase it Oct. 26, 2014 through Jan. 18, 2015. It is located at 1120 E. Kearsley St. in Flint.

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Super Smash Bros., Amiibo, Zelda highlight Nintendo Digital Event

Once again, Nintendo opted to do a digital event like at last year's E3. It was much better this time around with some funny Robot Chicken sketches featuring Nintendo characters.

* Miis will be featured prominently in the new Super Smash Bros., with three different attack types: swordsman, brawler and gunner. A wide variety of moves were displayed. Gameplay for the 3DS version was also shown off. A new character, Palutena from the Kid Icarus series, looks very powerful.
* Amiibo is the official name of Nintendo's character figurines. Mario was featured, and other characters like Link and Kirby will be available as well. It's been a long time coming, but I don't think it's too late to join the Skylanders and Disney Infinity party. For Super Smash Bros on the Wii U, the characters can join battles. Other games like Mario Party 10 and the recently released Mario Kart 8 will support them as well. This could be another cash cow for Nintendo.
* Yoshi is getting the Kirby's Epic Yarn treatment in the very charming Yoshi's Woolly World, set for release in 2015. It looks to be a little more challenging and plays like the Yoshi's Island games, minus Baby Mario.
* Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a full-blown Wii U game based on the mini-game from Super Mario 3D World. There were some interesting level designs shown. It should be a fun one to play.
* Bayonetta 2 featured Zelda and Samus costumes. The game will also come with the original Bayonetta, which is awesome. Even more awesome, it will release in October.
* Two Zelda games were shown off. The already-known Hyrule Warriors will have large maps with lots of enemies to dispatch. Zelda, Link, Midna and other characters will be playable. It releases Sept. 26. A brief look at the beautiful open world of a new Zelda was also shown. It promises to be a change from the familiar formula other games in the franchise follow.
* Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, a sequel to Kirby: Canvas Curse, will release in 2015.
* Xenoblade Chronicles will also release in 2015. This sci-fi thriller features exciting mech action.
* Splatoon is a 4v4 online action game where you shoot ink everywhere to claim territory. The team with the most covered wins the match. Turning into squids lets player swim in their ink and move around the map quicker. It was refreshing to see something original.
* Mario Maker is officially real. Levels can be made the NES way or the modern NSMB. It looks like there's plenty of options to choose from, and it should be great for creative minds. It's expected to release in 2015.

Overall, it was a fun digital event, and it looks like Nintendo still has it despite recent struggles selling hardware. We'll be waiting a while for most of these games, but hopefully it'll be worth it.

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Long Sony E3 2014 press conference packed with a little bit of everything

Sony covered a lot of bases in their E3 2014 press conference, from games to hardware and services.

* The Destiny beta will release July 17 on the PlayStation first. When the game actually releases on Sept. 9, there will be a white PS4 bundle with the game.
* The Order: 1886 featured a man being chased down by a zombie/werewolf creature and what looked like gameplay. Shots were fired at the creature by the player, but it looked like it didn't really matter in this segment of the game.
* DLC is coming to Infamous: Second Son in August. It's called First Light and no gameplay was shown.
* Entwined is an artsy rhythm game that is now out for the PS4. Could be fun.
* A nice surprise was Little Big Planet 3 featuring new characters like one who can shrink and grow in size while a bird can lift other players up. Multiplayer looks fun here, and the visuals are charming.
* There was more Far Cry 4 -- this time gameplay where we saw the crossbow in action. A vehicle got hijacked and we saw some familiar driving action before going over a cliff and flying with a wingsuit. Another player joined a mission to wreak havoc on everyone, and it was funny to see an elephant take down enemies. Apparently PS4 gamers will be able to invite others to join in on the fun online even if they don't own the game. There's got to be a catch to that since sales numbers are so important these days. Maybe they'll be able to play certain sections.
* Project Beast turned out to be Bloodborne from developer From Software, a gothic title.
* Dead Island 2 got a funny trailer of a runner turning into a zombie, and someone else taking his shoes.
* Magicka 2 is coming, as well as a remastered Grim Fandango for the PS4 and PS Vita.
* Indie titles like Hotline Miami 2 and Titan Souls are coming. They look fun. Abzu is a beautiful looking underwater game from the makers of Journey.
* Let It Die will be a PS4 exclusive Suda 51 game. It will release in 2015.
* The Last of Us Remastered releases July 29 for the PS4.
* No Man's Sky got some major play. The procedurally generated game lets players explore planets seamlessly and features some combat elements. This could be the next big game, or it could turn into another Spore. Hopefully the former happens.
* Mortal Kombat X looks pleasing. Some fight footage was shown with gruesome fatalities.
* The Metal Gear Solid V trailer people already saw yesterday was shown. Could have been huge, but we were already spoiled.
* Batman: Arkham Knight showed off a stunning overworld and driving around with the Batmobile, which can turn into tank mode that allows for strafing. The Scarecrow is a spooky villain.
* The big finale featured a short trailer for Uncharted 4, which looked amazing. A Thief's End will come out next year, and I would suspect the holidays. This could be another gem from Naughty Dog.

Free-to-play games are coming, too, and July 31 marks the start of the PlayStation Now beta for the PS4. Vita titles are in development, which I guess is good if you own the struggling handheld. PlayStation TV is finally coming to America for $99. The VR-related Project Morpheus also got a mention.

Familiar games showcased in Ubisoft E3 2014 press conference

After Microsoft and EA, Ubisoft took the stage to show off some familiar games in their press conference.

* Far Cry 4 kicked things off and gave us a look at the likely villain who loves to kill people who don't take orders correctly. The opening cinematic looked great.
* Just Dance 2015 brought to the stage many dancers who danced a little too good. Using smartphones as the controller is an interesting idea. This should be another hot seller.
* We got another look at Tom Clancy's The Division in a CGI trailer. Yep, still looks amazing.
* Locations from New York, Las Vegas and the Rockies were shown in The Crew, the multiplayer-focused racing game. Teamwork is key here.
* Assassin's Creed Unity again showcased the overworld populated with many, many people. You'll be able to see which online friends are doing a mission as you pass by one.
* The most awkward moment of E3 so far belongs to the Shape Up presentation, a fitness game exclusively for the Xbox One. Piano dancing looks awfully like Dance Dance Revolution, and doing push-ups in rhythm with the game looks very, very tiring. I can't expect it to work perfectly on the Kinect at home like it did during the presentation.
* The most interesting game of the conference was the World War I themed Valiant Hearts: The Great War, even though we had no gameplay to judge it by. Looks like a 2D side-scroller.
* Rainbow Six: Siege showed players breaching through walls and floors in a house to rescue a hostage. This featured more fake online banter you'll never hear in real life.

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Battlefield: Hardline, sports games highlight EA's E3 2014 press conference

After Microsoft, it was EA's turn in the E3 2014 spotlight. Here's a brief summary of what was shown off.

* Early in-game footage from Star Wars: Battlefront was shown. Developers explained how they went to actual locations where the movies were shot. Unfortunately, more information is coming Spring 2015, and that doesn't sound like a release date.
* A musician performed on stage while Dragon Age: Inquisition was shown off. Large, open areas and combat were highlighted. It looks nice.
* Very, very early conceptual prototypes were shown for a new Mass Effect and new IP from BioWare. Sadly, it looks like we won't be seeing these for a while.
* The Sims 4 (people still play these games?) has emotional states to keep track off. Doesn't look too much different from past games, but there was an Obama look-alike that I'm sure angered Republicans.
* Sports titles include EA Sports UFC with Bruce Lee, NHL 15, Madden 15 and Fifa 15. Once you've seen one trailer, you've seen them all. It looks like EA ran out of ideas for the next PGA Tour golf game. There are "extreme fantasy courses" with battleships and explosions to golf through. I guess that's cool?
* Criterion will have a new game featuring cars, wingsuits, ATVs, boats, planes and more. Not much else to say here.
* Dawngate will be another MOBA I don't plan on playing. But if done right, they can rake in the dough.
* Some very early footage of Mirror's Edge 2 was shown. This should be another fun and exciting game.
* Battlefield: Hardline features cops versus crooks with lots of explosions and mayhem. There's helicopters, miniguns, a construction crane falling onto buildings -- all while trying to hold onto some sort of loot. Those who own a copy of Battlefield 4 on PC and PS4 can sign up for beta starting today. The game is scheduled for release Oct. 21.

Overall, a pretty typical EA conference.

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Microsoft's 2014 E3 press conference all about the games

Microsoft needed a rebound after last year's underwhelming E3 press conference and falling behind Sony and the PS4 for next-gen dominance. Their press conference at E3 2014 was solid with the main focus on games.

* No surprise, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare kicked things off with lots of explosions and shooting things. It looks great and should please CoD fans.
* Forza Horizon 2 will launch Sept. 30. Again, the cars look shiny and cool.
* Four-player co-op was shown off in Assassin's Creed: Unity. Players teamed up very well to take out their target, but I expect it won't be so organized when playing with random strangers online.
* Sunset Overdrive was my favorite game shown off. It's a mix of Borderlands, Dead Rising and Tony Hawk, with lots of colors and action.
* Dead Rising 3 is getting DLC with a bunch of Capcom costumes. It's hilariously called Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha Prime. Good luck putting that in a headline.
* Co-op in Fable: Legends was played. Sadly the game still looks boring to me. Was never a Fable fan.
* Conker returns in Project Spark.
* Playdead Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Limbo, showed off footage of their newest title, Inside. It kind of looks like a Limbo 2
* Rise of the Tomb Raider had a trailer, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt showed Geralt hunting a griffin.
* More gameplay from Tom Clancy's The Division was shown featuring great graphics and scripted online banter.
* Scalebound will be an Xbox One exclusive from Platinum Games and features giant monsters and craziness.
* A new Crackdown game was announced, although it was just a CGI trailer. Phantom Dust had another CGI trailer. Ori and the Blind Forest had a short trailer as well.
* A bunch of indie games were shown in a montage.
* The biggest announcement was Halo related, with the announcement of Halo: The Master Chief Collection that includes the first four numbered Halo games for the Xbox One. Multiplayer for Halo 2 will remain unchanged from 10 years ago. With the game comes beta access for Halo 5: Guardians.

While there weren't a ton of megaton reveals, I liked the focus on games. One thing I took away from it is the future of the Kinect doesn't look promising. But I don't think anyone is really complaining about that.

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Quick thoughts on Mario Kart 8

I've been racing around colorful tracks in Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U. Here are some thoughts on the game.

Nintendo went above and beyond to create some of the best tracks in the series. Planes flying around in Sunshine Airport, and a giant lava Bowser lashing at racers in his castle are just a small taste of the experience that'll have you playing them over and over again.

Battle mode is the weakest link of the game. Instead of battle arenas like the ever-popular Block Fort, you're just duking it out on existing tracks. Once the participants dwindle down, it becomes a bore to finish the match.

Check out my full review at www.theoaklandpress.com.

Get even tinier thoughts at www.twitter.com/JeffHoard921.

Far Cry 4 releasing Nov. 18

Ubisoft has announced that Far Cry 4 will release this year on Nov. 18 for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. It is being developed by Ubisoft Montreal with Red Storm Entertainment and several other Ubisoft studios.

The open-world, first-person shooter will take place in Kyrat, a region of the Himalayas, which finds itself in turmoil while being ruled under a self-appointed king. Weapons, vehicles and animals will be at the player's disposal for their journey in the Himalayas.

More information will be available at E3 in June. After the success of Far Cry 3, this sequel will be one to watch out for later this year.

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Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare starring Kevin Spacey releasing Nov. 4

You knew some kind of Call of Duty game was coming this year, and Activision and Sledgehammer Games will deliver with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, which will release Nov. 4 on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 and PC. The game stars Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey, who plays Jonathan Irons, one of the most powerful men in the world. Soldiers wear exoskeletons allowing them to jump really high, cloak themselves and enhance other traits like speed, endurance and strength. The trailer above gives a small taste of what's to come.

I've never cared much for the Call of Duty franchise, but since this is built for next-gen I may check this one out.

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Quick thoughts on NES Remix 2

I've been playing more NES classics in NES Remix 2 for the Wii U. Here are some thoughts on the game.

NES Remix 2 is basically the same concept of the first title, but with a much better selection of games. Included in this package are Super Mario Bros 2 and 3, Punch-Out!!, Kirby's Adventure, and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. However, there are fewer challenges and some some feel repetitive from the first game.

A couple bonuses include the NES World Championships Remix, where players who own both titles can post online their best high scores from three classic games. It loses its charm too quickly, but Super Luigi Bros. is really cool as it lets you play through Super Mario Bros as Luigi in mirror-reversed levels.

Watch out for my full review at www.theoaklandpress.com.

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MLB 14 The Show for PS4 drops May 6

"The Show" baseball games have always been graphical powerhouses on the PS3, and the 2014 edition will hit store shelves May 6 for the PS4 (PS3 and Vita versions released around opening day). Sony is promising everything is better on the next-gen version: baseball, the cannons, the leather, the wood, the speed. From the few seconds shown in the trailer, Comerica Park looks great, as does everything else.

Catch Pokemon using Google Maps

Sadly, Pokemon don't exist in real life, but as part of their annual April Fools shenanigans Google is offering the next best thing. Those who update Google Maps will be given the opportunity to catch 150 kinds of Pokemon by tapping on them in various locations throughout the world.

It's strangely addicting scouring the earth to catch these creatures. It's also a great way for Nintendo to use smartphones as a sort of advertising tool for their handheld games. Tip: Check out Detroit. Happy hunting.

PS4 tops 6 million in sales as inFamous: Second Son set for release March 21

Sony's next-gen dominance continues as the company revealed Tuesday the PS4 has topped 6 million in hardware sales. On the software side, they revealed more than 13.7 million retail and digital copies have been sold. It's an impressive start for a system that's been going through a little software drought since launch.

But that will change soon with the exclusive release of inFamous: Second Son on March 24. Developed by Sucker Punch Productions, this is the third main game in the series, which takes place after the good ending of Infamous 2. A lot of gamers have their eyes on this one. Here are some screenshots below.

Quick thoughts on South Park: The Stick of Truth

I've been touring a popular Colorado town in South Park: The Stick of Truth on the Xbox 360. Here are some thoughts on the game.

Fans of the popular and controversial animated comedy finally get the video game they deserve. After multiple duds over the years, The Stick of Truth is the perfect tribute to the Comedy Central show. Written and voiced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, it captures everything that makes the show great. Honestly, it's so good it should be the last South Park video game ever made.

The combat system is very fun, and features you as the new kid in town along with a partner. Butters helps heal you and can turn into his alter ego Professor Chaos, who performs a variety of flashy moves. Princess Kenny is another fun one, who hilariously charms his enemies. There are also some ... "smelly" attacks to gross out enemies. Parker and Stone thought of everything.

Check out my full review at www.theoaklandpress.com.

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Quick thoughts on Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

I've been collecting thousands of bananas in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Wii U. Here are some thoughts on the game.

"Tropical Freeze" plays pretty similarly to the 2010 Wii title "Donkey Kong Country Returns." Players control Donkey Kong to smack, roll into and hop on enemies, and have partners to help the title character out. Besides Diddy Kong with his classic jetpack, Dixie Kong returns to use her ponytail to float upward and fan favorite Cranky Kong's special ability let's you hop along spikes and pointed enemies. However, it's hard not to choose Diddy Kong who is the best partner to have.

Retro Studios did an amazing job in the graphics department, making each level feel alive. Composer David Wise, who worked on the SNES versions of the series, returns to create some of the best music you'll probably hear this year from a video game.

Check out my full review at www.theoaklandpress.com.

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Quick thoughts on Bravely Default

I've been traveling the world awakening crystals from the darkness in Bravely Default for the 3DS. Here are some thoughts on the game.

Don't let the awkward name fool you. Bravely Default is a great JRPG that takes you back to the glory days of Final Fantasy. It has all the staples of a turn-based JRPG, but with some twists. During battle, players can use the Brave option to use up to four actions at once per character, essentially ending a fight right away if lucky. The Default option puts a character in a defensive mode, and stockpiles those actions for future turns. The best part is even enemies and bosses use this.

There is a lot of grinding in this game, especially if you want to max out all the job classes available for each character. Each job dresses your team in the proper attire, which is a neat detail. There's also all kinds of abilities and combinations to create the best party that fits anyone's play style.

Check out my full review at www.theoaklandpress.com.

Get even tinier thoughts at www.twitter.com/JeffHoard921.

Strider to release Feb. 18, Feb. 19 in North America; features 2 new challenge modes

Capcom's action-packed side-scroller Strider is set to release Feb. 18 on PSN for the PS4 and PS3, and following day on Xbox Live for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, as well as Steam for PC.

Two new challenge modes include Beacon Run, aka a speed run throughout levels. Survivor Mode unleashes increasingly difficult waves of enemies that players must survive. Global online leaderboards are available for both as well as Story mode. New sets of costumes can also be unlocked (not paid for, yay!)

Strider will cost $14.99.

Child of Light releasing April 30; another amazing-looking Ubisoft game

Ubisoft has some great-looking games like Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, and the upcoming Child of Light looks no different, thanks to their UbiArt Framework engine. A trailer released today shows off the game's colorful visuals, and it looks like Ubisoft Montreal poured their hearts and souls into this turn-based, fairy-tale inspired RPG.



Child of Light promises more than 200 skills to unlock and 600-plus crafting combinations, giving gamers more than enough options to play the way they want. It will be available to download April 30 on Xbox Live for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, PSN for PS3 and PS4, the Nintendo Wii U eShop, and Steam for PC. It will cost $14.99.

Quick thoughts on NES Remix

I've been playing bits and pieces of the classics in NES Remix for the Wii U. Here are some thoughts on the game.

Nintendo surprised all of us with this game, which was first announced during their Nintendo Direct presentation in mid-December. Afterward it became available, and with plenty of eShop money I made the plunge, despite its $15 price tag that made me skeptical. I can safely say it's definitely worth the price.

It's basically Wario Ware-style mini-games but with NES classics like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Ice Climber, Excite Bike, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and many more games. The 200-plus timed challenges are quick to get into and play. Collecting coins as fast as possible in SMB, or finding hidden entrances in Zelda are just a couple of the very creative challenges available. It's an addicting game and hard to put down.

Check out my full review at www.theoaklandpress.com.

Get even tinier thoughts at www.twitter.com/JeffHoard921.

2014 will be true test for PS4, Xbox One

The launch mayhem is (kind of) over. Sony and Microsoft both released their newest consoles, the PS4 and Xbox One, respectively, in November, just in time for the holiday season. Both witnessed constant sellouts, which bodes well for the console industry. Gamers were starving for new consoles, and Sony and Microsoft delivered. Both systems have sold over 2 million units, with early reports indicating PS4 having a slight lead over Xbox One.

But hardware launches should be sellouts. The real hardcore gamers are the ones lining up to be the first ones to play them no matter what games are out there. Even the very struggling Wii U had partial sellouts during its launch a little over a year ago. But afterward, it fell flat on its face ... very hard, due to a severe lack of software.

I don't see the PS4 and Xbox One falling flat like Nintendo's new console, but Sony and Microsoft need to keep the momentum going with a steady flow of software. The Xbox One has the PS4 beat so far in games thanks to exclusives like Dead Rising 3 and Killer Instinct. Honestly, I think PS4's best game is Resogun, a free downloadable title for PS Plus subscribers ... and that's kind of sad.

It's typical for consoles to have droughts after launches, and PS4 and Xbox One are no different. But there are games coming out for both systems that should keep current owners happy while at the same time keep consoles flying off shelves. Those who missed out on Tomb Raider last gen can buy the Definitive Edition for both systems on Jan. 28. Much later down the line in September sees the release of Bungie's much-hyped Destiny.

As for exclusives, the PS4 has some interesting games in the works. Driveclub was delayed for early this year, and Infamous: Second Son is scheduled for March 21. Jonathan Blow's puzzler The Witness looks very intriguing and is scheduled for early this year. For the Xbox One, Titanfall is the biggest release for March 11, and before that is Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare on Feb. 18.

Hopefully 2014 will be good to both Sony and Microsoft. Competition is a great thing for the industry and gamers everywhere.

Get even tinier thoughts at www.twitter.com/JeffHoard921.