PixlBit

Did Sony copy Nintendo's mascot fighter idea? Who cares?

The Sony fighter has been announced! Will it live up to its Nintendo counterpart? No one knows! That doesn't stop me from speculating. The important thing isn't whether or not it's a rip-off. What matters is that it's fun to play. Oh, right. I do talk about other things in this PB & Jason, I almost forgot. Remember Issue 84? In that issue, I talked a little bit about the fear of incentivizing game reviews on websites like Amazon.com with DLC. This week, I expand on the idea, presenting a few clearer reasons why such a thing could become harmful. I also discuss my take on the next-gen console rumors that they'll be made to prevent used games. You'll be surprised at the level of reason I can achieve when I can remain level-headed! You'll have to listen to learn the conclusion I draw, though. Click through for the download links!

Read more »

What?

This week's PB & Jason covers a lot of ground. It starts with the shock of a popular two-month-old game that can be found at half its original retail price. It ends with a twisted DLC idea that could become the follow-up to retailer-exclusive DLC. In the middle? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, PlayBits, New Super Mario Bros. Mii, Pikmin 3, and Nintendo's approach to DLC with the Wii U. To hear the podcast, you'll have to click through to find the podcast's download links.

Read more »

A select few will go nuts for this game that most people will hate.

Armored Core V has its faults. Whether it's the limp story mode or the user-hating menu system, its design is sure to scare away most. However, gamers who love to decipher complex systems and are willing to invest the time will find an experience that's incredibly engaging.  Armored Core V doesn’t shy away from its inscrutable nature, which will drive the compulsive number-crunching freaks to get that much more obsessed with figuring it all out.  Throw in the blitzkrieg, large scale mech battles, and you have a mixture that appeals to a very specific type of gamer – and they are going to need a professional intervention to pull them away.

Read more »

Did Disney choose the wrong 16-bit Mickey Franchise to revive/inspire their upcoming 3DS title?

Short answer? Yes! Of course, you should click through and download this week's PB & Jason podcast to find out the reasons why. Also featured in this issue is more about Tom Chick and Quartertothree.com's Journey review. Mixed in are some great Kid Icarus Uprising impressions (SPOILER ALERT: Great game), and a quick list of ideal features for a co-op, (semi) turn-based RPG. Click through to find the download, subscription, and listening links.

Read more »

Another retooling of the Armored Core franchise might have enough new ideas to draw in players who have resisted all of these years.

If you dream of controlling fully customized, walking machines of death around a battlefield, you are probably Japanese.  If you actually aren’t Japanese and this concept has some appeal to you, then you are part of the niche of Western gamers that Armored Core V is courting.  Even though mech piloting sounds like a lot of fun to almost everyone, most of us in the West just don’t get around to doing it in our spare time.  All indications are that we should clear our schedules to try out Armored Core V.

Read more »