All-Star Franchises, Underrated Entries - Part Seven

If you've been around SuperPhillip Central for a little while (it's still okay if you haven't, so no harm done), then you know that I like talking about underrated and overlooked games. I've done various series on the subject. However, most of the time, the games mentioned in these articles are from wholly new or overlooked franchises themselves.

There are also a multitude of series that I can think of that have one, two, or a handful of games in it that aren't viewed as highly as the others, whether just or not.

These ideas are where the concept of All-Star Franchises, Underrated Entries comes from, and since part six, I've come up with six more underrated entries to big-time franchises, some bigger than others. If you'd like to see past parts of this now long-running series, check them out here:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six

Pac-Man - Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 (Multi)

Starting off is a game many overlooked because it's a licensed game based on the Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures CG cartoon. While the source material doesn't interest me at all, the game series it's based off of is actually pretty good. The first game was a competent 3D platformer, but it's the excellent sequel with some incredibly tight platforming, creative level design, a multitude of secrets that impressed me immensely. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 isn't just a good licensed game; it's a good game in general that many underrate due to it being tied to a TV show. Don't sleep on this game, folks. If you liked Pac-Man World back in the day, The Ghostly Adventures 2 plays like a more polished version of that.

Mario & Luigi - Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS)

The latest Mario & Luigi game in Red and Green's long line of RPGs, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam delivers the trademark humor and wit of the series while capturing the amazing timing-based feel of battle from past games in the series. Paper Jam gets some hate for not introducing new characters like past Mario & Luigi games did, such as the Bean Bean residents or Fawful, for instance. Instead, it relies on familiar Mushroom Kingdom characters, which to me was like seeing familiar old friends in a new light. The Toad rescue missions that many found too much are so varied that they offer much wanted variety to the game. The other mini-games that permeate throughout Paper Jam are also excellent as well. This under 30 hour RPG definitely delighted in almost every facet for me, and it's one of my favorite Mario & Luigi games aside from Superstar Saga and Bowser's Inside Story.

Rayman - Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (Multi)

So many people talk about the games that preceded, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, and followed, Rayman Origins, this next game. For good reason, as both of these aforementioned games are well made and some of the best in the platformer genre in both 2D and 3D form. However, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, released on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, and Windows is far from unworthy to be mentioned in the same sentence as Rayman 2 or Rayman Origins. The game comes with a lighthearted feeling to it, often mocking the same genre it's apart of. The level design is stupendous, offering sophisticated enemy placement, fantastical worlds, and many opportunities for exploration. Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc doesn't get mentioned as much as many of the entries in the Rayman line of games, which is a shame as it's of just as wonderful of quality.

Pokemon - Pokemon Rumble World (3DS)

The Pokemon series entered the free-to-start/free-to-play line of monetization with the Nintendo 3DS' Pokemon Shuffle. It then took the dungeon-crawling of the Pokemon Rumble series and turned it into a free-to-start adventure known as Pokemon Rumble World. I adore the Pokemon Rumble series, which features simple two-button attack combat, the ability to get lucky and collect fallen Pokemon in battle to add to your roster of playable characters, and linear dungeons to take out enemy Pokemon in. Truly, you didn't really need to spend any money to fully enjoy the game, but to open up later levels you might have to invest in some dough... or I guess in this case "Pokemon Dollars". In any case, a full retail version that has everything from the free-to-start version of the game is releasing at the end of the month, and you can bet that me, being such the Pokemon Rumble World lover, will be purchasing it to add it to my collection.

Batman - Batman: Arkham Origins (Multi)

The truly underrated Batman: Arkham game, and one of the reasons is that it wasn't even made by the main studio behind the games, Rocksteady. Instead, WB Games Montreal developed Batman: Arkham Origins, and it's actually one of my personal favorite Batman games. It's a prequel that delves into the night of a younger Batman, faced with a multitude of assassins trying to take out the bounty on the bat's head. Everything players loved about the Arkham series was present in Arkham Origins: the excellent combo-based combat, the open city structure, the engaging story, the sense of discovery with Riddler trophies, and so much more. Arkham Origins added detective segments where Batman would investigate a crime scene to piece together what occurred and by whom. Batman: Arkham Origins is a satisfying romp from beginning to end, and it definitely deserves more love when compared to the other games in the franchise.

Wipeout - Wipeout 2048 (Vita)

The game that put the series on indefinite hiatus, Wipeout 2048, a launch title for the PlayStation Vita delivers gorgeous visuals, lightning fast racing speeds, incredible to look at and race on tracks and circuits, a highly addicting solo and multiplayer mode, and all the fun the Wipeout series is known for. It being limited to the PlayStation Vita definitely doesn't help spread the love of this marvelous futuristic racer. What you'll find with Wipeout 2048, however, is a game that is full of content to keep you playing, filled with enough variety in its tracks and objectives, and intense races to put a smile on your face... well, unless you're racing dead last. Then, you might be a bit sour on the game, but seriously, as the kids say, "git gud".

Best Boss Battles in Gaming History - Part Thirteen

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE FOLLOWING GAMES:

• Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Puppeteer
• Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow

There's a certain art that comes from making an exquisite boss battle. It's all too easy to come up with a great idea for an encounter, only to have it executed poorly. The tussles with foes on Best Boss Battles in Gaming History are the exact opposite of that. These are wonderfully designed, memorable, absolutely awesome, and amazing battles that resonate with players, no doubt leaving an impression on them long after the boss in question has been beaten. This is the thirteenth installment of Best Boss Battles in Gaming History, and as long as game creators keep designing great boss battles, this segment will continue to live on!

If you missed a previous installment of Best Boss Battles in Gaming History, look no further than these twelve links!

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six 
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve

Head past the break to see the five bosses I have listed for this edition of Best Boss Battles in Gaming History!

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Mishmash Edition

A mishmash is defined as "a confused mess, hodgepodge, jumble." While "a confused mess" could describe yours truly, it doesn't really fit in with this week's SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs theme. Instead, "hodgepodge" and "jumble" do. I mean, what else can you say about an edition that starts with the grim world of Gears of War and ends on the sunshine and rainbows of Mario Superstar Baseball? Technically, one could call every edition of this site's VGM faves as a mishmash, but it works no better than it does this week. ...At least that's the story I'm sticking with.

If you're interested in seeing what other songs and games I've featured in past editions of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, check out my VGM Database. It has all 700+ songs available for you to listen to, pending the videos haven't been taken down.

v711. Gears of War (360, PC) - Main Theme

It's very common to see soundtracks from Eastern games on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. I follow the notion that most Western games try too hard to appeal to a Hollywood mindset. They're scored like movies, with more atmospheric and less melodic material than their Eastern counterparts. Gears of War is just like that, as is VGM Volume 712. That said, that doesn't mean such material can't be presented on this list!

v712. Batman: Arkham Origins (Multi) - Arkham Origins Main Titles

I really enjoyed my time with Batman: Arkham Origins. A part of that was the soundtrack. Well, a very small part, but a part nonetheless. The upcoming June 2015 release of Arkham Knight is one of the few games that make we want to make the full transition to the PS4 or Xbox One. Nonetheless, it really is a slow and underwhelming new generation, is it not? Maybe I'm alone on that thought...

v713. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2) - Boldan - Silver City

My favorite Ratchet & Clank game, Going Commando, is also one of my favorite games of all time. It does everything well, and even it's music, although forgettable a lot of the time, has some charm to it. David Bergeaud did an absurdly admirable job with his compositions and musical direction with this second entry in the Ratchet & Clank franchise.

v714. Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PS2) - Joliant (Great Amusement Park Joliant)

Welcome to Joliant! As you can imagine with the part of the song title in the parentheses, Joliant is a fabulous and expansive amusement park full of frights and delights for players. Klonoa's second platforming title was his first and only PlayStation 2 adventure. It really hurts that the Wii remake of the first game did not sell well.... AT ALL. If I allowed myself to post emoticons on articles, this would be where a sad emoticon would be placed. ...Aw, what the hell. :(

v715. Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN) - Toy Field

It's postseason time in Major League Baseball. For those not in the States, this is nothing special, but to Americans like me who bleed red, white, blue and do lots of super-patriotic crap that is annoying to most other countries, it's the national pastime's most intense time of year! Why not spread the love of baseball with Mario Superstar Baseball, a game that opens up baseball to a wider audience, lest we forget how popular the sport is in the developer's home country?

Best Levels in Gaming History - Volume Eleven

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!

We bring Best Levels in Gaming History into the summer and turn up the heat even more! It's time for Volume Eleven of SuperPhillip Central's popular series focusing on the great levels that make up parts of our favorite and beloved games. These have superb design, points of interest, masterful placement of hazards, and anything else that makes a good level truly great. This edition has Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Mario Kart 8, and Batman: Arkham Origins to mention just a few.

If you missed out on a previous installment, no worries. Check them all out at the following links:

Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Volume Five
Volume Six
Volume Seven
Volume Eight
Volume Nine
Volume Ten

Hangar - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (PS1, N64)

Mullet Falls, Montana is the home to the first level of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. It's the Hangar, a place that we spent more hours just messing around in as kids than we'd like to admit. It also happens to be home to a quarter pipe that extends around the perimeter of the entire inside of the building, it's offers a perfect place for setting up as many vertical trick possibilities as your skater can muster. It doubly serves as a fantastic area to grind, allowing you to pull off one impressive grind all around the skating area.

The Hangar is made up of two rooms itself, the airplane hangar and the helicopter hangar. In the airplane room, one can bust out gnarly tricks on the halfpipe that rests inside, or they can go vertical, grinding upon the rails that rest on the high walls of the room.

On the far side wall there's a panel of glass that can be broken through, granting your skater more territory to nail tricks in via a secret area. It's opened up through grinding on one of the wrecked plane's propellers. This opens up a wind tunnel, perfect for catching sick air, nabbing mad money, and just flat out killing it on the scoreboards.

The Hangar is a perfect introductory place for beginners to get their skates wet. It's relatively simple in design, and it offers easy access to places to score big. Pulling off wicked combos (sorry about all of the forced skater lingo in this level description) is a piece of cake, making this level a popular one among the SuperPhillip Central crowd.

Mount Wario - Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

The recently released Mario Kart 8 brings with it one the most cleverly designed courses in series history, Mount Wario, a frigid ride from the mountain's summit to its bottom. Along the way are three segments that make for a mighty wild ride from beginning to end.

Racers start by driving out of the inside of a plane and onto the powdery snow that makes up the top of the mountain. Through drifting among icy pathways, players eventually make it into the inside of the mountain, a cavern full of water. A gliding section allows proficient flyers to keep their flight pattern going as they run off multiple rocks serving as makeshift ramps. The alternative is riding down the raging rapids of the water flowing through the cave, a safe way to go, but also one that takes more time.

It's then a drive through an area that serves as a transition between the mountainous cavern and the upcoming dam. Wario Dam has racers driving on the side of it, with four or five flumes sending water down into the body of water below. However, these flumes also periodically let loose boost pads for racers to drive over and gain a leg up on the competition.

Once the dam has been passed, it's a drive through a forested area. The middle path offers a glide pad to glide over most of the tree and log-covered obstacles in the way. The logs themselves can be tricked off of, but the danger of having one's momentum sending them into a tree is present.

Finally, the last stretch of track is a series of sharp slalom turns down a snowy series of banks with onlookers and a crowd full of Toads and other characters rooting racers on. A final gliding section requires racers to fly through rings for a burst of speed, and a final set of turns leads to the finish line.

Mount Wario consists of so much variety that it feels like an adventure from the starting point to the finish line. It offers terrific opportunities for tricks, plenty of eye candy along the way down the mountain, and a perfect running time to make sure the race doesn't get boring and makes it so players want to come back for more.

Gotham City Royal Hotel - Batman: Arkham Origins (Wii U, PS3, 360, PC)

The Gotham City Royal Hotel has the objective for Batman to apprehend the dreaded Joker. It's a locale that is in the latter half of Batman: Arkham Origins, a surprisingly well made game from WB Games Montreal, and not the normal team behind the series, Rocksteady Games.

What makes the Gotham City Royal Hotel so interesting is how Batman is making his way through swaths of thugs, whether in pure combat or picking them off via stealth, and how much the trek up the hotel feels like one grand, escalating mission with a lot of gravitas to it.

In the Gotham City Royal Hotel, Batman will be required to transport inside and outside the hotel, as the elevators do not function at all. He'll grapple his way up the insides of elevator shafts and the outside pillars of the hotel in the frigid winter night.

The Joker has a plethora of shady goons patrolling multiple sections of the hotel. There's two predator areas where Batman will need to use his brains to incapacitate all of the henchmen inside, the lower level lobby of the hotel and the elevator area leading to the penthouse near the top of the hotel. Sandwiched between both sections are portions where Batman will use his new gadget, taken from the fallen Electrocutioner, a pair of shock gloves. These allow the dark knight to give power to otherwise non-powered contraptions like shutters, elevators, and the like.

Near the top of the hotel, the Joker and his begrudging followers have created an amusement park of sorts. How this was possible in such a short time is anyone's guess, especially since there's no nearby Home Depot or Lowe's to assist with this process. Regardless, not only is Batman fighting and thinking is way up to the penthouse where the Joker is awaiting his soon-to-be future perpetual rival, but Batman is saving hostages one after the other.

The Gotham City Royal Hotel is a very interesting and enjoyable area of Batman: Arkham Origins because like Mount Wario, it feels like one grand adventure from the ground floor all the way up to the penthouse.

Little States - Pilotwings 64 (N64)

As you can probably guess with the title of this next level, Little States is a miniature version of the real life United States. Of course, there's several differences, such as Alaska and Hawaii not being represented, the United States itself being an island with no appearance of its border countries, Canada or Mexico, and there's no not-so-thinly-veiled racism running rampant in the Little States either.

The Little States is such a fascinating and large area to explore, and that's the most fun part of the Little States, exploring it. There's so many fascinating landmarks and true to life locations like New York City, Chicago, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, Mount Rushmore (although in the Little States's history, apparently Mario and even Wario were one time presidents...) and so much more. It's especially entertaining to explore with the Jumble Hopper, leaping high into the air, falling to the ground, and having your feet touch down with the ground as you leap once more, launching into the skies above.

Spaceport Alpha - Diddy Kong Racing (N64, DS)

A track in the last area of Diddy Kong Racing, Future Fun Land, and one of the final tracks in the game, Spaceport Alpha allows for racing with all three available vehicles in the game. Regardless, the primary vehicle featured in the track is the plane.

Spaceport Alpha is a race that takes place aboard a spaceship. It features wide curves at the beginning, a vertical ride through an air vent, which requires some smart braking and acceleration to masterfully move through, and perhaps the coolest room of all, an area where lasers fire throughout the room in seemingly all directions. A safe place to travel here to avoid coming under fire is as close to the floor as humanly, or in Diddy Kong Racing's case, as animally (to make up a word) possible.

Diddy Kong Racing is bar-none one of our favorite kart racers ever devised. The adventure mode gave the single player portion an immense more amount of play time and longevity than most Mario Karts, and the level of polish was incredibly high-- still is. Throw in the inescapable charm, sensational presentation, and wonderful track design like Spaceport Alpha possesses, and you can see why we're still enamored with Diddy Kong Racing.

Review Round-Up - June 2014

As my review said, "Gravity schmavity", as
Mario Kart 8 is SPC's game of the month!

It's a summer of superheroes and blockbusters it seems this season at SuperPhillip Central. It all kicked off with The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which swung its way to an above average 6.5 score. Then, our game of the month revved and roared onto the site with Mario Kart 8 getting a 9.5. The superhero goodness wasn't over with Spider-Man, as Batman's handheld debut on both the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, was met with a 7.25. Then we went digital with Ittle Dew (8.0) and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams (8.0). The exuberant eccentricities of Tomodachi Life rewarded that welcomed breath of fresh air on the 3DS a satisfying 8.5. Finally, we rounded out the month of June with a retro review of the great Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (9.0) and took a trip to Gotham with Batman: Arkham Origins for Wii U (8.25). July looks to heat our site up even more with hot new reviews, including our special landmark 500th review!

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Multi) - 6.5
Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) - 9.5
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (3DS, Vita) - 7.25
Ittle Dew (Wii U eShop) - 8.0
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams (GBA, Wii U VC) - 8.0
Tomodachi Life (3DS) - 8.5
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2) - 9.0
Batman: Arkham Origins (Wii U) - 8.25

Mario Kart 8 was so nice,
we had to post a pic of it twice!

Batman: Arkham Origins (Wii U) Review

The last review of June has Batman returning to the Wii U with a new developer. It's Batman: Arkham Origins, and here are SuperPhillip Central's thoughts on the game.

Batman Begins... You Know... Again.

With Rocksteady needing extra development time to get the Batman: Arkham series onto the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next year with Arkham Knight, the Arkham series was taken up by developed WB Games Montreal. When a well established series is taken over by a new developer, a considerable amount of concern by fans is understandable. Thankfully, WB Games Montreal's project and contribution to the Arkham series, Batman: Arkham Origins, is a fantastic yet flawed entry to the series that successfully can stand in the same circle as Rocksteady's works. Although the Wii U version lacks downloadable content and the multiplayer mode of the other versions, it's still worth looking into for other reasons.

Arkham Origins' story takes place on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Villain Black Mask has put a bounty on Batman for a huge chunk of change, inviting the series's most dangerous assassins to see who can take out the dark knight first and receive the cash reward. While the name of the game might infer ideas of Batman's beginnings, Arkham Origins actually doesn't show the origins of any one character, besides the Joker in a late portion of the game. Instead, Origins involves how Gotham came to be well versed about the dark knight. It delves into how the bitter and oftentimes complex rivalry between Batman and the Joker came to be, as well as how Batman got onto the right side of Commissioner Gordon. (Oh, and how Bruce Wayne and Batman both became more grateful of outside assistance and less of an "I do things my way and without any help" kind of attitude. All in all, the story takes about 14-16 hours to complete, and thatt's not even factoring in all of the side content Arkham Origins contains.

I am vengeance... I am the night...

The previous Batman game to hit the Wii U was Rocksteady's upgraded port of Batman: Arkham City, which hit the system at its launch. That game featured some haphazard visuals in the form of glitches that took players out of the immersion of Arkham City. While some of the problems in that game have been remedied in Arkham Origins, there's still some pertinent problems that offend the eyes. For instance, there's slowdown on many occasions, outright times in Gotham where the game completely stops mid-exploration, allowing enough time for the city to load, and I had three hard locks within twenty minutes in one particular gaming session.

That said, there's also a lot of good in the visuals. Environments have a visual bounty of details in them, from the numerous billboards, signs, trash fluttering around the city streets, steam rising, amazing particle and lighting effects, and even more immense detail within the city itself that Batman will spend the most time in.

Gotham has an astonishing amount of detail to it.

When you're not following along with the engaging and enjoyable story, Batman: Arkham Origins' open world city setting, where the caped crusader moves, runs, glides, and uses his grappling gun to cut across building rooftops in, has plenty to see and do. As the game progresses, various side missions are accessible. These include disarming Anarky's bombs, destroying Black Mask's containers of drugs, rescuing hostages from various villains like the Mad Hatter and Shiva, as well an Arkham tradition, collecting items of Enigma's, the future Riddler of Gotham City. It's a game that is delightfully non-linear, just like its predecessors.

Those symbols don't mean this enemy's electrocuted;
they mean he's about to attack Batman!

The latter villain, Enigma, has a multitude of tasks, making for the most involved side mission of them all. He has a plethora of extortion files that he plans to release to the public, thus causing chaos and havoc throughout Gotham. It's up to Batman to gather all 200 extortion data packs that are hidden all around the city, whether they're in the open world city itself or inside areas where missions take place. This is better left for near the end of the game, as most require equipment that Batman won't have access to until he makes enough progress in the story. Thankfully, through roughing up data handlers (i.e. thugs spread around the city) and interrogating them, the locations appear on the player's map.

Batman surveys the area for trouble.

In addition to data packs, Enigma has taken control of the city's seven radio towers. It's only by taking these back with a mix of brain and brawn that Batman will be able to call in his Batwing for fast travel between these points. While the idea of fast travel is nice, the implementation leaves a little to be desired. There's about a thirty second wait due to loading times in order to traverse between fast travel points.

As for personal travel itself, Arkham Origins does little to fix what's been wrong with past games. It's very difficult to glide around Gotham with strict precision, and sometimes this does nothing but aggravate. This is especially noticeable when trying to land on or into certain areas of the open world, such as when trying to go for one of the aforementioned data packs. I had it on one occasion where I was getting extremely frustrated trying to glide into the inside of an elevated storage container. Batman would hit just outside the zone for entry, having him fall all the way to the ground to my incredible dismay. It doesn't help that Batman also leaps off walls he comes in contact with when gliding, making precision important yet at the same time almost impossible to pull off in this game.

I never felt fully in control while gliding.

However, something where precision shines is the Arkham series' signature combat, and it works wonderfully in Arkham Origins as well. The combat consists of chaining punches, kicks, counters, and evasions between a swath of lowly street thugs and henchmen. You can throw in some gadgets into combat to fully utilize Batman's arsenal. Sure, you can just jam and mash on the attack button while hitting the counter button when a foe is about to attack Batman, but through actually being graceful with the free flow combat system, you earn more experience, you deal more damage, and you thus make exchanges look awesome and take less time. It also allows players to see just how many different ways and approaches they can take to each battle and group of goons.

Not even a foe out of his sight
can think about touching Batman.

Experience is earned through an assortment of means in Arkham Origins, and they're used to upgrade Batman as a whole. Whether it's making him less susceptible to direct attacks or gunfire, to improving the range and usefulness of his acquired gadgetry and combat abilities, Batman can become an even bigger force to be reckoned with than he already is at the beginning of the game.

Talk to the fist, because the cowl don't understand.

While a lot of Batman: Arkham Origins uses the majority of the same pages out of the playbook that Rocksteady wrote and used, WB Games Montreal added some new tricks to the Arkham series. The most notable is the addition of crime scenes. These have Batman going all CSI (but without the lame puns, overwrought plots, and worthless guest stars), having the player use the GamePad to scan special points on said crime scene to investigate what happened at these sites. Unfortunately, these offer no means of non-linear investigation, as you have to scan one point followed by another, then another, etc. in a specific order. I personally would have rather seen Batman investigate on his own in a cutscene than need to participate in these interactive investigations.

Outside of crime scenes, the GamePad is used as a map for players inside areas and outside in Gotham. This is a downgrade compared to what Arkham City - Armored Edition offered back at launch, but it's still nice to have a map to simply have to glance down at rather than pause the game and bring up the map like other platform versions require. This is especially useful when gliding around Gotham to various points of interest. You can just look at the GamePad screen and make adjustments to your path from there instead of pausing the game, going to the map, saying "Okay, I'm a little TOO south", then unpausing the game to make corrections to your path, pausing again, and then saying "Oh, crap. Now I'm too far north. Better pause the game to look at the map again!"

Batman: Arkham Origins offers players the Arkham series's first ability to enter the famous Batcave. It's there that Batman returns to obtain the occasional new gadget, chitchat with Alfred, or engage in a number of training challenges to go along with the game's challenging and optional combat and predator challenges. These award the player with an amount of points and ranking pending on their skill in each challenge of taking out a room full of foes either with pure muscle and reflexes or pure stealth.

I thought he was a bold bat,
not a solid snake.

Batman: Arkham Origins may not be receiving the DLC that it was originally going to get, nor does it have the rather useless multiplayer mode of the other console versions (which honestly was a throwaway mode anyhow), but the Wii U version is very worthy of looking into. Even for someone who does not care for masked marauders, superheroes, or Batman himself, there's enough great combat, action, and adventure to make Arkham Origins a nice pickup for any Wii U owner that many will want to be the bat for.

[SPC Says: 8.25/10]

2013 Holiday Gift Guide - Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of SuperPhillip Central's 2013 Holiday Gift Guide. This is our third year in a row doing this special duo of articles, and we hope at least some of you out there find it useful. The final part of our gift guide focuses on multiplatform titles. From Grand Theft Auto to Call of Duty, there's plenty to stuff a loved one's stocking with. As always, if you feel we've neglected to mention a game that you think would make for a great holiday present, let us know in the comments.

Outstanding October: Twelve Games to Look Out for This Month

We have reached the beginning of a new month, so that means it's time to take a look at the planned North American retail video game releases for the month. We've reached the busy time of the game release season, and this is just the beginning. Next month is sure to be even crazier. For now, check out these twelve releases hand-picked by the SuperPhillip Central staff. As always, release dates are subject to change (hopefully not, though). Which of these games do you plan on purchasing, if any?

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U)
Release Date: 10/4

Already released digitally to Wii U owners, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is having its official retail release on Friday. A limited edition of the game is available for purchase at GameStop stores and online, featuring a collectible 5" Ganondorf figurine. The actual game contains many improvements over its decade's old original, including the obvious higher definition visuals, a less tedious Triforce quest near the end of the game, and Wii U GamePad functionality. The hits keep on coming to the Wii U this fall, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD continues this trend.

Beyond: Two Souls (PS3)
Release Date: 10/8

From the makers of Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls is an upcoming psychological thriller releasing next week in North America. The game is receiving lots of hype, and it's well deserved. Actors Ellen Page and Wiilem Dafoe lend their likenesses and voices to the game. Beyond: Two Souls contains a plethora of dialogue, a thought-provoking story, and plenty of twists and turns to keep the player engaged. The game had the honor of being screened at the Tribeca Film Festival-- only the second game to be featured at the festival, the first being L.A. Noire. It looks like Beyond: Two Souls will be yet another killer exclusive for PlayStation 3 owners.

Pokemon X/Y (3DS)
Release Date: 10/12

For the first time in a long time, the majority of staff at SuperPhillip Central (okay, that's two out of three people) are excited for a new mainline Pokemon game. Instead of simply being evolutions (pun intended) to the series, Pokemon X and Pokemon Y are meant to be revolutions to the series, offering 3D maps, 3D battles, character customization, multiple new Pokemon, mega evolutions, new Pokemon types, and so much more. There's no doubt Pokemon X and Y will send Pokemaniacs into a tizzy when it releases on October 12.

Skylanders: Swap Force (Multi)
Release Date: 10/13

Since Disney Infinity released back in August, Activision's Skylanders series got a whole new heap of competition. Rather than rest on its laurels, the newest Skylanders game features an intriguing new component to it, the ability to swap parts of figurines with others to create new characters. In total, there are 256 combinations (heads and bodies) to utilize. In addition to this, a feature from the handheld versions of the series makes its console debut-- the ability to jump, adding platforming to the mix to create an even fresher experience. Skylanders: Swap Force will release October 13. With this and Pokemon releasing back-to-back, kids this October will be more than set for the rest of the year!

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (Multi)
Release Date: 10/22

Having already dealt with the DC Comics universe with LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, TT Games are moving onto the Marvel universe of characters. Over 150 Marvel superheroes and villains will be on display in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, a game following the structure of past LEGO games (i.e. action-adventure moments and puzzle solving gameplay). The story has the universe-destroying Galactus as the main villain, having Nick Fury calling in his team of S.H.I.E.L.D. all-stars to combat the threat. Coming off LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes and LEGO City Undercover, we're certainly hyped for the latest in the LEGO series. We won't have to wait long either, as LEGO Marvel Super Heroes joins forces with consumers on October 22.

Batman: Arkham Origins (Multi)
Release Date: 10/25

When a less refined Batman gets a bounty put on his head, a myriad of assassins make their way into Gotham City to obtain the reward through silencing the Dark Knight for good. Batman: Arkham Origins may not have Rocksteady Studios at the helm, but we believe WB Games Montreal will create a worthy successor to both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. For the first time in the series's history, a multiplayer component will be implemented. The Wii U version does not contain such a mode, but thankfully it will be priced ten dollars less than the other versions. It's a good alternative for those who don't want multiplayer in their Batman games. Batman: Arkham Origins releases October 25.

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (3DS, Vita)
Release Date: 10/25

Accompanying the release of its big brother, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a handheld exclusive game that will launch alongside Arkham Origins. Armature Studios (a studio made up of former Retro Studios developers) is the force behind this 2D Metroid-like game. The focus of Blackgate will be on obtaining new gear, armor and gadgets to access previously inaccessible areas, taking down henchmen and bosses like the Joker, Penguin, and Solomon Grundy. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate releases on the same day at the completely different home console versions.

Wii Party U (Wii U)
Release Date: 10/25

Wii U is having a party soon, and you're definitely invited. No need to RSVP either! Wii Party U will be releasing later this month, and it will offer a huge array of mini-games, each offering unique ways to play. The game will utilize the Wii Remote Plus controller for the majority of the time, while tabletop games, such as baseball and slot car races, will be played between two players by sharing the Wii U GamePad. Wii Party U might not be everyone's cup of tea, but its relatively low entry price, bundle with a Wii Remote Plus, and oodles of fun for friends and family will make for a grand old time for anyone with an itch to party hearty.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Multi)
Release Date: 10/29

While all of us have brand fatigue from this yearly series, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag will most likely interest those that still enjoy the franchise. The game will have a focus between land and naval exploring, offering a multitude of means to journey around Black Flag's three unique cities. Outside of these cities are other areas to come across, such as ruins, forts, and sweltering jungles. Alongside this exploration focus, players will be able to captain their own ship, as well as recruit new crew members. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag will debut with their respective console launches next month, but for Wii U, PS3, PC, and Xbox 360 owners, you'll get your chance to venture through the world of Assassin's Creed IV late this month.

Battlefield 4 (PS3, 360, PC)
Release Date: 10/29

While Assassin's Creed is a series we have brand fatigue from, the military shooters is a genre we suffer genre fatigue from. Still, for those that can't get enough gunning down the enemy as a soldier, Battlefield 4 looks to set itself apart from its closest competition, the almighty Call of Duty franchise. The game will feature large-scale maps for multiplayer action while the single-player campaign will introduce miniature open-world levels to create a greater sense of openness, creating new opportunities for battle. Like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, a PS4 and Xbox One version will be releasing on those systems.

Sonic: Lost World (Wii U, 3DS)
Release Date: 10/29

Coming fresh off the heels of Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, Sonic's Nintendo-exclusive pair of new titles takes the series back to new heights. Sonic: Lost World is a game heavily reminiscent of Super Mario Galaxy, but that's quite alright. Why not draw inspiration from the best? Sonic's arsenal includes all-new parkour moves to reach new areas in the levels of the game, more options to control Sonic's speed, and a focus on tight platforming rather than heavy speed. Though the game was delayed a week from its original October 22 release date, we can wait a week to try out Sonic's newest platforming escapade.

WWE 2K14 (PS3, 360)
Release Date: 10/29

WWE 2K14 is the first game in the series under the 2K moniker, as THQ went belly up and 2K Sports took the series's mantle. Many improvements have been made to create a faster, more fluid gameplay experience. The big draw of WWE 2K14 is the new 30 Years of Wrestlemania mode, a mode featuring three decades of WWE Wrestlemania highlights, playable matches, and superstars past and present to play as. Each era of the WWE will be fully represented, tugging on the heartstrings of those of us who grew up watching Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and many more. WWE 2K14 will lay the smack down on store shelves near the end of the month.