Top Ten Platforming Mascots

My favorite genre in the entire world is the platformer. Whether 2-D or 3-D, it brings me a lot of joy to explore colorful, vibrant worlds and be entertained by the tight and bewildering level design. Platforming games (or run and jumps) are near and dear to my heart. The best ones feature memorable heroes or heroines. This is a top ten list featuring my favorite platform game mascots. Will your favorites make the list?

10) Banjo-Kazooie

Seldom apart from one another, the team of Banjo-Kazooie is one for the ages. Yes, they can sometimes not get along and begin bickering, and Kazooie can say the wrong thing at the wrong team, but you've got to be endeared by their charm. Together they are powerful as Kazooie rests in Banjo's blue backpack and can peck at foes and give extra air time for her partner's jumps. With the help of shaman Mumbo Jumbo, the two can get transformed into a variety of creatures and items like an alligator, a bee, a termite, and even a washing machine. Hope they brought some bleach! The two separated from one another often in Banjo-Tooie in order to access unique areas of each of the game's expansive levels, brimming with secrets and hazards alike. And even though Banjo and Kazooie returned on the Xbox 360 in a fashion that most fans wouldn't have preferred, Nuts & Bolts was still a remarkable game that showed that Rare still had some talent left, despite what critics may say. Sure, they've been gutted a little since, but that's beyond the point!

Notable Titles:

Banjo-Kazooie (N64) - 1998
Banjo-Tooie (N64) - 2000
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (GBA) - 2003
Banjo- Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (360) - 2008

9) Klonoa 

Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie 'em in a knot? Can you tie 'em in a bow? Can you throw 'em over your shoulder like a continental soldier? Do you ears hang low? Well, for Namco's Klonoa, they certainly do. This floppy-eared hero has appeared in a handful of games on a variety of platforms such as the PlayStation 1 and 2, Game Boy Advance, and Wii. Klonoa isn't your typical platformer. You grab enemies and either throw them or use them to gain extra height. Door to Phantomile on the original PlayStation was the world's first introduction to the cat-like character, and when I saw the game in action I immediately fell in love-- with the game, not the furry. Door to Phantomile would be completely remade in 2009 on Nintendo's Wii. It featured new costumes, new challenges, and of course, new graphics.

Notable Titles:

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (PS1) - 1998
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PS2) - 2001
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams (GBA) - 2001
Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament (GBA) - 2005
Klonoa (Wii) - 2009

8) Wario

For this man, greed is most definitely good. He made his debut in 1992's Game Boy classic Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins where he occupied Mario's castle when the blue-suspendered hero was away on an adventure. Then he commandeered Mario's series by stealing the starring role from the portly plumber, thus resulting in the Wario Land franchise. Wario is very much the antithesis and rival of Mario. While Mario is selfless, ready to help others without thought, and relatively thin compared to his rival, Wario is selfish, only willing to help others if it benefits him, and is a porker. Apparently all that garlic he eats is high in calories... Wario's games are traditional 2-D platformers with tons of exploration to find hidden treasure chest and valuable loot. If you look closely, you can see Wario's pupils turning from their normal round shape into dollar signs! Not only has the character evolved from a one note villain to a humorous antihero, but his games constantly offer something new to the table.

Notable Titles:

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (GB) - 1992
Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land (GB) - 1994
Wario Land II (GBC) - 1999
Wario World (GCN) - 2003
Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii) - 2009

7) Sackboy

Media Molecule shopped around for interest to their LittleBigPlanet concept. Sony took them up on their offer and the rest is history. The world of LittleBigPlanet allows players to create their own 2-D worlds with the assistance of multiple tools. Of course, none of that matters if the gameplay doesn't hold a proverbial candle to it. Thankfully it does, and the avatar that players utilize in each LittleBigPlanet level is none other than the character of made of yarn, Sackboy. Sackboy is fully customizable, allowing those with the desire to to doll it up in various doodads such as wigs, hats, glasses, masks, costumes, shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, and accessories like a captain's hook, for starters. DLC enabled people to purchase costumes from such famous franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, and Disney/Pixar's Toy Story. For a character that can only express itself through mime-like actions, Sackboy certainly does resonate really well with people, earning him a spot on this list.

Notable Titles:

LittleBigPlanet (PS3) - 2008
LittleBigPlanet (PSP) - 2009
LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) - 2011
LittleBigPlanet (PSV) - 2012

6) Ratchet

From the incredible minds at Insomniac Games comes the best platformer franchise from the Sony camp, the Ratchet & Clank series! Unlike Naughty Dog's Jak series, Ratchet & Clank has never skewed from its intended audience or change themes from its lighthearted fare to something darker a la the transition from Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy to Jak II. The Ratchet & Clank series is known for its trademark humor, action-oriented platforming, the ability to upgrade your various inventive guns through using them routinely, and acquiring hidden special bolts to unlock cool in-game content such as new costumes for Ratchet to wear. The character of Ratchet is primarily precocious and his weapon of choice when not blowing away baddies with one of many firearms is his daunting wrench. That baby certainly packs a wallop! Though All 4 One was a misstep for the franchise, I look forward to the future of Ratchet & Clank as it is a generally consistent (even in the PS2 era when it had multiple consecutive years of releases) and enjoyable series.

Notable Titles:

Ratchet & Clank (PS2) - 2002
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2) - 2003
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2) - 2004
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) - 2007
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3) - 2009

5) Rayman

I consider Rayman to be the French equivalent to Mario, a hero that is astonishingly underrated in most parts of the world. Rayman does not have any limbs to work with. Instead, he has disjointed hands and feet which he uses to punch foes and run wildly through platforming stages of peril and simultaneous bliss respectively. You can thank the brilliant mind of Michel Ancel for the creation of the limbless wonder. It's his character, and his team within Ubisoft have crafted some of the finest and more memorable entries in the platformer genre. Sure, Rayman 2 may be a game that most people are sick of seeing as it is constantly being ported to various devices, but it is still one of the better 3D romps available. The most recent Rayman release, Rayman Origins, brought the French hero back to the spotlight in a sensational and beautiful 2D game. Here's hoping the upcoming Rayman Legends is even more promising when it is most likely unveiled officially come E3.

Notable Titles:

Rayman (PS1, SAT) - 1995
Rayman 2: The Great Escape (PS1, N64, DC) - 1999
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (PS2, GCN, XBX) - 2003
Rayman Origins (PS3, 360, Wii) - 2011 
Rayman Origins (PSV, 3DS) - 2012

4) Kirby

Kirby sucks. And blows. But that's why we love him. Created by Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby is one cute and charming character. He has the ability to suck up enemies and copy their power. Kirby can quickly become one mean and lean killing machine with powers like Sword, Ice, Fire, Beam, Wheel, Spark, and many, many more. The Kirby universe is full of plenty of memorable characters like Metaknight, King Dedede, and Waddle Dee, for starters. Nintendo is usually very perceptive of allowing their pink puffball to appear in experimental games. Whether they're atypical platforming adventures like Kirby: Canvas Curse or Mass Attack or titles of a completely different genre like Kirby's Block Ball, Pinball Land, and Dream Course, Kirby is a hot commodity and a respectable seller for the big N. His games might be on the easy side of the difficulty spectrum, but that doesn't stop Kirby from appearing on the number four spot on this top ten.

Notable Titles:

Kirby's Dream Land (GB) - 1992
Kirby's Adventure (NES) - 1993
Kirby Super Star (SNES) - 1996
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64) - 2000
Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) - 2011

3) Donkey Kong

This list is now on like Donkey Kong. Starting out as a villain who abducted Mario's girlfriend Pauline (I can only imagine how relations between the two would have worked out), Donkey Kong was a huge, hairy ape that had a bad attitude. Even if he was the bad guy, DK can find solace in the fact that he was a part of the first true platformer, the arcade hit Donkey Kong, characterized by jumping over barrels and pits. He wouldn't get a true starring role in the platforming genre until a then relatively unknown company named Rare placed him-- and his snazzy new red tie-- in the excellent Donkey Kong Country. The series would span four major games and spawn a spinoff series on the Game Boy in the form of Donkey Kong Land. Though, DK wouldn't star or even be in all of them. Apart from the DKC series, Donkey Kong has had nontraditional platforming jaunts with games like the superb bongo-beating Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat and the climbing platformer of DK: King of Swing (highly underrated game). It is for these reasons that the king of the jungle swings to the number three spot.

Notable Titles:

Donkey Kong (ARC) - 1981
Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - 1994
Donkey Kong 64 (N64) - 1999
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat (GCN) - 2005
Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) - 2010

2) Sonic the Hedgehog

A fierce rival to the number one mascot on this list, Sonic the Hedgehog is occasionally labeled as the blue blur. That is because of his ability to speed through levels at the drop of a hat. His signature blue quills, ability to roll up in a ball, figure-8 pattern legs as he runs, and green eyes are all qualities of the azure hedgehog. Sonic seemingly always has time for a chili dog as he combats the evil Dr. Robotnik/Dr. Eggman and stops yet another one of his out there schemes. Sonic's best buddy is none other than Miles "Tails" Prower, a two-tailed fox with high intellect and the know-how to create some incredible inventions. Sonic in recent years has seen middling reviews save for a couple of gems like Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations. Created by Yuji Naka, who has since left Sonic Team for his own company, the quick feet, sharp 'tude, and free will of Sonic make the character one that fans just can't get enough of. Oh, all that disturbing fan-made furry art!

Notable Titles:

Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN) - 1991
Sonic CD (SCD) - 1993
Sonic Adventure (DC) - 1999
Sonic Colors (Wii) - 2010
Sonic Generations (PS3, 360, 3DS) - 2011

1) Mario

I don't think this should come as any form of surprise at all, quite honestly. The portly plumber which made the platforming genre a household name, selling millions upon millions of hardware and copies, and making Nintendo billions, Mario is definitely the go-to mascot for the platforming genre. He is the brainchild of Shigeru Miyamoto, who I gave a hard time in a previous post (but only out of love), and premiered in a little game called Donkey Kong, where he was known only by the moniker of Jumpman. He only received a his trademark hat and black mustache because the 2-D sprite for Mario had indistinguishable facial features. A mustache made it easy to see where his mouth, eyes, among other features were at. Without Mario, Nintendo would have nowhere near the same amount of success and positive mind share in the market. But I guess that goes without saying.

Notable Titles:

Super Mario Bros. (NES) - 1985
Super Mario World (SNES) - 1991
Super Mario 64 (N64) - 1996
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 2007
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) - 2011

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This ends our look at my favorite platforming mascots. What do you think about this list? Which are your personal favorites? List yours below.

The Ratchet & Clank Collection (PS3) First Screens and Box Art

Announced today and known as the Classics HD: The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy in PAL territories, the lombax and robot pair's first trio of adventures (Ratchet & Clank, Going Commando, and Up Your Arsenal) end up in glorious 1080p and stereoscopic 3D on the PlayStation 3 this year. As an added bonus, players will be able to go online and duke it out in battle via 8 player multiplayer in Up Your Arsenal. As an avid fan of the series, this is a definite buy.

Roster Suggestions for Sony's Smash Bros. Clone

Another day, another idea that Sony plagiarizes from another game company. This time around it is rumored and likely true that Sony is creating their own Smash Bros. clone for four player fighting brawls. Sigh. For every one idea that is their own, Sony's take four from the competition. Regardless, there are a myriad of characters that I would want to see in Sony's take on the genre, and here are as sampling of them.

Nathan Drake (Uncharted series)


Sometimes funny, sometimes cocky, always manly-- Nathan Drake isn't an everyman by any stretch of the imagination. His upper body strength, endurance, and gunplay are unmatched by anyone. In Sony's take on Smash Bros., Drake could wield several different weapons such as shotguns, rifles, RPGs, and grenade launchers. This is all the while coming up with witty one-liners and keeping that hairdo looking sharp even through the heat of battle.

Kratos (God of War series)


Even though he's entirely unlikeable as a character, Kratos would have an interesting moveset entirely with his Chains of Olympus, ability to freeze opponents for a limited amount of time with the head of Medusa, and unleash the power of Hades. I can just imagine his stage, doing battle atop a colossal Colossus with it shifting its weight and climbing against a sprawling backdrop.

Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet series)


LittleBigPlanet's mascot should take Sony's Smash Bros. solution by storm. I wouldn't have listed him if he didn't have new moves in LittleBigPlanet 2. The ability to slap opponents, shoot water from a cannon, and pull and grab allows Sackboy a unique stable of moves that other enemies would not see coming. Sackboy's stage could be a constantly changing level editor where new parts are added and taken away simultaneously.

Ratchet (Ratchet & Clank series)


Ratchet may or may not come equipped with his best bud Clank in Sony's version of Smash. Nonetheless, his wrench does the talking. Oh, and a plethora of charged weaponry from bombs that bounce until they hit their target, homing rockets, and of course, the R.Y.N.O. as Ratchet's ultimate attack. As for his stage, I'd imagine it taking place on Clank's home planet of Metropolis with tall skyscrapers and flying cars moving from the background to the foreground and vice versa.

Sly Cooper (Sly Cooper series)


Sly Cooper has a game coming out next year, his fourth game but first PS3 installment. I surmise that Sly could call upon the help of Bentley and Murray to assist in taking out assailants. In Sly's stage there could be spotlights that catch players, temporarily freezing them for opponents to take advantage and attack. The stage itself could be set against the backdrop of Paris, France and the Eiffel Tower. Ooh la la!

Jak (Jak & Daxter series)


Jak has been on an extended hiatus as Naughty Dog's focus has been on Nathan Drake's adventures. No matter as soon the Jak & Daxter Collection with come out in glorious HD and put Jak back on the map. His stage could be on his home island from his very first game. Daxter could mess around in the background oozing out witticisms and criticisms of the player alike. For his ultimate move, Jak could turn into Dark Jak for a limited amount of time and raise some serious hell.

PaRappa the Rapper (from series of the same name)


Now here's someone different. It's PaRappa the Rapper making his return appearance. Music and beats could be his means of attacking, unleashing a flurry of music notes at opponents. The colorful world of PaRappa the Rapper would lend quite nicely to his own stage, don't you think? This would be one of those special characters that most players wouldn't see coming (that is if players even remember or know who Mr. Rapper even is!).

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We know that a model of Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal has been making its rounds over the Internet, but what other characters of Sony lore would you like to see in a Sony Smash Bros. clone? What idea do you think Sony will borrow next from the competition? Let me know in the comments section.

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (PS3) Review

Let's end the work week right with an all-new review. Ratchet & Clank is one of my favorite franchises period, so I was mighty interested when Insomniac announced a four player co-op game in Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One. Shall we see if it lived up to my expectations for the series?

All 4 One & One 4 All in Ratchet's Buggiest Adventure Yet

Insomniac certainly loves churning out sequel after sequel of the Ratchet & Clank series. Other series would have franchise fatigue by now, yet Insomniac chugs away and creates interesting and intriguing adventures each and every time (for the most part). This go around they're adding in a cooperative aspect to the gameplay for up to four players. The end result is Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One. Is this unlikely alliance of brains, brawn, and bros worthy of your precious time and bolts... er... money?

Captain Qwark has now become a president, and he accepts an anonymous invitation to receive a special award from a faithful admirer. Ratchet and Clank are beside him. When it turns out that this "award" was merely a plot concocted by the sinister Dr. Nefarious, Qwark still doesn't quite understand. Before Nefarious can exact his revenge on the trio, a mothership floats in, abducting the four. Saved by a little girl, the four decide to temporarily form an alliance to work together to get off the mysterious planet they are on. Can this team coexist? All 4 One's story is told through gorgeous cinematic videos. The only problem here is that these CGs cannot ever be skipped. Not even if one has already viewed the video. This is unacceptable for a game in 2011. No question. It's a hassle when one is slogging through a part of the game they've already played only to be greeted by an endless barrage of CGs. Poor showing, Insomniac, even if the videos are entertaining and oftentimes comical the first time through.

The gang's all here in All 4 One.

At the start of All 4 One, players choose from one of four characters: Ratchet, Clank, Qwark, and Nefarious. The only differences between the cast is what lines of dialogue are heard while playing and what character-exclusive weapon can be purchased for said characters. Weapons cost bolts to buy. Weapons bought can then have their ammo, power, and extra ability upgraded. For instance, the Combuster, a pistol, can be upgraded to shoot three bullets that spread out instead of just one shot. Bolts are earned by smashing boxes and by completing levels with the most creatures collected, most bolts gathered, and most enemies defeated.

While there's no list of trophies for doing so, each of the four characters has to collect their own color of Hero Bolts. There are forty-something Hero Bolts in the game to collect. They're hidden just out of normal reach in areas where the camera doesn't normally focus on. Costumes are unlocked for gathering these. Ratchet can turn into a ninja, snowman, or even a robotic pirate. Shiver me timbers, Ratchet! Aside from Hero Bolts, skill points return. These unlock when a player accomplishes certain in-game tasks from leveling up weapons to beating a portion of a level without taking any damage.

All 4 One is divided up between areas which are then divided up between fairly linear levels. There's seldom any chance to go off the beaten path. Players are competing against one another to collect the most bolts as well as helping each other clear the levels. One level has players running from a giant monster stalking them in Luminopolis while another has players grinding on rails, leaping over electrical charges, and avoiding gaps. Then there's using a jet pack to slowly descend an obstacle-laden mine shaft. Levels are about ten-to-twenty minutes long, and it takes anywhere from seven-to-ten hours to beat the game.

Nothing like the daily grind to keep things going.

All 4 One can be played solo with a computer-controlled partner or with friends, strangers, or a combination of the two. When playing alone the computer helps out as one would expect it to. Cooperative puzzles are the norm in All 4 one, and they range from sucking up a partner with the Vac-U device and shooting them across an otherwise uncrossable chasm, using a mortar slam on an enemy (using the Vac-U gadget to suck up a friend and then launching them on top of a foe), and smashing down a series of buttons that cannot be hit by someone by their lonesome as they're spread out too far. When the computer dies (which happens annoyingly a lot), they will respawn after about five seconds. If both players die at the same window of time, they must start at the last reached checkpoint. Thankfully, there's a decent amount of these checkpoints, so there's not much in the way of redoing large portions of a given level. When two or more players use the same weapon on the same foe, a circle enlarges over the enemy, causing a huge energy reaction called Overload. This attack does more damage than an attack by someone by themselves. Overloads are key in taking out giant enemies more quickly.

Witness the awesome power of the Overload technique!

Speaking of giant enemies, there's a myriad of mighty bosses to beat and take out. My personal favorite encounter has everyone riding on jetskis, avoiding the chomps of an underwater behemoth as well as leaping over mines. This goal here is to charge up several electrical rods in order to electrocute the aquatic annoyance. Other encounters are more traditional in their design, but they allow for some serious teamwork, hectic action, and cooperative combat.

Bosses have an insatiable thirst for destruction 24/7.

Additionally, players can hop online (pending they have a PSN Pass. Thanks, Sony). When playing online, one can opt to host or find a game. When finding a game, players can select if they want to find games by which character they want to use, by level, by difficulty, and by games already in progress or not. When someone joins a game, the host can decide whether to let them join immediately, thus transporting everyone back to the last reached checkpoint, or whether to have them wait. Hosts can kick unruly guests out of their games during gameplay. As everyone shares the same screen, teams must work together to move at the same time. Transporters, cannons, and launchers that blast players to new areas of levels will only function when all teammates have pressed the triangle button on the aforementioned mechanisms.

Unfortunately, not all is well when playing with more than one person. I've experienced cheap deaths from imperfect camera angles, been pushed off cliffs by the camera, and even saw someone die in the shop screen. This made it impossible to continue, and I had to quit the game and go to the PlayStation 3's XMB. How does that even work? Sometimes one's hookshot wouldn't grab onto the correct character, meaning certain death for the player, and other times players got caught on enemies. To say All 4 One is buggy is doing the game a disservice. It's way worse than that.

Each players gets four hits before they die. Collecting Nanotech restores lost health, and those who lose all their vitality perish. When a player dies, they lose a portion of their bolt total. Those who are down can be revived by another player's Vac-U, but there's a strict ten second time limit. If the player is not revived by then, all players must start at the last checkpoint they arrived at.

Players share the same screen,
so they must stay together at all times.

All 4 One is one graphically impressive game. The lighting is phenomenal, the art design is astonishing, and the animations of every creature, critter, character, and monster is marvelous. That's not to say that the title is technically sound. Far from it. When the action gets heated and there's tons of explosions happening all around, the game slows to a crappy crawl. Online play can occasionally be plagued with lag, and in a game where precision jumping is required, this makes for some serious frustration. On the sound side of the spectrum, the orchestral score is appropriate for every level and sounds superb. The voice acting is well done as one has come to expect of the Ratchet & Clank franchise. All-around, a mixed bag when it comes to the presentation of All 4 One.

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One is bittersweet for me. On one hand, playing with four people against insurmountable odds is appealing. That said, the execution isn't as great as it should be with cheap deaths, a confounding camera, and glitches galore. This might just be the worst Ratchet & Clank game in a long line of excellent titles which is unfortunate. I had high hopes for a cooperative Ratchet & Clank, but these technical issues keep it from being anything other than just slightly above average.

[SuperPhillip Says: 6.5/10]

High-Definition Hijinks: Games That Should Go HD

With the advent of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, gamers the world around have been able to play their favorite games in all their high-definition glory. However, there are a handful of games that haven't made the jump to HD which I think is a missed opportunity of sorts. The following are just a sampling of those titles. Whether you agree or not, let your opinion be known in the comments section.

Tony Hawk Pro Skater series (PS2, GCN, XBX, PS1, N64,)


There would be nothing better than manualing and reverting in glorious HD. Activision could have the perfect moment to reboot this once-popular and now-faltering franchise with a downloadable game that remixes the very best levels of the original Tony Hawk titles. Throw in drop-in/drop-out online play, and you're golden. Even the later games in the series which introduced the ability to get off your board in order to reach otherwise difficult-to-access areas provided some fun to this dulling series. Who wouldn't want to see the birdman in crisp and clear HD?

Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Wii)


There were rumors that this retail Wii game was coming to the downloadable services of PSN and XBLA, but it was just that-- a rumor. The game already looks gorgeous running on Wii hardware, but just imagine how colorful and marvelous it would look in HD. Muramasa had players exploring the Japanese countryside, taking down mythical bosses like the giant Oni and Kraken. From the makers of Odin Sphere, Muramasa had little in the way of slowdown unlike its predecessor, so that wouldn't even have to be fixed. What we'd wind up with is a game that's exemplary in art design and as an art form.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN)


The art style of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker would lend itself well to the HD capable Wii U. A port with Wii controls or the Wii U tablet would be wonderful all to itself. Imagine exploring the Great Sea, seeing islands with the game's massive draw distance, weathering impressive storms, and sailing from place to place via the King of Red Lions boat. The cel-shaded style of the game is already breathtaking, so putting it in high-definition only seems like the next step in making for a scrumptious package.

Super Mario Galaxy series (Wii)


Imagine traversing planets and planetoids alike in and HD version of the Super Mario Galaxy franchise, the Wii's most graphically competent game series yet. With the Wii U, fans could play through these games either with a dual retail release on one disc or through downloadable means. Whichever the way, Mario would never have looked so brilliant and vibrant. Nintendo has already made two of the best reviewed games this generation, so why not share them with the HD crowd? It makes too much sense to this superhero!

Ratchet & Clank series (PS2)


What is the hold up for a Ratchet & Clank HD collection? We've seen Kratos in HD, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, soon to be Silent Hill and Metal Gear, so how about everyone's favorite lombax? With the addition of trophies, all four (or three depending on your view) classic Ratchet titles would simply look grand in HD and have oodles upon oodles of longevity and lasting life. Whether he's taking out Dr. Nefarious's half-baked plans or taking down Megacorp, Ratchet and Clank is one team you don't want to mess with!

Tatsunoko VS. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars (Wii)


This Wii-exclusive fighter took the worlds of anime company Tatsunoko and game lords Capcom and shifted their worlds on their heads. The mechanics (in my opinion) outclass Marvel VS. Capcom 3 easily. It's just a more fun game with two-on-two teams as opposed to the triple threat teams of MvC3. Regardless, just picture the colorful cast and characters in brilliant and vivid high-definition graphics and online that works much better than it does on the Wii. It's a game that deserves to be played by as many people as possible, it's Tatsunoko VS. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS, WiiWare)


Hold it! We've seen Phoenix Wright in SD form enough already, so now it may be time for him to shine in heavenly high-definition. Objections and being out of order would never be so delicious to look at. The character models would stay in 2D and animate even more beautifully than they already do. All the courtroom drama on a giant well-formed screen would make for a brilliant-looking game-- more so than it already looks. With rumors (and a leaked character list) from Ultimate Marvel VS. Capcom 3, we won't have to wait long to see a 3D model of Phoenix Wright in HD.

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That's but a small sample of some of the games I'd love to see in HD. What about you? There must be other games or trilogies that you'd love to see get the high-definition treatment. List any and all such titles in the comments section.

Best Boss Battles in Gaming History - Part Three

This article features spoilers, so please tread carefully. Warning given.

It's time for five more classic boss encounters with this installment of Best Boss Battles in Gaming History, and what a way to end the week! If you missed out on past entries, check out Part One and Part Two at their respective links. With that out of the way, let's get to kicking some boss butt!

Big Baby Bowser - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)


After the primary battle against Baby Bowser in his playpen, the sinister magician Kamek uses his magic to transform his master into the gargantuan you see in the picture above. The quickly matured Bowser slowly marches forward, and if Yoshi does not stop him, Bowser will smash the platforms Yoshi is on, immediately killing the green dinosaur.

So how do you defeat this giant koopa king? Large red eggs fly in from side-to-side over the bottomless pits. Yoshi must collect these, aim carefully, and target Bowser, chucking them far into the background, hoping they connect. Hitting Bowser with one causes the tumultuous turtle to fall into the background more, giving Yoshi and Baby Mario some more time to work with. Meanwhile, the team must watch out for falling rocks and other debris. After enough eggs have smashed into Baby Bowser, he'll be defeated, Kamek will scamper off, and Yoshi and Baby Mario will rescue Baby Luigi and the stork that was transporting him. All in a day's work for one of our heroes, even in diapers.

Wizpig - Diddy Kong Racing (N64)


Wizpig is a tyrannical interdimensional pig who travels from planet to planet, laying waste to each once he's had his fun of them. Arriving on Donkey Kong's planet, Wizpig arrives on Timber Island, puts a spell on some of the inhabitants, kicks the island's genie from his mountain home, and turns anyone who goes against him into frogs. Timber the Tiger has had enough. He enlists the help from his friend and nearby neighbor, Diddy Kong, to collect four pieces of the Wizpig Amulet to open the way to face Wizpig.

In Diddy Kong Racing, the player faces off against Wizpig twice. The first time features a daunting kart race in the rain where following the perfect racing line above speed-boosting zippers will barely guarantee victory. The second race takes place in Future Fun Land, Wizpig's home, and it takes place in air. Through avoiding flying meteors, zooming through caverns, dodging dangerous lasers, and hot-stepping it through the final stretch, Wizpig's heavily-guarded throne room, Diddy Kong and friends defeat the evil porker, saving Timber Island from the brink of extinction.

Ultimate Bowser - Super Mario 64 (N64)


Players battled Bowser many times in the past, but in Super Mario 64, this was the first time they had done it in three-dimensions. Mario previously beat down Bowser in the Dark World and over the Fire Sea. Now it's time for the final showdown in the sky. The same concept works on Bowser as it did in the previous battles-- run around to Bowser's backside, grab his tail, rotate the analog stick quickly, and chuck Bowser into one of the various scattered mines around the arena. It's harder than it sounds. You need to time it just right.

Bowser's no slouch this time around either. Mario needs to chuck him into a mine thrice in order to finally put the king of the koopas in extended vacation. Every time he is slammed into a mine, Bowser smashes part of the arena apart, eventually turning the arena into a star-shaped platform. There's little room to maneuver, to run around Bowser and grab his slimy yellow tail, and Bowser spins much faster than in prior encounters. The koopa king also breathes out fire in battle which can cook the portly plumber's hind parts in an instant, making this one dangerous fight. After three throws into the mines, Bowser surrenders, Mario puts on his wing cap, and flies off into the sky, back to Peach's castle for his reward-- some cake.

Sigma - Mega Man X (SNES)


After dishing out damage and defeating his dog and taking out Sigma bot-to-bot, Sigma will literally become a-head of himself and enter the large, ominous machine in the background. The battle to restore peace to the world will begin. Sigma's weakness is Armored Armadillo's Rolling Shield weapon. Players can either wait for one of Sigma's hands to come down to leap upon, or they can time it just right and scale up the wall as X, dodging the hand completely. X can't stand on the hands willy-nilly as they will shoot out thunderbolts from the center. X can either jump off or take damage. By far the most deadly move Sigma can deliver is a fire breath attack that sweeps the floor. This move does a lot of damage to X, so fill up on sub-tanks definitely if you're not that confident in your abilities. Deal damage to Sigma's head as that is the giant robot's weakpoint. Once his life meter trickles down to zero, the leader of the Mavericks will be defeated, and Dr. Light's dream for a world where humans and robots can live together in harmony will be one step closer to fruition. ...Until Mega Man X2 and the ensuing sequels, of course.

Dr. Nefarious - Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)


The dynamic duo of Ratchet and Clank have had a grand adventure together. Sure, they've explored perilous planets and had to tolerate that dolt, Captain Qwark, but now they've reached the climax-- the battle against Dr. Nefarious! The battle begins with Nefarious leaping around the arena, chucking bombs at the pair of heroes. He also spins around and shoots out a purplish beam that Ratchet must hop over. This is all the while doing damage with some high-powered weaponry of the awesome kind. Once Nefarious is downed, he'll beg for mercy. This, however, is merely a ruse as he retreats. Ratchet and Clank must pursue, dodging Nefarious' purple laser and stampeding through blockades of big bots.

Once the two reach the second platform of the fight, Nefarious will go back to his old tricks... with some new ones, too. He'll create multiple images of himself which will charge toward Ratchet as well as have the images claw at the heroic lombax. Jumping into the air is a beneficial way of dodging this assault. The mad robotic doctor will also shoot out bombs that once they hit the ground will produce massive shockwaves that must be hopped over to avoid massive damage. As Nefarious' health bar disintegrates into nothingness, the final stage of the fight will commence.

Dr. Nefarious will summon his butler, Lawrence. The pair will enter a gigantic robot and begin blasting at Ratchet and Clank. Luckily there's a ship nearby with one-hundred health points to save the day. A simple strategy is to circle 'round Nefarious' robot, never releasing the trigger to fire shot after shot into the bot. This allows Ratchet's ship to escape the barrage of missiles being fired at it, and enables Ratchet to finally take down Dr. Nefarious and Lawrence, restoring peace and order to the galaxy.

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That wraps up Part Three of Best Boss Battles in Gaming History. Do you like my picks? Let me know in the comments section. We'll see you in the coming weeks for Part Four!

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (PS3) - Gamescom Trailer

Ratchet & Clank, alongside the Hot Shots Golf franchise, are my favorite Sony properties, so you can bet that I am hotly anticipating the upcoming multiplayer Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One. Who doesn't want to control the sinister Dr. Nefarious, team up with Captain Qwark, and take down some intergalactic baddies? Not I, for one. Check out this trailer from Europe's Gamescom event.

Direct Link Here

Best Levels in Gaming History - Volume Four

We've already reached the fourth installment of Best Levels in Gaming History where we examine a series of five stages that I consider to be some of the best that the world of gaming has to offer. We're going for a more of a Mario approach with three of the levels coming today from Mario titles. If you missed out on past volumes, you can always click on one of the following links to be instantly transported to your intended destination:

Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three

World 1-1 - Super Mario Bros. (NES)


The game that may have single-handily revitalized an industry started out modestly. Getting acquainted with the simple physics of the game was easy. Mario could jump and change direction mid-air, something that game designers and programmers of that era had a tough time grasping the concept of. At the start of World 1-1, a lone goomba stood in the way between Mario and a series of item blocks, one of which containing a mushroom power-up. Following that were a series of pipes, one of which took Mario into a hidden area full of cool and crisp coinage. With this shortcut Mario could bypass a could chunk of the level. If Mario opted not to skip out on the fun, he could uncover a hidden 1-up concealed in an invisible item box located between the end of the pipe section and just before the first bottomless pit. A run up a staircase of blocks and a leap of faith made Mario cling against the level's ending, a flagpole. Entering the castle his work was done for the time being. Until World 1-2, that is.

Green Hill Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN)


As soon as players booted up their copy of Sonic the Hedgehog and passed by the title screen, they were propelled into the Green Hill Zone, filled with art deco loop-de-loops, badniks like ladybugs and mechanized monkeys throwing coconuts, and palm trees. This was all set across a background filled with a majestic and sparkling lake, mountains, and a bright blue sky. If only all of Sonic the Hedgehog's zones were so inviting! The three acts in the zone could be sped through within minutes if the player was really cooking, and the final challenge was Dr. Robotnik. The boss flew from side-to-side in the arena with a ball and chain that moved back and forth, ready to slam into the blue blur. With the aid of two side platforms, Sonic had enough height to strike into the nefarious scientist's first machine, and with enough hits it would be destroyed. The next zone would slow down the pace of the game considerably yet still be enjoyable.

World 8-7 - New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)


This level is an intense and wild ride as you cross a deadly sea of lava, boarding bone snake platforms as they slither their way along a track. They dip in and out of the lava, so timing your jumps is key unless you want to lose a life. Soon the bone snakes leap off the track directly into the path of lava geysers. It's Mario and the gang's job to leap over these. The final stretch has three bone snake platforms alternating tracks all the way to the goal. This is an exhilarating level that puts the player's reflexes to the test. A secret level, it's definitely one of the more challenging ones in the game.

Tubular - Super Mario World (SNES)


After accessing Star Road and finding your way into the Special World, the second stage, Tubular, awaits Mario and/or Luigi. It's a relatively short level, but pending how you go about it, it could either be really easy or really hard to complete. The beginning of the level starts with the player jumping on yellow pipes while defeating Charging Chucks. Then the real fun begins. The real way to play through this level is to hit the item block, revealing a P-balloon. Hitting this item will fill Mario with air for a limited time, allowing him to float carefully between enemies and over a dangerous and bottomless pit. Getting nicked by the smallest enemy will cause Mario to fall into the pit. Mario must hit item block after item block, getting more and more P-balloons to have enough steam to reach the goal before deflating to normal. The easy way to complete this stage is to have a blue Yoshi, gobble up a koopa troopa, and fly your way over the level. The flying ability of Yoshi will run out just as the player reaches the goal.

Planet Metropolis - Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)


The bustling commuter planet where Clank spends his days, Planet Metropolis is where Ratchet obtains the Grind Boots as well as other pertinent items of great use. There's no time for sightseeing, however, as there's a factory to infiltrate with block puzzles to boot. Activating the crane will allow Ratchet to move explosive crates nearby doors to destroy them, allowing the pair to move forward in the level. The other path features heavily-armed robotic drones who will spin around with deadly red lasers and Ratchet and Clank in their sights. One skill point includes destroying everything in the level. With the special move that allows Ratchet to smash his wrench into the ground, obliterating all nearby perishables, this task isn't so tough. A busy level and one of the early ones in Going Commando, Planet Metropolis goes heads and shoulders above the rest in the game.

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Once again we've come to the conclusion of another article here at SuperPhillip Central. If your favorite level hasn't yet been represented, speak up! Let everyone know your favorites in the comments section. Until then, stay tuned for Volume Five of Best Levels in Gaming History!