Launch Station: Fire Emblem Awakening

It has been a long long time since we have had a Launch Station.  Seeing this is the first Launch Station of 2013, we start the year out right.  The first big release in February goes to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems with Fire Emblem Awakening.  Well known for the Paper Mario and Advance Wars series here in North America, Intelligent Systems' premier strategy RPG franchise, Fire Emblem, did not reach our shores until late 2003.  Ever since then, it has been a struggle to get Nintendo to localize each game in the series.  The first Fire Emblem game developed from the ground up for the 3DS almost did not see the light of day on this side of the pond.  It is a good thing that Fire Emblem Awakening will soon release in North America as it looks to be the biggest and most polished entry in the series.

At the forefront of every Fire Emblem is the story and Awakening is no exception.  You take control of Chrom, the prince of Ylisse, and his band of soldiers known as Shepherds in a world on the brink of war.  The forces of Plegia, commanded by the Mad King Gangrel, start attacking the borders of Ylisse and it is up to Chrom and the Shepherds to defend their homeland of invading forces.  Everything is not what it seems to be as unholy creatures known only as Risen start appearing out of nowhere.  Along with this new threat comes a masked swordsman who claims to be the legendary hero Marth.  This swordsman's message, that the world is not on the brink of war, but its own destruction.  While the story does take centre stage in Fire Emblem Awakening, you cannot count out the series' iconic turned-based gameplay.  If you played any Fire Emblem game, you will be very familiar with the grid-based moving and rock-paper-scissors combat system.  It may seem very simplistic at first, but the gameplay offers a whole lot of depth that few games can match especially with the new concepts Intelligent Systems has added in Awakening.  A lot of effort has been made in improving Fire Emblem's relationship and support systems.  On the battlefield, pairing up characters or even placing two characters side by side offer stat boosts in combat.  The more you pair characters together, the stronger their relationship gets.  Aside from the increase of stat boosts, some characters may even get married and have children due to these strong relationships.  Other big additions come on the side of online functionality.  At any point in the game, you are able to connect to the Nintendo Network to download items, maps, challenges and even teams to fight.  Also you are able to purchase new map packs that has its own stories and features characters from past Fire Emblem games such as Roy, Lyn and Ike that you are able to recruit to your party.  That is not all Fire Emblem Awakening's online has to offer as you are able to exchange avatars in StreetPass and fight others in local multiplayer.  Fire Emblem Awakening offers plenty of value outside of the epic and long story missions.

As a huge Fire Emblem fan, I have been looking forward to getting my hands on Fire Emblem Awakening since the game was first announced back in 2011.  Thanks to a little blunder by EB Games Canada, I got Fire Emblem Awakening a week early.  So far I have put close to eleven hours into the game and I am only on the seventh chapter.  It is an incredible game that is very to put down.  If you are looking for a game to play on your the 3DS, look no farther than Fire Emblem Awakening.  It is a deep strategy RPG that will keep you occupied from hours on end and a portable experience that is not to be missed.

Top 5 Games of E3 2012

Due to work and the fact I have not had to time to watch every single demo of every single game at E3 2012, I have decided on a Top 5 Games of E3 2012.  There are tons of games at E3 each and every year, but few stand above the rest.  While a lot of games looked good, they were very similar to other experiences we have seen and/or played before.  These five games and one honourable mention really impressed me and brought something new and interesting that the numerous run-of-the mill sequels did not come close to bringing.  Yes, I am talking about Halo 4, God of War: Ascension and Crysis 3 just to name a few.  As with past years, I do not include games that did not have demos on the show floor.  So games such as Watch Dogs and Beyond: Two Souls were not considered for this list even though they both had good showings.  Also a quick notice, there will not be a post until late Tuesday evening as I am working two 14 hour days in a row so I will have absolutely no time to write anything tomorrow.  Now let us get down to one man's opinion of the best games of E3 2012.

Honourable Mention

Quantum Conundrum- XB360, PS3, PC
While it is just short of my Top 5 Games of E3 2012, Quantum Conundrum is creative and unique enough to deserve some love in this post.  From the mind of Kim Swift, the lead designer on a little physics-based puzzle game by the name of Portal, and the team at Airtight Games, Quantum Conundrum is a first-person physics-based puzzle game in which you manipulate objects and the environment by switching dimensions on the fly.  You are in control of the Interdimensional Shift Device (ISD) that allows you to shift between four dimensions (fluffy, heavy, anti-gravity and slow-mo) to solve puzzles in each room of Professor Quadwrangle's mansion.  Quantum Conundrum looks to test your brain in different ways as you jump between dimensions to solve difficult problems.  After learning to think with portals, it is time to think with dimensions.  Quantum Conundrum looks to be a must download when it releases later this month.

5.  Pikmin 3- Wii U
Miyamoto did confirm that Pikmin 3 would be at E3 this year, but most fans including myself needed to see it to believe it.  We were not disappointed as Pikmin 3 is among the best games announced for Wii U.  Pikmin is a real-time strategy game has you directing a horde of up to 100 Pikmin, little plant-like creatures that can be used to accomplish various tasks such as building a bridge, collecting resources or fighting off a dangerous enemy.  With the announcement of the new Rock Pikmin, the use of four leaders and the Wii MotionPlus enhanced controls, Pikmin 3 has the potential of being the best first-party offering for the Wii U come launch.

4.  Paper Mario: Sticker Star- 3DS
Paper Mario: Sticker Star was not even on my radar until I saw the demo Nintendo showed at their 3DS Showcase.  Every single action you do in Sticker Star from combat to solving puzzles involves using stickers.  For example, in order to use the classic jump and hammer attacks in battle you have to use the corresponding jump and hammer stickers or using a fan sticker to move a blade of a windmill from blocking a door needed to advance in the game.  It is an incredibly unique game mechanic that turns the typical Mario RPG on it's head.  Something I personally find completely reinvigorating and exciting and something that has made Paper Mario: Sticker Star a must-buy for my 3DS this holiday season.

3.  Splinter Cell: Blacklist- XB360, PS3, PC
The fruit of Ubisoft Toronto's labour came to light this past Monday with the official reveal of Splinter Cell: Blacklist at the Microsoft Press Conference.  The seven to eight minute demo was perfectly paced and revealed enough of the highly refined mechanics (both new and old) to get anybody excited.  I personally loved Splinter Cell: Conviction and firmly believe it is one of the reasons to have an Xbox 360.  Blacklist takes everything that made Splinter Cell great and cranked it up to 11.  The new Killing in Motion mechanic lets you put together incredible mark-and-execute chains that will make anybodies' jaw drop.  Along with the resources of Fourth Echelon and some pretty cool Kinect voice controls, Splinter Cell: Blacklist should be an excellent debut for Ubisoft's newest studio when it releases in the Spring of 2013.

2.  Rayman Legends- Wii U
While the sequel to Rayman Origins, one of the best 2D platformers on consoles today, has been known for a while now, it does not detract from the fact how awesome Rayman Legends is.  Exclusive to the Wii U, Rayman Legends looks to take the almost perfect platforming, 2D animation and humour and give it all a shot of adrenaline.  Easily the best demo of Ubisoft's impressive Press Conference, Rayman Legends looks to use the Wii U and it's Game Pad in some creative ways.  With the touch screen of the Wii U Game Pad, you can control Murfy, who can assist Rayman and friends by cutting ropes, moving platforms, stunning enemies and collecting Lums.  The demo was capped off with an incredible level that had Rayman quickly platforming through the level while Murfy was playing a little rhythm game on the Game Pad which would help clear obstacles for Rayman.  Rayman Legends had a truly amazing showing this year at E3 that has catapulted to the very top of games to buy when I pick up the Wii U this holiday season.

1.  Tomb Raider- XB360, PS3, PC
Step aside Nathan Drake as Lara Croft is back to take her crown.  One word sums up Crystal Dynamics re-imagining of the Tomb Raider series.  That word is mature.  No more complete disproportionate assets or one liner spewing stereotype of a character.  Lara Croft is a living breathing human being caught in one horrible situation and it is time for her to step up and become a hero.  It is a coming of age story that dives into the origin of this video game icon.  It is more visceral adventure than Tomb Raider fans are use to, but exactly what this series has needed.  The seamless transition from bow and arrow to shotgun to melee keeps the action moving and the use of the environment to get the jump on enemies is absolutely incredible.  Each time Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix show off this game, it keeps getting better and better.  March 5th, 2013 cannot come soon enough as Tomb Raider is my most anticipated game of 2013.