Along with remastered visuals, this Vita revisit features 1.5 times more voiced dialogue, an online dungeon rescue feature players can use to call for assistance in the TV world, new Personas, new anime cutscenes, new story events and a new character. Atlus also mentions several fan suggested tweaks to the title, which we’ll assumedly find out more about as the game’s Fall release date approaches.

While I’m reasonably sure you don’t need a refresher on how to move characters around within a 2D fighter, there are some valuable notes regarding skills and the use of Personas.

While the video features arcade controls, rest assured that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 title is due for release near the end of this Summer.

You can start studying up early by catching the tutorial video below.

The new story mission returns players to Arkham City, interchanging play between Batman and Robin while uncovering Harley’s plans to avenge the Joker.

While this GOTY edition will hit shelves in the Fall, Gamers looking to slip on the cowl and cape again won’t have to wait that long for the additional story mission, with word that Harley Quinn’s Revenge will be internationally available via the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Marketplace on May 30th.

Catch the trailer below.

Capybara Games’ and Superbrothers’ iOS game-changer Sword & Sworcery EP took away five awards by the end of the night, including the award for innovation and best original music, and Eidos Montreal also took five categories with Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

The awards show will air on Citytv on April 28th, and G4 Canada on April 28th & 29th, but if you can’t wait that long, you can catch the full list of winners below.

Game of the Year: FIFA Soccer 12 (Electronic Arts) (Fans Choice)

Best Console Game: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)

Best Game on the Go: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)

Best Downloadable Game: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)

Best Audio: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)

Best Social/Casual Game: Margaritaville Online (Exploding Barrel Games)

Best Game Design: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)

Best Technology: Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 (Ubisoft Montreal)

Best Visual Arts: Assassin’s Creed Revelations (Ubisoft Montreal)

Best Writing: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)

Best Indie Game: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)

Best New Character: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos-Montreal)

Best Original Music: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)

Future Shop Gamers’ Choice Award – Top Selling Canadian Videogame: NHL 12 (Electronic Arts)

Innovation Award: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Capybara Games)

Animal Crossing also aims for a Fall release on the 3DS, in Japan at least, but the more immediate cause for rejoicing amongst 3DS owners should probably be word that the handheld will finally support folders on the 3DS home menu, with each folder storing up to sixty icons – terrific news if your home menu is as overwhelmed as my own. Nintendo of America has already tweeted that we can expect the firmware update on April 25th.

The 3DS will also support software patches, with Nintendo getting that ball rolling in May with a patch for Mario Kart 7 online issues.

One more tidbit, Nintendo plans to release a 20th anniversary Wii disc of Kirby titles, but we’ll apparently have to wait for details there as well.

Meanwhile, catch four precious Mario screens below.

Atlus followed up Ignition’s email to confirm that the band is getting back together, announcing their role as the new publisher and producer for the title, which is still being developed by Vanillaware and will hit the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2013.

Dragon’s Crown will be the first Vanillaware title published by Atlus since the release of Odin Sphere on the PlayStation 2.

Knowing they are not long for this world, and that the sight of said bombs bursting in air will bring much enjoyment to others, they decide to record themselves while confined in a framework made of random household objects tied together, and stylishly fling their bodies at these bombs in one last mutually destructive hurrah.

The strangest part is that most of the above is actually true. In fact, one of the prominent features of The Splatters is the ability to upload and share your most splatter-filled runs with others, through the Splatter TV feature, which functions as both a ceaseless supply of colorful snuff films and a tutorial for how to perform particularly dazzling chains of tricks.

I mentioned Angry Birds earlier, but only because this game also features colorful mascots with annoying voices who get launched with reckless abandon in order to complete a level for which the player will be awarded up to three stars based on his or her score, but honestly, The Splatters is a different game, and for the better.

For example, the quickest way to hate The Splatters is to walk into it thinking you’re supposed to launch them directly at the bombs, when in reality, the goal is to perform a bunch of tricks in order to build up enough speed to burst upon impact with a nearby barrier, showering all the bombs, scenery, and fellow Splatters with the colorful liquid inside.

Not unlike Super Meat Boy, the player’s multiple failures are documented in the form of staining the level with bits of the characters, which is interesting, as The Splatters also lends itself to the idea of repeatedly trips through a level.

The game sports a rewind function that is as intriguing as its name is deceptive. Time still moves forward, and objects retain all of their momentum gained or lost, but the direction of every moving object switches to its exact opposite. The game’s respect for the laws of physics and utter disregard for those of time travel take some getting used to, but they lend themselves to some of the most complex tricks in the game; rewinds turn slides into halfpipes and Splatters into wacky extend-o-hands that reach across a level to engulf a bomb, only to fling the both of them back to a more favorable area of the level with the mere press of a trigger button.

Certainly, the myriad of tricks that can (and must) be performed in The Splatters has a learning curve tied to it, but then it becomes an arsenal that can be used to clear a level in any number of ways, and not just the one hinted at by the come-hither gold trinkets that light the suggested path like so many coins, bananas, or golden rings.

Speaking of golden rings, in The Splatters, you really do “gotta go fast” – the game has a crazy sense of speed that is reflected not only in its visuals and sound, but also in its gameplay; take too much time to consider a shot, and the combo multiplier will reset. This, in theory, is a great way to raise the tempo of the game, but unfortunately, this combo timer continues while, after clearing a level, more Splatters and bombs are being set up, requiring the player to either memorize a level’s setup or blindly perform any trick as soon as the level is set up just to keep the combo going.

There is something about the characters’ faces in The Splatters that makes me want to punch them if it didn’t mean getting my hand covered in a bunch of goop in the process, but maybe that is part of the reason that it is so fun to launch them all to their explosive deaths. If you’re a fan of distorted physics or colorful things exploding, this is definitely a title worth checking out.

The Splatters

Developer
SpikySnail Games

Publisher
Microsoft Game Studios

System
Xbox 360 (Xbox LIVE Arcade)

Modes
Singleplayer

Release Date
April 11, 2012

Price
800 Microsoft Points

*A copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review

The more immediate treat belongs to Resident Evil fans however, with word that the game will be releasing slightly sooner than originally planned, with a global release now set for October 2nd, 2012. New video on the subject offers us all a chance to puzzle over how Wesker spawned a child – yes I know the bit about “when two people really love each other”, but I’m betting it probably had more to do with test-tubes.

Catch video for both titles below.

Players will be able to use the Mii characters along with Mario-themed tennis gear, and compete with up to four players in online doubles matches. But the arresting bit of today’s info is definitely the game’s Super Mario Tennis mode, which offers a chance to hit some familiar Goombas with swings.

Check out some fresh video and screens below.

There are only drips of information so far, suggesting that the game puts players in the shoes of a professional executioner or assassin hunting down criminals. Word is that the gameplay will feature sword action reminiscent of No More Heroes, and that’s all we’ve got at the moment – though we will inevitably stare at the Internet until more answers come.

In the meantime, Famitsu has two concept images, which you can catch below.