ARTICLE: Lucario Revealed as 22nd Smash Fighter

Last night on Miiverse and the Super Smash Bros. Official Site, Masahiro Sakurai revealed the 22nd fighter for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U / 3DS: The Aura Pokemon Lucario!

For many, this may come as a shock. Lucario was one of the Brawl characters many believed would be cut from the game. Thankfully, Lucario was kept intact and his moves seem to remain unchanged judging by pictures on the official site.

In his post, Masahiro Sakurai detailed that Lucario has received a substantial buff in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U / 3DS. His aura powers, which were one of his gimmicks in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, have now been enhanced, making him even more powerful as his damage counter increases. Could Lucario make it into the top tier this time around?

While many believe that Lucario's reveal was random, as opposed to other characters who were revealed on game releases, this is not the case. Lucario was revealed on January 31st, the anniversary of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Not only this, but two days prior, January 29th, was the anniversary of Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen. Coincidence? I think not. Sakurai wanted to reveal a Pokemon character who originated in Brawl to celebrate both of these occurrences.

The interesting thing, however, is that Sakurai chose Lucario to represent Brawl and Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen when the Brawl veteran Pokemon Trainer encompasses both games much better. Could this be a hint that Pokemon Trainer has been cut? Or maybe his Pokemon have been changed? Only time will tell...

And what does Lucario's inclusion mean for the highly requested Mewtwo? Many believe that Lucario replaced Mewtwo in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, despite both of them being planned for release. I personally believe that Mewtwo will be back and that Lucario's inclusion is simply a sign that Sakurai is listening to who fans find popular, and if you ask me, Lucario and Mewtwo are two of the most popular Pokemon around.

Finally, we have to discuss whether Lucario's final smash will be staying the same, or changing. When I say changing, I of course mean the inclusion of Mega Lucario. Hopefully Mega Lucario is included in some capacity, either as a Final Smash or Alternate Costume.

Lucario being the 22nd revealed fighter is a great sign. It has been 8 months since the game was revealed at E3 and we've already been shown 22 fighters. The game is at least another 6 months away, quite likely longer, so expect at least another 22 fighters to be revealed. This game's roster is going to be big!

Article By:
Giuliano V.

Giuliano's Top 10 Favorite Games of All-Time

I feel like our readers should get to know us as staff members more personally, so I thought I'd share a special list about my Top 10 Favorite Games of All-Time. Now keep in mind, I don't think these are the Top 10 Best Games, simply my favourite that I constantly go back to over the years. Hope you enjoy!

Honorable Mention

Mass Effect Trilogy

First Year Played: 2013

Number of Playthroughs: 3

The Mass Effect Trilogy is a compilation I picked up about a year ago on Riley's request. I never anticipated how much I would come to adore these games. In the past year, I have played through the series three times and enjoyed it each time. This was one of the few games this generation that actually got me attached instantly, and I am so glad I did. I decided to include it as an honourable mention because I absolutely adore this series, and I included it as the "Trilogy" because that is what I purchased it as and I always play it through together, so it is almost like one gigantic game for me.

Number 10

Animal Crossing

First Year Played: 2003

Number of Playthroughs: 5

Animal Crossing was my first game on Gamecube (aside from the Zelda compilation that included older games). I remember my Mom telling me that a clerk at Wal-Mart recommended it, saying it was a surprisingly good game. I thought I'd give it a shot when I received it for Christmas. I played it for a bit but didn't really see the appeal and tossed it in a corner for a while. One day, my cousin came over and saw it and wanted to try it out. She instantly became hooked, and as I watched her play it, I started to realize how fun it looked. For years after that, I played Animal Crossing like crazy with my cousin and my sister, constantly going to each other's towns, getting upset over villagers moving, making home renovations, and simply creating the giant world of Animal Crossing. I could have never expected how fun such a laid-back game could be if my cousin never decided to put it into my Gamecube.

Number 9

Assassin's Creed II

First Year Played: 2009

Number of Playthroughs: 4

The first Assassin's Creed was my first game for my Xbox 360. I remember playing it for 20 minutes, hating it, and leaving it to collect dust for almost a year. Finally, I was bored and decided to try it again and this time, I absolutely adored it. Shortly after, Assassin's Creed II was announced and was shown to have an Italian setting, which is my heritage. When I picked up this game on release, I was in awe. Italy was absolutely beautiful in the game and I actually just felt nationalistic playing it. I loved everything in the game, the portrayal of Italians (my culture), the portrayal of Catholicism (my religion) and just the gameplay in general. Assassin's Creed II will always remain one of my favourite games of this generation.

Number 8

Super Mario World

First Year Played: 1998

Number of Playthroughs: 2

Super Mario World was literally the very first video game I ever owned. When I turned four in 1998, my Dad came home with a SNES and I was so excited. Even though I was never actually good at the game and never got passed the third world for most of my childhood, I would play through those first three worlds all the time and enjoy it. I remember the first time I discovered Yoshi could fly with a blue shell in his mouth, I went absolutely crazy. And then I discovered the different coloured Yoshis and was just ecstatic. I could not have asked for a better game to raise me into my video gaming career.

Number 7

Banjo-Tooie

First Year Played: 2001

Number of Playthroughs: 5

Banjo-Tooie was one of my first games for N64 and easily my favourite. I had played the first level of Banjo-Kazooie at my cousin's and really liked it, so when I got an N64 for my 7th birthday, I decided to get Banjo-Tooie along with it. I kid you not when I say this, but Banjo-Tooie is the first game I actually remember finishing. I had played so many games throughout my childhood, but Banjo-Tooie was the one that had me determined enough to beat it. Although I did skip over some tough parts like the Lord Woo Fak Fak boss fight.

Number 6

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

First Year Played: 2008

Number of Playthroughs: 3

This list would not be complete without a Super Smash Bros. game. I was a huge fan of Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is partially why Brawl is on here instead of it. I played Melee so much as a kid, that when Brawl was announced I went absolutely crazy. This game was easily the second-most hyped up game I have ever hyped in my life. I stayed up till midnight every single weekday to see the updates on Super Smash Bros. Dojo, and on the day that Sonic was announced I nearly screamed. Unfortunately, when the release rolled around, I was one of the unlucky ones whose Wii would not read the game. I kid you not, I was almost in tears. Luckily, my friends had working Wiis so I played it for almost five days straight with them, loving every single moment. The biggest reason Brawl appears on this list instead of Melee is because of the characters. While game speed and stages and all that are important, nothing can get you like a few good characters. Brawl introduced some of my favourite characters in gaming such as Sonic, Meta-Knight, Lucario and Wolf, so I tend to favour it.

Number 5

Kingdom Hearts II

First Year Played: 2010

Number of Playthroughs: 2

Kingdom Hearts is one of those games that I saw the commercial for, was very interested in it, but never actually owned the system to play it on. One day when I was 16, I randomly decided to go buy a PS2 and both the Kingdom Hearts games. I guess my intuition as a kid was correct, because Kingdom Hearts was a perfect match for me. I love Disney. I love Final Fantasy. I love RPGs. Kingdom Hearts was my kind of game. Even with all its cheesy plot elements and occasionally annoying voice-acting, Kingdom Hearts felt so fresh and refining to me. Instantly, Kingdom Hearts became one of my favourite series of all time, and since Kingdom Hearts II was my favourite in the series, I decided to put it on this list to represent this fantastic series.

Number 4

Chrono Trigger

First Year Played: 2008

Number of Playthroughs: 2

I had read a lot about Chrono Trigger and was always intrigued by it. I had just started to become a big RPG player in early high school, so I decided to pick this game up when it was released for DS. Wow. Just wow. Not only is this one of my favourite games, but I also believe it is one of the finest games ever created and definitely one of the best stories in gaming. The way the gameplay and the story is so perfectly crafted around the time travel elements is just unbelievable. The characters are unforgettable and all received such deep and satisfying development. And I'll be honest, there were multiple occasions where I wanted to throw the game at the wall because a boss fight was too difficult, but I perserviered  and I am so happy I did because Chrono Trigger is one of the world's finest games and definitely worthy of being called art. 

Number 3

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

First Year Played: 2004

Number of Playthroughs: 6

The first Paper Mario and Super Paper Mario are also some of my favourite games, and likely would have been #12 and #13 respectively if this list were larger. However, The Thousand-Year Door was just leagues ahead of them. I was extremely excited for this game, and I remember when I first got the game I had a huge race with my friend on who would beat it first, as is tradition with us whenever a new Paper Mario title is released. We both, however, got stuck on the final boss and could not beat it. I remember there were almost ten kids in my class who had gotten stuck on the final boss and nobody could figure out how to beat it. I was so happy when I was the first one to actually vanquish and beat the game. Now this is the strange part I like to call "The Thousand-Year Curse." Almost immediately after beating it, I stupidly left the game vulnerable on the floor and my dog stepped on it and snapped the disc in half and I think I may have cried. That was copy #1. I bought another copy, of course, and beat the game several times through before losing that copy. That was copy #2. About five years ago, I ordered it off the internet, and the game was so scratched up that I could barely start it without it displaying an error message. That was copy #3. I had all but given up until about a month ago when my friend saw the game at a store and called me and bought it for me. Hopefully copy #4 lasts me until the day I die, because I never want to be separated from this amazing game ever again.

Number 2

Pokemon Gold

First Year Played: 2001

Number of Playthroughs: 6

 When I was six years old, I really wanted a Gameboy and a Pokemon game, because I had Pokemon Stadium for N64 and loved it. Around October 2001, I broke my leg for the third time in my life and was condemned to a cast. I remember my parents going out one day and coming home, telling me they "talked to Santa and he gave them my Christmas present early." There in front of me was a green Gameboy Color with a copy of Pokemon Gold. I cannot express how happy I was. Since I had broken my leg, I played this game ALOT. And not just once, multiple times. I beat this game numerous times and absolutely adored it. I still regard this game as the greatest Pokemon game of all time and will never change my mind, because Pokemon Gold is my childhood and nobody can ever take that away from me.

Number 1

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

First Year Played: 2007

Number of Playthroughs: 8

Twilight Princess is my hands-down, no doubt favourite game of all time. I strongly believe it will always remain such. When I talked earlier about Brawl being my second-most anticipated game of all-time, Twilight Princess was my first. Apparently it only took about 2 and a half years for the game to come out after it was announced, but to me as a kid, it felt like decades. Every time I felt like it was getting close, it got delayed. I literally thought this game was never going to see the light of day. Even when it finally came out, I didn't have a Wii to play it on and I didn't want to get the Gamecube version because I knew I was getting a Wii soon. When I got my Wii for Christmas, everyone was sold out of the game, and I was actually depressed. I remember one of my friends had it but never played it, and I kept bugging him to let me borrow it. Finally, he caved and gave it to me at school. To my surprise, when I got home I found a new copy of the game and the strategy guide sitting on my bed, courtesy of my mother. I don't think I was ever happier. I loved this game in its entirety. My favourite boss is in this game. My favourite dungeon is in this game. My favourite character is in this game. This game simply had everything, and I'll admit, I shed a tear when it was all over because I felt like an era of my life was completed. Since then, I have played this game AT LEAST 8 times through, and I'll generally play it every year at least once to remind myself of the what I am looking for when it comes to gaming.

Article By:

Giuliano V.

REVIEW: Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD

Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD

Reviewed By: Giuliano V.

Platform: PS3

Gameplay: 7.5

For the most part, Liberation HD's gameplay is similar to Assassin's Creed III with a few tweaks. The biggest gameplay difference is the Persona system which allows Aveline to take on the three different personas to better perform missions. However, the missions in the game are quite tedious and generally easy, but it is still a solid game for any Assassin's Creed fan.

Story: 7

The story of Liberation HD is quite good in itself. It follows Aveline's quest for liberation of both the class and gender boundaries as she also searches for her mother. For the most part, the story is quite consistent and believable, however, a weak and rushed ending with a throwaway antagonist did hinder the story in many ways. 

Sound: 9

While Assassin's Creed III had many throwaway tracks, Liberation HD has many memorable ones. The music helps create the perfect tone for the game and the voice acting is fantastic at making the characters believable.

Presentation: 7

Unfortunately, Liberation HD suffers from the bland city designs from Assassin's Creed III. While one area of the game that is set in Mexico is quite well-designed, New Orleans and The Bayou, of which most of the game takes place, is empty and boring in design. Also, while the graphics were enhanced for this game, there are certain moments when you will question whether the game is really HD or not.

Lasting Appeal: 6

With only 9 short sequences and very few collectibles, Liberation HD will last you about 7-10 hours and then you will likely never pick it up again. However, if you are an achievement collector, there is a great array of achievements that may keep you occupied for a few more hours, but beyond that, this game seems line a one-playthrough-only type of game.

Final Verdict: 7.3 / 10

While Liberation HD is not the strongest nor the longest game in the franchise, it does offer a unique Assassin's Creed experience with an adequate storyline. At the current price tag of $20, I would definitely recommend this to any fan of the franchise. 

Article By:

Giuliano V.

Golden Hammer Awards 2013: Video Game Awards

Hello and welcome to our 2013 Golden Hammer Awards.

This year, not only are we doing Video Game Awards, but also Movie Awards. Please keep in mind that we do have a very small team, so unfortunately, we were not able to play all the games or watch all the movies that were released this year, so some games or movies you feel strongly for may not be present in our awards.

We sincerely apologize for this but hope you can make-do with what we have prepared for you.

Don't forget to check out the LifesAHammer Movie Awards 2013 which can be accessed from the sidebar to your right or from this link:
http://lifesahammer.blogspot.ca/2014/01/golden-hammer-awards-2013-movie-awards.html

LifesAHammer Video Game Awards 2013

Best Action/Adventure/Platformer

Nominees

Tomb Raider / The Last of Us / Super Mario 3D World

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance / Grand Theft Auto V 

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag / DmC: Devil May Cry

Runner Up

Grand Theft Auto V

Winner

Super Mario 3D World

Best Open-World

Nominees

Grand Theft Auto V / The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag / Batman: Arkham Origins / Tomb Raider

Runner Up

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Winner

Grand Theft Auto V

Best Role-Playing Game

Nominees

Pokemon X & Pokemon Y / Fire Emblem: Awakening 

Ni no Kuni / Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Project X Zone / Shin Megami Tensei IV

Runner Up

Pokemon X & Pokemon Y

Winner

Fire Emblem: Awakening

Best Shooter

Nominees

Bioshock Infinite / Call of Duty: Ghosts

Battlefield 4 / Metro: Last Light

Runner Up

Metro: Last Light

Winner

Bioshock Infinite

Best Fighting Game

Nominees

Killer Instinct / Injustice: Gods Among Us

Anarchy Reigns / Soul Calibur II HD Online

Runner Up

Soul Calibur II HD Online

Winner

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Best Xbox 360

Nominees

Gears of War: Judgement / Tomb Raider

Bioshock Infinite / Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Runner Up

Gears of War: Judgement

Winner

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Best Playstation 3

Nominees

Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus / Ni no Kuni

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time / The Last of Us

God of War: Ascension

Runner Up

Ni no Kuni

Winner

The Last of Us

Best Wii U

Nominees

Pikmin 3 / The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Super Mario 3D World / Rayman Legends 

Runner Up

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Winner

Super Mario 3D World

Best Xbox One

Nominees

Ryse: Son of Rome / Dead Rising 3

Forza 5 / Killer Instinct

Runner Up

Dead Rising 3

Winner

Forza 5

Best Playstation 4

Nominees

Knack / Killzone: Shadow Fall

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag / Resogun

Runner Up

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Winner

Resogun

Best 3DS

Nominees

Fire Emblem: Awakening / Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Pokemon X & Pokemon Y / Animal Crossing: New Leaf / Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds / Shin Megami Tensei IV

Runner Up

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Winner

Fire Emblem: Awakening

Best PC

Nominees

Rome 2: Total War / Dota 2

Gone Home / Stanley Parable

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Runner Up

Gone Home

Winner

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Best Remake

Nominees:

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX / Ducktales Remastered

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

Metal Gear Solid: Legacy Collection / Soul Calibur II HD Online

Runner Up

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX

Winner

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Best New IP

Nominees

Knack / Ryse: Son of Rome

Injustice: Gods Among Us / The Last of Us

Runner Up

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Winner

The Last of Us

Best Multiplatform

Nominees

Bioshock: Infinite / Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Grand Theft Auto V / Tomb Raider / Batman: Arkham Origins

Runner Up

Bioshock Infinite

Winner

Grand Theft Auto V

Best Sequel

Nominees

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag / Pikmin 3

Rayman Legends / Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Runner Up

Pikmin 3

Winner

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Best Downloadable Game

Nominees

New Super Luigi U / Resogun 

Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies / Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Runner Up

Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies

Winner

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Best Indie Game

Nominees

Flower / Contrast

Outlast / Gone Home

Runner Up

Outlast

Winner

Gone Home

Best Music

(Non-Original Score)

Nominees

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds / New Super Luigi U

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD / Grand Theft Auto V

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX / Metal Gear Solid: Legacy Collection

Runner Up

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Winner

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Best Original Score

Nominees

Super Mario 3D World / Rayman Legends

Fire Emblem: Awakening / Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Runner Up

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Winner

Super Mario 3D World

 Best Graphics

Nominees

The Last of Us / Grand Theft Auto V

Killzone: Shadow Fall / Tomb Raider

Forza 5 / Pikmin 3

Runner Up

Killzone: Shadow Fall

Winner

The Last of Us

Best Multiplayer

Nominees

Pokemon X & Pokemon Y / Call of Duty: Ghosts

Dota 2 / StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Super Mario 3D World / Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Runner Up

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Winner

Super Mario 3D World

Best Story

Nominees

Bioshock Infinite / The Last of Us

Grand Theft Auto V / The Stanley Parable

Gone Home / Fire Emblem: Awakening

Runner Up

Bioshock Infinite

Winner

The Last of Us

Best Voice Actor

Nominees

Camilla Luddington - Lara Croft 

Troy Baker - The Joker / Sinestro / Booker DeWitt / Joel

Steve Ogg - Trevor Phillips

Jennifer Hale - Hawkgirl / Rosalind Lutece

Runner Up

Jennifer Hale - Hawkgirl / Rosalind Lutece

Winner

Troy Baker - The Joker / Sinestro / Booker DeWitt / Joel

Best New Character

Nominees

Ellie - The Last of Us

Elizabeth - Bioshock Infinite

Trevor - Grand Theft Auto V

Chrom - Fire Emblem: Awakening

Lucina - Fire Emblem: Awakening

Edward Kenway - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Runner Up

Ellie - The Last of Us

Winner

Trevor - Grand Theft Auto V

2014 Most Anticipated

Nominees

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes / Hyrule Warriors 

Titanfall / Watch Dogs / South Park: The Stick of Truth

Mario Kart 8 / Destiny / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U / 3DS

Runner Up

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Winner

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U / 3DS

Individual Awards

These are awards given by each member of our team to a game of 

their choice for a reason of their choice.

Giuliano's Award

The Last of Us

for dealing with and critiquing moral issues

Matteo's Award

Batman: Arkham Origins

for being the most underrated game of the year

Gino's Award

Fire Emblem: Awakening

for being the most unexpectedly fun game of the year

Justin's Award

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

for having the best online community and multiplayer

Riley's Award

Surgeon Simulator 2013

for being the most challenging game of the year

Game of the Year

Nominees

Bioshock Infinite / The Last of Us

Grand Theft Auto V / Fire Emblem: Awakening

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds / Super Mario 3D World

Runner Up

Grand Theft Auto V

Winner

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Thank you all for another wonderful year! Don't forget to check out the Movie Section of the awards!

Giuliano V.

Matteo C.

Gino C.

Justin D.

Riley D.