I have a soft spot for the Mega Man dynasty. The original series, the X series, Battle Network, ZX…you know, enumerating them in a row like that, I can’t help but feel like Capcom is taking my money. Oh well, what’s one more on the pile? Capcom plans to release a DS collection of the [...]

The rumor mill has been running overtime this week, with patents, trademarks, and offhand developer mutterings flying everywhere. You’d think that with BlizzCon only just passed and PAX coming in hard on its heels there’d be other things to talk about. However, I suspect that the gaming press has a deep-seated need to manufacture news. [...]

Insightful and evidently snarky game criticism blog, Lens of Truth, has posted a Street Fighter II 15 year retrospective. If you’re wondering how a single game (a sequel, no less) can span 20 years and only just now be coming out on XBLA, this article is for you.

While you’re there, check out the 90-second movie for some comparative shots of Street Fighter II over the years. Longtime gamers who know exactly what that movie will contain can skip it, but everyone else is guaranteed some insight into how the industry (and Capcom in particular) ticks. Watch it in HD for bonus enlightenment. While riding that wave to Nirvana, try to avoid thinking about they cycle of remakes and how that leads to suffering in your wallet.

Siliconera has reported that, to market Mega Man 9, Capcom has released a new energy tank drink. Gussied up in a familiar blue, this beverage will doubtless return you from the brink of death during those interminable boss battles (though medical application after trauma has not yet been tested by the FDA, so battle bosses responsibly). All this for about $1.25; Mega Man should be so lucky.

This isn’t the first time an energy drink has been used to market a game, but it’s probably the most trouble a company has taken to hype their downloadable content. Careful, GameStop, the downloadable content fairy is coming to take all your profits.

Mega Man ZX slaps another coat of paint on to the paper-rock-scissors gameplay that has nurtured the franchise through dozens of repetitions. The tweaks are minute as ever, so standing fans and longtime critics needn’t think very hard when deciding on a purchase.

Phoenix Wright is a surprisingly engaging adventure game with a flair for the comedic. While the game is marred somewhat by unpredictable event scripting, it makes a genuine effort to be accessible. All told, Phoenix Wright is probably the most fun you can have with five murders.

Dead Rising is probably about the only survival horror game that manages to have a playable combat system without wholly abandoning the genre’s trademark tension. The game’s over-the-top amorality and shamelessly open design combine into an experience that’s difficult to get into, but ultimately a fun investment of your game time.

Viewtiful Joe 2 takes the core tenets of great brawlers and expands upon them, serving as a reminder that 20 years isn’t enough to sap innovation and fun from a genre. While the old school design philosophy might prove unappetizing to casual gamers, genre fans and the hardcore should appreciate the fresh take on brawler mechanics and discovering the internal logic that makes the game tick.