We have to say, the Mark of Mastery edition for upcoming 3DS title Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance to commemorate the series’ 10th anniversary is probably the best limited edition set Square Enix has released for a Kingdom Hearts title yet. Priced at $54.99, the deluxe edition will ship with a copy of the game in a magnetic box, a clear Kingdom Hearts 3DS case, 12 Kingdom Hearts art cards which feature art from across the series, and five AR cards that unlock rare Dream Eaters in the game. Remember, preorders of the regular edition of Kingdom Hearts 3D come with three AR cards, one of three possible rare Dream Eater cards, an R&R seal Dream...

It should have gone without saying that Halo 4 would receive a Limited Edition, seeing as how each and every entry since Halo 2 has been the recipient of one (aside from Halo 3: ODST). Today, Microsoft confirmed what we already knew by announcing Halo 4‘s Limited Edition, but elaborated by also announcing its contents. In addition to including the hotly anticipated game that signals the return of Master Chief, the Limited Edition will give players free access to three Halo 4 competitive multiplayer map packs. The three packs (consisting of three maps each for a total of nine bonus maps) will release post-launch. Microsoft states that the post-launch...

May is shaping up to be a rather busy month in terms of mainstream, AAA titles (Diablo III, need we say more?), but on the niche game front, things continue to be fairly quiet until a whole slew of highly-anticipated Japanese titles hit in the summer months. But never fear; we still managed to round up five worthy titles for this month’s “Best of Niche Gaming” post. Read on for our recommended picks. Botanicula | Amanita Design | May 8th This may not be the first time we’ve seen Botanicula, but with its release on Steam this month it’s guaranteed to reach a far wider audience. This inspired title comes from Amanita...

Naughty Dog has released their latest trailer for the upcoming survival tale, The Last of Us, showcasing a previously described scenario in which Joel and Ellie are ambushed by fellow survivors. The trailer continues to show Naughty Dog’s intense love of environmental details, and also helps remind us of the dangers the post-apocalyptic world holds for gamers. As we learned earlier, this unfortunate crash will result in a no-holds-barred standoff between Joel, Ellie and the survivors. The new screens continue to paint the grim yet gorgeous world, and the details of the city are a nice touch. It’s refreshing to see a post-apocalyptic world that isn’t brown and grey....

Say what you want about BioWare and the way Mass Effect 3 panned out, but one thing is undeniable: they know how to support the game post-launch. From the promise of a new, extended ending, as well as several packs of multiplayer downloadable content, and numerous community weekends, BioWare has shown that it listens to fan concerns and responds accordingly. Now, according to a leak on Sony’s Hong Kong website, players will be able to dive back into the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer with new classes, equipment, weapons, and maps. While no release date is given, the message states that the pack is available today (though I’d guess that...

The highly anticipated conclusion to the acclaimed Arland trilogy has unfortunately been delayed to May 29th. Atelier Meuru: The Apprentice of Arland was originally scheduled to hit shelves on the 22nd, but a manufacturing delay has forced NIS America to bump the date back a week. The European release date, however, remains the same. Atelier Meruru brings players back to the land of Arland, but this time they’ll be guiding the young Princess Meruru as she uses alchemy, under the tutelage of Totori, to advance her beloved kingdom. With updated systems and new and returning characters, Atelier Meruru is regarded by many as the highlight of the series in terms of both story and gameplay. Luckily,...

This week’s issue of Famitsu includes the first details on a new Capcom title that will share the “same world view” as the Lost Planet series. The title, Ex Troopers, comes as a bit of a surprise, especially considering the platforms listed are the PlayStation 3 and the… Nintendo 3DS? Though no game assets have been revealed as of this post, we do have some information on the general style of the game. It’s listed as an action shooting title, but will feature anime-style graphics and take place in a school setting. Apparently a Gravity Rush-esque manga panel storytelling method will be used between action sequences. And that just about wraps up...

In news that should actually come as a relief to fans, seeing as how many questioned whether or not the game would ever release, THQ has announced that South Park: The Game will not make its original release date in 2012. The title, which is rumored to be called South Park: The Stick of Truth is now slated for Q1 2013. The RPG, which was first announced via a cover story in Game Informer magazine, is currently in development at Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind such titles as Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III. The game is said to push the limits of the ESRB by bringing with...

This week, Scott, Max, Brian and Jen weigh in on the current state of the PS Vita, the Kickstarter bubble and TES Online. Max manages to make it an entire episode with out discussing Phantom Menace and the group manages to stick to the script. Yeah, we’re shocked too. PSA: This was recorded before Republique met its awesome goal and Silent Hill: Book of Memories was delayed. Again. (Jen’s not happy) DOWNLOAD | SUBSCRIBE (RSS) SPECIAL THANKS to Built By Snow, VGW’s exclusive podcast music provider!

The Ghost Recon: Future Soldier launch trailer was released a week ahead of the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game on Tuesday and helpfully reminds us not to fight fair. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is set in the near future where as the Ghosts are sent to track down the origin of a a dirty bomb that exploded in London. The hunt takes them around the world including Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia and Norway. On top of the single-player, the game features a full co-op campaign along with a survival wave mode called Guerilla. There are also competitive game modes present such as Conflict and Saboteur which were...