So basically I'm in love with Metal Gear Rising. Combat's a blast while doing just enough different to keep things interesting. I also love how absurd it is that this is by Metal Gear standards (think about that- absurd by Metal Gear standards), but somehow Platinum keeps it feeling like MG even though the gameplay and story structure have little in common. It also made me think how much I would love if Platinum did spin-offs like this more often. So I made a list of the series I'd love to see a Platinum spin-off.

The developer who designed the critically acclaimed Kid Icarus: Uprising has shut its doors recently. Unfortunately, the company has released a statement on their website noting that they closed on June 30, 2012. The company was spawned as a joint venture between Sakurai and Nintendo and funded almost entirely by the Big N.

Kid Icarus: Uprising fills a couple of holes in Nintendo’s arsenal of video game genres. Not only has the series been re-imagined as an on-rails shooter, but Uprising is also a third-person shooter/slasher. These hybridized genres bring a unique mix of untapped video game potential to a Nintendo console. In spite of its steep learning curve and lefty control issues, Kid Icarus: Uprising is an early reason to buy a Nintendo 3DS.

Iwata revealed during the Nintendo press conference today that Sakurai and Project Sora are working on two versions of Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U and 3DS. These two game will interact in some way, but there is nothing else known about either title at this time.

This year’s Nintendo E3 presentation brought with it an assortment of new and old, combining the recurring titles that Nintendo fans adore with the rebirth of IPs and the future of handheld gaming.