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Mark Cerny Is A Big Pikmin Guy
Mark Cerny--best known as the lead architect of the PlayStation Vita, PS4, and PS5--recently appeared on Simon Parkin's My Perfect Console podcast to choose five games he would preserve on a fictional console. While much of the conversation naturally touched on his long history with Sony, one of the most surprising and heartfelt moments came when he talked about his love for Nintendo's Pikmin.
Despite his deep ties to PlayStation, Cerny made it clear that Pikmin left a lasting mark on him. Cerny described playing the original Pikmin as a truly "transformative" experience. He explained how emotionally invested he became in Captain Olimar's struggle to survive and return home.
"I had this thing where I tended to play smaller, lighter games for about 10 years, so I don't know, Portal or Plants vs. Zombies or Flower or Katamari Damacy. Pikmin, I just [picked] out of that list because I thought it was such an emotionally involving story," Cerny explained. "Poor Captain Olimar, he crash lands, and he's got 30 days to reassemble his ship, or he'll run out of oxygen and die, and he's sending letters home every day."
Continue Reading at GameSpotMetroid Prime 4: Beyond Review - Prime, But Not Quite Prime Prime
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond opens upon a massive battle as Samus comes to the aid of Federation troops. The action-packed sci-fi spectacle wouldn't be out of place in a Halo game, signaling a very different take on the Metroid series. But while it accurately signals some degree of departure from traditional Metroid Prime games--particularly with a greater emphasis on interactions with Federation characters and combat--the vast majority of Prime 4 is a well-crafted sequel that delivers on what Prime does best. The result is a satisfying long-awaited return that is excellent at capturing the Prime fundamentals, but hit-or-miss when it experiments with new ideas.
The massive battle that serves as the opening tutorial is between the Federation and a loose assemblage of Space Pirates, under the leadership of Sylux--a rival of protagonist Samus Aran who has been seen before, but not featured so prominently. Sylux is controlling Metroids somehow, but for the moment, the Federation's main concern is securing an ancient artifact before it's taken by Sylux's forces. When things go extremely wrong in that mission, the artifact transports Samus to Viewros--a dying planet whose sentient beings, the Lamorn, passed away untold years ago. Samus quickly finds a Psychic Crystal that imbues her with the ability to interface with Lamorn technology. It becomes apparent that Samus isn't alone--Sylux appears to have been transported here too, along with pieces of Federation tech and personnel. You're all trapped on this dying rock together, unless you find a way out.
However, recordings reveal that the Lamorn see the bearer of the Psychic Crystal as a "Chosen One," a savior for their people, in a sense. It's too late to rescue the Lamorn, but they wish to preserve their history and culture, and so they've prepared a Memory Fruit for the Chosen One to carry off-planet with the aid of their Master Teleporter. This aspect of the story is appropriately melancholic: You can't save the Lamorn people, but you can preserve what mattered most to them. So your mission is twofold: Carry the Memory Fruit to another world, and in doing so, get access to their teleporting technology that can save you and the other stranded Federation troops. Commence video game adventure.
Continue Reading at GameSpotMetroid Prime 4 File Size Revealed For Switch And Switch 2
Nintendo has provided game file sizes for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch and Switch 2, letting console owners know how much space they need to download the first-person adventure game. On Switch 2, Metroid Prime 4 comes in at an estimated 31.6GB, while the original Switch version only takes up 26.3GB, per the Nintendo Store. Intriguingly, though, the eShop accessed via Switch 2 showcases the Switch edition as taking up 28.9GB.
Regardless, it makes sense Metroid Prime 4 has a bigger download size on Switch 2, since the game offers 4K visuals in quality mode docked and 120fps in performance mode docked. There is also HDR support and mouse controls, courtesy of the Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers. Both versions will launch this Thursday, December 4.
Continue Reading at GameSpotWhere Winds Meet Will Officially Launch On Mobile This Month
In November, PC and PlayStation 5 users were able to dive into Everstone Studio and NetEase Games' Wuxia action-adventure-RPG, Where Winds Meet. Now, the mobile launch is just over a week away.
Where Winds Meet will get its official debut on iOS and Android on December 12, and the mobile version will support cross-play and cross-progression for PC and PS5 users.
"We are both humbled and flattered by the kind words and encouragement from players around the world," said Where Winds Meet lead producer Beralt Lyu in a statement. "Their support inspires us to continue improving the game and delivering even better content to our players. With the mobile version coming soon, we can't wait for more players to join our growing community."
Continue Reading at GameSpotLego's New $300 Stranger Things Set Recreates The Creel House In Scary Detail
Lego Stranger Things: The Creel House (2,593 pieces)
$300 | Releases January 4, 2026
See at Lego StoreLego has officially revealed a new Stranger Things set, as fans can look forward to a 2,593-piece tribute to the iconic Creel House. The hub of all things spooky in the Stranger Things series, this Lego replica is loaded with Easter eggs from all five seasons of the Netflix show and it's now available to preorder for $300. Members of the Lego Insiders rewards program can get their hands on the set early, starting January 1, 2026, and it'll be available globally starting January 4. Anyone who buys the set from the Lego Store from January 1-4 will also receive the 584-piece Lego Icons Stranger Things: WSQK Radio Station set as a free gift, which includes Joyce and Hopper minifigures.
Lego Stranger Things: The Creel House (2,593 pieces) $300 | Releases January 4, 2026Just like the infamous location, the Lego replica of the Creel House features a richly detailed facade and several highly detailed rooms. Alice and Henry's bedrooms, the haunted upstairs hallway, and Vecna's Mind Lair are all part of the build, and other nods to the series include the infamous grandfather clock, Steve's car, the WSQK radio station van, and Will's bike. The mansion can be displayed in its eerie boarded-up state, or you can open it up to examine all the rooms inside.
The set comes with 13 minifigures--Eleven, Will, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Holly, Steve, Nancy, Robin, Jonathan, Max, Mr. Whatsit, and Vecna--and it measures over 11.5 inches high, 20 inches wide, and 7 inches deep after it has been fully constructed.
See at Lego Store Gallery
This isn't the first Stranger Things set produced by Lego, and if you're looking to complete the collection, you can pick up a BrickHeadz collection of Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, and Will Byers buildable figures for $40. The set launched in October, and each figure adapts the Stranger Things character's look and '80s fashion.
Stranger Things BrickHeadz See at Lego StoreEach blocky figure also comes with a buildable display base to pop them on and accessories like a walkie-talkie for Mike, a headset for Dustin, and a slingshot and binoculars for Lucas.
Continue Reading at GameSpotKojima Lends His Voice To One Of 2025's Biggest Movies
Writer-director Hideo Kojima has announced that he is part of the voice cast for the Japanese version of Disney's Zootopia 2. He voices the mole role of Paul Moldebrandt.
Kojima told Famitsu that Zootopia 2 director Jared Bush personally asked Kojima to play the role for the Japanese dubbing of the Disney film that's now in theaters and putting up massive numbers.
Zootopia 2 has already made $560 million+ globally, thanks in large part to China, where the film has earned $270 million so far. China is far and away the biggest market for Zootopia 2 so far, the next closet being the US and Canada ($158.8 million).
Continue Reading at GameSpotGenshin Impact Limited Edition DualSense Controller Revealed, Preorders Open Soon
Sony has unveiled a new limited-edition look for the DualSense controller, just in time for the launch of Genshin Impact Version Luna III. Dubbed the Genshin Impact Limited Edition, this controller is inspired by the game and its signature style, giving it a fantasy-themed makeover. Preorders begin December 11 at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET, and the controller is priced at $85.
This version of the DualSense controller combines an ethereal white, gold, and green palette with arcane glyphs found in Genshin Impact. You'll also find emblems of the Traveler Twins Aether and Lumine, as well as a nod to their companion guide, Paimon, with a cute graphic. Sony says that it collaborated closely with Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse to create the controller and celebrate the popular live-service game's fifth anniversary.
Genshin Impact DualSense controllerGalleryContinue Reading at GameSpot