More awesomeness comes to the now cheaper Nintendo DS this fall with the release of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. Launching on November 29, players will finally revisit the Golden Sun series after a seven year absence, with Dark Dawn said to offer a ‘planet-sized world of adventure to explore and conquer.”

That sounds pretty epic to me, and I for one can’t wait to start leveling up as I wait on hectic holiday shopping lines – thanks Nintendo!

Check out the official Press Release below, then grind down to the comment section and tell us your level of anticipation for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn.

August 30, 2010

The dawn of a new entry in the renowned Golden Sun™ video game series has nearly arrived in North America. Nintendo has announced that Golden Sun: Dark Dawn for the top-selling Nintendo DS™ family of portable game systems will launch on Nov. 29.

Offering a planet-sized world of adventure to explore and conquer,Golden Sun: Dark Dawn puts the raw power of the elements in players’ hands. Each of the game’s playable characters is capable of carrying Djinn, spirits that imbue their owner with unique and powerful abilities. Players can collect more than 70 unique Djinn, granting them the ability to summon mighty deities who unleash devastating attacks that fill both Nintendo DS screens. Djinn powers can also be used to navigate puzzling dungeons and overworld environments that will have players flinging fireballs to burn away obstacles, freezing water to raise platforms, or summoning whirlwinds to create bridges out of floating objects.

Taking place 30 years after the events of Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age for the Game Boy™ Advance system, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn introduces a new generation of heroes that are struggling to survive in a radically changed world. What begins as a simple journey to rescue a lost friend turns into a dramatic quest to save the land from catastrophe as players are drawn into a world full of magical energy.

Get ready to be wrapped up with this kick ass new God of War: Ghost of Sparta PSP Bundle set to hit stores soon. This two-toned PSP will make you feel like you’re Kratos no matter where you are, probably due to the package coming with both God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta. But that’s not all, the young superhero Kick Ass must’ve been inspired by Kratos’ ass kicking ways, because a UMD version of his movie will be packed in as well. Sure is a lot of blood for yer’ buck, so check below for the official list of goodies included in this special edition PSP bundle.

• Black and Red Two-Toned PSP-3000
• God of War: Ghost of Sparta UMD Game– After God of War concludes, Ghost of Sparta begins with the story of Kratos’ ascension to power as the God of War.
• God of War: Chains of Olympus PlayStation Network Downloadable Game Voucher – Before the events of God of War, experience Kratos’ journey during the 10-years of servitude to the Gods of Olympus in one of the most highly acclaimed action titles of all time!
• Kick Ass – UMD Movie
• 2 GB Memory Stick Pro Duo

So what do ya think? Is this enticing enough to make you get a PSP? Tell us in the comment section below and keep the bloodshed and decapitations to a minimum, okay?

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If, for some reason, you have yet to delve into the world of Pandora in 2009’s sleeper hit shooter Borderlands, then now you have a great time to finally pack your bags. Launching on October 12 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, the Borderlands Game of the Year Edition comes packed with the original game along with all four downloadable content packs – the fourth of which has yet to be released.  Additionally, the GOTY edition includes a foldout map of theBorderlands world, in case you get lost.

Official word from GearBox Software’s Twitter:

Borderlands Game of the Year Edition announced! Game + all FOUR DLCs and bonus map for 360, PS3, and PC. Available in October!

The air fare, er, I mean admission price will run you the standard $59.99 which is great considering the play-per-dollar value you are getting. Will those of you who’ve yet to go loot hunting consider doing so now? Head down to the comment section below and tell us, and multiple comments will cost you $50 each – y’know, for safety reasons..

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Nintendo has announced that it is dropping the suggested retail price of its Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL. Effective Sept. 12, the new suggested retail price of the Nintendo DSi system will be $149.99, while the new suggested retail price for the Nintendo DSi XL system will be $169.99. The Nintendo DS Lite model will remain at $129.99. .

“We know shoppers want to get the maximum value out of every dollar they spend,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our new Nintendo DSi prices make it easier than ever for consumers to access the tremendous variety of games, applications and social tools on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems.”

So, will you be picking one of these DS models up on the cheap or holding out for the 3DS? DS-cuss in the comments below.

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Hang onto your hats…and your wallets…Microsoft is raising the price of an Xbox LIVE subscription by $10/year in North America beginning November 1. 2010. Other regions will see a price increase as well.

As posted by Major Nelson, the price hike will affect Xbox LIVE members in Canada, Mexico, the UK and the US, with various yearly, monthly, and 3 month subscriptions seeing an increase. In the U.S. the one month Gold subscription will increase from $7.99 to $9.99 while the three month will raise from $19.99 to $24.99. After the change takes place, the 12 month will set you back $59.99 as opposed to the current $49.99.

It’s worth noting that renewing your 12 month subscription via a special promotion being offered right here, right now, will allow U.S. customers to save $20 off the new price and renew for $39.99.

As for the regions outside the U.S., Canadian gamers can expect to pay $1 more for the monthly subscription, Mexico’s 12 month plan increases from 499 Pesos to 599 Pesos, and those of you in the United Kingdom will be charged 5.99 GBP for the monthly subscription instead of 4.99 GBP.

“Since launching Xbox LIVE in 2002 we have continually added more content and entertainment experiences for our members, while keeping the price the same. We’re confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry.”

So, do you think Microsoft has added enough new features and content to XBL to justify a price increase? Do you think the new rates are fair or unfair? Let us know your thoughts below.

Disney Interactive Studios today announced that Disney Epic Mickey will also be released as a Collectors’ Edition in limited quantities…since Disney fans tend to be collectors and all… Available for pre-order beginning today in North America and alongside the standard edition at retail this holiday, the Collectors’ Edition of Disney Epic Mickey will include the full version of the game, a five inch collectible Disney Epic Mickey figurine, Wii console skins and remote faceplate, and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes video and more. 

“We’re thrilled to roll out this Collectors’ Edition featuring so many unique items including the collectible Disney Epic Mickey figurine and content that will surprise and delight gamers and Disney fans alike,” said Graham Hopper, executive vice president and general manager, Disney Interactive Studios. “The addition of the bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes video and more will enhance and expand the overall Disney Epic Mickey experience.”

Disney Epic Mickey will be available this holiday season exclusively for Wii. The Collectors’ Edition will retail at an MSRP of $69.99 and the standard edition will retail at an MSRP of $49.99. Who plans on picking this up??? Paint a detailed description of your thoughts in the comments section below.

By Jess Conditt

Few things are a given to the hardcore gaming community today: there is such a thing as too many exclusives, if they build it we can hack it, the cake is a lie, and we don’t want to play all of our games through motion control consoles. Strangely, the main corporations providing us with the tools for gaming–Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo–don’t fully agree with our standards, and there is little we can do about it. We can not trump supply and demand, stock exchanges and Capitalism. Kinect and Move, for example, have people who don’t care about gaming buzzing across the business boards, meaning Microsoft and Sony are doing something right for someone else in a world where video games are more profit than they are art. The hype in these sectors for the new generation of motion controlled gaming only highlights that which we should have predicted, and our own sad naivety. Basically:

We shouldn’t be surprised by this.
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You miss me Axeheads?  Did you…maybe a little? A smidge? Not at all?  Well that’s okay because I missed YOU enough to make up for it!  Last week gamescom decided to be a big jerk like its American cousin E3 and take control of ALL the gaming news and thus leave your friendly neighborhood killer of the rumors with nothing to do.  That’s okay though because now we got a full lineup of rumors to play with and decide to believe, leave alone or best yet KILL for the sake of cleaving the crap from your gaming news.  So without further ado, your week long hiatus of EpicBattleAxe.com’s The Rumor KILL is officially over!
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By Keith Swiader

What’s up everybody? Of course I know what’s up – As an EpicBattleAxe.com contributing writer, resident FPS corespondent, founder of RespawnAction.com and author of this here new feature article , I’m well aware Halo: Reach is coming out in a matter of weeks and I could not be more stoked about it! However, the launch of Reach also comes with the end of Halo 3. Sure, there will still be people playing it, but for the most part we will all be bringing the ‘pwn’ to each other in Reach’s multiplayer.

But you know what, I don’t want to just jump from one game to another and not give Halo 3 a second thought. Halo 3 has given me an abundance of memories of both the epic and shameful variety, and it will be a sad day indeed for me on September 14 when the game will be laid to rest by many. I mean, I remember waiting on that ridiculously long line outside my local GameStop for the midnight launch and then rushing home to beat the entire campaign through the wee hours of the night. Then, once I hopped onto multiplayer, my social life was at an all time low…

All right, I think I’m getting a bit too emotional here, but I know I’m not the only one with great memories regarding Halo 3. Four years ago we were teased with the next generation return of Master Chief, and three years ago we jumped into perhaps one of the best online multiplayer experiences to date, and a lot has happened within that time. That’s where you guys, the EBA community come in.

I want you guys to tell me your most crazy, hectic, pitiful, adventurous, and absolute favorite memory you have from Halo 3. Online, offline, campaign, Forge, theater mode – I don’t care what it is, I just wanna hear it! What better way to send Halo 3 off into the deep sleep than to sound off and share your favorite memories with everybody, spark up discussions, and flat out reminisce about your past three years with Bungie’s blast fest???

Here’s one of my favorite memories to start off the conversation: I remember playing a game of multi-team with my cousin, and when he threw a Spike grenade as I jump in front of him it ended up sticking my rear end. On the flip side, I landed into a trio of enemies and, well, we had a nerdgasm right then and there….I’ll never forget that series of events and it was just one of those moments that define WHY we game…

OK, that’s all from me – It’s YOUR turn now Axe Heads, cry havoc and let your HALO 3 MEMORIES be heard on this inaugural edition of RespawnAction on EpicBattleAxe.com!

Empowering the EBA Community with a voice to collaboratively review the industry’s hottest titles, the EpicBattleAxe.com uREVIEW (about) delivers real insight from real gamers about The GOOD, The BAD, and The UGLY pertaining to the biggest games in the world. This is the EpicBattleAxe.com uREVIEW for Mafia II. Let’s get started:
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