More characters are jumping into action almost constantly, causing the playable roster to swell far beyond initial expectations. Famitsu have been giving indepth looks at the game in progress, and Andriasang has been translating their finds.

We sense approaching kicks to the head.

More characters have been confirmed as being in attendance. As pictured, Street Fighter‘s Chun Li is representing Capcom, as is sultry succubus Morrigan from Darkstalkers. From Sakura Wars comes Erica and Gemini, joined by Bruno from Dynamite Deka, Valkyrie from Valkyrie no Bouden and Nanbu Kaguya and Haken from Mugen Frontier Super Robot Wars. Whew!

With great character reveals come great screenshots, and there’s enough imagery of the new roster to feed a small army. If for some reason you’re fielding an army that eats pictures, that is.

Better yet, finally there’s some information on the parts of the game that aren’t battles! Every image and piece of footage thus far seen has been of the battle gameplay. In fact, it’s been so prolific that many 3DS fans have mistaken the side-on view and the frantic action as being representative of a fighting game.

But of course, Project X Zone is a strategy RPG. As such, overhead maps between battles taken on a grid-like feel, similar to the likes of Fire Emblem. A character’s speed, be they friend or foe, is the defining trait of who moves in what order. Get two enemies facing off against each other, and the carnage begins.

Using the D Pad and 3DS buttons, you can perform various combos using the game’s Cross Active Battle System. Each character has various skills, eventually learning up to five. You’ll be rewarded for mixing up your skills in battle instead of relying always on the same attacks. Attack an enemy enough to launch him into the air and slap him again as he goes flying, and that’s an immediate Critical Hit. Satisfying!

Your entire party shares an XP meter, though it’s not experience points, but rather Cross Points. Various offensive and defensive capabilities can be launched from this, but only one character can use the whole team’s gauge at a time. Strategy is paramount!

Battles will have full voiceover treatment for every character. Furthermore, it’s been confirmed that the game is being developed by Monolith Software, the talented team who recently brought Wii gamers Xenoblade Chronicles.

That doesn’t mean Monolith are now going to contribute characters to the game as well, of course. Though wouldn’t that be awesome?

Apparently they have seen the opportunity that lays before them and have done just that! This summer, Mario and friends will be heading out on the tour, giving tennis fans a chance to play Mario Tennis Open. Don’t view this as a chance to play the game early though; the tour starts a mere day before the game’s release date.

The USTA announced today that Nintendo has signed on as an Official Sponsor of the SmashZone Mobile Tour, the interactive tennis fan attraction which introduces children to tennis in a fun and engaging way. As part of the agreement, Nintendo, the worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, will incorporate video game kiosks into the SmashZone experience throughout the duration of the tour. The partnership will launch at the California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard, Calif., on May 19 – 20.

This year’s SmashZone Mobile Tour will serve as a launching pad for Mario Tennis Open for the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system. Mario Tennis Open, a fun, portable tennis game that can be played in 3D without the need for special glasses, is scheduled for release everywhere on May 20, and this partnership provides an opportunity for an integrated fan experience where audiences can demo the new game.

SmashZone Mobile includes a 53-foot trailer, which anchors four kid-sized tennis courts for youth play. Courts feature games such as Xerox Rally Courts, Esurance Sweet Spot and Target Challenge. The trailer itself, which is handicap accessible, features interactive activities for visitors, including a TENNIS Magazine Green Screen Cover Shoot and touch screen kiosks. The Nintendo video game kiosks will be located in the game room of the trailer. Additionally, Nintendo brand ambassadors will be on site to provide hands-on demonstrations of Mario Tennis Open on the youth tennis courts.

“Video games can serve as a gateway to help get kids interested in real-life sports and activities,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Mario Tennis Open features all their favorite Nintendo characters, and fast-paced tennis action that people will have fun experiencing.”

In addition, Nintendo will be an Official Sponsor of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess, which will be held on August 25 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The sponsorship will enhance fans’ on-site experience by having in-person visits from Mario and Luigi from Mario Tennis Open and product demonstrations on the grounds during the free activity portion of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.

“We are thrilled to welcome industry leader and innovator Nintendo as an official partner,” said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. “Their collaboration and support of the SmashZone Mobile Tour provides a tremendous opportunity to engage thousands of parents and children throughout the country.”

For more information about the SmashZone Mobile Tour and to find out if it is coming to a city near you, check out www.10andundertennis.com.

For more information about Mario Tennis Open for the Nintendo 3DS, please visithttp://mariotennisopen.nintendo.com.

Will you be heading out to the SmashZone Tour?

So, what does this mean for the rumored announcement of Resident Evil: Downfall for the Nintendo 3DS? Well, at this point, nothing. While Capcom has ruled out the possibility of any new games being shown off in playable format at E3 for the Nintendo 3DS or Wii U, it doesn’t mean that new game announcments won’t be made, most likely with gameplay footage and/or a reveal trailer to go along with it.

While this is somewhat disappointing news, and Resdient Evil: Downfall remains just a rumor at this point, at least it’s still possible we’ll see a reveal at E3 2012.

Below you can see the cool video that should get all fans of F-Zero way more excited than they should be.

It is fans like these that help us cope with the lack of great franchise’s like F-Zero. While we have yet to see the series on the 3DS or the Wii, wouldn’t the Wii U launch be a great place to bring the series back? Lets have a great HD version on the Wii U and a 3D version for the 3DS that could be used for cross platform play. Until then, watch this video and enjoy what might someday be.

The Mark of Mastery edition will come packed with quite a few extras for a handheld special edition. Below you can see a list of the extras included that fans will be dying to get their hands on when the game releases.

• Set of 5 AR cards that unlock rare Dream Eaters and more
• Set of 12 AR cards reflecting the exciting history of the series
• Special KINGDOM HEARTS-branded Nintendo 3DS Protector Case

While nothing else has been announced for the Mark of Mastery edition, this was more than we originally thought we would be getting so I won’t be complaining. If I could add anything to this special edition it would undoubtedly be a soundtrack. Soundtracks tend to be the object from special editions that I take the best care of. Music can go on my iPod so I will always be able to keep track of it. Little things like cards are easy to lose but I am definitely happy with this special edition.

What would you add to the Mark of Mastery edition if you could?

Source: Game Informer

Well, and PS3 game too, but that’s not for here! It’s known as EX Troopers and is set in the same universe as the Lost Planet videogame series.

The Famitsu reveal, as shown at Andriasang.

Andriasang have been keeping a close eye on this one. However, you’d be right in saying this is nothing like Lost Planet as you may know it. Instead, it’s anime vibrancy all the way, with a purported ‘school themed’ story.

A more in-depth perusal of the game’s features reveals that the game’s conflict takes place on EDN-3rd. Apparently, the alien scum known as the Akrid have been kicking off at the snow pirates, and vice versa. Protagonist Bren Turner arrives on the scene from EDN-2nd, and during the course of the game will be joined by snow pirate lass TeeKee and an advanced Vital Suit known as Gingira.

So that’s nice.

Players will select one of three potential bases of operations, each with different pros and cons. Other characters will reside in the other bases you don’t choose, and all three will factor into the overarching plot, which will be apparently told with stylish manga-like cutscenes.

Currently almost two thirds complete, the game was intended by Kojima-san to be a “beginner’s action shooter”. It’s soon to be playable to Japanese audiences at the Capcom Summer Jam, which sounds like a remarkably cool kind of jam indeed.

EX Troopers is expected to launch this year. There’s no word as of yet what the differences are between the 3DS and PlayStation 3 versions of the game.

At a guess though, we’d suggest one difference is ‘screen size’. Unless you’re an HD gamer with a remarkably small television set.

Formerly revealed in the Nintendo Direct presentation, both games are eShop exclusives. Pokedex 3D Pro is an upgraded version of the free Pokedex 3D software many of us already enjoy. This time, every Pokemon in existence is catalogued, with stats and movesets galore!

Everyone's favourite genetically versatile foxy thing never looked so good! Howdy Eevee!

Every single creature looks to have been lovingly updated for full 3DS graphical wow-inducement. Better yet, the imagery Andriasang have got their lucky hands on suggests that there’s to be some more versatility with AR photography. Hurrah!

Oh goody, we were so hoping we could chase these guys in vain all over the country again.

Talking of AR, are you ready for Pokemon Dream Radar, plucky Trainers? Tasked with exploring a sort of dream world in which Pokemon reside, the game takes a Face Raiders-like approach. Swivel your 3DS around and zap lasers at Pokemon! It really is what dreams are made of!

"I told you not to leave the window open, another one's got in the house again!"

We all know the best way to deal with fictional characters manifesting in your living room is to zap them with bolts of white-hot energy. As if that wasn’t cool enough, the critters you shoot are fully able to be beamed over to your copy of Pokemon Black 2 or Pokemon White 2. Andriasang once again has the goods, showing off imagery from the Japanese version of the game. There are even set to be some pretty rare Pokemon to be found using Pokemon Dream Radar.

It’s a pretty nifty way to connect the 3DS to the DS games and offer exclusive incentives for 3DS owners as the upcoming Pokemon sequels ready for release. Will you be buying into the Pokedex 3D Pro, or investing in the laser-beamy goodness of Pokemon Dream Radar instead?

The Leviathan is not a living spaceship of FarScape fame in this instance, but rather that large and obnoxious purple thing that’s so insistent on chomping us good. We’ve seen him in action before, but n-Space are now explaining his wily ways in a bit more depth, given he’s the game’s first true boss encounter.

Is it really wise to get so close to that thing?

Summoned by rambunctious pirates, the Leviathan attacks with teeth, tentacles and an astonishing lung capacity, letting it inhale with vacuum-like strength to pull players closer. It can also spit acid, which is both vulgar and remarkably dangerous.

He’s the first boss in the game, mind, which explains why we’ve been seeing so much of him. He even makes an appearance in the nifty new multiplayer trailer, which showcases the co-op dungeon-rummaging gameplay of Heroes Of Ruin. It also showcases just how versatile character creation is, with each hero sporting a variety of stylish looks.

There is strength in numbers! …As long as that number does not exceed four. Obviously.

Either way it’s looking fantastic, with a wide variety of inventive attacks and wild beasties to slay or be slain by. The fact that this game’s got connectivity coming out of its ears is great indeed, and Heroes Of Ruin is swiftly becoming a showcase for third party 3DS developer talent.

Being able to jump in and out of randomised dungeons at any time, without restrictive friend codes, proves that Heroes Of Ruin is committed to getting us all adventuring together. With the game just weeks away, now’s an excellent time to forge some alliances.

That Leviathan isn’t going to vanquish himself, you know!

Players pleaded with Nintendo to fix the infamous glitches that so plagued online racing in Mario Kart 7. Nintendo responded with sullen, stubborn shrugs and general folding of the arms… until the Nintendo Direct presentation, in which scrumptious patchy goodness was promised.

Don't worry Mario, your metal counterpart will stop being a jerk now. Maybe.

The update to Mario Kart 7 was promised mid-May, and lo and behold, here we are in the middle of May with the patch ready and waiting! May 15th is the deadline for the update to be applied, so if you’ve not checked your 3DS or received SpotPass notification yet, make sure you get yourself into the eShop. Or no online racing for you!

If you don’t ever use your 3DS online, you have nothing to worry about and your copy of Mario Kart 7 is still good to go. The update simply ensures the unsavoury shortcut shenanigans are well and truly nixed.

Wuhu Island Loop, Wuhu Mountain Loop and GBA Bowser Castle 1 have all had their exploits purportedly plugged. What’s more, this Version 1.1 Update is mandatory for online play, meaning there’s absolutely no way cheaters can get their naughty thrills any longer. It’s a great day to be a karter!

Your 3DS may prompt you to update your firmware in order to download the patch. Connecting to the eShop will tell you if this is necessary, and from there it’s simply a case of touching the Mario Kart 7 icon that appears in the menu and getting the goods.

Once again, the roads of Mario Kart 7 are safe from wayfaring vagrants. Racers of all nations and creeds can unite in shell-flinging joy, safe in the knowledge that anyone who drives off a cliff will be penalised rather than rewarded.

Because, as aforementioned, driving off cliffs is silly.

While Luigi’s Mansion 2 will definitely be happening, some confusion has popped up today regarding what platform, or platforms, the game will be launching on; popular website Play.com have the game listed for the Wii U with no other information. Obviously this is no confirmation, but so many games have been leaked thanks to retail listings that to blindly ignore the listing would be simply foolish.

So what could this mean? There are three possibilities: The game has been moved to the Wii U, the game will be releasing on both Nintendo consoles, or absolutely nothing. It’s perfectly possible that Play.com simply made a balls-up, and Nintendo have never even considered a Wii U Luigi’s Mansion.

How do you 3DSBuzzers feel about this? Do you want a Wii U version in place of or in addition to the 3DS version? Or perhaps you’d rather it just stuck to the 3DS altogether?