Yellow on Metacritic If Metacritic had existed whenEarthBoundlaunched in 1995, the cult-classic RPG would be rocking a 72%. Over atThe Video Game Preservation Dump,Frank Cifaldiscanned every timely review, “to try and figure out why it failed.” Thelast ditch effort marketingmight’ve helped. “The biggest takeaway I get, slapping all these magazines on my desk and reading them back-to-back, is just howcompletely offendedthe critics were by the game’s art direction,” Cifaldi notes. “The ‘infantile graphics’ made VideoGames’ Geoff Higgins ‘want to gag,’ apparently....

Last week Microsoft held its Xbox Spring Showcase and the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, dropped some hints about the Xbox One’s future. “You’ll actually see us come out with new hardware capability during a generation allowing the same games to run backward and forward compatible because we have a Universal Windows Application running on top of the Universal Windows Platform that allows us to focus more and more on hardware innovation without invalidating the games that run on that platform,” Spencer said, insinuating that the Xbox One will have some kind of hardware upgradability — please not Kinect 3....

She won the character poll Dizzywon the character pollArc System Works doled out last year forGuilty Gear Xrd, and announced that she was going to be added to the game at some point. The only thing is, it’s been months without any real word, so the developer decided to remind us this morning and essentially tell us “yep, she’s still on the way.” As well as detailing newcomer Raven’s playstyle, Arc also provided a silhouette of Dizzy, so you know it’s legit....

It’s the tenth anniversary of the greatest horror game that never was. The playable teaser for the canceledSilent Hills, better known asP.T.,is one of the most well-regarded horror games out there despite being able to be completed in under 20 minutes. In fact, it’s one of thebest PS4 gamesin history. Now that it’s been ten years since its release, there are tons of secrets and easter eggs gamers have uncovered. Each new bit of information makes the game even scarier than before, and that’s no small feat....

Gives new meaning to the term ‘gamer fuel’ Retailers have really been stepping up their pre-order game lately. It used to be that plopping down money early for a title meant getting a character skin or some other half-assed, unimportant content. Between the likes ofaccess to the newDoomandinFamous‘ condoms, pre-orders are at least beginning to feel somewhat noteworthy. However, Best Buy is offering something that’s less of a novelty for those that pre-orderMario Kart 8—gasoline....

The Japanese have always been the best at making horror games. That should probably be a highly subjective statement, but there’s a lot of evidence to back it up. This list, for example. It features ten of the best horror games from Japan, and it was really difficult to conjure. For one thing, I didn’t want it to just be a bunch ofResident Evilgames. For another thing, Japan dominates when it comes to horror games made using RPG Maker, and there’s a lot to dig through....

Lots of characters, weapons, and costumes incoming Final Fantasy XVis the kinda game I want to see modders run wild in. Square Enixpledgedofficial mod support for the PC version right after the port was announced, and now it’s making good on its word. If you’re anything like me and you just want to see some silly mods,take it awayon the Steam Workshop. If you’re a creator or a tinkerer, Square Enix has extensive documentationright over here....

Another dive into Bungie’s new shooter During yesterday’s PlayStation Showcase, Bungie revealed it was reviving theMarathonfranchise for a new sci-fi extraction shooter. And through an ARG hidden inside the reveal trailer, fans unlocked another look atMarathonthough a Bungie ViDoc. AQR codewas hidden in theMarathonteaser from yesterday. And the internet sleuths who found it were quick to work and uncover just what it meant. This spun out into what’s usually known as an Alternate Reality Game, or ARG; a series of clues and puzzles that weave in and out of the web, usually leading tosome secret information....

After twenty years of fame and money for works someone else created “Japan’s Beethoven,” thefamous, deaf composerwho for two decades has passed off someone else’s work as his own, has admitted that he is no longer deaf, but maintains that he really was deaf. This statement comes afterallegations by Mamoru Samuragochi’s ghost writer, part-time music school teacher Takashi Niigaki, who last week said, “I’ve never felt he was deaf ever since we met....

People want, they just ain’t buyin’ According to a poll by videogame magazineFamitsu, Sony’sailing PlayStation Vitais the most desired console in Japan. The survey found that 64% of respondents wanted a PlayStation Vita. The second most desired system is the 3DS at a significantly lower 48%, followed by the Wii U at 34%. The PS Vita has not had a glorious run in Japan so far, being upstaged by the 3DS and going through periods ofsinking sales numbers....

‘Not a simple remake’ Zack Furniss couldn’t pull much aboutFinal Fantasy VIIwhen he interviewed Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura (in what was aKingdom Hearts 3focused meeting), but crumbs of not at all unexpected news about thefor-realFinal Fantasy VIIremakehave come fromFamitsuandDengeki Online. For example, this is not a simple HD remake or remaster likeFinal Fantasy X HDor even the one-year-youngerGrim Fandango, which recently got prettied up. “I can’t get go into details,” Nomura said, “but this is not a simple remake....

Old favorites come back…for a price! Isn’t it just awesome thattwo fan-favorite mainstaysare coming back toTekken 7as paid DLC? I love how characters I’ve been playing for yearsget ripped outand sold back to me. That is exactly the kind of purchase I want to make with my money… My belly aching aside,Tekken 7’ssecond season starts tomorrow and Bandai Namco has uploaded a new trailer to remind everyone. There isn’t much in the way of new footage, but it is a nice refresher for what you’ll be getting tomorrow if you nabbed the season pass....

Brace yourselves for amiibo news today [Update:Amiibo Inquireris reporting that Toys”R”Us has confirmed to it that Greninja will be available to pre-order beginning on April 3, but only online at this time. A rep informed Destructoid that it would be from “7-9AM EST” but you never know how accurate that is.] Earlier today,NeoGAF user spyroflame0487discovered a listing for Greninja amiibo in the Toys”R”Us system, as item number 399402. While not officially confirmed, all signs to point to the fact that he is exclusive to that location....