The original Legend of Zelda came out when I was two, and I still remember sitting in front of the TV as my mom and brother (and eventually me) navigated through dungeons and dished out Hyruleian justice master sword style. I can trace my love of gaming to those moments being amazed by Link’s quest.

It’s only fitting then that after 25 years and a lot of gaming, I’ve finally got that same feeling back – and it’s another Zelda game.  With incredible production values, bold new mechanics and a wonderous sense of exploration; The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword feels an awful lot like falling in love with gaming again. Each time I booted it up, I found something new that I made it not only the best Wii title or the best motion controlled game but the best Zelda in franchise history – and that’s truly saying something.

Nintendo’s bold design choices start with the story of Skyward Sword.  This is the origin story fans have been clamoring for years for that Nintendo wouldn’t give us. Skyward Sword gives us a look at a Hyrule from times gone by, with Link and Zelda as childhood friends. Of course, before long, something terribly wrong happens and Link must go on a quest to save not only his friend, but the world.  It may not seem like a huge change from the established Zelda formula – that is until you take into account just how well it’s all presented.

Skyward Sword is easily the most cinematic Zelda experience to date, and even though there’s still no voice acting, Nintendo has done a magnificent job crafting a thrilling and remarkable tale that’s not only engrossingly epic, but decidedly intimate.  This is accomplished through a mix of taking the emphasis off of the simple plot and on to the game’s interesting cast of supporting characters and letting their emotion come through. Thanks to brilliant pacing, imaginative framing and some of the most well done cutscenes in recent memory, this is a Zelda title that you’re going to find it hard not to be engrossed in and its one that sets a new standard for Nintendo.

The Wii motion plus adds a great deal to Skyward Sword

After 25 years, we’ve all come to know what to expect from a Zelda game, but Skyward Sword challenges that too.  The incorporation of the Wii motion plus controller will change the way you want to play Zelda from here on in. Suddenly, it’s not about just timing and getting a good jump start on your opponents, but making good, conscious decisions how how and when to attack your opponents.  The motion plus enables you to watch your opponents and study just where you should be attacking them. You’ll watch their motions, their patterns and strategize as to the best plan to take them out, but be warned, your enemies can do the same to you.

The true genius of incorporating the motion plus into Skyward Sword is that it never once felt gimmicky and lends itself extremely well throughout the entire experience.  From throwing bombs, to swimming and even gliding through the sky, the Wii Motion Plus feels incredibly natural, like it was made to be used with the Zelda series all along. This isn’t just a game that uses motion controls well – it’s the game that perfects them. Unlike other motion games, I never stopped to wonder what the game would be like with standard controls since I was having so much fun. I often got the feeling that this was the first time that the promise of the Wii and motion control is general had been fully delivered on.

Skyward Sword’s incredible sense of pacing also plays a big part in just how great it is. In previous Zelda games, it was all about the dungeons, and everything before it was just a prelude to the heart of the action. While the dungeons still represent the main portions of the game, Skyward Sword manages to spread out a good portion of the action so it never feels like you’re just traveling to get to the “good parts” again.  There’s also a great sense of exploration here that’s been missing from previous Zelda games, which will require you to go back into areas you’ve already been through to complete certain sections, though it never feels like you’re backtracking as you’re constantly given new tasks and new abilities to try out.

Visually, Skyward Sword is somewhere between the cartoonish visuals of the Windwaker and the darker tones of Twilight Princess. Nintendo seems to have finally admit the limitations of the Wii console and have this created a visual style that’s not only extremely engrossing, but also a great fit for the title.  The entire game has a storybook feel to it that makes the game feel incredibly more epic.

The Blast Factor: When Nintendo introduced the Wii, and motion control to the world, it made some hefty promises. Now, nearly six years later, with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, those promises have been delivered on.  This isn’t just the best Zelda game or the best Wii game, it’s also the first game that makes motion controls make sense. With its incredible production values, new gameplay ideas and most importantly heart, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is simply one of the best games I’ve ever played.

By now you’ve probably heard a lot about what Bulletstorm is supposed to be. You know, the swearing, the violence, how Fox News says it’s going to cause a rise in rape; all that stuff. Scrap ‘em. Throw out all of your preconceived ideas of just what you expect from Epic and People Can Fly’s shooter. Yes, it’s crass and ultra violent, but beneath all that lays a surprisingly solid shooter, with thrilling set pieces, awesome characterization and most importantly, one of the most fun shooter experiences in years.

It’s the 26^th Century, and you’re renegade space pirate Grayson Hunt (referred to as Gray for much of the game) , who along his with partner and soon to be cyborg warrior Ishi has been discharged from the Dead Echo; a Black Ops style group that protects The Confederation of Planets following a double cross. Flash forward ten years, and an intoxicated Gray sees an opportunity to exact revenge on his former employer. Surprise – it doesn’t go so well, and before long Gray and Ishi crash land on a Stygia, a former resort planet that’s now crawling with savages. From here you can guess what to do.

Perhaps surprisingly, it’s the strong characterization of Gray, and the world around him that make Bulletstorm so extraordinary. Hunt is basically Han Solo, if he’d taken up drinking and grown out his hair.  Famed comic book writer and artist Rick Remender (Uncanny X-Force, Punisher) has crafted a remarkably well done story that feels awfully similar to a buddy comedy (think 48 Hours, but with guns and savages). Each character is believable and fun to watch, thanks to well written and entertaining dialogue, which yes, is awfully colorful, but serves its purpose. Hey, you try keeping your words PG-13 while being chased by a ton of bloodthirsty savages.

Where Bulletstorm differs from more traditional shooters of course is with its skillshot system. Essentially, using different weapons, targeting specific boy parts and using different elements from the environment unlock cool and ultra violent stylish kills that earn you points to unlock new weapons and ammo type. Some of my favorites? The homie missile, which requires you to attach a grenade gag to an enemy, then kick him into other enemies causing a mass explosion and the Fire in the Hole, which finds you killing an enemy by shooting him directly in the rectum. Hey, it’s not Shakespeare, but it’s damn entertaining, and damn rewarding to string together moves with your different weapons, your leash and a series of “This is Sparta” style boots kicks. Though it does seem to get a bit old later in the game, it’s still a very unique and well implemented mechanic.

In the movie business, there’s a rule, show don’t tell, in gaming, it should be do, don’t show. In some modern games, developers have a tendency to show gamers the really cool moments of a game in the form of a movie sequence, but that’s not a problem with Bulletstorm; the game is filled with tons of awesome thrilling, and playable set pieces and “holy shit” moments that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. I may catch some flack for this, but the only game that I’d say compares to what Bulletstorm has done here would be the phenomenal Uncharted 2. Take for instance early in the game, you’re trying to outrun a bunch of the savages when you suddenly find yourself on the wrong end of a giant concrete wheel. The first time you see this thing start barreling towards you, much like the game’s later set pieces is a truly thrilling experience.

Once you finish the game’s main campaign, there’s an online co-op mode that allows other players to assist in creating skillshots, but it’s the echo mode that steals the multiplayer show. The mode, which is best played once you’ve finished, or at least gone through a good portion of the main campaign allows you to go through specific sections of the game strictly to see how many points you’re able to get via skillshots. What’s really cool is that once a friend passes your score, you’ll get a notification, and be able to jump right in and try to beat them.

In the visuals department, Bulletstorm is no slouch either, the game is filled with sweeping vistas and great views – you just don’t get to enjoy them as much on a count of the savages and all. What’s most impressive though is the astounding voice work throughout the game. Most notably, Gray, voiced by Steve Blum (most famous for his work as Wolverine in a ton of Marvel shows and games) and the voice acting for Serrano, which comes off as a character from an over-the-top Tarantino character.

The Blast Factor: It would be easy to discount Bulletstorm as just another crass shooter looking to make its mark, but doing so; you’d miss one of the year’s best shooters. Some of the mechanics may get a bit old later in the game, but you’ll hardly notice thanks to the thrilling set pieces, well written dialogue and simple, fun experience. Bulletstorm’s ending may be just a cheap way to hint at a sequel, but the promise is an exciting one.

September had its share of quality titles, but it was also a diverse month, with a slew of genres well represented in what is basically the preseason month for the holiday gaming rush. We have a few more titles that snuck into September on the 29th, but as for games we reviewed in September, these are your editor’s choices. Apparently, if you went retail, it was required that you have a subtitle and a colon, or else you were not eligible for winning.

Nintendo Wii

Muramasa: The Demon Blade: There has not been a better looking game on the Wii this year, and it’s also one of the better playing titles on the system in 2009. Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a must-have for any gamer, as the game’s easier settings allow even those not accustomed to action games to enjoy the story, gameplay and gorgeous graphics, while those looking for a challenge are sure to find it on the two more difficult modes. Highly recommended.

Playstation 3

The Beatles: Rock Band: In the end, the love you’ll take is equal to your affection for the music you’ll fake, so you might be wise to steer clear of Beatles Rock Band if you’ve already proven resistant to the band’s charms. However, the multiple generations of would-be Apple scruffs who have come to cherish the music of those four lads from Liverpool should greet the game with nothing less than the love with which Harmonix clearly labored. Best played with a bandmate or five, Beatles Rock Band is perfect for parties, but it’s also an ideal solution when you’re craving a more interactive alternative to yet another listen. Now, just wake me when I can mangle the medley.

Xbox 360

Halo 3: ODST: Halo 3: ODST is more than an expansion to Halo 3. Updated graphics, innovative storytelling, a fresh multiplayer experience in FireFight, all 24 Halo 3 multiplayer maps and a stellar soundtrack make ODST a serious contender in the FPS genre heading into the fall and holiday season. The campaign is short; only about 6-7 hours, but the combination of FireFight and the now definitive and complete Halo 3 multiplayer component, sends the game’s replay value through the roof.

Nintendo DS

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story: If you liked either the original GBA title or the last DS entry, Partners in Time, you are going to love Bowser’s Inside Story. It’s the class of the series, and there’s one giant, spiked and shelled reason for that. AlphaDream finally made a DS RPG that feels like it belongs on the DS, and with the writing as witty and sharp as it is, it not only plays better than the others, but is also funnier to play, too. This is one of the better games in the DS’ entire library, and you are missing out if you don’t pick it up.

Playstation Portable

Dissidia: Final Fantasy: This game helps unite all the Final Fantasy games in one spectacular game.‚  The pinnacle is definitely the head to head fighting between each game’s hero and villain. Those battles alone are the realization of the final battles from each and every Final Fantasy game and beautifully remind diehards why they fell in love with the games in the first place (and continuously email Square Enix to remake certain chapters for the new consoles “" *cough* Final Fantasy VII *cough*). This is a fantastic game and definitely one PSP owners should have. For a compelling story and an excellent fighting experience, check out Final Fantasy Dissidia. You’ll spend hours exploring this game fully and won’t want it to end. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go play some more.

Downloadable

You, Me and the Cubes: You, Me and the Cubes is a fascinating puzzler, given its physics-based gameplay and its very human puzzle “pieces”, the Fallos. The single-player alone would have made this a fun title, but the addition of multiplayer that forces you to work in concert in order to advance makes this one of the better WiiWare releases from 2009. If you’re into puzzle titles and quirkiness, then You, Me and the Cubes is a great place to invest your $10.

It’s month two of Editor’s Choice here at Blast Magazine, but thanks to a few dual-console releases, we have just four games to highlight for you. We’re still experimenting with the format for this series a bit, so feel free to weigh in. This time around we have a game for each major home console, a DS title, and the downloadable title of the month. I’m still debating whether I should have a digital download award for each system, given how prevalent that distribution is now, but for now, let’s go with a universal one. Remember, games are picked from the month they were reviewed, so even though a game may have come out in the last few days of June doesn’t mean it isn’t eligible. For those wondering where Little King’s Story is, that’s a victim of Comic-Con scheduling, and we’ll have a review for it soon–that of course means it’s eligible for August’s picks.

Wii

Wii Sports Resort: “Even with the few mini-games, Wii Sports Resort packs enough quality into the title to make it a must-own Wii title. It makes great use of the new Wii MotionPlus accessory, and shows us what is possible now that Nintendo has the motion controls we initially believed would be included with the system in place. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a simple cash-in using the well-known Wii Sports name though, as Resort is a more than worthy successor, the far superior title, and one that should stay in your collection for both its single and multiplayer qualities.”

Playstation 3 & Xbox 360

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger: “There’s very little to find fault with in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. Sure, the story is nearly incomprehensible, but beyond that this is simply a great fighting game. There’s tons of replayability, amazingly diverse characters, smooth and refined controls, and gorgeous graphics. If you like fighting games at all, BlazBlue is a must buy.”

Nintendo DS/DSi

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor: Devil Survivor is yet another near-mandatory RPG for the DS.‚  While the story’s tone and characters aren’t for everybody, if you liked any of the previous SMT games, then this really is mandatory.

Downloadable

Battlefield 1943: Battlefield 1943 is a great experiment by EA, as it tries to blend classic features from one of their top series along with some of the newer innovations and advancements it has seen. For just $15, you get a first-person shooter with excellent controls, wonderful environments, and tons of variety and depth despite its bite-sized nature. DICE wanted to create a game you can go back to in between all of your larger game purchases, and with Battlefield 1943, it’s safe to say they succeeded with their goal.

For those who loved Battlefield 1943 or are on the fence about buying it, we will soon have an interview with DICE’s Gordon Van Dyke available.

Starting with games we reviewed in June, Blast is going to bring you “Editor’s Choice” awards. For now, we will pick one game for each system–either retail or downloadable–and give it the distinction of being the best purchase you can make all month. That may change as the release schedule fattens up and more and more AAA titles come out at once, but for now, we’re in the summer, where there are fewer releases overall. The Editor’s Choice logo will be inserted into reviews at the end of the month, and will look like this (though much smaller):

The one question I have for you, the readers, is whether we should make a distinction between downloadable titles and retail games. Would you prefer to see them rated separately? Is together fine? Let us know in the comments or via e-mail.

Wii

Ghostbusters: The Video Game: “Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a lot of fun to play. The gameplay is tight, wrangling ghosts is satisfying, and listening to Bill Murray and company play their beloved characters once again”"and so effectively”"made me smile more often than not. Red Fly Studios did the game a favor by recognizing the Wii’s strengths and playing to them, and for that, you should thank them. Grab a friend, plug in two Nunchuks, and get to work saving New York City once again.”

DS

Mighty Flip Champs!: “Wayforward took a traditional genre in puzzle platformers and added an innovative mechanic to it with the dual-screen flipping, and ended up coming out with Mighty Flip Champs!, a special game that all DSi owners should try their hand at. The title is challenging, lengthy, well polished, and a total blast to play, even when it starts to fry your brain. Highly recommended.”

PS3

inFAMOUS: “inFAMOUS is far from perfect, but that doesn’t stop it from, at times, being a masterpiece sandbox game that will have you coming back for more, regardless of its problems. The good far outweighs the bad, but it’s the perfect candidate for a much improved sequel. What inFAMOUS does well is give you a fun game that will last longer than many titles, even if you just play through once; you’ll want to play it more than once though, given the amount of things you can do as you save or enslave Empire City.”

Xbox 360

Red Faction Guerilla: Wait, what’s this? We don’t have a review up for this game yet? No worries, it will be here before month’s end. Just trust us when we say we love it. That’s why it’s here!

Windows PC

Wallace & Gromit: Muzzled!: “Overall, Telltale has yet again told the tale of excellence in every facet of game design. From dynamic and alluring storytelling buffed by memorable characters, to the authentic feel of the familiar claymation style presentation, Muzzled! succeeds so very well.”