TIL there’s a Super Mario Bros. Wonder Elephant Mario plush set to debut in January 2024

In related news, I recovered my old Play-Asia account, so here’s an affiliate link to something I would actually purchase myself if December hadn’t hit our wallets so hard: Super Mario Bros. Wonder Plush

Importing this plush from Japan wouldn’t be cheap (current price is $21.99 USD and Economy shipping to the US would add another $17.90 USD) and there’s a possibility that the same or a very similar plush will be made available on the North America My Nintendo store early next year.

But this plush was just too cute not to post. :3

Puyo Puyo Tetris released in Japan, import sales open

Will the ultimate puzzle game mash-up see a release outside Japan? Possible, but unlikely. The last Puyo game to get a US release was Puyo Pop Fever for the DS in 2005.

You can click here to watch the trailer for Puyo Puyo Tetris.

If you'd rather not wait (likely in complete futility) for PPT to get released outside Japan, consider importing the game instead:

Remember that the Wii U and 3DS are region-locked but the Vita and PS3 are not. If you choose to purchase the Wii U or 3DS versions, you'll need Japanese hardware to play your import.

How to play Soma Bringer on the Nintendo DS in English–legally

Want to play one of the greatest action RPGs ever but can’t read Japanese and don’t want to break the law? Then read on for instructions on how to play Soma Bringer for the Nintendo DS–legitimately.

Step 1: Buy a flashcart. If you have an original DS or a DS Lite, I recommend the R4 DS Revolution. If you have a DSi or DSi XL, I recommend the Acekard 2i.

Step 2: Buy a copy of Soma Bringer. You can purchase a new copy from Play-Asia.com (recommended) or a used copy on eBay.

Step 3: Back up your Soma Bringer cartridge. This step is a tad complicated, but there’s an excellent step-by-step guide over at RomUlation.

Step 4: Download the Soma Bringer Open Translation patch. You can read more about the patch at its official thread on the GBATemp Forums.

Step 5: Apply the patch to your Soma Bringer backup file. Instructions are included with the patch download linked above.

Step 6: Copy the patched Soma Bringer backup file to your flashcart.

Step 7: Insert the flashcart into your DS and play!

How I Spent Last Year’s Gift Money (2010 Edition)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful gifts this year. I heard at least one family member express a desire to know how my wife and I spent our gift money, which reminded me to post how I spent the gift money I received last Christmas (2009) and on my birthday earlier this year.

Click past the break for a list of items I purchased with gift money this last year.

Critter Crunch (Playstation Network)

inFamous (Playstation 3)

Logitech Wireless Wave Combo MK550

Minecraft (PC)

Katamari Forever (Playstation 3)

Money Idol Exchanger (Playstation Network)

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time (Playstation 3)

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (Playstation 3)

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (PC)

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

Super Street Fighter IV (Playstation 3)

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (Playstation 3)

Western Digital Scorpio Black WD5000BEKT 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache 2.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive

I found excellent sales that helped me stretch my gift money as far as possible. For example: I picked up 3 of the Playstation 3 games on the list for $10 each.

So thanks again to everyone who gave me gift money this year! I’m enjoying the gifts I purchased very much. 🙂

Japanese voice cast for Atlus’ Catherine

The following voice actors and actresses have been confirmed to lend their talents to Atlus’ upcoming action-adventure game Catherine:

Koichi Yamadera – Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop), Ryouga Hibiki (Ranma ½), Togusa (Ghost in the Shell)

Kotono Mitsuishi – Misato Katsuragi (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon), Mink (Dragon Half)

Miyuki Sawashiro – Celty Sturluson (Durarara!!), Maria (Arakawa under the Bridge), Shinkurō Kurenai (Kure-nai), Jun Kanzato (Persona -trinity soul-)

Hiroaki Hirata – Sanji (One Piece)

Takehito Koyasu – Sister (Arakawa under the Bridge)

Kisho Taniyama – Falcon Lightwing (Basquash!), Kōichi Shidō (Highschool of the Dead)

Masaki Terasoma – Kambei Shimada (Samurai 7)

Junko Minagawa – Slash Keenz (Basquash!), Cornelia Li Britannia (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)

Norio Wakamoto – The Emperor / Charles Zi Britannia (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion), Vicious (Cowboy Bebop), Narrator (Hayate the Combat Butler)

Hotel Dusk sequel Last Window released September 17

I’m nearly a week late with this post, but better late than never, eh?

Last Window: The Secret of Cape West, the sequel to DS mystery game Hotel Dusk: Room 215, released in Europe on September 17.

First, the bad news: Cing, the developer of both titles, filed for bankruptcy on March 1, making a North American release of Last Window highly unlikely.

Now for the good news: The Nintendo DS is not region-locked. This means North American DS owners can import Europe region DS releases and play the import games in their North American DS.

Hotel Dusk holds the honor of being the only game that my wife completed before I did (which is high praise for the game’s design, story, and characters). The little I’ve seen of Last Window promises more of the same, which, in this case, is a very good thing.

So if you enjoyed Hotel Dusk, like old school adventure PC games like King’s Quest or Grim Fandango, or simply enjoy a quality game with a good story, you can’t go wrong with Last Window.

You can purchase Last Window: The Secret of Cape West from Play-Asia. If you decide to pick it up, please use the link in the previous sentence to purchase the game and help support Brainstorm Warning.